What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?

Chapter 465 - 452: Liangzhou Continued—Tang Ziqian Side Story (Part 1)

The first year of Zhengyuan, April.Left Guard General Tang Ziqian transferred to Governor of Liangzhou.

In April, Tuyuhun had just begun to feel a hint of spring, with fine grass sprouting between the fissures of rocks and sand, a sparse green stretching into the distance.

Standing on the city tower of Fusi Royal City, gazing into the distance, snow mountains and green lakes seemed to merge with the horizon.

"... I wish to station with the Young Master by Qinghai Lake, tending horses on the outskirts of King City..."

The girl’s hopeful voice seemed both far away and close to the ear.

If she were still alive, what would things be like now?

Every time he thought of this, only a veil of mist remained.

"Are you unhappy?" The soft and bewildered voice of a young girl suddenly shattered the mist.

Tang Ziqian’s eyes sharpened, and his short knife slid out of its sheath, darting towards the flagpole dozens of steps away.

"Hey—"

Amidst the cries of surprise, a soft white figure floated down from the top of the flagpole.

It was like a cloud.

Once on the ground, the cloud unfurled, revealing a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl in white, tall and slender.

As soon as she landed, she was surrounded by blades.

She held Tang Ziqian’s short knife in her hand, which he had thrown just moments before, her delicate, long eyebrows slightly furrowed: "Why so fierce? What if I hadn’t caught it and it accidentally injured one of the soldiers on duty?"

Tang Ziqian looked at her coldly: "Who let you up here?"

"I came up on my own." She answered confidently.

"To spy on military secrets?"

She blinked innocently and protested a bit wronged: "If I wanted to spy, I wouldn’t make a sound to let you discover me!"

This reasoning was sound.

"The city tower is a military ground, what are you doing up here?" Tang Ziqian asked.

She looked a bit sheepish: "I saw you come up, so I followed."

Tang Ziqian curled his lips: "Detain her!"

The tip of the blade mercilessly approached.

The girl in white pouted aggrievedly, raised the short knife in her hand, twisted her slender waist, and in an instant, the guards surrounding her were successively knocked out.

Her skirt bloomed like a flower, then softly fell; she remained standing, clear and untainted, earnestly defending herself: "I really mean no harm, otherwise your guards couldn’t beat me—" She glanced at Tang Ziqian and then looked a bit embarrassed, "You couldn’t beat me either..."

This wasn’t their first confrontation.

At this point, Tang Ziqian also believed her words.

There was no one among his men, nor even himself, who was a match for this girl.

If she wished, she could indeed remain unnoticed.

Thus, she emerged by her own will.

A month ago, Tang Ziqian assumed his post in Liangzhou, and then went to Fusi Royal City.

The Tuyuhun had been completely annihilated by Li Mu who personally led the troops.

Li Mu, the man, slays but doesn’t bury, leaving once the devastation is complete.

Tang Ziqian took the post of Governor of Liangzhou, and his first task was to bring order to Fusi Royal City.

On the day troops entered the Royal Palace, every old servant trembled in fear, except for one person, standing by the flower bed, dusty face turned up, staring at him blankly.

Tang Ziqian assumed she was a common flower maid, having seen many love-struck gazes, he didn’t pay it much mind.

Who knew from that day on, this girl would constantly follow him.

Everywhere he went, she appeared, her ghostlike Qinggong surpassing even the Shadow Guards beside Li Mu.

She claimed to be from Chu, named Lu Yuan.

Why would a Chu girl be cultivating flowers in the Tuyuhun Royal Palace?

"The flowers I grow are not ordinary!" Lu Yuan said confidently, sincerely inviting Tang Ziqian to view her flower garden.

Tang Ziqian didn’t go, making her so angry that she didn’t introduce her extraordinary flowers.

After being upset for a day, she resumed her habit of appearing around him unpredictably.

Tang Ziqian tried to catch her, but she slipped away unobtainably.

Moreover, upon observation, she didn’t seem much like a spy.

Just as she herself said, if she intended to spy, she wouldn’t keep revealing herself.

If it was to get close to him—

Passing through Shibao City, Tang Ziqian unintentionally glanced back at the direction of Fusi Royal City.

If it was to get close to him, it was in vain anyway.

Once Fusi Royal City was in order, he should also return to Liangzhou’s Governor Mansion to oversee.

