Princess, Don't Run Away! The Prince Says He Wants To Mend His Ways - Chapter 3

Xiao Yingxun narrowed his brows and glanced at Gu Lingwan. A mistress?

He possessed a penchant for bestowing ridiculous nicknames, always using numbers; first three, then two. Xiao Yingxun felt nothing but disdain; this was the result of the heir’s complete lack of education. The original owner had been obsessed with marrying Xiao Yingxun, neglecting his studies so thoroughly that he consistently ranked last in every exam at the Imperial Academy before eventually dropping out.

Xiao Yingxun looked toward the hall entrance. “Show Mr. Liu in.”

The butler bowed respectfully. Moments later, the doors were pushed open, and a handsome young man in white entered, carrying some expensive supplements.

After entering, Liu Rujin swept a calm glance over Gu Lingwan before bowing politely to Xiao Yingxun and then to Gu Lingwan. He turned to Xiao Yingxun with gentle concern. “I heard that you were injured, so I came to see you. Is your injury serious?”

Before Xiao Yingxun could speak, Gu Lingwan interjected on his behalf. “The Prince’s injury is not light. He cannot even hold a brush to write a divorce letter.”

A divorce letter? A flash of excitement flickered in Liu Rujin’s eyes. He hypocritically urged reconciliation. “Your Highness, you and the Princess Consort are childhood sweethearts. Please think twice about the divorce.”

Xiao Yingxun parted his lips to speak, but Gu Lingwan interrupted again. “Childhood sweethearts usually refer to two people of similar age. The Prince is seven years my senior; he looks at me as if I were a child. He is already annoyed enough with me, so where would any childhood sweetheart romance come from?”

Gu Lingwan turned to Xiao Yingxun. “Your Highness, what were you going to say? Go ahead.”

Since his words had been taken, Xiao Yingxun had little to add. He could only change the subject. “Rujin, you are too kind to bring such precious supplements.” He did not want others involved in his affairs with the heir.

As Liu Rujin opened his mouth to speak, Gu Lingwan interrupted him as well. “Mr. Liu is simply worried about the Prince’s injury and wants to spare him the pain.” He then added with the air of a fretful mother, “A broken bone takes a hundred days to heal. You should visit the manor often during this time to look after the Prince.”

Liu Rujin was stunned. He had always feared someone stealing the Prince away from him, yet here, the Prince seemed like a hot potato that the heir was desperately trying to push into his arms.

Gu Lingwan, however, had his own agenda. Before the divorce is finalized, you two need to get together as soon as possible so I can squeeze out more in a settlement.

Hearing this, a crack appeared on Xiao Yingxun’s usually cold, stoic face. Filthy, vulgar thoughts. The heir is going too far.

Liu Rujin, unable to hear Gu Lingwan’s inner voice, feigned reasonableness. “Do not worry, Princess Consort. I have some knowledge of medicine and know how to cook medicinal meals. I will do my best to ensure the Prince recovers quickly.”

Gu Lingwan smiled warmly. “Good, then I am relieved.” He immediately added, “The travel back and forth is inconvenient, so you should just move into the Prince’s manor for the time being.”

Liu Rujin was secretly overjoyed, though he demurred, “Would that be appropriate?”

The two seemed to have forgotten Xiao Yingxun’s presence entirely. The Prince coughed lightly to remind them he was still there.

“What is inappropriate about it? From now on, treat this place as your home.” Gu Lingwan looked at Xiao Yingxun. “Your Highness, you two chat. My chronic leg pain is flaring up again, so I will take my leave.”

“Bring a seat for the Princess Consort and Rujin,” Xiao Yingxun ordered, clearly not wanting Gu Lingwan to leave.

Gu Lingwan’s smile stiffened slightly before he asked, “Is there something else, Your Highness?”

He and Rujin are innocent; how can you smear them? You are clearly trying to leverage this to get a hefty divorce settlement. Xiao Yingxun picked up an invitation and handed it to Gu Lingwan.

Gu Lingwan took it and glanced at it. “The Emperor’s birthday is in two days.” Isn’t that also your birthday? Should I be preparing a gift?

