Princess, Don't Run Away! The Prince Says He Wants To Mend His Ways - Chapter 7

Gu Lingwan shook his head slightly. He could not suspect that man was the assassin just because of a red silk robe. He was suffering from being once bitten, twice shy. Still, who was that person?

Xiao Yanming stopped in front of Gu Lingwan. “Long time no see, Princess Consort.”

Back then, he had seen with his own eyes that it was Xiao Lanjie who had pushed him into the icy pool, intending for him to drown.

Gu Lingwan smiled with appropriate poise. “Long time no see.” He turned to the two men who had just spoken to him. “It has been a long time for all of us.”

Just as he finished, Gu Lingwan turned around and discovered that Xiao Yingxun was standing right behind him like a ghost. He lowered his voice. “Your Highness, you startled me.”

Xiao Yingxun also lowered his voice. “If you have a clear conscience, what is there to fear?”

Gu Lingwan knew that the Prince still suspected he was an impostor. Since he did not recognize a single person in this room, he was bound to slip up sooner or later.

“Your Highness, I do not recognize most of these people.”

Is he about to admit he is an impostor? Xiao Yingxun looked down at the young man’s clever, lively phoenix eyes. “What do you mean by that?”

“A while ago, when you and Mr. Liu were talking late into the night and growing close, I could not handle it and took poison to end my life.”

The original owner had indeed been depressed and had committed suicide by taking poison, allowing Gu Lingwan to transmigrate into his body. A flicker of emotion stirred on Xiao Yingxun’s calm, stoic face.

Gu Lingwan continued, “Of course, I did not die. If I had, I would not be standing here beside you now, unless I had turned into a walking corpse.”

Xiao Yingxun’s brow twitched.

Gu Lingwan thought, Looking at his expression, he probably really thinks I am a zombie and is considering calling a shaman to exorcise me.

At that moment, Gu Lingwan reached out and took Xiao Yingxun’s hand, placing it near his own nose and mouth so he could feel his warm, steady breath. “See? Not a zombie. I am breathing, and I am still warm.”

As he spoke, Xiao Yingxun abruptly yanked his hand back. “Say what you have to say. No need to beat around the bush.”

Xiao Yingxun’s hand, hidden within his sleeve, seemed to still feel the lingering warmth from Gu Lingwan’s touch. The soft, delicate breath felt like a persistent, invisible thread, continuously extending toward his body, tangling and seeping into him.

I forgot he has a cleanliness obsession, especially since he loathes me so much. I touched him; is he going to chop his hand off now? Haha!

Gu Lingwan teased him mentally before getting to the point. “I took poison and luckily survived, but it injured my head and caused me to forget many things. Naturally, you can also see that my temperament has changed drastically because of it.”

He sighed heavily. “Perhaps it was this poison that took away my crazed, obsessive love for you.”

Xiao Yingxun listened intently, his cold, profound eyes scanning Gu Lingwan as if to dissect his words, all while waiting for his inner thoughts to determine if he was telling the truth. However, Gu Lingwan stayed silent; he was too busy focused on his lie to mutter to himself.

“If you do not believe me, you can ask Dongming. He knows I bought a bottle of poison.” Before Xiao Yingxun could respond, he added, “Oh, but Dongming is my servant, so you probably will not believe him. Just go to the Guangxin Pharmacy. They keep records of everyone who buys poison.”

Just as Xiao Yingxun was about to speak, Xiao Rongbing chimed in. “They say that newlyweds are as inseparable as glue and lacquer, but you two have been married for over a year. Why are you so sweet today? I am truly envious.”

He used to hate that cowardly heir, did he not? It is only been a year; how did they become so affectionate? Look at them, completely ignoring everyone else and chatting away!

The speaker was the First Prince, the first person who had talked to Gu Lingwan earlier. Gu Lingwan whispered to Xiao Yingxun, “Who is he?”

Xiao Yingxun replied, “The First Prince, Xiao Rongbing,” and then said to Rongbing, “Brother, you have misunderstood.”

