Killer Queen + 18

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When Xiao Li opened her eyes, the sky was already bright.

The first thing she saw was a pale green gauze canopy above her. She turned her head and realized she was lying on the same wide bamboo bed as last time.

A jolt of shock shot through her, and she immediately sat up—but then she suddenly remembered something. She quickly grabbed the silk quilt that had slipped down and pulled it up to cover herself.

As she lowered her head, though, a small smile curled up at the corners of her mouth.

—Her clothes were perfectly intact.

Seriously, how careless could she be? She didn't even remember how she'd fallen asleep last night. She actually let him hold her in his arms like that, her face pressed against his chest, while he told her that tragically beautiful love story.

That was all. Nothing more.

But even something so simple had completely disarmed someone like her—someone who'd been specially trained. Yeah… this time, she'd really let her guard down.

Luckily, Huángfǔ Hàotiān had behaved himself for once. Unlike the last two times, he hadn't crossed any lines. Still… where was he now?

She looked down at the neatly arranged bed on both sides and frowned. After what had happened before, she really couldn't believe he'd suddenly become some celibate gentleman who could resist temptation. Unless… he didn't stay here last night?

Since he wasn't around right now, there wasn't much point in guessing. So Xiao Li decided to stop overthinking it, get up quickly, and go figure things out for herself.

Just as she was about to get out of bed, someone suddenly burst through the door, making her yelp in surprise. Before she could yell at whoever it was, the gauze canopy around the bed was lifted.

"You're awake?" A smiling Huángfǔ Hàotiān peeked in through the opening. "What, did I scare you?" He grinned warmly. "Next time, don't be so jumpy. You should know, no one else is allowed to come into this room except me."

Looking at his smug smile, Xiao Li wanted to grit her teeth in frustration—but she quickly calmed herself. "So it's you."

She noticed he looked kind of tired, and suddenly remembered what she'd been wondering earlier. Without thinking, she asked, "Why was I sleeping here alone? Did you not sleep at all last night?" …Wait, why did that question sound so weird?

Apparently, Huángfǔ Hàotiān thought so too. His expression changed as he looked at her—his eyes suddenly filled with something intense.

That unbelievably good-looking face of his—those sharp brows, the deep amusement in his eyes, the teasing curve of his lips—radiated danger in a way she couldn't ignore.

"What's this? Woke up and didn't see me—did you miss me already?" As he said this, he stepped fully into the canopy, moving so close their faces nearly touched.

"Your Highness…" Xiao Li quickly forced herself to sober up, realizing how careless she'd just been. "Please remember your identity. I'm not the kind of woman you think—mmph!"

Damn it. She knew he wasn't a proper gentleman.

"Don't… mmph… let go…" Before she could react, he'd already pulled her tightly into his arms.

There was no room for her to resist. His kiss came crashing down like a tidal wave.

As the air inside the canopy heated up, and their breaths grew ragged, Huángfǔ Hàotiān finally let go of the hand gripping the back of her head. "A'Li," he murmured, gazing into her eyes, "do you have any idea how much I missed you all this time?"

"I…" Xiao Li looked into his dark, bottomless eyes and suddenly couldn't find any words.

"Shhh…" His long, jade-like finger gently touched her lips. "Don't talk. Let me look at you."

Her face turned beet red, and she hated herself for being so useless—falling right into the trap he'd set.

But even so… she still couldn't pull herself away from his gaze.

Finally, Huángfǔ Hàotiān seemed to remember what he'd actually come for.

He dialed down the heat in his eyes and smiled gently. "You must be starving after sleeping all night. Come on, get up. After breakfast, I'll take you somewhere."

Turns out Xiao Li had guessed right. After tucking her into bed, Huángfǔ Hàotiān had gone back to Doctor Mo's house and stayed there the whole night, keeping watch over the Crown Prince without sleeping a wink.

After a night of rest, the Crown Prince's complexion looked much better.

Right after breakfast, Xiao Li heard the Crown Prince practically begging Doctor Mo, "Master, please… have mercy. Let me see Youlan, just once."

He looked at Doctor Mo, then turned to the timid little girl sitting beside him—Xiao Mo Lan—and his face twisted into a bitter smile. "I know… I probably don't have much time left. But even so, I still want to see her… just one last time."

