Xie Wangze said nothing at first, but when he opened his mouth, it was a bombshell.
Pei Ji nearly jumped up. “No! Xie Wangze, don’t talk nonsense!”
“Where in my tone was there any sourness? Where did I show any jealousy? That was criticism—criticism of Qingchen for speaking up for the princess.”
After Pei Ji finished explaining, he breathed a slight sigh of relief. Saying he was jealous was truly ridiculous. How could he possibly be jealous over a woman like Chu Yunge? She was heartless, wicked, and detestable, without a shred of a proper girl’s demeanor.
“I’m not crazy. Who would fall for a madwoman who forces herself on innocent men?”
Pei Ji spoke with absolute certainty. Qingchen’s expression eased slightly, but Xie Wangze remained unmoved and only said one sentence.
“I never said you liked her.”
Xie Wangze’s voice was like a clear spring clashing against rocks—still as captivating as ever, but the tone was truly cold, laced with faint mockery.
It took Pei Ji a moment to react to what that meant.
“You… what do you mean by that?”
He demanded, feeling that Xie Wangze was truly detestable.
He had always felt guilty toward Xie Wangze. He clearly knew Xie Wangze’s situation as a hostage and the helplessness of being forced to stay in Chu State—especially since Xie Wangze was such a refined and aloof young noble.
But now Pei Ji found Xie Wangze somewhat detestable. He glared fiercely at Xie Wangze.
Xie Wangze only found it amusing. Pei Ji’s thoughts were too obvious; everything showed on his face, seen through at a glance.
Yet it was precisely because he saw through it that he found it even more laughable.
Clearly, Pei Ji had despised Chu Yunge so much before, but after just two nights of sharing a bed, his attitude had completely changed.
Even Qingchen had become somewhat different.
If the detoxification continued like this, the two of them would probably end up utterly devoted.
“Whatever you make of it is what I mean. In the future, if it’s just this kind of nonsense, there’s no need to come find me.”
He was not like them—one born with everything, free to pursue his own ideals; the other, even after entering the monastic life, still had the Shen Family as a backer. Even if he whimsically wanted to return to secular life, someone would cover the cost.
He was just one person. He still had too many things to do. He had no interest in getting tangled in their jealousy or meddling in their romances.
His life was destined to have no connection to love, and he had even less desire to get involved in this mess of two men… no, three men and one woman entangled in emotions.
After Xie Wangze finished speaking, he instructed Ju An to row the boat back.
Pei Ji blocked him. “Wait, how is this nonsense? Xie Wangze, this concerns you too. Why reject it so firmly?”
He scrutinized Xie Wangze closely. “Xie Wangze, you’ve been influenced by the princess’s words too, haven’t you?”
His expression was certain. Xie Wangze was just about to deny it when Pei Ji had already reached his conclusion.
“I knew it. She deliberately says things to make people obsess and go mad, deliberately does these things to affect us.”
Pei Ji’s face turned serious. “I admit I’ve been influenced by her, so I suspect she’s changed her approach—from forcing us to seducing us.”
Qingchen looked surprised. He did not think the princess was that kind of person.
Xie Wangze countered, “So?”
Being seduced by her did not mean he would be.
“Of course, it’s to warn you both and make you stay vigilant. From now on, when you go for detoxification, don’t look at her carelessly, don’t touch her, and don’t get provoked into falling for her tricks. She’ll strike directly when you’re not paying attention.”
“You must stay alert at all times. Don’t let her take advantage or steal your purity.” Pei Ji’s face was full of seriousness. “Of course, don’t develop feelings for her over time either. I don’t want us to fall out over fighting for her.”
Qingchen pressed his palms together. “Amitabha. This monk will not.”
He was a monk, and the princess had been very respectful toward him since that night. They would not share a bed either, so how could she make a move on him?
Pei Ji relaxed and turned to Xie Wangze.
Xie Wangze: “…Do you think I would?”