Gu Lingwan thought, He says one sentence and will not even explain further. The nickname Mr. Laconic fits you perfectly.

Xiao Yingxun thought, At least that nickname is better than Two.

“It has been a year, and Sixth Brother’s attitude toward the Consort has indeed changed a lot,” Xiao Mucheng remarked. “You seem like a truly harmonious and loving couple.”

He recalled that in the past, it was a struggle for Xiao Yingxun to say even a few words to the little useless heir. He was genuinely curious about what they had been talking about so heatedly just now.

Gu Lingwan, realizing this was the man who had saved him, asked, “And who is he?”

Xiao Yingxun replied, “The Third Prince, Xiao Mucheng.”

Xiao Yanming, who had overheard their conversation, asked with slight surprise, “Consort, how could you have forgotten Third Brother?”

Xiao Mucheng was also astonished. “You can forget anyone else, but you should not forget me! I saved you back then.”

Xiao Rongbing asked, “Little Lingwan, do not tell me you have forgotten me too?”

Before Gu Lingwan could explain, Xiao Yingxun said calmly, “That is correct. The Princess Consort suffered a head injury a while ago, and he has forgotten much of the past, including most of the people he once knew.” He chose not to use Gu Lingwan’s drug excuse, as it was better for both their reputations.

Gu Lingwan looked at them apologetically. “I am sorry. I have forgotten all the kindness you showed me.”

As he said this, he began to mutter internally, Oh my, I never knew you, Xiao the Second, could lie with such a straight face.

How do you know my heart is not racing when I lie? Xiao Yingxun thought.

“Little Lingwan, do not tell me you have forgotten your own husband, too?” the Third Prince teased.

Xiao Rongbing and Xiao Yanming looked at Gu Lingwan, waiting for his answer. Xiao Yingxun glanced at Gu Lingwan, and he answered for both of them: “No.”

Gu Lingwan nodded in agreement. “Yes, I have not forgotten.”

Xiao Rongbing laughed. “You two are truly two of a kind.”

Xiao Mucheng added, “And deeply in love.”

Xiao Yanming looked at them. “Since both brothers have offered their blessings, I shall do the same: a perfect match, a hundred years of harmony.”

Gu Lingwan turned to Xiao Yingxun. Well, Xiao the Second, are you feeling internal injuries from being so frustrated?

Xiao Yingxun said to the others, “I have other matters to attend to; please excuse us.”

Gu Lingwan thought, Hoo hoo hoo, Xiao the Second was angered into running away.

As he was thinking this, his wrist tightened. Before he could look down, he was already being dragged away.

“Hey, Your Highness, why are you pulling me?”

Xiao Yingxun held Gu Lingwan’s slender wrist and dragged him out of the hall until they reached a secluded spot, where he finally released him. “In the future, do not mention anything about what happened between you and me in front of them.”

Gu Lingwan replied obediently, “Yes, understood.” He does not want family scandals leaking, but you have to pay me for my silence, or I will tell everyone about you and Liu Rujin.

Why does he always obsess over me and Rujin? Xiao Yingxun felt stifled. Not wanting to see Gu Lingwan anymore, he turned and headed toward a pavilion, wanting to sit in peace. Gu Lingwan, however, followed him like a little tail.

Xiao Yingxun said expressionlessly, “Why are you following me?”

Gu Lingwan replied truthfully, “Because you brought me out here, Your Highness.”

Since he was only following, it was not inappropriate. Xiao Yingxun remained silent, saying nothing more.

Since he would not talk, Gu Lingwan started the conversation. “Your Highness, those princes seem to think you and I are very affectionate. Especially since you answered the Third Prince’s question for me, how are you going to explain our divorce to them and the Emperor in a few days?”

A Prince getting a divorce was no small matter. The royal clan would be watching. The most important thing was to have a reasonable excuse; he could not just show off their love today and divorce tomorrow without a valid reason.

Xiao Yingxun highlighted the phrase in a few days. “Who told you that I am divorcing you in a few days?”