The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 185: May-December Romance

Xu He didn’t understand how to keep secrets, and without common interests with the Eastern Palace, it was impossible for the Crown Prince to let her leave the palace unscathed.

Fingers tapping on his wrist, his brows slightly furrowed, eyes filled with worry, as if pondering something.

After who knows how long, a black pill was handed to Xu He.

"Swallow it."

Just like his cold expression, his voice at this moment also exuded chilliness.

No trace of warmth.

Truly no mercy left.

Xu He understood medicine and had an especially keen sense of smell.

In a pill that was odorless to ordinary people, she discerned one particular ingredient.

This medicine would cause unbearable pain throughout the body.

Some, unable to endure the torture, would choose to end their own lives.

When the Crown Prince had asked an Imperial Physician with whom he was on good terms to teach her medicine, he had once mentioned this drug to her.

He said that the Regent King, full of wickedness and attempting rebellion, wanted to use this to control the current emperor.

Although the person crafting the drug hadn’t yet found the best formula, rendering the effects not very prominent.

But long-term use would still cause great harm to a person.

Nowadays, this drug is mainly used to punish traitors, making life worse than death for them.

Even if they managed to survive, the outcome would be becoming a muddle-headed, useless being!

This secret once made Xu He feel like she had stepped into the Crown Prince’s heart.

When he spoke of this, his expression was serious as he reminded her that the world inside and outside the palace walls were different, cautioning her against easily trusting others. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

A slight mishap could lead to eternal damnation.

Now, the method to punish traitors was being used on her.

Most importantly, with her abilities, she couldn’t create an antidote, making Xu He’s body shudder uncontrollably with cold.

She made just one mistake, and ended up with such a miserable fate.

This punishment was too severe!

"Your Highness, what do our past experiences even mean?"

The Crown Prince looked down at her, "I also regret bringing you into the Eastern Palace."

Previously, he regretted dragging a common person into the vortex of power struggles.

Now, he regretted not realizing her ambition early on, having constantly viewed her as an innocent, naive girl in need of protection.

If he had known this would happen, he wouldn’t have softened regardless of how Xu He cried back then.

Let alone think of ways to shield her when his mother made things difficult for her.

He had invited Mingzhu into the palace truly to help Xu He.

Being of low status from the start, without the title of consort, her life in the deep palace would be very difficult.

Now, saying these things is useless, a dangerous existence must be dealt with.

Whether she can survive depends on her own fate.

"Swallow it."

"I won’t!"

She didn’t want to experience the feeling of life being worse than death.

Nor did she want to become a muddle-headed, unclear-minded wretch!

The man said nothing, step by step moving towards her.

Xu He’s pupils enlarged, under the control of fear, she trembled, retreating backward.

She began to speak incoherently, "Your Highness, I agree to leave the Eastern Palace, I won’t say those things again, please don’t be so cruel to me..."

Xu He regretted it so much her insides twisted with anguish.

If she had agreed to leave the palace early on, perhaps for old times’ sake, the Crown Prince might have given her untold amounts of gold and silver, allowing her to live in peace for the rest of her life.

She shouldn’t have said those spiteful words.

Apart from the fleeting pleasure of venting, it didn’t bring her any benefit!

"Your Highness, I truly realize my mistake."

This time the Crown Prince was unmoved, "Xu He, everyone has to be responsible for their own choices."

...

The heavy palace doors closed again, and from inside came the painful cries of a woman.

The Crown Prince strode outward.

Outside the yard gate, he said to Eunuch Fu, "Invite Lord Vice Minister for a visit, say the one inside needs him to take her away."

Eunuch Fu’s eyes were full of doubt.

Consort Xu made a big mistake, she could simply be sent away, why involve Lord Vice Minister?

Yet he dared not ask more.

"This servant will do it now."

The Crown Prince’s grand wedding, with high-ranking officials, royal relatives and their spouses all invited to attend the ceremony.

Although Xie Yunzhen didn’t want Mingzhu to enter the palace again or meet that person.

Today was special.

If he didn’t take Mingzhu along, there would definitely be rumors ferrying in the wind, suggesting their marital relationship was troubled.

Since the night before, the fellow had been gloomy, and while she was grooming, he seemed absent-minded.

It was so different from his usual behavior.

That on the way to the palace, Ji Mingzhu frequently cast her gaze on Xie Yunzhen.

He still had that uninterested look, lazily reclining against the soft couch.

His strong and powerful long legs spread out recklessly.

Clearly sitting opposite Ji Mingzhu, yet still encircling her within touchable range.

This was an absolute gesture of possession.

Ji Mingzhu nudged his foot with her toe, "You’re so unwilling, shall I head back home then?"

Xie Yunzhen leaned forward and lifted her onto his lap, holding her waist tightly.

In a muffled voice he said, "I want to hide you away, so no one else can see you."

There were too many nosy people outside, he needed to stay watchful at all times to keep Mingzhu firmly in his arms.

The best would be keeping her hidden away in a golden house, where no one but him could see her!

Xie Yunzhen’s eyes held a strangely twisted look, making Ji Mingzhu’s skin crawl.

"Don’t go mad!"

"Wouldn’t dare."

Xie Yunzhen used his arm to adjust her position, letting her sit sideways on his lap.

Ji Mingzhu was dressed in elaborate attire today.

With his embrace, her dress skirts became tangled together.

She spoke in exasperation, "You’re already quite old, can’t you stop being so childish?"

Xie Yunzhen felt uneasy all over.

One hand held Ji Mingzhu, preventing her escape.

The other hand pinched her chin, forcing Ji Mingzhu to meet his gaze.

"Who’s the old one?"

The words carried a hint of gritted teeth.

But Ji Mingzhu wasn’t afraid of him, turning her head to release her chin.

She huffed, "Compared to me, aren’t you the old bull eating tender grass?"

Xie Yunzhen felt his heart sting.

He was a bit older, but surely not an old bull!

He shook the person on his lap, "Are you disdainful of me?"

Ji Mingzhu avoided answering directly, "One who nags and makes problems out of nothing is indeed quite repelling."

The man’s jaw tightened, and his eyes glinted with danger.

He said with clenched teeth, "Ji Mingzhu, giving you one last chance, flatter me properly."

Ji Mingzhu kicked her legs, tidying her skirt.

Then leaned against the man’s shoulder, "Got up early today, I’m sleepy."

Afraid of messing up her hairstyle, she tilted slightly, resting her chin on the man’s broad shoulder.

Her chest pressed against his, and her heart suddenly filled with a gentle, cotton-like feeling.

Soft and full, it carried a warm temperature.

The warm aroma spread in the confined space.

Xie Yunzhen was instantly comforted.

The long arm wrapped around Ji Mingzhu supported her back securely.

Like embracing a treasure, he instinctively caressed a few times.

With a tender expression yet pretending to be fierce, "Don’t you dare call me old again, next time even beauty tricks won’t work..."

Ji Mingzhu sighed.

Heaven knows, she truly wasn’t using beauty to trick.

"Young Master."

"Hmm?"

"Could you please keep quiet?"

Xie Yunzhen: "..."

So does it mean those who are considered undesirable aren’t even allowed to speak?