107: Crazy Prince Forced Love 2

Xiao Jin has been acting strangely these past few days.

Ever since that night he forcefully took Wen Ci, the savagery in his heart gradually subsided, replaced by a sense of apprehension he had never experienced before.

Would she hate him?

He sat in his study, his fingertips drumming irritably on the table, his gaze involuntarily drawn to the window.

In the courtyard, Wen Ci was on her tiptoes, carefully pruning a begonia.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, falling on her, making her skin appear like snow and her features as beautiful as a painting.

Xiao Jin's eyes darkened, and his chest inexplicably tightened.

She seemed… not to dislike him.

But how could that be?

He had taken her so roughly; how could she not hate him?

It must be an act.

Just like those who had once flattered him, respectful on the surface but secretly wishing him dead.

"Bang!"

He slammed his fist on the table, causing the teacup to jump and tea to spill everywhere.

"Regent?" Wen Ci heard the noise, put down her scissors, and hurried inside.

Xiao Jin looked up, his gaze dark and fixed on her: "Who allowed you to come in?"

Wen Ci's steps faltered, but she did not retreat; instead, she took a few steps closer and gently took his hand: "Regent, your hand is bleeding again."

Xiao Jin looked down, only then realizing that his knuckles had been cut by the corner of the table at some point, and blood was slowly seeping out.

He sharply pulled his hand back, his voice cold and hard: "Get out."

Wen Ci, however, did not move; she simply looked at him quietly, with no fear in her eyes, only a hint of concern.

"Regent," she asked softly, "Are you… angry with me?"

Xiao Jin was startled.

He was angry with her?

No, he was angry with himself.

Angry that he would be so apprehensive like a callow youth, angry that he would be afraid of her disliking him.

"Go." He turned his face away, not wanting her to see the wretchedness in his eyes.

But Wen Ci seemed to understand something and suddenly reached out, gently cupping his face, forcing him to look at her.

"Regent, look at me."

Xiao Jin was forced to meet her eyes; those eyes were as clear as water, reflecting his image, without a trace of dislike, only tenderness and… affection?

"You are handsome and immensely powerful," she said softly, a slight smile on her lips, "I like you very much; I have liked you for a long time, which is why last night… I didn't resist at all."

Xiao Jin's pupils contracted sharply, and his heart skipped a beat.

She said… she liked him?

Not fear, not flattery, but… liking?

"You…" His voice was hoarse, his Adam's apple bobbing, "Do you know what you're saying?"

Wen Ci nodded, her fingertips gently tracing his brow bone: "I know."

Xiao Jin's breath hitched, and he abruptly pulled her into his arms, with such force that he almost seemed to meld her into his bones and blood.

"Wen Ci…" His voice was low and hoarse, with an almost imperceptible tremor, "If you dare to lie to me…"

"I won't lie to you." She leaned against his chest, listening to his frantic heartbeat, and whispered, "Regent, trust me just this once, okay?"

Xiao Jin closed his eyes, his arms tightening further.

He had never trusted anyone.

But at this moment, he actually… wanted to trust her.

Even if she said she didn't like him, he would make her like him.

*

From that day on, Xiao Jin's possessiveness towards Wen Ci grew even stronger.

Wherever she went, his gaze followed.

If she left his sight for more than a quarter of an hour, he would send people to find her with a dark expression.

The servants in the manor whispered amongst themselves.

"Is the Regent obsessed? She's just a maid; is it necessary to be so anxious?"

"Shh! What do you know? I heard the Regent even postponed going to court. The current Emperor is the Regent's young nephew, exceptionally reliant on the Regent, so he naturally didn't think much of it, but he was astonished to hear that the Regent even delayed for a maid to have breakfast with him!"

"It's truly incomprehensible; that Wen Ci is just a laundry maid, how could she be worthy…"

"Shut up! Do you want to die? The Regent is protecting her like the apple of his eye now!"

The rumors reached Xiao Jin's ears, and he sneered, directly ordering the beating to death of several gossiping servants.

From then on, no one dared to utter another word.

