Chapter 342
The maid carried the soup to Xander’s courtyard.
Ansel asked in surprise, “Why bring soup at this hour? It was already bedtime, and Xander had never been served soup at this time before, so Ansel couldn’t help but ask."
The maid looked flustered but forced herself to remain calm and replied, “Just now, the prince had a bit of an argument with Lady Alexandra. She felt she had said something wrong and was afraid the prince would grow distant, so she asked this old servant to bring him some soup.”
Ansel responded with an “oh,” glanced at the soup, but noticed nothing unusual. The main reason was that it came from Alexandra herself. Even if he wanted to test it, he wouldn’t dare. So he allowed the maid to carry the soup into the room.
Xander had changed into loose robes and was preparing to sleep. The maid stepped forward and repeated what she had said earlier. Xander didn’t suspect anything and said, “Leave it here.”
He was deeply bonded with Alexandra and, thinking back, realized he might have spoken harshly to her earlier. Now that she had taken the initiative to make peace, he couldn’t keep holding a grudge.
“Your Highness should drink it while it’s hot, then I can report back to Lady Alexandra,” the maid said with a smile.
Xander walked up, picked up the bowl, and drank the soup in one go. He handed the bowl back to the maid and said, “Tell Mother that I thank her for her concern.”
“Yes, be sure to pass on your words,” the maid replied, content, and took her leave with the empty bowl.
Xander turned toward the inner chamber but suddenly stopped. A wave of heat surged through his body, making him frown. He tugged at his collar, but the heat only intensified.
“Ansel!” Xander called out toward the door. Under normal circumstances, someone would’ve responded instantly, but today, there wasn’t even a trace of Ansel. Just as Xander was about to push the door open to look for him, he paused.
Something was wrong. There was no reason for him to feel this kind of heat. Something was clearly off.
“The soup, that bowl…” Xander thought.
Realizing the truth, Xander slammed his fist into the wall in frustration. He had been careless.
Outside the courtyard, Ansel had been gagged and tightly bound, kneeling on one knee. He looked anxiously at the Consort Dowager, shaking his head furiously, making muffled noises through the gag.
Alexandra glared at him and said coldly, “You dare to betray me? If not for your position as the prince’s confidant, you’d have died a thousand times already.”
Ansel broke out in a cold sweat, desperately trying to make noise and warn Xander. With just a glance from Alexandra, a guard understood and knocked Ansel out with a palm strike.
It was already late at night, and Xander’s guards had all retreated. Even if there were some around, no one dared stop Alexandra. She had brought her people in boldly, without any fear. Next to her stood Kendra, trembling in fear.
Her little face was pale as a sheet, and she looked down shyly, not daring to lift her head. “Aunt, will this really work? He will hate me for this.”
“Silly girl, if we don’t use strong medicine, how will you secure your place as Xander’s wife? I’ve been through this. I wouldn’t lie to you. Pursuing a man is easy. Once you break through that barrier, he’ll have no choice but to accept it,” Alexandra said with absolute confidence. “Athena is nothing. She’s not worthy of being the lady of the Xuan royal household. Only a refined lady like you deserves that position.”
With that, she gently nudged Kendra forward. “Go on. Don’t waste your aunt’s efforts.”
Kendra bit her lip, bolstered by the Consort Dowager’s encouragement. She steeled herself and reached for the door. Alexandra watched her with satisfaction, her eyes full of delight. As long as tonight went as planned, Xander would have no choice.
But before Alexandra could bask in her triumph, a loud thud came from inside the room. It sounded like something heavy had fallen to the floor.
“What was that noise?” she asked in panic. “Someone, go check!”
Just then, Xander emerged from the room. His face was flushed red, eyes bloodshot, staring at Alexandra like a furious, caged beast. He roared, “Mother, why would you harm me like this?”
Alexandra was shocked. She hadn’t expected Xander to be this strong. Anyone else would’ve long been overtaken by desire and lost their senses. As long as Kendra entered the room, everything would have fallen into place. But she hadn’t expected Xander not only to remain conscious but to appear enraged. It was unbelievable.
She looked at him in disbelief and suddenly noticed his blood-covered hand. No wonder Xander was still awake. He had hurt himself to stay conscious. He used pain to fight off the drug’s effects. But the drug was so strong, yet he managed to endure it.
“My son, if you’re angry, hit me if you must. But how could you hurt yourself? Please, listen to me. Go back inside, alright?” Alexandra pleaded.
But Xander only gave her a cold look before staggering toward the exit.
Alexandra panicked and shouted, “Someone, stop Prince Xander! Don’t let him leave!”
In his current state, if he went outside and lost control, he might sleep with someone, and that would be a disaster.
But Xander had a sword. No guard dared get close. He swung it wildly, slashing his way out of the residence. By the time the guards mustered up the courage to chase him, he had already disappeared.
Only then did Alexandra realize how grave the situation was. She immediately ordered, “All of you, go find the prince! Bring him back, no matter what!”
“Yes!” the guards responded in unison. “And don’t make a public scene. Search quietly!” she added.
Such a scandal must not be spread.
After the guards left, she turned her attention to Kendra. A maid had helped her up. A large bump was visible on her head. Clearly, something heavy had knocked her out.
Kendra slowly regained consciousness, the pain nearly splitting her head. When she saw Alexandra’s anxious face, she burst into tears. “Aunt Alexandra, he hit me with a stool and knocked me out!”
Perhaps it was the pain, or perhaps humiliation, but she cried pitifully. Alexandra quickly comforted her. “Don’t cry, Kendra. It’s my fault. Let the doctor take a look at you.”
The maid helped her up, but she kept crying. She felt utterly humiliated. She had risked her reputation to throw herself at him, and not only did Xander reject her, he had knocked her out with a stool.
Heartbroken, clutching her wounded head, she sobbed, “I want to return to the Porter Mansion. Please, take me back right now.”
“How could that be? If you return like this, your father will be worried sick,” Alexandra said guiltily.
“If you won’t send me, I’ll walk back myself,” Kendra said, pushing the maid aside and heading out.
The night was pitch black. If anything happened to her on the road, the consequences would be unimaginable. Left with no choice, Alexandra sent someone to escort Kendra back to Porter Mansion.