The only trouble now was, he couldn’t see through Morgan Shangguan at all.
“Big Brother Crown Prince…” Mona Shangguan smiled as she sat beside him, asking softly, “What are you thinking?” Such gentle words between lovers were normal, but Adrian Yarrow was not an ordinary man, nor did he have an ordinary heart. His thoughts were never about ordinary matters, so when Mona interrupted his train of thought, Adrian was quite displeased.
Mona Shangguan noticed his displeasure, her hand tightening under her sleeve. Was he thinking about Morgan Shangguan? Mona couldn’t help but lower her head to hide the surging hatred in her eyes, pressing her hand to her chest. She wondered if even fate was against her—why did her heart ache so much every time she thought of Morgan? When would this strange illness heal, or would it never heal at all?
Adrian Yarrow sighed and pulled her onto his lap. Mona Shangguan was startled by his sudden action and looked up at him, “Big Brother Crown Prince…”
Adrian looked at her and said, “Mona, our status means we can never be like ordinary people. Just remember that I love you.”
Upon hearing this, Mona Shangguan didn’t know whether to feel sweet or bitter. But thinking that this was what Morgan Shangguan had always dreamed of, yet could never have, all her bitterness vanished, replaced only by satisfaction.
Adrian Yarrow’s gentle voice sounded in her ear again, “Mona, I don’t want to hurt you, so don’t let your favor make you arrogant!”
Mona Shangguan stared at him. Adrian Yarrow’s lips curved in a gentle smile, as if he didn’t realize his words would hurt her. Mona nodded, her voice hoarse, “I understand.”
Did he mean that if she became arrogant, he would hurt her? Was he telling her not to think she was special, that she was just one of his many women, only a little more pleasing to the eye? He didn’t need her—was that it?
Arrogant because of favor? Mona Shangguan suddenly wanted to laugh. She tried to recall how much Adrian Yarrow had ever favored her, but her mind went blank—she couldn’t think of a single time.
Those words she said to provoke Morgan Shangguan, those gentle moments with Adrian Yarrow—did they really exist? If they did, why couldn’t she recall any tenderness now? Or was it all just an act for her father’s sake?
Mona Shangguan lowered her head, and after the pain passed, her eyes were filled with determination. No matter if Adrian Yarrow truly loved her, it was enough that it made Morgan Shangguan suffer, wasn’t it?
It seemed that every time she was upset, she would think of Morgan Shangguan. As long as she imagined Morgan being even more miserable than herself, her own pain lessened.
Her hatred for Morgan Shangguan had become her emotional support. If one day she found out that Morgan had always been happy, would she collapse?
A slight pain in her neck snapped Mona Shangguan back to reality. “Big Brother Crown Prince…”
Adrian Yarrow buried his face in her neck, muttering, “I’m not in a good mood. Stay with me!” He couldn’t see through Morgan Shangguan at all, couldn’t guess what she was thinking, and that made him restless, worried his plans might be affected. But thinking carefully, he realized he had a backup plan and shouldn’t be so anxious.
Mona Shangguan’s cheeks flushed. She whispered, “Big Brother Crown Prince, let’s go to the room!” They were still in the courtyard—what if a servant came in and saw?
Suddenly, Adrian Yarrow tore open her dress—“Riiip!”—the sound unusually clear. Mona Shangguan was startled, “Big Brother Crown Prince… what’s wrong?” Seeing Adrian’s expressionless face, Mona felt a little afraid. Was he angry because she wanted to go to the room?
Yet Adrian’s hand on her cheek was gentle, his slightly hoarse voice tinged with sensuality as he murmured, “What are you really thinking? I can’t see through you at all…”
Mona Shangguan bit her lip and looked at him, a little frightened. Had Adrian Yarrow noticed her hatred for Morgan Shangguan?
After venting his emotions, Adrian Yarrow looked at the sweat-soaked Mona Shangguan and couldn’t help but frown. He picked her up, “I’m sorry… I was too rough.” Adrian was a bit annoyed—what was wrong with him? He’d actually mistaken her for Morgan Shangguan!
Mona Shangguan shook her head, “I’m fine…”
Adrian Yarrow suddenly frowned, “What’s that strange smell?”
Mona Shangguan smelled it too. She sniffed carefully, her expression turning odd. The smell seemed to be coming from her—a sour, foul odor, almost like vomit.
Adrian Yarrow noticed it too and let go of her, “Go rest for now!”
Mona Shangguan bit her lip and quickly slipped into her own room. How embarrassing! Why did she smell so bad? Even she wanted to vomit from the stench. Was it sweat? No, she’d never smelled like this from sweating before.
In an alley not far from the Crown Prince’s Manor, Quentin Hua slapped his leg and bent over with laughter, “Ha ha… Little Hanhan is a genius! Even I’m ashamed of my own tricks compared to his!”
Quentin Hua had sneaked back to the Crown Prince’s Manor because he remembered he hadn’t yet avenged himself for last time. Gu Yihan had given him a small porcelain bottle with two pills, one red and one white. If the pills were given to two people, after each time they were intimate, the one who took the white pill would emit a foul smell. He really suspected Gu Yihan had made this medicine especially for Mona Shangguan.
But Adrian Yarrow was too impatient. Wouldn’t it have been better to wait until the wedding? Imagine on their wedding night, after passion, the beautiful bride smelling like vomit—what a surprise!
“Weren’t you supposed to leave?”
The sudden voice made Quentin Hua stop laughing. He looked at the newcomer and smiled, “Little Momo, is your clan leader working you hard again?”
Jing Moxhen replied lazily, “I’m here to deliver something to Gong Jueying.”
“Hmm?” Quentin Hua raised his eyebrows, “The Ghost Gate has gained again? But you don’t have to deliver it yourself!”
Jing Moxhen glanced at him, “Can’t I do what I want?” He turned to leave, but Quentin Hua grabbed him.
Quentin Hua looked at him seriously and asked, “Does Gu Yihan have a grudge against Mona Shangguan?” It was just too coincidental—this medicine was so fitting for Mona, and Gu Yihan didn’t seem like someone who’d enjoy such strange concoctions. But if it was for revenge, it made sense!