Chu Yunge’s vicious persona could not change just because she stopped killing.
Today there were poisonous spiders, tomorrow there might be poisonous snakes, and the day after that, perhaps poisoned drugs.
The princess’s misdeeds ended up being borne by her.
In this matter, she was even more wronged than Dou’e, but this was probably the price of enjoying the princess’s privileges.
She, a model student and progressive youth, sighed.
Qingchen’s mind was also in turmoil: “Your Highness, why not leave first? This monk will copy scriptures and chant Buddha for her, to ferry her soul.”
“Good.”
Chu Yunge agreed and in the end said nothing more; this matter could not be explained clearly.
She tried her best to calm herself, but after leaving Lotus Flower Courtyard, the image of the maid decisively impaling herself on the blade still lingered in her mind. She simply could not forget it.
That was a human life, the second time she faced such blood-soaked horror…
Chu Yunge’s legs went a bit soft.
“Your Highness.” Yan Feng followed behind her and, noticing she had stopped, stepped forward.
Chu Yunge grabbed his arm: “I can’t walk anymore.”
Yan Feng straightened his body but did not refuse. However, he just stood there, without even the motion of supporting her. After thinking for a moment, he said: “Then rest for a bit.”
Chu Yunge looked up in disbelief. What Yan Feng said at that moment was no different from the boss serving food and you flipping the table?
Yan Feng was just about to have someone fetch the princess’s sedan when he heard Chu Yunge say.
“What do you mean ‘rest for a bit’? Yan Feng, if you want to be valued highly in the future, you absolutely cannot be so lacking in discernment. As my guard, shouldn’t you say I’m your legs? How can you not even know to lend a hand, or offer a few words of concern?”
Yan Feng fell silent for a moment, then stiffly supported Chu Yunge’s arm: “Then shall this subordinate carry… or piggyback Your Highness?”
Chu Yunge thought for a moment: “Piggyback.”
She was truly exhausted.
Yan Feng paused briefly, then finally squatted down and carried Chu Yunge on his back.
With Chu Yunge on his back, he felt her entire body pressed against his back. Yan Feng’s whole body went rigid.
But Chu Yunge lay limply across his back, drained of strength.
Though the youth’s body was not as broad and thick as a grown man’s, it was lean and solid, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist—quite reassuring.
Yan Feng just felt the princess’s head lolling on his shoulder, her arms wrapped around his neck. It was stifling and uncomfortable. The hairpin on her head felt icy cold against his neck—an ice-and-fire torment that made him quicken his pace involuntarily.
The Yan People’s fate was full of hardships; their lives were spent in flight. They hated the people of Zhao State, and Zhao State feared them. Those around them might be people of Zhao State, ready to strike at any moment.
They were accustomed to vigilance; they would never entrust their backs to another, let alone allow anyone near the vulnerable, fatal spot of their neck.
Yet today, with this piggyback, both his back and neck had fallen into the princess’s hands.
He felt utterly ill at ease, his steps growing faster.
Yan Feng focused on carrying Chu Yunge back to her chambers to be free of this, single-mindedly hurrying along the way. Thus, he did not see Xie Wangze and his servant returning from outside.
Xie Wangze watched Yan Feng carry Chu Yunge off into the distance and stopped in his tracks.
“So it’s not just three men and one woman, but four men and one woman… Her Highness the Princess has grown all the more capable these days.”
She had actually made Yan Feng willingly entrust his back and vulnerable neck to her.
“It must be coercion by poison.” Ju An glanced at Xie Wangze’s expression and, after entering Wild Goose Courtyard, spoke in a low voice: “Young Master, our people have contacted the delegation. It’s confirmed there’s someone from Consort Yu in the delegation.”
Xie Wangze had been preparing for years to return home. He had once bought the favor of a favored consort, which had some use, but it broke off later due to the distance and mishaps.
Two years ago, Xie Wangze had directly arranged for a woman to be sent into the Xie Emperor’s palace. She was favored immediately upon entry and had risen to consort in just two short years. No one knew Consort Yu was Xie Wangze’s person. She occasionally whispered in his ear, advancing his return.
Having someone from Consort Yu in this delegation was advantageous for his repatriation.
“Young Master, if we can go back this time, it would be a tremendous boon. But the matter of detoxification cannot be delayed; we must resolve the poison soon to avoid future troubles.”
Xie Wangze glanced at Ju An: “Do I need you to tell me that?”
Ju An felt bitter inside but steeled himself: “Otherwise, Young Master, why not consummate the marriage? After all, you are the Prince Consort. Before the Princess truly favors another…”
Ju An thought that was surely better than consummating after the Princess had taken one man after another.
“This subordinate knows what Young Master is worried about. At worst, we can find a way to make the Princess drink some contraceptive broth…”
“Shut up.” Xie Wangze cut off Ju An: “No.” This method was unacceptable.
He had no desire to use such a method to begin with, and after seeing her intimacy with Li Guangi, it was even less possible.
He could not accept it.
Ju An looked at Xie Wangze’s sigh: “Then the only option left is the strategy of winning hearts. Either you fall for the Princess, or make the Princess fall for you.”
Xie Wangze glanced at Ju An: “Do you think that’s possible?”
Ju An pondered deeply: “It’s impossible for you, but it’s possible for Her Highness to like you. With your status and looks, as long as you make the effort and find the right way, it’s possible.”
In summary: as long as his Young Master could set aside his pride.
Xie Wangze looked at Ju An, his gaze growing more dangerous.
“You want your master to…” sell himself.
He did not say the last two words, but Ju An had already shrunk back, denying it.
“No, this subordinate believes in Young Master’s charm. Didn’t you succeed once before?”
Xie Wangze did not deny Ju An’s words, nor did he grow angry.
After all, it was indeed something he had done.
For the greater cause, for success, using such methods was nothing. The art of war had countless stratagems; he had done no wrong.
But he still shook his head.
“In such a short time, it’s impossible. No need to mention it again.” With others, he might use some methods to achieve his goal, but with Chu Yunge, he had no confidence.
Mainly because she was somewhat uncontrollable. Her earlier attempt to use her for repatriation had backfired on him as a lesson.
She was too wild, did not play by the rules, and could not be dealt with conventionally.
“Then what are we to do?” Ju An fretted inwardly, grumbling to himself. Killing was too risky, winning hearts impossible—consummating to detoxify was still the simplest and most effective.
He had no idea what his Young Master was so hung up on, what he feared.
Ju An persisted: “Young Master, tonight it’s your turn to detoxify. Opportunity knocks but once…”
He followed behind Xie Wangze, still trying to persuade him to detoxify first, already scheming in his mind how to quietly facilitate the matter.
Neither master nor servant noticed a hand gripping the top of the wall. Beneath the wall crouched Pei Ji, eavesdropping.
Pei Ji had not intended to eavesdrop, but Nine Heavens Courtyard was right next door to Wild Goose Courtyard, separated only by a path.
Pei Ji had heard Xie Wangze’s voice from Nine Heavens Courtyard and meant to leap over, but he unexpectedly overheard the master and servant’s conversation.
Xie Wangze plotting his return did not surprise him, but for his repatriation, Xie Wangze might seize tonight’s turn to fully detoxify?
He returned to Nine Heavens Courtyard, a rare look of bewilderment on his face.
Xie Wangze could not wait for the court physicians to produce an antidote formula and wanted to take the shortcut of consummating the marriage to detoxify—that was understandable. They were husband and wife to begin with, and the culprit was the Princess herself. Using the Princess to detoxify was only her due.
But why did his mood feel so strange?
Why did it feel so… off?