CHAPTER 155: CHAPTER

Lin Xu was still lying in the Crown Prince’s arms. His hold around her was gentle but firm, his warmth steady against her back. The room was quiet, with only the soft sound of their breathing.

Then she heard it...

Distant shouting.

The clash of steel.

Rushing footsteps outside the inn.

Lin Xu’s eyes opened slowly. Her mind was still foggy, her body weak, but the noise grew louder, guards yelling, someone giving orders, the sound of fighting just outside the door.

Her heart jumped.

What was happening?

Before she could sit up, the door burst open with a loud bang, slamming into the wall so hard the whole room shook.

Lin Xu turned her head sharply.

Standing in the doorway, covered in sweat, barely able to stand, but with eyes burning fiercely, was Mo Ying.

He looked like he had forced his injured body to run all the way there.

Then his expression froze.

He stiffened completely.

Because right in front of him, on the same bed, Lin Xu was lying in another man’s arms. The Crown Prince was still holding her close.

Mo Ying’s face went pale, his eyes filled with shock, pain, and disbelief so deep it looked like his soul had been hit. For a moment, he couldn’t breathe.

The room grew silent.

Lin Xu opened her mouth, but no sound came.

The Crown Prince slowly opened his eyes, sensing something was wrong, but Mo Ying did not look at him. His eyes were fixed on Lin Xu, as if nothing else existed.

His fingers curled. His legs trembled.

When he finally spoke, his voice was rough and low, like something inside him had cracked.

"Lin Xu?"

His heart broke right there.

Another loud bang came as the door burst open again. Two more guards rushed inside. Fuhan and Uncle Mo followed, along with many of Mo Ying’s men, all holding weapons.

The small room was suddenly full of people.

The Crown Prince stood up, anger written on his face.

"Mo Ying! How dare you break into my room like this?! Are you crazy?!"

But Mo Ying did not answer. He didn’t even look at the Crown Prince. He only stared at Lin Xu.

The Crown Prince shouted again.

"I am talking to you, General Mo! Explain yourself!"

Still, Mo Ying did not respond. He took one step forward. Just one. But it made the whole room tense.

The Crown Prince’s guards drew their swords at once.

"Stop!"

"Don’t move!"

Fuhan panicked.

"Protect General Mo!"

Mo Ying’s men stepped forward too, swords ready. Two sides now faced each other.

Uncle Mo grabbed Mo Ying’s arm, but he didn’t move back. He didn’t even seem to feel the touch.

His eyes stayed on Lin Xu. His face looked hurt, confused, and full of pain.

Fuhan whispered, "General... please. You’re still weak... don’t do this."

But Mo Ying stayed silent.

The Crown Prince looked between Mo Ying and Lin Xu, frustrated.

"What is happening here?!"

But Mo Ying did not care. He only stared at Lin Xu, like she was the only person in the world.

Finally, he spoke, his voice calm but firm.

"Your Highness... do you know who the woman you’re holding is?"

The Crown Prince blinked.

"What do you mean, Mo Ying?"

Mo Ying swallowed hard.

"She is someone I have protected with my life. Someone very important to me."

The Crown Prince looked at Lin Xu, then back at him.

"You’re saying she belongs to your household?"

Mo Ying nodded, even though his legs were shaking.

"Yes. And I came to take her back."

The Crown Prince’s frown softened into surprise.

"You could have told me that instead of breaking into my room."

Mo Ying exhaled slowly.

"I almost died yesterday. When she heard, she ran off. I thought she had abandoned me."

The Crown Prince’s expression softened.

"So that’s why you acted like this."

Mo Ying nodded.

"I was scared something happened to her."

The Crown Prince sighed.

"You always react too strongly when it comes to people you care about."

The tension eased slightly.

Lin Xu slowly sat up.

"Your Highness... please let me go," she whispered.

He gently released her.

"Are you sure you can stand?"

Lin Xu nodded.

Mo Ying’s eyes darkened at the Crown Prince’s words.

She bowed deeply.

"Your Highness, I am sorry for coming here without warning."

The Crown Prince shook his head lightly.

"You didn’t cause trouble. I was only surprised."

Lin Xu straightened, her voice steadier now.

Mo Ying’s fingers tightened slightly, but he stayed silent.

He took Lin Xu’s hand, but his grip was cold and stiff. He didn’t look at her once. His face remained dark during the walk out of the inn.

