Qi Yan Su Luo pressed her lips together tightly and did not say a word.
She thought that since she had already been beaten, she could at least keep some dignity by not giving in.
So she was determined to defend this last line of defense staunchly!
Qin Zhao would not take no for an answer and slapped her bottom another dozen times!
But Qi Yan Su Luo still did not make a sound, and Qin Zhao's own hand was starting to hurt. Feeling bored, she threw Qi Yan Su Luo onto the bed.
Thinking Qi Yan Su Luo had not left enough room for her, Qin Zhao kicked her further inside to make space for herself.
Having been kicked for no reason, Qi Yan Su Luo felt hopeless and started crying.
Then Qin Zhao lay down herself.
Turning to face Qi Yan Su Luo, she said: "If you don't admit your mistake, I'll have to take action.
I feel the aphrodisiac scent is taking effect on me. Aren't you afraid?"
Having said that, Qin Zhao's body took on an extremely charming pose against her will!
Qin Zhao felt something was wrong. Her face also showed more allure than usual!
She hesitated and said: "There's something strange about this scent."
Qi Yan Su Luo sneered: "Who told you it was an aphrodisiac?"
"What is it then?"
"It's an excitant."
Qin Zhao: "..."
(Try to hold back laughter)...(Can't help it anymore) Hahahahahahaha! The heroine is so funny!"
Qi Yan Su Luo continued: "Aphrodisiacs are commonly used by dancing girls in brothels when they perform to help allure the audience.
With this scent, they have seduced many patrons, and some even found long term sponsors because of it.
A single stick of incense is quite expensive, beyond what ordinary dancing girls can afford."
She had just finished speaking when a shadow pounced over!
Qin Zhao lay on top of Qi Yan Su Luo, blinked at her and asked: "So do you think I can charm you?"
Looking at Qin Zhao's peerless profile, Qi Yan Su Luo's mind flashed with images of them spending a night together.
She gasped, feeling a heat flowing out from somewhere.
With great difficulty, she wriggled out from under Qin Zhao and said: "No, you are too ugly."
Qin Zhao laughed and said: "So you did see what I looked like that night.
I admire you for still being able to go through with it.
You even bit my ankle..."
Qi Yan Su Luo blushed to the top of her head and stuttered: "Don't say anymore. If you want to blame someone, blame your Sixth Imperial Brother.
A sister pays back her brother's debts, that is only right and proper!"
Is this the epitome of intelligence and righteous indignation from the 19-year-old princess of the grasslands? Love her, just love her!
Qin Zhao pinched Qi Yan Su Luo's lips and said: "What a waste of a pretty mouth on you."
Just as she wanted to mock Qi Yan Su Luo some more, an melodious voice came from outside: "Your Highness, the Sixth Prince is here to visit."
Qin Zhao called back: "Alright, I'll go out to meet him in a bit, ask him to wait in the front hall."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Qin Zhao took the bottle of antidote from Qi Yan Su Luo and swallowed a pill. The strange sensations on her body quickly dissipated.
She got up and said to Qi Yan Su Luo: "Let's end this matter here for today, you may leave now."
Qi Yan Su Luo asked: "When will you return my dagger to me?"
Qin Zhao: "When you come to see me without needing any excuses."
Having said that, she ignored Qi Yan Su Luo's puzzled gaze and strode straight out of the room.
After Qin Zhao closed the door, Qi Yan Su Luo easily removed the shackles on her hands. She left Qin Zhao's room deep in thought.
On her way to the front hall, Qin Zhao ran into Ling Long.
After paying her respects to Qin Zhao, Ling Long asked: "Is that dress new, Your Highness? I don't seem to have seen it before."
Qin Zhao said: "It's borrowed."
Ling Long nodded. "Your Highness's dress is wrinkled. Let me tidy it up for you."
Qin Zhao recalled wrestling with Qi Yan Su Luo on the bed earlier, that must have been when it got wrinkled.
Qin Zhao raised her arms slightly to allow Ling Long to neaten her dress. She also took the chance to ask: "Ling Long, what do you think of the relationship between this palace and the Sixth Prince?"
