Chapter 2710

In the evening, the news that Jin Chen accompanied the Crimson Yin Princess on a tour of the Imperial Garden for a full half day spread throughout the palace inside and out.

All factions surged with undercurrents, speculating whether this disciple of the Divination Dao Sect, who appeared out of nowhere and had won the princess's favor, would truly become the current dynasty's prince consort.

At night, Jin Chen was arranged to rest in a secluded side hall not far from the Princess's Hall.

The moonlight was like water, pouring through the carved lattice windows into the hall.

Jin Chen lay on the couch, his breathing steady; the hall's candlelight flickered, about to go out but not yet.

Suddenly, the candlelight jerked sharply.

A scarlet figure appeared at the bedside like a ghost.

Yin Chaosheng, in his usual trailing red robe, with disheveled black hair, his strikingly beautiful face shrouded in gloomy malice, stood in the candlelight's shadows, his crimson eyes fixed unblinkingly on the seemingly defenseless Jin Chen on the couch, his gaze complex and indecipherable.

Anger, resentment, an almost desperate possessiveness.

"Jin Chen..."

Yin Chaosheng murmured to himself, his red lips parting as he slowly approached the bed, leaning slightly; his jade-like slender fingers silently turned into stark white bone claws, reaching for Jin Chen's neck with enough force to crush an ordinary person's throat.

Just as his fingertips were about to touch the skin, the person on the couch suddenly opened his eyes—there was no trace of sleepiness, only a lazy smile.

Jin Chen raised his hand and effortlessly deflected the deadly white-bone ghost claw, then turned his wrist to instead wrap his arms around Yin Chaosheng's supple waist, pulling the ghost king exuding a chilling aura into his embrace with just a little force.

Jin Chen pressed him against the inner side of the soft couch, turned his head to dodge the grasping hand, and with a low smile pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips, his eyes narrowing lazily.

"City Lord, I've been waiting for you a long time."

Yin Chaosheng, pinned beneath him, struggled twice to no avail, then gave up, merely fixing him with a cold stare from his eerie eyes, his bright red lips pressed into a straight line, his tone so sour it could drip juice.

"You still dare to kiss me?"

Jin Chen chuckled low, brushing aside the stray black hair on his cheek with his fingertips, his tone teasing: "Why wouldn't I dare? I've thought of you day and night, longed for the stars and the moon, just hoping to reunite with the City Lord soon and share a bed."

"Damn it!"

Yin Chaosheng had never seen such a heartless person, who openly flirted with the princess in broad daylight yet could say such words to him at night without changing expression.

A faint blush rose at the corners of his eyes, "What were you doing in the daytime? Strolling the garden, admiring flowers, discussing marriage?"

Jin Chen found it somewhat amusing, reached out and gently pinched Yin Chaosheng's cold earlobe, "Who am I accompanying? Isn't I accompanying you on a walk? My Princess, Your Highness."

Yin Chaosheng's body went rigid, his pupils constricted suddenly, he stared blankly at Jin Chen, for a moment somewhat at a loss.

"You... you know everything?"

"You dug a pit for me to jump into, and then you turn around and eat your own jealousy."

Jin Chen's palm rested on his back, rubbing gently, "Yin Chaosheng, you're utterly unreasonable."

Yin Chaosheng moved his lips, wanting to retort, but found himself at a loss for words.

All the accusatory words he had prepared were stuck in his throat.

"You already knew I am Princess Chiyin." His voice lowered.

"Hn." Jin Chen responded, then added, "But I really didn't expect that you, in the mortal realm, would be..."

"Do not mention it!"

Yin Chaosheng buried his face in Jin Chen's neck crook, "I don't want to be any princess either."

He glared at Jin Chen, his eyes hazy, "If it weren't for being able to openly seek you in the mortal realm, I would never set foot in this disgusting palace again."

In his words, he absolutely did not mention why he, as a male, is not a prince but a princess.

Jin Chen didn't ask either, his eyes flickering; he tightened his hold on the cold body in his arms, gently patting his back, murmuring like soothing a child, "All right, if you don't want to mention it, we won't."

Yin Chaosheng let out a soft hum in his embrace, feeling somewhat soothed.

But his nature was inherently fickle and changeable; the earlier grievance and fragility were instantly replaced.

Yin Chaosheng suddenly curled the corners of his lips, lifted his head to look at Jin Chen, happily wrapped his arms around his neck, his smile bewitching and unrestrained, cold and cruel.

"Jin Chen, do you know? Tonight I came, originally intending to imprison you in the Ghost City, never to let you escape."

