FRGNM -Chapter 15 The Crown Prince Assassinated?

“Pfft—” Nearly choking on her own saliva, Ling Ruoxi was completely defeated by the little boy in front of her, laughing all the way along.

By the time they reached the town, it was already the dead of night. She booked two rooms, sent Fang Xu off to rest early, and returned to her own room. She quickly stripped off her clothes and sank into the bathtub.

That strange stench clinging to her body was unbearable even to herself. After soaking for half an hour, Ling Ruoxi finally stepped out—but then…

Her gaze fell on her own flawless figure, and she stared in shock at her reflection in the mirror. Like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, her body—smooth as white jade—emanated a faint glow. On her back, a strange purple flower slowly faded from view.

As the flower disappeared, the left half of her body reverted to its former state, becoming rough like old tree bark once more.

Could soaking in water restore her original appearance?

She returned to the bathtub and soaked again for a while. When she stood up, her body still showed no change. Only after another half hour, under the stimulation of warm water, did the rough, bark-like skin begin to peel away slowly, and the markings on her back reappeared.

That flower—shaped like a crescent moon—emerged once more on her back. Its eerie purple hue radiated a bewitching, sinister aura. But it didn’t last long before dispersing again.

What exactly was this thing?

Even Ling Ruoxi was puzzled. Too lazy to dwell on it, she dried herself, put on her clothes, collapsed onto the soft bed, and drifted into a heavy sleep.

In a golden world, countless strange creatures floated in the air, elusive and indistinct. She stood beside a massive black cauldron, tossing various materials into it. The strange dream continued endlessly—throughout the entire night, she kept feeding ingredients into the cauldron.

The night remained deep and silent.

The rain gradually lessened. A figure stood inside the ruined temple, recalling everything that had happened over the past few days. How could that woman take his money and just run off?!

This—this was nothing like those refined noble ladies. She even talked about going to a pleasure house with another man!

Nangong Mo didn’t know what he was doing anymore. He only felt a suffocating frustration trapped in his chest, leaving him unable to breathe.

“Your Highness, the rain has lightened. We can proceed to the town ahead to rest for the night,” a guard reminded him. As the Crown Prince of Northern Ning, how could Nangong Mo possibly stay in such a place?

Nodding, Nangong Mo walked out gloomily.

Suddenly, a guard shouted sharply. That familiar figure stood not far outside the door—her slender body trembling in the wind, jet-black hair plastered wetly against her chest. With a weak, pitiful gaze, she looked toward the people inside.

It felt as if something slammed hard into Nangong Mo’s heart. He stared at her. “Why are you back again?”

“May I come in?” Her voice was unusually gentle.

The people who hadn’t planned to let Ling Ruoxi inside froze. The resentment in Nangong Mo’s heart dissipated. With a wave of his sleeve, he said, “Come in.”

“Thank you.” Her sweet voice trembled slightly. She entered the ruined temple and curled up in a small corner. Her face was deathly pale. Her rain-soaked clothes clung tightly to her body, perfectly outlining her curvaceous figure.

“You—close the door. And you, change into dry clothes. Don’t say I, Nangong Mo, mistreat a woman!” He stripped off his pale-yellow outer robe and tossed it to Ling Ruoxi, then turned to leave.

If it were the old Ling Ruoxi—the one who could anger people to death without compensation—he would never have done something so pointless. But now… seeing her like this, he simply couldn’t bring himself to be cruel.

“Don’t… don’t leave, okay?” She called out shakily, rushing forward to grab Nangong Mo’s wrist. “I—I’m scared…”

“Scared?” Nangong Mo sneered. “Why weren’t you scared earlier? Where’s the man you were with? Didn’t you go book a room together? A woman like you deserves it!”

He knocked her lightly on the head and flung his sleeve away, about to leave.

But the person behind him suddenly wrapped her arms around him, her frail body trembling. “Don’t… don’t leave… Your Highness, I… I…”

“You what?” Nangong Mo scoffed coldly. “Where did that sharp tongue of yours go? Ling Ruoxi, I’ve already given you the divorce letter. There’s nothing between us anymore. I never imagined you’d put a green hat on me. Fine—an ugly woman like you, even if I married you, I wouldn’t even look at you properly—”

“Heh…”

A cold laugh shattered the fragile façade completely. A flash of icy light burst forth—the gleam of cold steel plunged into Nangong Mo’s body.

The sudden pain caught him off guard. He instinctively looked down. A bloodstained longsword protruded from his abdomen, flashing with a chilling glow. The heavy stench of blood flooded the air, violently stimulating his senses.

He—he had been stabbed by Ling Ruoxi…

“Your Highness!” The guards shouted in alarm. Yellow Dou Qi erupted as they charged toward the ruined temple.

Ling Ruoxi curled her lips into a smile. She shoved Nangong Mo away, pulled out the sharp sword, and sneered, “Nangong Mo, is humiliating me really that fun? Today, I—Ling Ruoxi—am killing you! Remember this well. Go report to the King of Hell!”

The guards arrived, Dou Qi surging wildly. Amid the chaos, that black-clad figure vanished like lightning in an instant.

Nangong Mo’s face was deathly pale, devoid of all color. His abdomen had been pierced, yet somehow the blow had narrowly missed anything fatal. Gasping, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, his icy voice echoed through the dark night:

“Ling Ruoxi! Men—issue a wanted order for her. This sword strike—I will return it!”

A chaotic dream.

Rubbing her temples, Ling Ruoxi woke up and looked at the sunlight streaming through the window. She yawned lazily.

Another beautiful day.

Now then… which handsome man should she flirt with today?