36 Chapter 36

"Pfft." Even someone as calm as her was completely confounded when she heard this. She spat out the tea that she had just drunk.

She sprayed out a mouthful of tea to the direction of the Third Prince who was just across from her. A few drops that were sprayed onto her face, slowly dripped down.

It passed by the corner of his mouth and slid into his neck, slowly reaching his throat. As his throat slightly moved, the water droplets quickly dissipated.

Tang Kexin was stunned but in her mind, she felt that Ye Lanjue's current appearance was actually quite sexy. It was so sexy that it would make others…

However, at this moment, Ye Lanjue's expression was extremely ugly. It was terrifyingly shadowy, and was not suitable for admiring.

It would be strange if he wasn't angry after being sprayed with something like this. Thus, it was but normal for his expression to be unsightly.

Upon hearing the empress' words, it seemed as if Ye Lanjue's soul had left his body out of shock. His body slanted and fell directly on the ground.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...!" Tang Kexin looked at Ye Lanjue's countenance just now and it was truly ugly! Thus, she scampered immediately to his side and hurriedly wiped away the Third Prince's face and neck using the handkerchief given to her by the Empress.

It was a natural thing for a modern woman to do what she did. She was after all a woman from the modern era.

When Ye Lanjue saw her actions, his eyes flashed a little. He did not speak, nor did he move.

"Xin'er...!" The empress's expression changed in shock. "How can you give His Highness your handkerchief?"

Xin'er had been a fool for her whole life, thus the Empress understood that Xin'er hadn't no idea of the social norms.

What shocked the empress though was that when Xin'er had used the handkerchief to wipe the Third Prince's face, the Third Prince actually didn't have the slightest intention of evading, nor did he do anything atrocious. With Third Prince's usual personality, how could he allow others to offend him?

Normally, under such circumstances, she would be crippled even before her hand could reach him. It wouldn't matter even if that person was someone prominent, if he really wanted to do something, no one would be able to stop him, not even the Emperor.

But the Third Prince's action just now was way beyond his usual reputation. When did the Third Prince care about anything else?

Hearing the empress's words, Tang Kexin stopped moving. She had forgotten that this wasn't the world she used to know, but rather the ancient world she had transmigrated to, where men and women were distinguished.

Therefore, her actions just now were indeed presumptuous in ancient time.

Her handkerchief dangerously hanged in front of Ye Lanjue's face. The corner of the handkerchief fluttered in an arc, brushing against his face, obscuring his unfathomable eyes. From Tang Kexin's point of view, he could see that his gentle lips were especially alluring.

It was a scene that was absolutely pleasing to the eyes.

"Your debt to this Prince has been piling up. I will ask you to settle them up, soon...! Just you wait." In the next moment, the corner of his lips slightly parted. It was still sexy, but it still carried a hint of coldness. The aura in the pavilion instantly froze, suppressing the desire to breathe.

When Ye Lanjue said this, although his voice wasn't loud, everyone present clearly heard it, including the Empress.

Tang Kexin sighed in her heart. Aiya, it seemed that this Prince really got offended this time. Well, who wouldn't?

Wait, piling up? What did he mean by 'piling up'? Aside from today, what else had she done to offend this imposing prince?

Anything else? Could it be that incident at the pond earlier? Or...

For a time, Tang Kexin felt as if she had fallen into a thousand-year-old ice pit. She instantly felt a chill that went from her head to toe.

Maybe he was referring to that unprecedented night?

No, it was so unlikely. Because if it was him, then right after knowing that it was her that night, he would have already annihilated her at the very first moment.

Even though the Third Prince seemed to be just intimidating her, Tang Kexin's heart was still extremely anxious. The Third Prince's words just now were truly strange.

The empress was so shocked that her breathing became ragged. What did the Third Prince say just now? The Third Prince was always cold and detached. He would never care about ordinary matters. If he were talking about the things that had just done, he would have dealt with them as soon as possible.

So, what did he mean by all this? Was there anything else between him and Xin'er?

The more the empress thought about it, the more agitated she became. She also had a faint feeling that what the Third Prince had said just now wasn't just for Xin'er to hear, but for her to hear.

With his intelligence, he naturally saw through her probing just now. Thus, he did it on purpose, or perhaps it was more so to express his intentions towards Xin'er?

His intentions? What on earth was he planning?

It was too easy for a man like him to obtain a woman's heart. And Xin'er was so innocent, so ignorant of the ways of the world. How could she resist his charm? It was likely that Xin'er would easily be enchanted if he were to do something so simple.

It would have been fine if he was sincere, but if he wasn't …

The empress' body stiffened, her heart trembled in fear. She really didn't dare to imagine the consequences.

"Mother should not make jokes like this..." Ye Lanchen, who was sitting on the ground, finally regained his senses. He stood up and rubbed the place where he had fallen in pain, his expression somewhat wronged.

