The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 495

Chapter 495: 252 Palace Examination (two combined into one)

Chapter 495: 252 Palace Examination (two combined into one) _{ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com}

This situation caught everyone off guard, even the crown princess hesitated momentarily. The moment the bookshelf collapsed, she instinctively stepped forward, trying to dodge the impending disaster.

However, the room was so narrow that taking a few steps forward almost made her bump into Xiao Liulang.

Xiao Liulang heard the noise first, informed of someone’s entrance, then the bookshelf fell and blocked the door. The room had no oil lamp or windows, once the door was closed, the room rapidly plunged into the depths of darkness.

Without seeing the intruder, he simply obeyed the instinct to avoid strangers, stepping backwards and pressing himself almost against the wall.

Xiao Liulang’s aversion to strangers wasn’t recent. Since the time Fen Lin knew him, he found that Xiao was a man with a severe social aversion, but Fen Lin always opportunistically tried to get close despite his unsociability.

The crown princess was somewhat embarrassed by his evasive action. Wouldn’t most men act as heroes in such situations?

Of course, as a lofty crown princess, she would never allow any physical contact with any man outside the palace. Yet, what she allows, and what others do, are different matters.

A delicate fragrance of a woman’s powder lingered in the room, not the cheap powder scent found in the market, but the high-quality incense only used in the court.

Xiao Liulang’s hand paused, still clutching the ink stick.

Although the room was unlit, once your eyes adapted to the darkness, a slender stream of light seeping in from under the door allowed some visibility.

The woman was wearing a pearl-white chiffon dress. Shadows of gold and silver thread adorning the gown, showing faintly in the dim light.

This was an extremely expensive shark gauze, it was said that even with a hundred female fishermen weaving for a month, they couldn’t produce a half-yard piece. Even though this might be an exaggeration, the shark gauze was indeed a rare treasure in the palace.

A palace maid could not afford to wear it, nor could a regular imperial concubine. Normally, the Internal Affairs Department only delivered them to the female rulers of the Harem—either the Empress Dowager or an Empress.

The Empress Dowager was no longer in the palace, and it was impossible for the Empress to leave the palace.

The woman’s figure was graceful, as beautiful as a mermaid breaking through the moonlit water.

It was a young woman.

The room was so quiet that even the breath could be heard distinctly.

Xiao Liulang didn’t speak, nor did he take a step forward with the intention of greeting or making small talk.

“Who are you?”

After some hesitation, the crown princess was the first one to speak up.