Chapter 88: I Was Originally the Maid of the Prince

Even though Lu Chen had exposed her secrets without hesitation, Bai Qingqing still responded calmly, her tone unwavering, "Your Highness, I came to Beijun of my own will. My presence here has nothing to do with His Majesty. I don't understand why you would make such an assumption."

Despite her composed demeanor, confusion swirled beneath her placid eyes. She truly couldn't comprehend how the Northern King had managed to uncover her identity and mission with such precision.

Even if the intelligence network within the Northern King's Mansion was far-reaching, and he had spies planted in the capital, at best, they should have only been able to discover that she was a member of the Shadow Guard. But to know that she held the role of Deputy Commander? That was something even the chief commander himself was unaware of.

Her true rank was a closely guarded secret.

Even when Emperor Xia had issued the mission, he had done so in person directly, discreetly ensuring the command had passed through no intermediary's hands or lips. Logically, the chance of such information leaking should have been nonexistent.

Unless... something went wrong on the Emperor's end.

Suddenly, a figure flashed in her mind Situ Ce.

The Imperial Advisor had been present on the day she received her mission. If anyone besides the Emperor had access to that secret, it was him.

Could he have betrayed them?

Could Situ Ce, Emperor Xia's most trusted confidant, have turned against him?

While Bai Qingqing was still tangled in speculation, Lu Chen's calm voice sounded by her ear once again, soft yet penetrating. "You must be wondering how I know all this."

His tone carried the weight of someone who had long grasped the truth.

Bai Qingqing instinctively tensed. Despite herself, she did want to know.

But Lu Chen suddenly leaned closer, his breath brushing past her skin as he whispered, "It's because... your heart and mine are connected. I can hear your thoughts."

Her expression finally cracked.

She realized with annoyance that Lu Chen was teasing her again.

An aching sense of defeat welled up in her chest. If her identity had truly been compromised, then the mission was already a failure. There was no longer any point in staying here.

It was time to leave the Northern King's Mansion.

She began circulating her internal force, preparing to push Lu Chen away and escape.

Until now, she had held back out of concern that Lu Chen might truly be powerless. Hurting him in haste would only complicate matters.

But now that her cover was blown, she had no more reason to hesitate.

Yet, just as she attempted to activate her inner strength, a jarring realization struck her.

Her power ..was gone.

Utterly vanished.

Her body, usually surging with practiced internal force, felt void.

She froze.

The same thing had happened once earlier today.

At the time, she had thought her practice had gone awry perhaps a moment of deviation, a fleeting obsession that had disrupted her flow. But now, at this critical moment... it happened again.

Was it really her cultivation technique?

Or was this somehow connected to the man on top of her?

Her eyes locked on Lu Chen's face, trying to find a trace of scheming, a flicker of malicious intent.

But all she saw... was desire.

Pure, unmasked, smoldering.

Still, nothing else.

Bai Qingqing's tone remained cold, even as she suppressed the confusion blooming in her chest. "Your Highness, I'm not feeling well tonight. Perhaps... another day would be better."

Her expression was as indifferent as ever, as though it made no difference whether she escaped or not.

Lu Chen, his hand still wandering across her body, chuckled lightly. "Xiaobai, from now on, you belong to me."

His tone was soft, but there was a possessiveness in his words that couldn't be mistaken.

Bai Qingqing replied calmly, "I am the prince's maid."

But Lu Chen only laughed quietly. "Xiaobai, you know that's not what I meant."

A sharp tug pulled at her heart again.

It was the third time that strange flutter had surged through her chest.

For just a moment, a faint blush bloomed across her frosty cheeks like a lone camellia blooming in a snowy field.

She was acutely aware something was happening inside her.

Once again, she attempted to summon her strength. Again, nothing.

No response from her inner force.

That left only one conclusion this was indeed related to Lu Chen.

During the day in the pavilion, she had felt the same powerless sensation. At the time, she had been seated very close to him.

Now, once again so close, under his body her strength had vanished.

Before entering the Northern Mansion, nothing had seemed amiss. Not even a hint. But now... all of this had occurred after close contact with the Northern King.

Lu Chen clearly knew her identity. Her mission. And, evidently, how to neutralize her.

This wasn't coincidence.

This was deliberate.

What now?

Without her cultivation, she was no different from a normal person.

Well perhaps slightly stronger than the average court lady, given her physical training.

She braced herself and attempted to shove Lu Chen using only her natural strength. But even her physical strength had vanished.

She couldn't even lift her arm.

It wasn't just her internal force. It was her entire body.

She was completely under his control.

Bai Qingqing stopped struggling.

She simply... lay there. Motionless, staring at the ceiling.

The moment she realized she couldn't escape, she stopped resisting altogether.

Her mission had failed.

Her power sealed.

What else could she do?

Let him vent. Let him take what he wanted. She had been Lu Chen's maid for years since they were children.

Even if they weren't married, her innocence had long belonged to him.

In this era, a woman's reputation could be ruined by merely holding a man's hand. And she... she had slept in his bed often, warming it on cold nights. Who would still call her pure?

Her thoughts drifted to her childhood.

To the warmth of Lu Chen's arms as he told her stories.

To the days she spent beside him.

Her life had always been tragic.

She had always been a tool used by Emperor Xia, now by Lu Chen.

What difference did it make?

A tool is a tool, no matter who wields it.

Lu Chen noticed her stillness.

She was facing sideways, completely still, allowing him to do whatever he pleased.

He frowned slightly.

He had revealed her identity. Despite her high favorability, shouldn't she at least resist?

This... wasn't quite what he expected.

Was she truly just accepting her fate?

Lu Chen's voice softened. "Xiaobai, I may not be able to rewrite your past... but I can change your future."

"Leave the Shadow Guard. Be my woman. Will you?"

Still, Bai Qingqing didn't react.

She lay there like a dead tree in winter lifeless and unmoving.

What else could she say?

She was already beneath him.

Their bodies were separated only by a few layers of thin fabric. If Lu Chen wanted to go further, nothing was stopping him.

Lu Chen's brows furrowed.

Her emotions had returned. He was sure of it. Could it be she still didn't care about intimacy? About desire?

Unwilling to overthink, Lu Chen leaned in and slowly brought his face closer to hers.

His breath grazed her lips.

Bai Qingqing didn't avoid it.

Their lips touched.

Lu Chen kissed her.

Meanwhile, outside the room..

Chu Yuqin, eyes wide, was glued to a small hole in the door, witnessing everything in stunned silence.