[COMPLETE] Not Good! The Villainess Is Muddled

23. Xia Lian Bei

It was simply absurd.

She subconsciously looked at the windows. They were shut tight which meant it was currently night time.

Xia Lian Bei didn't buy her sarcasm.

The glow from the candles erased his playful and volatile air and gave a rare sedate expression on his face.

En... It must be the candles.

"Why don't you want to live anymore?" A very straightforward question.

Normally, an acquaintance of a failed suicidal would offer consolation, words like 'we're always here for you' etc.

But Xia Lian Bei cut straight to the chase. This was what he really wanted to know.

Yin Hua Lei looked away. She didn't see the point in answering.

Prince Feng didn't mind and continued his one sided conversation.

"Ben wang thought you still have ambitions." The meaning was implied but they both understood.

Chang wangfei. And even the chance to give the throne to the ninth prince.

Hearing what the prince said, Yin Hua Lei's pupils dilated.

Unbeknownst to her, no one in Da Xia was as clear to Yin Hua Lei's ambitions as this wang shu.

On the surface, she only wanted to wed the ninth prince. But because she was a Yin, marrying a prince that wouldn't inherit the throne was detrimental to the clan's secret.

But before Yin Hua Lei could react, Prince Feng suddenly slipped down the bed onto the floor. She was confused why a dignified royalty would want to sit on the floor.

She only realized the reason when Xia Lian Bei's line of sight was leveled with hers.

His arms were atop the mattress and his chin rested on his crossed arms.

In all seriousness, like he was making the biggest decision in his life, he sighed.

"Yin Hua Lei, I won't care even if you chase any one of my nephews after this and I'm also not in the place to tell you to take better care of your wellbeing. But..."

Yin Hua Lei was baffled. Why was Da Xia's imperial uncle spouting nonsense?

"If the reason why you're trying to harm yourself is about that night, then... Then ben wang will explain. Just listen carefully to this prince and try not to be agitated too much. It's not good for your weak body right now."

Was he even breathing?

Xia Lian Bei ignored her puzzled look and only stared at her eyes, fearing that she wouldn't believe anything he'd say if he looked elsewhere.

He still remembered that night vividly.

Xia Lian Bei was travelling back to the capital for the New Year.

He was very fond of driving people (especially his cute right hand man) to the point of madness. That day, his chosen method was to slip away from his entourage.

Xia Lian Bei found the rare moments of being truly alone enlightening.

In essence, he'd been alone his entire life because the people around him didn't want anything to do with a cursed child. But because he was part of the imperial family and was even the Emperor's beloved brother, the people who despised and were disgusted with him had no choice but to put up with him and even ingratiate themselves to him.

So he learned to savor the instances of being left to his own devices. He decided to go back the next day when he was done frolicking on his own.

He also left a note not to look for him so it was the perfect setup.

Unknown to him, Shai had gotten used to his master's impulsive behavior and didn't even bother to pretend to be worried.

Xia Lian Bei found himself at an inn with an in-house hot spring. This kind of relaxation spot was not a foreign thing to him. Even his estate at Northern Chu had its own spring.

But being in a hot spring with other people was an unfamiliar experience. This wasn't the first time that he'd done this either but something about the thought of doing something the common people did was quite fascinating to him.

He wondered if his Brother Emperor had also done this when he was young. Knowing him, he'd probably done it a thousand times.

So, like the irresponsible prince that Xia Lian Bei was, he went on with the flow.

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media source: https://pin.it/fk4oq42uvt6icp (that above could be Shai, only our Shai has a darker skin tone)