He extended his tongue tip, lightly licking Jin Chen's cheek, his voice silky and alluring, "I truly thought you were this heartless, deserving of death ten thousand times."

But in the end, he still couldn't bring himself to strike.

Yin Chaosheng quietly gazed into Jin Chen's eyes, then voluntarily leaned in, kissed his warm lips, and immediately slumped onto his chest, his voice soft as a dream murmur.

"Jin Chen... do you have any genuine feelings for me?"

Jin Chen raised his hand, lifted a strand of Yin Chaosheng's icy, smooth black hair, twirling it between his fingers, then drew his arms together, embracing this ghost king who alternates between madness and fragility.

He kissed the other's cold-scented hair, "My feelings for you are naturally more than just a little."

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -20, total 56!】

Outside the hall, the moonlight grew deeper.

Inside the hall, the candlelight crackled softly, illuminating the entwined figures of a person and a ghost.

Amid the strangeness, there actually emerged a hint of unusual intimacy and tranquility.

——

Next dawn, the sky light grew faint.

Chu Jiu Shan and his three companions received the notice, cautiously stepping into the hall.

After a night of spreading, rumors about Jin Chen and Princess Chiyin had already rampaged throughout the palace.

They, too, felt uneasy and anxious to find Jin Chen for an explanation.

Jin Chen had already risen, sitting in a zitan wood chair by the window, leisurely sipping a cup of clear tea; seeing them enter, he nodded and said, "Please sit. You came so early—is there something urgent?"

"Senior Brother!" Chu Jiu Shan, the most impatient, stepped forward curiously, "Everyone outside is talking! They say the princess toward you... that thing, nothing happened, right?"

Liu Shuoyue solemnly said, "Jin Brother, this matter is suspicious; the Comatose Princess Chiyin suddenly awoke after five years and specifically summoned you... the National Teacher surely won't stand idly by; he will certainly act."

Zang Huai'an also chimed in solemnly, "Indeed, royal affairs pull the whole body with a single thread; Jin Brother, you must plan ahead."

Jin Chen set down his teacup, just about to speak, when the sound of silk skirts dragging on the floor came from the inner chamber, accompanied by unhurried footsteps.

The four heard the sound and turned their heads in unison to look.

The bead curtain leading to the inner chamber was lightly lifted, and a figure dressed in splendid palace attire slowly stepped out.

Still wearing a veil that covered most of her face, only revealing a pair of eyes that seemed both drunk and sober, swirling with gorgeous, otherworldly light, the jeweled ornaments swaying lightly.

Chu Jiu Shan and the four of them froze instantly, not daring to breathe, hurriedly bowing in salute.

Greetings, Princess Your Highness!

Yin Chaosheng's gaze lightly swept over them, his interest piqued.

He didn't stop his steps, walking straight toward the window where Jin Chen sat calmly and steadily.

Under the doubtful gazes of the four, Yin Chaosheng extended his finger wearing icy cold armor, hooking Jin Chen's chin, through that veil as thin as a cicada's wing, he kissed Jin Chen's cheek.

"Young Hero Jin," he straightened up, his lazy voice coming through the veil, "This palace has already decided; soon I will request the emperor to grant marriage, you… just stay peacefully in the palace and prepare to become the prince consort."

Having said that, Yin Chaosheng, surrounded by respectful palace attendants, leisurely left the side hall.

The hall door was gently closed.

Inside the side hall, a deathly silence fell.

Chu Jiu Shan and the four were as if immobilized by a freezing spell, maintaining their bowing posture, frozen in place, their facial expressions varied dramatically.

After quite a few breaths, Chu Jiu Shan finally straightened his waist, pointing at the tightly closed hall door, then pointing at the calm-faced Jin Chen, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly.

"Are you serious, senior brother! She, she, she… kissed you? And wants to marry you? What about the city lord?! Youyou you…"

Chu Jiu Shan anxiously scratched his ears and cheeks, speaking incoherently.

Liu Shuoyue slowly straightened up, her usually cold face also rarely showing an extremely complex expression.

She looked at Jin Chen, wanting to speak but stopping.

Zang Huai'an then let out a heavy sigh, rubbed his brow, and had a headache.

And the most straightforward Hei Yi, it seemed as if his notions had suffered a huge impact.

He stomped his foot hard, his fist slamming onto his palm, heartbroken, shouting: "Brother Jin! That city lord… this princess… alas!"

"What nonsense! How unreasonable!"

Hei Yi's face flushed red, he could only keep shaking his head like an elephant.

Jin Chen: "……"

"【Reputation, shattered with a pop.】" Ling Gun Gun sighed.