He paused and added, “Also, Little Marquis, we’ve only just met.”
There was no deep bond between them, so what talk of falling out? It was even less likely over Chu Yunge.
Their paths differed, so they could not walk together—especially with the delicate relations between Chen State and Chu State now.
Pei Ji nodded first. “Then let’s agree: absolutely no falling for her schemes. If anyone seems off in the future, we’ll remind each other.”
Pei Ji desperately resisted the urge to touch his lips, feeling they must supervise one another.
Once Qingchen nodded helplessly, Pei Ji looked at Xie Wangze. “Xie Wangze, you’re not quite like I imagined. At first, I thought you were refined and aloof, with an air of purity—like a breeze through a pine forest, or proud plum blossoms in snow. Now I see you’re not just cold; you’re a bit venomous too. Your tongue is poisonous.”
With that, he tugged at Qingchen. “Right? Master Qingchen.”
Qingchen saw Xie Wangze’s expression grow even icier. “Xie Wangze is just cold on the surface. Don’t say it like that.”
Xie Wangze did not reply and paid them no further mind. He simply instructed Ju An to head back to shore.
…
Chu Yunge, who had heard the full relayed account, scratched her chin. The topic did indeed concern her—she had not misheard. They were not plotting against her, but was this topic not a bit strange?
What did he mean by her changing tactics to seduce them?
“Pei Ji is overthinking it, isn’t he?”
She had only teased him a little. She had not escaped the plot’s setup either. With his skills, he had dodged it, so why think so much?
Chu Yunge shook her head, stood, and left with Yan Feng.
“If they gather like this again in the future, we’ll eavesdrop again.”
As she spoke, Chu Yunge stuffed a handful of melon seeds into Yan Feng’s hands as a bribe. Yan Feng clutched the seeds, his expression blank.
Was he to keep relaying like this from now on?
Seeing Yan Feng had not caught up and noting his expression, Chu Yunge immediately said, “This is an extra task for a guard. This Princess won’t let you work overtime for nothing. You’ll get extra silver each time.”
The worker had flipped to become the boss; she could not exploit the worker.
Yan Feng looked up in surprise. Was there such a good thing?
Chu Yunge chuckled at Yan Feng’s reaction. “Don’t worry. I won’t shortchange you.”
As she spoke, Chu Yunge suddenly saw a maid slap another maid hard across the face. “Shameless!”
The slapped maid did not fight back and only hung her head low. “I knew him first…”
“Pah!”
The aggressor maid spat and stormed off furiously.
Chu Yunge caught the scent of gossip and could not resist following the aggressor maid.
When she saw her go to comfort another maid, Chu Yunge beckoned. “Yan Feng, come. Let’s eavesdrop.”
Yan Feng: “…???”
He found it odd. If the princess wanted to know about the maids’ affairs, she could just summon them and ask. Why eavesdrop?
But he still relayed it. His retelling stuttered, and his face showed hesitation, fearing Chu Yunge would fly into a rage and have the three tortured to death.
Previously, a maid and a guard had developed feelings in secret. When the princess caught them, it happened to be the day her wedding night had failed amid rejection. Seeing the maid’s blushing face, the princess whipped her. The guard desperately shielded her, further enraging the princess.
In the end, the princess flayed the maid’s face, ruining her looks. She waited for the guard to lose interest and said that as long as the guard rejected and spat on the maid, he could escape death.
But the guard refused, and in the end, both were executed.
Back then, he had been shocked that his savior could be so cruel.
Now, caught again, he feared Chu Yunge would erupt once more.
But Chu Yunge did not erupt. She listened with keen interest and, after hearing it all from the maids, beckoned again.
“Come on, Yan Feng. Let’s go eat more melon.”
Seeing her give no orders to seize the maids but only wanting to eat melon, Yan Feng hurriedly agreed. “Yes. What melon does Your Highness wish to eat?”