ã€ŠThe White-Haired Imperial Concubineã€‹


 Chapter 1 - Rejected Outside the Door

    Chapter 1 Rejected Outside the Door

    From ancient times ¡¯til now, she must be the only princess who has been rejected aftering to marriage!

    The sun¡¯s rays of March were gentle and warm like the spring breeze, scattering through the window to illuminate the woman wearing the red bridal dress within the luxurious carriage. As the warm yellow light settled around her, there was an unexinable feeling of beauty. This woman was the one who came to marry but was unexpectedly rejected, Qiyun¡¯s Princess Rong Le¡ªMan Yao.

    Knock, knock, knock¡­

    ¡°Is there anyone there? Please notify Wangye (1) that Princess Rong Le has arrived!¡± A guard carrying a sword on his waist repeatedly knocked against the solemn-lookingrge door. On the door hung a que with the words ¡°Li Wang Fu¡± written in bold and powerful strokes of gold. This must be the residence of Prince Li, Zongzheng Wuyou.

    Prince Li lived a worry-free life, and was the only one who was ranked as a prince other than the crown prince. He also happened to be the party that Princess Rong Le was going to marry. Right now, the door to Prince Li¡¯s residence was shut tightly, with no gaps to be seen. Even small dust particles from the air couldn¡¯t hope to squeeze in.

    ¡°Yang daren(2), look at this¡­it¡¯s already been an hour, and the skies are almost dark, yet no one has opened the door, what should we do?¡± The guard worriedly asked the middle-aged man behind him. This was the newly appointed Ministry of Rites official Yang Wei of Lintian, and he was the one responsible for organizing this marriage. Originally, the n was for Prince Li to personally wee the princess into the city; however, Prince Li shut his doors and never came out, so he could only helplessly bring people to wee the princess. Who knew that even after weing the princess in, the doors to Prince Li¡¯s residence were still tightly shut. No matter how they announced, the people inside didn¡¯t seem to care at all.

    A lower-ranking official worriedly spoke, ¡°Yang daren, Princess Rong Le has always been doted on by the ruler of Qiyun. I heard that in regards to this marriage, he was very reluctant and personally sent her off. If he were to know that Wangye treated the princess this way, I¡¯m afraid that it will not be good!¡±

    Yang Wei furrowed his eyebrows and sighed. How could he not know what the other was saying? But if Prince Li doesn¡¯t open the door, what could he even do?

    Seeing Yang Wei¡¯s worried look, a rat-faced man brought up a suggestion, ¡°How about we find a couple of people to knock down the door¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Not even waiting for him to finish speaking, Yang Wei stared at him as if he saw a ghost. Infuriated, he yelled, ¡°You bastard, if you want to die go do it yourself, don¡¯t drag the rest of us down with you!¡± This is Prince Li¡¯s gate, even if he had ten thousand bouts of courage, he still wouldn¡¯t dare to barge through.

    ¡°Exactly! Don¡¯t drag us down with you!,¡± The other officials were also angry.

    Even if it was just said in passing, if Prince Li were to hear of these words, these people would not be let off so easily.

    This was the rat-faced man¡¯s first time in the capital; other than sucking up, he didn¡¯t know anything else. How could he have known that the owner of this residence was one that could move mountains just by shifting his feet? Seeing the extreme reactions of the daren around him, he was scared into being a mute.

    As the time kept passing, under the beginning of spring¡¯s chilly air, sweat was trickling down their faces. Yang Wei lifted his head to see the dark skies, and after pondering for a bit, went to the carriage Man Yao was in.

    ¡°Princess has gone through such a journey and must be exhausted. Why don¡¯t we rest in a guesthouse for now, and then when I enter the pce to report to His Majesty, we will wee the princess into the residence?¡±

    Opening the door of the carriage, a servant girl stuck her head out. Her face full of anger, she coldly said, ¡°I¡¯ve always heard the people of Lintian look highly upon etiquette, but I guess it¡¯s just rumors! Forget about weing, to dare shut the doors and not let our princess into the residence, what type of etiquette is this? Clearly they don¡¯t put our Qiyun into their eyes, I¡¯m starting to suspect your sincerity towards this marriage alliance!¡±

    Yang Wei¡¯s heart jumped. Who knew that even a servant would be able to argue back so bitingly. He hurriedly lowered his head and greeted Man Yao, ¡°It must be a misunderstanding, Princess. Prince Li¡­must have left the residence for some urgent matters, hence dying weing Princess. I hope Princess doesn¡¯t think too deeply. This subject can guarantee that we are sincere towards this marriage alliance with your country to ensure peace between both countries for centuries. I hope Princess will not be offended!¡±

    The servant argued, ¡°What is more important than weing our princess? Even if Wangye is not in the residence, there must be servants in there. Why hasn¡¯t anyone opened the door after so long, clearly they¡¯re trying to humiliate us! Once our princess enters the residence, in the future, who knows how they¡¯ll bully our princess!¡±

    ¡°This¡­¡±, Yang Wei was speechless. His clothes were drenched in sweat, and he was unable to answer. At this time, a melodic voice sounded out from within the carriage.

    ¡°Ling¡¯er, don¡¯t be rude!¡±, Man Yao said as she sat up. Even though she was reprimanding her, one could not hear any anger from her tone as she sounded so dignified. The servant called Ling¡¯er turned around and pouted, lowering her head.

    Actually, before Man Yao arrived in Lintian, she had already heard about Prince Li. Rumors said that he was kind, and although he didn¡¯t conduct matters the usual way, he was quite sophisticated and was a great strategist. Just the month before, he was able to resolve the dangers surrounding Lintian¡¯s borders, and under the cooperation of countless soldiers, he won countless victories against the barbarians in the north, killing more than three hundred thousand of them. His fame was greater than even the crown prince¡¯s. Even more shockingly was that he never attended court of his own ord. Even if the Emperor ordered him to the pce, he only decided to obey if it suited his personal mood. There were only few people capable of being so reckless. Once, when a favored consort of the Emperor¡¯s once said, ¡°Prince Li is rebellious¡±, she was immediately banished to the cold pce. After this incident, no one dared to say anything against him. There were also rumors that said Zongzheng Wuyou had two taboos: one, he doesn¡¯t touch alcohol, and two, he doesn¡¯t touch women. No one knows the reason why, only that anyone who broke these two taboos did not have good endings.

    Man Yao felt very conflicted. Since Zongzheng Wuyou had such taboos, why did he want to marry her?

    Lifting her hand, she raised the window curtain a little. Contrasting against the yellow curtains, her pale and slim fingers seemed to be whiter than jade. The extravagant cor on her hair had ten strands of pearls hanging down from it, covering her face. Through the pearls, she saw Yang Wei¡¯s embarrassed look, and gently smiled, ¡°Ling¡¯er spoke too bluntly and was rude, I hope Yang daren will not bear a grudge. We¡¯ll do as Yang daren suggested!¡±

    Such a dignified and warm voice startled Yang Wei as he thought: Everyone says that Princess Rong Le is picky and stubborn, how could she be so amodating?

    ¡°To work on behalf of Princess is my duty¡±, Yang Wei said as his face showed his suspicions. Just as he was about to order the procession to set off, he heard a bright and clear voice yell out, ¡°Yang daren!¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s hands that were setting down the curtain paused. Walking out from the surrounding crowd was a male around eighteen or neen years old, wearing formal clothing, with a jade crown in his hair. He had a handsome face and was tall and slender. His light and quick footsteps gave him an air of nobility. Within his hands was a folded jade fan that he tapped against the palm of his hand. Each and every one of his essories was of high quality, with just a look, one could tell that he wasn¡¯t an ordinary person.

    Upon seeing that person, Yang Wei hurried greeted, ¡°Ninth Prince!¡±

    So it was the Ninth Prince that was the closest with Prince Li! Man Yao smiled, watching him carelessly return the greeting and reply ¡°please rise,¡± before he turned to her.

    ¡°I believe this is Princess Rong Le?,¡± Ninth Prince smiled as he observed her.

    ¡°Greetings to Your Highness, Ninth Prince,¡± Man Yao greeted.

    A sh of suspicion went through Ninth Prince¡¯s eyes, as his gaze rested on her hands that were holding on to the window curtain. Smiling, he said, ¡°I heard that Princess¡¯ looks were quite ugly, who knew that these pair of hands are quite nice. As it looks, it doesn¡¯t seem like you¡¯re all bad.¡±

    Hearing these words, Ling¡¯er became unhappy and red as her heart filled with anger. Forgetting about her status, she stuck her head out and mocked, ¡°As a prince, you even believe in those rumors?¡±

    ¡°Ling¡¯er, be quiet! You cannot be this rude in front of Ninth Prince!,¡± Man Yao quietly scolded. Seeing Ninth Prince¡¯s smile get even wider, it was clear that he was here to make things difficult in order to test her. As a result, she calmly said, ¡°Ninth Prince has praised too much, only this pair of hands are somewhat decent.¡±

    Ninth Prince was startled. Usually when women were insulted like this, they would definitely get angry, but this princess seemed to not care. He observed her once again. Even though the strands of pearls were covering her face, he could still make out that skin that was a pale as snow and clear eyes. He¡¯s always loved beautiful people, and for a woman like this to be ugly was truly a loss!

    Ninth Prince smiled as he said, ¡°Rumors say that Princess is arrogant andcks manners. From what I see¡­it doesn¡¯t seem to be very true. At least, Princess knows the basic manners and has a little bit of knowledge.¡±

    Man Yao raised her lips and smiled without speaking.

    Using such a roundabout way to insult her, even though this Ninth Prince had a wide smile on his face, his words were sharp and poisonous, not polite at all. Listening to it, Yang Wei sweated profusely, thinking that this Ninth Prince has followed Prince Li for so long that the way he speaks and acts has be more reckless, not even considering the people and location. The other party is a princess, thankfully her temperament and upbringing were good, unlike what the rumors say about her being arrogant. Otherwise there would¡¯ve been a big scene, possibly even a fight. Thinking up to here, Yang Wei tried to change the topic and interrupted, ¡°Ninth Prince came at the right time. Would you be able to help us pass along a message to Prince Li, saying that this subject had the fortune to receive the royal decree and has weed the Princess¡¯ procession, and we hope that Prince Li can open the door to receive her, so that this subject can fulfill His Majesty¡¯s orders.¡±

    Ninth Prince¡¯s eyebrows jumped, and staring at him, he emotionlessly replied, ¡°Is Yang daren confused? Seventh Brother never agreed to this marriage in the first ce. It was your lot of court officials that schemed together, and promised this in front of Your Majesty. What, now that you can¡¯t enter, you¡¯re worried? I will not help you! I advise you guys to hurry and leave, you guys also know Seventh Brother¡¯s temper. If you guys anger him, the consequences¡­I¡¯m afraid Yang daren will not be able to handle it! Also¡­,¡± Ninth Prince suddenly stopped talking, and drew near Yang Wei, ¡°I just came back from the pce, and I heard that Father is in a bad mood today. Daren, you shouldn¡¯t add oil onto the fire, otherwise¡­you may not leave in one piece. When that timees, don¡¯t me me for not warning you!¡±

    Hearing Ninth Prince¡¯s words, Yang Wei became frightened. As court officials, they were also thinking of the country when they proposed the marriage alliance. Who would¡¯ve have predicted that it would result in such an event today? They can¡¯t afford to provoke Prince Li, and they can¡¯t offend Princess Rong Le. Yet past experience has also taught him that when the Emperor is in a bad mood, it¡¯s best to be as far away as possible. However, this matter concerns the peace between both countries. If he is able to temporarily resolve this matter, tomorrow when he goes to court he¡¯ll have some people to back him up. It¡¯s just that, even though it¡¯s just one night, whether it¡¯ll blow up into a big matter will depend on Princess Rong Le¡¯s attitude. Yang Wei stole a look at Man Yao, his face full of grievances.

    Man Yao was always a transparent person. Seeing Yang Wei¡¯s expression, she understood, and smiled, ¡°Daren doesn¡¯t need to fret. I am tired from today, and I would like to rest in the guesthouse. As for His Majesty, I¡¯m sure that he will understand the hardships I faced on this journey?¡±

    Yang Wei felt a burst of happiness, and gratefully replied, ¡°Many thanks to Princess! If in the future, Princess needs this official, please do not hesitate to ask. As long as it¡¯s within my power, I will definitely do it.¡±

    Man Yao didn¡¯t reject and smiled, ¡°Then I will thank daren! I will be taking my leave, Ninth Prince.¡±

    When the carriage door closed, Yang Wei bowed towards Ninth Prince, and led the grand procession towards the guesthouse in the East city, leaving the Ninth Prince the only one left behind. He couldn¡¯t have imagined that with just his casual words, he fulfilled this woman¡¯s wish, allowing her to push the boat along the current, and get this court official on her side. This was not a simple woman!

    ¡°Princess, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow in court,¡± Waving his fan towards the direction the carriage went, Ninth Prince thought in his heart: This time, even if Seventh Brother wants to attend court, he won¡¯t be able to! I wonder what Seventh Brother¡¯s reaction will be?

    It seems that something interesting will happen! He secretlyughed, looking forward to it.

    (1) Wangye: A way of addressing male imperial rtives that have the rank of a Prince.

    (2) Daren: Also known as ¡®Lord¡¯, a way of addressing court officials or members of nobility.

 Chapter 2 - First One Since the Ancient Times

    Chapter 2 First One Since the Ancient Times

    The weather was wonderful the next morning. With the warmth of the sun¡¯s rays, the spring breeze felt less chilly, perfect for appreciating the season. However, Lintian¡¯s Emperor had already sent people to bring Man Yao into the pce earlier in the morning.

    Lintian¡¯s pce was extravagant and luxurious, imposing and dignified,parable to Qiyun¡¯s pce as well. As Man Yao passed through, she secretly praised the craftmanship.

    As the guards led the way, she entered Gan Kun Hall. Through the pearl curtain, a lofty figure wearing the dragon robe was standing above her. His cold and dignified features were clear to distinguished, yet even though that pair of eyes didn¡¯t carry any expressions in them, she felt an indescribable sense of pressure, forcing her to feel a bit nervous. This is the first time since she arrived in this time period three years ago, the aura that belonged to an emperor. Her imperial brother, Qiyun Emperor, was quite gentle to her.

    Taking a deep breath, sheposed her thoughts and carefully stepped into the hall. The court officials within were standing on two sides, each one turning back to look at her.

    One wasn¡¯t able to see her face, only that phoenix crown on her heard and the pearl curtain that hid her face. The red brocade robe she wore was adorned with colorful drawings, and one could not help but desire to hold that slim waist of hers. As the robe¡¯s train trailed along the carpet, her gentle and elegant steps as she moved forward were like a painting, captivating endless people. She was extremely pleasing to the eye.

    The Emperor of Lintian straightened his back, and the light in his eyes flickered. Even though her face couldn¡¯t be seen, just that calmness and the noble aura that was emanating from her bones, was already iparable to any other. This type of woman, no matter who saw would not believe that she is the Princess Rong Le rumored to be hideous and arrogant!

    When Man Yao reached the middle of the great hall, she slightly bent her knees in greetings, ¡°Rong Le greets Your Majesty Emperor of Lintian!¡±

    That voice was as clear as air, neither haughty nor humble.

    Emperor of Lintian raised his hand, ¡°Princess may rise!¡±

    After Man Yao raised her body, she felt a burning gaze from her left side. She calmly nced over, only seeing a male dressed in the robes of a prince, carrying an indescribable smile. It was the Ninth Prince from yesterday. Seeing her look over, he blinked at her, with an expression that seemed as if he was waiting for a good y to happen.

    Gently scowling, she quickly took in her surroundings, seeing that in front of Ninth Prince was another male¡¯s gaze on her as well, carrying a gaze full of mocking and disdain. He wore a jujube-colored robe, and a white jade crown with double dragon pearls. He should be the crown prince of Lintian. She naturally knew the reason behind his mocking and disdainful gaze. Giving a smile, she retracted her gaze and ordered the male behind her, ¡°Xiao Sha, pass the gifts Imperial Brother prepared for the Emperor of Lintian.¡±

    Xiao Shao understood and carried a finely crafted gift box, walking towards the front as Man Yao exined, ¡°Your Majesty, Rong Le¡¯s Imperial Brother was grateful for Your Majesty¡¯s bestowments, and wanted to return the gesture with this treasure. May Your Majesty ept!¡±

    The eunuch received the gift box and opened it just as carefully as when he opened imperial notices. Within, he saw an orange-colored brocade along with a pair of finely crafted white jade cups with dragon tes underneath. Dancing phoenixes were carved on the cups, showing off the fine craftmanship, and the quality of the jade was extremely clear, scattering the light. With just a look, anyone would know that this is a rare treasure.

    The Emperor of Lintian carefully lifted the jade cup and was moved, ¡°It¡¯s the white jade ss!¡±

    An official who had a lot of knowledge saw and was shocked, ¡°I heard a legend about the white jade ss saying that it was carved using thousand year-old jade. There¡¯s only one pair in the world, it¡¯s a priceless treasure. This cup is used for drinking tea as the vor of the tea will be more pronounced. If you use this in the summer to drink water, not only can it drive away the summer heat and eliminate thirst, it will also cause one¡¯s body to feel refreshed all over, making one veryfortable. It¡¯s very special!¡±

    As the officials were in an uproar, the Emperor of Lintian smiled and nodded his head, and rxed his features, ¡°Emperor of Qiyun gifted me such a precious treasure! Beloved Minister Yang, help me write a letter thanking Emperor of Qiyun for his thoughts.¡±

    Xiao Sha bent a knee, proiming, ¡°Your Majesty Emperor of Lintian, before my nation¡¯s Princess set off, my Emperor had a few words he wanted this servant to pass on to Your Majesty.¡±

    Emperor of Lintian agreed, ¡°Please speak!¡±

    Xiao Sha raised his head to gaze at the Emperor of Lintian, and fearlessly spoke each word, ¡°My Emperor proimed that although the white jade ss cup is a one-of-a-kind treasure, it does notpare to even one ten-thousandth of the ce Princess Rong Le has in my Emperor¡¯s heart! He hopes that Lintian can treat my Princess well, to ensure the peace of the two countries for centuries toe.¡±

    The Emperor of Lintianughed loudly when he heard, ¡°This is natural. The Princess is the harbinger of peace to Lintian and Qiyun. Even if she is married to Prince Li, she is still my nation¡¯s honored guest, she will not be treated unfairly!¡± Once finished, he paused and continued again, ¡°Regarding yesterday¡¯s matters, when Prince Li hase to court, I will definitely give Princess an exnation.¡±

    Man Yao gently smiled and politely replied, ¡°Your Majesty exaggerates!¡±

    The Emperor of Lintian approvedly looked at her. Her actions were tolerant and words were dignified, no wonder she was the princess of a country. At this time, an imperial guard rushed into the hall with a perturbed look on his face to report, ¡°Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Li, His Highness Prince Li is¡­¡±

    The Emperor of Lintian furrowed his eyebrows and with a heavy voice asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him? I ordered you to call him back into the pce. It¡¯s already been two hours, why is even his shadow not here?¡±

    The guard hurriedly lowered his head, his voice shaking, ¡°Prince Li¡¯s people said¡­said Prince Lis is resting and cannot enter the pce¡­¡± His voice became smaller and smaller, to the point where no one could hear him, just like a mosquito. However, even so, his words clearly fell into the ears of everyone present, and everyone felt a storm surging in their hearts.

    The countless court officials, along with the crown prince and the princes, all had different looks on their faces. Daring to tantly reject an order, Prince Li is definitely the first in this dynasty. He didn¡¯t even bother toe up with an excuse and did it right in front of Qiyun¡¯s princess.

    Not only did he offend the respect of an emperor, he even lost face for Lintian, this is giant crime!

    Within the imposing great hall, for a moment there was absolute silence. Everyone was scared witless, no one dared to breathe in fear that their head would be the next to roll if the Emperor decided to vent his anger on him. Especially the officials who strongly promoted the marriage alliance, the palms of their hands were drenched in sweat. There was the feeling that the Emperor¡¯s anger would explode at any moment, only waiting for a reason that was currently hovering over their heads, their fear seeping into their bloodstreams. Like a poisonous vine, that heavy air also encapsted Man Yao as well.

    Hearing the sounds of cold sweat dripping onto the ground entering her ears, that kneeling guard kept his head to the ground, wishing he could bury himself into a hole in the ground.

    With this type of heavy tension in the air, even she felt her heart stop, as if there was an ever-expanding balloon next to her as someone kept blowing air into it. Seeing that balloon growingrger andrger, she had no idea when it would suddenly blow up.

    Like this, half an hour passed. To be able to endure this heavy and tense air, it definitely tests one¡¯s tolerance. However, the predicted explosion didn¡¯t happen. Seeing the Emperor of Lintian¡¯s eyes filled with anger, there was also a hint of helplessness hidden in the depths as well.

    The Emperor of Lintian¡¯s face was as deep as the sea and suddenly turned towards the Ninth Prince beside him. The Ninth Prince stiffened and hurriedly lowered his head, and cried out in his heart: Not good, Fuhuang (1) marked me! As expected, before he could even begin to worry, the stern voice of the emperor floated over his head, ¡°Lao jiu (2), go with Commander Xiang to Prince Li¡¯s residence to pass on my decree. No matter what methods you use, you must bring him to the hall! If you¡¯re able to do it, I will heavily reward you. If you¡¯re unable, then you don¡¯t need to attend court in the future.¡±

    Hearing these words, the eyes of Ninth Prince brightened, and he opened his mouth to reply, but his smile froze as the Emperor of Lintian followed up, ¡°You can go to the western area to guard the imperial tombs for the rest of your life.¡±

    Shocked, his mouth fell open. Even though he was the only one who didn¡¯t need prior notice to enter Prince Li¡¯s residence, if he were to offend Seventh Brother, he won¡¯t have any good days in the future. On the other hand, guarding the imperial tombs were difficult days that no one would be able to endure. To make him stay there for the rest of his life, he might as well just kill him! Reluctantly he opened his mouth, ¡°Ah? Fuhuang¡­¡± He just opened his mouth when his father¡¯s sharp gaze shoved the words back into his mouth. He forced himself to lift the corners of his mouth and helplessly lowered his head, reluctantly agreeing, ¡°Erchen(3) obeys.¡±

    Although he epted the order, his heart was very bitter, and he turned around to pass Man Yao. Seeing her indifferently stand, those pair of eyes behind the pearly curtain were clear and calm, acting as if no matter how big an incident would happen, she would not be affect in the slightest, his heart felt stifled as he red at her. This woman caused him to be stuck between a rock and a hard ce, yet she was the one acting as if this matter had nothing to do with her, she was too evil. Princess Rong Le, this enmity, he¡¯ll remember it!

    Man Yao epted his re and carelessly gave a smile. The one who wanted to watch a good y became a part of the y himself.

    The numerous officials finally let out a breath. Ninth Prince has always been close with Prince Li, so with him setting out, it should resolve the matter. The Emperor was wise!

    Emperor of Lintian¡¯s face looked a lot better and struck up a conversation with Man Yao, asking her about Qiyun¡¯s life and people. Man Yao answered each question, not too perfunct, but also not too borate, controlling the flow of the conversation very well. The Emperor of Lintian smiled and nodded his head satisfactorily.

    Like this, an hour passed by. The sound of footsteps suddenly sounded outside the great hall. Looks like great Prince Li has arrived!

    Man Yao didn¡¯t turn back, but saw that the Emperor of Lintian¡¯s face suddenly changed. Just now he had a smile still hanging on his face, but now his face ckened, plunging the originally happy atmosphere of the great hall into frigid temperatures.

    The small dust carried by the gentle wind seemed toe from the darkest dungeons, the frigid air epassed the entire great hall, bringing about an air of danger straight to one¡¯s heart, causing one to unconsciously shiver.

    The sound of people gasping entered her ears, and she saw the expressions on everyone¡¯s faces continuously change, as if they struck it rich. No matter if one had big eyes or small eyes, no matter if one was beautiful or ugly, every person¡¯s eyes widened to the point where it seemed as if they would fall to the ground at any second. That kind of gaze, was it shock? Anger? Fear? Disbelief? There was even a hint of helpless admiration!

    She was suspicious. Exactly what was happening that would cause the emperor and his subjects to suddenly have such varying expressions? She couldn¡¯t help but turn around, and first saw the Ninth Prince stepping into the great hall with a frozen smile on his handsome face. That smile seemed to be forced and his eyes were glistening, as if he was trying to escape from a king that sat upon the highest of seats. He forced himself to slowly continue. As if he was a fish on the chopping board, clearly he saw the knife about ready toe down on his neck, but he couldn¡¯t do anything but continue forward because behind him was a pan filled with hot oil.

    Gazing behind him, she saw the rumored endlessly scheming yet arrogant male, and she had the same expression as the other officials, widening her eyes.

    This is Prince Li¡ªZongzheng Wuyou?!

    He really dide, but toe to court like this, he was definitely the first since ancient times!

 Chapter 3 - Rejecting the Royal Marriage Decree (1)

    Chapter 3 Rejecting the Royal Marriage Decree (1)

    The Emperor of Lintian mmed his hand on the reports and stood up, furious, ¡°Scoundrel! Coming to court like this, what are ou trying to do? In your eyes, do you even have me, this Emperor?¡±

    The Ninth Prince¡¯s heart trembled and he hurried knelt down, shooting a nce at the furious Emperor of Lintian, he furrowed his eyebrows and spoke in a low voice, ¡°Fuhuang, you were the one who said that no matter what methods I use, as long as Seventh Brotheres to the hall¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± The veins on the Emperor of Lintian¡¯s face bulged out, not even waiting for him to finish. Pointing at him, the expression on his face seemed to say that he couldn¡¯t wait to just fiercely kick him out of the pce.

    The Ninth Prince trembled and lowered his head, not daring to say another word. The various court officials were shocked and shrunk their necks, hurrying to lower their heads, not daring to even breathe.

    In the entire great hall, under the anger of the emperor, everyone was badly frightened. Only Man Yao still leisurely looked at the eight guards that were carrying an ebony chair, upon which sat a person that was in deep sleep. Although the Emperor of Lintian was furiously shouting, that person looked as if he had no intentions of waking up anytime soon. She couldn¡¯t help but smile, thinking that this person¡¯s sleeping skills were first-rate. Prince Li, Zongzheng Wuyou, definitely does things both arrogantly and with disregard. Thinking about it, if he did not agree, who would be brazen enough to carry him out of his residence in this manner?

    The Emperor of Lintian stepped down from his dragon throne, and seeing that the person on the chair still did not react, he became even angrier, ¡°Wuyou, you dare to be this brazening to court? Hurry up and scram down for me!¡± Finished, he tore off the dark red quilt, and as if it grew wings, the quilt flew directly out of the hall, with no trace of it in sight. At this moment, seeing the situation on the chair, his entire body froze as if he was a stone statue.

    When the quilt was thrown away, the person on the chair was disyed in full view, without omitting a single detail. The hundred or so officials took a look and gasped. Their hearts seemed to be stuck in their throat as no one dared to make a sound. As to what they saw, what type of scene was it!

    Man Yao gave a start as time seemed to stop at that very moment.

    She was only able to see a male peacefullyying on the ebony chair, his eyebrows as sharp as a sword, with a straight nose, and his long and narrow eyes were closed. His thick and full eyshes were like fans, and his lips were as red as the peach blossoms, giving off a seductive feelings.

    As someoone who lived through two lifetimes thousands of years apart, she¡¯s seen countless handsome men. No matter how handsome a man was, she had never had a situation like now where she was unable to look away. She never thought that in this world, there would be such a clean-looking face born to a male, carrying not even a sliver of the aura of strength, yet no one would mistake him for a female. In front of his face, she felt that all of the phrases that could describe perfection would not be enough.

    As the Emperor of Lintian stared into that face, he seemed to fall into a trance, and aplicated look shed through his heavy eyes. His previous anger slowly disappeared until no one could tell that he was once furious.

    The male on the chair wore a silk white robe with dark satin embroidery and there was a slim belt loosely tied on his waist. If one pulled on it slightly, it would immediately fall away. He didn¡¯t have any wrinkles, and as the sunlight poured down, it scattered, showing off his beautiful features. The slight breeze lifted the ck strands of hair near his temples and caressed his face so gently as if it was afraid to disturb his rest yet couldn¡¯t resist the temptation of feeling his perfect face.

    Zongzheng Wuyou, precisely the person who was carried to the great hall, slept as if he was a dead person. That pure and sweet face looked as if he was in the sweet embrace of his mother¡¯s arms, looking so defenseless.

    Man Yao couldn¡¯t help but wonder what type of eyes would match this peerless beauty? Would it be the pure beauty of innocent and shining eyes? Or maybe the gaze of a fairy, seducing multiple people? Or maybe it would be the gaze of a deity, looking as if nothing on earth mattered? She unconsciously kept guessing, yet she was soon shown that she was wrong, everything was wrong, and it was a big wrong!

    When that pair of closed eyes slowly opened, everyone¡¯s hearts chilled for those eyes, those eyes¡­looked as if they came from the very depths of hell. If it weren¡¯t for them seeing it personally, no one would have believed that there was such a person in this world, someone who couldbine both innocence and evil so perfectly.

    Zongzheng Wuyou slowly raised his body, one hand supporting himself on the ebony chair and another carelessly ced on his bent kneecap. Clearly it was azy pose, but when he did it, it gave others a feeling of elegance. Sweeping his gaze, he didn¡¯t look at the emperor nor did he bother with the court officials and princes, only settling his gaze on the female wearing the bright red wedding robes. His eyes seemed to have umted thousands of years worth of coldness as they emitted a chill in the air.

    Man Yao only felt that her blood froze when his indifferent gazended on her, yet she never looked away, staring through the pearl curtain right into Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes.

    Through the white paper pasted on the windows, the sunlight slowly scattered around his long and slender body. Like the flow of quicksilver, it highlighted his perfect curves, gently enveloping his body, unable to hid his legendary coldness and evil charm.

    It turned out that there was such a person that could produce such a drastically different feeling depending on whether their eyes were opened or closed, so drastic that it was as if it was two different people!

    Within the great hall there wasplete silence, as if even the air froze. Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly raised his lips into a smile, giving off a cynical vibe. With no remorse at all to the female behind the pearl curtain, his eyes drooped, and hezily opened his mouth, ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s taste has be even more unique. I had no interest in the beauties you bestowed upon mest time, so this time you found a twenty year-old old maid that has no virtues or beauty for me to marry! Are you that impatient to shove a girl at me?¡±

    His slow drawl contained hints of mockery, hearing it Xiao Sha¡¯s gaze became frightened. He was never a reckless person, but his master, Qiyun¡¯s most precious princess, has been constantly humiliated by a foreigner! His hands balled into fists, and right as he was about to step out, the female in front of him felt his intention and suddenly raised her slim hand. That hand was as white as jade, small and delicate, and every finger seemed to contain immeasurable strength, causing him to involuntarily pause. He furrowed his eyebrows and suppressed the anger that was rising up, slowly retreating.

 Chapter 4 - Rejecting the Royal Marriage Decree (2)

    Chapter 4 Rejecting the Royal Marriage Decree (2)

    An old maid with no virtues or looks that was still unmarried at twenty years old? This Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s mouth sure is poisonous! Inparison, Ninth Prince was still considered polite. Man Yao smiled coldly inside, her face still as calm as before. When everyone thought she would speak up, she actually lowered her hand and silently stood there, not speaking nor doing anything. As if she was just an outsider, coldly looking from the side, she was calm and at ease. All of this was within her expectations, but it wasn¡¯t time for her to speak up yet. Even though she doesn¡¯t know why the Emperor of Lintian tolerates Zongzheng Wuyou to such an extent, but from the rumors as well as seeing the Emperor of Lintian¡¯s face earlier, one thing was certain, Zongzheng Wuyou was a special entity to the Emperor of Lintian.

    The Emperor of Lintian scrunched his eyebrows and scolded, ¡°Wuyou, you cannot be impolite! Princess Rong Le is the harbringer of peace between our two countries. With your marriage, Lintian and Qiyun can have centuries of peace, it is not a game. I have already ordered people to prepare marriage robe, hurry and change your clothes. We¡¯ll have the marriage ceremony in this great hall today.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou narrowed his eyes at him, his ck and deep eyes not carrying any feelings, and continued on with hiszy drawl, ¡°When did I say I wanted to marry? Don¡¯t use the peace of the two countries to pressure me. From the very beginning you guys acted on your own, thinking that as long as the people were present, the marriage would happen, and I had no choice at all?¡± Raising his chin, he lifted the corners of his lips, within that evil beauty was a cold stubbornnes, clearly saying: If he doesn¡¯t want to, no one can make him change his mind!

    The Emperor of Lintian had a heavy expression with anger in his eyes and with a heavy voice, ¡°Wuyou, don¡¯t think that just because I dote on you, you can do whatever you want. When ites to state matters, I will definitely not tolerate you. This marriage has already been settled, no matter whether you agree or not, it must happen! Someonee, take Prince Li down to change his clothes!¡± Even though conducting the ceremony like this was a little sloppy, but with Wuyou¡¯s personality, it was impossible to conduct the ceremony the usual way.

    Seeing the guards that were walking towards him, Zongzheng Wuyou gave a cold smile, ¡°Your Majesty is trying to force me? Even if you can force me to marry this girl, then what about the bedchamber? Are you also going to watch with a group of people, or are you going to just use a substitute?¡±

    ¡°Scoundrel!¡± The Emperor of Lintian was thoroughly angered, his voice furious.

    ¡°Your Majesty!¡± When Man Yao stepped forward, everyone¡¯s eyes focused on her, yet as if she didn¡¯t notice, her eyes were clear and she gave a smile as she calmly but firmly said, ¡°Your Majesty please quell your anger! There¡¯s a phrase that describes this well, a melon forcefully picked is not sweet, since His Highness Prince Li has no intention of marrying me, then how could I force him? Even though I am twenty and still have yet to marry, it has note to the point where I need to use my identity to force someone to marry me.¡±

    Even though she was not the realy Princess Rong Le, but her pride and dignity cannot just be stepped on by anyone. She had no desire to marry Prince Li either, she just wanted to live a peaceful and free life. In this era where the throne was everything and lives were treated like weeds, if she wanted to survive, she had to learn how to view the bigger picture and grasp the prime opportunity and use the cards in her hands to obtain the things she wanted. For example, freedom, even if it¡¯s only temporary! If someone of her status was destined to marry a husband, then it should be one of her own discretion.

    Zongzheng Wuyou narrowed his eyes as he observed her. This woman not only dared to look at him, she could also be this firm when he insulted her, and although her voice did not carry any traces of anger, there was strength in her gentleness, not humble nor arrogant. Clearly, she was a prideful person, yet she hid her true words deep down in her heart, not letting even a trace of it show on the surface. This is definitely not how a pampered Princess who was troublesome and willful should act! He suddenly had the urge to remove the pearl curtain covering her face, wanting to see if the face was alsopletely different from what the rumors said. But just as he was about to raise his hands, he lowered them again, whether her face was what the rumors said or not, what did it have to do with him?

    Zongzheng Wuyou lifted the corner of his lips, ¡°That¡¯s the best then! Please select someone else to be Princess Rong Le¡¯s husband, Your Majesty, while I cannot say anything else about our Lintian, but in terms of princes¡­we have plenty.¡± A sneer slowly formed on his lips, growing all the way to his cold and dead eyes.

    Hearing hisst sentence, the Emperor of Lintian¡¯s face changed and lightly coughed, ¡°If the princess agrees, then I will immediatelye up with a list of all of the unmarried princes for Princess to pick.¡± Now that things have gotten to this point, as long as Princess Rong Le agrees, then this matter could be considered to be resolved.

    Man Yao did not immediately answer and opted to look over everyone present first. When her gazended on the Ninth Prince, the color drained from his face, and he was scared out of his wits as if the most terrifying thing in his life would be to be chosen by her. She couldn¡¯t help butugh a little and looked at Zongzheng Wuyou who had an expression on his face saying that this matter had nothing to do with him and he was relieved of a burden. Raising her eyebrows, she turned back to the Emperor of Lintian, ¡°Your Majesty, taking into consideration of the peace between the two countries, this is not an impossible matter, however, heaven¡¯s decree has already announced that I am to wed Prince Li as his Consort, and Prince Li was selected by my Imperial Brother. Now I have arrived in your country, and I was abandoned before I was even married. I am just a woman, it¡¯s nothing even if I am treated like a matter that people discuss after eating and drinking tea, but I¡¯m worried that when this matter spreads amongst the people, will my Qiyun have any face left? Where will the respect of my Imperial Brother be? I¡¯m afraid that after today Qiyun will be the joke of everyone under the heavens because of me. When that happens, I won¡¯t be able topensate that even if I pay with my life!¡±

    Her speech was powerful, each word resonating, clearly she was asking questions, yet to the people listening, each sentence was logical without any gaps. Zongzheng Wuyou sat up and stared at her. His forceful gaze seemed as if it wanted to go through that pearl curtain and clearly see her face. Opening his mouth, his disdainful voice sounded, ¡°That means Princes¡­is set on me?¡±

    Man Yao raised her head and smiled, ¡°Not exactly!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou widened his eyes and coldly smirked, ¡°Then what do you want to do?¡±

    Man Yao lifted the corner of her lips and slowly stepped towards him¡­

 Chapter 5 - Rejecting the Royal Marriage Decree (3)

    Chapter 5 Rejecting the Royal Marriage Decree (3)

    Watching as the woman moved closer to him, Zongzheng Wuyou scrunched his eyebrows, clearly expressing his dislike. When she came next to his chair, his pair of evil eyes suddenly became abnormally cold shooting out killing intent.

    Man Yao unconsciously stopped. It seems like the rumors that Prince Li disliking womening near him were true. She stared straight into his eyes as her mouth opened and clear voice called out, ¡°I heard that Prince Li¡¯s achievements include forcing the enemy to retreat with just one strategy, conqueringnds stretching thousands of li(1), and is highly intelligent that few in the world can match up to. I have long admired you, and now that I have personally witnessed Your Highness¡¯s appearance today, my admiration for you is even greater. I am aware that my looks are unworthy of Your Highness, but for the sake of peace between the two countries, I hope that Your Highness can give me a chance for us to understand each other. If in half a year Prince Li still¡­has no interest in me, then I will willingly marry someone else without regrets.¡±

    Zonzheng Wuyou narrowed his eyes, so many women have their eyes on him yet this woman in front of him who is saying that she admires him, within the deep affection shown in her eyes, she is also measuring him and there is expectations. The only thing that isn¡¯t present is adoration and love. Since neither of them like each other, then what is the purpose of her saying all of this? What¡¯s the reason for waiting for half a year? Who cares what her reason is, what does it have to do with him?

    With a wave of his robe, Zongzheng Wuyou stood up in front of her, his actions flowing like quicksilver, naturally captivating those around him. As he condescending gazed at her, she felt a type of unnatural pressure causing her to stiffen, as if each of her nerves were pulled tight. However her eyes still stared back at him, watching as the corners of his mouth lifted to mock, ¡°You want me to agree to marry you within half a year? You¡¯re dreaming.¡±

    Man Yao raised her eyebrows and smiled, ¡°Since Prince Li is this confident, then let¡¯s make a bet. I wonder if Your Highnes¡­dares to do so?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyouughed, ¡°You want to provoke me? Just with this little ability, you dare to act in front of me?¡±

    The sunlight from outside suddenly darkened, causing the bright rays that originally lighted his body up to be a little dark and cold, lining his pair of evil eyes. As if the day became night, there was both a cold and humid feeling in the air, carrying a chill that went straight into people¡¯s hearts.

    Man Yao suppressed the dissatisfaction in her heart, during such a crucial time, she definitely cannot retreat. She needs to make this bet. Since she cannot escape this marriage, then she should at least fight for half a year¡¯s worth of freedom to find a husband of her own choosing. Even if there¡¯s no love, there¡¯s still mutual respect so that after marriage, neither party will conflict with the other. Thinking of this, she held her chin and stared, ¡°Let¡¯s just put it that way then! Could it be that Prince Li doesn¡¯t dare to bet with me? Who knew¡­Prince Li whose name causes tremors in the nine provinces would be so unconfident with himself!¡±

    There had never been such a woman who dared to act so brazen and fearless in front of him. Zongzheng Wuyou held a glimmer of interest in his eyes and slowly smiled, although his smile carried hints of cruelty with it.

    The Emperor of Lintian thought that this was the best option avable, ¡°We¡¯ll do this ording to Princess Rong Le¡¯s wishes, with the deadline being half a yearter. Wuyou, if after half a year you¡¯re still unwilling to marry the princess, I will not force you!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou turned around to look at him, a cold expression on his face, ¡°Who gave you the right to decide my matters? Even if I don¡¯t agree right now, you still can¡¯t force me!¡±

    These words were spoken so brazenly, the court officials faces changed colors, secretly thinking: Qiyun¡¯s princess is still present, yet with Prince Li continuing to rebel against His Majesty, it really harms our country¡¯s reputation.

