Chapter 2709

Meanwhile, on the gravel path on the other side of the flower garden, Liu Shuoyue and the three others gathered together, each with a different expression.

Heiyi scratched his head, his dark face full of bewilderment: "We… why have we appeared deep inside the palace?"

He was clearly accompanying Jin Chen just in case, yet he felt as if he had come to watch as a spectator.

Liu Shuoyue leaned against the rockery with arms crossed, her clear, cold eyes sweeping over the distant, splendid palace eaves; her tone carried a hint of seeing through the world's Calmness.

"Perhaps… it's just to stay alive."

Zang Huaian's face was the gravest; he habitually touched the compass at his waist and said in a low voice: "This is no small matter—if the City Lord finds out… Brother Jin and this Your Highness are involved… hiss…"

He sucked in a breath of cold air, as if he had already seen the Ghost King's wrath, the scene of blood flowing like rivers; "We… probably can't stay out of this, our lives are in grave danger."

Chu Jiushan had his hands behind his back, swaying head to head, eyes closed, lost in reverie.

"Ah, it's all my senior brother's fault for being too charming, charming! This damned charm with nowhere to put! The City Lord is peerless among ghosts, the princess is a flower of wealth and honor in the mortal realm… perhaps…"

"Perhaps they could coexist peacefully, just like the storybooks say, Ehuang Nüying…"

Liu Shuoyue looked at him expressionlessly, her tone chilly. "…What do you think?"

Chu Jiushan covered his ears, "Never mind, never mind, it's too disastrous! I dare not imagine! Senior brother, best of luck to you!"

Just imagining Yin Chaosheng's half‑smile made one feel a chill even in the marrow.

At that moment, the princess's gate opened.

Having changed into court robes and veiled with light gauze, Princess Chiyin stepped out slowly under the attendants of palace maids and eunuchs.

Although her features were unclear, her bearing and demeanor already made Fu Lingjing, lurking in the shadows, catch his breath.

The princess casually swept her gaze over the garden, pausing briefly at the rockery where Fu Lingjing hid, flashing a faint hint of mockery, then her eyes landed on Jin Chen, who stood with hands behind his back beneath the corridor, his expression indifferent.

"Let's go, Young Hero Jin."

Jin Chen nodded slightly, his steps unhurried as he followed the imperial procession.

In the late spring Imperial Garden, flowers were as rich as brocade; warm breezes swept past the pavilions and towers, bringing waves of fragrant scent.

Yet beneath this springtime splendor, undercurrents stirred.

Jin Chen and Princess Chiyin walked side by side on the jade stone path; not far behind followed the downcast palace maids and eunuchs. Before they had gone far, a somewhat hurried figure emerged from behind the rockery and blocked the way.

He is precisely the Fu Lingjing who has been carefully dressed up, trying to display his suave and unrestrained charm.

He suppressed his nervousness and half-belief in the secret manual, and bowed deeply to the princess.

Commoner Fu Lingjing, I pay respects to Your Highness the Princess!

Immediately, he lifted his head and saw Jin Chen, who looked astonished and reproached: "Jin Chen! How bold you are! Dare to walk side by side with the Princess?"

Jin Chen didn't stop his steps, nor did he glance sideways, "Why wouldn't I dare? Is my courage perhaps growing on you?"

Fu Lingjing's face flushed pallid, he took a deep breath, turned to the princess, and strove to make his expression appear sincere and anguished.

Your Highness the Princess, you have long dwelt in the deep palace, you are unaware!

This person's conduct is improper; he has already been involved with someone! He day and night with that…… with that……

When the words reached his lips, he wanted to utter the four words 'Ghost City Lord,' but that invisible binding force appeared again, he could only forcibly Change Address, his tone urgent: "He already has an ambiguous lover! Day and night they share a bed, inseparable!"

Your Highness, your priceless person must not be deceived by such hypocrites!

Oh?

The princess slightly tilted her head; though her veil concealed her face, the gaze she cast upon Jin Chen seemed to carry a thousand‑jin weight, half‑smiling as she asked, "Young Hero Jin, is what he said… true?"

Jin Chen, feeling three parts wronged and seven parts candid, stopped his steps, looked at the princess, and said, "Your Highness, if you do not believe me, I will leave now."