Station by Qinghai Lake, tending horses on the outskirts of King City.

All words broken...

"Are you looking for me?"

Upon lifting his head, Tang Ziqian saw a short distance ahead, under a big tree, the white-clad girl stood gracefully, waving with a smile that curved her eyes.

On the ground beside her, there was also a large basket covered with black cloth, hiding the contents.

Seeing where his gaze landed, Lu Yuan eagerly explained: "These are from the flowers I grew in the Royal Palace, since I’m leaving, I took them all with me!"

Tang Ziqian withdrew his gaze, passing by her impassively.

The soft voice of the girl continued rambling behind him: "Where are you going? I heard you’re Governor of Liangzhou, are you going back there? Why did you become Governor so young? I met another Governor once, and his beard was already white..."

...

"The few dragged out from the Royal Palace confessed and also exposed a few remnants," Ah Jin’s eyes flickered, he whispered, "Young Master, what about Lu Yuan..."

Tang Ziqian stared silently at the lanterns and candles.

"Liangzhou isn’t like Fusi, and the Governor Mansion is a place of military affairs exchange, with Lu Yuan’s doubtful identity, keeping her could be disastrous," Ah Jin said.

Tang Ziqian lowered his gaze: "Where is Lu Yuan now?"

"In the West Garden."

Tang Ziqian turned his eyes to look at him meaningfully.

Ah Jin lowered his head.

Tang Ziqian smiled, stood up, and patted his shoulder: "Bring Lu Yuan here."

Lu Yuan came hurriedly, with spots of mud staining her white sleeves and skirt, even a handprint of earth on her fair little face, glistening with joy, looking somewhat naive.

Tang Ziqian leaned against the corridor pillar with folded arms and smiled: "Why always wear white? Not afraid of it getting dirty?"

It was the first time Lu Yuan saw him smile like this, with a hint of mischief within his laziness.

He was born so charming that he seemed otherworldly, and with that smile, it was as if he was enchanting souls.

Lu Yuan blushed suddenly, even stammering: "M-my, my mom said, said, wearing white makes the dirt easy to spot at a glance..."

Tang Ziqian raised an eyebrow as though encouraging her to continue.

Lu Yuan’s heart raced, shyly saying: "I loved growing flowers and plants since childhood, always dirtying my clothes, so my mother let me wear white to remind me to be cautious."

Tang Ziqian smiled as he looked over her: "I haven’t seen you being very cautious though."

With a red face, Lu Yuan was for the first time awkwardly restrained.

"You’re growing flowers in my mansion?" Tang Ziqian asked as if making casual conversation.

Lu Yuan nodded vigorously, speaking with some excitement: "I found a plot in the Northwest that’s perfect for my Wine Heart Buds!" She looked at Tang Ziqian with bright eyes, "Wine Heart Buds are wonderful! Once they bloom, I’ll give them all to you!"

Tang Ziqian smiled nonchalantly and gestured her over with a finger: "Come here."

Lu Yuan obediently dashed over to him almost at a small trot.

Tang Ziqian stood up straight and reached out towards her face.

Lu Yuan was taken aback, instinctively leaning back to avoid.

"Don’t move." Tang Ziqian said in a low voice.

She froze in place, staring blankly at his hand.

Tang Ziqian was endowed with a noble visage; even his fingers were long and fair, distinctly jointed.

Those elegant fingers, slightly curled, touched her face.

In a split second, Lu Yuan felt her whole body tingling, particularly sensitive where he touched her.

"Why’s there mud on your face too?" he said lazily, rubbing his thumb on her cheek, then showing a playful smile, "Can’t brush it off."

"It’s not, not a problem." Lu Yuan hurriedly said.

Tang Ziqian let out an indifferent "oh", his fingers slowly sliding down, pinching her chin and pulling her gently.

Lu Yuan’s eyes flashed with panic, instinctively retreating.

Caught off guard, her waist tightened, crashing heavily into his embrace.

After a brief moment of bewilderment, Lu Yuan with a stiff body sighed, gazing miserably at Tang Ziqian who let her go.

Tang Ziqian took the cloth the attendant handed him, lowering his head to wipe his fingers.

"Tie her up." He ordered lightly.

Without casting another glance at the now immobile Lu Yuan.