    When the Emperor of Lintian heard this, he became furious again, pointing his finger at him and fiercely yelling, ¡°Zongzheng Wuyou, you¡¯re¡­too reckless! Zhen(2), other than being your father, I am also the emperor of this country, don¡¯t think that I won¡¯t punish you!¡±

    ¡°Father?¡­.You?¡± Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s raised his eyes and sharply retorted. Man You paused, seeming to have seen a flicker of hatred and tolerance hidden in the depths of his eyes. As she saw the Emperor of Lintian¡¯s face changed again, unable to speak, she became curious. Why is Zongzheng Wuyou able to act so fearlessly in front of the Emperor of Lintian, yet he is never punished?

    Zongzheng Wuyouughed crazily, ¡°You want to punish me? Good! I wonder which crime Your Majesty will charge me with? Disregarding the Emperor, disobeying royalmands, being rebellious¡­whichever one you choose carries the punishment of exterminating nine generations! If Your Majesty doesn¡¯t want to be dragged down, then please kick me out of the imperial family quicker, then give me my punishment.¡±

    ¡°You, you¡­¡± The Emperor of Lintian was furious as his chest violently heaved up and down, speechless as he could barely form sentences, ¡°Good, good, good¡­You have always tested my bottom line. Since you don¡¯t want to enter this pce ever again, then Zhen, Zhen will fulfill your wishes. Someonee¡ª¡±

    The court officials were shocked, it looks like this time, he¡¯s for real! Ninth Prince hurriedly went to the front, ¡°Fuhuang quell your anger! Seventh Brother was impulsive, he didn¡¯t actually mean it, please forgive Seventh Brother on ount of his military merits.¡±

    Another court official agreed, ¡°That¡¯s right, Your Majesty, this time we were able to sessfully defeat the barbarians in the northrgely due to Prince Li¡¯s effort. May Your Majesty be magnanimous and pardon Prince Li.¡±

    ¡°May Your Majesty be magnanimous!¡± The numerous officials bowed, including the crown prince who had been on the sidelines this whole time.

    Man Yao swept her gaze over to Zongzheng Wuyou, seeing that his face never changed as if he had never cared about his life or death, or maybe he was absolutely confident that the Emperor of Lintian would not charge him with a crime? Yet the Emperor of Lintian stared at Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s perfect face in a daze,plicated feelings could be seen between the fury in his eyes. Finally his anger dissipated, leaving on pain and helplessness. He turned around and towards the son he doted on the most, he waved his hand, ¡°You, leave.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou was indifferent, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing important, don¡¯t make mee into the pce in the future, otherwise I can¡¯t guarantee that I won¡¯t be even worse next time!¡± Finished, he swung his sleeve and turned his head to Man Yao, his voice full of scorn, ¡°As for you¡­a woman whose old and ugly like you wants to step into my residence? Maybe in your next life.¡±

    Even someone with the utmost upbringing would not be able to tolerate being continuously insulted without striking back, not to mention her status as a princess was equal to his. To be able to tolerate it once was being calm, tolerating twice was good upbring, tolerating anymore would make others think that she was weak and easy to bully. Man Yao coldly smiled, ¡°I thought that Prince Li was wise beyondpare, but who knew that it was only to this shallow extent. If Prince Li likes beauties, then why don¡¯t you go home¡­and stare at the mirror, wouldn¡¯t that be better?¡± She can¡¯t let him just walk away like this. For her freedom, she has to take this gamble.

    Before her words were finished, the male in front of her suddenly turned, and heard a piercing sound by her ears as something shed in front of her. The cold aura of the sword enveloped her body. At that moment, she smelled the scent of death.

    The killing intent permeated the air. Everyone stiffened, even the Emperor of Lintian¡¯s face changed colors. Xiao Shao was unable to react in time before the sword in Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s hand returned to its sheath. The head guard was rooted to the ground, from the moment when he drew his sword to putting it back into the sheath, it was done all in the blink of an eye. He didn¡¯t even see Prince Li pass by him, how could he have seen him draw his sword?

    Fast, way too fast! It was so fast to where Man Yao only saw a blur and felt herself fall into the cold depths of hell. The feeling of fear slowly crept up on her and her heartbeat quickened. As her blood flowed throughout her limbs, it was as if a nimble snake was in her body, trembling in her heart.

    In the entire great hall, the air was dead silent. Everyone¡¯s eyes were widened and none dared to breathe.

    The red dragonfly shattered into pieces before her, whistling as they passed by her nose. Blood-red, they danced in the air of the great hall, as if it was a snowstorm during a winter day. On her, however, there was only a thin piece of clothing left, and she stood there frozen like a statue, her whole body was cold as it stiffened.

    ¡°Drop, drop¡­¡± Suddenly there was the sound of pearls dropping to the ground, one, two, three¡­

    Everyone was shocked as they gazed up, the pearls in the air mixing amongst the blood-red luster as they fell from the woman¡¯s white sleeves.

    The pain from the sharp fragments caused her face to pale, yet she forced herself to stay calm, her eyes still not wavering as she stared through the dancing fragments straight into that pair of frightening eyes. If she wasn¡¯t the princess from Qiyun who came to marry, she certainly would have died long ago.

    (1) li: An ancient unit of measurement in China, equivalent to about 500 m.

    (2) Zhen: The way the Emperor uses to refer to himself.

 Chapter 6 - Stealing Someone From the Brothel (1)

    Chapter 6 Stealing Someone From the Brothel (1)

    Life is like a gamble. Every time you make a bet, either you strike rich or you lose your home, but Man Yao clearly won this bet. After the false rm in the great hall where she was injured and her wedding robes were cut up by Zongzheng Wuyou, the Emperor of Lintian didn¡¯t punish his son but in order to pacify her, he granted her the six-month grace period and bestowed her a residence as well as many precious treasures.

    The sunlight lit up therge courtyard, and the seedlings that sprouted up from the ground created a fresh vibe. Under the willow tree was a woman with soft and fair skin, sleek brows, bright eyes, and clear spirits that seemed to contradict the mature vibes of her age. Her silky hair was long and soft, loosely held together by a thin string of silk, letting out several wisps of hair that danced in the gentle breeze. She wore a white robe that fluttered in the wind, as if it was the moon dancing, beautiful beyond words.

    When Xiao Sha walked into the inner courtyard, he felt that the woman bathing in the sunlight was shining so brightly it hurt his eyes. He hurriedly lowered his head and reported, ¡°Zhuzi(1), this subject has already found that from the guest list the Emperor sent over, only the Ninth Prince and General Fu Chou have not yet married nor taken concubines. Ninth Prince is the stereotypical rich yboy, even though he does not have a wife nor concubine, he likes to hang around the grounds of the fireworks, he is already familiar with countless beauties; General Fu has spent most of his time on the battlefield and is cold and prone to fits of temper, because of his sinister aura, no one dares to get close to him.¡±

    Amongst the thirty or so people, only two were single, yet neither of them were easy to get along with. Man Yao quietly listened and walked around in circles while her eyelids drooped, ¡°Let¡¯s set aside this matter for now. The renovations for the teahouse are nearingpletion, were you able to invite over Jingcheng¡¯s most famous patissier?¡±

    Xiao Sha replied, ¡°Replying to zhuzi, I have alreadypleted it ording to your instructions. The teahouse will be able to open for business within the next two days.¡±

    Man Yao nodded her head in appreciation and then lightly shook her head, ¡°That¡¯s not enough. Call on Ling¡¯er toe with me to Fragrance House.¡±

    Surprised, Xiao Sha raised his head, coincidentally seeing Ling¡¯er walking in from the outer courtyard, and asked, ¡°Zhuzi, why do you want to go to a brothel?¡±

    Man Yao gently smiled and just told the two to get ready.

    Frangrance House was the most famous one of Jingcheng¡¯s brothels. The girls there had a variety of body shapes, each one better than the next, and each had a period of time when they were very popr. The most famous one was Chen Yu guniang(2), not only were her looks top ss within Jingcheng, she was also iparable when it came to ying stringed instruments. There were countles people who wanted to purchase her and take her home as a concubine, however, this woman was quite proud and once said that if she could not obtain someone¡¯s heart and have them apany only her forever, then she would rather grow old and die in the brothel.

    When Man Yao stepped into the brothel, regardless if it was the men who came to seek pleasure or the women in the brothel, everyone¡¯s eyes shined. Her white robe trailed across the ground, and she had an elegant aura surrounding her, face as white as jade, red lips, and because she drew a couple of strokes onto her sleek eyebrows, they looked a little manly. Furthermore, she was originally quite tall, and currently she was holding a fan in her hand, waving it back and forth, looking like carefree young master. Behind her, Ling¡¯er was disguised as a bodyguard thanks to Xiao Sha.

    ¡°Aiyaya, whose family¡¯s gongzi(3) is this? Look at how handsome he is, pei pei(4), our girls are already lining up.¡± A forty year-old or so woman took one nce and recognized that it was someone with a high status and immediately smiled to wee them, using the handkerchief in her hand to wave them over. The heavy smell of perfume attacked their nostrils and Man Yao scrunched her eyebrows and took a step back. Xiao Sha hurriedly went in front andid out his sword horizontally. The brothelkeeper understood and shut her mouth only to hear a clear voice drift over, ¡°Seventh Brother, I had no idea that another person as beautiful as you would ever be born!¡±

    Such a familiar voice, Man Yao raised her eyes and across the finely crafted stage, she saw two handsome and extraordinary males walking through the hallway on the second floor. One of them was wearing a pale blue robe of brocade, his mouth raised up in a smile as his eyes stared straight at her, not even bothering to hide the stunned look in his eyes. That person was Ninth Prince, and the other person called ¡°Seventh Brother¡± was naturally Zongzheng Wuyou. He shot a look at the Ninth Prince, his sinister eyes looking abnormally cold. The Ninth Prince shivered and realizing that he was out of line, hurriedly continued, ¡°Seventh Brother, let¡¯s go inside.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou scanned the surroundings below, and Man Yao felt that his gaze was calm and quiet, drastically different from the frivolous and arrogant persona he showed in the great hall. It looked as if he was looking at a group of dead objects, there wasn¡¯t any wavering of emotions, not carrying a single drop of emotions. She couldn¡¯t help but secretly be suspicious: The Prince Li whose two taboos are alcohol and women, how could he show up at a brothel?

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze met her bright eyes, and only felt that it was somewhat familiar and unconsciously looked a little longer before turning around to enter the room with the Ninth Prince following him in.

    Ling¡¯er whispered into her ear, ¡°Zhuzi, isn¡¯t that the Ninth Prince? Whose the person with him? How could there be such a handsome man in this world?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Prince Li.¡± Xiao Sha cleanly replied.

    Full of surprise, Ling¡¯er¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°What? Zhuzi, he, he¡¯s that shameless and arrogant person who didn¡¯t even let you in the gate¡­¡±

    Man Yao pressed her eyebrows together and lowered her voice, ¡°Ling¡¯er!¡±

    Ling¡¯er hurriedly closed her mouth. Hearing that the white-clothed handsome male upstairs was the Emperor¡¯s most favored son, the brothelkeeper¡¯s heart jumped, her eyes full of calctions.

    Man Yao let Xiao Sha take out a gold ingot and the brothelkeeper¡¯s eyes lit up as she reached out to take it when Man Yao spoke, ¡°Qin mama(5), we would like to meet Chen Yu guniang, we¡¯ll trouble you to help us make the arrangements.¡±

    The old brothelkeeper measured the heaviness of the ingot and had a hesitant look on her face. Seeing her eyes look towards the private room that Zongzheng Wuyou entered, Man Yao smiled, ¡°Qin mama please be assured, I just want to meet Chen Yu guniang and talk with her, it won¡¯t take long.¡± After speaking, she shot Xiao Sha a nce who took out another gold ingot.

    The brothelkeeper finally smiled and arranged for them to enter one of the private rooms on the second floor, right next to the two princes.

    The southern private room was spacious and there was a jade curtain that separated the inner and outer rooms, attesting to its extravagant decor.

    The Ninth Prince was sitting across from Zongzheng Wuyou conversing with him, ¡°Seventh Brother, that princess from Qiyun used all sorts of methods to get a grace period of six months, but a month has already passed and she hasn¡¯t made any movements, don¡¯t you think that¡¯s weird? Could it be¡­that day in the great hall that sword of yours made her so scared she became dumb?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyouzily leaned back in the chair, holding the teacup in his hands, he twirled his long and slender fingers, ¡°That sword was within her expectations.¡± He recalled everyone¡¯s reactions in the great hall: nk stares, horror, worry, some were even frightened to the point of shaking¡­yet she with her back straight, quietly stood there, her bright eyes were full of calmness and not a hint of fear could be seen.

    The Ninth Prince jerked, confused, ¡°Why? She¡¯s a woman and also a princess, having her clothes shred into pieces in front of so many people, are you saying that she was willing? For what purpose would she do so?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou gently curled his lips, faintly smiling, ¡°She wanted that time period of half a year.¡± He couldn¡¯t see a single trace of interest for him in her eyes.

    Ninth Prince, ¡°Rumors really can¡¯t be trusted. This Princess Rong Le¡¯s words and actions, where does one see even a drop of unruliness and willfulness?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou calmly replied, ¡°If she¡¯s the real Princess Rong Le, then the one who spread those rumors were not her but someone who has a grudge with her.¡±

    The Ninth Prince¡¯s eyes brightened as he came to a realization, ¡°This princess¡­is quite interesting. Seventh Brother, let¡¯s investigate her to see if her looks are also unexpected as well.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou indifferently replied, ¡°If you want to go, go alone. I have no interest.¡±

    The Ninth Prince pursed his lips andughed, ¡°You¡¯re so boring, ey! That¡¯s right, Seventh Brother, howe every time to go to the pce you anger fuhuang on purpose? You¡¯re not usually like this, why?¡± In his eyes, other than loving to taste all types of weird tea, his Seventh was indifferent to everything else, as if he was someone with no emotions. But every time he went to court, he changed into someonepletely different and constantly opposed fuhuang.

    Zongzheng Wuyou lifted his eyes to look at him with a cold gaze, causing his soul to jolt. With an indifferent expression on his face, Zongzheng Wuyou raised his teacup and held it near his lips before taking a sip, his brows slightly furrowing, ¡°Old Ninth, this is the tea that you were confident about, thinking I would like it?¡±

    The Ninth Prince was still mulling over the matters about Qiyun¡¯s princess when he heard this question and immediately retorted, ¡°Seventh Brother doesn¡¯t like it? This tea has quite a unique taste to it!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou slowly put the cup down, ¡°This is Beiyi¡¯s exclusive wheat tea, and while it¡¯s true that it has a unique taste, I don¡¯t like it.¡±

    With an ¡®Oh¡¯, the Ninth Prince felt a little disappointed, ¡°I thought you would like it¡­Seventh Brother, you usually don¡¯te out of your residence. Since you¡¯re already out here today, then why don¡¯t I let Chen Yue in to y a song for us, sound good? Her ying is quite beautiful to hear.¡± His face was full of longing as he looked towards Zongzheng Wuyou, and seeing that he didn¡¯t voice his agreement but also didn¡¯t disagree, he happily ordered the people outside, ¡°Someonee.¡±

    A man entered the room and politely asked, ¡°If Ninth Prince has a matter, please order.¡±

    Ninth Prince: ¡°Tell Chen Yu toe here.¡±

    The person was a little hesitant and cautiously answered, ¡°Replying to Ninth Prince, Chen Yu guniang just entered the room next door.¡±

    The Ninth Prince¡¯s face fell and he raised his eyebrows, ¡°She didn¡¯t know that I came? Go now and ask her how much money that person gave her. I will give her ten times that amount.¡±

    (1) zhuzi: The owner/master of a residence.

    (2) guniang: Literally means girldy, refers to an unmarried young woman.

    (3) gongzi: Refers to a young unmarried man.

    (4) pei (ßõ): The sound of spitting

    (5) mama: Literally means mother. In terms of the brothel, this is what thedy in charge of the brothel is called because she technically owns them; she is not actually their mother.

 Chapter 7 - Stealing Someone From the Brothel (2)

    Chapter 7 Stealing Someone From the Brothel (2)

    Even though the room next door was very spacious, the window was quite small, so there wasn¡¯t much light filtered into the room, making it quite dim. Man Yao walked to the desk and sat down while crossing her legs, a habit she usually did when there weren¡¯t any strangers around; it was carefree yet elegant. Ling¡¯er curiously asked her, ¡°Zhuzi, what do you need Chen Yu guniang for?¡±

    Man Yao smiled but didn¡¯t say anything, only looking back towards Xiao Sha.

    Xiao Sha seemed to realize something and exined, ¡°In the drawing that Zhuzi painted of the teahouse, there was a circr stage in the middle and on the stage was a qin(1)¡­Zhuzi wants to invite Chen Yu guniang to be a musician at the teahouse?¡±

    Man Yao smiled and gently nodded her head, as expceted, Xiao Sha was more attentive. Her design did not stop at just making sure the interior was perfect, she also required the iparable sound of a qin as the finish. Ling¡¯er asked, ¡°Zhuzi, I don¡¯t understand. His Majesty already bestowed down so much for the bride price, and you¡¯re notcking for money, why are you spending so much effort to open this teahouse?¡±

    ¡°The purpose for opening the teahouse wasn¡¯t exactly just to earn money, it¡¯s also to fulfill a wish of mine.¡± Man Yao took out a design from and stared at it in a daze, her eyesight seeming to go thorugh the thin piece of paper and beyond into the hopes and dreams that she once held for many years. She was Man Corporation¡¯s sole heir. Starting from a young age, she was already resigned to the fact that she would not be able to do whatever she pleased, so her hobbies had to remain as hobbies. The design that she spent so much effort to create was shredded into pieces in a fit of anger by her father as he furiously scolded her. Originally she thought that that would be the end of it, yet on the journey that is called life, there are many things that are unpredictable. That year when she turned twenty six, she died in the ¡°ident¡± that her young stepmother set up, and the mastermind behind the scenes was that tender-hearted board member who also happened to be her fiance. As for the reason, she guessed that it must be for the money, the position, and the power.

    ¡°Zhuzi, zhuzi.¡± Ling¡¯er called her a couple of times but seeing that there wasn¡¯t any response, she stretched her hand out to wave it a couple of times in front of her. Ling¡¯er and Xiao Sha were the two she personally chose amongst the numerous people the Emperor of Qiyun prepared for her.

    Waking up from her daydream, Man Yao organized the drawings in her hands when the door to the room suddenly opened. A woman wearing red softly entered, her looks were not ordinary, and she was charming but not to the point of bewitching. Man Yao quietly observed this beautiful woman, seeing her chin pointed up as she walked, her eyes carrying a hint of pride. When that woman saw her, she jerked, her eyes unable to hide her surprise.

    ¡°Chen Yu greets gongzi!¡± The girls¡¯ hands were ced on top of each other at the left side of her waist as she bended her knees in greeting. Her voice was song-like and very moving, but her tone contained pride and arrogance.

    Man Yao rose and gave a faint smile, ¡°I¡¯ve long heard that Chen Yu guniang is a stunning beauty. Seeing it today, it seems that it¡¯s true.¡±

    Chen Yu smiled as well, ¡°Gongzi exaggerates. Gongzi is the one who is handsome beyondparison.¡±

    Man Yao gentlyughed and allowed her to sit while Xiao Sha went outside to guard the door.

    Man Yao didn¡¯t try to beat around the bush and spoke candidly, ¡°The reason I came is because I would like to make a business arrangement with guniang.¡± Her voice was slightly hoarse not at all like the ethereal tone she had before.

    Sitting in a dignified manner, Chen Yu¡¯s eyebrows slightly moved, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that gongzi hase looking for the wrong person. I am just a lowly brothel girl, how could I discuss business arrangements with gongzi?¡±

    Man Yao adjusted her posture and steadily replied, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that a couple of years back there was a prefectural magistrate named Yu, but because he was implicated in a case involving a rebellion, his whole entire family of seventy nine people were executed. Butter when they inspected the bodies¡­there was one missing. After investigating, the missing body was Prefectural Magistrate Yu¡¯s youngest daughter Yu Chen.¡± Her eyes stared at the woman sitting in front of her and continued indifferently, ¡°Yu Chen, Chen Yu, Chen Yu, Yu Chen(2).¡±

    Chen Yu¡¯s face changed colors and stood up from surprise, ¡°How did you know?¡±

    Man Yao gave a little smile and looked at the fan in her hands. One one of the jade corners of the fan, three words were carved in it: ¡°Wu Yin Lou¡±, although they were quite small and unnoticeable if one was not looking for it. Wu Yin Lou¡¯s sess rate truly was high, with only a month, they were able to clearly investigate this secret matter from several years ago. No wonder their ce was so high in the jianghu(4). The fan in her hand was obtained at an extremely high value as well. Other than gathering intelligence, Wu Yin Lou also had an assassin branch, their fee was scarily high, starting at ten thousand and two hundred silvers. They¡¯ve never failed.

    Chen Yu only partly listened to what she said before her gaze changed, a killing intent springing forth from her eyes. As Man Yao looked down, she only saw a sh of red muslin flying towards her like a sword, aiming to wrap around her neck. Her red lips curled up and moving her foot, she quickly evaded by sliding away with her chair. In shock, Chen Yu didn¡¯t even imagine that this shockingly beautiful gongzi who looked soft and gentle was actually an expert! She prepared to attack again when a soft handlended against her shoulder. The person holding the sword was that gongzi¡®s bodyguard. Chen Yu calmed down and asked, ¡°What do you want?¡±

    Man Yao unhurriedly closed her fan. She already inherited this body and its memories, which included martial arts. Although she did not know how to use it, under Xiao Sha¡¯s teachings, she had no problem going against ordinary people. Of course, Zongzheng Wuyou was an exception because he can¡¯t even be counted as a person. His swordy was so quick that even a top expert like Xiao Sha was unable to stop him. She gave Ling¡¯er a look, and Ling¡¯er immediately retrieved her sword, standing behind Man Yao. Using her most elegant manners, she gestured for Chen Yu to sit, ¡°Guniang does not need to be on guard. I¡¯m not saying this to ckmail you, I just want to help guniangpletely wash clean of the title of being a traitor and start a new life.¡±

    Chen Yu carried a suspicious look on her face as she stared at Man Yao, mixed feelings flickering in her eyes, ¡°Who are you, why should I believe you? Why are you helping me?¡±

    Man Yao faintly smiled, ¡°I¡¯m a business person, as for my purpose¡­I just think that this type of ce doesn¡¯t suit guniang¡®s talents as a musician. If it were to be a different environment, perhaps¡­not only will the audience feel differently, even the person ying will also feel different.¡±

    Chen Yu asked, ¡°The environment that gongzi is talking about¡­what kind of environment is that?¡±

    Man Yao: ¡°The teahouse I am opening soon.¡±

    The light in Chen Yu¡¯s eyes became mocking, ¡°And here I was wondering what type of ce it was, so it was actually just a teahouse. In my eyes, a teahouse and a brothel are the same.¡±

    Man Yao wasn¡¯t annoyed andughed, ¡°My teahouse is different from the others. I dare say that it will shake the very core of Jingcheng, and you will be the other owner of this teahouse.¡± Her eyes were shining like stars while her tone was full of confidence.

    Chen Yu was in a daze. This man, whether it¡¯s his eyes or voice, carried some sort of charm that made people unconsciously trust him. To be able to have a new identity allowing her to no longer live in fear has always been her hope. Her face continuously changed expressions and finally hesitantly replied, ¡°Qin mama is extremely greedy, she won¡¯t let me go. Unless gongzi¡®s identity surpasses the one behind Qin mama.¡±

    The person behind Qin mama? Man Yao frowned, ¡°Excuse me guniang, who is the person behind Qin mama?¡±

    Chen Yu: ¡°This¡­please forgive me for not being able to say it.¡±

    Man Yao: ¡°Are there actually things that can¡¯t be resolved with money in this brothel?¡±

    Chen Yu: ¡°Yes. I am one of them.¡±

    Hearing her say it in such a quiet voice, Man Yao saw hope flickering in her eyes, and after contemting for a while, a knock suddenly sounded from the door.

    ¡°Chen Yu guniang, the Ninth Prince wants to see you.¡± Separated by a door and a sword, the man could only loudly announce his purpose.

    Man Yao¡¯s gaze immediately shifted, and thinking of the two people next door, an idea came to her. She smiled towards Chen Yu, ¡°Do you know how to dance?¡±

    Chen Yu nodded, and Man Yao spoke again, ¡°Alright, then follow my instructions.¡± She whispered something in Chen Yu¡¯s ear and emphasized, ¡°Remember, your hands and body definitely cannot touch him, otherwise¡­I won¡¯t be able to help you.¡±

    (1) qin: A stringed instrument

    (2) The names written in Chinese are Óà³¿ (Yu Chen) and ³ÁÓã (Chen Yu), and while their characters are different, the pronounciation for the characters are the same.

    (3) Wu Yin Lou (ÎÞÒþÂ¥): The characters ÎÞÒþ literally mean un-hidden.

    (4) jianghu: It¡¯s the general name for people who are not part of mainstream society (i.e. merchants, etc.) but rather make their living doing other things. In this case, Wu Yin Lou operates by gathering intelligence.

 Chapter 8 - Stealing Someone From the Brothel (3)

    Chapter 8 Stealing Someone From the Brothel (3)

    Entering the southern private room, Chen Yu greeted the Ninth Prince with a greeting, ¡°I did not know that Ninth Prince had a guest today, and I camete, please forgive me! To convey my apologies, I am willing to make up for it with a dance, I wonder if Ninth Prince is alright with this?¡±

    Upon seeing the beauty, the Ninth Prince¡¯s mood immediately became better, andughed as he raised his eyebrows, ¡°Oh? Chen Yu knows how to dance? Then I must take a good look as to whether your dance is as beautiful as your ying.¡±

    Chen Yu gave a charming smile, turning her gaze towards her target for today¡ªthe man in white, but once she saw him, she couldn¡¯t help but freeze. She thought that the gongzi next door was already perfect, butpared to the man in front of her, although that gongzi was a gentle beauty, hecked the sharp features and the characteristic masculine aura that the man in front of her had.

    Zongzheng Wuyou quietly sat there, indifferent to the female that was legendary for her zither ying and beautiful looks in Jingcheng. His thick eyshes covered up the inky ck and sinister eyes.

    The bright sunlight filtered through the thin paper stered on the windows. The sounds of someone ying the guqin drifted out from the room, as melodious as the sounds of nature. The beauty held a white jade guqin in her embrace as she waved her red gauzy sleeves, her figure as fluttering about like a butterfly. She was holding the qin while she danced.

    The Ninth Prince pped his hands andughed, ¡°Wonderful, wonderful! Seventh Brother, look at that, Chen Yu¡¯s music matched her dance, it was truly wonderful.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou slowly lifted his eyes and took a quick nce, the indifferent expression on his face never changing as if none of the women in this world had anything to do with him.

    Chen Yu¡¯s lithe figure gently twirled in circles, her slender waist dancing like a willow branch trembling in the wind. Her back facing the man, she bent backwards into a beautiful arch as she threw her fire-red long sleeves out, aiming between the two gentlemen. With a flick of her wrist, it looked like waves crashing onto the shore, delicately beautiful.

    The Ninth Prince straightened his posture to seriously appreciate it, his mood full of happiness. Zongzheng Wuyou continued to look downwards at the finely crafted porcin teacup he was ying with in his hands.

    This was the first time Chen Yu ever danced in this brothel, and her eyes couldn¡¯t help but continuously drift back to the white-robed man. As if there was some unknown power that was pulling on her, she unconsciously moved closer. At this moment, she waspletely bewitched by that perfect face, forgetting about her original intentions as well as the reminders that the gongzi from before told her. Walking around to the man¡¯s back, the red gauze slowly drifted down before the man¡¯s eyes, breaking his gaze from the teacup in his hands. Losing herself in the emotions of her hands, she didn¡¯t see the Ninth Prince¡¯s expression suddenly change, and she didn¡¯t see the coldness shing through the man¡¯s eyes in front of her. When her long and slender finger brushed against the white robe of the man, in an instant, everything changed.

    The red gauze in front of his eyes was shredded into pieces, as if the air became millions of tiny little swords, continuously cutting them without her even seeing him lift a finger. She didn¡¯t have enough time to be confused or surprised when she was directly blown back by a strong force. Crying out painfully, a fiery red silhouette broke through the window and fell down from the building. Halfway down, she was caught by someone.

    Looking at the woman that Xiao Sha caught, Man Yao saw that she was vomiting blood and in pain. Surprised, she furrowed her eyebrows, ¡°You, touched him?¡±

    Chen Yu¡¯s eyes were glistening and unfocused as she only thought about the immense pain in her chest, as if her internal organs wer shattered. If it weren¡¯t for her inner force shielding her as well as someone catching her, then she would have died without a doubt.

    The surrounding people slowly formed into a crowd and Qin mama yelled out in surprise, ¡°Who dares to injure my precious daughter? Hurry up and tell mama, I¡¯ll punish them for you.¡±

    Right as Qin mama finished her words, an icy cold voice drifted over, ¡°It was benwang(1)! How do you want to punish me?¡±

    The crowd separated to form a path, and when Qin mama saw clearly the male who said those words, her heart trembled in fright as her face drained of color. As her legs turned into jelly, she kneeled on the ground and crawled forward before she suddenly remembered Prince Li¡¯s taboo and then immediately crawled backwards. Suppressing her voice, she angrily whispered to Chen Yu, ¡°What exactly did you do? You actually angered Prince Li, are you trying to kill me?¡±

    Chen Yu held her hand to her chest and lowered her head without making a sound.

    Zongzheng Wuyou gazed at the female on the ground and ordered the guards behind him, ¡°Leng Yan, each and every finger of this female¡­chop them off for benwang.¡± His voice was calm and free as if he was ordering someone to prepare food for him.

    Chen Yu¡¯s face turned as white as a sheet and raised her head in surprise only to see those chilly and sinister eyes. Her heart tremored, why did she only notice his outwardly perfect looks, but not those pair of hellish eyes?

    Qin mama hurried begged for mercy, ¡°Wangye please have mercy¡­¡± She was only able to speak these words halfway before Zongzheng Wuyou swept his gaze over to her, forcing her to choke on the rest of her sentence.

    Seeing Leng Yan walk towards her inrge steps, Chen Yu¡¯s whole body was shaking. Ignoring the pain in her chest, she turned around and grabbed the edge of Man Yao¡¯s clothes, begging, ¡°Gongzi, save me, you must have a way¡­I just, I just only very briefly touched wangye¡®s clothes with my fingernail¡­¡± Finishing, she spat up another mouthful of blood.

    Man Yao took a look at her and lightly let out a sigh, raising her hand, ¡°Your Highness Prince Li, please wait a moment!¡± Even if Chen Yu didn¡¯t beg her, she wouldn¡¯t have idly stood by either, especially since this situation happened because of her. When the surrounding girls heard that Chen Yu only brushed against Prince Li¡¯s clothes with her fingernail, and received such serious injuries as well as almost having her fingers cut off, they frantically backed away to hide in the doorway, secretly peeking at the situation happening outside.

    Zongzheng Wuyou coldly looked over. Even though there was still quite a distance between them, his gaze still contained a heavy pressure as always. Man Yao took a deep breath to calm her expression, ¡°Your Highness Prince Li, what treacherous crime did Chen Yu guniangmit that Your Highness wants to treat her like this? Do you know that for someone who ys the qin, to destroy their hands is worse than taking away their life?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t even bother to look at her, his face full of indifference, ¡°She vited benwang¡®s taboo, naturally she must pay the price.¡±

    Man Yao lightly smiled and asked again, ¡°May I ask what Prince Li¡¯s taboo is?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou nced at her, his gaze full of ice, yet Man Yao pretended to not have felt it and answered her own question, ¡°Prince Li¡¯s taboo is wine and women! Then¡­may I ask, where is Prince Li at right now?¡±

    ¡°Of course we¡¯re at the brothel.¡± This time, it was the Ninth Prince who answered, his face looking as if he was watching a good y.

    Man Yao lightlyughed, ¡°Ninth Prince is correct, this is the brothel! What type of ce is a brothel? A ce of entertainment! While this ce doesn¡¯t have anything else, it has a lot of women. Since Prince Li has a taboo, then he shouldn¡¯t havee. If you had no choice but toe, then that¡¯s alright too, but at least your subordinates should have carried a sign, best if it was a bright gold or red one that read: This is Prince Li, no alcohol nor women shoulde near. This way people would know, otherwise, there are so many peopleing and going through here every day, who would know that you¡¯re the great Prince Li?¡±

    The surroundings were silent. It was so silent to the point where even the lightest breathing couldn¡¯t be heard.

    The crowd seemed to have seen a ghost, staring at this handsome man whose courage exceeded even the heavens, not even the slightest bit afraid that his impolite words would anger Prince Li and implicate the rest of them.

    The tension in the air churned and welled, seeming to get ready to explode at any second. Suddenly, a burst of fearlessly loudughter sounded, frightening the crowd so much they shook and broke out into a cold sweat.

    (1) benwang: What princes use to refer to themselves in front of those of lower status.

 Chapter 9 - Stealing Someone From the Brothel (4)

    Chapter 9 Stealing Someone From the Brothel (4)

    Man Yao¡¯s eyebrows jumped, ¡°Your Highness Ninth Prince, your precious beauty is about to have her fingers chopped off and you¡¯re still able tough so happily?¡±

    The Ninth Prince¡¯s wide smile froze and he looked at Chen Yu who was below him, only seeing the trail of red blood near her lips and the resentment in her eyes. He lightly coughed, ¡°I¡¯m notughing at Chen Yu, but at the sign that I keep imagining.¡± He was thinking of that wooden Leng Yan. After following his seventh brother for so many years, he¡¯s never heard more than three sentences from Leng Yan, and each sentence contained at most, four words. If he were to stand behind Seventh Brother holding that sign, and coupled with Seventh Brother¡¯s immortal looks, what type of scenery would that make? As his imagination went wild, he couldn¡¯t help butugh again.

    Man Yao pretended to be confused, ¡°Sign? What sign?¡±

    The Ninth Prince replied without thinking, ¡°Of course it¡¯s the gold or red sign you were talking about, the one where it read¡­¡± The words died on his lips as he felt that something wasn¡¯t quite right. Turning his head, he saw Wuyou coldly ring at him, and heughed drily while rubbing his nose.

    Narrowing his eyes, Zongzheng Wuyou asked in a frigid voice, ¡°Is it funny?¡±

    The Ninth Prince¡¯s lips jerked, and staring at the handsome man who dug a hole for him, he frantically shook his hands, ¡°No, not funny at all, I wasn¡¯tughing at this either, cough cough¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­then the Ninth Prince isughing at Chen Yu guniang?¡± Man Yao bent down next to Chen Yu, shaking her head, ¡°Aye! It¡¯s such a shame for this beautiful pair of hands, in the future, we won¡¯t be able to witness her melodious ying or her enchanting dance¡­what a shame!¡±

    Chen Yu¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, crying uncontrobly.

    The Ninth Prince was alos moved, ¡°It is quite regretful, the dance wasn¡¯t finished.¡± She smiled and turned w=towards Zongzheng Wuyou, ¡°Seventh Brother, don¡¯t punish the ignorant. Taking into consideratino that she is one of my beauties, please give me some face, and forgive her this time.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou nced at him and indifferently expressed, ¡°Haven¡¯t I given you enough face?¡± Finished, he swiped the jade folding fan that the Ninth Prince was holding and slowly walked over in front of Man Yao. When Man Yao stood up, Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s fan knocked on her shoulder, making it feel heavy. That fan seemed to have acumted the inner force of a thousand tons, causing her to be unsteady. Turning her head, she used the fan in her own hand to block his, only to see that both of these fans were the same. On the corner of the jade bone, the three words Wu Yin Lou were faintly carved, not a single one missing¡­no, they were not the same. Other than Wu Yin Lou and some sort of emblem, the jade of the fan she held was clear and smooth, while upon closer inspection, the fan in Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s hand had some lines carved in it as well, seeming to make some sort of drawing. As to what it was, she was unclear.

    Seeing the fan in her hand, Zongzheng Wuyou paused for a moment, decreasing the strength in his hand, and his lips curved up, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about using these petty tricks in front of benwang. Since you think it¡¯s regretful, then benwang will be magnanimous and let your hands¡­take her ce.¡±

    Man Yao jerked and smiled while she spoke unwaveringly, ¡°It¡¯s not often that Prince Lis is so generous. This one will naturally follow your wishes, however these pair of hands are my treasure. If they were to be gone just like that, I am still a little unwilling.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou felt a faint sense of familiarity as he looked at her bright and intelligent eyes. In this world, there were very few people who dared to speak to him so casually. Folding his fan, he casually tossed it behind him for the Ninth Prince to catch. Zongzheng Wuyou spun around and took a few steps, his eyes half-closed as he probed, ¡°The things that benwang wants to do have never been told¡­¡¯no¡¯ by anyone. Who are you, what right do you have to dare to be so fearless in front of benwang?¡±

    When the pressure from Man Yao¡¯s shoulders was lifted, she felt muchfortable. Recalling Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s behavior in the great hall, as well as the hatred-filled gaze he had towards the emperor, her eyes looked back and forth, ¡°Zaixia(1) is only a businessman, and I don¡¯t have any backing, it¡¯s just that I¡¯ve grown used to speaking this way. Your Highness, you have an invaluable identity and you also have His Mjaesty¡¯s favor. No matter who sees you, they would be both respectful and fearful, but Your Highness, can you clearly identify who treats you with sincerity and who doesn¡¯t? Actually, being born into the imperial family may not be a blessing. Although you have a high status, it cannotpare to being an ordinary person with their simple food and a family full of love, the image of happiness.¡±

    Originally, she was saying this for Zongzheng Wuyou to hear, but towards the end, she still felt mncholic about the matters that happened in her previous life. If her father wasn¡¯t the president of Man Corporation and was busy every day dealing with business matters, her mother wouldn¡¯t have passed away so early either. She clearly had rtives, but she seemed more like an orphan. Other than her father telling her the proper way for her to behave, he had never cared for what she wanted or what she liked or disliked. When she was sick, the only person who ever took care of her was her nanny. When her mother passed away, her father was abroad and didn¡¯t evene back, so she had to arrange her mother¡¯s funeral by herself. That year, she was only twenty-one. If she wasn¡¯t the only daughter of Man Corporation¡¯s president, there also wouldn¡¯t be anyone trying to use her because of her identity and manipting her feelings. If she wasn¡¯t the sole heir to Man Corporation, she wouldn¡¯t have died due to the maniption of the greed of other people ande to this foreign world.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze became deeper. At the bottom of his eyes, there were countless emotions moving through them only to be suppressed and left to dissipate. Staring nkly at the person in front of him, he saw a sh of torment through those clear eyes, as well as a deep sense of helplessness and bleakness. Why did those eyes give off such a familiar feeling? It was as if he was looking at himself. For a moment, he was still, thinking that these words weren¡¯t just said for show, but were what the person in front of him personally experienced. This person was definitely not just an ordinary businessman.

    The Ninth Prince gazed at Man Yao with interest. There were countless people under the heavens that were envious of their imperial identities, as they were above others the moment they were born; however, this white-robed man in front of them actually said that their lives couldn¡¯t evenpare to amoner¡¯s? Even though it was true that their lives weren¡¯t as splendorous as other people imagined, this was not something that could be said lightly. If done wrong, someone¡¯s head would roll.

    The surroundings became quiet again, and Qin mama who had been kneeling on the ground all this time kept shaking. Chen Yu didn¡¯t even dare to lift her head, and everyone else was even more frozen, not daring to make a sound.

    After looking at her for some time, Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly looked left and right with his brows furrowed, ¡°Howe there¡¯s not even a stool here?¡±

    The crowd was startled at the sudden development, confused at what just happened. Qin mama was the first one to react, rushing to fawn while smiling, ¡°There is, there is, what are the rest of you dazing off for, hurry and give wangye a stool, oh, no, give him a chair!¡± The moment these wordsnded, everyone frantically rushed to bring a chair over. In no time, there were more than ten chairs filling the lobby.

