MY PRINCE HUSBAND HAS SEVEN WIVES AND I AM HIS FAVOURITE!

Zhao Yan's sharp gaze bore into Hua Jing as he repeated his question.

"What the hell do you want?"

She had been unreasonable this far so he did not understand what this woman wanted right now!

Hua Jing met his intense stare without flinching.

"I want to go back to the palace," she declared, her tone calm but firm.

She needed his help even though it was not her own idea.

Earlier, Xia Lin had told her that the only way for her to ho back to the palace was if the Prince declared it himself.

Since he had the powers, the only thing Hua Jing needed to do was to convince him

After saying that, Hua Jing watched his expressions well and sighed inwardly,

This man, he did not look like he was going to be convinced at all!

Zhao Yan raised an eyebrow, disbelief flashing across his face.

The audacity!

They had only spent a day of their proposed week yet she already wanted to go back home?

She had spread the rumors of him being a beast in bed already, of they went back after just a day won't people start gossiping and questioning if the other rumor was true to begin with?

He did not understand how Hua Jing's brain cells worked!

"Go back to the palace?" he repeated slowly.

"Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?"

"I don't care how ridiculous it sounds," Hua Jing replied, crossing her arms under the heavy blanket.

She needed to go back and teach hhag Hua Ling a lesson she would never forget!

She needed to let that witch know she had messed with the wrong woman!

She had to go no matter what!

"This whole setup is just for show anyway. Nothing has happened between us, and nothing will. So, there's no point in dragging this out."

Zhao Yan clicked his tongue, his lips curling into a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Thanks to you," he said dryly, "everyone already believes that something did happen. The rumors you started are spreading like wildfire."

Hua Jing rolled her eyes, unimpressed by his sarcasm.

"And whose fault is that?" she shot back.

"Yours," Zhao Yan retorted instantly.

"You gave the performance of a lifetime and didn't leave me much of a choice."

"Ridiculous," Hua Jing muttered under her breath.

Zhao Yan leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest.

"And why do you want to go back to the palace so badly?"

Hua Jing hesitated for the briefest moment, weighing her words carefully.

"I have some unfinished business to take care of," she said finally.

Zhao Yan's sharp gaze didn't waver.

"Unfinished business?" he repeated, his voice laced with suspicion.

He leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied her.

"Does this have anything to do with you waking up and shouting that you wanted to kill someone?"

Hua Jing stiffened, her heart skipping a beat.

Her gaze flickered briefly, but she kept her face neutral.

It's not about him, she thought, a swirl of frustration and confusion churning inside her.

How could he even think that?

But she said none of this aloud.

Instead, she gave him a measured look and replied, "That's irrelevant."

"I'm asking you to arrange for us to return to the palace," she added, steering the conversation back to her goal.

Zhao Yan's eyes narrowed further, suspicion etched into every line of his face.

"You're avoiding the question," he accused.

Hua Jing shrugged lightly, keeping her composure.

"Think what you want," she said, her tone light but evasive.

Zhao Yan leaned back slightly, his arms still crossed as he observed her in silence.

"You're hiding something," he said after a moment, his voice low.

Hua Jing's lips curled into a faint smile.

"Aren't we all?" she countered, her tone tinged with amusement.

Her eyes flicked to his mask, which gleamed faintly under the lantern's warm glow.

Zhao Yan stiffened, his hand moving instinctively to adjust the mask.

It hadn't moved an inch, but the way she looked at it made him feel as though it had slipped out of place.

Her gaze lingered for a moment longer before she spoke again, breaking the silence.

"There's something important I need to do," she said, her voice softening just slightly.

Zhao Yan raised an eyebrow.

"Important?" he repeated, his tone dripping with skepticism.

"Yes," Hua Jing said firmly, her chin tilting up in defiance.

"You're the prince. You'll make it happen."

Zhao Yan let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head.

"Do you think I exist to cater to your whims, Hua Jing?"

Hua Jing's lips curled into a sly smile.

"I wouldn't call them whims," she replied sweetly.

"They're more like… necessary arrangements."

Zhao Yan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"And what exactly is so 'necessary' that you're this persistent?"

Hua Jing's expression darkened, her playful demeanor slipping for just a moment.

In her mind, her thoughts swirled.

I can't let that witch Hua Ling get too comfortable.

She needs to be caught off guard before she plans her next move. Who knows what she's scheming now?

Zhao Yan noticed her hesitation and leaned in slightly, his piercing gaze narrowing.

"Well?" he prompted.

"What's so urgent that it can't wait?"

Hua Jing blinked, her composure snapping back into place.

"You'll know when the time is right," she said cryptically.

Zhao Yan groaned in frustration.

"You're insufferable," he muttered.

"And yet, here I am," Hua Jing quipped, her lips twitching into a grin.

Zhao Yan rolled his eyes, leaning back slightly.

"Fine," he said finally, his tone begrudging.

"But don't expect me to—"

Hua Jing suddenly cut him off, her gaze snapping past him.

Her eyes darkened, and her smile vanished, replaced by a look of alarm.

Zhao Yan frowned, following her line of sight.

"What now?" he started to say, but Hua Jing moved swiftly.

She darted forward, grabbing his arm with surprising strength.

Her voice was sharp and filled with urgency as she shouted:

"Watch out!"