I do not need his gift! Xiao Yingxun replied, “Since the heir and I are still husbands in name, we shall attend the Emperor’s birthday banquet together.”

Liu Rujin glared at Gu Lingwan with jealousy. He believed he would be the one to become the Princess Consort and accompany the Prince to the family banquet.

Gu Lingwan was internally repulsed but maintained a calm facade. “I will follow your arrangements, Your Highness.”

Xiao the Second, you should really take your Rujin instead.

Xiao Yingxun frowned slightly. Why does he keep linking me with Rujin? We are only friends.

Gu Lingwan mentally calculated the timeline. In a month, Xiao the Second will marry this Liu fellow. He should be the one taking his mistress to the banquet.

Xiao Yingxun’s pupils contracted. What on earth is he talking about? A month later, I marry Rujin? And in three months, I am poisoned to death by my imperial brother?

Gu Lingwan, desperate not to be caught between these two, asked, “Your Highness, is there anything else?”

Xiao Yingxun, determined not to let Gu Lingwan’s plot succeed, said, “The heir may return. I am injured and cannot entertain guests; you shall entertain Rujin on my behalf.”

Liu Rujin froze, shocked that Xiao Yingxun would push him onto Gu Lingwan.

Gu Lingwan behaved like a docile cat. “Do not worry, Your Highness, I will entertain Mr. Liu well.”

Let me entertain him? Isn’t that like asking the first wife to entertain the mistress? Damn, you are truly not a good person, ugh!

Xiao Yingxun’s temples throbbed with suppressed rage.

Gu Lingwan left the hall first. Liu Rujin offered a final word of concern before following.

Gu Lingwan sat on a rock by the rockery, rubbing his knee. Liu Rujin approached him, his expression no longer gentle, but dark and sinister. “What game are you playing?”

Gu Lingwan looked up with clear, cold eyes. “I do not understand what you mean.”

Liu Rujin hissed, “You loved the Prince so much; how could you agree so readily to his divorce letter?”

“Oh, is that it?” Gu Lingwan spread his hands. “Who said I loved the Prince?”

Liu Rujin was stunned. “Everyone knows you do!”

Gu Lingwan countered, “Evidence?”

Liu Rujin was rendered speechless. Gu Lingwan stood up. “There is rice and vegetables in the kitchen; cook whatever you like. I am, after all, entertaining you on the Prince’s behalf.” He then warned, “Do not play dirty with me. If you provoke me, I might just tell the Prince about how you bribed the Minister of Rites with your own body to secure your position.”

At those words, Liu Rujin’s face turned paper-white. He could not fathom how Gu Lingwan knew of such a secret act.

Gu Lingwan, whose leg was throbbing with unbearable pain, did not bother with Liu Rujin any further. He left the manor to visit a clinic. Since the condition could not be cured, the doctor could only prescribe painkillers.

Exiting the clinic, he felt hungry and headed toward a nearby restaurant. He chose a table by the window on the second floor. Having spent his money on medical fees, his pockets were empty, so he ordered only two vegetable dishes to fill his stomach. There was no helping it; all the manor’s wealth was under the control of Xiao the Second, who was a miserly scrounger, providing the original owner with a pathetic monthly allowance.

The food arrived quickly. Halfway through his meal, a cacophony erupted from the street below. Gu Lingwan looked down. A group of people was fighting.

Gu Lingwan shook his head. “This is the imperial capital, beneath the Emperor’s nose, yet security is so worrying. Wait, is that Xiao the Second?”

He could not believe his eyes. He rubbed them and looked again. It was definitely Xiao the Second.

Wasn’t he just in the manor? Why is he in the street fighting people?

As Gu Lingwan watched in confusion, his peripheral vision caught a man in a black veil and hat standing on a nearby rooftop. The man held a bow, his sharp arrow aimed directly at Xiao Yingxun’s back.

He was clearly intent on killing him. This scene had not been in the original novel.

Gu Lingwan thought, See, I knew it. Ever since I transmigrated here, the plot has changed.