The empress sighed softly. Chen'er is really…

"Esteemed Empress, His Majesty invites the Empress to his study." The empress was about to speak when Eunuch Liu walked over.

"Yes, I understand." With the emperor inviting her, the empress naturally couldn't delay it. Only, in the end she still wasn't at ease. She looked at Ye Lanjue and slowly spoke. "The Third Prince should go and change his…"

However, when he met Ye Lanjue's ice-cold face, she was unable to continue saying what she meant to say for a moment.

She was afraid that the more she involved herself in his matter, the more it would cause detrimental consequences.

"Esteemed Empress, please." Eunuch Liu was a smart man, so he hurriedly spoke up.

"Xin'er, come with me." When the empress was about to leave, she called out to Tang Kexin as well. When she saw that Ye Lanchen was still in a daze, she sighed secretly once again, "Chen'er, send Xin'er back to the Prime Minister's Estate."

"Oh, okay." Ye Lanchen was stunned, but his expression seemed to be a little unnatural as he replied.

When they exited the Qing Yin Garden, the Empress was unwilling to be separated with Tang Kexi, but the Emperor had requested her in the study. However, she once again reminded Ye Lanchen to send Tang Kexin back no matter what.

When their pathways with the empress had gone separately, Ye Lanchen stopped momentarily. He looked at Tang Kexin and took a deep breath. With a slightly embarrassed expression, he said, "Tang Kexin, this lordship… This Prince did not expect Imperial Mother to suddenly say that. This Prince knows that you have someone you like..."

Ye Lanchen's words paused as his brows furrowed slightly. "Although this prince knew that that man would impossibly like you in return, but this prince will follow you…"

"Pfftt! What are you talking about? You and I are definitely impossible. We are cousins, close relatives! And relatives should not get married or else their babies will be deformed, or they will become idiots." Seeing him in such a state, Tang Kexin couldn't help but laugh out loud. With his innocence, Ye Lanchen was simply too adorable.

Although she wasn't the original Tang Kexin, her body was still the original Tang Kexin. Therefore, it was impossible for her to be with Ye Lanchen. Moreover, this Fourth Prince was still like a boy that hadn't grown up yet.

"What...? What close relatives? What do you mean? What kind of deformity? " Ye Lanchen's eyes gleamed, his face filled with confusion.

"What I meant was, the two of us can't get married, we can't be husband and wife. But, we can be friends, like brothers." Tang Kexin liked him a lot, although he was a little mischievous, but she truly wanted him to be her friend.

"What brother? You're a girl, how could you be a brother? We are cousins... you are this Prince's cousin. " The corner of Ye Lanchen's mouth twitched, and a smile appeared on his face.

He actually liked this girl's way of thinking.

"Hmm, that's more like it...!" Tang Kexin smiled brilliantly.

"Whatever you say... it's fine anyway." Seeing the smile on her face, Ye Lanchen couldn't stop himself from smiling.

"But Xin Xin, what did Third Brother meant by your debts piling up? Have you offended third brother in any way before?" Recalling the words that Ye Lanjue had said at the garden, he once again reverted to his usual self of being curious to everything.

"No... how could I possibly have offended him?" Hearing him suddenly mention this matter, Tang Kexin's expression slightly changed, but her first reaction was to deny it.

She had never been afraid of the heavens or the earth. However, every time she faced Ye Lanjue, she would always panic.

"Then why did Third Brother say that just now? This prince believes that something must have happened." Ye Lanchen naturally didn't believe it. His eyes were filled with his usual excitement. It was clear that he wouldn't give up until Tang Kexin would say something that would feed his curiosity.

"I really have done nothing that'd worth his anger. Besides, the natural character of the third prince is absolutely petty and vengeful. If I really offended him, would I still be alive talking with you right now?" Tang Kexin secretly exhaled. With Ye Lanchen's personality, he would never give up until he got the final answer, and he might even investigate. That matter was enough to make her tremble with fear, and if Ye Lanchen were to add fuel to the fire, it would be worst than death!

Thus, if she wanted Ye Lanchen to believe her words and to stop him from probing further, she needed to act convincing and shocking enough.

Besides, Tang Kexin's impression of Ye Lanjue was not something unfound of, even other people think that the Third Prince was originally a stingy person who held grudges. Even though she was in the wrong when she sprayed water on him, she didn't do it on purpose.

"Are you sure?" A deep voice suddenly sounded from behind her. It carried a domineering aura which was filled with a feeling of danger that could devour her whole being.

That voice, she was clearly familiar of. Indeed, speaking of the devil would make the devil appear!

Tang Kexin's body suddenly froze. She subconsciously swallowed her saliva and nearly bit off her tongue.

Her vigilance was so high, why didn't she notice that he was so closed by? Did she just say something? Did anyone say something? No, absolutely not...