Doctor Mo wasn't made of stone. Seeing the Prince looking so heartbroken, his own heart softened with a sigh. "Sigh… True, you were the one who caused her death all those years ago. But in her heart, she never stopped thinking about you. It's been seven, eight years already. Fine. I'll grant you this last wish."

It was mid-autumn, and the mountain breeze in the morning was already a bit chilly. The group made their way through the Phoenix Mountain forest to a quiet valley.

Green hills. Bamboo groves. A flowing stream. Peaceful and serene.

Xiao Li stopped and looked out—

Amid the green hills and clear waters stood a lone grave, right in the center of the silent valley. Around it, wild chrysanthemums bloomed, adding a quiet, elegant beauty to the place.

It really was a resting place fit for a beautiful woman.

The Crown Prince had already gotten out of his carriage. He brushed off the guards who tried to help him and walked, step by slow step, toward the emerald-covered grave.

"Youlan… it's me. It's Renhe…" he whispered. "Today… I can finally see you. We can finally meet again…"

Tears rolled silently down his face, falling into the flowers at his feet. Even the blossoms seemed to wilt in mourning.

Xiao Li didn't move. Doctor Mo didn't move. Huángfǔ Hàotiān stood still as well.

In that moment, it felt like the entire world had paused. Aside from the Crown Prince and his Youlan, everything else—people, trees, even time—was silent and invisible.

A long while passed.

Then, a small figure in red slowly approached the Prince, hesitated, and then knelt quietly beside him. She didn't say a word—just let her tears fall silently.

"Mother… Father… Mother… Father…" Her tiny, childish voice trembled with heartbreak. "Mama… Papa…"

And just like that, the little girl collapsed into the Prince's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Lan'er… my poor daughter… It's all my fault… Papa came too late…"

As the sun rose and began to set, the bamboo-filled valley faded from bright to dim.

Xiao Li had never thought she could sit still like this, waiting quietly for something to end.

This… was a tragic story.

And yet, also a timeless love.

As a mere bystander to all this, all she could really do was silently stay there. Wait.

No matter how bitter the tears, no matter how heavy the sorrow, all she could offer was her quiet presence.

Maybe… maybe she could manage it because someone else was always right there with her. A hand, never letting go of hers, silently offering strength.

That hand, warm and firm, gave her the courage to face everything with peace in her heart.

Finally, she saw the Crown Prince slowly rise from before the grave. In his arms was the little girl, now fast asleep from crying too much.

"Youlan… Lan'er's exhausted. I'm going to take her home to rest now." For some reason, Xiao Li suddenly felt that his frail figure looked unusually tall and strong.

Only his voice still carried that same deep gentleness: "You've suffered all these years. I swear, one day, I'll make it up to you. But for now, please wait just a little longer. Not too long—just give me and our child a little more time. Once she's safe and sound, I'll come back to be with you. And then, no one—no one—will ever tear us apart again."

All the way back, the Crown Prince held his daughter tightly, never once loosening his grip. When they returned to the village, Mo Lan had woken up. But when her eyes caught sight of the carriage waiting at the gate, she instinctively curled closer into the Prince's arms.

He lowered his head, eyes filled with pain and sorrow.

"My child, come home with me. I want to stay by your side forever."

He fought to hold back his tears.

But little Mo Lan, hearing his words, hesitated. Then she looked up at him, stared for a long while… and finally turned her gaze to Doctor Mo.

"Grandpa… I don't want to leave Grandpa."

A flicker of pain crossed the Prince's face.

So… deep down, Lan'er still couldn't forgive him. She couldn't fully open her heart to accept him.

But how could he, as her father, bear to let her go again?

"Hàotiān…" he turned to his younger brother. "Please. Help me one more time. I can't leave Lan'er again."

Huángfǔ Hàotiān stood silently, then opened his mouth to speak—but fell silent under the cold, stern gaze of Doctor Mo.

He understood how his brother felt… but right now, he had to stay calm.

"Your Highness," he finally said quietly, "forgive me for being blunt, but Lan'er can't go back with you."

The Crown Prince shut his eyes tightly. "Why? She's my daughter!"

Of course she was. But that was exactly why… she couldn't go back to that dangerous palace.

"Because it's not the right time. She's still just a child. You can't take that kind of risk."

After a long silence, the Crown Prince finally opened his eyes again. "You're right. It's not time yet. My Lan'er… she's still just a little girl."

"....."