Chapter Eighteen: The Grand Princess of Daning
Page (1/3)
Xu Lan’s gaze burned bright, clearly showing keen interest in the matter.
Lin Jiangnian snapped back to reality and glanced at her with a peculiar look. “Why are you asking about this?”
“Curious!” Xu Lan replied matter-of-factly. “Didn’t you hear what those people outside just said? You slept with her and then killed her—how heartless!”
“She wasn’t killed by me,” Lin Jiangnian said lightly, shaking his head. “She committed suicide.”
He wasn’t taking the blame for that.
“Why only explain half the story?” Xu Lan squinted, her tone loaded with meaning. “So, you really slept with her?”
“Can a girl not speak more elegantly? What’s with the ‘sleep’ or ‘not sleep’? So crude!”
“Hah!”
Xu Lan sneered coldly. “Now you remember I’m a girl? You weren’t like this when you mocked me earlier!”
Lin Jiangnian threw her a sidelong glance and said coolly, “If you actually acted like a girl, would I need to mock you?”
Xu Lan: “...”
“You really deserve a good beating!”
Xu Lan gritted her teeth.
For some reason, she felt Lin Jiangnian had changed.
He wasn’t like this before… how to put it?
Annoying!
His mouth had gotten worse!
Taking a deep breath, Xu Lan seemed to come to some realization, a faint cold smile playing on her lips. “Even if I don’t act like a girl, at least I’m better than you—not like a man!”
“When have I ever been less than a man?”
“If you were a real man, why haven’t you dared to go to the capital?”
Xu Lan’s face was full of sarcasm. “The emperor gave you a marriage decree, yet you not only don’t dare to marry, you hide out in Linjiang City to resist the order… If it weren’t for Uncle Lin stepping in, you probably wouldn’t still be alive now…”
“If you were a real man, then have the guts to go to the capital and marry that eldest princess, huh?”
Lin Jiangnian frowned.
He recalled the red-clad woman mentioning that this Prince of Lin had a marriage arranged.
And the betrothed was… the reigning eldest princess of the Daning Dynasty!
However, when the red-clad woman brought it up, she didn’t elaborate on the reasons. She only said the marriage would probably fall through, but didn’t have time to explain why.
Hearing Xu Lan mention it now, Lin Jiangnian felt a stir in his heart. His gaze grew indifferent. “Why are you in such a hurry? I’m still young. Marriage is no trivial matter; it needs proper preparation.”
“Tch, still being stubborn!”
Xu Lan immediately saw through his excuse and sneered. “I think you’re just scared—you don’t dare to marry her!”
Lin Jiangnian glanced at her and retorted, “What am I afraid of?”
“You’re afraid you can’t beat her!”
A smirk of schadenfreude crossed Xu Lan’s face as she slowly said, “Everyone knows the eldest princess of the Daning Dynasty is incredibly smart and gifted in martial arts. She’s a direct disciple of the sword sect and has already reached the second rank of the Celestial Profound realm at such a young age…”
“In terms of status, she’s above you. In talent, you’re far behind. In martial skill, she’d beat you like a child… If you marry her, do you still think you’ll have a good life?”
“Given all the mess you’ve caused here in Linjiang City, she’d break your legs and call it even!”
Lin Jiangnian: “...”
What kind of eldest princess is this?
Lin Jiangnian refused to believe it. “She’s just a woman. Does she really dare to hit her husband?”
“Maybe others don’t dare, but she’s different!”
Page (2/3)
Xu Lan smiled sweetly. “The eldest princess has been raised in the sword way since childhood; she’s always been different. Besides, she made her stance clear in the capital before—she would never marry you… and even threatened that if you dared to enter the capital, she’d break your legs.”
Lin Jiangnian fell silent.
In this era, could there really be such a fierce woman?
“Scared now?”
Seeing Lin Jiangnian’s expression, Xu Lan laughed brightly, her eyes narrowing into slits.
“Scared?”
Snapping back, Lin Jiangnian looked at her and shook his head. “Why would I be scared?”
Xu Lan sneered. “Keep being stubborn then!”