    Qin mama got up from the ground and bent her body, beaming, ¡°Wangye, please sit. What kind of tea would you like to drink?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t bother to look at her, making a gesture for her to leave. Afterwards, with a wave of his clothes, he sat down. Lazily leaning into the back fo the chair, his sinister eyes locked onto Man Yao without some of the coldness he had before, ¡°You¡¯re quite daring! Just based on your words, you could die ten times over.¡±

    Man Yao didn¡¯t bother to be polite and sat down in front of him, crossing her legs in a casual yet elegant manner and gave a faint smile, ¡°As long as Prince Li says that I did notmit a crime, then I don¡¯t need to die at all.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou slightly curved his lips, ¡°If you want benwang to let you off, what would the reason be?¡±

    Man Yao lightly smiled, ¡°I heard that Your Highness likes tea, is that true?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou: ¡°It¡¯s true that I like tea, but I don¡¯t like all tea. Furthermore, my residence already has all themon types of tea.¡±

    Man Yao: ¡°Of course. However, the way of tea does not involve just the tea itself¡­if Your Highness is interested, then in three days, please head to the Moonlight Tea Garden near Heavenly Lake in Xicheng. I guarantee that Your Highness will not be disappointed. However, Your Highness must prepare something first.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou: ¡°What is it?¡±

    Man Yao: ¡°Your mood.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyebrows jumped, ¡°Mood?¡±

    Man Yao calmly smiled, ¡°That¡¯s right, the mood to taste tea.¡±

    Not understanding, the Ninth Princeughed loudly, ¡°What kind of mood needs to be prepared in order to taste tea? I¡¯ve never heard of that before.¡±

    Man Yao smiled but didn¡¯t speak. Zongzheng Wuyou stood up and before he left, he spoke, ¡°Alright. I hope that after three days, you won¡¯t disappoint benwang, otherwise, what¡¯s chopped off¡­won¡¯t just be fingers but also your pretty neck. Someonee¡ªNotify Jingcheng¡¯s Prefect Yin, that if benwang still sees this brothel operating tomorrow, tell him to bring his head to see me.¡±

    (1) Zaixia: Used by someone to refer to themselves when speaking to someone of a higher status.

    Forchen Notes: A glossary has been added! You can find it under the main page. Also, if there are any spelling or grammatical mistakes you spot, please feel free to let me know so that I can edit them!

 Chapter 10 - Eyes Like Colored Glass, A Person As Beautiful As The Moon

    Chapter 10 Eyes Like Colored ss, A Person As Beautiful As The Moon

    Fragrance House was shut down, and Man Yao was able to easily take away Chen Yu, while the rumors about Prince Li heading to Moonlight Tea Garden spread like wildfire. These past few days, Heavenly Lake was unusually bustling making Man Yao extremely happy that she didn¡¯t have to do any promotions. There were so many people who wanted to take a look at what this extremely favored son of the Emperor¡¯s looked like, and there were many imperial rtives and nobility who wanted to use this opportunity to get closer to this esteemed wangye.

    Three dayster, the shore of Xicheng¡¯s Heavenly Lake was filled with people, creating a dam around Moonlight Tea Garden. When the prefect of Jingcheng became oawayre of this matter, he hurried to arrange a hundred soldiers to guard the area to prevent chaos and also to protect Prince Li¡¯s safety.

    The moonlight tonight was extremely bright, reflecting off of theke surface. When Zongzheng Wuyou and the Ninth Prince arrived, Moonlight Tea Garden had just opened their doors, announcing that they would only receive twenty customers each day. The crowd began to mor, and those who were wanting to cause a ruckus were suppressed by the guards. Under the sounds of everyone kneeling onto the ground, Zongzheng Wuyou finally entered the gates of Moonlight Tea Garden.

    There was only onemp dimly lighting up the long and narrow hallway. The light didn¡¯t do much to illuminate the way, and the ceiling of the hallway was low, making one feel a sort of pressure as they walked through.

    The Ninth Prince furrowed his eyebrows, ¡°I heard that all of the architectural firms in Jingcheng were involved in creating this tea garden. Originally, I was wondering how impressive it would be, but in the end it¡¯s not evenparable to a regr teahouse on the street. At least those teahouses wouldn¡¯t be so dark the moment you enter¡­¡± When the two reached the end of the hallway and turned a corner, the Ninth Prince¡¯s words died in hsi throat. Unconsciously widening his eyes, he stared nkly at the unusual scenery before him.

    It was a spacious indoor garden. In the garden were willow trees rising above the mist, pruned into the shape of an umbre, and they surrounded a blooming cherry blossom tree. A touch of red within the sea of green, it was quite eye-catching when saw from far away. A stream of clear water ran through the willow trees, and there were multiple finely crafted translucent lotusmps floating on the water. With the gentle breeze blowing through, the lotusmps drifted along the stream, leaving shallow ripples in their wake.

    Coloredmps were hung in the air, the light bouncing off the water to reflect off of the silver rooftop of the garden, eventually shooting out different colors of light to illuminate the garden. In an instant, the silver ripples of the garden looked as if Heaven¡¯s silver river was flowing backgrounds, creating an unspeakably beautiful scene.

    Tapping the folding fan against his palm, the Ninth Prince gasped in surprise, ¡°Wonderful! How wonderful! I couldn¡¯t have imagined that such a view would be at the end of that dark and gloomy hallway.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou paused his footsteps, ¡°This is the designer¡¯s ingenuity.¡±

    When one¡¯s mind would be ustomed to that dark and narrow hallway, only to be met with this silver water garden, it would create an even greater contrast. Zongzheng Wuyou closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, only feeling that there was a slightly fragrant smell in the air that entered his body, causing him to feel refreshed. Raising his foot, he stepped onto the white brick pathway iid with small stones, feeling very rxed. Man Yao personally weed them in, giving them the proper greeting, ¡°Your Highnesses, wee, pleasee inside!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou nodded, and the two followed her to a ss table underneath the peach blossom tree and sat down. The Ninth Prince impatiently asked her, ¡°I heard that you personally designed this garden?¡±

    Man Yao smiled, ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡±

    The Ninth Prince¡¯s eyes glittered and he praised her, ¡°It¡¯s very beautiful.¡± Towards beautiful people or things, he would never be stingy with hispliments.

    Man Yao sincerely replied, ¡°Many thanks for Ninth Prince¡¯spliment!¡± This is a design that she was finally able to fulfill, and to able to receive such affirmation and praise naturally made her happy.

    Ninth Prince: ¡°It¡¯s as beautiful as you are.¡±

    Man Yao paused and instinctively looked at Zongzheng Wuyou. In front of this man who wavered between being a god or a devil, whether they were men or women, who would have the ability to be called ¡°beautiful¡±? She lightlyughed and slightly bent her waist, reach her hand out to press a button on the ss table. A ¡®kacha¡¯ sound was heard, and one of the silver mirrors on the garden¡¯s roof moved to the side to produce a circr hole, revealing the clear moon in the middle as the hole gradually expanded.

    The moonlight was like water, instantly pouring down to envelop the three people sitting at the ss table to bask in its light, giving each person a very subtle feeling¡ªtonight¡¯s moon, was very bright.

    Zongzheng Wuyou was in a daze. Looking over to the white-robed man who was bathed in the moonlight, he only saw his lips curling into a faint smile and those bright eyes shining with brilliance. He suddenly felt that this moonlight as well as the silver ripples of this garden all paled inparison to this person¡¯s face.

    The Ninth Prince pped his hands andughed, ¡°Wonderful! No wonder it¡¯s called Moonlight Tea Garden, and is only open at night. Very good! You are a genius, that¡¯s right, what¡¯s your name?¡±

    Man Yao was just about to answer when she heard him say ¡°Ah¡± and then continue speaking, ¡°Let me think, this garden is full of colored ss, water, moon¡­then I¡¯ll call you Liu Yue, Liu Yue¡­Seventh Brother, don¡¯t you think this name suits him very well?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou revealed a rareugh, his eyes glittering as he looked at her, and his voice was as clear as the sounds of nature, ¡°En, eyes like colored ss, person as beautiful as the moon, this woman truly fits it!¡±

    Man Yao was startled, ¡®eyes like colored ss, person as beautiful as the moon¡¯, was Zongzheng Wuyou talking about her? But¡­¡¯this woman fits it¡¯? She raised her hand to rub at her fake adam¡¯s apple, it was made very realistically, she shouldn¡¯t have been found out right? She lightlyughed, ¡°Prince Li is joking.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou hooked up his lips and and gave a smile full of meaning, no longer looking at her. There was a mist circling in the air around them, settling down like smoke. In the center of the garden was a circr stage with light gauze hanging above it, fluttering in the breeze, giving off a gentle feeling of beauty. In the middle of the gauzy curtain, the woman¡¯s fingertips curved as the melodic notes of the instrument drifted over like waves throughout the quiet garden.

    Man Yao handed over an exquisite menu. Zongzheng Wuyou took a couple looks at it and indifferently asked, ¡°Only these?¡±

    Man Yao twitched and replied, ¡°Your Highness, pretty much all the tea that people under the heavens drink are located here. Is there not a single one that suits Your Highness¡¯ tastes?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou raised his eyes to look at her, ¡°If it was something that could be drunk at a teahouse, why would benwang bother making this trip to your Moonlight Tea Garden?¡±

    Man Yao wasn¡¯t annoyed and smiled instead, ¡°That¡¯s not quite true. The way of tea is not just about evaluating tea itself, but also the process of steeping tea, the environment when evaluating tea, as well as the mood one has when tasting tea. Zaixia wanted Your Highness to prepare your mood, may I ask if Your Highness has done so?¡±

    A natural and peaceful environment can aid in evaluating the way of tea. Out of habit, Zongzheng Wuyou squinted his phoenix eyes to look at her, ¡°What benwang wants is something that is not avable elsewhere, something unique.¡±

    Contemting, Man Yao hesitantly replied, ¡°I do have something like that, it¡¯s just that I¡¯m afraid that if this is Your Highness¡¯ first time tasting it¡­you won¡¯t be used to it.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze brightened and immediately ordered, ¡°Bring it here.¡±

    Man Yao brought over a menu containing flower teas and milk teas. This world was still considered to be pretty open-minded, many wives and young misses from important families like to drink tea while resting outside, so she wanted to try promoting these. Who knew that these teas woulde in handy during her first day of business.

    Zongzheng Wuyou flipped through the menu, reading it more closely this time. After quite a while, he raised his head, ¡°Are there any others? If not, then for these¡­I want one of each.¡±

    Man Yao froze, there were at least twenty different types of tea on that menu! Seeing how Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t seem to have any expression on his face, but his gaze was quite serious, it didn¡¯t seem like he was ying around. But to order things like this, it didn¡¯t seem like he wanted to drink tea just to drink tea, but more like he was trying to find something.

 Chapter 11 - Whose Teaching Who How to Play Chess?

    Chapter 11 Whose Teaching Who How to y Chess?

    Dozens of flower teas and milk teas of various colors covered the table. Zongzheng Wuyou picked the darker colored ones to taste first, taking only a small sip before cing them down. His sinister eyes held a flicker of light in them, but before Man Yao could take a closer look, his dark and full eyshes hid them away. In the end, he waved his hands, ¡°Take them away.¡±

    The Ninth Prince hurriedly stopped them, ¡°Seventh Brother, I haven¡¯t tasted them yet. This rainbow of colors looks quite pretty¡­it smells quite nice too.¡± As he spoke, he lifted up one of the bi-colored fruit milk teas that Zongzheng Wuyou hadn¡¯t drank from to taste a sweet and sour vor. Licking the corner of his lips, he nodded, ¡°Not bad. If Zhao Yun was here, she¡¯d definitely like it.¡±

    Hearing this, a soft voice rang out from the doorway, ¡°Wuyou gege(1), Wuyou gege¡ª¡± A sixteen or seventeen year-old fragile-looking girl ran over with her skirt raised, her eyes bright.

    The Ninth Prince loudlyughed, ¡°Speaking of the devil, Seventh Brother, do you want to hide?¡±

    Man Yao didn¡¯t hold back herugh, ¡°There¡¯s actually someone in this world that can make Prince Li want to hide?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s lips twitched, his face unreadable. The Ninth Prince slightly tilted his head towards, purposely acting mysterious, ¡°You¡¯ll know in a moment.¡±

    When Zhao Yun arrived, she excitedly went to Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s side. Before she could get close, an arm appeared in front of her. Raising her head, it was that wooden person Leng Yan again! She spoke in a wronged voice, ¡°Wuyou gege¡ªwhy didn¡¯t you bring Yun¡¯er to such a pretty ce?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t even look at her, indifferently speaking, ¡°Are you still a three year-old?¡±

    Zhao Yun pouted, ¡°Wuyou gege, you weren¡¯t like this before¡­hm? What¡¯s in this cup? I¡¯ve never seen it before.¡±

    The Ninth Princeughed, ¡°This is the tea that Seventh Brother ordered, it¡¯s very delicious. Seventh Brother already tasted it.¡±

    ¡°Really, Wuyou gege? I want to try too.¡± Zhao Yun reached her hand out to grab the purple-colored milk tea, and coincidentally it was one that Zongzheng Wuyou had already tasted. But before that cup could touch her lips, she felt a strong forceing towards her, and the cup in her hand fell to the ground, shattering to pieces.

    Man Yao was startled, the Ninth Prince really wasn¡¯t afraid of chaos happening! For someone like Zongzheng Wuyou, how could he let a woman touch something he drank from, especially if it¡¯s a woman that is clearly interested in him. She hurriedly threw a look towards the guard behind her, who immediately cleared away all the cups on the table and then cleaned up the pieces on the ground.

    Zhao Yun¡¯s hands tightly grabbed the edges of her clothes, her eyes teary as she stood frozen in front of the expressionless Zongzheng Wuyou, unable to speak.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s voice was cold, ¡°You want to return to the duke¡¯s residence now?¡±

    Hearing this, Zhao Yun was so frightened her tears dried up, frantically waving her hands, ¡°I don¡¯t I don¡¯t¡­Wuyou gege, I just came out, I won¡¯t bother you anymore. I¡¯ll just stay here for a little bit longer, it¡¯s so pretty here¡­¡± Raising her head to look at the surrounded, she saw Man Yao standing not too far from her. Her eyes brightened and she yelled out in surprise, ¡°Ah! Who are you? Howe you¡¯re just as pretty as Wuyou gege?¡±

    Laughing, the Ninth Prince replied to her, ¡°He is Li Yue, the owner of this tea garden. This garden was personally designed by him!¡±

    Both of Zhao Yun¡¯s eyes lit up, staring at her, as her crisp voice sounded, ¡°Really? Li Yue gongzi, you¡¯re so skilled! That¡¯s right, what¡¯s the tea that my Wuyou gege drank just now? I want to drink it too.¡±

    This girl was quite smart. In order to stay within Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s sights, she understood how to change topics. Unfortunately, since the beginning, Zongzheng Wuyou had yet to take even a single nce at her. Man Yao ordered her people to prepare a variety of fruit milk teas. After Zhao Yun tasted them, she endlessly chattered, ¡°It¡¯s delicious. Let them prepare some more of them, I want to take bring them back for others to try too.¡±

    Just like this, because of this person¡¯s crush on Zongzheng Wuyou, the fruit milk teas that she thought wouldn¡¯t be easily promoted happened to perk up the interest of this wealthy family in this strange era, bing extremely popr. As for the name ¡°Li Yue gongzi¡°, it spread throughout all of Jingcheng to where even the imperial family, the court officials, really anyone that had money and power, so long as they were nning on building a new courtyard or residence, they would beg for the honor of having ¡°Li Yue gongzi¡± draw up a design for them.

    Zongzheng Wuyou became a regr customer of Moonlight Tea Garden. In the following half a month, he often came alone, ordering a pot of premium Xihu Longjing tea, silently sitting untilte at night.

    Man Yao sat not too far away from him near a colored ss table. Seeing his figure bathed in the cold moonlight, he gave off a mncholic feeling. She unconsciously rose and walked towards him. Only when Zongzheng Wuyou raised his eyes did shee to her senses, and decided to openly sit across from him, giving a faint smile, ¡°Your Highness won¡¯t mind, right?¡±

    Sweeping his gaze at the several empty seats around him, he gave azyugh, ¡°I don¡¯t mind¡­haven¡¯t you already sat down? Benwang is a little curious. As a woman, you¡¯re not at home waiting to get married and have kids, but instead you¡¯re out here alone creating this tea garden?¡±

    Man Yao gave a start, he did indeed see through her disguise! Furrowing her eyebrows, ¡°Who said that a woman has to get married and have kids? Women can also have their own businesses, they can also be independent. They don¡¯t need to have a man in order to survive.¡±

    She said women don¡¯t need to rely on men to survive? Zongzheng Wuyou spaced out for a moment, nkly staring at her. These past few weeks, he often saw her brew up a cup of tea and quietly sit alone, dazing off into the distance as if her soul had left her body, not knowing where it went. She always looked so calm, even if the sky fell, her expression probably wouldn¡¯t change. He suddenly wondered whether there was something or someone in this world that could make that brilliant pair of intelligent eyes show such a dismayed expression?

    He leaned back, suddenly asking, ¡°Do you know how to y go?¡±

    She was startled, unable to follow his thoughts. Although she did not know how to y go, she was an expert at chess. It was such a shame that the people in this world did not seem to know what chess was. She shook her head, thinking that Zongzheng Wuyou would be disappointed, only to hear him say, ¡°Benwang will teach you. Leng Yan, bring the pieces over.¡±

    Man Yao sat in a daze. This man really does things out of one¡¯s expectations. Could it be that he¡¯s been lonely for too long?

    After a quarter of an hour, Leng Yan mysteriously appeared, putting the board in front of the two. Lowering her eyes, her whole body froze, this was actually¡ªchess!!!

    Zongzheng Wuyou set up the pieces as he exined how each one moved. This scene was too simr to the time when she created a chessboard to teach Ling¡¯er when she was lonely and bored in Qiyun¡­

    (1) gege: A term for ¡®older brother¡¯

 Chapter 12 - Chess Opponent

    Chapter 12 Chess Opponent

    Man Yao didn¡¯t say anything, didn¡¯t ask anything, and just yed chess like this with him. Her face was calm and indifferent, but her heart was churning. She was upying a princess¡¯ body. Ever since she arrived in this strange and primitive world three years ago, she had to be extremely cautious when doing anything. Although she had honor and wealth in the palm of her hands, she lived and exhausting and lonely life.

    Looking at the white jade chessboard, Zongzheng Wuyou had not yed chess with anyone in a long time. His hand absentmindedly yed with the chess pieces, unhurriedly putting them down. He did it quite gently as if he was afraid of breaking the board. Man Yao nced at him she ced her originally cornered piece into the center.

    Zongzheng Wuyou took a sip of tea and observed the board, bing surprised. The look in his eyes changed. Every move she made looked unconventional and amateur-like, but this move made sense of all of the cement of all of her other pieces. He couldn¡¯t move his knight anywhere, neither his bishop nor his rook could attack. His king was lost and could not be saved. This round¡¯s winner and loser was already determined. Squinting his eyes, he stared at her beautiful face, his gaze continuously changing. Using a confident voice, he dered, ¡°You know how to y! Where did you learn?¡±

    Returning his gaze, she tried to figure out what he was thinking, but those eyes were unfathomable. Gently smiling, she didn¡¯t answer but asked another question instead, ¡°Where did Your Highness learn?¡± She couldn¡¯t confirm whether he had also transmigrated like she did. For someone like him, whether he did or didn¡¯t, what of it? Matters like souls upying bodies were far too mysterious. If it were to spread, with their sensitive identities, there would not be a good ending for them.

    The moonlight was like water, pouring onto the both of them. They sat there, quietly staring at each other, trying to guess what the other was thinking. Like that, a lifetime seemed to have passed. The newly brewed tea on the table was still steaming, rising up like mist between the two as they gazed at each other.

    Zongzheng Wuyou suddenlyughed, ¡°Good! Benwang has finally met a worthy opponent. Let¡¯s y another round. This time¡­benwang will definitely not go easy on you.¡±

    Man Yao smiled but didn¡¯t say anything, returning the pieces back to their original ces. She was still the red yer while he was ck, ¡°Your Highness, please.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou was not modest and made the first move, no longer leisurely ying like before. Every move was made after careful consideration, and Man Yao became more and more cautious with every move she made. Chess was like life. Through a person¡¯s chess skills, one can see what they¡¯re truly thinking. She put all of her skills to use, causing her to be a litle overworked.

    Time unknowingly passed by. There were no other customers left in the garden. There was a maidservant who came up to ask if they should close up now, but before she could say anything, she saw Zongzheng Wuyou furrowing his eyebrows, his face full of impatience. When two chess experts are ying, the unspoken rule is that there should be no disturbances. She nodded her head, letting everyone else go back home to rest. Chen Yu was thest to leave, stealing a peek at Zongzheng Wuyou. Towards the events that happened that day, she still had some trauma so she bowed towards him from afar to bid farewell. She walked towards Man Yao, plucking the fallen flowers off of her and then cing a cloak around her shoulders. Her voice was iparably gentle as she reminded, ¡°Gongzi, it¡¯s cold at night. You should also rest soon.¡±

    Man Yao sincerely thanked her, smiling as she watched her walk away. This past month, they became quite close. She had also already resolved Chen Yu¡¯s new identity.

    The dark night was silent as only the two of them were left in the garden.

    The lotusnterns floated on the water, looking like bright lights dotting the stream. The light from the red candles cast a hazy yellow glow over the water, making it seem warmer. Under the peach blossom tree, the two of them yed a round of chess for over an hour. Neither rushed the other, giving each other plenty of time to contemte.

    There was a faint fragrance in the air that filled one¡¯s nostrils, causing one to be absentminded. Zongzheng Wuyou looked at the calm contemting face of the girl in front of him. She was incredibly beautiful, with a pair of eyes filled with intelligence, as bright and clear as the moonlight, seemingly able to see through one¡¯s heart with a single nce. This was the first time he seriously looked at a woman, as if he was trying to find out something from her.

    ¡°Your Highness, Your Highness Prince Li?¡± After Man Yao set her piece down, she saw that he didn¡¯t react at all. Raising her head, she saw that he was nkly staring at her with a gaze that she had never seen before¡­pretending that she was still thinking, she frowned.

    Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly came back to his senses, his expression slightly changing as a flicker of coldness shed through his eyes, returning back to his sinister and silent persona in an instant. Grabbing a piece, he pretended as if everything was normal, ¡°What is your name?¡± He had already known her for over half a month, but other than the name ¡°Li Yue¡± that old Ninth gave her, he still didn¡¯t know her name.

    She paused, thinking, and then answered, ¡°Man Yao.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou set down his piece, ¡°The peach tree is young and elegant, brilliant are its flowers(1)?¡±

    The light in her eyes dimmed, as she indifferently spoke, ¡°No, it¡¯s the Yao from zao yao(2).¡± When her father gave her this name, she didn¡¯t know why it was this character. Later, she understood that her life was destined to not be a long one.

    Maybe it was because the candlelight was too gentle and the moonlight was too beautiful, maybe it was because he had spent many years looking for a worthy chess opponent, he let down his guard.

    She held his gaze and quietly asked, ¡°And you? Zongzheng Wuyou¡­your parents must have hoped that you would never have any worries for the rest of your life(3).¡±

    He lifted the cooled cup of tea, the knuckles on his slender fingers prominent. Gently taking a sip, the ice-cold tea was already bitter. With an indifferent smile, he spoke casually, ¡°It¡¯s Wuyou(4), so I have nothing.¡± An empty existence, he could not obtain anything, and he would not leave anything behind either.

    She paused. His voice was low and heavy, not fluctuating with any emotions. She couldn¡¯t tell what he was hiding underneath his long and thick eyshes, only feeling that such words being said in this quiet night made one feel quite somber. She gave a smallugh, ¡°Is that your own understanding? How could parents name their child with this meaning in mind.¡±

    He slowly lifted his head, his eyes full of deep feelings and asked her, ¡°What about you? Which parents would want for their child to die young?¡±

    Pursing her lips, she didn¡¯t say anything else, and the garden fell into silence once again. As he continued to drink the cold tea, the bitter taste radiated from his lips and tongue all the way to the bottom of his heart, expanding to his extremities.

    There were only a few pieces left on the chessboard as both eliminated their opponents¡¯ pieces. This round which resulted in a draw,sted for four hours.

    ying chess with him really mentally drained her, but there was a carefree feeling that she never had before. Her maternal grandfather was an expert at chess. She was taught how to y since she was little and she loved it. ying chess together with her grandfather was her biggest source of happiness when she was young. Later, when her grandfather had passed away, under the strict control of her father, she could only y against herself when she was alone.

    Zongzheng Wuyou was simr. He hadn¡¯t yed chess like this with someone in a very long time. Ending in a draw made him feel unaplished. But tonight actually wasn¡¯t a good time to y chess.

    A sudden gust of wind curled through the branches of the willow tree, bringing with it cold air. Hitting the tree, the falling peach blossoms looked like blood. A strong killing intent suddenly filled the garden. Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes were cold while his face was rxed as he lifted his lips up into a cold smile, ¡°You should reveal yourselves, benwang doesn¡¯t have any more patience.¡±

    (1) ÌÒÖ®Ø²Ø²£¬×Æ×ÆÆä»ª (Tao Zhi Yao Yao, Zhuo Zhuo Qi Hua): From a poem named ÌÒØ² (Tao Yao) about a youngdy who is preparing to get married.

    (2) Zao Yao (ÔçØ²): Dying young

    (3) The Wuyou (ÎÞÓÇ) part in Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s name means no worries.

    (4) The Wuyou (ÎÞÓÐ) here means to have nothing. It is spelled the same as Wuyou¡¯s name, but the ¡®You¡¯ part here is emphasized differently than the one in Wuyou¡¯s name.

 Chapter 13 - Assassins in the Garden

    Chapter 13 Assassins in the Garden

    A dozen or so masked people wearing ck appeared, surrounding them.

    Man Yao was startled, how could she not have noticed such a strong killing intent from so many people?! Trying her luck, she suddenly felt that her inner force¡­couldn¡¯t be utilized, causing her to be instantly terrified. Sweeping her gaze over the ck-clothed people surrounding them, she saw that they were holding long swords as they focused in on Zongzheng Wuyou. It seems like their target is him. But why did she suddenly lose her inner force, yet Zongzheng Wuyou seem as if he wasn¡¯t affected at all? Or could it be that he¡¯s the same as her, only pretending that everything is normal? If that was true, then they¡­are in big trouble!

    Zongzheng Wuyou calmly drank his cold tea, his words carrying a mocking tone as heughed, ¡°It looks like he still hasn¡¯t given up. He couldn¡¯t afford the people of Wu Yin Lou, so he went to go find such second-rate assassins like you guys. Do you think you have the ability to take my life?¡±

    He spoke as if he knew who wanted to kill him, yet he could still be this calm, it seems like this wasn¡¯t the first time something like this happened. On the other hand, the person who wants his life is able to still live well despite Zongzheng Wuyou knowing his identity. Who is this person exactly?

    The ck-clothed men¡¯s eyes glinted, their killing intent bing even stronger as they gave each other a look and began to attack without saying anything else. In just a blink of an eye, numerous swords formed a, falling down towards his body.

    Seeing this, her heart rose while Zongzheng Wuyou kept calm, as if the weapons in their hands weren¡¯t swords but falling leaves.

    Suddenly, like a ghost, someone appeared in the nick of time to block the swords, fighting against the ck-clothed men.

    Leng Yan? She almost forgot that he had such a mysterious person by his side. Those assassins were definitely not second-rate like he described but actual experts, each move they made were meant to kill. Leng Yan, who she had met a few times but never heard him say anything, appeared like a ghost, the sword he was swinging like rain and as quick as lightning. The garden was filled with chopped limbs and dead bodies as blood flew through the air.

    One of the ck-robed men was able to escape and redirected his sword again to this target¡ªrunning towards Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s back neck, his gaze was filled with cruelty and although his movements were extremely quick, they were silent.

    Man Yao didn¡¯t expect this and suddenly yelled, ¡°Your Majesty be careful¡ª¡± her voice was full of urgency.

    Surprised, Zongzheng Wuyou raised his head as something shed through his eyes. This woman actually did something so unexpected¡ªreminding him to be careful of what¡¯s behind him! Even so, he didn¡¯t need the reminder. Not changing his expression, he sat unmovingly like a mountain. When the sword almost reached his neck, he slightly turned his head and raised his hand, two slender fingers urately catching the sword, his actions casual and elegant.

    The ck-clothed man was shocked, frantically trying to pull his sword away to no avail.

    Zongzheng Wuyou gave a cold smile, applying pressure between his fingers and the sound of the sword breaking could be heard. As he calmly raised his eyebrows, heughed, ¡°What a poorly built sword. Has Wuxiamen fallen into hard times?

    Wuxiamen, an assassination organization whose infamy surpassed even Wuyin Lou. As long as they received money, they could do anything and rumors had it that they¡¯ve never failed. Unfortunately, they met Zongzheng Wuyou this time.

    Being recognized, the ck-clothed men froze, clearly panicking as they aimed their swords at him once again only to see Zongzheng Wuyou wave his hands as their weapons met empty air.

    ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Ear-piercing cries rang out as those ck-clothed men rolled on the floor, their hands tightly covering their eyes as fresh blood flowed between their coarse fingers. Their faces were numb from the pain, and after a period of time, the sounds died down as they lost energy. Man Yao took a look and froze, turning into a statue after seeing that these ck-clothed men no longer had their eyes, leaving behind two ck holes in their faces as fresh blood flowed out to stain the white bricks on the ground.

    From beginning ¡¯til the end, Zongzheng Wuyou never looked back.

    Looking at the man who looked like a cross between a celestial and a devil and seeing him use such cruel methods to kill someone without his facial expression ever fluctuating, as if he was just stepping on an ant, she felt a chill that went through her bones, grabbing a hold of her and causing her to have difficulty breathing even as she did her best to keep calm.

    The air was thick with the stench of blood, entering one¡¯s nostrils. Droplets of fresh and hot blood fell onto her body. Even though she knew martial arts, she only ever used it for self-defense and had never killed anyone before. Sinceing to this world three years ago, this was the first time she saw such a tragedy urring before her eyes, witnessing someone go from being alive and breathing to dying on the ground right before her. She felt her whole body turn cold, as for someone who had already died once, she was especially sensitive towards matters regarding death.

    After a while, only three assassins remained, each with their own injuries. Seeing theirrades fall one by one, they became fearful, seeking opportunities to escape. Assassins are also afraid of death! Everyone only has one life after all.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze had stopped on her, seeing her faintly furrowed eyebrows as different emotions shed through her eyes. The only emotion he didn¡¯t see from her was fear, and she quickly returned back to being calm even though her face was slightly pale. Suddenly, he bent his body as his voice carried concern, ¡°I¡¯ve scared you!¡±

    When these words were spoken, the ck-clothed men immediately locked their gazes on her. Rumors said that Zongzheng Wuyou was cold and indifferent, never having any rtions with any woman, yet here he was showing concern for a man and hade to this tea garden daily for the past half a month, could it be¡­he likes men?

    Man Yao gave a ruthless re at this sinister man¡­he did it on purpose! Seeing the ck-robed men move towards her, she tried to force out her inner strength to strengthen her body, but the frustrating thing was that the more she tried, the softer her body became. Why? Why was she the only one who lost her inner strength but the Zongzheng Wuyou who sat at the same table as her waspletely fine?

    Not waiting for her to think any further, one of the assassins¡¯ swordsid on her neck. Just as Leng Yan was about to move, the assassin firmly yelled out, ¡°Don¡¯t move. Prince Li, if you want him to live, then let us go.¡±

    Leng Yan paused while Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t even think before he indifferently replied, ¡°What does his life have to do with benwang?¡±

    The assassin froze. Just now Prince Li clearly was worrying about this man who was more beautiful than a women, howe now he suddenly doesn¡¯t care at all?

    The sword inched closer until she felt the cold steel touch her dewy skin. Soon, she felt pain from where the tip of the sword was as warm blood flowed down from her slender neck.

    Zongzheng Wuyou leaned back against the chair, his face saying that this whole entire situation had nothing to do with him as if he was watching a good y. Would this woman still be this calm when facing death?

    Man Yao ground her teeth, unable to figure out what Zongzheng Wuyou was thinking. Sweeping her gaze, she raised her hand to gently touch the chess piece near her finger. Taking a look a Zongzheng Wuyou then the chessboard, she raised an eyebrow as her eyes filled with sincerity as if she was trying to say: If I die, then there won¡¯t be anyone to y chess with you. Oh¡­I get it, you must be afraid that one day I¡¯ll win against you, so you¡¯re trying to get rid of me by using someone else¡¯s hands to do it!

    Zongzheng Wuyou raised the corners of his lips, his sinister face carrying a smile. Clearly he knew what she was trying to say but he was pretending that he didn¡¯t know anything.

    Seeing her touch the chess piece and giving Zongzheng Wuyou a look, the assassin thought that there was something suspicious about that chessboard. Raising his leg, he kicked the colored ss table over. The cups and pot shattered as tea flowed out; the white jade chessboard had already been broken into pieces and the finely crafted chess pieces littered the ground, stained with tea and fresh blood.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze became heavy. Rotating his wrist, the leaves thatnded in his hand seemed to havee to life as they shot out towards the extremities of that assassin, faster than one¡¯s eyes could follow.

    ¡°Ah¡ª¡± A tormented cry rang out, piercing through her eardrums as the assassin sank to the floor, his whole body twitching. Each of his four extremities was already cut off.

    Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t even look at him, only focusing his gaze on her as his phoenix eyes were half-closed. This woman¡­did it on purpose! The looks she gave him were fake, but the act of luring the assassin into breaking the chessboard so that he would take action was real. This woman sure was maniptive, she was able to see how much he valued this chess set.

    The other two assassins were frozen, how could leaves be a weapon used to kill someone?! Seeing how they were shocked into a standstill, Leng Yan used the opportunity to quickly move to behead one of them. In the midst of the chaos, thest assassin pushed her out to take the blow of that life-taking sword for him.

    Leng Yang unconsciously drew back his sword. Her body lost all strength as she could only watch as Leng Yan was about to crash into her. However, at the veryst moment, Leng Yan dodged and she had no choice but to directly fall onto the person behind Leng Yang, the person who wouldn¡¯t even let a woman touch the same teacup he drank from, that world-ending man.

 Chapter 14 - The Consequences of Violating a Taboo

    Chapter 14 The Consequences of Viting a Taboo

    She wasn¡¯t the only one that froze, he did too.

    Before when they were ying chess, she intentionally avoided touching his fingers so that she would not vite this taboo and bring disaster upon herself. But right now, her whole body¡­her whole body was in the embrace of this rumored woman-hating man!

    Time seemed to freeze.

    All the ck-clothed men were dead and Leng Yang disappeared once again. She was still on top of him in an ambiguous position. One of her hands was on his slender yet firm waist, and the other hand was curled around his elegant neck. The feeling of his skin was very nice, but his whole body was cold! It waspletely ice-cold, without even a hint of warmth! Her face was stered against his chest, but she couldn¡¯t feel his¡­heartbeat!

    Man Yao was stunned as her brainpletely nked out, forgetting that she should be immediately removing herself from him. She abruptly raised her head and her eyes met his sinister ones that were currently squinting at her. His gaze was deep and unfathomable, one could not tell what he was thinking.

    When that slight fragrance entered his nose, it was like the peach blossoms blooming in the spring, their fragrance being carried by the gentle wind, making people feel veryfortable. Through theyer of clothing, he felt the heat radiating off of her body to warm him up. The hands against his body had some sort of magical power, beckoning the desires he had hidden deep inside of him long ago.

    Those ck and sinister eyes shed as a fire seemed toe to life inside of them. The current Zongzheng Wuyou was like a beast that had been confined for many years, giving off a dangerous feeling. Coming back to her senses, she immediately climbed away from his body, and before she could properly stand, she felt her world turning as that man used that moment to press her against the ditch next to the stream.

    ¡°Viting benwang¡®s taboo, you must shoulder the consequences.¡± The man¡¯s voice was low and hoarse, his sinister eyes seductive, as his breathed hotly against her slender neck. This type of heat and sultryness made her a little numb.

    Her heart was thundering.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it on purpose¡­¡± Sensing the change in him, she tried to exin as her heart was in confusion. She once thought of many different scenarios in which she could have possibly vited his taboo, but she never thought¡­it would be a situation like the one she¡¯s in right now! ¡°Aren¡¯t you¡­not interested in women?¡­.Hurry and get up.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that benwang isn¡¯t interested in women, but since you¡¯ve already touched benwang¡®s body, tell me¡­how should benwang deal with you?¡± His voice was clear, his sinister eyes red, and his smile was so pure it could raise dead souls.

    Under the bright moonlight, a gentle breeze blew out the candles in the lotusmps floating ont he water. The garden waspletely silent other than the breaths they could hear the other was taking.

    Man Yao gazed at the perfect face that was within hand¡¯s reach, her heart in turmoil, and slightly turned her head away, ¡°Your Highness Prince Li, you should get up first and then talk¡­¡± Her skin was tender, and her bright eyes were glistening with the reflection of the water. Her moist and delicate lips were too seductive. Zongzheng Wuyou only saw red as he suddenly lowered his head and fiercely kissed her lips.

    The soft and tender feeling of her lips were so beautiful that one would never want to part with it after experiencing it. The two people were pressed against each other, Man Yao¡¯s eyes were widened in disbelief, her cries of protest being swallowed by him. His strong tongue took the opportunity to slide in, fiercely entangling with hers, not allowing any chance of retaliation.

    She felt a buzzing in her ears as she lost control of her body and weakened. She had been kissed before in her previous life, but such a fierce kiss that seemed to be sucking away her soul made her mind go haywire as her heart trembled.

    His hand gently cupped her warm face as his ice-cold fingers skimmed down her neck, unconsciously arriving at the softness of her chest. Suddenly with a wave of his hand, her clothes were ripped and she only felt a cold sensation in front of her chest. Shocked back to her senses, she was very upset, she actually lost control of herself while kissing a man! Man Yao frantically tried to push him away to no avail, twisting and turning to try to escape his clutches only to prompt him to act even more fiercely.

    She had already been kissed breathless. Her heart already felt stifled, but there was a numbing feeling that was spreading throughout her body. She had never known that a kiss could actually bring forth such a feeling. But she didn¡¯t want him to take advantage of her. Man Yao¡¯s heart was pounding as it quickly rose and fell, and she hurriedly stuck a hand into the water, fumbling for one of the lotusmps. She couldn¡¯t care anymore as she flung it onto his head.

    ¡°Peng¡ª¡± A dull sound rang out. The man suddenly ceased all of his movements. As he nked out, she took the chance to use all of her strength to push him into the pond, forgetting that his hands were still wrapped around her waist. With a cry of surprise, she failed to avoid falling into the water with him. The two bodies were still as tightly pressed against each other as ever, the only difference being that she was on top while he was on the bottom.

    An April night, the air was chilly and although the water was not deep, it was cold. Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly came back to his senses as the red haze in his eyes disappeared to reveal his clear gaze, once again returning to being ck and cold. Gazing at the womanying on top of him, his eyes were cold as he suddenly flipped over and pressed Man Yao underneath. His ice-cold fingers gripped her slim neck as he narrowed his eyes, his voice ice-cold, ¡°You have a lot of guts. Do you know what you¡¯re doing?¡±

    The air in her lungs were decreasing and her chest was throbbing with pain. She raised her eyebrows and with difficulty, let out a coldugh, ¡°This sentence, Your Highness should¡­actually be asking yourself! I only¡­only did this because I was being taken advantage of, it was¡­for protection.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou paused as he recalled the events that happened just moments ago, his eyebrows tightened as his eyes were as sharp as swords, full of coldness. The bright red blood flowed out from his temples where the colored ssmp hit him. Under the haze of the cold moonlight, the bright red blood followed the groove of his face, making it seem as if he was crying blood tears. This face coupled with his clothes that were stained with the blood of the ten or so corpses created a frightening sight.

    As half of her body was in the water, the coldness seeped into her bones causing her to shiver uncontrobly. She couldn¡¯t breath and her face had already turned purple as she voiced out with difficulty, ¡°Let me¡­go¡­¡±

    Although the woman¡¯s breathing was frail, her eyes were still clear and resolute, unable to see even a hint of fear. Zongzheng Wuyou nkly stared at her, not moving. He realized that when he had lost control just now, he was just acting instinctively! This had never happened before.

    Complicated feelings shed through his eyes as he finally rxed his hands and straightened his body to sit in the water. One couldn¡¯t tell what he was thinking. Man Yao took deep breaths, suddenly coughing until her pale face became red. Cutting a sorry figure, she stood up to reveal the wet clothes pasted against her body, revealing her voluptuous and curvy figure. This kind of half-covered apperance made people¡¯s thoughts go wild more than if one was just naked. The part of the clothing that he had ripped was slightly open, revealing her perky softness as the drops of water trailed down to settle at the fair and tantalising skin of her breasts. The tender skin glistened with droplets of water, giving off the feeling of a seductress.

    Zongzheng Wuyou lowered his gaze, his long eyshes covering the thoughts in his eyes. Why is it that instead of being angry this time, he actually thought it was a beautiful thing? She was called Man Yao, originally such a beautiful name was exined by her to mean an early death. Exactly what sort of mentality did she have to have her curse herself. ¡°Man¡­Yao¡­¡± He unconsciously gently voiced out the name of this woman who gave him a different feeling.

    ¡°Hm?¡± Man Yao paused, turning her head back in suspicion, her eyes were clear and bright, full of confidence. Her tender red lips were slightly swollen looking even more enticing. Zongzheng Wuyou was staring at her, his eyes looking at a loss. As the blood dripped down from the corner of his eyes, his face was pure like a child¡¯s, causing Man Yao¡¯s heart to slightly hurt.

