Xia Wei had a simple life philosophy:

If life gives you a dangerous Crown Prince who could have you executed with a snap of his fingers, you snap first—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—until he regrets ever existing.

And that was exactly what she planned to do.

Xia Wei tapped the inkbrush against her chin. “What’s the cringiest way to confess love?”

Chunyu, her long-suffering maid, grimaced. “My lady, I beg you, please don’t. The Crown Prince will skin you alive.”

“Nonsense.” Xia Wei waved her off. “This is an art. Observe.”

She carefully wrote:

Dearest, most glorious, most breathtaking, most divinely masculine Crown Prince Li Xuan—

Chunyu gagged. “My lady, I just ate.”

“Shush.” Xia Wei continued:

Every time I gaze upon you, I feel as though my very soul is set ablaze.

Chunyu blinked. “That… actually doesn’t sound bad.”

Xia Wei added:

Like a man burning alive in an oil fire.

“…Never mind.”

Would you do me the honor of meeting me in the imperial gardens at midnight, where I shall finally confess what my heart longs to say?

Signed, Your Most Devoted Admirer.

“Perfect,” Xia Wei declared, blowing on the ink to dry it. “Absolutely tragic.”

Chunyu slowly backed away. “I want no part in this. This is between you, your future ghost, and the afterlife.”

---

Midnight arrived.

And so did Li Xuan.

The moon bathed the imperial gardens in a soft glow, making it a perfectly romantic setting for…

The Emperor’s pet goose.

Which stood there.

Staring at him.

And then.

Honk.

Li Xuan narrowed his eyes. “…What.”

Somewhere in the bushes, Xia Wei was biting her own sleeve to keep from laughing.

The goose, apparently sensing its supreme authority, honked louder.

And then—it charged.

Li Xuan, the empire’s most feared warrior, sidestepped.

Calmly.

Elegantly.

Majestically.

And the goose?

Fell into the pond.

A single, wet, pathetic honk echoed through the night.

Xia Wei collapsed into the grass, wheezing.

---

Xia Wei hummed as she stirred a small vial into Li Xuan’s tea.

Chunyu, watching from the side, looked horrified. “You are actually insane.”

“It’s just a sleeping potion,” Xia Wei assured. “Very mild.”

Chunyu squinted. “Where did you even get that?”

“Ah,” Xia Wei said with a mysterious smile. “I have my ways.”

(Aka, she traded it for two pork buns and a gossip session with a shady apothecary.)

Li Xuan arrived, looking as unimpressed as ever. “What are you plotting?”

Xia Wei gasped dramatically. “You wound me, Your Highness. Can’t a woman just offer her beloved fiancé a nice cup of tea?”

Li Xuan raised an eyebrow. “No.”

“…Fair.”

But, against all logic, he still took a sip.

And then another.

Until, very slowly, his eyes fluttered shut.

Li Xuan face-planted onto her table.

Chunyu’s soul left her body. “My lady, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!”

Xia Wei patted the Crown Prince’s unconscious head. “You panic too much.”

“My lady, you just DRUGGED the Crown Prince of the empire.”

“Correction.” Xia Wei gestured grandly. “I relocated him to Dreamland.”

Chunyu looked like she was considering jumping out the window. “What are you going to do with his unconscious body?!”

Xia Wei frowned. “Good question.”

Five minutes later—

The Crown Prince was found dumped outside the palace gates.

---

By now, Xia Wei had one goal left:

Make Li Xuan break off the engagement himself.

And for that—she had to become the most annoying woman in existence.

Li Xuan: “My lady, you shouldn’t wander alone.”

Xia Wei: “You’re right. I should have a personal guard. Perhaps ten. Maybe twenty.”

Li Xuan: “…”

Li Xuan: “You’re playing a dangerous game.”

Xia Wei: “So are you. It’s called ‘Will He Survive Me?’”

Li Xuan: “You are testing my patience.”

Xia Wei: “Impressive that you still have some left.”

Li Xuan stared at her for three full seconds.

Then, ever so slowly…

He smirked.

Xia Wei’s stomach dropped.

Oh no.

OH NO.

She had accidentally made herself more interesting.

-

That night, Chunyu found Xia Wei lying face-down on the floor.

Chunyu: “…Did you fail again?”

Xia Wei: “…I think he likes me.”

Chunyu: “…My lady, WHAT DID YOU DO?!”

Xia Wei rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling in despair. “He said I was ‘much more interesting this way.’”

Chunyu’s eyes widened. “Wait. Wait. Hold on. This means…”

A cold realization settled between them.

They hadn’t been torturing the Crown Prince.

He had been enjoying it.

“…We’re doomed,” Xia Wei whispered.

---

Somewhere else in the palace, Li Xuan sipped his tea—fully awake.

Yes. He had noticed the sleeping potion.

Yes. He had drank it anyway.

And yes.

He was having the time of his life.

Because Xia Wei was the most chaotic, unpredictable woman he had ever met.

And he had big plans for her.

Because if she thought she was torturing him—

Oh, she had no idea what was coming next.

Because while Xia Wei thought she was torturing him, she had no idea.

She was the one being used.

Li Xuan tapped his fingers against the table, expression calm.

Xia Wei’s father was a powerful general, loyal to the Emperor, but…

If Li Xuan controlled Xia Wei, he controlled the general.

It was so simple.

All he had to do was make her fall for him.

How hard could that be?

…

One week later.

Xia Wei set his bed on fire.

Li Xuan, standing outside in his soaking wet night robe: “…”

Chunyu: “My lady, I think you’ve gone too far this time.”

Xia Wei, rubbing her temples: “I just wanted to warm his sheets.”

Li Xuan stared at her and finally realized.

He had severely miscalculated. ---

End of Chapter 17

Sky~