He wanted to capture her and confine her by his side. Even if she cried and begged for mercy, he would not soften his heart by a fraction. He wanted to brand every inch of her skin with his mark! "Turn the entire Tiancheng upside down!" His voice was cold and fierce, emitting a chilling aura that oppressed everything around him. It was clearly the scorching heat of June, yet at this moment, the temperature inside the bedroom seemed to plummet, so cold that everyone shivered. Mo Chen and the others acknowledged the order, their hearts filled with extreme unease. Even if the sky fell down, the Crown Prince, who would normally remain unmoved, was evidently enraged to the extreme. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✶𝓷𝓮𝓽 The next evening, Emperor Ye Yiheng entered the palace. When Ye Yiheng arrived at the Imperial Garden, the Emperor was chatting with Consort Xian and Baili Wenyi. Seeing Ye Yiheng’s approach, Consort Xian turned to the Emperor and said, "Emperor, the Crown Prince has arrived." The Emperor raised an eyebrow and cleared his throat, asking, "I heard that the Crown Prince passed out for three days in anger because the Crown Princess left without notice. Ah Heng, are you all right?" "I am unharmed," Ye Yiheng replied indifferently. "I do not know for what matter Father Emperor has summoned me?" The Emperor said angrily, "As the Crown Princess, Beilan’s exit from the capital is truly unbefitting of her title. The world is vast, full of women; you need not be so melancholic over one woman." While speaking, he looked at Baili Wenyi with a smile, "Princess Wen Yi wishes to form a marriage alliance with our Tian Family, and in my view, Ah Heng, you and Princess Wen Yi are an excellent match." Princess Wen Yi smiled, a rare and charming expression on her face. Her gaze fixed tightly on Ye Yiheng, hoping he would say something. Like agreeing to marry soon. Consort Xian smiled and said, "Princess Wen Yi is recognized by Nandian as the Imperial Princess. With such a status, naturally only our Tiancheng’s Crown Prince would be a suitable match." She linked arms with the Emperor, "This consort believes this marriage is a very good idea." As long as Baili Wenyi had her sights not on the Fourth or the Seventh, it would do. Baili Wenyi fancied the Sixth, and that was best. Once Baili Wenyi returned to Nandian and married to the Prince, he would be marrying into Nandian, becoming her Imperial Consort, and thus have no chance at the Tiancheng throne. "Father Emperor really knows how to jest. I am frail; just the mere presence of Yanyan by my side can enrage me to the point of passing out for three days. If there were another woman, I fear my life would not be long." Ye Yiheng raised his hand in salute, "I take my leave." He did not wait to see the Emperor’s expression, nor did he wait for Baili Wenyi to utter a word, before turning and departing. The Emperor snorted in anger. Consort Xian smoothed things over, "The Crown Prince is in a fury over the matter of the Crown Princess. Emperor, please be understanding." She then turned to Baili Wenyi and gently persuaded, "The Crown Prince is amiable and most suited for the Princess. Please do not take today’s events to heart, Princess." Princess Wen Yi nodded, "How could this princess take to heart what Her Highness has said? The Crown Prince is indeed amiable; I won’t mind." Ye Yiheng returned to the Eastern Palace and immediately set out personally for the Linqing Pavilion. He knew she wouldn’t be there, but he just wanted to see for himself. According to her character, she wouldn’t go to Beilan City or Jiangzhou either, but he still sent people to secretly go there and instructed them not to mention the disappearance of the Crown Princess to Prince Zhenbei Mansion in Beilan City or the Zhang Family in Jiangzhou. A few days later, Leng Yu Yan discovered that she was being hunted. The people of the Eastern Palace were decisive and acted swiftly. What she did not expect was that she, along with Miao Zhu, Xiaoshan, and the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, had become the subjects of a Tiancheng-wide manhunt. Only a few short days had passed, yet posters for their capture were almost plastered