And Wen Ci continued to quietly stay by his side every day, grinding ink for him, brewing tea, and occasionally being pressed into his arms and kissed until she was breathless, only to blush and gently push him: "Regent, you haven't finished your official duties yet…"

Xiao Jin would then pinch her chin, his voice low and hoarse: "How could official duties be more important than you?"

Wen Ci was helpless and could only let him do as he pleased.

*

Su Yao had been restless these past few days.

She had originally thought that Xiao Jin favoring a maid was just a momentary whim, but now it seemed things had exceeded her expectations.

"What methods did that lowly maid use?" She gritted her teeth, crushing the petals in her hand, "How could a madman like Xiao Jin be so devoted to a maid?"

The maid whispered: "Miss, I heard that the Regent hasn't been going to court much these days, spending the entire day in the manor with that Wen Ci…"

Su Yao's eyes turned cold.

In her previous life, although Xiao Jin had given her endless wealth, which showed he cared for her, he had never been so infatuated.

Could it be… something had changed in this life?

No, she would never allow it!

She suddenly stood up, sneering: "Prepare the carriage; I'm going to the Regent's Wang Residence."

The maid was startled: "Miss, didn't you reject the marriage? Going to the Manor now, wouldn't it be…"

"What's there to be afraid of?" Su Yao curled her lips, "I want to see what abilities that Wen Ci actually possesses!"

*

Regent's Wang Residence, garden.

Wen Ci was sitting in the pavilion embroidering a sachet when she suddenly heard footsteps.

She looked up and saw a woman in luxurious clothes walking towards her, with delicate features but a hint of arrogance.

"You are Wen Ci?" Su Yao looked her up and down condescendingly, her eyes full of disdain.

Wen Ci put down her needlework and stood up to bow: "Greetings, Miss Su."

Su Yao sneered: "A lowly maid, worthy of enjoying glory and wealth in the Regent's Wang Residence?"

Wen Ci's expression remained unchanged, and she still said softly: "This servant is merely a maid serving the Regent; I dare not overstep."

"Serving?" Su Yao scoffed, "A lowly hussy who climbed into bed, dares to speak of serving?"

She suddenly raised her hand and slapped towards Wen Ci.

"Slap!"

Her wrist was fiercely grabbed in mid-air.

Su Yao cried out in pain and turned to meet a pair of cold, sinister eyes.

"Su Yao." Xiao Jin's voice was icy, "Who allowed you to touch her?"

Su Yao's heart trembled, but she forced a cold laugh: "Regent, she's just a maid; why do you…"

"Get out." Xiao Jin flung her away, with such force that she stumbled a few steps, almost falling.

He turned and pulled Wen Ci into his arms, his fingertips gently caressing her cheek, his voice soft: "Did she hit you?"

Wen Ci shook her head: "No."

Xiao Jin's eyes darkened, and he turned to look at Su Yao, his eyes filled with murderous intent: "Su Yao, if you dare to step into the Regent's Wang Residence again, this King will have your entire Su family buried with you."

Su Yao's face turned pale, and she looked at him in disbelief: "Regent, for a maid, you dare to threaten me?!"

Xiao Jin sneered: "Threaten? If you don't believe me, feel free to try."

Su Yao trembled all over, finally realizing.

This life's Xiao Jin had truly changed.

He wasn't doing it to spite her, but… he had truly fallen in love with that maid.

She gritted her teeth and turned, leaving in a disheveled state.

*

The night was deep.

Xiao Jin pressed Wen Ci onto the bed, his fingertips caressing her lips, his voice low and hoarse: "Were you scared today?"

Wen Ci shook her head and whispered: "With the Regent here, I'm not afraid."

Xiao Jin's eyes darkened, and he suddenly lowered his head to kiss her, his force fierce, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

"Wen Ci…" He panted, pressing his forehead against hers, "If you dare to leave me, I will destroy this world."

Wen Ci reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, sighing softly in his ear: "Regent, I won't leave you."

"Never."

Xiao Jin's heart trembled violently, and he abruptly pulled her into his arms, his voice hoarse: "Remember what you said."

Wen Ci leaned against his chest, listening to his frantic heartbeat, a slight smile on her lips.

She knew that this madman in the eyes of the world was actually… just too lonely.

And she was willing to be his salvation.