Picking on me because I'm an easy target, huh

Xia Lingxi brought Qin Hao back to her palace. Her personal maid looked extremely happy to see her master return:

"Your Royal Highness, you have returned! This is wonderful! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince returned to the palace yesterday and said your fate was unknown. This servant thought she would never see Your Highness again."

The maid's words exploded like a clap of thunder in Xia Lingxi's ears:

"What! Brother Crown Prince returned yesterday? And not only did he not bring reinforcements to save me, but he also said my fate was unknown?"

Disbelieving, Xia Lingxi took two steps back. At this moment, her eyes were full of bewilderment. Qin Hao's words echoed in her mind over and over again:

"You are a fool who helps count the money after being sold. Your brother, the Crown Prince, is trying to get rid of you."

Xia Lingxi could not believe it. Could it be that the Crown Prince's usual kindness towards her was all an act? Was he really so cruel as to want to get rid of her? But why? Why would he do this?

Xia Lingxi dismissed the maid, leaving only herself and Qin Hao in the room. Her eyes were red, tears swirling within them:

"Hey, Ugly Freak, am I really stupid?"

Hearing Xia Lingxi's form of address, the veins on Qin Hao's temples throbbed. Ugly Freak? Qin Hao's blood pressure soared uncontrollably.

He, Qin Hao, the Imperial Son of the Qin family, a peerless handsome man destined to cause romantic tribulations for countless beauties in the future, an existence who considered his looks to be absolutely flawless, was actually being repeatedly called an ugly freak by this intellectually worrying fool in front of him, who was crying so hard that snot bubbles were about to pop out?

Qin Hao rapped Xia Lingxi hard on the head: "You are simply as stupid as can be!"

Xia Lingxi clutched her head, tears falling from the pain: "Stop hitting me, I will get even stupider if you keep hitting me."

The news of the Little Princess's return quickly spread throughout the entire imperial palace. The Crown Prince, naturally, also received the news.

Before long, he brought someone with him to Xia Lingxi's bedchamber.

When the maid reported that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was requesting an audience, Xia Lingxi gnashed her teeth in hatred: "He actually dares to come see me! Ugly Freak, hide yourself first! The moment he appears, teach him a harsh lesson for me!"

Qin Hao did not move; he merely stared quietly at Xia Lingxi.

His cold gaze fell calmly upon Xia Lingxi's face through his ferocious fanged mask.

Xia Lingxi saw that Qin Hao's pupils had split into two, as profound as a chaotic abyss, seemingly capable of devouring all light and souls. The power of the surrounding laws trembled violently simply because of the existence of these eyes.

Staring into Qin Hao's eyes, Xia Lingxi felt an absolute suppression and terror stemming from the level of her very soul.

She stumbled a step back, not daring to look at Qin Hao's eyes anymore, and just hugged herself tightly: "Wh-what do you want to do?"

Stormy waves were already surging in Xia Lingxi's heart at this moment. There was no mistake; these eyes were the legendary Double Pupils, capable of being invincible in the world!

As a princess of the Great Cang Nation, Xia Lingxi had some understanding of many ancient legends and celestial anomalies. She had once seen records regarding the Double Pupils on the oldest, most dilapidated animal skin ancient tome in the Library Pavilion, which was listed as a taboo.

Those with Double Pupils were not human, but akin to gods and demons. They were born with the aspect of a saint and wielded the authority of laws. When their eyes opened, the universe would shake; when their eyes closed, all laws would fall silent.

Xia Lingxi never expected that the temporary Dao companion summoned from the jade pendant she had casually picked up would actually be a legendary Double Pupil wielder.

Once the Double Pupils opened, that aura of absolute high status, overriding all common sense, made even Xia Lingxi, who possessed the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart, tremble uncontrollably.

Right at this moment, Qin Hao spoke up: "If you speak so carelessly again, I will pull your tongue out!"

Frightened by Qin Hao, Xia Lingxi hurriedly covered her mouth, terrified that in the next second, Qin Hao would actually rip her tongue out.

"Don't! But, what should I call you? You never told me your name."

"Qin Hao. Just call me Qin Hao."

Qin Hao merely glanced at Xia Lingxi before withdrawing his gaze. This foolish woman could not compare to Qingyue at all. If only every client was as obedient as Qingyue.

