Chapter 709: Compensation

Zu An sighed. "Ultimately, Crown Princess, you were too clever for your own good. Insisting on adding that you were a virgin was simply too deliberate."

"Originally, my impression of you was that of a noble, naturally superior individual. Even your unreserved undressing in front of me fit your usual demeanor. But then you emphasized that you and the Crown Prince had no conjugal relations, suddenly transforming into a naive girl experiencing first love. It felt incongruous, and I couldn't help but suspect something."

The Crown Princess's face flushed crimson then paled. "I've gone this far, and you're still calmly analyzing? Are you even a man?!"

Zu An smiled faintly. "Haven't you already witnessed whether I am a man?"

The Crown Princess's expression instantly became awkward as she recalled what she had seen upon waking up.

This guy was truly like a donkey. If he wasn't a man, then no one else could possibly be.

Zu An continued, "I became wary when you killed those Embroidered Uniform Guards to silence them. Those individuals didn't know your identity; there was only a slight chance they might leak information about you, yet you murdered them. How could you possibly trust me, a direct witness?"

"So the kinder and gentler you were, the more worried I became," Zu An chuckled. "Of course, the main reason I was slightly fooled was because my charm is truly considerable. Beautiful women invariably fall in love with me after seeing me, and I thought you were no exception."

The Crown Princess was speechless.

This man's shamelessness was truly beyond imagination.

"Woman, tell me, how should I deal with you?" Zu An reached out and pinched her chin, intending to lift her head.

However, the Crown Princess stubbornly turned her head away, her heart clearly filled with indignation and fury.

Rage points from Bi Linglong +233 +233 +233...

Zu An's expression turned cold. He exerted force and roughly twisted her head back towards him. "Woman, you don't seem to realize your current predicament?"

The Crown Princess sneered, "What? Do you dare to kill me?"

Zu An frowned. It was indeed a tricky situation; her identity was too special.

Sensing his hesitation, the Crown Princess flashed a hint of disdain. "I told you, you wouldn't dare. Release me quickly. It would be best if we both pretended nothing happened. My previous promises to you still stand; I will promote you vigorously in the future and ensure your rapid advancement."

Zu An sighed. "True, I can't kill you right now. But by provoking me like this, do you know there's something else I can do to you?"

"What?" The Crown Princess's heart skipped a beat, a sense of dread already creeping in.

Zu An smirked wickedly, gently stroking her neck. "I could take you on the Crown Prince's bed right now. What could you do?"

"You wouldn't dare!" The Crown Princess's face turned pale with fury. This man was indeed as lustful as she suspected.

Rage points from Bi Linglong +444 +444 +444...

Zu An shrugged. "Why wouldn't I dare? At this moment, only you and I would know. Given your personality, even if I did something to you, for the sake of your identity as Crown Princess, for the Bi family, and for your own ambition, you wouldn't reveal it, would you? Am I wrong?"

The Crown Princess's face flickered through various emotions. Although she was unwilling to admit it, what he said was mostly true. Could she really expose him, risking everything?

If she did, she would be ruined, and the Bi family would be ruined.

Seeing her expression change constantly, Zu An smiled, lifted her chin, and kissed her forcefully.

"Mmmph..." The Crown Princess struggled desperately.

Earlier, she had cooperated with him to evade Zhu Xie Chixin, but now that they were alone, how could she possibly convince herself to agree to such a thing?

Zu An released her lips and said with a smile, "That was your punishment for trying to kill me just now. If you ever entertain that thought again, I won't be so lenient."

The Crown Princess collapsed onto the bed, sobbing. "I woke up to find myself naked with you on the same bed, and you'd touched and kissed me. If you were in my shoes, what would you choose? I carry the honor of my family; if anything went wrong, it would endanger the lives and fortunes of thousands in the Bi family. How could I dare to gamble? Of course, silencing the witness was the safest option!"

Zu An fell silent. He knew that most people would have made the same choice in her situation; it was human nature. And he had indeed taken great advantage of her today, which was why he wasn't too angry.

Of course, he wouldn't admit it aloud. "I was also touched and kissed by you, wasn't I? Is my innocence not innocence? There's no need for you to be so dramatic."