throughout the entire Tiancheng. The astonishing speed left her in shock. Previously, Ye Gaoyun had issued a citywide search for her and a certain someone. Now, it had turned into him searching for her. He was ruthless in his methods. She didn’t blame him for such a manhunt—it was her fault for leaving without saying goodbye. But in her past life, he had killed her; she had to flee, and for that, he couldn’t blame her. If it wasn’t for her ordering them all to wear human skin masks, she would have undoubtedly been captured by him. However, when they passed by a city gate, she realized she was still naïve. Someone, who knew her tricks well, had arranged for people at the checkpoints to specifically inspect faces, even searching beneath headscarves or hats on men to see if they had white hair. Leng Yu Yan stood still, her hands clenched tightly. She had underestimated Ye Yiheng’s capabilities. Her head was pounding with pain; she didn’t want to surrender without a fight, much less fall into his hands. A madman—capable of killing her in her past life—how might he torture her now? After the torment, who knew how he might dispose of her... Miao Zhu saw the situation at the city gate and expressed her concern. "Commandery Princess, what do we do? We can’t escape." Xiaoshan, standing on Leng Yu Yan’s other side, said, "Commandery Princess, leave this matter to me. I have a way to get you out of Tiancheng." Miao Zhu nodded urgently, "Once we’re outside Tiancheng, the Crown Prince can’t set up checkpoints everywhere ." Leng Yu Yan looked up at Xiaoshan. Seeing someone casting glances towards them from the city gate, Xiaoshan pulled Leng Yu Yan and Miao Zhu to the side and whispered, "Let’s hurry away!" The three of them quickly ducked into a quiet part of the marketplace. After following Xiaoshan through a series of turns and twists, they entered an inconspicuous inn. Soon after, someone led them into a room. Leng Yu Yan looked around and furrowed her brows, "Xiaoshan, what are you hiding from me?" Xiaoshan’s expression shifted slightly, revealing a solemnity she had not seen on him before. Just as Leng Yu Yan’s confusion grew, a group of men dressed in blue strode in. To Miao Zhu’s astonishment, these men kneeled on one knee before Xiaoshan, greeting him, "We have seen our Master!" Leng Yu Yan took a step back, her voice nearly failing her, "You are..." Xiaoshan stepped forward, his lips parting to speak, "Commandery Princess, I am Xiaoshan." Leng Yu Yan laughed, her smile one of incredulous disbelief. "No, you’re not Xiaoshan," she shook her head, "Xiaoshan is a naïve young man, full of curiosity about everything. I’ve never seen such a serious look on his face." Xiaoshan reached out, his hand halting in midair, without touching her. "Even now, you keep secrets from me?" Leng Yu Yan pointed at the men kneeling on the ground, "Who are you really? What are your intentions for staying so close to me?" How had she not sensed something was amiss when she saved him? Xiaoshan confessed honestly, "My real name is Baili Zhengrong. Xiaoshan is the name I was nursed with." "Baili Zhengrong, Baili Wen Yi..." Leng Yu Yan laughed, tears brimming in her eyes, "The prince of Nandian..." Miao Zhu, puzzled, asked, "Didn’t you say your parents were no more, and that you were born with white hair, making the villagers see you as an ill omen? If you’re the prince of Nandian, why didn’t Princess Wen Yi recognize you?" "More than ten years ago, I was but a toddler when I fled to Tiancheng. I didn’t remember anything at that time, so I called the guards who protected me to Tiancheng, ’father’ and ’mother’. For my safety, those protecting me fed me a pill that made my hair completely white. After surviving several assassination attempts, I gradually learned of my identity. Sadly, the two initial protectors were killed for safeguarding me. Later, after facing hardship and being captured by bandits, I was fortunate enough to meet the Commandery Princess who saved me." As he spoke, Baili Zhengrong bowed deeply, "The grace of the Commandery Princess’s salvation is a favor I can never repay! Please follow me to Nandian. I swear to protect the Commandery Princess for this life with every word true!"