    Suddenly reaching his arm over, he grabbed her hand, fiercely pulling her. Unprepared, she fell straight onto his chest.

    Man Yao became annoyed and directly yelled at him, ¡°Zongzheng Wuyou¡­¡±

    Her words just fell before his lips covered hers, one of his hands tightly pressing against the back of her head, swallowing the rest of her words.

    As if she was electrocuted, her mind became nk as the feelings of their tongues entangling around each other spread throughout her entire body, inciting a a desire from deep within her that seemed toe out of nowhere. She struggled to maintain herposure, and finally managed to turn her head when she gasped for air as she held her hand to her chest, ¡°Zongzheng Wuyou, you¡­are you still not sober?¡± She only felt that when his eyes turned red, something inside him took over his mind, causing him to do such unusual acts towards her.

    Zongzheng Wuyou gasped for air, not believing that he would actually kiss this woman after alreadying to his senses?! Yet this feeling was still so¡­wonderful?! That feeling he had when he had lost control was correct!

    Neither of them spoke, causing the temperature around them to plummet again. Man Yao really wanted to escape this dangerous man, but his grip was so strong she couldn¡¯t move an inch. His eyes shed with numerous mixed feelings as he focused his gaze on her. After a moment, there were flickers of light rising up from the depths of those cold and sinister eyes, and then he actually smiled! His eyes carried traces of warmth. Warmth? She suspected that something was wrong with her eyes. How could this man have such a warm gaze? Her instinct told her that behind that warmth was still an ice-cold heart.

    ¡°Call me Wuyou, Ah Man(1)¡­¡± He suddenly whispered hoarsely into her ear.

    Her heart trembled. Ah Man? It¡¯s been a very long time since she heard this nickname. What exactly is this man¡¯s end-game? She settled her emotions, and looking at him from the side of her eyes, she gentlyughed, ¡°I¡¯m not used to Your Highness acting this way.¡±

    He hooked up her chin as his finger ran back and forth over her lips, gently speaking, ¡°Hm? Then what are you used to?¡± As he spoke, his hand slowly made its way down towards her breasts. She hurriedly raised her hand to block him. Although there wasn¡¯t much force put into it, it was abnormally firm. His eyebrows lightly jumped as a cold light shed through his eyes. In a gentle voice, he questioned, ¡°You¡¯re unwilling? Do you know how many women in this world dream of benwang just touching them?¡±

    Man Yao furrowed her eyebrows, her voice cold and calm, ¡°Those people¡­don¡¯t include me.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Zongzheng Wuyou raised an eyebrow, ¡°You don¡¯t like me? Do you think that benwang is not good enough or are you worried that benwang will not take responsibility for you.¡±

    ¡°Neither.¡±

    ¡°Then why?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no love between us.¡± It¡¯s not that she was a prude, but to have sex without love was basically the same as animals mating. For the Zongzheng Wuyou who never touched women to suddenly treat her like this, what¡¯s his motive? She was not so naive as to believe that he was interested in her.

    ¡°Love?¡± His lips raised up into a mocking smile, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°It the most unreliable feeling in this world.¡± After saying this, there were feelings of pain and irony that rose up in her eyes, and her curved lips carried a hint of coldness.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s heart was slightly moved, ¡°Since you know that it¡¯s unreliable, what do you need it for?¡±

    They were so close that they could clearly feel each other¡¯s breaths. The light fragrance her body emitted entered his nose, smelling so wonderfully that he unconsciously shifted closer to her. He suddenly came back to his senses and let go of her, standing up. Dropping his gaze, his voice was indifferent, ¡°Since you¡¯re unwilling, then¡­never mind.¡±

    Returning back to his arrogant and cold demeanor, Zongzheng Wuyou elegant strode alongside the pond. Like this, he walked away, never taking even a nce back at her.

    He was such a psycho! Behind him, she gave augh without joy, and when his image finally disappeared, she spoke in a small voice, ¡°Because I know it¡¯s unreliable, I¡­don¡¯t need it!¡±

    (1) Ah Man: A nickname for Man Yao. Putting an ¡°Ah¡± in front of someone¡¯s name makes it a nickname, usually used between two people who are close to each other (i.e. family members). Has the same use as putting ¡°er¡± behind someone¡¯s name.

 Chapter 15 - No One Else But Her

    Chapter 15 No One Else But Her

    Prince Li¡¯s Residence.

    Being woken up by Leng Yang, the Ninth Prince was grumbling the entire way to Prince Li¡¯s courtyard. His eyes still half-closed, he yawned and held up a cup of water as he continued toin, ¡°Seventh Brother, what do you need from me thiste at night?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyouzily leaned against the soft chair, not bothering to raise his head, ¡°Go find me a woman.¡±

    ¡°Pu¡ªcough, cough, cough¡­¡± The Ninth Prince only took a mouthful before he spat it all out, choking and coughing, his sleepiness immediately disappearing. Widening his eyes, he tried to confirm, ¡°Seventh Brother, I didn¡¯t hear wrong did I? You, you said you want a woman? Ha¡­haha¡­¡±

    ¡°Is it funny?¡± Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s voice was ice-cold and he shot him a cold look.

    ¡°Not funny¡­it¡¯s not funny at all, haha¡­I¡¯ll go do it right now.¡± The Ninth Prince turned around and left. He couldn¡¯t help but let out augh when he reached the doorway, turning his head back, ¡°Seventh Brother, you¡¯ve finally seen the light, that¡¯s the right way to go. Otherwise, always relying on the iceke to suppress it, you¡¯ll get ill sooner orter. Who knows, you might even be a beast. Haha¡­¡± Not waiting for Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s reaction, he disappeared in a sh from Wuyou¡¯s courtyard.

    Zongzheng Wuyou furrowed his eyebrows, not bothering to deal with him. Recently when he was practicing his martial arts, his body often felt ufortable. Not only did his skills not improve, there were also signs that it was regressing. He was unable to find the reason why. However, tonight¡¯s loss of control made him more alert and when he returned back to the residence, he felt that his body became morefortable, making him a little suspicious.

    For a practitioner of the heart sutra(1), one must utilize the earth¡¯s natural flow, following thews of nature. But he detested the matters that happen between men and women, so he has always been using the iceke in the ice room to help him suppress the force inside him. Could it be that after using it for so long, it has broken the supposed naturalws of the heart sutra to cause one to have shortness of breath and blocked meridians? After such a long time he had already reached his limit, and when he touched a woman¡¯s body, he became a beast just like what happened a while ago. Since that¡¯s that case, then no matter how much he detested that type of stuff, he has no choice but to touch now.

    The Ninth Prince¡¯s sess rate was quite high. With just an incense stick¡¯s worth of time, he brought back a woman. Willow eyebrows and phoenix eyes, cherry lips and rosy cheeks, her hips swayed from side to side as she walked, looking like a vixen. When the woman saw Zongzheng Wuyou, her eyes brightened and her heart started to beat like a drum. She didn¡¯t think that the person the Ninth Prince wanted her to serve was such a handsome man.

    Zongzheng Wuyouzily nced at the woman and then narrowed his eyes towards the Ninth Prince, ¡°This is your taste?¡±

    The Ninth Prince jerked, ¡°Unsatisfied? I didn¡¯t think that Seventh Brother¡¯s standards would be so high. Then what type of woman do you want?¡±

    A beautiful and refined face suddenly appeared in front of Zongzheng Wuyou, those bright and clear eyes and that high nose, those tender and enticing lips¡­he became lost in his thoughts.

    ¡°Seventh Brother, Seventh Brother¡­¡± The Ninth Prince watched in fascination as the man fell into a once-in-a-hundred-years¡¯ daydream. Zongzheng Wuyou came back to his senses as his heart lurched, he actually thought of that woman! The Ninth Prince curiously raised his eyebrows as heughed, ¡°What are you thinking of so deeply? Ah! Seventh Brother, did you actually take a fancy to some woman? Who is it? Tell me, I have to give her a medal to represent my admiration for her!¡±

    Towards his teasing, Zongzheng Wuyou narrowed his eyes, ¡°It seems¡­that your residence is in need of people! I heard that your name is on Princess Rong Le¡¯s list. If you want to marry her, it¡¯s just the work of a sentence.¡±

    The Ninth Prince¡¯sughter froze, and he frantically ran in front of him, sincerely repenting, ¡°Don¡¯t, please don¡¯t! Seventh Brother, I¡¯m thinking of you! Look, this is Jingcheng¡¯s famed girl, Seventh Brother you¡­it¡¯s the first time, so I have to find someone with plenty of experience for you, don¡¯t you agree?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s lips twitched as he coldly squinted at him. He hurriedly pulled at his lips, ¡°Seventh Brother you¡­take your time. I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Finished he disappeared like smoke, not even a trace of him was left behind.

    Hearing the name Zongzheng Wuyou, that woman smiled so brightly her eyes couldn¡¯t be seen as flowers bloomed in her heart. The Ninth Prince blindfolded her and brought her into this courtyeard. Even though she did not know their identities, they definitely weren¡¯t simple people. She secretly thought: If I serve well this time, I might be able to strike it rich and live out my days in luxury!

    Zongzheng Wuyou had an indifferent expression on his face as he watched the woman walk towards him, slowly shedding her outer garments with each step. Finally only a thin red muslin was left, leaving her curves bare, causing one¡¯s blood to broil. He suddenly thought of the woman in the pond whose figure was outlined by the wet clothes pasted to her body. Her finely defined curves were extremely tantalising. Looking at the woman in front of him, he actually felt annoyed.

    The woman leaned close to him, her foxy voice entering his bones, ¡°Ye¡­this servant, will help you change clothes.¡± With one hand on Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s corbone, another stroked against his chest. Her foxy eyes were slightly closed, clearly intending to tease him.

    Zongzheng Wuyou furrowed his eyebrows, a feeling of disgust welling from his heart. His instincts told him to break this woman¡¯s neck and throw her out the door. When he raised his hands, he remembered his body¡¯s current condition and could only forcefully suppress his disgust. Holding onto the woman¡¯s waist, he carelessly tossed her onto the ground and pressed her underneath him. With a ¡°peng¡± sound, the back of her head hit the ground and she cried out, almost fainting. Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t care at all as he ripped the woman¡¯s clothes, covering her body with his when suddenly, those cruel images that he hid away in the recesses of his mind started appearing.

    A house filled with the smell of medicine, ripped clothes that were messily tossed onto the ground, a man feverishly demanding as the person below him lost the strength to resist, crying with tears of hopelessness. Those eyes had no light in them, through thest few breaths before death¡­bright red blood stained the white bedding. The whole room was filled with a disgusting stench that mixed with the strong smell of blood, so pungent it made one want to throw up¡­

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s face immediately changed and he stood up. Turning around, he forcefully suppressed the urge to throw up, and taking a deep breath, he coldly spat out two words, ¡°Get out.¡±

    The woman was frozen by his cold aura, not understanding how the man who was like a deity just now suddenly became the devil. That ice-cold and cruel gaze he had when he stood up looked as if he had a deep grudge and hatred against her, wanting to tear her in half. Her body trembled as sheid uselessly on the ground, not able to get up.

    ¡°Leng Yan.¡± Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze contained killing intent, his voice dark and cold, ¡°Take her away. Benwang doesn¡¯t want to see this woman again.¡±

    The woman widened her eyes, her heart full of fear, he called himself ¡°benwang¡°? Just now, the Ninth Prince called him ¡°Seventh Brother¡±? Could he be¡­? She knew she was finished. Before she could open her mouth to beg for forgiveness, a hand already pressed against her acupuncture point. Holding onto the woman¡¯s cor, Leng Yan immediately disappeared from Wuyou¡¯s courtyard.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s hands were clenched so tightly his fingers turned white and the veins portrude out. Shutting his eyes, the nightmare that had harassed him for so many years kept reying in his mind. No matter how he tried, he could not get rid of it. With a pale face, he pushed open the window and raised his head to take deep breaths. Even so, his heart felt so stifled that he could just die in the next moment.

    As the wind blew past him, the candlelight flickered endlessly, lighting up his lonely figure.

    After standing for a long time, he stepped out to head towards the ice room. His phoenix eyes tightly shut, he crossed his legs to sit in the middle of the iceke, pressing the palms of his hands against each other in front of his chest. Fog raised up due to the water¡¯s coldness. Even though the night pearls lit up the room, his expression could not be clearly seen.

    Condensing his inner force, the difort in his body increased. His eyebrows were tightly creased. Both were women, but why did they bring forth such different feelings from him? In the garden, that kiss with that woman not only did not make him feel disgusted, he actually felt pleasure! What was different about her? Could it be¡­he could have no one else but her?

 Chapter 16 - First Meeting at Night

    <strong>Chapter 16 First Meeting at Night</strong>

    Man Yao didn¡¯t want to spend another second in the garden filled with the stench of blood. Consequently, when she left, her head was still wet and her clothes were still stered against her body. When the wind blew, her body shivered and she felt a little dizzy. It seems like she would not be able to ride a horse. She was always like this. She liked to get rid of the surrounding people and walk alone. It¡¯s just that she never expected that such an incident would happen at night.

    It was alreadyte at night. The clouds covered the moon, plunging everything into darkness.

    Man Yao walked a couple of steps before her instincts told her that there were people following her. Whether they wanted to kill her or not, because she currently did not have any inner force, she could not determine their intentions. It looks like tonight she would not be able to return to the princess¡¯ residence, and the garden was not safe either. The path she took was quite remote. If anything happened, no one would be able to help her, what should she do? Too many things had already happened tonight. The assassins, how she suddenly lost her inner force, Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s sudden loss of control, and now this stalking. None of these things seemed to be simple. She has already stayed in Lintian for two months and she has never had any enmity with anyone. Even her identity was kep a secret. Exactly who wanted to go against her?

    Her head felt heavy and her body was weak. The blowing wind smacked the tree branches against each other, causing them to swing back and forth in the lonely night. Her surroundings were filled with the steps of people walking, and although they were light, she could tell that she was trapped in the middle. Her forehead was burning and she forced herself to hold onto the wall to keep standing. In the darkness, she felt the people slowlye closer and closer¡­danger filled the dark night, enveloping her heart. She couldn¡¯t help but be nervous as her hairs stood up, her body was like a taut bowstring, so tense it was about to snap.

    ¡°Jia, jia, jia(1)¡­¡± At this moment, there was the sound of a carriage nearby, as well as the sound of a whip urging the horses. It was clear that the driver was in a hurry. Her eyes lit up and using thest of her strength, she ran into the middle of the road, ready to die if he didn¡¯t stop.

    ¡°Yee¡ª!!¡± The carriage was forcefully stopped. The driver was a forty-something year-old boorish fellow, and he pointed the whip at her as his eyebrows scrunched up, ¡°Who are you? Daring to block our carriage, are you tired of living?¡±

    Man Yao took two steps forward, her arms outstretched, ¡°This big brother, I am in a rush to reach the bottom of the mountain, but unfortunately I caught a cold. I hope that big brother can be generous enough to take me with you and drop me off at the nearest clinic. I will be eternally grateful. For umting good karma, your future will definitely be fruitful.

    Her voice was low and hoarse, carrying a nasal tone. One only had to listen to know that she was not lying about having a cold. Her manner of speaking was very sincere, causing the driver to slightly hesitate as he turned back to nce inside the carriage, ¡°We¡¯re in a rush to Dongcheng, we don¡¯t have time to care about you. Plus thiste at night, who knows where the clinic is? Hurry and get out of the way! If you ruin our zhuzi¡®s matters, I¡¯m afraid that you won¡¯t be able to bear the consequences!¡±

    Man Yao froze. Hearing his words, it didn¡¯t seem like this was an ordinary person¡¯s chauffeur, who was the person inside this carriage? Even though the carriage itself didn¡¯t seem to be very extravagant, the three horses that were pulling it were ones that were of a rare quality. It was clear that the person sitting inside this carriage had some status. They were going to Dongcheng? Thinking quickly, she smiled, ¡°Big brother, the ce I¡¯m going to is also in Dongcheng. Since it¡¯s along the way, please help me, just drop me off near Prince Li¡¯s residence.¡± Anyone who has status has to give Prince Li some face right?

    That fellow froze and hurriedly asked her, ¡°You¡¯re one of Prince Li¡¯s people?¡±

    Man Yao: ¡°Prince Li is my friend.¡± Since they yed a round of chess, they could be considered chess friends right? Even if they weren¡¯t, she still had borrow his name to escape those people before taking anything else into consideration.

    ¡°This¡­just based on your words alone, who would believe it?¡± That fellow looked at her suspiciously.

    ¡°Old Ma, let her in.¡± A soft and elegant male¡¯s voice sounded out from inside the carriage. The fellow whose name was Old Ma hurriedly nodded his head when he heard the voice and politely weed her aboard the carriage.

    There wasn¡¯t any light inside the carriage. She could only make out the outline of the man sitting across from her, but she couldn¡¯t see his face very clearly. Even so, she could feel his gaze on her body. Out of etiquette, she put her hands together in greeting, ¡°I have disturbed you!¡±

    The man gave a gentleugh and returned her greeting, ¡°There are always times when one encounters difficulties outside. Guniang you¡­don¡¯t need to take it to heart.¡±

    Man Yao was surprised. One couldn¡¯t see their fingers in front of their face in this dark carriage, but he was actually able to see that she was a woman! Seeing her suspicious expression, heughed, ¡°Even though guniang has caught a could causing your voice to be low and hoarse, your tone is elegant and your figure is slender. As a result, I have determined that you are a woman.¡±

    In the darkness, a person¡¯s other senses would be more astute. Man Yao rxed andughed, ¡°Gongzi is such an observant person! I admire!¡±

    The man gave a faint smile, not speaking. Man Yao¡¯s head was dizzy and her whole body was on fire, causing her to be unable to sit properly. The carriage hit a bump and she lost control as she fell towards the opening of the carriage. Seeing as how she was about to be thrown off from the carriage, she was so shocked she didn¡¯t even have the strength to breath.

    A long and slender hand filled with strength caught her arm in time, pulling her back into the carriage. Her whole body crashed into the man behind her. His warm and clear voice was next to her ears as he gently reminded her, ¡°Guniang be careful!¡±

    ¡°Many thanks to gongzi for saving me!¡± Man Yao awkwardly thanked him as she tried to stand up. The man held onto her shoulder, cing her next to the wall so as to prevent her from falling again. Man Yao gave a grateful smile as her mind became muddled. She couldn¡¯t hold on any longer and fell into the man¡¯s arms, fainting.

    In the darkness, the man¡¯s gaze was a little unusual as he smiled and straightened her eyebrows with his hand. Towards the drive, hemanded, ¡°Go to the inn in the eastern suburbs.¡±

    (1) The sound of someone whipping a horse to make them run faster.

 Chapter 17 - As Warm and Gentle As Jade

    Chapter 17 As Warm and Gentle As Jade

    When Man Yao woke up, it was already the next evening. She was in an unfamiliar ce. Although the room was decorated simply, the furniture was finely crafted. Even the in porcin vase sitting on the corner of the table was priceless.

    Her surroundings were quiet. Through her hazy memories, she remembered that there was someone who fed her medicine, and then she slept until now. Raising her hand to touch her forehead, her temperature had already decreased by a lot and her body was no long as ufortable. It looks like it was the result of that bowl of medicine. The man from the carriage must have asked for a doctor for her! But, howe her inner force has yet to recover?

    Getting off the bed, she slowly walked out of the room. The courtyard was quite big, but there wasn¡¯t anyone there. She was feeling suspicious when suddenly the sound of a zither drifted over, light and sweet, and she followed the sound to its source.

    At the end of the pebblestone road was a clear green bamboo forest. In the center of the forest was an open space, with three stone steps leading to a clean tform made of smooth jade. On it, a man had his legs casually crossed, his back towards her as his fingers plucked the strings. The afterglow of the sunset spilled into the forest, the warm orange rays along with the faint smell of bamboo brought by the gentle wind, along with the zither¡¯s ever changing sounds caused one to fall into a drunken state as they became absentminded.

    ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± The man stopped ying, cing both his hands on the strings as he looked back at her. His gaze was warm and gentle, as if he was greeting a familiar face, friendly and casual.

    Sharp eyebrows, starry eyes, and thin lips, each of his facial features were clearly defined. He was uniquely handsome, making one unable to forget about him even after just a single nce. Although he looked to be quite cold, when he smiled, he gave off a feeling of warmth and gentleness. Man Yao was momentarily dazed. This was the gongzi that saved herst night? ¡°Yesterday, was it gongzi who fed me the medicine?¡±

    The man gave a faint smile and nodded. Man Yao sincerely thanked him, ¡°Thank you!¡± As far back as she could remember, her father had always demanded her to be independent. Whenever she fell sick, it was always the chauffeur who drove her to the hospital. She had to deal with the rest of it. There had never been anyone¡­who would hand her a cup of water when she had to take medicine, never! After arriving in this world three years ago, other than the small headaches she had due to falling down when she was little, this was the first time she got sick.

    Watching the handsome man¡¯s face, she suddenly felt that he looked a little familiar, but she couldn¡¯t pinpoint where she saw him before.

    The manughed, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. Is guniang¡®s body feeling better?¡±

    Man Yao walked to the front of the man, sitting down in the same posture as he before giving a lightugh, ¡°I am alright now. Thank you gongzi for your efforts. Please forgive me for disturbing you!¡±

    The man gave a gentle smile, ¡°I saw that guniang had fainted so I took the initiative to bring guniang here. It¡¯s more than enough for guniang to not me me for doing things on my own.¡±

    Man Yao lightlyughed and shook her head, ¡°What is gongzi saying, you had such good intentions, how could I not know that!¡±

    Looking at the girl who was disguised as a male, her beautifully clear eyes that were hiding specks of light, and her elegant refined temperament, he felt that she gave off an unexinable feeling that caused one¡¯s heart to be moved. She was extraordinarily beautiful. His gaze was clear and bright as he spoke slowly, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, then we don¡¯t need to be so modest with each other, it¡¯ll make us seem like strangers and vulgar.¡± Man Yaoughed as she nodded before she spoke again, ¡°May I ask what guniang¡®s name is?¡±

    Man Yao paused. Although her name was not umon, it would not be appropriate to speak it. Seeing her hesitation, he gave a pointless smile, ¡°If it¡¯s not convenient for you, then I will not force you. Does guniang know how to y?¡±

    This person was very observant of their surrounds and was considerate of others. She only slightly hesitated before he changed the topic, easily dissolving the awkward atmosphere. With a smile, Man Yao replied, ¡°I know a little bit. I would not dare to show off in front of gongzi¡®s expert skills.¡±

    Because the previous owner of this body was skilled at the arts, she secretly practiced as well so that her cover wouldn¡¯t be blown. Who knew that ying the zither would be akin to driving a car for her, as if she always knew how to y. The reason why she went through so much effort to invite Chen Yu y the zither at the tea garden was to borrow her name. Furthermore, she was also not willing to y the zither for the amusement of others. Recalling the music that was yed just now, she pondered for a bit before replying, ¡°However, I think that the melody gongzi yed just now looked to be quite long-standing and light, but in reality¡­it¡¯s only light on the surface while its vicissitudes dives straight into one¡¯s bones!¡±

    The man was stunned. His starry eyes shined brilliantly as he focused on her, his gaze carrying admiration, ¡°To be able to hear the stormy feeling through the sweet and lingering music, it seems that guniang¡®s skills are quite high. This melody¡¯s name is ¡®Recall¡¯, it¡¯s one of my creations from seven years ago.¡±

    He looked to be around twenty or so. Seven years ago, he should have only been around thirteen or fourteen years-old. To be able to create such a beautiful and deep song at that age, he was a genius. Man Yao couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Gongzi¡®s skill with the zither causes one to be in deep admiration! It¡¯s just¡­ording to gongzi¡®s age seven years ago, how did you have such a deep feeling of turmoil?¡±

    The warm smile on the man¡¯s face stiffened. Realized that she was being rude, Man Yao immediately smiled, ¡°I¡¯m just casually asking, gongzi does not have to answer.¡± She raised her head to look at the darkened skies before standing up and putting her hands together in greeting, ¡°I am grateful for gongzi¡®s help this time! If we have the fate to meet again, I will definitely repay you. It¡¯s starting to get dark outside, so I will be taking my leave now.¡±

    The man also stood up, his face as gentle as always, ¡°Ever since guniang fainted, you had not eaten anything all day. I have already ordered people to prepare some food for guniang. Why don¡¯t you leave after eating?¡±

    Man Yao politely rejected him, ¡°I am thankful for gongzi¡®s generosity, but I still have matters to attend to, so I will be leaving first. May we meet again!¡±

    The man lightlyughed and shook his head, ¡°In that case, then I will not force you to stay. This is the inn in the eastern suburbs. There is still a ways to go before you will reach the city. I will get someone to prepare a horse carriage for you.¡±

    She originally thought that this was his home, but it turned out to be an inn! It didn¡¯t seem to be an ordinary inn, otherwise how could there be such a spacious and refined garden as well as that finely crafted room? Man Yao gave a faint smile and bid farewell, not asking for the man¡¯s name. She believed that if it was convenient for him, he would have definitely taken the initiative to tell her. As the man watched the carriage disappear into the distance, he lightlyughed, ¡°Indeed, she¡¯s such a transparent woman. We¡¯ll¡­be seeing each other again very soon!¡±

    When Man Yao reached the suburbs in the eastern city, she got off the carriage, thinking that it would still be better if she took a trip to the tea garden. After staying out for a whole night, Leng¡¯er and Xiao Sha must be worried about her after seeing the corpses in the tea garden, and frantically trying to find her. She changed into a more ordinary carriage, arriving at the Moonlight Tea Garden. Just as she got off, the originally calm shores of the Heavenly Lake was disturbed by the appearance of ten or so imperial bodyguards surrounding her. The head of the bodyguards took a few steps forward as he measured her with his stunned eyes, eventually nodding, ¡°Such beautiful looks, Moonlight Tea Garden¡¯s boss, Li Yue gongzi must be this person! Capture him!¡±

    Although Man Yao was stunned, she maintained a calm disposition, ¡°This daren, did Imit a crime?¡±

    The head of the guards had a cold expression on, ¡°Yesterday Prince Li encountered assassins at Moonlight Tea Garden, causing the Emperor to be extremely angry. He has ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate this matter. Anyone who is connected with this case must be caught and brought back for interrogation. Take him!¡±

 Chapter 18 - Imprisoned (1)

    Chapter 18 Imprisoned (1)

    Like this, she was imprisoned in Lintian¡¯s Ministry of Justice!

    ¡°Zhuzi!¡± Right as she stepped into the cell, Ling¡¯er hurriedly jumped to her, worriedly asking, ¡°Where did you go, what did you do exactlyst night? Why were there so many corpses in the tea garden? Did you get injured? Let me look!¡±

    Man Yao gently patted her hands, smiling, ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡± Ling¡¯er only let out a sigh of relief after hearing that.

    The surrounding cells were filled with the other personnel of the tea garden, all of them frantically yelling out ¡°Gongzi¡°, Man Yao gave a faint smile to reassure them, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything will be alright.¡± Her face was calm and her clear eyes gave others a calming feeling, letting everyone quiet down. Man Yao¡¯s eyesnded on the person in the opposite cell who was the only one who didn¡¯t have any panic showing on her face, Chen Yu. After staring at her for a few seconds, she saw Chen Yu return her gaze, and when she gave a lightugh, Chen Yu was dazed and then started tough as well. Man Yao gazed at her surroundings and found that Xiao Yu wasn¡¯t present and asked Ling¡¯er in a low voice, ¡°Xiao Yu didn¡¯te in?¡±

    Ling¡¯er nodded her head, replying back in a low voice as well, ¡°When zhuzi didn¡¯t return back to the residence for the whole night, we thought that zhuzi rested in the garden, so I went a little earlier to the garden to give zhuzi breakfast. But just as I walked in, I was suddenly grabbed. Xiao Yu must have seen those guards and escaped. Aye! This Xiao Yu, why didn¡¯t he stay near the garden so that he could block zhuzi from going in?¡±

    Man Yao furrowed her eyebrows. Regarding yesterday night¡¯s events, other than her, Zongzheng Wuyou, and Leng Yan, there were no other survivors. Why were the imperial guards already at the gates of garden so early in the morning waiting to enter and see the corpses? Who spread the news about the assassination attempt on Prince Li? Could there have been someone else present other than them? She shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not Xiao Yu¡¯s fault! I rode a carriage over so even if he were near the garden and saw me, it would have been already toote to stop me. I hope¡­he sees the message I left him.¡±

    Ling¡¯er asked, ¡°What message?¡±

    Man Yao: ¡°I told him to go find someone. As long as this person is willing toe, then at the very least we¡¯ll receive a light punishment.¡±

    Ling¡¯er: ¡°If this person is unwilling?¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s eyes flickered as she curved her lips into a smile, ¡°He¡¯lle!¡±

    Seeing how her zhuzi was absolutely confident, Ling¡¯er was reassured, ¡°Zhuzi, what should we do now then?¡±

    Man Yao lightly sighed, ¡°As long as they¡¯re following the proper investigation procedures, I will not be worried. I¡¯m just afraid that¡­they¡¯ll use tortures and beatings to force a confession so that we can be someone else¡¯s scapegoat for this assassination case.¡±

    Ling¡¯er was shocked, ¡°How dare they! Even if I fight until myst breath, I will definitely not let anyone hurt zhuzi! Plus, with zhuzi¡®s identity¡­wu¡­¡±

    Before she could finish, Man Yao hurriedly covered her mouth, whispering into her ear, ¡°Remember this. No matter what happenes, my identity cannot be revealed.¡±

    Ling¡¯er was confused, ¡°Why not?¡±

    With a heavy gaze, Man Yao lightly furrowed her eyebrows, ¡°If my identity is exposed at this time and is used unscrupulously by someone else, it may cause a war between the two countries.¡± Ling¡¯er blinked indicating she didn¡¯t understand. Man Yao exined further, ¡°Prince Li is a brilliant strategist whose intelligence has no peer. This time he was the one behind Beiyi¡¯s defeat. The rulers of other countries must be wracking their heads as their hearts tremble, afraid that he¡¯lle to invade their country next. Those who are greedy and ambitious also have to consider once more. For the marriage alliance this time, Imperial Brother chose Prince Li. If anyone spreads rumors saying that we proposed this marriage alliance so that we could secretly eliminate Prince Li, then with the Emperor¡¯s paranoia as well as his extreme doting of Prince Li, even if we cane out safely from this case, our future days won¡¯t be easy anyways.¡±

    ¡°Howplicated!¡± Ling¡¯er was shocked as she gazed at Man Yao with admiration, ¡°As expected, zhuzi considers everything! But who would want to ruin the marriage alliance between the two countries?¡±

    Man Yao: ¡°We¡¯ll have to see who is the most threatened if the marriage alliance seeds.¡± Although Prince Li had already rejected the marriage, she had dered in the great hall that she will make Prince Li marry her of his own will. Furthermore, even if Prince Li still won¡¯t agree to marry her in the end, there¡¯s still the Ninth Prince on the list who is the closest to Prince Li. In the eyes of other people, the Ninth Prince who has neither a wife nor concubines had the greatest chance of being picked.

    Ling¡¯er still wanted to ask some more, but seeing Man Yao¡¯s exhausted face, she helped her to sit on the cot.

    The cell was dark and muggy as the air had faint traces of poison in it. After some time had passed, Man Yao felt her head be dizzy again and her forehead was beginning to heat up. Her cold which had just gotten a little better became worse again. The dinner provided only consisted of a cold bun, which was both dry and hard like a rock. It had to be at least two days old. She couldn¡¯t help but furrow her eyebrows. If she knew this would happen, she would have eaten at the inn in the eastern suburbs before leaving. At the very least, she would have had some energy to fight, otherwise given her current situation, she might already starve to death before they have the chance to interrogate her.

    Ling¡¯er saw that she didn¡¯t eat the bun and her face was also abnormally red. Feeling her forehead, she gave a surprised shout, ¡°Ya! So hot! Someonee, someone quicklye, our zhuzi is sick, please help us invite a doctor.¡±

    The warden angrily strode over, kicking the cell door open with great force before yelling, ¡°What are you yelling for! If you keep yelling, I¡¯ll serve you with a whip! Who do you think you guys are? It¡¯s better if you die from being sick, if you guys all die then I won¡¯t have to keep guard thiste at night.¡± After cursing them, he turned around and left.

    Ling¡¯er furiously red at him, speechless. Man Yao weakly waved her hands, ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s useless. After entering here, they didn¡¯t have the intention of letting us leave alive.¡±

    Ling¡¯er angrily huffed as she spoke towards the warden¡¯s back, ¡°ãö¶ùÆøºôºôµØ¶Ô×ÅÓü×äµÄ±³Ó°ßýµÀ£º¡±What a bully! Don¡¯t let us see you next time!¡­Zhuzi, your body is so hot, what should we do?¡±

    When the high official of the Ministry of Justice, Yu daren, arrived, Man Yao was sitting down with her back against the wall as she drifted in and out of consciousness. Suddenly she woke up when she felt a ssh of cold water on her face. Ling¡¯er was quick and darted to cover her, blocking half of the cold water. The ice-cold feeling caused her whole body to tremor as streams of water dripped down her hot face. Before she could react, she was forced out of the cell by someone. Ling¡¯er frantically tried to hold her back, not daring to let go. Yu daren didn¡¯t hold back a sneer as his sinister voice sounded out, ¡°Bring them both out.¡±

    Interrogation room. There were tens of different kinds of interrogation tools, and each one of them on their own was enough to make one beg for death. The fire in the firepit was raging, sending out sparks of ember every now and then. She was thrown onto the floor by the guards, her strength drained as sheid there.

    On his fat finger, Yu daren wore arge ring. Hold up a paper filled with the words of a confession, he spoke sinisterly, ¡°This is the crime of you purchasing assassins to attempt to murder Prince Li. As long as you behave and sign this confession, you¡¯ll only get a beating.¡±

    Man Yao creased her eyebrows as she sneered, ¡°I thought that Yu daren would at least pretend to adhere to procedures. Who knew that even without interrogating me, you would directly force me to admit a crime!¡±

    Yu daren gave a darkugh, ¡°This matter does not require an interrogation for it is already very clear.¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s face was full of suspicions, ¡°Clear? May I ask daren, I have no enmity with Prince Li, and he is also my tea garden¡¯s customer, so he can be thought of as a parent that feeds me. Why would I want to kill him and cut off my source of money?¡± At this time, she could only stall for time, hoping that Xiao Yu would quickly arrive.

    Yu daren: ¡°Because you¡¯re a spy from Beiyi.¡±

    They couldn¡¯t find out her true identity so they pinned such a crime on her, these people were quite cruel! Man Yao¡¯s face didn¡¯t change as she slowly said, ¡°Daren said that I am a spy from Beiyi, do you have evidence?¡±

    ¡°Your origins are unknown¡­¡± Yu daren just opened his mouth then a low voice sounded from outside the interrogation room, ¡°Yu daren, no need to speak any more nonsense with him! Can you tell that he¡¯s stalling for time?¡±

    The person from outside had already stepped in. Seeing this person, Man Yao was startled as her eyes changed.

 Chapter 19 - Imprisoned (2)

    Chapter 19 Imprisoned (2)

    She didn¡¯t think that he would personallye!! Lintian¡¯s Crown Prince, Second Prince Zongzheng Xiaoren, rumors had it that he was able to obtain the position of crown prince because his mother exchanged for it with her life when he was young. Although this person seemed bright and kind on the surface, hidden in the depths of those foxy eyesid a cruel and poisonous glint.

    Yu daren hurried bowed, ordering someone to bring a chair for him to sit. Zongzheng Xiaoren propped up a leg as he nced at the wet Man Yao on the ground, slowly speaking, ¡°Yu daren, what are you still waiting for?¡±

    Yu daren immediately shot a nce at the jailer standing next to him who understood and took a red-hot charcoal out from the firepit, walking towards Man Yao. Yu daren: ¡°Li Yue gongzi, you should just admit it, otherwise, the feeling of this charcoal on your skin will not be very pleasant.¡±

    Shocked, Ling¡¯er tried to fight against the guard, ¡°What are you guys doing? No one is allowed to harm my zhuzi!¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren furrowed his eyebrows as his voice dropped, ¡°Who is that? Daring to even cause a ruckus in front of this crown prince! p.¡±

    Man Yao was startled and didn¡¯t have enough strength to stop it. The two guards standing next to Zongzheng Xiaoren strode forward, each of them grabbing one of her shoulders, using so much force that it seemed like her arms were going to be ripped off. Ling¡¯er wanted to fight but she found out that she couldn¡¯t move at all, as if those two guards knew she was trained in martial arts and was purposefully suppressing her.

    ¡°Pa, pa, pa¡­¡± Consecutive strikes fell on her face as the sounds crisply rang out in Man Yao¡¯s ears. It was like an iron bell was rocking in her heart. Ling¡¯er and Xiao Yu were the two closest people to her in this world. She raised her head to look at Ling¡¯er¡¯s extremely swollen and bruised face as fresh blood ran down. Her pupils shrank as her heart was in pain.

    The zhuzi in Ling¡¯er¡¯s heart was always someone who was calm and unruffled. Now that she saw Man Yao¡¯s eyes held self-me but was suppressing it, Ling¡¯er brought up the corners of her lips, ¡°Zhuzi, I¡¯m¡­alright.¡±

    Her delicate cheeks were so swollen she looked like a meat bun, how could she be fine! Man Yao bit her lip as she furiously red at Zongzheng Xiaoren. Forcing herself to stand up, she coldly spoke, ¡°If no one provokes me, I will not provoke them. Crown Prince, you will regretting hurting my people!¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren gave a cold snort, ¡°Regret? Ridiculous! This crown prince is warning you, don¡¯t use that sort of gaze towards me. I¡¯ve seen plenty of gazes are are more murderous than yours, but I¡¯m still living well. So¡­give up your hate or else you¡¯ll die even more quckly.¡±

    Man Yao coldlyughed, ¡°That¡¯s true. With Crown Prince being so evil and poisonous, who knows how many innocent lives you¡¯ve harmed. Someone like you whose hands are stained with the blood of people, be careful of their ghosts¡­knocking on your doors at night!¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren: ¡°Even when death is right in front of you, you still dare to be so sharp-tongued¡­the feelings between a master and a servant is quite deep, isn¡¯t it? Someonee, continue hitting her mouth!¡±

    Man Yao was furious as she yelled, ¡°Stop! Crown Prince, it¡¯s no use trying to go against me right now. Prince Li already knows that the person who bought the assassins was you.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou cast a sidelong nce at her as he casually said, ¡°Without evidence, how would he know?¡±

    He actually didn¡¯t care at all that Zongzheng Wuyou would find out about this? It seems like they both knew long ago who the other party was. Evidence? Man Yao¡¯s gaze suddenly changed, ¡°Who said there¡¯s no evidence? Since you couldn¡¯t get anyone from Wu Yin Lou, you had to ask for help from the assassins of Wu Xiao Men¡­¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren¡¯s face changed as he haltingly asked, ¡°How did you know?¡± He repeatedly instructed the people from Wu Xiao Men to not expose their identity, and furthermore, this person in front of him also knew that he wasn¡¯t able to get any assassins from Wu Yin Low.

    Man Yao¡¯s face was mocking, ¡°Why does Crown Prince think Prince Li stayed in my tea garden that night to y chess with me?¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren¡¯s suspicious gaze was probing as he asked a question instead, ¡°What you¡¯re trying to say is, he intentionally set up a trap to wait for me to send assassins to kill him so that he could use the opportunity to look for evidence?¡±

    Man Yao gave a meaningful smile without answering him. One look at this Crown Prince would show that he is a narrow-minded person full of paranoia. If she spoke too much, he might see through her words, so it was better to give him some space for him to extrapte. As long as she could stall for more time.

    Zongzheng Xiaoren furrowed his eyebrows as he paced around the interrogation room, contemting: Why did fuhuang know about Old Seventh encountering assassins so early in the morning? All these years, Old Seventh never willingly entered the pce. And fuhuang never reallypletely trusted him (Crown Prince) so why did he assign Yu daren who is part of his (Crown Prince) faction the responsibility of investigating this case, unless he was trying to test him? If Old Seventh really had evidence in his hands, then why was fuhuang trying to test him (Crown Prince)?

