Chapter 3 The Cabinet Door Opens!

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Ji Hua's expression suddenly changed.
She instinctively held her breath, the ink-blue robe of Ling Moxuan right before her eyes.
Only a cabinet now separated them.
Could the Crown Prince really listen to her and protect her?
Outside the cabinet,
Ling Yuzhao suddenly exuded a murderous aura. "I said, I have never seen her. Get out!"
Ling Moxuan clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging, his tone both respectful and resolute: "Brother, this matter happened within the palace. If an accident occurs, how can we explain it to the Prime Minister?"
Ling Yuzhao's narrow eyes squinted slightly, filled with an overwhelming pressure like thunder.
"After not seeing you for a few days, I find you are unusually concerned about Miss Ji."
Ling Moxuan bent his back under the pressure, lowering his head. "Your servant simply does not want Minister Ji to worry or be disappointed, and is responsible to all the officials’ families."
At this point, Ling Moxuan's tone suddenly shifted. "If no one is inside the cabinet, I will check and leave immediately. Brother, why do you persist in stopping me?"
Their eyes met, sparks seeming to fly, an invisible battlefield of tension spreading silently at this moment.
Everyone present was intelligent; who could not understand the implicit meaning in these words?
Ling Yuzhao was deliberately hiding someone.
Several people’s gazes toward Ling Yuzhao changed.
Some were even surprised, whispering, "Look, doesn’t the Crown Prince’s clothing seem a bit untidy, like he put it on in a hurry?"
Though the voice was low, it was still clearly audible in the deathly quiet room.
Ling Yuzhao smiled faintly, seemingly indifferent, but the oppressive aura around him was like the sea before a storm, making hearts tremble.
"If there is no one inside, can you bear the guilt of doubting the Crown Prince?"
The last sentence was like an invisible mountain pressing steadily on Ling Moxuan’s chest.
His men had personally seen Ji Hua enter the room.
This game must not have any flaws!
Ling Moxuan clasped his hands again and spoke firmly.
"Your servant is doing this solely for Miss Ji’s safety. Afterward, I will personally apologize to my brother."
With that, he flung open the cabinet door!
But the confident gaze instantly turned into disbelief!
The cabinet was empty!
Where was Ji Hua?
Ling Yuzhao’s cold and fierce aura exploded, "Get out!"
If he had seemed reservedly sharp before,
Now he was like a drawn sword.
Many bodies trembled uncontrollably.
Ling Moxuan clenched his fists, nearly grinding his teeth to dust.
"My rashness caused today’s incident. I will personally apologize in the future. I take my leave."
Ling Moxuan cast a dark glance at the cabinet once more, then swept his sleeves and left.
Only after everyone had gone did Ji Hua emerge from inside the cabinet.
Ling Yuzhao reined in some of his hostility, a faint, unreadable smile on his lips.
"How did you hide?"

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Only then did the heavy stone weighing on Ji Hua’s heart fall away.
She turned and pointed to the cabinet.
"There is a secret compartment inside."
Ling Yuzhao’s lips curled higher, "Not too foolish after all."
Ji Hua’s eyes flickered slightly—so he knew about the secret compartment?
He was blocking the way just now to buy her time?
Ling Yuzhao was already seated in a nearby chair, casually playing with a delicate blue-and-white porcelain cup.
"Since you’ve passed the test, tell me your most precious secret."
Ji Hua bowed slightly, lowering her eyes.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for buying time. The secret can only be seen, not spoken. Three days from now, I will take Your Highness somewhere, and you will understand immediately."
Ling Yuzhao raised an eyebrow—truly a clever girl.
His gaze traveled downward, pausing briefly over Ji Hua’s chest.
In the rush, her clothes were not properly fastened, and faint red plum blossom marks could be seen on her pale skin near the neckline.
Ji Hua’s face shifted slightly but calmly she adjusted her clothes inward.
Ling Yuzhao put down the porcelain cup.
"Since you have already given yourself to me, I will give you a title."
A trace of mockery flashed in Ji Hua’s eyes.
If he wanted to give her a title, how could she possibly marry Prince Xuan?
"Your Highness need not comfort me so. Marrying my sister would be the best solution."
Ling Yuzhao’s sharp gaze fixed on her.
"Do you not trust me?"
Naturally not.
In her previous life, Ji Shulan was cruelly tortured to death by him.
Neither Ling Yuzhao nor Ling Moxuan would ever be her rightful match.
Ji Hua glanced outside at the darkening sky.
"It’s late. I take my leave first."
"I will escort you."
Ling Yuzhao immediately wrapped his arm around Ji Hua’s waist.
Before she could speak, the man’s light-footed leap sent them soaring into the air.
"Your Highness..."
She instinctively hugged Ling Yuzhao’s neck, looking up only to see his sharp jawline.
"Be good."
At that moment, his voice was unusually gentle, making her momentarily lose herself.
With a few bounds, they were already outside the courtyard.
Ling Yuzhao mounted a horse while holding Ji Hua, who was cradled in his arms.
The sandalwood incense unique to him wafted around her, penetrating her senses from all directions.
Ji Hua’s heart involuntarily trembled.
For two lifetimes, it was this man who shared her first night.

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The chestnut horse neighed and galloped forward.
The rushing wind tousled Ji Hua’s hair.
It also suddenly reminded her of something far more important.
Her gaze instantly grew serious.
"Your Highness, I suddenly disappeared from the banquet, and Prince Xuan openly sent people to look for me. If..."
Even if Ling Moxuan failed in his intent, her reputation would be ruined.
A deep, commanding voice sounded by her ear.
"I have already notified them. I am the one escorting you back to your residence."
Ling Yuzhao’s thin lips pressed close to Ji Hua’s ear, his warm breath brushing her earlobe, causing her body to tremble slightly.
That spot was her most sensitive.
Now, pressed against him in such a suggestive posture.
Ji Hua clenched her fists hard, her nails digging into her palms, using the pain to regain her composure.
She said quietly, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Two quarters of an hour later,
The chestnut horse stopped behind the Prime Minister’s residence.
Ling Yuzhao held Ji Hua’s waist and swiftly entered the Spring Breeze Pavilion.
Their movements were silent, not even the guards at the door noticed.
It was summer; her courtyard was full of spring blossoms.
Alongside the pebble paths were many flowers she had personally planted.
Since her marriage, she had never returned.
Now, looking once more at the familiar courtyard, Ji Hua was filled with emotion.
It was as if an invisible hand gripped her heart tightly.
Ji Hua pushed open the door. In her past life, when abused and tormented, this was the place she longed for most.
Ling Yuzhao followed, the simple, warm decor welcoming.
Pine incense curled gently in the room—her scent.
Yet he turned his head to find Ji Hua quietly weeping.
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Miss Ji, do you have something on your mind?"
Ji Hua snapped back to reality, looking at the man with resistance. "Everyone praises the Crown Prince as a gentleman, yet now he arbitrarily invades a woman’s boudoir?"
Ling Yuzhao’s lips curved into a playful smile as he suddenly wrapped his arm around Ji Hua’s waist.
Her body was forced close to his, and she gasped, "Your HighnessI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.