“As you said, this eldest princess not only has a bad temper and terrible personality but also a serious violent streak… She disregards all ethics and even dares to strike her husband. What kind of woman is that? Even if she’s a princess!”
Lin Jiangnian shook his head, then glanced at Xu Lan’s face, which was full of schadenfreude, and said quietly, “You want me to marry her? I’d rather marry you!”
The smile on Xu Lan’s face froze.
Was that a compliment or an insult?
Marry her? No, marry *her*?
That had to be an insult!
Realizing this belatedly, Xu Lan exploded in anger. “Lin, are you insulting me again?!”
“I’m praising you!”
“No way!”
Xu Lan sneered repeatedly. “You don’t get to decide this. It’s an imperial marriage. Sooner or later, you can’t avoid it. When Uncle Lin returns, he’ll probably drag you off to the capital to wed her. Let’s see how you handle that!”
“Tsk tsk, I’m already looking forward to seeing your legs getting broken. I really want to go watch…”
“...”
Lin Jiangnian got wary.
This eldest princess of the Daning Dynasty was probably a very important clue. Now that he was the Prince of Lin, he couldn’t dodge this challenge. As for what to do then…
Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on Xu Lan opposite him.
Suddenly catching his seemingly mischievous look, Xu Lan crossed her arms warily. “Why are you looking at me so sneakily?”
For some reason, since this guy started mocking her, Xu Lan felt uneasy.
It was like he was secretly watching her… something she had never felt before.
“Stop covering up your chest. What are you covering for?”
Lin Jiangnian shook his head and sighed.
Xu Lan: “...”
She was half tempted to kill this dog prince!
Lin Jiangnian ignored her angry glare and pondered a moment before asking, “Can I ask you a question?”
“No.”
“We’re good buddies, right?”
“No.”
“Then what are we to each other?”
“Dead enemies!”
Lin Jiangnian shook his head. “Your Xu family and my Lin family have been sworn friends for generations. We’ve known each other since childhood, so we’re like childhood sweethearts…”
“Shut up!”
Xu Lan glared fiercely, her cheeks flushing red. “I’m no one’s childhood sweetheart!”
“Then half?”
“Half my a—”
Page (3/3)
“...Playmates then. That’s got to be right?”
“...”
“We’ve known each other for so many years and can be considered good playmates. Though I’m not exactly a good person, think carefully—have I ever bullied you all these years?”
Lin Jiangnian argued convincingly.
Xu Lan was taken aback.
Bullied?
She thought for a moment. Not really?
This dog prince was definitely not a good guy—he had taken innocent women by force, tormented commoners—but he never caused a death. And he never really did anything to her…
“You wouldn’t dare. Aren’t you afraid Uncle Lin will break your legs?” Xu Lan snorted coldly.
Was she addicted to leg-breaking or what?
“Come on, what is it you want to say?”
Xu Lan eyed Lin Jiangnian suspiciously.
He was suddenly playing the feelings card—what was his angle?
Lin Jiangnian thought for a moment. “Nothing much, just wanted to ease the tension between us…”
“Speak plainly!”
“I want to ask for your help.”
“No.”
Xu Lan narrowed her eyes meaningfully. “You, the Prince of Lin, actually need my help?”
“Don’t say that. Even broken things can be useful.”
Xu Lan: “...”
She remained silent and slowly stood.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
Xu Lan’s face was cold, her teeth clenched. “If I stay here any longer, I’m afraid I’ll lose it and kill you!”
Saying that, Xu Lan stormed out angrily.
Seeing her leave the private room, Lin Jiangnian shook his head and stood to follow.
The teahouse wasn’t crowded.
Lin Jiangnian caught up to Xu Lan, who was still fuming and about to leave, just as he was thinking what to say.
“Hey, Your Highness the Prince is still alive, huh?”
A mocking voice came from nearby.
Calling him?
Lin Jiangnian stopped and looked back.
Not far from the teahouse, a few figures—men and women—sat together.
A young nobleman looked at Lin Jiangnian with amusement, a faint grin on his lips.
Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes sharply.
This visitor meant no good!
“...”