    He suddenly halted his steps, his mind full of suspicions as he looked back at Man Yao and spoke in a cold voice, ¡°Old Seventh treats others coldly, how could he tell you all of this? Don¡¯t try telling me that you were blindly guessing!¡±

    Man Yao jerked, not thinking that he would fall out of his stupor so quickly, ¡°Prince Li has spent every day for thest half monthing to my tea garden to taste tea with me. We have known each other for so long, and we are also fellow chess yers, so naturally we treat each other as confidants. As such, unintentionally revealing some matters is not an unusual thing.¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren wrinkeld his eyebrows, half-believing and half-suspicious, as he walked over to her and knelt down. With one hand on her pulse, and after a moment his eyes shed as he grabbed her head, his eyes full of cruelty, ¡°Daring to lie to this Crown Prince, you gained the courage of a leopard! Knowledge? Hmph! You think that it¡¯s so easy to be Old Seventh¡¯s confidant? If he treated you as a confidant, wouldn¡¯t he have given you the antidote for the ¡®loose incense¡¯ poison? You were poisoned but he didn¡¯t care at all, which clearly means that he was guarded against you. How could such a person treat you as a confidant?¡±

    Man Yao fell into a daze, as expected, she really was was poisoned! She once heard Xiao Yu mention that those who are poisoned by this incense won¡¯t be able to smell the scent of incense, but will lose all of their inner force within twenty four hours. In addition, the bodies of those who are poisoned will emit a faint fragrance which, when the people around them smell this too, will cause their minds to be muddled and they will also lose their inner force as well. No wonder Zongzheng Wuyou often fell into a daze when he was looking at her when they yed chess, onlying back to his senses after she called him many times. Afterwards, his face changed and his gaze towards her lookedplicated. Later, he lured the assassins to corner her, it seems like so that he could test whether they were working together! But how did she get poisoned with this ¡®loose incense¡¯ poison? The more she thought, the heavier her head felt as she almost lost consciousness, only for Zongzheng Xiaoren to pull back her head. Feeling as if her head was about to be split apart, she became more clear-minded.

    Forced to raise her head and look at the man in front of her, she gasped as she spoke, ¡°Regardless, may Crown Prince think carefully about this whole entire incident. There are too many coincidences, so it is definitely not that simple. I¡¯m just a bystander, so even if you kill me, it won¡¯t solve anything.¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren¡¯s mind was churning and his eyes were unreadable, ¡°But since you dared to lie to this crown prince, you must be punished! Oh¡­that¡¯s right, I heard that Li Yue gongzi¡®s quite handsome, not losing out to Old Seventh. I really want to see as well.¡±

    Using his hand, he brushed away the wetness on her face, revealing a peerlessly beautiful face in front of him, clear and elegant! He was even more ten thousand times more beautiful than any of his concubines and wives. Zongzheng Xiaoren fell into stupor as he looked at her.

    ¡°Crown Prince, Crown Prince!¡± Yu daren saw that his gaze was even more heated than when he was looking at his (Yu daren) own daughter, and Yu daren¡®s face turned ugly.

    Zongzheng Xiaoren came back to his senses, ¡°The rumors are true! Look at this face, so beautiful that even the gods would be jealous, it¡¯s just a shame¡­that it was born onto a male.¡± He lightly shook his head as he sighed solemnly, lowering his eyes to observe her slim body, thin shoulders, slender waist¡­no matter how he looked at it, it looked like a woman¡¯s body. But that Adam¡¯s apple was so real that he couldn¡¯t help but reach out a hand to try to touch it before a cough sounded out behind him from Yu daren. He suddenly stopped his movements and waved his hand towards the person behind him, ¡°You guys leave first! I will personally resolve this matter.¡±

    Yu daren was unhappy but could only obey.

    ¡°I won¡¯t leave, zhuzi, zhuzi¡ª¡± Ling¡¯er frantically resisted only to be hit unconscious and carried out.

    Man Yao saw that Zongzheng Xiaoren¡¯s gaze became sinister and her heart jumped. She formed her hands into fists but she had no strength at all, ¡°Crown Prince, what do you want to do? I¡­am a man!¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren slowly came closer to her, his hot breathsnding on her already read and burning face, as he gave a lowugh, ¡°So what if you¡¯re a man? This crown prince will¡­make an exception for you today.¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s heart became frightened as she suddenly felt helpless. The current her had no way to put up a fight, and she could only force herself to keep calm as she spoke coldly, ¡°Zongzheng Xiaoren, if you dare to force yourself upon me today, in the future, I will definitely make you pay a thousand times, a hundred times over!¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren gave a slight start. The person in front of him had quite a strong aura, but he also wasn¡¯t one to be frightened so easily! Using a hand to caress her face, his foxy eyes carried a faint smile, ¡°Look at you, your words don¡¯t match your actions. I haven¡¯t even started and your body is already burning!¡± As he spoke, one of his hands went to rip apart her robes and the other held her chin as he lowered his lips. However, the feeling on his lips wasn¡¯t a soft and silky feeling but rather a hard and ice-cold feeling, causing his body to stiffen.

 Chapter 20 - Living in Prince Liâ€™s Residence

    Chapter 20 Living in Prince Li¡¯s Residence

    An ice-cold de shed,nding in between Man Yao and the Crown Prince.

    ¡°Who dares?!¡± Zongzheng Xiaoren was furious, swiveling his head to find that wooden person Leng Yang facing him. Behind Leng Yang was Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s indifferent face, his eyes cold and dark. Zongzheng Xiaoren was stunned and let go of Man Yao before standing up and raising the corners of his mouth into a smile, ¡°Seventh Imperial Brother, why did youe? You nevere to this sort of ce.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou gave a mirthless smile as he spoke mockingly, ¡°Second Imperial Brother is exerting so much effort for me, as your imperial brother, how could I just idly stand by?¡± He looked past the Crown Prince, watching the sorry figure of a woman being held up by Xiao Sha. She was drenched and her face didn¡¯t look quite right as her body was weak and had no strength. He turned his head back and coldly stared at Yu daren who followed him in as he asked in a heavy voice, ¡°You guys tortured her?¡±

    Yu daren¡®s entire body stiffened as he frantically exined, ¡°No, we didn¡¯t. This official only saw that he was asleep and wouldn¡¯t respond when he called out, so I ordered someone to ssh¡­ssh some cold water.¡±

    Xiao Sha gave a cold snort, but held in his anger. Man Yao finally released her tension and could not hold on any longer. Before she lost consciousness, she looked at Zongzheng Wuyou and gave a light smile as she softly said, ¡°You, finally¡­came!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou was startled. Such a light smile and such a soft sentence seemed to carry countless different meanings. Was she that confident that he woulde? His heart was slightly moved, and when he saw her falling into another man¡¯s embrace, he couldn¡¯t help but furrow his eyebrows. In a sh, he took her into his arms, as swift as the p of thunder.

    Xiao Sha felt that his arms became cold and was stunned for a moment. He opened his mouth wanting to say something, but couldn¡¯t utter a word in the end. Leng Yan raised his eyes and then indifferently lowered them again. The Crown Prince and Yu daren were stunned, their eyes widening with suspicion, as if they encountered a legendary creature under the heavens. This cold and indifferent Prince Li who doesn¡¯t even let a maidservant serve him, would actually steal a man from another man¡¯s embrace to embrace him himself? This was¡­beyond logic!

    Zongzheng Wuyou was also stunned. Feeling the slim and burning body in his arms, he felt that it was only natural for him to do such a thing because this woman would be his sooner orter! As Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s woman, how could he let another man touch her? Looking at her unusually red face, he unconsciouslly tightened his arms as he held her and walked out of the interrogation room.

    Yu daren returned back to his senses and frantically protested, ¡°Wangye please wait!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s face immediately became heavy and had no intention of going around in circles with them as he spoke in a cold voice, ¡°Does Yu daren still have anything else?¡±

    His cold eyes made Yu daren¡®s heart jump, and the Crown Prince answered instead, ¡°The person in Seventh Imperial Brother¡¯s arms is the wanted criminal that fuhuang has dered. If you take the person away like this, how is Yu daren supposed to exin to fuhuang? Seventh Imperial Brother, don¡¯t make things troublesome for Yu daren!¡±

    Yu daren nodded his head in agreement. Zongzheng Wuyou raised his eyebrows, his gaze flickering with impatience, ¡°It¡¯s your responsibility to exin it, what does it have to do with benwang? I will definitely take the person away! Whoever wants him, tell him toe find benwang.¡±

    Yu daren: ¡°This, this, this¡­wangye¡­¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t spare him another nce as he turned to look at the Crown Prince and gave a coldugh, ¡°Exactly who wants benwang¡®s life, benwang naturally knows! This is thest chance I¡¯m giving him. If it happens again, benwang¡­will no longer show mercy, so go ahead! Also, Wu Xiao Men actually dares to go against benwang, so within three days, benwang will definitely make their Wu Xiao Men¡­disappear, forever, from, this, world.¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren¡¯s heart froze as he secretly clenched his fists, unable to say another word. Yu daren could only helplessly look on as Prince Li brazenly carried the Emperor¡¯s wanted criminal away from his prison. He lowered his head, afraid to speak.

    Prince Li¡¯s Residence.

    The rays of the bright morning shot through the gaps of the tree leaves, shining the spacious room with its half-opened windows, giving the room a warm yellow glow.

    Zongzheng Wuyou sat at the side of the bed as he watched the calm and peaceful face of the beauty sleep. She slept so peacefully, it made one jealous. Would she only be willing if love was involved? For someone who had no heart or emotions, love was such a strange and unfamiliar word! He mockinglyughed at himself, raising a head to pick up the bowl of medicine next to him. She should be waking up soon.

    When Man Yao woke up, that immortal-looking male was holding a bowl of medicine, gazing into her brooding eyes, his gentle gaze crashing into her own, catching her offguard as she sank into that spring water. She fell into a daze, as she hesitatingly called out, ¡°Your Highness¡­Prince Li?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou leaned against the bed rail, his ink ck hair careless spread out over the bed, entangling with hers lying on the pillow. As he gave an ¡°En¡± sound of reassurance, half of it was a nasal tone, as hezily drew out the word. To her ears, it was like a warm and gentle hand, lightly stirring her heart.

    Her bright eyes still held hints of sleepiness, causing the hearts of those who looked at her to soften. He swept his gaze down and reached a hand out to hold her. With a very light voice and a soft tone, he spoke, ¡°Get up and drink your medicine.¡±

    As Man Yao sat up, he brought the bowl close to her mouth. She stared at the hand holding the bowl in a daze, such slender and strong fingers, the knuckles were also clear. This owner of this hand was Zongzheng Wuyou! He was feeding her medicine?! Her gaze followed the hand as she slowly traced upwards to look at that perfect face that looked like an immortal when the eyes were closed but like a devil when the eyes opened. His eyes were currently half-lidded, giving off azy aura as if there was a mysterious veil over his face. His whole body was fatally captivating, causing one to unconsciously want to draw closer.

    Zongzheng Wuyou saw her fall into a daze looking at him, and his sword-like brows furrowed as his seductive mouth curved up into an ambiguous smile, ¡°You¡¯re not satisfied with this feed method?¡±

    Man Yao returned back to her senses and lowered her head, reaching out her hand to take the bowl of medicine. Suddenly, he raised his hand and brought the bowl to his lips to drink arge mouthful. Astonished, she raised her head, still confused on what just happened when his hand already raised her chin and their lips met. She wasn¡¯t able to fully experience that soft feeling before the bitter medicine already entered her mouth. She widened her eyes, losing her ability to react and forgot to swallow.

    ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Her strong coughs caused her entire face to be red as she red at the culprit by her side.

    Zongzheng Wuyou lightly raised an eyebrow as he hooked up a corner of his mouth and gave her a mirthless smile as he looked at her, ¡°How did such an intelligent person suddenly be dumb?¡±

    Man Yao was so angered she couldn¡¯t speak coherently and raised her hand to snatch the bowl of medicine, downing all of it at once. She didn¡¯t bother to be polite as she mmed it back into his hands, her face full of suspicions, ¡°Did someone¡­take over you?¡±

    The corner of Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes twitched as he didn¡¯t speak, only shooting her a look that seemed to say, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s tone was light, ¡°Zongzheng Wuyou who never approaches women suddenly changed and took advantage of me. I can only suspect that some soul took over your body!¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Zongzheng Wuyou put down the bowl and turned his whole body to face her, his arms on either side of her body, trapping her. His sharp gaze was focused on her as if he was trying to peer into her soul as he softly asked, ¡°Then¡­which body did you upy?¡±

 Chapter 21 - A Woman is Like a Mirror

    Chapter 21 A Woman is Like a Mirror

    Man Yao was stunned, he already guessed it so quickly? She swiveled her head and casually spoke an off-topic sentence, ¡°Today¡¯s weather is really nice!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou narrowed his phoenix eyes and slowly stood up, opening the windows all the way, causing the room to immediately be bright. The bright rays fell on his body, giving him a yellow halo, but was unable to cover up the ice-cold aura that was emanating deep within his bones. This woman¡¯s guard was extremely strong! He changed the topic, ¡°Why did you send someone to find benwang? What made you so sure that benwang would go save you?¡±

    For someone like him, he was only used to controlling others, not the other way around. Man Yao came to a realization and gave a small smile. Getting down from the bed, she put on an outer robe, walking towards the window to stand by his side, ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if Your Highness woulde, but I was very clear that the only person who could take me away from the prison was you, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t turn his head, his voice still solemn and cold.

    Outside the window were clusters of flowers, trees full of leaves, and water as blue as the sky. Man Yao turned her head, taking in his perfect side-profile as she lightlyughed, ¡°Because you knew that I was not the culprit, and also because you have¡­an extreme infatuation towards chess.¡± He would save her wasn¡¯t just so that he could also cause his opponents to sweat, but also because she carried a secret that he wanted to know.

    Zongzheng Wuyou looked at her from the side of his eye, his gaze heavy andplicated, ¡°Wmen are too stupid and prone to making others tired of them. But, those that are too smart¡­are also not good, they¡¯ll make one feel tired. You can suitably¡­be a little dumber!¡± They were both cautious people. Each sentence was uttered after careful consideration of the other.

    The two pairs of ink ck eyes gazed at each other. One pair was bright and full of intelligence; one pair had the sun¡¯s warmth shining on it, yet was still as cold as winter. Her gaze seemed to prate his, looking all the way to the bottom of his heart. His gaze seemed to prate her body to look at her soul. There was only silence in the air.

    As the wind picked up, a leaf blew over from somewhere, drifting between their gazes. Man Yao raised her hand that was as fair as jade to catch the green leef in her palm. Her movements were so beautiful, it made one want to hold that slender and pretty hand in their own.

    Zongzheng Wuyou retrieved his gaze, turning back to continue watching the scenery outside the window. His gaze wandered around, never focusing in on any one area.

    Man Yao slightly raised her eyes, looking at the passing clouds floating throughout the endless sky. People will get tired of interacting with her? If it was possible, she wanted to live a simple life. But, in this world, in order to interact with those from the imperial family, if one wasn¡¯t careful enough then they could lose their life at any moment. She gave a dry smile as she mocked herself, ¡°Before¡­someone said that I was like a mirror!¡± How the people outside the mirror treated her, the her that was inside the mirror would return that same treatment. Because she was someone with extreme self-preservation instincts! Even if she were to be hurt, she would not hold a grudge and would instead choose topletely forget about it. The reason is because, to hate a person also requires you to pour feelings into them, making it tiresome.

    Mirro?! Zongzheng Wuyou was stunned, his eyebrows jumping, ¡°Are you saying that it¡¯s benwang¡®s fault?¡±

    Man Yao gave a shallow smile, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare! It¡¯s just that Your Highness is constantly suspicious, so I¡¯m not sure¡­how I should be honest as well?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes roamed over her face. This time, although her gaze seemed to be open, behind that openness was shifting moods. He looked at her for a long time before suddenlyughing. Man Yao looked at him suspiciously and furrowed her eyebrows, confused at why he wasughing at her.

    Zongzheng Wuyou held her hand, causing Man Yao to freeze. Like that, she was pulled along by him as he walked back while speaking, ¡°Your body only just recovered, you still need to rest some more.¡±

    She really couldn¡¯t keep up with his ever-changing logic. His eyes looked so gentle but didn¡¯t carry a hint of warmth, ice-cold like his hands. She suddenly wondered, what type of temperature would make this hand return back to a normal temperature?

    Zongzheng Wuyou helped her back to the bed. Seeing her continue to stare at his hand as if she was in deep thought, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, are you not used to it?¡±

    It¡¯s that she wasn¡¯t used to it, it¡¯s that she was extremely unused to it! She could try to adjust to his temper, but she had no idea what to do about his sudden bouts of gentleness. She tried to find an excuse, ¡°Your Highness¡­¡±

    ¡°In the future when there¡¯s no one around, you can call me by my name!¡± A firm tone that left no room for arguments sounded out. This time, he was serious. Softening his voice a little, he spoke again, ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it eventually. Ah Man you¡­should rest first, I¡¯lle see you again in the afternoon.¡± Finishing, he let go of her hand, giving her an elegant smile, not waiting for her to respond before turning around and leaving. Lifting the edges of his lips, he thought that to be ustomed to a woman didn¡¯t seem to be as difficult as he imagined, he just followed his instincts.

    Man Yao leaned against the bed rail, the iciness of his touch still lingering on her fingertips as she gazed at his shrinking back and fell into a daze. She recalled all the times they met each other and how he showed her a different side of him each time. The first was in the pce¡¯s great hall, when even though he acted as if no one could enter his eyes, he was actually secretly arguing with the Emperor. Exactly what kind of enmity would lead a person to use such extreme measures to avoid seeing their own father? The second time, he was cold and sullen, his actions swift and cruel. Although he viewed women as mere ants, he actually showed mercy in consideration for his ninth brother who was born from the same mother. The third time, Moonlight Tea Garden, he took one look and knew the trick behind her design of the dark tunnel. With the sentence, ¡°Eyes like colored ss, a person as beautiful as the moon,¡± he praised her without any reservations. The sentence, ¡°This woman fits it,¡± exposed her disguise as a man. When he tasted the fruit tea, there were flickers of light in his eyes that were covered up by longing and pain. Why? In the half month that he spent in the garden, his solemn and lonely figure asionally raised his eyes to meet hers, his gaze probing and full of expectations. On thest day, he said that as a woman, she should be at home waiting to be married and birth children. But when she brought up the views from her modern world thatpletely contradicted with the views in this world, he did not seem to be surprised at all and smiled as he asked her to y chess. Thinking more deeply, perhaps each of these incidents was him trying to test her. But why would he expend so much effort to find a modern person?

 Chapter 22 - Laying It Out In The Open

    Chapter 22 Laying It Out In The Open

    The noon meal was full of dishes, but since she was the only one eating, there wasn¡¯t much interest, so she just casually ate some. She didn¡¯t know how Ling¡¯er¡¯s condition was right now. Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s sincerity should be reaching its end now, right?

    ¡°Zhuzi, zhuzi¡ª¡± Speaking of the devil, the image of a person dashed into the room, crashing onto her bed, their face full of anxiety, ¡°Zhuzi, that evil Crown Prince didn¡¯t bully you, did he?¡±

    Man Yao shook her head, her hand carressing the bruises on Ling¡¯er¡¯s face as she spoke apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, you suffered because of me.¡±

    The rim of Ling¡¯er¡¯s eyes turned red, and with a plop, she knelt down on the ground. She bowed her head, her face full of shame, ¡°It was my fault for being useless. Not only was I unable to protect zhuzi, I even made zhuzi worry about me.¡±

    Man Yao reached her hand out to stop her, her voice gentle, ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault, hurry and get up! You know that I don¡¯t like others kneeling to me.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou who followed Ling¡¯er in narrowed his phoenix eyes. Was she really a mirror? Only by treating her with sincerity would one be able to receive her sincerity? He ordered a servant to take Ling¡¯er back to rest and to apply medicine before sitting down on the edge of the bed, ¡°All of your people have been released. During this time period, you should stay here for now¡­it¡¯ll be safer. As for lifting the lockdown on the tea garden, wait a few more days.¡±

    Man Yao gave a small smile and sincerely thanked him, ¡°Thank you¡­Wuyou!¡±

    Wuyou¡¯s eyes lighted up and he gave an elegant smile, ¡°Do you want to y a round of chess with me?¡±

    Did he finally learn how to ask others for their opinion? Man Yao smiled as well, ¡°Sure.¡±

    The two people sat in front of the window, and as always, she was red while he was ck. Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s mind was churning as he used a light tone, ¡°Ah Man, let¡¯s y a game! Every time one party¡¯s piece is eliminated by the other, then the person who did the elimination can ask a question¡­no matter what kind of question, the other person must answer. Do you dare to y?¡±

    Man Yao raised her head to meet the deep pools of his eyes. Even though his gaze was calctive, it was very calm. She knew what his motive was, but since their skill levels were identical, this method was still considered to be fair. Plus, he had already expressed his sincerity by rescuing the employees of the gardne. As a result, she agreed.

    Only the breathing sounds of the two people could be heard in the entire room. There were no other people in the courtyard, making the surroundings extremely quiet. When one of the red pieces was eaten, Zongzheng Wuyou raised his eyes to look at her, his gaze brightening as he asked, ¡°You came from another world, what era is it called now in that world?¡±

    Although he asked in a very simple and straightforward way, this question was anything but. Half of it was a conjecture on his part. Man Yao answered, ¡°The 21st century.¡± She raised her hand to set down a red piece, eating up the ck. She asked, ¡°Is your mother also from the 21st century?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou was startled for a moment. Both question were short, but they contained multiple questions within. With his eyes half-closed, he asked, ¡°How do you know it¡¯s not me?¡±

    Man Yao gave a lightugh, ¡°If you¡¯re a modern person, you would have had a reaction when you were handed the fruit tea menu, not continuing to try to cautiously test me.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou nodded, ¡°Then why do you think it¡¯s my mother?¡±

    Man Yaoughed, ¡°Same as you, I guessed! Actually you also aren¡¯t sure if I¡¯m the same as you, you just happened to know some people who time-traveled. Next question.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou gave her an appreciative nce. It seems like he didn¡¯t need to exert so much effort trying to talk to this woman. Consequently, he asked, ¡°How did you arrive?¡±

    The hand that was holding a chess piece paused. Man Yao slowly blinked, ¡°Dead¡­when I woke up, my soul already entered this body.¡±

    A slight breeze blew by. Her lowered eyshes covered up the look in her eyes. The corners of her lips were slightly curved, carrying hints of self-mockery. Zongzheng Wuyou was dazed, suddenly bing very curious as to how this woman died. He voiced his thoughts, ¡°Why did you die in your world?¡±

    Man Yao raised her eyes to nce at him, furrowing her eyebrows, ¡°This is another question! It¡¯s my turn. Your mother¡­how did she die?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou jerked and he tightly clenched the chess piece in his hand. In an instant, his gaze became chilly. Man Yao stared at him, her instincts telling her that hidden behind his cold and sinister eyes was a pain that no one knew about. She suddenly gave a lightugh, ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer this question, just treat it as¡­an exchange for you not asking me how I died.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou gave her a surprised look as he slowly set down the piece in his hands. He stood up to face the window and gave a deep sigh, ¡°How can I go to your world? If someone from your world identally died in this world, can they still go back?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Man Yao dazedly stared at the chessboard. This must be the answer that Zongzheng Wuyou wants to know! Unfortunately, she really didn¡¯t know. She never thought about going back because there was nothing in that world that she had any lingering desire for.

    Don¡¯t know? Was there no one who could give him an answer? Zongzheng Wuyou furrowed his eyebrows, ¡°You never thought about going back? You don¡¯t miss your parents and family? I heard that that world was peaceful and beautiful, people can lead simple lives. There¡¯s no scheming and fighting over the throne. One husband and one wife, everyone lives equally.¡± His mother once told him this when he was young.

    Man Yao calmly turned around, her back against the wall as she lightly leaned her head back, gazing at the ceiling. Her eyes were nk, her voice seemingly mocking as she spoke, ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a perfect world. People are naturally greedy and will always chase after power. In the business world, it¡¯s full of scams and schemes, and people trying to one up the other. As for one husband and one wife, it¡¯s just an institution. Ever since ancient times, men have always liked the new and hated the old, their feelings as shallow as ever. The ones without money have affairs outside, and the ones with money raise mistresses outside. Using the excuse that they¡¯re busy with work, they can¡¯t even be bothered to attend theirte wife¡¯s funeral. Yet, they¡¯re actually abroad leading a happy life with their mistress¡­that¡¯s how people have always been, how could it be as beautiful as you made it out to be?¡± She didn¡¯t know why she suddenly said so much. Sometimes, she felt exhausted, believing that living was too tiring and was pointless. Her heart always felt empty, but she still worked hard to continue living.

    Zongzheng Wuyou was stunned. The world that his mother always pined for also was this unbearable? Actually this woman didn¡¯t speak wrongly. People¡¯s desires don¡¯t change, it¡¯s the same no matter where you go. Looking at her sullen face, even though she spoke indifferently, it was clear that it affected her emotions. No matter how hard she tried to suppress it, he could still feel the pain and sadness hidden within her words. He suddenly bent down, his long and slender fingers caressing her thin and cool lips. Gazing into her eyes, he spoke in a gentle voice, ¡°Everything has an exception. Not every male is as immoral as the one you spoke of.¡±

    His coldness in his eyes had faded to be reced with warmth, his voice was elegant and clear like the sounds of nature, carrying a magical quality that made one unconsciously trust him. Her heart lurched as she uttered in a low voice, ¡°Is that so? Are there really exceptions? I once thought this way too, but the silly thing is¡­¡± Her clear eyes suddenly clouded over with sadness, letting him realize that she was once hurt before. He felt a stabbing sensation in his heart, as well as the pain of something breaking. Not waiting for her to finish, he lowered his head to kiss her.

    Man Yao was shocked into a standstill. Unlike the fervor in the garden and unlike the teasing from the morning, this kiss brought a warm that calmed a person¡¯s heart, as if he was kissing a wound to make it heal faster. It made one feel moved. She couldn¡¯t help but close her eyes, letting herself go to savor this beautiful moment.

    Zongzheng Wuyou felt her rx and caressed her face with his hand, kissing her even more deeply, not stopping until he felt her run out of breath before letting her go. He wrinkled her eyebrows as he turned his head, taking inrge mouthfuls of air.

    Man Yao turned her head in the opposite direction, also taking deep breaths as she gasped, her heart beating furiously.

    The afternoon light was very warm, the light breeze gently whistling, causing the two people¡¯s hair to flutter and entangle together. For a moment, neither spoke, staying in that position for a long time without moving.

 Chapter 23 - The Feeling of Being Alive

    Chapter 23 The Feeling of Being Alive

    Two dayster, jianghu¡®s assassination organization Wu Xiao Men was annihted. Every member waspletely eradicated without a trace. Since Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t use his court powers, no one knew how he was able to do such a thing. Regarding the assassination attempt, since Prince Li did not pursue it anymore, it was left as an unresolved case.

    Like this, Man Yao lived in Prince Li¡¯s residence, and in a sh, ten days had already went by. Most of the time, Zongzheng Wuyou would seem to be quite cold, as if it came from the deepest part of his bones. At times he would get close to her, but he never crossed the line. He was no longer the Zongzheng Wuyou that would constantly try to test her, so it was not as difficult as she thought it would be to interact with him.

    The courtyard she stayed in was called ¡°Aromatic Courtyard.¡± Every day he would y a round of chess with her and listen to her talk about that world that he was unfamiliar with. He was always so calm, even if she mentioned airnes and bombs, his face didn¡¯t have any ripples, and he rarely asked any questions.

    This morning, the two were sitting in the courtyard evaluating the goods in front of them. It was the highest quality Long Jin tea from the East River, and it carried a very fresh fragrance. She took a small sip of the tea before suddenly recalling something, ¡°Wuyou, that day in the tea garden¡­why did you order all those fruit teas?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou stilled for a moment before thinking, ¡°Do you know that there is a type of tea, no, actually it should be¡­a beverage. When you drink it, it tastes very bitter, but also a little sweet¡­the color is also very dark¡­¡±

    Bitter and sweet, dark color? ¡°Coffee?¡±

    ¡°Co..ffee¡­?¡± Zongzheng Wuyou slowly repeated the word, as if he was trying to recall something. After a long time had passed, he nodded his head, ¡°I think¡­it was called coffee! Before my mother fell sick, she liked to drink it. At that time, I¡­was only four years old and couldn¡¯t understand why she liked that kind of vor.¡± His mother once said, ¡°There¡¯s sweetness within the bitterness, just like life. Even if your heart is bitter, there are still some things that leave behind sweet memories.¡± He was that sweetness in his mother¡¯s life. But now, he only felt that life was beyond bitter.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s voice carried hints of sadness. He very rarely brought up his mother. Man Yao saw his eyes that were reminiscing and his ice-cold figure that was hiding his pain, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart hurt for him. She heard that Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s mother, Noble Consort Yun, was once the number one beauty in Lintian. Before she passed away thirteen years ago, she was the most favored in the inner pce, but becauseter there were conflicts in the court, the Emperor had to take in more concubines to appease the officials, causing Noble Consort Yun to fall into depression. The Emperor of Lintian invited all the famous physicians in the country to treat her, and when three yearster, her illness seemed to be getting better, she suddenly passed away.

    This man who seemed to be indifferent to everything must have been filled with emotions at one time, right? That¡¯s why he liked to listen to her talk about the modern world, so that he could reassure himself that even though his mother left this world, she was back in her own, living well. How much love did he have for his mother? What type of pain is hiding within his heart to change him into such a cold person?

    ¡°Seventh Brother!¡± The Ninth Prince was waving the folding fan in his hand back and forth, taking big steps towards them before finding a seat to sit down. Seeing Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s calm expression, he wiggled his eyebrows andughed, ¡°Hm?! Howe you guys stopped talking when I arrived? Li Yue, what were guys talking about just now, you weren¡¯t gossiping about me were you?¡±

    Man Yao gave a small smile, not saying anything. After moving into Prince Li¡¯s residence, they often saw each other, so they were now close to enough to where greetings weren¡¯t needed. Zongzheng Wuyou minded his own business and drank his tea, pretending he didn¡¯t hear anything.

    The Ninth Prince didn¡¯t mind that he wasn¡¯t able to get a rise. Hezily poured a cup of water for himself, ¡°Today is the day of the royal army general¡¯s triumphant return, everyone outside is really excited! I heard that fuhuang is preparing to promote him to ¡°Lord Protector General¡± and let himmand the three armies as well as make him a duke. Seventh Brother, it looks like you¡¯ll have to enter the pce again!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou leaned against the chair andzily swept his eyes over, ¡°What does his promotion have to do with me?¡±

    The Ninth Prince: ¡°Of course it concerns you! At that time, two hundred and fifty thousand soldiers were trapped and were about to be annihted. If Seventh Brother didn¡¯te up with a strategy to save them, how would he have been able to reap the rewards today!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou snorted, his voice slightly mocking, ¡°Even without me, he can also break out and force the enemies to retreat, defeat Beiyi, follow them all the way back to their capital, and stille back triumphantly.¡±

    The Ninth Prince was startled, not understanding, ¡°Are you sure? If he could have done it on his own, why did he ask for help from the court?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou lightly sipped his tea, his face indifferent as he spoke in a heavy voice, ¡°If I didn¡¯t do half the work for him, do you think¡­he would be able to take control of the three armies after winning?¡±

    Man Yao listened to the two talk, not interjecting as she thought in her heart: If that¡¯s true, then that general who is rumored to be brave and unparalleled is actually brave enough to scheme as well. Not only does he know military strategies, he knows how to scheme to obtain control of the armies as well. That way, he can also fail to defeat Beiyi while dispelling the Emperor¡¯s suspicions of him. If the Emperor of Lintian was even a tiny bit ambitious, he would definitely give him control of the army, what a thorough n! This person was not simple! Zongzheng Wuyou was able to see through this plot even being thousands of miles away and change ns ordingly. Between these two people, if they were to stand on opposite sides one day, who would win?

    The Ninth Prince was also an intelligent person. He furrowed his eyebrows, ¡°Fu Chou actually harbored such deep motives! Seventh Brother, you must think of a n. It would not be good if he obtained those military seals, what if in the future he wants to betray¡­¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s cold voice cut in, ¡°There are naturally other people who will worry over this!¡±

    The Ninth Prince saw that his face was cold and indifferent and wisely kept his mouth shut. Man Yao picked up the teacup and as she raised it to her lips, the sun¡¯s rays fell on the hand holding the cup. Her long and slender fingers were jade-like, the yellow rays shining upon her light pink nails making them look smooth and bright. It made one want to hide that hand in their heart to protect it. His eyes brightened and without thinking, he held her hand, bringing his face closer to appreciate it better. He gasped, ¡°I just realized that Li Yue¡¯s hands are actually so pretty!¡±

    Man Yao didn¡¯t think much of it since holding hands was quite a normal thing in the modern world. Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze darkened as he watched the Ninth Prince continue toe closer, his face almost pressing against her hand yet she had no intention of trying to shy away. He raised his head to look at the sky, suddenly feeling that today¡¯s weather was a little stifling, making people¡¯s hearts feel stuffed. He poured a cup of tea and drank it. As expected, cold tea was more bitter than freshly brewed tea. His sword-like brows furrowed, and he set down the cup quite harshly. Man Yao jumped a little, giving him a weird look.

    The Ninth Prince didn¡¯t seem to hear it, continuing to look at her hand in deep thought before suddenly speaking, ¡°Ah?! I think that I also saw a woman whose hands was very beautiful as well! Who was it¡­let me think¡­¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s heart lurched. Two months ago, he praised her hands when they were in front of Prince Li¡¯s residence¡¯s gate!

    (1) Fu Chou is the general¡¯s name.

 Chapter 24 - Entering the Palace

    Chapter 24 Entering the Pce

    Man Yao unhurried retrieved her hand while the Ninth Prince still tried to recall. Suddenly, a loud voice sounded out from the gate: ¡°The imperial decree has arrived¡ªPrince Li please receive it!¡±

    Hearing this, the Ninth Prince immediately tossed aside his problem and turned back tough, ¡°Seventh Brother, I told you¡­it came!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou gave a cold nce, his face indifferent. Chen gonggong(1) thickened his face and entered to read out the decree, not waiting for Prince Li to kneel since he knew that there was no chance that would happen.

    The imperial decree stated that Zongzheng Wuyou had credit in forcing the enemy to retreat this time, and since the general had returned in triumph, he was to be rewarded appropriately. Zongzheng Wuyou have a cold smile, ¡°Ry my words when you go back, just tell them it was benwang who said it, the biggest reward I can receive is if I don¡¯t have to enter the pce.¡±

    Hearing this, Chen gonggong¡®s kneesnded on the ground with a ¡°putong¡± sound as he rushed to lower his head, his voice carrying hints of weariness from old age, ¡°This old servant doesn¡¯t dare! His Majesty hasmanded for this servant to escort wangye into the pce after reading the decree. I beseech wangye to take into consideration that this old servant once wholeheartedly served Noble Consort and wangye for many years to please take pity on this servant¡¯s old pile of bones and stop holding a grudge against His Majesty and enter the pce!¡± Chen gonggong was once one of Noble Consort Yun¡¯s most trusted people. It was only after she passed away was he transferred to serve the Emperor.

    This act again! Last time was Old Ninth, this time was Chen gonggong, who would it be next time? Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyebrows scrunched together, his gaze icy as he tightened his grip on the teacup. With a ¡°peng¡± sound, the cup shattered under the force and the cdon fragments embedded themselves into his palm. Even though the pain should have been quite great, he was so numb that he didn¡¯t notice. With a wave of his hand, the broken fragments were cruelly flung out. The cdon piecesnded on the white bricks, breaking into even smaller pieces that carried fresh blood, the sight making one¡¯s heart tremble.

    ¡°Seventh Brother, what are you doing?¡± The Ninth Prince was shocked and dashed over to inspect the wounds on his hand only to be pushed aside.

    ¡°Wangye, why would you do such a thing?¡± The rims of Chen gonggong¡®s eyes turned red as he helplessly sighed.

    Man Yao was stunned. This was the first time she had seen such a side of Zongzheng Wuyou. He clearly should have been furious but other than indifference and coldness showing in his eyes, there was nothing else that could be seen. What kind of pain was he hiding in his heart that would cause him to purposely injure himself to use that surface pain to mask the one in his heart? Her heart lurched as she felt strands of pain as well. It was natural for children to love their parents. They desire their parents¡¯ warmth and hope that they can obtain their love and care. But why did Zongzheng Wuyou return the Emperor¡¯s love and doting with hate and disgust instead?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t even bat an eye at his hand as he coolly gazed at Cheng gonggong, ¡°Was he the one who told you say those things?¡±

    Cheng gonggong lowered his head, feeling an immense pressure beating down on top of him. Take a deep breath, he raised his eyes that were full of sadness and helplessness, ¡°Wangye, His Majesty has his own difficulties but he truly loves you! No one canpare to the love he had towards Noble Consort. That year¡­¡±

    ¡°Enough!!¡± Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly yelled, cutting off Chen gonggong. His face was pale and both of his eyes were swimming in darkness, ¡°Considering how you took care of my mother, I will not execute you to death this time. However if you dare to bring it up again, benwang¡­will not let you off! Leng Yan, escort Chen gonggong!¡±

    Chen gonggong stood up to look at the face that was identical to the Noble Consort at the Seventh Prince who was once intelligent and kind. Chen gonggong¡®s wearied face didn¡¯t show any traces of fear, his eyes full of worry and helplessness. Sighing once again, he nced at the dazed Man Yao before slowly speaking, ¡°His Majesty alsomanded that if wangye is worried about Li Yue gongzi being alone in the residence, then he cane as well. This old servant must also go to Princess Rong Le¡¯s residence to pass the decree, so I will bid farewell.¡±

    Man Yao was startled. Ever since Zongzheng Wuyou carried her out of the prison, the outside world was rife with rumors saying that the reason why Prince Li didn¡¯t touch women was because he preferred men instead, and he recently took fancy to Moonlight Tea Garden¡¯s Li Yue gongzi who was even more beautiful than a man, taking the chance to carry the person back to the residence after rescuing him from prison. There were even people saying that Prince Li was actually the person who orchestrated the entire assassination attempt all so that he could take her back to his residence. Obviously the Crown Prince was the one who spread these rumors. But why did the Emperor of Lintian let Zongzheng Wuyou also bring her along to enter the pce? Also, did Chen gonggong just say that he was going to Princess Rong Le¡¯s residence to pass the decree? Man Yao¡¯s heart lurched, a bad premonition spreading throughout her body.

    The Ninth Prince blocked Chen gonggong but still treated him with respect, ¡°Gonggong please wait! Gonggong said that you are going to Princess Rong Le¡¯s residence to pass the decree, could it be that Princess Rong Le will also enter the pce? You guys couldn¡¯t be wanting to also hold a banquet for her to choose a husband after promoting the general are you? It shouldn¡¯t be happening so soon, the six-month deadline isn¡¯t up yet!¡±

    Chen gonggong: ¡°This old servant is just here to fulfill themands of His Majesty. As for anything else, this old servant isn¡¯t clear as well. However, even though His Majesty granted a six-month period, matters regarding marriage should not be dyed for too long. These past few days, His Majesty has not been able to sleep well because of this matter. He wants to use this opportunity to let the princess interact more with the names on the list and develop better feelings. Ninth Prince is also in the list, so you must try to share the burdens of His Majesty! This old servant bids farewell!¡±

    After Chen gonggong left, Man Yao creased her eyebrows. Was the Emperor of Lintian really going to take back his promise of six months? Thankfully, before Ling¡¯er and them returned back to the residence, she had told them what they should do should anyone from the pcee to find them. It¡¯s just, the troublesome thing was Li Yue gongzi was to enter the pce and Princess Rong Le also had to enter the pce¡­hopefully nothing would go wrong!

    The Ninth Prince grabbed Zongzheng Wuyou, ¡°Seventh Brother, what do we do now? If Princess Rong Le chooses me, you have to help save me!¡± His face seemed to say that Princess Rong Le was a hideous beast. Man Yao couldn¡¯t help but furrow her eyebrows, ¡°Your Highness is this worried about being chosen by Princess Rong Le just because she is ugly?¡±

    Ninth Prince: ¡°It¡¯s true that I don¡¯t like ugly girls, but that¡¯s not the only reason. Even though women outside look nice no matter what, the moment you bring them home is when the troubles start, so I don¡¯t want to marry anyone right now¡­but, if it was a beauty like you, Li Yue, I¡¯d make an exception!¡± As he spoke, his face broke out into a smile as he pounced over.

    Man Yao wasn¡¯t able to avoid him in time before arge hand pulled her away, causing her to stumble. Surprised, she raised her hand only to see a Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes sh, and she immediately lowered her gaze again as he spoke indifferently, ¡°Prepare to follow me into the pce.¡±

    Man Yao spotted the traces of blood on her sleeve and she furrowed her eyebrows, leaving without a word.

