Xie Wangze was tied to a chair, his white inner robe disheveled and revealing patches of fair chest.
The prison cell was stiflingly hot. Fine beads of sweat seeped from Xie Wangze’s normally mild and aloof face, tinting his cheeks a faint pink.
Yet his eyes grew even icier and deeper, impatience flickering in his downcast gaze.
“Your Majesty?”
Xie Wangze’s cool voice snapped the Chu Emperor back to attention. He personally reached out to untie the ropes binding Xie Wangze.
“It was Zhen’s oversight. Zhen never expected them to treat Young Master Xie so roughly.”
Xie Wangze endured the Chu Emperor’s icy hands. The moment he was freed, he stood up abruptly, dodging the other’s attempt to assist further.
Though the Chu Emperor looked strikingly similar to Chu Yunge, he simply wasn’t used to the man getting too close.
The Chu Emperor’s hands were far too cold—nothing like Chu Yunge’s. He didn’t like it.
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s trust.”
A flash of mockery crossed his eyes. Everyone knew alliance with Zhao Zeng was impossible for him; the Chu Emperor was merely bestowing a favor.
This routine of threatening torture one moment and granting favors the next was awfully clichéd, yet he still had to play along.
“When may Xie return to the Princess Mansion?”
The Chu Emperor watched as Xie Wangze straightened his inner robe. At those words, he frowned slightly. “My imperial sister suffered an injustice this time, and the matter involves Zhao Zeng. Young Master Xie must endure a few more days.”
Xie Wangze opened his mouth to speak when Li Chengzhe approached the emperor and whispered about Chu Yunge.
The Chu Emperor’s brow furrowed immediately upon hearing it. Over two hundred face-servants? Who would believe that? It reeked of suspicion no matter how he looked at it.
“Confirmed?”
“Yes.” Li Chengzhe nodded.
Though outrageous, witnesses at the scene attested it was merely a beauty contest, with many women boldly joining in.
It all seemed like Chu Yunge’s whim.
But over two hundred Yan people—all of them martial artists…
A dark glint flashed in the Chu Emperor’s eyes before he looked up at Xie Wangze.
“With Young Master Xie absent from the residence, my imperial sister has grown even more reckless. Just now, she actually snatched over two hundred Yan people face-servants back to the mansion.”
“What?” Xie Wangze’s expression changed drastically. Hadn’t she just been boating on the lake with Qingchen, lost in joyous conversation? How much time had passed before she went robbing for more face-servants?
Over two hundred of them…
Two hundred!
“Absurd. This can’t possibly be true. I…”
Xie Wangze trailed off abruptly.
The Chu Emperor eyed him probingly. Xie Wangze was always impassive, his face merely paling when Chu Yunge first snatched face-servants and trampled his dignity. Why such agitation today?
“Young Master Xie, rest assured. Zhen will discipline my imperial sister and ensure no one neglects you.”
The Chu Emperor left. Xie Wangze immediately called for Ju An.
The moment he saw Ju An’s face, Xie Wangze knew the Chu Emperor’s words rang true.
He took a deep breath. “Did the Princess really snatch over two hundred face-servants?”
Over two hundred. Did she think being a woman meant no risk of kidney deficiency?
She had actually forgotten the lesson of venereal disease so quickly.
Ju An nodded timidly. “Yes.”
While his young master suffered in prison, the Princess selected beauties outside. It was truly cruel.
He knew concealment was futile anyway. With this snatch, Chu Yunge had gone viral again—tales of her filled all of Heavenly Prosperity City.
Xie Wangze nearly spat blood. “Good. Very good.”
Even the heavens were helping him, showing him her true colors and letting him die inside completely.
Ju An watched Xie Wangze’s ashen despair, torn between worry and relief. Better if his young master gave up.
Xie Wangze fell silent for a moment, then suddenly opened his eyes. “Exactly how many?”
Ju An: “…” Wait, hadn’t his young master given up?