Fuhan and the guards surrounded them, clearing a path while the Crown Prince watched silently, worried but not stopping them.

Lin Xu kept glancing at Mo Ying, her heart twisting painfully.

"General..." she whispered.

But he didn’t answer. His jaw was tight, his eyes straight ahead. His steps were slow, uneven, but firm.

He didn’t speak the entire ride back. Not a single word.

Lin Xu sat quietly, growing more scared. She wanted to explain. She wanted to hold his hand. But he kept his fists closed the whole time.

He didn’t look at her until the carriage stopped.

By the time they reached the Mo residence, the sky was already bright.

As soon as they stepped down, a loud slap rang out.

Lin Xu staggered. Her cheek burned red.

It was Grandma Mo.

Her old eyes were full of anger and disappointment.

"How dare you! After my grandson protected you after he almost died, this is how you repay him?!"

Lin Xu froze, holding her cheek in shock and pain.

San Na watched coldly from behind Grandma Mo. Madame Mo stood with a hard look.

Mo Ying stepped forward, hand halfway raised to protect Lin Xu, but stopped. He stood there, torn, but did nothing.

Grandma Mo pointed at Lin Xu.

"You ran to another man the moment Mo Ying fell ill? You left him to die alone?!"

"No—Grandmother—that’s not what happened—" Lin Xu tried to explain.

"Don’t call me Grandmother!" the old woman shouted. "You have no right!"

San Na stepped forward, speaking in a mocking tone.

"Grandmother is right. I always knew Lin Xu pretended to be innocent. Look how fast she ran into another man’s arms."

"That’s not true!" Lin Xu shouted. "I didn’t go to him like that! I didn’t sleep with him! I fainted and—"

Mo Lan walked in with a smirk.

"Oh please. You ended up in his bed. What do you think people will believe? You were lying in the Crown Prince’s arms. How innocent does that look?"

Lin Xu’s eyes burned.

"You’re twisting my words! I fainted, he carried me. Nothing happened!"

Mo Lan laughed loudly.

"Really? He just happened to hold you that tightly? You expect us to believe nothing happened?"

"That’s not what happened!" Lin Xu shouted.

"Yes it is!" Mo Lan yelled. "You’re just too ashamed to admit it!"

"You weren’t there! You don’t know!" Lin Xu snapped.

"Oh? The maid saw you," Mo Lan said mockingly. "She saw everything. You lying there... in another man’s bed."

Lin Xu felt her heart choke.

"That’s not— I didn’t— He only—"

"Shameless girl!" Grandma Mo screamed. She grabbed Lin Xu harshly. "While Mo Ying was dying, while we were crying, you were lying in a man’s arms!"

Tears filled Lin Xu’s eyes. She looked desperately at Mo Ying.

"Mo Ying... you know me... I would never—"

Mo Ying closed his eyes. He looked hurt, conflicted, lost.

Finally he spoke, his voice low.

"Lin Xu... please... stop talking for now."

Her heart sank. Even he didn’t believe her?

Grandma Mo pushed her away.

"You are no longer welcome here!"

Lin Xu stumbled.

Mo Lan stepped closer, proud.

"Yes, send her away! Girls like her only bring trouble."

Lin Xu snapped, voice shaking with anger and pain.

"I didn’t betray anyone! I didn’t do anything wrong! You all just want to blame me without listening!"

Mo Lan scoffed.

"Stop acting like a victim. Everyone saw where you were. Everyone knows what it means when a girl ends up in a man’s room."

Lin Xu’s cheeks burned.

"You’re twisting everything! I went there to look for help—"

Mo Lan interrupted.

"Help? In the Crown Prince’s bed?"

"It wasn’t like that!" Lin Xu gritted her teeth.

"It looked like that."

"It wasn’t!"

Mo Ying finally shouted, "Enough!"

Everyone fell silent. He stepped forward, voice calm but strained.

"That’s enough shouting for one day."

Lin Xu looked at him with hope, but he didn’t look at her. He stared at the ground, breathing heavily.

"I... need to think," he said quietly.

Her heart felt like it dropped to the floor.

He finally gave her one painful glance.

"Stay in your room. Don’t walk around the house."

Lin Xu’s eyes widened.

"Mo Ying... are you locking me up?"

He didn’t answer. He simply turned away.

San Na smiled. Mo Lan looked satisfied. Grandma Mo muttered, "Serves her right."

Lin Xu stood alone, her cheek burning, her eyes filled with tears, feeling completely abandoned