    Ninth Prince: ¡°Seventh Brother, you dirtied her clothes and made her unhappy.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou looked at his hand, his face indifferent as if those wounds had nothing to do with him. He continued to sit and drink his tea as if nothing happened. Eyeing his injured hand, the Ninth Prince spoke in a helpless voice, ¡°I will go back home to prepare as well. Seventh Brother, don¡¯t forget to bandage your wounds.¡±

    The Ninth Prince left and after a while, Man Yao came back, still wearing the same clothes as before. In her hands was a cloth and a small basin filled with water. She sat down next to him and spoke gently, ¡°Give me your hand.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou was stunned. She wasn¡¯t upset because his blood stained her clothes?! Looking into her water-clear eyes, he could tell that she was worried and was unusually sincere. He unconsciously opened up his hand, his palm already a bloodied mess. Man Yao¡¯s heart tremored. He was actually so nonchnt even after being injured to this extent!

    Zongzheng Wuyou silently watched as she carefully cleaned his wounds, picking out the shards that were embedded in his flesh, her expression serious as if she was handling a very important matter. Her movements were light and gentle, causing the little stabs of pain from his wound to turn into a feeling that he couldn¡¯t identify. It was a little tender, a little warm. He couldn¡¯t remember when thest time he felt such a heartwarming feeling was.

    ¡°Ah Man¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t help but lightly call out her name.

    ¡°Hm?¡± Man Yao raised her head to look at him, catching the tenderness in his eyes that he wasn¡¯t able to hide in time. It was the first time she had seen him let down his cold front and show such an expression.

    Zongzheng Wuyou hurriedly turned his head away to avoid her searing gaze and tried to calm down, ¡°Hurry up, it¡¯s time for us to enter the pce.

    (1) gonggong: Eunuch

 Chapter 25 - Meeting Once Again

    Chapter 25 Meeting Once Again

    The pce was lit up with colorfulnterns, making for a festive atmosphere. The Emperor of Lintian was outside of Qian Kun Pce rewarding the three armed forces, rewarding anyone who had a part in the victory this time. Prince Li was the only one who camete.

    When it was almost twilight, an extravagant horse carriage bathed in the soft afterglow of the sunset slowly entered through the pce gates, going straight into the center of the pces. Man Yao speechlessly stared at the handsome man sitting in front of her. From the morning ¡¯til sunset, this was what he referred to as¡­extent? It seems like Zongzheng Wuyou hated entering the pce even more than she did!¡±

    ¡°Yu¡ª¡± The carriage entered into a narrow tunnel when a man wearing ck clothes suddenly appeared, kneeling in front of the carriage, ¡°Wangye, this subject has an urgent report!¡±

    When Zongzheng Wuyou heard this voice from inside the carriage, he knew right away that it was the Ninth Prince¡¯s personal bodyguard, Leng Han, and frowned, ¡°Speak.¡±

    Leng Han: ¡°Reporting to wangye, His Majesty was furious that the Ninth Prince rejected the marriage he bestowed down and punished him to be beaten one hundred times and then confined to You Si Pce.¡± You Si Pce was a ce where princes or princesses were ced under house arrest aftermitting a serious faux paus. Most of the time, even if the people who entered there were to make it out alive, they still would have lost half their life.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s face changed, ¡°When did this happen?¡±

    Leng Han: ¡°An hour ago.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou: ¡°He¡­Where is His Majesty right now?¡±

    ¡°Replying to wangye, His Majesty is at the royal study.¡±

    Bestow marriage? Man Yao was astonished. The Ninth Prince was one of the names in her list, so if he was being bestowed a marriage, then it was definitely rted to her! As the ruler of a country, since the Emperor of Lintian had already agreed to six months, even if he did not want to stand by what he said, he also shouldn¡¯t have brazenly gone against his promise, allowing her to personally choose her husband only to decide by himself! Could it be¡­somethin ghappened? She predicted that her days of freedom would not be able tost the full six months, but did not expect that it would be cut off so quickly. Not even three months had passed yet. Could it be that she was going to have to marry someone so quickly? She unconsciously raised her head to look at Zongzheng Wuyou, only to see him happen to look over to her as well. Man Yao knew that the royal study was not a ce for just anyone to enter and stood up, ¡°Go ahead. I will take a walk.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou contemted for a little bit and then nodded his head, taking out a jade emblem from to give to her, ¡°The banquet is at Yi Qing Hall. You can show this emblem to someone to have them take you there.¡±

    Man Yao took the translucent, green jade emblem. Feeling its ice-cold touch and smoothness, she knew right away it was one of the highest quality. There was the character for ¡°Li¡± carved on it. She held it in her hand and smiled as she nodded and stepped off the carriage. Zongzheng Wuyou continued to look at her, his gaze unfathomably deep and unreadable. When the curtain was set down, the carriage continued onwards in the direction of the royal study.

    Although this pathway was remote, the scenery was beautiful and peaceful. Holding onto the jade emblem, Man Yao watched as the carriage carrying the handsome man within disappeared from her eyes, suddenly feeling restless. She quietly stood there for a while before she began to slowly walk forward along the path. Recalling about the matters regarding her marriage, she felt frustrated unlike the indifference she showed when she first entered the city.

    As time continued to pass, the path seemed to veer off even more. She wanted to find someone to ask for directions, but there was no one in her surroundings, so she could only continue forward. At this time, the sounds of a conversation could be heard, transmitting from the wall on her right side. She stopped walking and put her ears to the wall to heart better.

    There was a male voice, ¡°Wu Xiao Men was exterminated. I¡¯m afraid that in the future, even if we pull out even more money, there won¡¯t be anyone that will dare to ept such a request.¡±

    This voice¡­was the Crown Prince! Indeed, those assassins were sent by him.

    There was another voice, ¡°THat¡¯s right. Who knew that Prince Li¡¯s secret forces were so strong! Crown Prine, this official is a little confused. Since Prince Li knows that Crown Prince was behind this, why did he suppress this matter?¡±

    Crown Prince: ¡°Yu daren is unaware that when Noble Consort Yun was the only one favored in the inner pce, there were countless people that wanted her life. When she was met with an assassination attempt during her pregnancy, it was this Crown Prince¡¯s imperial mother that lost her life trying to save her. Before Imperial Mother passed, Noble Consort Yun promised Imperial Mother that she would take good care of me, guaranteeing that I would live a peaceful life.¡±

    Yu daren: ¡°I see! In that case, Prince Li must fulfill his mother wishes, and wouldn¡¯t fight with Crown Prince for the throne.¡±

    Crown Prince: ¡°It¡¯s true that Old Seventh doesn¡¯t want the throne, but fuhuang has always wanted to pass the throne on to Old Seventh. If he doesn¡¯t die, then sooner orter this Crown Prince will be stripped of my position by fuhuang, and then ndered to where my life can¡¯t be guaranteed. So, Old Seventh must die!¡±

    Yu daren: ¡°This morning, His Majesty received the Emperor of Qiyun¡¯s letter. Everyone in Qiyun was dissatisfied about this entire matter of the Princess¡¯s marriage being rejected, and demanded a satisfactory exnation as well as wanting to quickly resolve the matter. His Majesty has been racking his head over this matter, he will definitely think of ways to force Prince Li to marry Princess Rong Le. If this marriage really goes through, it will be greatly disadvantageous towards Crown Prince!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this. ording to Old Seventh¡¯s personality, if he doesn¡¯t want to do something, fuhuang won¡¯t be able to make him agree no matter what. Hmph, fuhuang only wants to help Old Seventh build up power, only to have that person brush him off.¡±

    ¡°Then who does Crown Prince think His Majesty will bestow to Princess Rong Le?¡±

    ¡°Naturally fuhuang will want to bestow it upon Old Ninth. Old Ninth is one of Old Seventh¡¯s people. If he marries Princess, he will have the power of Qiyun backing him up, making it advantageous for Old Seventh. But, this Crown Prince predicts that the Emperor of Qiyun actually favors General Fu Chou who returned triumphant from defeating Beiyi this time.¡±

    ¡°Crown Prince is wise! Fu Chou has already been promoted to ¡®Lord Protector General¡¯, if we can draw him over to our side, your position will certainly be more stable.¡±

    ¡°En, you will handle this matter¡­¡±

    Hearing this, Man Yao was shocked. It turned out that Imperial Brother had already knew of this matter and sent over a letter, yet she had no idea. She had been staying at Prince Li¡¯s residence these past few days and waspletely oblivious to what was happening outside! The Crown Prince¡¯s words were correct. If she could not marry Prince Li, then Imperial Brother would definitely choose Fu Chou, that rumored brave and fearless yet scheming young general! Yet she no longer had any room left to choose, unless¡­Zongzheng Wuyou changed his mind. Thinking up to here, Man Yao¡¯s heart jumped. What was she thinking, she actually wanted Zongzheng Wuyou to marry her! Why did she have such a desire? It must be because since they¡¯ve gotten more familiar with each other, she would feel more at ease. She secretly mocked herself and was getting ready to leave before she identally kicked a loose rock. The sound startled the two people on the other side.

    ¡°Who is it?¡± The two people on the other side of the wall stood up, immediately jumping over the wall to inspect but couldn¡¯t find anyone.

    Within the tree leaves in the next wall over, Man Yao¡¯s mouth was covered by someone¡¯s hand as she hadn¡¯t recovered yet from her shock of being carried up. She couldn¡¯t see the person behind her, but felt that they did not have any ill intentions towards her.

    ¡°That¡¯s weird, I clearly heard something outside.¡±

    Crown Prince: ¡°This ce is so remote, there shouldn¡¯t be anyone, or¡­we might have heard wrongly. Let¡¯s go, the banquet is about to start soon.¡±

    Hearing the heavy footsteps walk farther and farther, Man Yao still didn¡¯t move and calmly sat on the tree branch. The man behind her slowly lowered his hand, not moving either. After a beat, voices sounded out again from the wall, ¡°Crown Prince, it looks like we really did mishear.¡±

    ¡°En. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Man Yao smirked. When she was able to confirm that these two people really did leave, she finally turned around to look at the person behind her. Seeing him, she was shocked, ¡°It¡¯s you?!¡±

 Chapter 26 - False Rumors

    Chapter 26 False Rumors

    A gentle expression was on that handsome face. He smiled lightly towards her and whispered, ¡°We meet again!¡±

    Man Yao moved away from his embrace, ¡°You helped me again, thank you!¡± Even though she knew martial arts, this pce was an unfamiliar ce. She was not confident that she¡¯d be able to safely leave if she didn¡¯t have help.

    The man elegantly smiled, ¡°How did you know they woulde back again?¡±

    Man Yao sneered, ¡°Given Crown Prince¡¯s suspicious nature, unless he personally confirms it for himself, he would never easily assume that he heard wrongly.¡±

    The manughed, ¡°You seem to know a lot about the Crown Prince?¡±

    Man Yao spoke lightly, ¡°For some people, you only need to take one look to see what type of person they are.¡±

    As she spoke, she climbed down from the trees, lightlynding on her feet as her white robes fluttered in the air, her pose elegant and casual like a fairy. When shended, she spun around, making her sleeves spin in an arc, making for an extremely captivating scene. She raised her head to look at the man in the trees and lightlyughed as light shed through her beautiful eyes. In that moment, it seemed as if the whole space was lit up by her smile! Dazed, the man also jumped down, his movements handsome and careless, ¡°Then what type of person¡­do you think I am?¡±

    Looking into his starry eyes, Man Yao instinctively felt that although he seemed gentle and polite, that was not all that was there to him. But no matter how she looked, she couldn¡¯t see through that gentle facade. In the end, she only said a few words, ¡°Humble and courteous, as gentle as jade.¡± This was the first impression he gave towards her, even if it was incorrect.

    The manughed and nodded his head, seemingly very satisfied with this assessment. The two people walked together and quickly reached the area near the banquet hall. The man suddenly stopped, as if he remembered something, and then looked at her with a serious expression, ¡°Can you promise me something?¡±

    ¡°Go ahead.¡± She wasn¡¯t certain about what he wanted to ask her, so she didn¡¯t dare to make such a promise so easily.

    The man drew closer and lowered his voice, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone that you saw me ten days ago.¡±

    ¡°Alright.¡± Even though she felt it was a little odd, she agreed without hesitation. She secretly thought: This person seems to be very familiar with the pce, who exactly is he? Appearing in the pce at this time, could it be that he was one of the names on her list, one of the royal family members? Whether he was or not, the truth would soon be unveiled.

    The man¡¯s lightly raised his thin lips, giving an elegant smile that Man Yao returned.

    Outside the banquet hall¡¯s pce walls, a scene suddenly emerged in front of people¡¯s eyes. Two extraordinarily handsome men were very close to each other, gazing into each other¡¯s eyes as they smiled, as if they were long-time friends,ughing very carefreely. The skies had long turned dark, and thenterns were hung up in the hallways of the great hall, lighting it up. The night winds of May blew, bringing forth a bit of chill that prated into people¡¯s hearts.

    Man Yao suddenly felt a piercing gaze and turned her head. Not too far away in front of her, Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s hands were sped behind his back, his chin slightly lifted up as his thin lips pursed. His eyes stared at the two people, his gaze frigid. Her smile froze and walked up to him, ¡°You arrived? How is the Ninth Prince¡¯s situation?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t immediately reply, only closing his eyes before opening them again to look at her, not seeing any difference in her gaze before lightly replying, ¡°It¡¯s just external wounds, it¡¯s not a big deal. I¡¯ve already ordered people to bring him back to the residence.¡± Finishing, he spoke towards Leng Yan who was standing behind him, ¡°Pass word down that the person has been found.¡±

    Leng Yan received the order, and left after throwing aplicated look towards Man Yao. Man Yao was stunned, he ordered people to find her? That makes sense, she had already been dyed by almost an hour. Seeing his indifferent expression, she suddenly had an urge to exin things and gave an apologetic smile, ¡°I identally got lost. Luckily, I met this gongzi¡­¡± Even though it was ame excuse, it was the truth.

    Zongzheng Wuyou lightly raised his eyebrow and stared straight into her eyes, as if he was trying to see right through her, making her originally calm heart start to beat faster. Zognzheng Wuyou slowly blinked his eyes, his gazending on her left hand. Man Yao jerked, suddenly remembering that his jade emblem was still in her hand. In that case, to him, her excuse of getting lost seemed to be veryughable. Oh well, when had she ever needed to exin her actions to anyone? Giving a lightugh and shaking her head, her smile carried hints of self-mockery, and she returned the jade emblem back to him.

    Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t move to receive it, only indifferently sweeping his gaze over the man behind her as he drawled slowly, ¡°When did you be so close with the legendary Great General Fu?¡±

    Great General Fu? Man Yao was astonished and looke dback at the gentle and elegant man behind her, only to see him take two steps forward and politely smile, ¡°Prince Li is too modest. This general was only able to have today¡¯s fame due to wangye. In terms of being legendary, this general is far from reaching wangye¡®s level.¡±

    To be able to refer to himself as ¡°this general¡± in front of Zongzheng Wuyou, other than the Lord Protector General who held themand of three armies and is a duke, who else could it be?! Fu Chou, he was actually Fu Chou! Man Yao was stunned, unable to reconcile this gentle and elegant man with the ferocious Great General Fu! Rumors could not be trusted! She gave an awkwardugh and sped her hands in greeting, ¡°So it was Great General, Li Yue was disrespectful!¡± No wonder why he wanted her to keep their encounter from ten days ago a secret. A general actually arrived back ahead of schedule yet didn¡¯t report to the Emperor, this was the crime of deceiving the Emperor!

    Fu Chou pulled at her hands, ¡°Why are you so polite and distant all of a sudden?¡¯¡± His smile was so gentle and heartwarming that it made people feel as if they were bathed in the spring wind. ¡°You¡¯re Moonlight Tea Garden¡¯s Li Yue gongzi? I heard that the design of your tea garden was beautiful beyondparison, I really want to take a look.¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s hands froze and she lowered her eyes before lightlyughing, not speaking. Seeing her anxious smile, Fu Chou spoke, ¡°Li Yue doesn¡¯t need to worry, if there¡¯s a chance, I will plead to the Emperor on your behalf.¡±

    Man Yao didn¡¯t think too much of it and sincerely gave her thanks, ¡°Thank you!¡±

    Looking at the two people¡¯s hands sped together, Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze became frigid as he spoke in a dark voice, ¡°Great General Fu sure has a widework! Even though you are in the battlefield, you actually know about such a small matter in Jingcheng like a tea garden closing.¡± On the surface, this sentence seemed to be quite simple, but if one analyzed further, it would cause one to be suspicious.

    ¡°Prince Li¡¯s words aren¡¯t quite correct! Even though the matter of the tea garden closing is not a veryrge matter, wangye meeting an assassination attempt is definitely a big deal. Everyone in the streets is talking about this matter, how could this general not know about it when I entered the city!¡± Fu Chou gave a light smile, his words logical.

    Zongzheng Wuyou gave a cold smile, his eyes clear, ¡°Oh? General returned to court in victory but did not enter the pce and instead had the time to listen to the rumors in the city? How fresh! Benwang heard that the scenery in the eastern suburbs is excellent, has the general ever been?¡±

    Fu Chou¡¯s expression changed and looked at Man Yao who was stunned. Zongzheng Wuyou clearly knew something. She had never mentioned to anyone about the inn in the eastern suburbs, and furthermore, she did not know that he was Fu Chou at the time.

    Fu Chou: ¡°This general had heard of it before. When I am free, I will definitely go visit to take a look. If Prince Li does not mind, when the timees, this general will send an invitation to Prince Li to travel together. If Li Yue gongzi is able to also give some face, you shoulde too, is that alright?¡± Indeed, he was not a simple person. Fu Chou instantly changed his expression and quickly recovered back to normal, even offering an invitation like nothing happened.

    Standing in between these two, even though Man Yao was smiling, it was frozen. Taking a nce at Zongzheng Wuyou, she agreed to Fu Chou, ¡°Alright.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou looked at her. Even though his eyes were full of mixed feelings, she had no clue as to what he was actually thinking. Retrieving his gaze, Zongzheng Wuyou coldly looked at Fu Chou, ¡°It¡¯s up to General whether to go to the eastern suburbs or not, it has nothing to do with benwang. Benwang does not like to meddle in too many things, and dislikes meddling people even more!¡± Finished, he spun around to walk towards the banquet hall. After taking a few steps, seeing how Man Yao was still standing at her original spot, his eyes twitched as he spoke impatiently, ¡°What are you still doing? Hurry and follow benwang into the hall.¡±

    Man Yao gave a helpless smile towards Fu Chou and followed Zongzheng Wuyou in. Peeking at Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s cold and handsome profile from the corner of her eyes, she suddenly felt that her heart felt very fuzzy. He really was a very prideful man. After going around in circles for so long, in the end, he just didn¡¯t want Fu Chou to interfere with her matters.

    Although the banquet had not yet started, she could already hear the sounds of music from afar. When they entered the hall, the guards by the door announced, ¡°Greetings to Prince Li, may you live ten thousand years!¡± The countless soldiers, court officials, and schrs inside the hall stood up to bow. Zongzheng Wuyou walked past them as if he didn¡¯t even see them and walked straight towards his designated seat. Man Yao didn¡¯t bother being modest either and directly sat down in the seat next to him. To prevent herself from attracting too much attention, she kept her head down and didn¡¯t say anything.

    ¡°Do you want the tea garden to quickly resume operations again?¡± Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly spoke into her ear.

    Man Yao raised her head in surprise, and before she could open her mouth to say anything, Zongzheng Wuyou had already taken a hold of her hand underneath the table. Grasping it tightly, he continued, ¡°If you do, then¡­tomorrow, it can. However, you cannot move out of the residence. As for the tea garden, let the servants handle it. Okay?¡±

    Man Yao saw a glimmer of hope in his deep and sinister eyes, a type of hope that one couldn¡¯t reject. He actually could have resolved this long ago! Did he not do so because he wanted her to stay at the residence?¡±

    Seeing how she didn¡¯t reply even after a long time, Zongzheng Wuyou let go of her hand and turned his head back, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to¡­then forget about it.¡± Although his expression was indifferent, he spoke as if he was being wronged.

    He was usually an indifferent or cold person, and his asional moments of tenderness made one feel as if they were dreaming. Never would she havebeled him as ¡°adorable¡±, but faced with a pouting Zongzheng Wuyou, she suddenly felt that the distance between them became much shorter. Man Yao held back herughter even as her heart was full of joy. Zongzheng Wuyou scrunched his eyebrows only to hear her say, ¡°I didn¡¯t say I didn¡¯t want to, you did.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes brightened and he blinked rapidly, his face still indifferent as if he didn¡¯t care at all to whether she stayed at the residence or not. Man Yao continued to lightlyugh when a loud voice announced from the doorway, ¡°Greetings to Princess Rong Le!¡±

 Chapter 27 - The Princess Chooses a Husband

    Chapter 27 The Princess Chooses a Husband

    A red silk robe embroidered with phoenixes along with the crown of pearl beaded curtains entered the hall. Even though it was not as eye-catching as the wedding robes she wore when she first entered the great hall, it wasn¡¯t different by much. The slender waist swayed as light footsteps sounded throughout. That woman¡¯s figure was very simr to hers! She¡­wasn¡¯t Ling¡¯er! Man Yao¡¯s heart jumped and took another look at Xiao Sha who was walking behind the woman. He nced at Man Yao, his gaze full of anxiety and helplessness.

    When the red-robed woman sat down, all the gazes of the royal familynded on her as they started to gossip amongst themselves.

    A man whose face was full of despise spoke with contempt, ¡°Why is she still wearing a pearl curtain, it must be because she¡¯s far too ugly and can¡¯t bear to see people!¡±

    Another man shook his head while sighing, ¡°Her figure seems to be quite nice, what a shame!¡±

    Another man had an exaggerated expression on his face, ¡°Who do you guys think she¡¯ll pick? I hope she doesn¡¯t pick me, otherwise I¡¯d have to blindfold myself when ites time for the wedding night¡­¡±

    ¡°Hahaha¡­.¡± The Emperor of Lintian had not arrived, yet they were already so brazen and rude enough to mock Princess Rong Le who was rumored to be ugly beyondparison. The red-robed woman looked at Man Yao who was sitting from the corner of her eyes, and Man Yao gave a cold stare back, causing her to be startled and hurriedly lowered her head back down.

    From the moment that red-robed woman stepped into the hall, Man Yao¡¯s heart sank. She knew what was going to happen next, but she was powerless to stop it. She slowly turned her head to look at Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s perfect profile. He was wearing his usual cold and indifferent expression, as if there was nothing on earth that would affect him. She blinked and pretended to be indifferent as she asked, ¡°Why did you reject marrying Princess Rong Le? Is it because the rumors said that she was ugly?¡± Her voice was very low to where she thought that he might not be able to hear her.

    From the very beginning Zongzheng Wuyou never spared that red-robed woman a single nce. He lightly sipped on his tea, turning to look at her as he slowly spat out three words, ¡°I don¡¯t like.¡±

    He said ¡®I don¡¯t like¡¯! Man Yao raised her lips into a mocking smile. What didn¡¯t he like? Didn¡¯t like that his future was being controlled by someone else; didn¡¯t like that his own marriage was being used as a political tool; didn¡¯t like that he had to spend the rest of his life with someone he didn¡¯t love¡­

    He didn¡¯t like, and she didn¡¯t either! But the different was, he still had the right to refuse if he didn¡¯t like her, but she had no choice! Was it not enough that she was manipted to fall into someone else¡¯s trap and eventually died in her past life? Coming to this unfamiliar world, she was still unable to escape the fate of being someone else¡¯s chesspiece! Her eyes darkened and her heart was full of pain. ¡°Wuyou, if¡­I¡¯m saying if, if I was Princess Rong Le, you¡­¡± She stopped speaking and stared at him with her lips curved into a smile, pretending she was just making a joke.

    Zongzheng Wuyouughed, ¡°If you were Princess Rong Le, I would really admire your scheming and methods.¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s heart lurched. She actually forgot that she once asked for six months from him in the great hall and confidently said that she would make him marry her of his own will. If she were to be Rong Le in front of him, then that means that she schemed to purposely get close to him in order to sessfully marry into the prince¡¯s residence. For someone as proud as him, how could he possibly let such a thing happen! She suddenly raised her lips into a silentugh, her smile so wide and bright and her eyes were like the sun in spring, pushing down all of the insults and sadness to hide behind her smile into the deepest corners of her heart.

    This was the first time he had ever seen such a bright smile on her and it was especially beautiful. However, he felt that this smile seemed to be too forced, as if it was done to cover something up and was not truly from the heart. He furrowed his brows slightly but his voice was extremely gentle, ¡°Ah Man, don¡¯t smile like this. I don¡¯t like it!¡±

    Man Yao stopped smiling and returned back into an indifferent expression, her soft voice carrying hints of sadness, ¡°As you continue to live your life, not everything will be to your liking. Some things, no matter how much you dislike them, you will have to try to ept it. Wuyou, there is still¡­a long life ahead!¡± Life will not always go the way you want it to go. His fuhuang will eventually leave him one day. If he were toply with his mother¡¯s promise and not fight for the throne, then after the Crown Prince ascends, would he still be able to live so freely?

    Zongzheng Wuyou started. She was usually calm and introverted, but at this moment, he clearly felt the pain behind her words, even if her face seemed to be indifferent. There was still a long life ahead of him, even if he didn¡¯t like something he still had to try to ept it, how could he not know this!

    ¡°His Majesty has arrived¡ª¡±

    Following the soldier¡¯s announcement, everyone bowed down with the exception fo Zongzheng Wuyou who continued to sit quietly. After the Emperor of Lintian entered the hall, his gaze never left Zongzheng Wuyou, although his eyes did not have any hints of me. ¡°Subjects may rise! Tonight, everyone is happy for the same reason, no need for so many formalities. Everyone may sit.¡±

    Everyone thanked his grace and sat down. Fu Chou sat across from Man Yao. Whenever she raised her head, she would always find him smiling towards her. After a long introductory speech, the Emperor of Lintian spoke, ¡°The barbarians of Beiyi have disturbed our borders for many years, causing our citizens to live in suffering. Zhen once said if anyone can eliminate this thorn of mine, zhen, will definitelly heavily reward. As expected, my subjects did not let zhen down! The army expedition this time has given Beiyi a heavy defeat. Beloved subject Fu has contributed extraordinary effort and Seventh Son also has contributions. Zhen has already promoted beloved subject Fu to ¡®Lord Protector General¡¯ and raised him to dukedom. Now I will bestow Seventh Son a thousand li ofnd, solely under his control, and no matter if itsrge or small matters, it doesn¡¯t not need to be reported to court, and he can deal with it as he see fits. Wuyou, you may still live in the capital.¡±

    Bestowing him a thousand li and allowing him to be the sole ruler there, isn¡¯t that basically just giving him his own little dynasty? Everyone was in an uproar, the Crown Prince¡¯s face drastically changed, and shot the justice department official a look, ¡°Your Majesty, although Prince Li has contributed to the defeat of our enemies, there has never been a precedent of bestowing a thousand li, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡±

    The Emperor of Lintian¡¯s face darkened as his gaze sharpened, ¡°Precedents need someone to establish them in order for there to be one. Zhen is rewarding based on efforts today. If I do not bestow a thousand li, zhen really does not know what other reward would be suitable. Beloved subject Fu has already been promoted to Lord Protector General, rising more than three ranks, yet above Seventh Son, other than zhen¡®s position, the only other position is of the Crown Prince¡­Crown Prince has already been established for many years, even though he has not had any merits, he has nevermitted any crimes. Beloved subjects wouldn¡¯t want for zhen to abolish Crown Prince in order to reward Seventh Son, right? Unless¡­beloved subjects know that Crown Prince has recentlymitted a heinous deed and believes that he is no longer worthy of being a ruler?¡±

    After these words were spoken, all of the court officials that were originally trying to persuade him immediately became quiet. Yu daren was badly frightened and frantically kneeled down, bowing his head, ¡°This subject did not mean this, this was definitely not my intention! Crown Prince has always been filial andwful, there is no other person worthy of being our ruler, may Your Majesty bear witness!¡±

    The Emperor of Lintian had an unpredictable look in his eyes as he swept his gaze over to the Crown Prince whose head was lowered, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, then this matter is settled. Beloved subjects, please return back to your seats.¡± The Crown Prince finally let out a sigh of relief, his forehead was full of sweat and the fists under the table were still trembling.

    Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t bother to thank him, only carrying a smile that didn¡¯t seem to be a smile on his face as a sh of hatred flickered through his eyes. Giving him a thousand li, giving him fame and power; would that give that high and lofty emperor a sense of peace?

    The Emperor of Lintian met Zhongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze and his eyes darkened, immediately suppressing his emotions as he turned towards the red-robed woman, ¡°Why did Princess wear a pearl curtain to the banquet?¡±

    The red-robed woman, hearing her name, stood up and bowed in greeting, ¡°Replying to Your Majesty, this is a custom of Qiyun. When a woman is betrothed but has not yetpleted the marriage ceremony, she cannot let outsiders see her face.¡±

    Her voice was clear and elegant like the sound of nature. Man Yao started, even her voice was simr to hers. If it weren¡¯t that she were the princess herself, she would really believe that this person was the real Princess Rong Le! Imperial Brother really knew how to pick people!

    The Emperor of Lintian nodded his head in understanding, ¡°Two months ago, zhen granted you six months, but today morning, zhen received a letter from Qiyun. The Emperor of Qiyun also wishes that the marriage matters can be quickly resolved, so today zhen especially decreed for everyone to enter the pce so that Princess can use the opportunity to select fuma(1) so that the wishes of a hundred years of peace of us two emperors can be fulfilled.¡±

    The red-robed woman replied, ¡°Your Majesty is correct, it is Rong Le¡¯s fault for not considering the bigger picture.¡±

    The Emperor of Lintian smiled, ¡°Princess is open and understanding, you are the role model of women.¡± Finished, he raised his hand to indicate that she could start. The red-robed woman bent her knees in greeting and turned around, slowly walking around the hall. Wherever she went, those imperial princes would lower their heads, afraid that they would be chosen. Only Fu Chou continued to indifferently sip at his tea, his movements natural and carefree, as if he was not the one being picked but rather that he was the one doing the picking instead.

    The red-robed woman stopped in front of the table Fu Chou was sitting at. She bent down, her hands taking a hold of the finely crafted tea pot and refilled his empty tea cup. Her slender and jade-like fingers lifted the tea cup and with a lowered head and a light smile, she handed it over to him. Everyone knew what this meant.

    Indeed it was him! Man Yao gave a silent mockingugh. Giving up the most doted Prince Li in favor of the Great General that heldmand of the army, this was the expected choice. But Imperial Brother should not have used such underhanded methods to force her into a situation where she did not have a choice! No wonder why she had no knowledge of this beforehand, because Imperial Brother didn¡¯t want her to know at all. The Imperial Brother that everyone said doted on her the most, treated her as a political chesspiece in the end anyways! The same figure, the same voice, it was a one out of ten thousand choice, one that could hardly be found in the same dynasty. Imperial Brother, ah, Imperial Brother, is this the method that he used to wish her happiness?

    Those royal princes all let out a sigh of relief, finally raising their heads and sitting up straight,ughing as they looked forward to seeing how this youth picked picked by the ugly princess would react. A Great General who held the military seal and was a duke, if he were to be very happy to be married to an extremely ugly foreign princess, it meant that he was trying to use this opportunity to obtain more power and harbored great ambitions. But this was the husband that the Princess was ordered to pick by His Majesty, if he were to be unhappy at being picked, then it would mean that he was unhappy with His Majesty.

    Fu Chou¡¯s handsome face still had his gentle expression, seemingly not happy nor unhappy. No matter if it was his eyes or his facial expression, there didn¡¯t seem to be any other emotions. He slowly raised his eyes to gaze past the red-robed woman andnd on Man Yao only to see her sitting calmly, a mocking expression on her beautiful face. Her gazended over here too, her clear eyes hiding sadness and anger.

    The red-robed woman¡¯s hand was frozen in mid-air, she could raise it nor could she set it down. Fu Chou continued to sit without moving. The atmosphere in the hall became more anxious and awkward. Everyone¡¯s eyes were focused on Fu Chou, silently wondering if he was going to follow in Prince Li¡¯s footsteps and also reject the marriage? Although he had military merits, disobeying an imperial order was a crime whose punishment was beheading! In this world, the only person that could disobey a royalmand yet not be punished, other than Prince Li, there was definitely no second person!

    The Emperor of Lintian already lost his patience and his face darkened as he lightly coughed, his eyes carrying a warning. Fu Chou seemed to snap out of his daze as he blinked, his gentle and elegant smile surfacing. He stood up and bowed towards the red-robed woman in apology and then received the cup as he politely smiled, ¡°Many thanks to Princess for personally pouring this general a cup of tea. This general was surprised by the sudden favor and fell into a daze, may Princess please be magnanimous!¡±

    The red-robed woman¡¯s voice was tinged with shyness, ¡°General is being too harsh, please!¡±

    Fu Chou raised the cup towards his mouth, his movements very slow as he nced towards Zongzheng Wuyou and continued onwards to Man Yao across from him, his face still carrying an extremely gentle smile as he slowly drank the tea that signified he had epted Princess Rong Le¡¯s choice.

    Man Yao¡¯s lips were tightly pressed together. Just now, Fu Chou¡¯s ink-ck eyes swirled with gentleness, absorbing her gaze, not allowing her to look away at all. Yet this simple action of his sealed away her fate. This man who had be her husband in name, who had an extremely handsome face, who had an elegant and noble disposition, who had an oustanding status, who was gentle, and who had also saved her twice from danger, all of this seemed to be so perfect. If Imperial Brother was not the one who set this all up, if she did not stay at Prince Li¡¯s residence these past few days and interact with him, perhaps he would be a very good choice as a husband. Suddenly, her heart jumped as she furiously blinked in astonishment, why did she suddenly think of Zongzheng Wuyou? She didn¡¯t dare to think more about that reason she wasn¡¯t willing to face, especially since the situation unfolding in front of her eyes did not allow her mind to wander. Man Yao slowly raised her eyes again as she looked at Fu Chou across from her, as anger welled up in her heart. She hated the feeling of being controlled by others, she really hated it!

    Zongzheng Wuyou saw Fu Chou give such a tender gaze to the woman sitting next to him, yet Man Yao¡¯s gaze towards Fu Chou could not conceal her anger and despair, Zongzheng Wuyou couldn¡¯t help but furrow his eyebrows as he narrowed his phoenix eyes. His heart suddenly felt stifled and suddenly her hand that was sitting on her knee, gripping it tightly. It seems like he had to move faster!

    As she registered the pain from her hands, Man Yao scrunched her eyebrows and turned her head to see Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s usually cold and indifferent eyes carry an obvious look of anger. She was a little frightened and forcefully pulled her hand away. Zongzheng Wuyou felt her movements and his heart jumped, he actually felt such a crazy feeling!

    In the great hall, the red-robed woman had a faint smile as she gave a bow towards the Emperor of Lintian, seemingly embarrassed as she lowered her head to return back to her seat.

    Seeing that the marriage was set, the Emperor of Lintian¡¯s mood became joyous and heughed, ¡°Good, Chen gonggong, pass my decree.¡±

    ¡°Lord Protector General, receive the decree! By the will of the heavens, the Emperor has decreed, Great General Fu Chou¡­¡±

    Man Yao silently gazed at this y that she was the main lead in yet was directed by others with a smile full of mocking. In the end, was she really unable to escape from this fate? When Chen gonggong finished reading thest sentence of the decree and announced the wedding would be held three days from today, her smile became colder and colder. The wedding was in three days! She only had three days left¡­

 Chapter 28 - Thereâ€™s Only One Wife

    Chapter 28 There¡¯s Only One Wife

    The candles flickered as the wind blew, their shadows cast upon the tall pce walls. Within the banquet that was full of ulterior motives, everyone felt suffocated. The Emperor of Lintian¡¯s eyes swept over her face as if he was trying to look right through her, causing her to raise her guard. Thankfully, Zongzheng Wuyou did not stay until the end of the banquet before leaving early with her.

    The nights of May still carried some hints of coldnes. When they exited the hall, a carriage was already waiting for them outside the pce gates. The two people just got onto the carriage when a person suddenly rushed out from the corner of the pce walls, ¡°Wuyou gege!¡±

    Man Yao started. It was already sote at night, why did Zhaoyun junzhu appear here? She was even hiding in the corner! With her status, if she wated to meet Zongzheng Wuyou, it would not be difficult for her to enter the pce. Seeing how Zhaoyun junzhu¡®s face became more gaunt and both of her eyes were red and swollen as if she had cried for a very long time and no longer shined, it was a drastic contrast from the beautiful and cheerful Zhaoyun junzhu she metst time.

    The moment Zongzheng Wuyou saw her, his eyebrows furrowed and he took two steps back so Leng Yan could block Zhaoyun. Zhaoyun halted her steps and the tears began to roll out from her eyes as her voice was full of sadness, ¡°Wuyou gege, I¡¯m getting married¡­¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou was indiffierent, ¡°Since you are getting married, you should be staying at home preparing for your wedding. Why did you run over here?¡±

    Hearing this, Zhaoyun cried even harder, ¡°But I don¡¯t want to marry that person! Wuyou gege, you know the person I like is you¡­the person I want to marry is also you!¡±

    In this era, there were very few girls that were as direct as she was in confessing their love, especially to someone as cold and unfeeling as Zongzheng Wuyou. Man Yao couldn¡¯t help but admire her courage. Turning her head towards Zongzheng Wuyou, she only saw his eyes carrying a mocking gaze, ¡°What a joke! Do you think that benwang¡®s wangfei(1)¡­is a position that can be held by just anyone?¡±

    Zhaoyun hurried waved her hands, her red and swollen eyes full begging, ¡°I know that it can¡¯t¡­Wuyou gege, I don¡¯t need to be your wangfei, I can be a cefei(2), oh correction, even a shiqie(3) is fine¡­¡± She was unwilling to marry anyone else and was ced under house arrest by her father for thest three days. Finally, when her father was not at home, she took the opportunity to escape so that she could beg the man she loved to give her a chance, even if she had no status, she was willing.

    Zongzheng Wuyou: ¡°Even if you don¡¯t mind, benwang minds! In this life, benwang¡­will only have one wife, and it will definitely not be you. You should go back home and obediently prepare to be a bride.¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s heart jumped and raised her eyes to meet Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s. His cold and sinister eyes held a hint of gentleness inside that went straight through her into her heart. The two people turned away at the same time, lowering their eyes as they looked in opposite direction.

    Zhaoyun held onto the sword in Leng Yan¡¯s hand that was blocking her way and suddenly sat down, lowering her head and crying. After a while, she raised her head and yelled at the indifferent Zongzheng Wuyou with a voice full of despair, ¡°I won¡¯t! Wuyou gege, how could you be so cruel? To make me marry someone else, I¡­would rather die!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t bother to look at her, ¡°Benwang hates being threatened by other people the most, if you want to die, then go ahead.¡± With a wave of his sleeves, he stepped onto the carriage. Zhaoyun stared at his back and gave a bitterugh, her hopes shattered as she continued to mumble, ¡°Good, good, since Wuyou gege doesn¡¯t want me, then I, I will die for you to see.¡± Before she finished, she rammed her head into the carriage. Man Yao was startled and hurriedly called for the carriage to stop only for Zongzheng Wuyou to indifferently order, ¡°Leng Yan, stop her.¡±

    Zhaoyun instantly became happy, ¡°Wuyou gege, I knew that you cared about me, right?¡± She remembered that when she was very little and entered the pce with her father, Wuyou gege would y with her and treat her very well. Afterwards when Noble Consort Yun died, she never saw Wuyou gege give a genuineugh to anyone ever again. He always had an indifferent expression on and was cold towards others, not letting anyone near him. But she liked him, she liked his handsome demeanor, she liked his noble and refined aura, and she even liked his coldness, his arrogance that didn¡¯t put anyone else in his eyes. She liked everything about him. She revered this perfect man and looked at him with a gaze full of adoration, her eyes carrying glimmers of hope.

    Zongzheng Wuyou acted as if he didn¡¯t see and spoke indifferently, ¡°Benwang doesn¡¯t know what care means. If you want to die, the pce walls are right there, don¡¯t let your blood stain benwang¡®s eyes.¡±

    Zhaoyun stared at the cold and indifferent man in front of her in disbelief. Her whole body was shaking as tears continuously roleld down her face. The hope that had just isen in her eyes turned into despair, ¡°You, you¡­Wuyou gege, you¡¯re the¡­coldest person on this earth! I hate you!!¡±

    Sobbing, Zhaoyun ran away while Man Yao was rooted in her original spot, still not fully aware of what just happened. She dazedly looked at that celestial yet demon-like face, and watched as he took only a few moments to turn a person¡¯s love into hate with his calm and indifferent face. Should she say that he was considerate or ruthless?

    Zongzheng Wuyou saw that she was standing in her original spot without moving, seemingly having no intentions of getting on the carriage and couldn¡¯t but frown, ¡°Ah Man, get on.¡±

    Man yao inhaled a deep breath and raised her head to look at the starry night before speaking faintly, ¡°Wuyou, have you ever tried walking back from here?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou looked at her in confusion and contemted for a little bit before jumping down from the carriage. He gestured towards the driver to leave first.