Withdrawing his gaze, Qin Hao retreated into the shadows.

Gulp!

Xia Lingxi swallowed hard, her eyes full of lingering fear as she looked at Qin Hao. It was too terrifying. Being stared at by him felt as if the end of the world had descended!

Just as Xia Lingxi's heart was pounding and her thoughts were in turmoil, an urgent knocking sounded from outside the door.

Crown Prince Xia Yang had arrived.

Xia Lingxi cast a pleading look toward Qin Hao, only to find that the spot where he had just been standing was now completely empty. At some unknown moment, Qin Hao had thoroughly concealed himself, his aura completely gone, as if he had never been there.

Xia Lingxi patted her chest, cheering herself on in her heart:

"It will be fine. With Qin Hao here, he is a Double Pupil wielder. Brother Crown Prince won't be able to hurt me."

Thinking of this, Xia Lingxi took a deep breath and called out to the door:

"Come in!"

The door was pushed open. Crown Prince Xia Yang's face was written all over with anger. Upon seeing Xia Lingxi, he dashed in front of her in a single stride and, without any explanation, slapped her across the face:

"Idiot! Why did you come back? Do you not know that you will die!"

This slap not only stunned Xia Lingxi but even caught Qin Hao, who was hiding in the dark, off guard for a moment. He had thought this Xia Yang would put on an act and pretend to be cordial with Xia Lingxi upon seeing her. He never expected this guy to just directly give Xia Lingxi a massive slap to the face.

However, what did his words mean? Listening to him, it seemed there was a hidden truth to the matter.

Xia Lingxi clutched her face, glaring at Xia Yang with an angry expression. Qin Hao bullied me, and Brother Crown Prince also hit me! You guys are just treating me like a pushover, aren't you!

Very well! By messing with me, consider yourselves to have messed with a ball of cotton!

"Don't you just want me dead?" Xia Lingxi puffed out her cheeks and yelled at Xia Yang furiously.

Xia Lingxi's words made Xia Yang's vision go dark for a moment. He rubbed his forehead and let out a faint sigh:

"Sure enough, I just can't hold out much hope for your brain. If I wanted to kill you, why would I have gone through so much trouble to leave you a way out?"

"Did you think I directed and acted out that assassination drama for you to see? I did that for our Imperial Father to see! The person who wants you dead isn't me, it's Imperial Father! We share the same mother, you are my most beloved blood sister, how could I bear to kill you?"

"It's Imperial Father. He promised me the throne, demanding that I kill you, extract your Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart, and offer it to him to help him become an immortal. Only then would he let me be the Emperor. I was unwilling, which is why I staged that whole play! I thought you would understand my intentions, but you silly sister, why did you run back here yourself!"

Speaking up to here, Xia Yang let out a long sigh: "Fortunately, there is still time for everything. Imperial Father has been in secluded cultivation, and he won't be able to come out in the short term. You must leave the Great Cang Nation right now, immediately. Run as far away as you can. Remember, you must stay alive!"

Saying this, Xia Yang pulled out a person from behind him and said to Xia Lingxi:

"Lingxi, isn't Gong Jun your favorite? I've brought Gong Jun here. I've asked him for his consent; he will take you far away and protect your safety."

That handsome, clear-featured man smiled at Xia Lingxi:

"Your Royal Highness, the days ahead are long. Please take care of me."

Qin Hao, who had been hiding in the shadows all along, now completely understood what was going on. Xia Yang was not trying to harm Xia Lingxi; on the contrary, he was protecting her.

At this thought, the corners of Qin Hao's mouth twitched. He could not help but remark inwardly, how could you say you overestimated Xia Lingxi's intelligence? That massive idiot simply did not have a brain to begin with.

When dealing with someone like Xia Lingxi, one had to explain everything down to the smallest detail, making it absolutely clear and unambiguous.

Qin Hao let out a sigh and took a step out from the void.

Ripples spread through the fabric of space, quickly drawing the attention of Xia Yang and Gong Jun. Seeing Qin Hao suddenly materialize, the two assumed he was an agent sent by the emperor. Xia Yang hastily pulled Xia Lingxi behind his back to shield her, while Gong Jun launched an attack straight at Qin Hao.

"Don't! Brother Gong Jun, you are no match for him!"