The Crown Princess was so flustered by his words that she didn't know how to cry. After a long moment, she exhaled heavily. "You truly are shameless!"

Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted outside. "Who are you people, daring to trespass into the Eastern Palace!"

Shi Jun's voice came through: "We received a report from a guard that the Crown Princess was abducted by a man, so we came specifically to check on her safety."

Zu An and the Crown Princess exchanged glances. "They didn't catch us in the act over there, so now they've come to the Eastern Palace to confirm your disappearance."

"That vixen Concubine Bai truly wants me dead!" the Crown Princess said bitterly.

"Nonsense! Do you think you can just barge into the Crown Princess's bedchambers whenever you please?" The voices of Pu Duandiao and Jiao Sigun were heard, clearly trying to block their entry.

"Hmph, as an official responsible for supervising palace affairs, I naturally have the right to investigate all unlawful matters. Are you obstructing us because you have something to hide?" Shi Jun's arrogant voice rang out. Born into a prominent family and holding a high position, he naturally paid no mind to these two minor guard captains.

"Lord Shi is responsible for supervising outer officials, isn't he? When did it become Lord Shi's turn to manage the palace women?" A female voice spoke. The Crown Princess's eyes lit up; it was Rong Mo, her personal maid. It seemed the girl wasn't foolish; after failing to find her at the Hundred Flowers Palace, she had the foresight to return early and stabilize the situation.

Just then, another charming laugh drifted over. "Lord Shi is also concerned about the Crown Princess's safety. It would be best for us to confirm it. Do you not even trust *this* concubine?"

The Crown Princess's face subtly changed. She whispered, "It's the Emperor's Consort Shu. Quick, leave through the secret passage."

If Zu An were discovered in her bedchambers, all their previous efforts would be in vain.

"Alright!" Zu An didn't dare to delay and quickly prepared to run towards the secret passage under the bed.

"Wait a moment~" The Crown Princess urgently pulled him back. "First, unblock their pressure points, but whatever you do, don't let them see you."

Zu An secretly admired her meticulousness. He nodded, and his figure blurred into a shadow as he unblocked the maidservants' pressure points, then leaped into the secret passage beneath the bed.

The Crown Princess quickly leaned over to seal the secret passage opening, but Zu An suddenly returned, poked his head out, and kissed her. "Consider this payment for saving you this time!"

With a laugh, he then made his exit.

The Crown Princess covered her mouth, her eyes filled with both embarrassment and urgency. This guy was unbelievable; she truly wanted to bite him hard!

But she couldn't afford to be angry now. She quickly tidied the bedding on the bed, ensuring no one would discover the secret passage.

No sooner had she finished than the door was forced open. Clearly, servants like Rong Mo, Pu Duandiao, and Jiao Sigun alone couldn't stop a combination like Consort Shu and Shi Jun.

Originally, the Crown Prince was also there, but he was useless. Not only did he not stop them, but he also followed along with an excited expression, as if he were watching a spectacle.

The Crown Princess noticed his expression, and a surge of anger flared in her heart. No matter how much of a scoundrel Zu An was, he was more reliable than this man in critical moments.

Consort Shu and Shi Jun had barged in, their faces showing an air of triumph, but when they saw the Crown Princess sitting on the bed, they were utterly dumbfounded. "You... how are you here?"

The Crown Princess said coldly, "What? Is it forbidden for me to be in my own bedchambers?"

Meanwhile, Zu An emerged from the secret passage and sensed numerous figures moving about in the palace. He knew that all the palace guards had been mobilized to search for suspicious individuals, and since it was already dark and the palace gates were closed, he abandoned his plan to leave the palace.

He found a secluded spot, took out the Embroidered Uniform Guard's attire, put it on, and transformed back into Golden Badge Eleven.

He wondered what the Crown Princess's reaction would be if she ever found out he was Golden Badge Eleven.

Feeling the lingering sweet scent on his lips, the corners of his mouth curved upward. Although today had been somewhat perilous, it had turned out quite well overall.

He walked towards his residence, White Sand Courtyard, deciding to sleep there and lie low for a while.

However, just as he approached White Sand Courtyard, he suddenly stopped, realizing that many people were lying in ambush nearby.