    The wind of the beginnings of summer carressed the two people¡¯s hairs, causing their strands to flutter and dance about. They walked side by side on the quiet and deserted path, neither of them talking. Man Yao walked at a slow pace, the road in front of them was immersed in darkness and she couldn¡¯t see what was at the end, just like her future. Her heart was unusually heavy and she had a lot on her mind. The days that she could interact like this were numbered. Habits were a scary thing. In the future, there would no longer be anyone that would listen to her talk about the things that people in this world would not understand; there would also no longer be someone that would y chess with her every day and end in a draw¡­

    ¡°Something on your mind?¡± Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly asked her.

    Man Yao answered honestly, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou started, not thinking that she would answer like this. Seeing her half-closed eyes not as bright as they usually were, he recalled everything that happened tonight. Her mood seemed to have changed when Princess Rong Le chose Fu Chou. He frowned and stopped walking, firmly grabbing her hand, ¡°Is it because of Fu Chou and Princess Rong Le¡¯s marriage?¡±

    Man Yao looked into his eyes and nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou was shocked and his frown became even more prominent. Staring into her honest eyes, he pursed his lips and didn¡¯t speak for a very long time while his grip on her hand tightened. Man Yao bit back the pain and didn¡¯t try to pull away, only softly speaking, ¡°Wuyou, treating a woman who deeply loved you like that¡­it was very cruel.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou slowly released her hand and turned back, his voice calm, ¡°I don¡¯t like her.¡± Finished, he continued to walk ahead as Man Yao followed behind, watching his elegant backside being engulfed in the darkness of the night, cold and lonely. Again, he didn¡¯t like! Because he didn¡¯t like, he could reject so thoroughly without leaving a single shred of hope. This was the type of man he was. If he were to truly fall for someone, what would he be like?

    Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly stopped walking and turned around to look back at her andughed, ¡°Seeing as how you seem to be quite down, let me take you to a ce.¡±

    (1) wangfei: The legal wife/principal consort of a prince

    (2) cefei: Secondary wife/consort of a prince

    (3) shiqie: Concubine of a prince

 Chapter 29 - Whose Heart is Falling? (1)

    Chapter 29 Whose Heart is Falling? (1)

    The bright moonlight was reflected off of the ck strands, making them look extremely dazzling. The nights in the beginning of summer still carried a tinge of chill. Man Yao stared at the spring water in front of her and took a deep breath. She spoke softly towards Zongzheng Wuyou who stood behind her, ¡°This is the ce you wanted to bring me to?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou took a step forward to stand next to her and turned his head to look at her when he gave a lightugh, ¡°How is it? This ce¡­isn¡¯t it beautiful? Do you like it?¡±

    Man Yao slowly bent down, reaching out a hand to touch the spring. The beads of water slid down between her fair and jade-like fingers, illuminated under the light of the moon to look like crystal clear pearls. The warmth of the water prated her heart, and her tumultuous mood from being betrothed just now in the great hall became calm after experiencing this quiet solitude. Zongzheng Wuyou sat down in the grass next to her andid down with his hands behind his head. He spoke in a light voice, ¡°It¡¯s very beautiful isn¡¯t it? When I first came here, I had the same feeling as you, speechless, only wanting¡­to just peacefully experience all of this.¡±

    After a beat, Man Yao replied softly, ¡°Thank you, Wuyou.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou slightly tilted his head. Under the gentle moonlight, her clear eyes were as bright as the stars in the night sky. He lightlyughed, ¡°Are you tired? It¡¯s easy for people to rx in a quiet ce, especially for someone like you¡­someone who doesn¡¯t even let others see how exhausted they are.¡±

    Man Yao started. That¡¯s right, she was the type of person who didn¡¯t like to unload her burdens onto others, but wasn¡¯t Zongzheng Wuyou the same? He was also cautious and put up a facade to cover up his true nature. Think this, she slightly frowned and retorted, ¡°You¡¯re no better.¡±

    Just as her words fell, both of them couldn¡¯t help but burst out intoughter. Man Yao slowly stopped as she gazed at Zongzheng Wuyou, the unexinable bitterness in her heart beginning to rise up again. Would she still have such simple and peaceful days in the future? She who was a lonely soul that traveled through thousands of years, in this world where she had no kin, was it fate that she was able to meet a person like Zongzheng Wuyou who would discuss with her the matters of the past and present and also agree with her modern views? It¡¯s just, this fate had also forced them to their present situation. If Zongzheng Wuyou knew that she had lied to him, how would he react? Her heart was in pain and she didn¡¯t dare to think of the consequences, only falling into a daze.

    Zongzheng Wuyou felt it was odd when he didn¡¯t see her speak so he sat up and reached a hand out to grab her chin, forcing her to look at him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s crystal eyes stared straight into his, her gaze carrying hints of sorrow as if she were waiting for an answer of some sort from him. Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s heart could not help but slightly tremble, and he gently caressed her face. Man Yao stared at him for a very long time, and after she seemed to make a decision, she spoke with much difficulty, ¡°Wuyou, if¡­I¡¯m about to marry someone, would you be happy for me?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou was momentarily startled, his eyes measuring her as he gave a lightugh, ¡°Oh? You¡¯re getting married? To who?¡± His finger was tracing her lips, and the soft feeling caused waves in her heart as her mind was in turmoil. Zongzheng Wuyou only softly smiled as he looked at her, a light shing through his eyes as he patiently waited for her answer. Man Yao didn¡¯t expect for him to be so direct and clenched her teeth, ¡°I, I¡­¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou gave a sigh as he softly spoke, ¡°Ah Man, I know the person you¡¯re marrying.¡± Man Yao was astonished and looked up at him only to see Zongzheng Wuyou acting as if he was suddenly possessed, his eyes were shining and he gave a sinister smile as he clearly and confidently spoke, ¡°Because the only person you¡¯re allowed to marry¡­is me!¡±

    Finished, Zongzheng Wuyou pulled her down onto the grass and Man Yao gave a sound of surprise. Both of their faces were extremely close to each other to the point where they could feel each other¡¯s breaths. Her heart was furiously pounding as one of his arms was wrapped around her slender waist and his other hand was gently caressing her face. He spoke very gently, ¡°Ah Man, you¡¯re mine, you can only be mine.¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s heart was thrown into chaos. All of this happened so suddenly that she wasn¡¯t able to fully digest everything. Her mind was telling her that she should keep her distance from this man, but her heart kept wanting to get closer to him. She liked it when he would get jealous because of her and act childishly to show his displeasure. As if the seeds of spring had sprouted, Zongzheng Wuyou could no longer resist and kissed her. Her unique fragrance filled his nostrils as he felt his inner force silently go berserk as if it was fighting a great battle.

    Near the mist rising from the spring, the man¡¯s clear taste apanied the fresh grass and mixed together. She drowned in his fragrance and Man Yao gently closed her eyes, instinctively responding to him. Her hands were pressed against his chest, and through his clothes, she could feel his heart beating. Her heart trembled as she recalled the first time she touched him was when an assassin pushed her towards him. At that time, his body was ice-cold and her face was against his chest, yet she could not hear a single heartbeat. However right now, although his body was still ice-cold, she really felt his heart pounding! With this realization, there was a sudden burst of sweet happiness inside her, causing her to tremble slightly.

    He said, ¡®Ah Man you can only be mine!¡¯ For the Zongzheng Wuyou who abhorred women, what¡­did this mean? In this moment, she didn¡¯t want to think of anything else. What marriage, what general, what betrothal, all of these were thrown to the back of her mind, only leaving him who was in front of her¡­Zongzheng Wuyou, when was it that he slowly burrowed his way into her heart?

 Chapter 30 - Whose Heart is Falling? (2)

    Chapter 30 Whose Heart is Falling? (2)

    As he continued to passionately kiss her, his spirited tongue twirled and pushed open her teeth. At some point in time, Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s hands had already slipped inside her clothes, gently rubbing her slender waist back and forth, leaving behind trails of small fireworks.

    Man Yao opened her eyes slightly, gazing at Zongzheng Wuyou through the narrow slits, only to see his eyebrows pressed together and beads of sweat gathering at the tip of his noise. His breathing was bing more rapid and his usually pale face was slowly turning bright red, and his soulful eyes were closed. Sensing her gaze, Zongzheng Wuyou opened his eyes, his once sinister and ice-cold eyes full of passionate desire. Man Yao¡¯s heart quivered as she felt like a lighting bolt passed through his gaze to hers, causing her whole body to tremble. She had no strength to resist against this gentle and tender version of Zongzheng Wuyou.

    She hurriedly shut her eyes, her cheeks burning as her heart furiously pounded. She lived in a cautious state her whole life, never forgetting to remind herself what she should do. Even in her previous life, she only began dating her fiance after obtaining her father¡¯s permission. Even if it was just a kiss, it was only after a certain period of time had passed and it was at the appropriate time to proceed further in the rtionship. At that time, she thought that was love, but it turns out¡­she thought wrongly! As Man Yao was lost in her thoughts, she felt a cold breeze sweep over her shoulder, not knowing when her clothes had fallen to her waist. Her body stiffened as her mind cleared up. Was she really going give herself to this unreadable and quick-tempered man? Although she was sure that she liked this person, she was unable to grasp his feelings and moreover, what would she face after tonight?

    Zongzheng Wuyou seemed to have sensed her hesitation and his sword-like eyebrows furrowed, she didn¡¯t¡­seem topletely trust him. His touches became even more gentle as his fiery-hot lips glided over her ears and he bit her earlobe. His tongue darted out to lick it, causing her to immediately feel lightheaded as she let out a light moan, her breathinging in gasps as her eyes seemed to be in a state of drunkenness. He let out a light breath beside her ears as he spoke in a bewitching tone, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t like me?¡±

    His voice was hoarse and full of desire, his hot breathsnding on her corbone, each one jolting her sensitive mind. Her instincts told her to hide, but she was blocked by Zongzheng Wuyou. Staring into his watery eyes, her heart was a mess and she didn¡¯t know what to do. Man Yao murmured, ¡°I, I¡­¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou knew that he could not afford to rush the woman in front of him. She was so intelligent and rational yet he was unable to quench the thirst and desire from within him, causing the atmosphere to change. He slightly frowned, unable to wait any longer for her to finish thinking. He no longer hesitated, lowering his head to block her tender lips and his tongue darted out and yed and licked her lips. One of his hands reached inside her dudou(1) to grasp her breasts, caressing its softness. Man Yao panted as she hurriedly raised her hands to try to block him, but Zongzheng Wuyou used his other hand to grab it and held it against the grass as his kisses became even fiercer. Man Yao fought against him out of instinct, because even though she had feelings for him, she still had not decided yet.

    Zongzheng Wuyou was panting when he raised his head. Slightly raising his body, he looked down at her, the light in his eyes dimmed as the helpless look of a child surfaced on his face again.

    Man Yao¡¯s hurt ached, did her rejection hurt him? ¡°Wuyou, you¡­I¡­¡± She did not know what to say.

    Zongzheng Wuyou breathed, ¡°Ah Man, don¡¯t reject me¡­¡± During the days they interacted with each other, she would talk to him endlessly about everything from her world, the only exception being that she always avoided topics about herself. The her from that world definitely did not have a happy life. This woman¡¯s self-defense was very strong so he must let her understand with affection. As his frantically made these calctions in his heart, he decided to retreat in order to advance.

    Zongzheng Wuyou reached his hands out to cup her face, treating her extremely gently. His expression was very serious as he pressed a soft kiss down on her lips and spoke in a low voice, ¡°Ah Man, you should know that in my heart, you will be my, Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s, only wife in this life! If you are truly unwilling, I will definitely not force you.¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s heart shook. In her past life, she had lived for over twenty years, yet no one had ever looked at her with such a treasuring gaze like this, so considerate of her wishes! Man Yao felt her heart being squeezed and tears began to surface from her eyes uncontrobly. She widened her eyes, trying to not let the tears fall.

    When Zongzheng Wuyou saw the tears swimming in her eyes and how she stubbornly refused to let them fall, his heart was ovee with a feeling that he could not name. He couldn¡¯t help but kiss the corners of her eyes, his gentle actions conveying his love and anguish for her.

    At this moment, Man Yao truly felt Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s feelings for her. It wasn¡¯t through her eyes or her ears, but rather¡­through her heart. She took a deep breath and her eyes moved to see the desire he tried to conceal within his eyes. A shy smile bloomed on her face as she timidly reached her hands out to hold onto his slim waist. Feelings did not require one to overthink them, after many years, whenever she would recall this unforgettable night, she would always feel very sorrowful.

    Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly stiffened, his eyes carrying anxiety and happiness as he asked anxiously, ¡°Ah Man?¡±

    Man Yao slowly closed her eyes, her blushing cheeks revealing her embarrassment as her fingers held onto his body, her movements conveying to him her answer. Zongzheng Wuyou sucked in a breath and was unable to suppress his inner desires anymore. Man Yao only felt his hot lipsnding on her own soft ones before making its way down, causing her to breathe faintly as she gasped, her body growing limp. After a while, both of their clothes were fully gone and their hot flesh touched, feeling the rapid heartbeats of the other. A lonely soul traveled through thousands of years to find her other half in this different era. Two lonely and cold souls were unknowingly pressed together.

    In the dark night, even the half-moon hid itself into the clouds, not wanting to disturb the two figures entangling together. The light breeze carried hints of ambiguity, caressing the grass and marking it with the traces of love.

    The night was filled with thr thores of passion, he was like an uncontroble wild beast, taking her everything. When night turned into day, Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s movements became even quicker all the way up to hisst furious thrust, finally releasing himself inside of her. He felt the inner force inside his body breaking through his acupoints as his body stiffened and he let out a low grown. Man Yao reached her climax at the same time and her mind nked out. She couldn¡¯t handle the intensity anymore as she fainted away.

    Zongzheng Wuyou looked down at the woman who fainted and fell asleep in his arms. Her beautiful face still traces of the ecstasy she felt, and he used the back of his hands to lightly rub against her fair and smooth skin. A light shed through his eyes, full ofplicated feelings. This was the only woman in his life and also the only woman that he did not feel any disgust towards. In order to borrow her to break through his originally blocked meridians, she said that she would only allow rtions to happen if love was involved, and thus he used around ten or so days to obtain her love. He lightlyughed, in this world, as long as he wanted something, there was nothing he could not obtain!

    Zongzheng Wuyou lightly lifted the corners of his lips, looking at the woman¡¯s tightly closed eyes and spoke in a low voice, ¡°A mirror? Sometimes a mirror¡¯s reflection is not true. Ah Man, you¡¯re so intelligent yet in the end, you¡¯re still prone to feelings.¡± Finished, he picked up the woman in his arms and walked towards a nearby cottage. Laying her on the soft mat, he ced a nket over her, not realizing how gentle and caring his current actions were.

    (1) dudou: An inner garment worn by women in ancient times

 Chapter 31 - Flowers in the Mirror, Moon in the Water (1)

    Chapter 31 Flowers in the Mirror, Moon in the Water (1)

    Even as noon approached, the skies were still dark and unclear, swaths of clouds gathered in the sky as if a dark mask covered the earth, blocking all the light.

    Zongzheng Wuyou was sitting cross-legged next to the hot spring with his eyes closed, his palms pressed together, the air around him churning like smoke. He suddenly opened his eyes and pushed out both of his hands, only to hear a loud booming noise and the jade stone next to the hot spring shattered into pieces, its remnants flying everywhere. The trees around it broke and the water in the spring sshed around in waves. Such strong power! He only used two percent of his strength, and it already produced such results. Zongzheng Wuyou stood up, and thinking how he was finally able to perform the highest level of the Heart Sutra, it did not betray his efforts trying to woo this woman the past ten days. Thinking of that woman, he looked towards the cottage, a smile unconsciously appearing on his face.

    Man Yao was awakened by the noise and opened her eyes to see herself in an elegant but strange house. She frowned and sat up only to find her body sore and weak, her brain full of the passionate scenes fromst night. She lowered her head to see her ** underneath the silk nket. Her heart jumped and her mind instantly cleared up. Her hands tightened on the nket and sheid back down, her heart pounding. She really gave herself to him! Closing her eyes, she tried to calm herself down, regardless, since she fell in love, there was nothing to regret, and moreover¡­her heart felt a sweet type of fulfillment, including a thread of unease. She did not forget that her wedding to Fu Chou would be happening in two days! Now, she can longer marry and she is unwilling to marry! No matter what happens, she must tell Wuyou the truth about her identity, if Wuyou¡¯s feelings for her were true, then he would definitely not allow her to marry someone else but he would also be angry for her hiding this from him or misunderstand her, she¡­was willing to exin to him. Thinking to here, she immediately got up from the bed and put on her clothes. She had just put on her inner robes when she heard someone from outside yell out, ¡°Seventh Brother!¡±

    The Ninth Prince was always like this, you would hear him before you saw him. Man Yao lightlyughed and walked to the window, gently lifting a corner before looking outside through the slit to see the Ninth Princeying on a chaise that was being carried by people. He yelled out in a loud voice, ¡°So you were here Seventh Brother, you made me go through so much to look for you! I say, Seventh Brother, your body is not suited to stay in the hot springs, what are you doing here?¡±

    Man Yao slightly frowned, Wuyou¡¯s body was unsuited for hot springs? Why? She suddenly remembered how his body was always so ice-cold, could it be rted to that? She turned her head and opened the window slightly more, the straight figure near the hot spring entered her view. It was the man who was entangled with her all night and she couldn¡¯t help but turn red. Even though she was not as conservative as the women in this era, but since she experienced **, she still felt a little shy and embarrassed.

    Zongzheng Wuyou saw how the Ninth Prince didn¡¯t even bother to move from his chaise and furrowed his eyebrows, ¡°You haven¡¯t recovered yet, what are you doing running around everywhere?¡±

    The Ninth Prince remembered the reason why he came and excited got up, identally bumping his wounds and cried out in pain, his handsome face crumpling as he still tried to smile, ¡°I¡¯m happy, aiya! It hurts, it really hurts¡­¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyouughed, ¡°You¡¯re happy getting beaten a hundred times? Next time I¡¯ll let him punish you with an extra one hundred strokes!¡±

    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t don¡¯t don¡¯t!¡± The Ninth Prince¡¯s lips twitched as he hurriedly put his hands out, ¡°Seventh Brother, that¡¯s not the reason why I¡¯m happy. It¡¯s because Qiyun¡¯s Princess Rong Le is going to marry Fu Chou, so I don¡¯t have to marry her, haha¡­I finally escaped this disaster!¡±

    Man Yao shook her head and bitterly smiled, marrying her was a type of disaster! Zongzheng Wuyou gave a sharp smile, raising his eyes, ¡°Do you think this marriage is a¡­good thing?¡± The Emperor of Qiyun chose him to be the other party in this marriage and after experiencing his rejection, he wasn¡¯t angry and changed his choice to Fu Chou who just returned from victory. Yet that Princess who went through so much effort in the great hall to ask for half a year¡¯s time was willing to marry the arranged party when three months hadn¡¯t even passed yet. This wedding has probably lost all of its original intentions!

    The Ninth Prince was startled and stopped smiling. Carefully thinking, he spoke, ¡°Seventh Brother means¡­there¡¯s a conspiracy behind this? Ah, let me think¡­this battle was actually already finished a month ago, but Fu Chou pulled the wool over everyone¡¯s eyes and dyed until now, could it be¡­¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s hands were crossed against his back, his eyes deep and dark as he spoke in a heavy voice, ¡°I don¡¯t care about these. Is there no news about the person I asked you to find?¡±

    The Ninth Prince shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s already been twenty years, when Noble Consort was giving birth that year, anyone who was present at the time is either missing or already dead¡­¡± He paused, his eyes carrying suspicions, ¡°Seventh Brother, are you sure the person you¡¯re wanting to find¡­is still alive? But we don¡¯t even know if that person is a man or a woman, just going off of a birthmark that we can¡¯t even confirm is present or not, this¡­is too difficult of a task?!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou slowly blinked, his gaze bing heavy as he pursed his lips, not speaking. The Ninth Prince realized that he shouldn¡¯t have spoken of something and hurriedly waved his hands to have his servants carry him near Zongzheng Wuyou and raised his body to pull him, his voice apologetic, ¡°Seventh Brother, I was just casually saying it¡­the person you¡¯re trying to find is definitely still alive!¡± Zongzheng Wuyou expressionlessly nced at the hand the Ninth Prince was tugging and frowned. The Ninth Prince gave a dryugh and let god, suddenly recalling something as a glint shed through his eyes and he reached out to pull on Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s arms, kneading it few times as if he was trying to confirm something. His eyes widened as he stared at his Seventh Brother in disbelief. Zongzheng Wuyou frowned, rudely pping his hands away.

    The Ninth Prince didn¡¯t acknowledge the pain from his hands as he yelled out, shocked, ¡°Ah?!! Why is it warm? Seventh Brother, you, you¡­why is your body warm? Is your qigong finallyplete? No way, you said practicing the Heart Sutra cannot go against thews of nature, so in order to not touch women, you would soak in the iceke all the time, causing your meridians to be blockedst time you wanted me to find a woman, but after I spent the money, it was fine if you didn¡¯t want to touch her, but you even killed her! I had to go through so much effort to settle the matter¡­¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou gave him a sharp look, ¡°Oh? In this capital, there are still women that you ¡®Ninth ye¡® can¡¯t settle?¡±

    The Ninth Prince immediatelyughed, ¡°Of course not! But that woman¡­it¡¯s truly a shame! Cough¡­I¡¯m going off-topic, Seventh Brother, tell me, how did youplete your qigong? You didn¡¯t secretly find a woman on your own, did you? That reminds me, the night when you encountered those assassins, you suddenly wanted me to find a woman and yet despised the woman that I brought, saying that she wasn¡¯t good enough, could it be that you already had a candidate in mind? Who is it? It couldn¡¯t be¡­Li Yue?¡± As he spoke, his voice slowed down and he turned his head, trying to test him.

    Man Yao had been eavesdropping on their conversation all this time, and hearing this part, her heart suddenly fell, an unsettling feeling rising within her as she pieced together everything that happened. In order to suppress the long-term chill that Zongzheng Wuyou got from soaking in the iceke, causing his meridians to be blocked, he asked Ninth Prince to find him a woman to resolve this problem, only to kill that woman?! He avoids women like a snake yet he only treated her differently? Could it be because he didn¡¯t feel any disgust when she identally fell onto him that night? She recalled how his eyes turned red that night and how he lost control and pounced on her¡­now that she thought about it, could it be that some type of magic possessed him?! Also¡­that night, she rejected him, saying that it could only happen if there was love present¡­

    (1) Flowers in the mirror, moon in the water (¾µÖÐ»¨Ë®ÖÐÔÂ): Meaning illusions or fantasy; Objects being reflected by mirrors and water are ultimately projections and not the real object. It¡¯s usually used to describe the type of love that is beautiful but ultimately unachievable. (Trantion credit)

    (2) ** is in the raws, not me purposely trying to censor

 Chapter 32 - Flowers in the Mirror, Moon in the Water (2)

    Chapter 32 Flowers in the Mirror, Moon in the Water (2)

    As the skies darkened, it was like a nket of gloom descended, causing people¡¯s hearts to feel restless. Man Yao¡¯s fingers were turning white from holding onto the window pane so tightly, her heart seeming to fall into a bottomless pit. She steadied herself, looking through the slit in the window, watching Zongzheng Wuyou calmly gaze at the ripples caused by the wind in the hot spring, unable to read his expression.

    The Ninth Prince was hesitating, wondering if he should ask or not, ¡°Seventh Brother, you and Li Yue¡­did you¡­¡± He was still trying to find the words when Zongzheng Wuyou turned around, his face emotionless as he spoke slowly, ¡°She¡­did it willingly!¡±

    Such a casually uttered phrase, spoken as if it was a daily urrence. The cold wind blew through the window,nding on the pale face of the woman inside, her fingers digging deeper and deeper into the wood of the window pane, her slim figure trembling in the wind. She inhaled deeply, the cold wind cutting into her like ice, entering her organs and slicing through her ice-cold heart.

    Willingly?! That¡¯s right, she did do it willingly, so who could she me? She ced a hand over her aching heart, pressing it so tightly it was as if she was about to squeeze her own heart to pieces. She bent over, gasping, she couldn¡¯t me anyone, but if she had to¡­she could only me herself for not reading people correctly, not recognizing that love was like flowers in the mirror and the moon in the water, just an illusion. She lowered her head to look at the gray and cold stones underneath her feet, her emotions running wild through her eyes. She hurriedly raised her head and lifted her chin up, she widened her eyes as she looked at the roof of the cottage. That dark red sculpture seemed to be the mark left behind by dried blood, reflecting in her deste eyes.

    The ninth prince always thought that Zongzheng Wuyou brought Li Yue back to his residence because Li Yue knew how to y chess. He once learned chess just because his Seventh Brother liked to y it, but he could never muster up enough interest and gave up in the end. Recalling that calm and intelligent woman, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Seventh Brother, are you¡­going to marry her?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou started and he gazed at the dark clouds in the distance, not saying anything. The Ninth Prince sighed and turned his head to see a slim woman slowly pacing in the cottage, her steps seemingly steady yet giving off a feeling of difficulty, ¡°Li Yue?!¡±

    When Man Yao stepped out of the cottage, a smile was on her face, self-mocking and cold. The eyes that used to be so bright and clear was now still like water, pain and irony hidden in its depths. She ever so calmly looked at Zongzheng Wuyou, her lips tightly pressed together and her beautiful face lost its color to reveal a pale white.

    Hearing the noise, Zongzheng Wuyou turned around only to see her wear a thinyer of clothing, her long, ck hair dancing in the wind as her snow-white clothing pped in the wind, causing that slender figure to look as if it was about to copse at any moment. Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly felt his heart tighten and he unconsciouslly strode forward, slightly frowning, ¡°Are you not afraid of freezing by wearing so little clothing?!¡±

    His care was so natural, and it was this natural-ness that caused her to be unable to differentiate fiction from reality, lies from truth. Man Yao looked at the hand Zongzheng Wuyou reached out to her and scoffed, taking two steps back, suppressing the waves in her heart, ¡°Didn¡¯t you already aplish your goal? There¡¯s no need for you to continue pretending.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou was stunned, realizing that she heard the conversation just now and made her own conclusions. Towards her prating gaze, he wrinkled his eyebrows as his eyes dimmed, turning around and not answering her.

    His silence seemed to have confirmed her conjectures. Although Man Yao somewhat knew, she still couldn¡¯t help but feel a sharp pain in her heart. Her body faltered and Zongzheng Wuyou instinctively reached out to steady her only for her to avoid him. He lowered his arms, his face still calm, unable to be read.

    Seeing this, the Ninth Prince hurriedly spoke, ¡°Li Yue, don¡¯t misunderstand¡­¡±

    Man Yao cut him off, ¡°Ninth Prince does not need to exin for him, whether it¡¯s a misunderstanding or not, I¡­know the answer.¡± Her hands curled up into fists as she tried to suppress the tears welling up in her eyes. She raised her face, a smile hanging off of her lips, ¡°I would like to ask Prince Li about something.¡±

    Hearing her recover herposure so quickly and even change the way she addressed him, Zongzheng Wuyou felt it was especially stinging and he frowned, looking at her calm smile, he didn¡¯t open his mouth, only using his eyes to tell her to proceed.

    Man Yao stared at his cold eyes, the pain in her heart spreading as she smiled with difficulty, ¡°The tea garden being closed¡­me being thrown into prison, that was all your doing¡­right?¡± She was always wondering how Ling¡¯er was captured all of a sudden that morning at the tea garden when very few people knew about the assassination attempt the night before. She thought he hated the Emperor of Lintian and didn¡¯t like him interfering in his matters, but she didn¡¯t know that his goal¡­was actually her!

    A sharp glint shed through Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes and he looked at her, his voice devoid of emotion, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, a woman who is too intelligent for her own good is not a good thing. If she were to be a little more dumb at times, then she wouldn¡¯t be so hurt so easily. You¡¯re so intelligent, why would you try to get to the bottom of this, causing pain to yourself.¡±

    This was the man that was so tender and gentle to herst night? He was actually such a fickle person! His words were like a hammer smashing onto her heart, the pain diving deep inside her bones. She forced the tears back, giving a painful smile as she breathed deeply trying to calm her emotions. She gave a mockingugh, ¡°Intelligent? Ah¡­if I were intelligent enough, how could I have fallen into your trap and be a¡­tool for your cultivation?!¡± The word ¡®tool¡¯ was like a knife stabbing into her heart, causing her endless pain. Was she truly¡­too stupid or was his acting just too realistic?

    The Emperor of Lintian closed her tea garden in a fit of anger and captured everyone rted and threw them in prison; in order to cleanse himself of any suspicion, the Crown Prince would definitely find himself a scapegoat; in order to save the people of the tea garden, she could only rely on Zongzheng Wuyou. All of these events were within his calctions. He could protect her reputation and also sessfully move her into his residence, and then pretend to fall in love with her so that she would be moved in order for him to reach his goal, this was¡­love?! Howughable!

    Zongzheng Wuyou: ¡°It¡¯s not that you were not intelligent enough but rather that you met benwang. You don¡¯t need to worry, since¡­you are now benwang¡®s woman, benwang will naturally marry you.¡± He ced a hand on her shoulder, the temperature from his touch stunning her, his fiery-hot touch fromst night actually became ice-cold now?

    She jumped a little and then immediately took a step back, turning her body to escape his touch. Now that things havee to this, did he really think that his marrying her was some sort of great reward to her? Zongzheng Wuyou, you really don¡¯t understand me! Her body was slightly trembling and her hands clenched into fists, her fingernails stabbing into her soft palms. She gazed into his ink-ck eyes, unable to see a hint of tenderness from the days past, only indifference and coldness. She covered up all of her pain and hid them deep within the depths of her eyes as she let out a faintugh, ¡°No need, Prince Li! **¡­was something that we both did willingly, what¡¯s the point of talking about marriage? Yesterday night¡­just treat it as a spring dream, now that we¡¯re awake¡­we are nothing!¡±

 Chapter 33 - Flowers in the Mirror, Moon in the Water (3)

    Chapter 33 Flowers in the Mirror, Moon in the Water (3)

    Zongzheng Wuyou was stunned, she actually rejected him again! In order to stay by his side, other women could disregard having a status and even go to the extent of death yet she casually wrapped up everything they had as just a spring dream! A totally careless look on her face, and she even said that the ** was done with both parties willing participation so marriage was not necessary, Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly felt his emotions were thrown in turmoil. He frowned, hints of anger rising in his eyes as he reached a hand out to grab her chin. He didn¡¯t like how her lofty and arrogant expression that seeme dto say that no one on this earth and nothing in this world was important enough to her. He narrowed his phoenix eyes and stared into hers, his gaze trying to prate her very soul as he spoke in a heavy voice, ¡°Do you know that in this world¡­exactly how many women want to marry benwang?¡±

    Man Yao was hurting from her chin being squeezed and she protested only to be met with his increased force as if he would only stop when he finished crushing her. She relented and let him be, how could this painpare with the pain she was feeling in her heart? She smiled at him, her gaze firm and steady and her voice calm, ¡°Your Highness Prince Li¡¯s identity is noble and looks are peerless, naturally there are countless people who want to marry you, you can¡­just marry all of them, but¡­you will definitely not find me amongst those people.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s expression darkened. If other people said this, they would just be throwing a tantrum, but for her to say these words, it made it seem as if these were her honest thoughts. The woman who cried just from being moved by his wordsst night could smile so indifferently after finding out that his feelings for her were not true today. He felt this smile was far too ring. He stared at her for a while longer, unable to find anything else other than the disdain in her eyes and the sneer hanging off of her face. He didn¡¯t believe that her heart would be as calm as her face. He suddenly reached out to wrap an arm around her waist, and when he grabbed it, he recalled the feelings it elicited in himst night, and he couldn¡¯t help but react instinctively, forcefully pulling her in front of him, the two people tightly pressing against one another.

    Man Yao¡¯s face changed and unhesitatingly tried to push him away, speaking coldly, ¡°What are you doing? Let go of me.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou not only did not let go of her and instead used one of his hands to firmly keep her waist in position and his other hand caressed her pale face, his fingers ying with her fair earlobes as he gave a sinister smile, ¡°I just wanted to make you remember what you feltst night¡­how about it? Do you remmeber now? You might be refusing to marry benwang right now, butst night¡­carrying the heart of wanting to marry benwang, you willing¡­offered your own body.¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s lips lost all their color. This man was too cruel, he couldn¡¯t bear to see her well and wanted to dig deeper into her hidden wounds, drawing out blood, would he only cease after cruelly stepping on her? She used all of her strength to stop herself from trembling. Her heart was frozen like ice and she forced herself tough, ¡°So what? In my world, when two strangers have a one night stand, they go their own separate ways the next morning, they don¡¯t even remember if the other party was ugly or beautiful¡­this type of thing is not a big deal. Furthermore, I would never marry someone who uses me.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s hands stilled. He believed the one night stand she mentioned, but he instinctively felt that she wasn¡¯t someone so casual but was rather like his mother, treating the body as the most loyal expression of love. He didn¡¯t try to dissect his reasoning behind why he wanted to marry her, could it really just be for her body? Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly let go of her, authoritativelymanding, ¡°Benwang said it before, in this life, the only person you can marry is benwang! Whether you agree or not¡­is not up to you.¡±

    Man Yaoughed, herughter full of irony. This man was so arrogant and proud that he thought everyone in this world was within his control. But she will let him know that even though everything else in this world may heed to his wishes, but she Man Yao, whether it was her body or her heart, would never be controlled by him.

    She raised her head to stare at Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s peerless face, coldlyughing before speaking, ¡°I know Prince Li has enormous power, but not everything in this world will be within your control. There will always be a person that you¡­won¡¯t be able to obtain even if you beg; there will always be something that even if you Zongzheng Wuyou gathered the clouds and turned them to rain(1)¡­you would still not change the oue.¡±

    Her voice was so firm, each word, each sentence, extremely resounding. Zongzheng Wuyou was stunned for a moment before he felt the winds fiercely picking up as if it was using all its strength to flip over the world. Man Yao used all her strength to say these words and didn¡¯t want to stay any longer in this ce, much less face this man who duped her feelings. She turned around and brushed against his shoulder. When her back was towards him, the tears she suppressed for so long fell down, the crystal tears sliding down that pale face, slipping through her lips, the salty tastending on her tongue and going straight into her heart. She bit her lip, forcing back the sobs that threatened to break out and forced back her desires. She felt like she swallowed a steel de, stabbing deeply into her heart.

    She forced herself to smile and as she continued to walk, her steps were steady and unhesitating, not looking back.

    The usually talkative Ninth Prince was abnormally quiet. He never thought that this peerlessly beautiful and intelligent woman who seemed to be indifferent and calm was actually so proud and stubborn. She was clearly hurt very badly but she forced herself to pretend that she was fine and unaffected. His heart ached at the sight of her. He opened his mouth and spoke mournfully, ¡°Li Yue¡­¡± but that woman had already disappeared.

    Zongzheng Wuyou quietly stood in his original spot, hearing those steps that were growing fainter and fainter, his heart seemed to have stopped beating but he still didn¡±t turn around. He didn¡¯t know why his heart suddenly felt so empty. He believed that no matter where she went, she would never be able to escape him, but he never thought that when he let go, it would bring him a result that he couldn¡¯t bear¡­

    The gale grew stronger and the storm descended. The people on the streets rushed to find ces to avoid the rain, their stepps hurried. The carriage drivers cracked their whips, and the horses broke out into a run hearing the sounds, mud sttering everywhere.

    Man Yao dragged her heavy feet, slowly walking in thene that was being washed by the storm. She began to hate her own rity. The giant raindrops of the cold rainnded on her head and face, numbing her pain. Wearing a thinyer of clothing, she walked in the rain, not because she was trying to insult herself in the wake of heartbreak but because she was actually so selfish that whether it was her past life or her current life, she would never do something so stupid as to disgrace herself in order to take revenge on someone. She just¡­she just didn¡¯t have anywhere to go. She couldn¡¯t see much in this rainy fog, and to this world, she was just an orphaned soul from a different world. She had no home, no family, no warmth¡­

    In the end, she¡­had nothing! Even this body wasn¡¯t her own, and this heart¡­sheughed out of despair, the low and heavyughter mixing in with the sounds of the thunderstorm sounding especially sorrowful and deste.

    She continued to walk aimlessly in this state for who knows how long. When she finally stopped, she found that she already reached Heavenly Lake.

    On thekeshore, the willow tree branches whipped around, smacking against the shores. The papers saying that Moonlight Tea Garden was shut down were no longer there on the big gates. She was stunned and then began to mock herself. He already achieved his purpose, what was the point of keeping her garden shut down? She suddenly lost the desire to draw any closer to the tea garden that was once the culmination of her dream. She couldn¡¯t forget that it was in this tea garden that her idental touch against that man resulted in her fate of being lied to and used.

    Turning around, she walked alone on the roads without a destination in mind. Her entire body seemed to be hollow and she felt exhausted. When she really couldn¡¯t walk anymore, she found a rtively hidden corner of a wall and leaned against the cold and hard bricks. She slowly squatted down, holding onto her knees, she just wanted to stay like this for a moment, just for¡­a moment. As she watched the raindropsnding on the ground, she murmured, ¡°This rain is good.¡± The world was quiet.

    When the rain stopped, she gathered her emotions and was about to stand up when a pair of ck satin-embroidered shoes appeared in her view.

    (1) The Chinese idiom is ¡®·­ÊÖÔÆ¸²ÊÖÓê¡¯ which literally trantes to gathering clouds with the palm up and turning them to rain with the palm down. It¡¯s used to describe someone very powerful or capable.

 Chapter 34 - Returning to Generalâ€™s Residence

    Chapter 34 Returning to General¡¯s Residence

    Man Yao¡¯s eyes slowly traveled up, the owner of the shoes was wearing an azure-colored robe, his face was uniquely handsome, a gentle expression on his face, his eyes carrying warmth as he looked at her pale face stained with raindrops.

    The man¡¯s hand held an umbre over her head and he smiled and reached a hand out towards her. Man Yao stared at that hand, his long fingers were slender, his palms full of deep calluses. The man saw how she was staring at his hand in a daze and gently smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve spent many years on the battlefield, after wielding the sword for so long, calluses have appeared. Please¡­don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Man Yao shook her head, raising her gaze to look at that gentle and harmless face. This was the man who will be her husband in two days, and she will take his surname, spending the rest of her life with him. But this man, is he really as harmless as he looks? Although she faintly smiled, her eyes were sharp and prating, her voice was calm as she slowly drawled, ¡°I was just thinking that every time I meet General, it is always coincidentally whenever I am in dire need of help. Tell me¡­is this the will of the heavens? Or someone¡¯s maniptions?¡±

    Fu Chou started, his gaze slightly changing as a glint shed through his eyes before speaking casually and smiling, ¡°Of course it¡¯s through someone¡¯s nning. How could there be so many coincidences in this world? I know you have your difficulties and that¡¯s why I arrive at the right time to help you out of your binds.¡±

    This answer was a little unexpected to her, and he also stated it so openly that she couldn¡¯t determine if there were any hidden meanings. Man Yao replied, ¡°Then how did General know that I needed help? I am not close with General, why would you help me?¡±

    Fu Chou¡¯s gaze became heavy, seeming to also consider this question before he answered, ¡°I also want to know the reason why¡­your clothes are drenched. How about this, if you don¡¯t mind,e to my residence first to take a bath and change clothes, otherwise you¡¯ll get sick.¡±

    Man Yao looked at the nearby roofs from the corner of her eye, contemting for a while before nodding her head and extending her hand to grasp his fingers. She wanted to borrow his strength to stand up but her legs had already been numb from squatting for so long that before she could fully stand up, she stumbled and fell back down towards the ditch next to her.

    Fu Chou hurriedly extended his arm to grasp her shoulder, ¡°Hold this umbre, I¡¯ll carry you.¡± Finished, he didn¡¯t allow her to protest before he shoved the umbre into her hands. She couldn¡¯t even say ¡°It¡¯s alright¡± before her whole body was lifted in the air.

    His embrace was very warm, his shoulders wide, his arms firm and strong, causing people to feel safe and reassured. Right now, her whole entire body was thoroughly exhausted and she suddenly had a thought: why did she have to consider so much? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to treat everything more simply? As long as she could protect her heart, nothing else mattered. Thinking of this, she rxed and closed her eyes, leaning against the crook of her neck, slowly falling asleep and the umbre in her hand fell tond on the ground behind them.

    Fu Chou lowered his head to look at the woman¡¯s tired face and the gaze in his eyes changed as he unconsciously slowed his steps, walking more steadily.

