Chapter 51: A Beauty in His Arms

"What, not welcoming this Prince?" Yue Wuqing sat down beside the campfire without the slightest courtesy, tilting his head with a smile as he looked at Zhao Erdong.

Zhao Erdong secretly curled her lip. "Hardly. Does Your Highness still remember what I said before?"

"Which line? The things you've said are neither too many nor too few!" Yue Wuqing curved his lips into a faint, immensely charming smile. It was a pity that, with a beauty right before him, she couldn't even bear to spare him a single glance.

"I once said that should we happen to meet by chance, please do not greet me, because we are truly not acquainted," Zhao Erdong said with displeasure.

Yue Wuqing shrugged and slowly stood up. "I naturally remember those words, but my meeting with you today is definitely no chance encounter." With that, he glanced at the rabbit bones on the ground and continued, "My little niece keeps a spiritual pet, seemingly a large white rabbit with fur as pure and flawless as snow. It was mischievous today and actually slipped away here to play. Since this place is a forbidden precinct of the imperial palace and pitch dark besides, my little niece didn't dare to come in and search for it, so I volunteered to look for it in her stead. I can only wonder, however, why Miss Zhao happens to be here? And you've even lit a campfire. Do you know that playing with fire deep within the imperial palace is a grave offense?"

His little niece? Wasn't that the current emperor's daughter? A princess? The princess's beloved pet? A large white rabbit?!

She let out a dry chuckle, casually kicking the dirt with her foot as if nonchalantly trying to bury the rabbit bones beneath the soil.

She hadn't obtained the martial arts manual yet; she absolutely could not be driven out of the palace just like this!

With a backhanded slap, Zhao Erdong struck the half-extinguished flames, snuffing them out completely as the thick smoke drifted away with the wind. "Heh—apologies, I had no idea this was a forbidden zone, nor did I know that lighting fires is prohibited in the palace. It was just that the road was too dark, and I wanted to light a torch to see my way. I never imagined it would burn brighter and brighter. Heh heh, an accident, this is definitely an accident! You know how it is, us girls, we're always a bit timid and afraid of the dark!"

With the firelight gone, darkness swept back in. The sky remained pitch black, devoid of a single star or sliver of moonlight. She could only vaguely discern a figure slowly drawing close to her.

Instinctively, she stepped back, but her foot caught on a withered branch on the ground, and her body fell backward out of control.

She closed her eyes tightly, bracing herself for the moment her flesh would make intimate contact with the ground.

A strong, powerful arm wrapped around her waist, and she tumbled into someone's embrace—warm, solid, and radiating a faint, elusive fragrance that had no particular scent yet felt utterly unique.

In the darkness, she could not make out his facial features or expression, but she could clearly see the brilliant, sparkling light shimmering within those peach-blossom eyes.

"Miss Zhao, the road is too dark, do be careful. If you don't mind, I'd be happy to guide you." Holding her close, Yue Wuqing had not the slightest intention of letting go. He had held countless women in his arms, including many peerless beauties, yet none had ever given him the sensation he felt at this moment, intoxicating him completely.

Waves of crimson crept up her cheeks. Fortunately, the night was pitch black and blinded him, so he could not see her flushed appearance. In a panic, she broke free from his embrace, took a large step back, and said coldly, "I don't need your help. Your Highness, I will say it once more: from now on, should we cross paths again, please pretend you do not know me. Even if I fall, please turn a blind eye. Farewell, and may we never meet again!"

She turned and bolted away as if fleeing for her life, her face still burning as though scorched by fire by the time she returned to the Imperial Guards' quarters.

Yue Wuqing stood smiling, composed and serene. "I'm afraid things will hardly go as you wish!"

*My mind wandering wildly?* Those were the only four words that came to mind to describe her momentary lapse of poise just then. How could she have let her mind wander wildly in the embrace of a man who could practically be called a stranger?!

She shook her head fiercely, trying to banish that scene from her mind, when she suddenly recalled the episode at the Yipin Residence—surrounded by beauties on both sides, utterly dissolute! Good heavens, she had actually let her mind wander over such a scumbag?!