"But… the imperial summons has been issued; the whole capital knows that Jin has accepted Your Highness's invitation to enter the palace. Now likely all the capable and extraordinary people of the capital assume that Jin belongs to the Princess. If you now heed outsiders' one‑sided words and order him away, would that not make the world laugh at Your Highness for not recognizing people and for changing orders from morning to evening?"

Fu Lingjing: '???'

He listened, dumbstruck, pointed at Jin Chen, his fingers trembling with anger: "You're talking nonsense! Is that a rumor?!"

Fu Lingjing almost vomited blood; how could this person invert right and wrong so blatantly!

"Are you even human?" he burst out, unable to bear it any longer—truly, to people he speaks human words, to ghosts he speaks ghostly words!

"You… you have that person already! Isn't that enough?!"

Fu Lingjing dared not mention Yin Chaosheng's name, so he could only accuse indirectly.

The princess's gaze also turned Youyou toward Jin Chen, the chill of her veil growing a bit colder.

Jin Chen, however, seemed to have heard an amusing question; he lifted his hand to stroke his chin, put on a thoughtful expression, then gave an answer infuriating enough to make someone die of anger.

"Well… it depends on the situation."

Fu Lingjing's vision went dark, '……' Damn it! Scumbag!

There actually exists such a thick‑skinned, shameless person in the world!

The princess fell silent for a moment; her gorgeous, bewitching eyes closed and then opened, she lightly raised her hand and ordered the attendants behind her: "Someone, take this ill‑mannered person away."

Immediately two eunuchs stepped forward, without allowing any argument, and led the still‑struggling, cursing Fu Lingjing away.

The garden returned to silence.

The princess slowly turned, faced Jin Chen, extended her slender fingers clad in icy armor, lightly touched his cheek, bringing a chilling danger.

His voice sank even lower, resonating Youyou: "If what that person just said is true… then, Young Hero, why not make a choice here?"

"Choose me, take this Steady Rise, enjoy boundless glory as a prince consort? Or choose your… shadowy old acquaintance?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Chen not only did not retreat but let out a low laugh, his voice clear and bright, tinged with a bit of worldly irreverence.

"I never imagined I would gain the Princess's favor in such a way."

He deliberately paused, leaned his body slightly forward, drawing near the veil, half‑teasingly earnest: "Having received Your Highness's favor, if I were to decline again, would that not be ungrateful? I only wonder… when does Your Highness intend to marry me? So I can prepare in advance."

The princess was genuinely startled by his words; the fingertip resting on Jin Chen's cheek paused, and her armor unconsciously left a red mark on the side of his face.

The princess suddenly drew close to Jin Chen, their noses almost touching through the thin gauze: "Jin Chen, if… if he were here right now, watching you, hearing these words, would you still dare to say them?"

"And your sincerity?" this question already carried an irrepressible sharpness.

Jin Chen's love of drama surged fully; hearing this, he slightly furrowed his brow, appeared to ponder seriously, after a while, as if having undergone a difficult choice, he softly sighed, his tone tinged with regret.

Well... after all, humans and ghosts walk different paths, yin and yang are separated; I and my old acquaintance ultimately have fate but no destiny.

Yin Chaosheng: "."

The peerless beauty behind the veil instantly distorted—great! What a splendid Jin Chen!

Truly, you are heartless to this extent!

Just as his anger was about to erupt, Jin Chen suddenly reached out, embraced that slender waist not even a handspan around, and gently drew the person closer.

Jin Chen lowered his head, and through the thin veil, placed his warm, touching kiss upon him.

"Princess," his voice low, instantly doused most of the other's anger, "Didn't you say you wanted to tour the imperial garden? If we delay any longer, it'll get late."

That kiss was light—barely a touch before parting.

Even though his heart was filled with heavy anger, Yin Chaosheng involuntarily dazed for a moment due to this sudden closeness, and even subconsciously rubbed against Jin Chen's palm.

Immediately afterward, he felt intense shame and embarrassment at this uncontrollable reliance; a sense of grievance welled up in his chest unbidden, an uncomfortable feeling stuck in his throat, neither up nor down—he wanted to tear off this bothersome veil and bite him hard, yet he lingered over this fleeting false warmth.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +10, total now 80!】

【Oh!】 Ling Gun Gun suddenly understood.