Ju An stared at Xie Wangze in shock. “Are you still my family’s young master?”
Where was that decisive, ruthless Xie young master? Return him at once.
Xie Wangze fixed Ju An with a steady gaze. He knew he was acting strangely… pathetically obsessed.
Seeing the threat in Xie Wangze’s eyes, Ju An shrank back. “Not clear yet. Shall this subordinate return and count them?”
Xie Wangze withdrew his gaze. “No need.” What use was counting?
He had to get out. Only then could he resolve this.
As for the exact number he cared about, Yan Feng would know best.
“Your Highness, a total of two hundred and sixty-six people.”
He frowned slightly. Over two hundred was simply too many.
The number exceeded expectations, but Chu Yunge merely waved it off. “No matter. It’s auspicious—sixty-six, smooth sailing all the way.”
Modern folk often said the world was just one huge makeshift troupe. No matter the play, just keep performing.
She led the vast procession back. With numbers beyond anticipation, Caifeng Courtyard couldn’t accommodate them.
Chu Yunge waved grandly, assigning them directly to the Princess Mansion’s rear garden.
The Princess Mansion had originally been a royal prince’s estate. As the prince was a military man, the rear garden featured several courtyards for house troops to rest in. Though not as refined as the front yards, they were still decent after repairs.
There were also drilling grounds, horse fields, and stables—plenty of space.
A quick cleanup, and it was perfect for training soldiers, archery, formations, sword practice—no problem at all.
She had originally demanded this Princess Mansion for its spacious grandeur. After moving in, she’d mostly ignored the rear garden, save for the stables still housing horses.
Now, it suited Chu Yunge perfectly. Everything was ideal.
“Perfect. This Princess likes watching you practice swords, so drill on the training grounds.”
“Don’t disappoint This Princess. Soon, perform a sword dance to stun This Princess. If you’re clever, invent some shows yourselves.”
The Princess’s health was poor; she could ride but rarely did. The stable horses were fine stock but had grown fat from idleness. Any fatter, and they’d be useless.
Grandmaster Yan Mengjun caught Chu Yunge’s gaze and ventured, “Your Highness, many of us know mounted archery. We can perform mounted archery skills and riding displays for you.”
Chu Yunge nodded in satisfaction. Dealing with smart people saved effort.
“Then This Princess awaits eagerly.”
She eyed them somewhat critically. “But you’re all too skinny.”
“Couldn’t tell from afar before. Up close, you’re really too thin—especially you lot.”
Chu Yunge’s gaze fell on the five youngest ‘little face-servants.’ “You must fatten up, or This Princess won’t even bother seeing you.”
The arriving Yan people had some inkling and stayed composed despite the surprise. The younger ones panicked, fearing true expulsion and lost chances to learn.
In desperation, words blurted out. “Princess, we’re useful! We can play with you, perform tricks.”
Yan Mengjun had been gauging Chu Yunge’s expression. His heart skipped—after repeated warnings to mind their words, they’d already forgotten.
He wasn’t like that kid Yan Feng, easily coaxed in moments.
Chu State’s sole princess, so cherished by the Chu Emperor—which meant she wasn’t to be trifled with. Disposing of them was like pinching ants.
Yan Mengjun hurriedly signaled Yan Feng. He’d spent the most time with Chu Yunge; hopefully, he’d smooth things over and save the boys’ lives.
But… the young ones erred, and the elder proved unreliable. Despite prior plans for coordination, his eye-signals nearly strained his eyes, yet Yan Feng never even glanced over.
Yan Feng had always seemed steady, highly regarded by all. But now, his eyes brimmed only with the Princess?
Yan Mengjun had trained Yan Feng himself. To harden them against feminine wiles and exploitation, he’d taken them to brothels for ‘work’ to temper their minds. Back then, amid a room of temptations, Yan Feng’s eyes had fixed only on the snacks.
Just half a year later, this once-girl-blind glutton had his eyes wateringly enlightened?