Ling Long replied: "Ever since you both were little, the Sixth Prince liked to come find Your Highness to play. And Your Highness also liked to share the rewards you got from His Majesty with the Sixth Prince.
So I think you two must have a very good relationship, Your Highness."
But Qin Zhao felt something was amiss. She remembered Qin Hong taking quite a number of treasures from Princess Zhao Yang, but never giving anything back.
Wasn't he just treating Princess Zhao Yang like a fool to take advantage of?
She must find an opportunity to get back at the Sixth Prince!
Once her dress was neatened, Qin Zhao dismissed Ling Long and went to the main hall alone.
Seeing Qin Zhao arrive, Sixth Prince Qin Hong hurried enthusiastically over and said: "Sister, you're here! Kept imperial brother waiting!"
Qin Zhao smiled politely. She went to sit on the master seat and asked: "Does Sixth Imperial Brother have any important business today?"
Qin Hong had a subtle expression on his face. Zhao Yang was usually very warm towards him, but today she was so perfunctory.
It made him feel a little uneasy.
Qin Hong sat down, his face rather gloomy. He waited for Zhao Yang to show concern and ask what was going on.
After waiting fruitlessly for a while, he lightly coughed and said: "These days, the court has been discussing the matter of appointing a Crown Prince. Has my sister heard about it?"
Qin Zhao: "No, I haven't. But this kind of thing happens from time to time in recent years. It's nothing new."
Qin Hong nodded: "What my sister said is true, but this year is different. Father was ill with a cold and stopped holding court for three days earlier this month.
This was the first time Father halted court proceedings in his 17 years of reign.
The ministers felt this was an ill omen and urged Father to name an heir soon.
But Father scolded the ministers who gave this advice and forbid anyone from mentioning it again.
As Father's most beloved princess, he might listen if you spoke up.
Appointing an heir concerns the foundation of the state and cannot be delayed.
For the sake of securing the state's foundation and comforting the people's hearts, I hope my sister can step forward at this time and persuade Father."
Qin Zhao asked with great interest: "Which prince does my imperial brother hope I will support?"
Qin Hong sat up straight, looked at Qin Zhao and said: "We have been close siblings since we were young.
I won't hide it from you, I'm very interested in that position.
If I could...
Imperial brother promises to ensure you a lifetime of glory and wealth."
Qin Zhao really wanted to mock Qin Hong to his face, but now was not the time to break ties. She barely held herself back.
Qin Zheng was obsessed with cultivating for immortality and longing for eternal life. That was why he wanted to be the undying and everlasting Emperor.
So in his eyes, the princes were all competitors.
He had not gotten rid of them out of regard for them being of his own bloodline.
But if the princes did not know their place, then with Qin Zheng's ruthless personality that had no qualms about harming his own daughter, killing them was not out of the question!
And to the princes who wanted to be Emperor themselves, he was an obstacle in their path!
Why not make use of Qin Zheng's hand to get rid of some of them?
Thinking of this, Qin Zhao said to Qin Hong: "Sixth Imperial Brother, don't worry. If there is an opportunity, I will definitely speak up for you in front of Father."
Qin Hong excitedly stood up, his voice trembling slightly, "Then imperial brother has to thank imperial sister!"
He patted Qin Zhao's shoulder. "My sister, my good sister, imperial brother will definitely not shortchange you in the future!"
Not long after, Qin Hong left in wild ecstasy.
Qin Zhao's face instantly turned icy cold.
She thought: A hopeless fool!
For a period of time after that, Qin Zhao focused her efforts on getting abs again.
To prepare to meet the top masters on the World Heroes Ranking.
After more than half a month of intensive training, her abs finally started to show some definition.
Her physical fitness also recovered substantially.
One day while Qin Zhao was practicing martial arts in this world with a 20-kilogram iron rod in the front courtyard, Ling Long came running over.
She said to Qin Zhao: "Your Highness, someone from the palace is here. He said His Majesty has summoned you!"