    The rain slowly stopped and the skies opened up as the clouds dispersed, Prince Li¡¯s residence had a fresh smell after being showered in the rain. Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s phoenix eyes were closed and he wasying against the chaise taking a rest. His right fingers were absentmindedly caressing the white chess piece in his left hand, as if he was waiting for something. After a long while, he suddenly said, ¡°Ah Man, why haven¡¯t you made your move yet? The longer you take to consider your move, we won¡¯t be able to finish this round today!¡±

    His eyes were still closed as he spoke, silently waiting for a reply. After a while, even the sound of breaths were faint. Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly woke up, opening his eyes to find no one in front of him. His heart trembled, did he already develop such a habit? Looking at the chess piece in his hand, his brows furrowed and he stood up as he called out in a frustrated voice, ¡°Someonee.¡±

    The steward who had been guarding outside this whole time entered the room, cautiously holding up a cup of tea with both hands and respectfully bowed,¡±Wangye, you¡¯re awake?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou took the tea and rinsed his mouth before handing it back over, ¡°Is Lin An back?¡±

    The steward hurriedly replied, ¡°Reporting to wangye, Guard Lin has already been back for an hour. This servant saw that wangye was resting and did not dare to disturb you so I instructed him to wait outside the door.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou: ¡°Call him in.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± The steward retreated and a twenty year-old or so tanned man in all ck entered the room with quick and silent steps. One look and you could tell that he was a martial arts expert. The man kneeled on the ground and bowed, ¡°This subject greets wangye.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou waved his hand to gesture him to rise, ¡°After she left the back mountain, what did she do? Where did she go?¡±

    Guard Lin: ¡°Reporting to wangye, Li Yue gongzi followed the roads westward and walked in the rainstorm for about an hour. In the middle, he went to the Heavenly Lake and stopped for a while before leaving again¡­¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s expression changed, raising his hand to stop him, his brows wrinkled in concentration, ¡°You said that she walked in the rain for an hour? Did she have an umbre?¡±

    Guard Lin shook his head, ¡°No. She walked very slowly in the rain.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s heart trembled before he asked again, ¡°What sort of expression did she have on her face?¡±

    Guard Lin thought for a moment before replying, ¡°She kept smiling¡­a very shallow smile.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou sped his hands behind his back and walked towards the window, peering at the fallen flowers that had been ravaged by the big rain. Recalling the sunny afternoon a few days ago, they had just finished a round of chess and he asked her about her past life when she became very quiet before suddenly saying, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since itst rained.¡±

    He asked, ¡°Ah Man likes rainy days?¡±

    She set down the chesspiece in her hand, gazing far off into the distance, ¡°Some people naturally like the rain because in the rain, she can cry without worrying others will see her.¡±

    He said, ¡°Ah Man is this type of person!¡±

    She turned around, lowering her eyelids to cover up her hurt before replying in a soft voice, ¡°I no longer remember how long it¡¯s been since Ist cried. Maybe it¡¯s been fifteen years or seventeen years¡­it¡¯s been a very long time and I have already forgotten that feeling¡­¡± This was her previous life, even when she was hurt she could not cry.

    Zongzheng Wuyou retracted his thoughts, it seems like she was not as uncaring as she made it out to be that day! A type of joy welled up in his heart as well as¡­heartache. That woman always hid herself so deeply. He turned around, ¡°Where is she now?¡±

    Guard Lin: ¡°General¡¯s residence.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou froze, his eyes changing as he coldly gazed at him and spoke in a heavy voice, ¡°Which general¡¯s residence?¡±

    Guard Lin froze, ¡°It¡¯s¡­Lord Protector General¡¯s residence.¡±

    Fu Chou?! Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s expression became extremely dark and his hands clenched into fists as images of the two people conversing andughing together in front of the banquet hall in the pce surfaced in his mind. Even when Qiyun¡¯s Princess Rong Le was choosing her husband, Fu Chou kept his gaze on her¡­

    Zongzheng Wuyou narrowed his phoenix eyes, his gaze extremely chilling and spoke in a heavy voice, ¡°Ah Man, you want to borrow Fu Chou to leave benwang, it¡¯s not that easy! You, gather up a hundred people and follow benwang to Lord Protector General¡¯s residence.¡±

 Chapter 35 - The Future Princess Consort

    Chapter 35 The Future Princess Consort

    When Man Yao woke up, she had already arrived in the residence of Lord Protector General. She opened her eyes to see that she was resting against a chaise with a snow fox fur capeid upon it. There was a numb yet warm feelinging from her her legs. She lowered to gaze to look and her heart lurched, that famed young general who hands carried the military seal, Lord Protector General was actually kneeling on the ground by her feet, tenderly massaging her numb legs!

    Man Yao was shocked, ¡°General, what are you doing?! Hurry and stop, Li Yue is not worthy!¡± She frantically sat up and turned around but her feet were firmly held in Fu Chou¡¯s hands. Her shoes and socks were taken off already, he couldn¡¯t help but knead the small jade foot he held in hisrge hands. The jade-white and tender skin turned pink under his gentle massaging, looking very pretty. Fu Chou raised his head and smiled at her, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal, you will get better very quickly.¡± Finished, he continued his movements.

    Man Yao satred at him in a daze, speechless. The sunlight after the rain was warm and gentle, shining through the white window paper, enhancing his clean and handsome face, causing his tall nose and dignified brows to look even more elegant and gentle. This man, he was not only kind but also gentle and tender, if she did not get entangled with Zongzheng Wuyou, even after the political scheming, she should have been satisfied to marry such a man, but she couldn¡¯t muster up any happiness. It was hard to imagine how could such a gentle manmand hundreds of thousands of soldiers and lead them to charge against the enemy, and releasing such a killing intent?

    As she pondered, she was unaware that she was staring at him, she didn¡¯t expect for him to lift his gaze from her foot. The two pairs of eyes met and the two people started. Man Yao hurriedly turned away, lowering her head down and did not make a sound, Fu Chou lightlyughed, ¡°Try to get up and walk around, does it feel any better?¡± He took her hand as he spoke and the two people stood up at the same time. She took two steps forward and felt her legs feel energetic like before, the numbing sensation from before was no longer present. She smiled in gratitude, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Fu Chou didn¡¯t mind and smiled, ¡°Hot water has already been prepared, it¡¯s inside. If you have any other requests, just instruct the yatou(1) here.¡±

    Man Yao faintly smiled and nodded, turning around to head into the bathhouse. When she passed a jade sculpture, she suddenly stopped, turning around to see Fu Chou standing in his original spot, smiling at her. She suddenly felt uneasy and frowned, ¡°General brought me back to the residence like this¡­are you not afraid of offending Prince Li?¡± With Fu Chou¡¯s martial arts skills, he could not have been oblivious to someone following him, and with her previous state, he definitely would have deduced that there were problems between her and Prince Li.

    Fu Chou slightly furrowed his brows, ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to be sick, I didn¡¯t think that much¡­since you reminded me, then I should take that into consideration. Why don¡¯t I personally escort you back to Prince Li¡¯s residence after you¡¯re finished bathing, that way I can avoid starting a feud with that currently favored wangye.¡± He spoke in a half-joking manner as if he never considered this a problem in the first ce. A gentle and carefree smile caused the atmosphere in the room to considerably rxen. When she heard him mention ¡®currently favored wangye¡®, she felt that there was an unspeakable emotion behind his smile. Whether it was mocking or hatred, or whether it was something else, he hid it so deeply, she was unable to confirm.

    From the first time she met him, she felt that he looked familiar but couldn¡¯t recall where she had met him. Now, she examined his face more closely, ignoring all the expressions on his face, discerning a hint of coldness. A face surfaced in her mind, eyes cold and lofty, the five features sharp and distinct, the gaze as sharp as a de, not letting anyone escape¡­the Emperor of Lintian!! Her heart jumped, the person he looked familiar to was actually¡­the Emperor of Lintian?!

    Fu Chou saw that she kept on staring at him as if she was analyzing him and a sh of suspicion flew through his eyes but he kept smiling, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? My face¡­is there something unique about it?¡±

    Man Yao started, snapping out of her daze and pretended to be casual, ¡°I thought you looked familiar, it looks like we¡¯ve met before¡­in the inn in the eastern suburbs.¡±

    Fu Chou was surprised, the smile on his face stiffened, and a glint shed through his gentle eyes. He casually walked a couple of steps in her direction, his face still gentle like before and his voice carried hints of joking, ¡°Maybe we have fate. Or maybe¡­we really did meet before, perhaps in our dreams.¡±

    Man Yao lightly smiled, ¡°Maybe.¡±

    Fu Chou lightly patted her shoulder, speaking softly, ¡°Hurry and go in. If you dy any longer, you will not have afortable bath.¡±

    Man Yao understood and nodded, ¡°Alright. In a moment when peoplee from Prince Li¡¯s residence, please help me stall for some time. I will figure out a way to leave on my own so that you will not be affected.¡± She paused, looking at his gentle eyes that had hidden depths and spoke again, ¡°In two days, you will be Qiyun¡¯s Princess Rong Le¡¯s fuma(2), before you marry, if there¡¯s an opportunity, you should interact with her more often to deepen your feelings.¡± She trusted that he would understand her meaning.

    Fu Chou raised his eyes to look at her and thenughed, ¡°You make sense! Then I will leave first.¡±

    Looking at his disappearing back, Man Yao¡¯s smile slowly faded away. She turned around and walked past the screen, walking into the spacious bath full of steam.

    ¡°kou, kou, kou¡­¡± A heavy yet hurried knocking sound rang out from the gates of Lord Protector General¡¯s residence. The person guarding the door, Lao Zhang was unhappy and yelled out, ¡°Who is it? I¡¯ming, I¡¯ming, stop knocking! Not even looking at whose house it is yet knocking so heavily, if you guys break it while knocking, you won¡¯t even be able to afford to rece it.¡± Every time the general returned home in victory, there would always be countless officialsing to ask for an audience. As he ranted, he reluctantly opened the gate a bit and stuck his head out to observe. He was terrified by what he saw, two orderly rows of guards dressed in blue brocade and in the middle was a luxurious horse carriage. The door to the carriage was tightly shut and there were four men standing around it, each one carrying a longsword by their waist, their expressions extremely stern. Looking at these people, Lao Zhang knew that these were not ordinary people. Before he could speak, the guard who was knocking on the gate previously announced in a loud voice, ¡°Prince Li has arrived, hurry up and open the gate, tell your family¡¯s General toe out and wee him!¡±

    Upon hearing the name ¡®Prince Li¡¯, Lao Zhang broke out into a cold sweat, this was a master that even their General had to tread carefully around! He secretly rejoiced that he didn¡¯t act too brashly just now and frantically opened the door, speaking politely, ¡°Yes, this subject will go report right now.¡±

    ¡°No need.¡± Fu Chou was calm and gentle as if he predicted this would happen and walked out from the inner courtyard. Lao Zhang hurriedly retreated to the side. Fu Chou exited the gate and sped his hands in greeting towards the horse carriage, speaking politely, ¡°Prince Li has made the trip here and this general was impolite to make you wait, I hope that Prince Li will not me me.¡±

    A bodyguard opened the carriage door and Zongzheng Wuyou stepped down, his movements quick and light. He stood up straight and looked at Fu Chou, his face expressionless, ¡°General does not need to be so polite. Benwang personally came for benwang¡®s¡­future wangfei. I heard that she came to visit General¡¯s residence as a guest and now that the day is getting dark, benwang¡­specially came to pick her up to return to the residence.¡± He especially emphasized ¡°wangfei¡± these two words as if he was dering his possession to the rest of the world.

    (1) yatou: Young maidservants

    (2) fuma: Husband of a princess (aka Prince Consort)

    (3) wangfei: Husband of a prince (aka Princess Consort)

 Chapter 36 - Gathering in the Generalâ€™s Residence

    Chapter 36 Gathering in the General¡¯s Residence

    Wangfei? It was enough of a shock that the Prince Li who always avoided women actually personally came to his door for a woman, yet he¡¯s even calling her his future wangfei, it looks like this woman was quite special to him. In the future, she would definitely be his weakness! Fu Chou¡¯s face didn¡¯t change, a glint shed through his gentle eyes and he turned away. Sweeping his gaze through the hundred or so guards, he slightly frowned, speaking in a suspicious tone, ¡°The future Li wangfei is a guest at this general¡¯s residence? There¡¯s such a thing?¡± He turned around to speak sternly at Lao Zhang, ¡°Zhang Geng, when did Li wangfei enter the residence, why did you not notify this general? If this general angered wangfei, how should you be punished?!¡± Secretly hiding away Li wangfei was not a small matter, he would never admit it so easily.

    General Fu who always had a gentle personality was quite fearsome when his face turned dark, even if his voice was not especially heavy, it still caused people¡¯s hearts to quake! Lao Zhang¡¯s legs softened and he kneeled down in fright, ¡°Reporting to General, this servant, this servant¡­had never seen this so-called Li wangfei! There has also not been any women that have entered the residence today¡­may General thoroughly investigate!¡±

    Fu Chou turned around, his face carrying a polite smile, ¡°I wonder where Prince Li obtained information that the future Li wangfei was in this general¡¯s residence? Could it be¡­the information was wrong?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou looked at Fu Chou as if he was watching a y, watching him act confused when he was clearly aware. The guards behind him brought out a red wooden chair out from inside the carriage. He adjusted his clothes and elegantly sat down, curving his lips up yet his eyes didn¡¯t carry any mirth as he spoke in a heavy voice, ¡°General means to say¡­benwang heard incorrectly and came to seek trouble?¡±

    Fu Chou replied, ¡°This general did not mean that, Prince Li misunderstood.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou: ¡°Then general¡­is unwilling to hand over the person?¡±

    Fu Chouughed, ¡°This general doesn¡¯t even know who the future Li wangfei is, how can this general hand over Prince Li¡¯s person?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou scoffed, ¡°Benwang though that General was an intelligent person!¡± The gaze Fu Chou looked at Ah Man with, he was extremely aware of it. He did not believe for a second that Fu Chou did not know Ah Man was a woman!

    Fu Chou continued to smile, ¡°Coincidentally, this general has always been a little slow, I¡¯ve caused Prince Li to be disappointed.¡±

    The two of them seemed to be conversing harmoniously with smiles on their faces, but hidden behind the smiles were sharp daggers, creating waves beneath the calmke. Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes narrowed, his voice bing even darker, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then when benwang has found the person, shall I tell General¡­who she is?! Someonee, go inside to search!¡± He didn¡¯t bother to exin further and sent down amand.

    ¡°Yes!¡± The hundred guards sounded out their agreement, their voices like a gong, and went into the residence to search for the person only to hear a heavy and powerful voice, ¡°Hold it!¡± over the sounds of a hundred people, causing their hearts to lurch. The guards confusedly turned around only to see Fu Chou carrying the same expression but the hand he raised held a firm and powerful strength, making them unconsciously stop what they were doing. Those originally gentle eyes suddenly became as cold and as sharp as a long sword, making them afraid to face him. Other than their own wangye, this was the first time they experienced such an imposing aura from someone else.

    Zonzgheng Wuyou sat in the chair, his fingers unmoving as he stared at Fu Chou. This man who had beheaded millions of heads on the battlefield was simr to him in age and currently had a deep expression that no one could see through.

    Fu Chou slowly retracted his gaze, returning back to being gentle and calm. He smiled as he took a few steps forward, ¡°Prince Li wants to search this general¡¯s residence, but I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s inappropriate! Although Prince Li is a royal prince and is also enthroned as a qinwang(1), this general is a first-ranked court official and had the luck to be praised by His Majesty and was bestowed with the military seal of the three armies to protect the safety of this nation. If you will insist upon searching through this residence without any cause or evidence, then how will this general have the dignity tomand the three armies int he future? Moreover, this dynasty has established a neww, any court official¡¯s residence, if the Emperor has not decreed it so, no one has the right to willfully search through it.¡± His words resounded, not soft and not hard.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze deepened and his lips lifted up into a smile that wasn¡¯t a smile, ¡°Benwang thought that since General spent most of his years on the battlefields, you only knew how tomand troops and fight, but I did not think that General was this aware about the dynasty¡¯s brand neww, it looks like General has spent a lot of effort?!¡±

    Fu Chouughed, ¡°Prince Li is overpraising me! After this general returned to court, because I was not familiar with court rules, I made mistakes that I should not have, so I had to spend some time to understand it more¡­I¡¯ve caused Prince Li to witness a joke.¡±

    The conversation between them seemed to be normal, but it was rife with hidden agendas. Fu Chou answered so thoroughly, he didn¡¯t allow for any loopholes. But what kind of person was Zongzheng Wuyou? Someone who didn¡¯t even nce at heaven¡¯s decree, how could he possibly follow court rules? Zongzheng Wuyou nced at the darkening skies and became impatient, ¡°Benwang doesn¡¯t have the patience to speak riddles with General. Benwang just wants to know, where is the person that General personally brought back today?¡±

    Fu Chou didn¡¯t expect for him to get to the point so quickly and was stunned before pretending to suddenly understand and smiled, ¡°So Prince Li was actually referring to Li Yue?! Then wangye came at an inopportune time, she has already left.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes shed and he spoke coldly, ¡°Is that so? But benwang heard that she is still in General¡¯s residence, if General is unwilling to hand her over, then benwang¡­must offend you!¡± Finished, he waved his hands when a cold and sinister voice sounded out nearby, ¡°From afar I heard a voice that sounded like Seventh Brother, so this Crown Prince especially came by to take a look, but didn¡¯t expect it was true¡­Oh! Prince Li¡¯s residence¡¯s personal guards were even mobilized, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    As the words fell, Crown Prince Zongzheng Xiaoren walked over with Yu daren and a few personal bodyguards. Zongzheng Wuyou frowned, tozy to look at him and continued to calmly sit. Fu Chou, on the other hand, smiled even wider and performed the proper etiquette. Zongzheng Xiaoren brought out his rare politeness and helped him up, ¡°General Fu is the pir of my dynasty, in the future this Crown Prince will have many matters that will depend on General. In the future, in private¡­no need for such formal greetings.¡± This one sentence made his stance very clear.

    Fu Chou lightly smiled and politely rejected, pretending to not understand the hidden meaning behind Crown Prince¡¯s words. Zongzheng Xiaoren inwardly knew that this type of person was not so easy to draw over and nced at the two rows of a hundred guards, asking with the attitude of a future ruler, ¡°What is going on here?¡±

    Fu Chou secretly nced at Zongzheng Wuyou who was sneering, and spoke, ¡°Your Highness, it¡¯s nothing big, it¡¯s just that Prince Li has¡­a misunderstanding about this subject.¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren nodded and spoke in a joyful tone, ¡°Since it¡¯s a misunderstanding¡­Seventh Brother, you just tell your people to retreat. What does it look like for a hundred guards to surround the gates of General¡¯s residence? People who don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on would think that something big happened.¡± Finished, he pointed a finger at themander standing at the front, giving out a verbalmand, ¡°You all, hurry up and take away all the people and leave, go back to Prince Li¡¯s residence.¡±

    No one let out a sound, all the guards pretended to not have heard anything. Zongzheng Wuyouzily leaned back against the chair, his eyes carrying mockery. The people of his residence only listened to themands of himself. Zongzheng Xiaoren¡¯s face became extremely ugly and he became angry, ¡°Are you rebelling? You dare to not listen to themands of this Crown Prince?!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyouughed at him, this type of bossy attitude was extremely funny to him. He slowly stood up and coldly smiled, ¡°Is Crown Prince referring to benwang?¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren met those cold and sinister eyes, his heart lurching even as he pretended that he was unaffected. His face as the future ruler cannot be lost in front of the general that he is trying to win over. As a result, he slowly drew nearer to Zongzheng Wuyou, speaking in a low voice by his ear, ¡°Don¡¯t forget how you arrived in this world!¡± It was exchanged with his mother¡¯s life, such a big gratitude, he wanted Zongzheng Wuyou to remember it forever.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes changed and he red at him, coldly snorting before speaking in a heavy voice, ¡°Crown Prince, then you should also know that no matter what trump cards you have, there will always be an expiration date.¡±After so many years, in order to take away his life, Zongzheng Xiaoren had concocted countless schemes in the dark, so how could he not know! Time after time, he had let this treacherous person go all because of his mother, otherwise Zongzheng Xiaoren would have died countless times already.

    Zongzheng Xiaoren froze, was this invicible shield of his about to lose its effectiveness? How could he be willing! ¡°Zongzheng Wuyou, don¡¯t forget the promise your mother gave to mine before she passed away!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou furiously turned his head, his eyes as sharp as daggers, a killing intent spreading from his body. His mother was the greatest taboo in his life, no one was allowed to bring her up. He stared at the crown prince, speaking coldly, ¡°If there was no promise, do you think you would be able to stand here and talk to me? Zongzheng Xiaoren, even if I am not interested in the position of the Crown Prince, don¡¯t¡­force me!¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren¡¯s body trembled. As long as Zongzheng Wuyou was willing, whether he Zongzheng Xiaoren was the crown prince or a begger, all it took was just a sentence!

    The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy and tense, the light breeze of early summer causing people to shiver. First, it was the confrontation between Prince Li and General, now the Crown Prince was added into the mix. Other than the Emperor of Lintian, the three most powerful people were gathered in this spot. Yu daren silently retreated several steps, hiding behind the guards, not daring to make a single sound. Fu Chou calmly stood at the side, his face still as gentle as ever as if nothing happened. A strange look passed through his eyes at times, but since it was too fleeting, people couldn¡¯t tell.

    At this moment, a luxurious carriage stopped in front of the gate of the General¡¯s residence. A ¡°yu¡± sound rang out and the carriage stopped, a red-clothed woman stepped down from the carriage with the assistance of her maidservant. The woman had a graceful figure, the pearl curtain covering her face, it was clearly Princess Rong Le. Everyone¡¯s gazesnded on her, the woman felt that the atmosphere wasn¡¯t quite right and was stunned for a moment, sweeping her gaze over everyone present and then walked towards Zongzheng Wuyou. Curtsying in greeting, she spoke with a faint smile, ¡°So Prince Li and Crown Prince are here as well, Rong Le greets you!¡±

    As she drew near, Zongzheng Wuyou felt a feminine fragrance entering his nostrils, even though it wasn¡¯t strong, it was the type of smell he hated the most. He wrinkled his eyebrows and gave his bodyguard a look before that bodyguard rushed over in front of him to block, the red-robed woman was forced to take a few steps back.

    Fu Chou greeted the woman in front and continued to smile, ¡°In two days, it will be the wedding day between this general and Princess Rong Le, this general wanted to get to know Princess better before the wedding and invited Princess toe see if there was anything in the residence she is dissatisfied with. Even though there is not enough time to rebuild, it is still possible to redecorate some things. But I did not expect for such a coincidence to happen today, Crown Prince and Prince Li, as well as Yu daren, are all gathered here so if you do not mind, why don¡¯t everyone enter the residence and this general will arrange for a banquet, how is it?¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren was originally worried that he would not be able to get out of this awkward situation so after hearing this suggestion, he naturally agreed and Yu daren followed him in agreement. The red-robed woman smiled and nodded. Only Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t voice his opinion, observing the woman who was supposed to be his wife yet was rejected by him, finding that this woman¡¯s figure was very simr to Ah Man, even the gesture of raising her hand was extremely simr. The only difference was that their voices and breathing patterns were different, one was clear and leisurely, the other carried a hint of hoarseness. Inwardly he thought: Fu Chou waited until now to invite her to the residence, is he nning something?

    (1) qinwang: Prince of the First Rank; highest rank an imperial prince can have (other than Crown Prince)

 Chapter 37 - Escaping Heavens and Earth

    Trantor¡¯s Note: Hello! Sorry for taking so long to update, there were some unexpected things that happened that kept me from being able to post, so I apologize about that. For the next two weeks, you can expect double updates until I catch up with the schedule.

    <strong>Chapter 37 Escaping Heavens and Earth </strong>

    The fog in the room drifted about, rising in the air. Within therge hot spring, Man Yao soaked for a long time before her ice-cold body finally warmed up. Even so, her heart felt like it was dug out and thrown onto a snowy ground, emitting an ice-cold air. Even though her body still had traces of that person¡¯s warmth, the pain of her first time traveled all the way to her heart, leaving behind its brutal traces.

    She opened her eyes, turning to the curtain that prevented the fog from dissipating. The fog had condensed along the beads, slowly making its way down, dripping onto the white bricks. Suddenly, the curtain moved very, very faintly, almost imperceptibly. The doors and windows were tightly shut, where did this winde from?

    A glint shed through her eyes, and she grabbed the clothes next to the spring and unhesitatingly shoved them into the water. Leaning against the side of the spring, she slid down into the water, the warm water slowly covering her chest, neck, eyes and nose, all the way to the top of her head until all traces of her were gone. She stered herself against the bottom of the spring, snaking around the sides of the pool. Her ink-ck hair spread out within the water and she grabbed ahold of it, the ends that were pressing against the sides of the jade stones drifted about, seemingly dissatisfied with being restrained, wanting to escape.

    Shutting her eyes, she pressed her ear against the jade wall of the hot spring, listening to the movements outside. Suddenly, she didn¡¯t hear even the slightest footstep, only the faint sound of something whizzing, sounding like a martial arts expert flying through the air. In an instant, everything became silent again.

    Man Yao did not surface from the water, however, and kept in the same position, slowly feeling the air in her lungs disappearing bit by bit. Dying by suffocation to bid farewell to love didn¡¯t seem like a bad choice either. She need to force herself to sear this into her memory, deceit and maniption were all around her in her world so even if she hated it, she must get used to it. Love was a far-fetched dream, as long as she hardened her heart into steel, no one would be able to hurt her.

    As she endured to the veryst moment, until the pain in her chest felt as if someone was ripping her apart, she finally surfaced from the water. In the midst of the floating flowers, she opened her mouth and took in deep breaths of air, feeling liberated. There were always things in this world that were worth desiring, like this oxygen. She curled her lips, revealing a shallow and cold smile.

    After a while, the water began to cool and so as to not cause any problems, she did not call for anyone to add more hot water. The steam in the air slowly dissipated, allowing her to see clearly. When the water was finally cold, the hair spread out on the edges of the pool was almost dry. She heard the sound of footsteps outside the door, and this time, she did not sink back into the water, she didn¡¯t even blink.

    The person stopped five steps behind her, digging out a light-colored cloth bag before kneeling on the ground and raising it up with both hands, speaking in a low voice, ¡°This subject greets Princess, this is the clothes and essories that Mei guniang prepared for Princess.¡±

    The skies turned dark and the night breeze was cool. As the General¡¯s Residence had important guests inside, thenterns were all brightly lit. Fu Chou arranged the banquet and personally escorted Princess Rong Le to tour around the residence in case there were any areas she wanted to change. Zongzheng Wuyou was interested as well and followed along, and the Crown Prince naturally did not fall behind.

    A train of people leisurely walked through the hallway behind the courtyard. Fu Chou pointed with his left hand at a bamboo forest, his voice crisp as he introduced, ¡°This bamboo forest was nted two years ago, if you don¡¯t like it, we can tell them to chop it al down. Behind the bamboo forest is Qingyi(1) Courtyard, it is the residence I especially prepared for Princes¡­let¡¯s go over to take a look.¡±

    Fu Chou elegantly swept his arm in a ¡°please¡± gesture, and the red-robed woman smiled as she nodded, ¡°Alright.¡±

    Qingyi Courtyard, as expected it was quiet and peaceful and yet still elegant. Fu Chou and the red-robed woman walked ahead, taking a look inside every room.

    Zongzheng Xiaoren followed along for a while, noticing how the General¡¯s residence had a refined scenery, both luxurious and delicate. He personally felt that it was iparable to the Crown Prince Residence and thus, he lost interest and became bored. ncing at the person walking next to him, he only saw Zongzheng Wuyou walkingzily as if he was taking a stroll in his own courtyard. He would asionally observe his surroundings, but no emotions could be gleaned from his deep eyes. Zongzheng Xiaoren asked, ¡°Why is Seventh Imperial Brother so curious today? Usually, you don¡¯t even bother to take a nce at the royal gardens in the pce.¡±

    Left behind the pair, Zongzheng Wuyou furrowed his eyebrows at the faint fragrance that asionally passed through his nose due to the breeze. He silently nced at Zongzheng Xiaoren, ignoring him, but his gaze never truly left the two people walking in front. At this moment, the two people in front turned a corner and walked up the steps, only for Fu Chou to say, ¡°This is the bath house, this afternoon there was a friend that used it, so it is a little muggy. Princess won¡¯t mind, right?¡±

    The red-robed woman smiled, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze changed, understanding who the friend Fu Chou had mentioned was. He stepped into the bath house, and the first thing he saw was the curtain between the pool and the doorway, blocking the view inside. The red-robed woman was no longer within his sights and Zongzheng Wuyou frowned. Before he could step any further, he saw Fu Chou block the curtain that still carried condensation on it before ordering the servants outside, ¡°Why is this curtain still here? Hurry and take it away to clean!¡±

    A maidservant hurried into the room and gathered away the curtain, and the bathhouse was disyed in full view. Other than the walls, ground, pool, and them, there was nothing else present.

    The red-robed woman half-knelt by the pool, using her hands to graze the water, causing turquoise ripples to form. The snow-white fingers became even more like white jade, mesmerizing people with its dewiness. The woman slightly turned, seeming to look at Fu Chou, but in reality, she was staring at Zongzheng Wuyou through the corner of her eyes before lightly smiling, ¡°Although this is not as luxurious as the bathhouse I had in the pce, it is still big enough. I¡¯m just afraid that this water¡­is not from the hot springs, it¡¯s so cold!¡±

    The woman¡¯s voice was elegant and clear, like the sounds of nature. She stood up and used her sleeved to cover her hands as if she was already thoroughly chilled by the cold water. The lotuses in the water were the same as before and she stepped out. When she walked past Zongzheng Wuyou, a fragrance once again assaulted his senses, and this one seemed to carry hints of a light scent. Whether it was present or not was hard to grasp as it was masked by the other stronger fragrance.

    Fu Chou smiled apologetically towards her, ¡°Princess is right. But this residence does not have any sources of hot spring water nearby, so I¡¯m afraid that Princess must put up with it.¡±

    The red-robed woman walked out of the bathhouse, her expression unchanged and kept silent.

    Zongzheng Wuyou swept his eyes around the empty bathhouse before following behind them. He gave a faint wave of his hand and Leng Yan immediately appeared. In a voice that only the two of them could hear, he reported, ¡°Wangye, I¡¯ve looked everywhere and I did not find the person.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze turned cold, asking, ¡°Are you sure she did not leave the general¡¯s residence?¡±

    Leng Yan answered confidently, ¡°Yes.¡± There were people from Wuyin Lou surrounding the ce and keeping an eye on it, even the flies that exited could be investigated and identified as male or female.

    Zongzheng Wuyou spoke in a low voice, ¡°Continue to search. Send down my order, investigate clearly each and every person that entered and exited the General¡¯s Residence today. This prince doesn¡¯t believe that she can fly to the sky and hide in the earth(2)?!¡±

    (1) Qingyi Courtyard (ÇåÚ×Ô°): Qing meaning clear and Yi meaning quiet.

    (2) ÉÏÌì¶ÝµØ: English equivalent would be ¡°disappear into thin air¡±.

 Chapter 38 - Ten Miles Fragrance

    Chapter 38 Ten Miles Fragrance

    The guest hall was veryrge, enough to host over a hundred people. The guests sat down in their respective seats, and the Crown Prince and Zongzheng Wuyou sat in the higher seats while Fu Chou and Princess Rong Le sat in the host seats, and Yu daren sat below Fu Chou. The banquet began with a few polite words, Fu Chou behaving extremely polite and mannerly. This banquet not only invited the famous chefs in the city but also invited the courtesans from Heavenly Fragrance House to y the zither and dance to apany the wine and keep everyone¡¯s moods happy.

    As the sounds of the zither rang out, the whole venue was in a jovial mood. The delicately prepared dishes were ced on the table and Zongzheng Xiaoren moved his chopsticks first to taste, praising, ¡°As expected of the top chefs in the city, the color, smell, and taste was exquisite, good! General Fu has worked hard!¡± Hearing the way he spoke, he made it sound as if this whole banquet was prepared especially for him, and everyone else was just piggybacking off of his glory.

    ¡°It¡¯s good as long as it suits Crown Prince¡¯s tastes.¡± Fu Chou smiled elegantly but when he looked down, a scornful gaze flit past his face before he resumed his normal expression.

    Zongzheng Wuyou had an indifferent expression, he swept his gaze over to Princess Rong Le in a seemingly unaffected way. When he was unable to smell that fragrance that seemed to emanate from deep within the bones, he kept feeling that there was something familiar.

    Princess Rong Le pretended to not have noticed anything and gazed at the fine liquor and delicacies in front of her, her face calm. She didn¡¯t eat anything, only sitting there silently.

    The sound of the zither from below suddenly changed. The soft and graceful melody flowed out from the yer¡¯s fingers, and outside the hall, eight women in blue clothes stood in two lines before walking in with shuffling steps, walking in spirals. They raised their arms up and the sky-blue water sleevesnded on the ground. As they gathered in the center of the hall, the eight people formed into a circle, twisting their waists and dancing along with the music. Sixteen water sleeves danced together, drawing out a half-circle in the air when suddenly, two rainbow-colored water sleeves shot into the air from a woman in the middle, surrounded by the other dancers clothed in blue. It was like a rainbow suddenly appeared in the spring sky, so beautiful and captivating, it immediately drew the eyes of the audience.

    That woman wore a rainbow-colored, silk-woven dress. Her waist was slim and soft, flexible as if she had no bones, and her dancing figure was like a butterfly. Her soft chest rose up and down underneath the silk clothes as she danced, revealing yet not revealing. A water-colored silk gauze covered her face, seeming to cover her looks, but when paired with her beautiful dancing figure, it only served to entuate her mysteriousness as well as making her more mesmerizing.

    Zongzheng Xiaoren unconsciously leaned forward, an evil glint shing through his eyes as he stared at the rainbow-colored woman.

    Zongzheng Wuyou was stunned, this woman¡¯s figure looked so familiar¡­a strange feeling of anger suddenly erupted within him and his hands curled into fists, even as his face didn¡¯t change.

    When the dance ended, Zongzheng Xiaoren stood up and apuded, ¡°Good! Even if Moon Pce¡¯s Chang¡¯e(1) were to dance, I¡¯m afraid that she would be embarrassed.¡± Heughed loudly and walked down, sweeping his gaze up and down the rainbow-clothed woman, as if she wasn¡¯t wearing any clothes. He reached out, wanting to take off the woman¡¯s mask, and she frantically retreated several steps, avoiding his hand. He didn¡¯t be upset and instead, felt even more interested. He brought out his temperament of a crown prince, and spoke in a lofty voice, ¡°Are you a new one from Heavenly Fragrance House? I¡¯ve never seen you before, what¡¯s your name?¡±

    The rainbow-clothed woman properly greeted him and bowed her head, her voice slightly raspy as she answered, ¡°This subject is Hen Xiang, just entered Heavenly Fragrance House a few days ago.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou stared at the rainbow-clothed woman. Although this voice was not the same, it sounded more like it was purposely changed to sound this way. He couldn¡¯t help but furrow his eyebrows, choosing to stay silent.

    Zongzheng Xiaoren asked again, ¡°Do you want to leave Heavenly Fragrance House?¡± The meaning of this question was self-evident.

    Hen Xiang lowered her head even more, not speaking, seemingly deep in thought. She was not ecstatic or extremely grateful like how Zongzheng Xiaoren expected, and he raised his eyebrow, ¡°What, you think that my Crown Prince Residence can¡¯t even match up to a Heavenly Fragrance House?¡±

    Hen Xiang frantically knelt down, her voice slightly shaking, ¡°This subject doesn¡¯t dare.¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren: ¡°I dare you!¡± The Crown Prince was a pervert, this was something that everyone knew. It was not once or twice that he had took a girl from the brothel back to his residence. Thinking about his own daughter, Yu daren did not have a good expression on his face. Downing a cup of tea, he lightly coughed, reminding him that the purpose of his visit this time was to get closer to the General, not bringing home women. Zongzheng Xiaoren understood but he couldn¡¯t help gazing lecherously at Hen Xiang. Even though he was unable to see her face, her body alone was enough for people to lose their souls. He nced at Fu Chou, his face full of misgivings, and Fu Chou understood. Since this person was invited by him from Heavenly Fragrance House, the Crown Prince had to ask for his permission to take the person away. As a result, Fu Chou smiled, ¡°For Crown Prine to like Lady Hen Xiang, it is her good fortune. When the banquet ends, I will send someone to notify Heavenly Fragrance House, it is not a big deal.¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren¡¯s mood immediately became better and he grabbed Hen Xiang¡¯s hand, bringing her over to sit next to him.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze became ice-cold, and his heart became extremely twitchy. If that woman was her, in order to escape from him, she used Zongzheng Xiaoren to leave the General¡¯s Residence, was she really willing to sacrifice herself and get raped?! He forced himself to stamp out the urge to rip away that mask, waiting for the good y that would unfold.

    Fu Chou gestured his hand and a maidservant carefully brought a white-jade wine gourd into the hall. Fu Chou smiled, ¡°Pour it for the guests.¡±

    The alcohol was crystal clear, when it was poured into the up, the smell of it wafted out, rich and mellow.

    Zongzheng Xiaoren and Yu daren were both experts at drinking. The moment they smelled the fragrance, their eyes widened and lit up, realizing that it was a rare, excellent wine that would onlye about every hundred years, Yu daren blurted out in surprise, ¡°Ten Miles Fragrance!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s heart trembled, and his face slightly changed, his gaze sharpening into des.

    Fu Chou smiled, ¡°Yu daren has a discerning man, this wine is truly ¡®Ten Miles Fragrance¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Ten Miles Fragrance¡± was brewed by a family with the surname Qin on the outskirts of Jingcheng. It was rumored that this wine¡¯s fragrance could be smelled from as far as ten miles out. Smelling this wine fragrance, Zongzheng Xiaoren was astonished, ¡°So this is ¡®Ten Miles Fragrance¡¯, the rumors do not exaggerate. I heard that this wine no longer existed, how did General Fue across it?¡±

    Fu Chou: ¡°I happened to receive it as a gift from a friend.¡±

    Yu daren was stunned, ¡°Thirteen years ago at the imperial banquet, countless schrs and officials praised ¡®Ten Miles Fragrance¡¯ as the pinnacle of all wines, but something happened after that banquet, causing His Majesty¡¯s anger and everyone in the Qin n was exterminated. Unfortunately, there wasn¡¯t even a sessor to pass on the skill of making this excellent wine to!¡±

    Fu Chou imperceptibly nced at Zongzheng Wuyou, only to see his face turn white, his dark eyes hiding a hurricane within. Fu Chou smiled, ¡°Yu daren is already drunk even without drinking anything.¡±

    Yu daren started, recalling the tragic case of Qin family from thirteen years ago, His Majesty once decreed that no one was allowed to bring up this matter again. Anyone who did so would be branded as a rebel and punished. Ever since then, not a single drop of alcohol was present at any pce banquets. Thinking up to here, he suddenly broke out into a cold sweat, frantically speaking, ¡°That¡¯s, that¡¯s right, look at me¡­I¡¯m already saying nonsense just by smelling it, I don¡¯t even remember what I just said, cough¡­cough cough¡­¡± He gave an extremely awkward smile.

    Princess Rong Le was indifferent towards this whole matter, keeping silent. asionally, she would raise her head and observe her surroundings. She seemed to have seen Hen Xiang, who was sitting next to the Crown Prince, tremble when Yu daren mentioned the events of thirteen years ago. She couldn¡¯t help but think that these people were so cold and shallow, onlymenting that the wine-making skills of the Qin family were lost, yet no one cared at all about the lives that were lost so tragically.

    Fu Chou raised his cup, ¡°Tonight we have excellent wine in front of us, let¡¯s not talk about anything else. Cheers!¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren was no longer polite and raised his cup to drink when he suddenly felt an ice-cold aura aimed at him. Turning his head, he saw Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s sinister eyes cold and stabbing, his whole body emitting a cold aura. He couldn¡¯t help but be startled, recalling that Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s disgust towards women and wine started thirteen years ago. He lightlyughed, ¡°Seventh Imperial Brother, this ¡®Ten Miles Fragrance¡¯ is a peerless wine, you should also break your rules to taste it. Otherwise, it will be one of your lifelong regrets!¡±

    There was a vein that was about to explode from Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s head and his body was as stiff as metal. Ten Miles Fragrance, Ten Miles Fragrance¡­these three words swam through his mind. He forcefully suppressed the feelings rolling inside of him and raised his hand. The jade cup next to Zongzheng Xiaoren¡¯s mouth shattered, and the wine inside condensed into a stream of liquid, passing by the tip of his nose and the face of the woman sitting next to him, flying straight into the pir to the side.

    The liquid passed through the pir, leaving behind a small hole as the wine sshed onto the opposite wall.

    Zongzheng Xiaoren only felt the tip of his nose hurting and frantically touched his nose, his fingertipsing away with bright red blood, reminding him that he had just circled death¡¯s door. He couldn¡¯t help but tremble in fear.

    The entire hall was shrouded in cold air, even the sounds of breathing seemed to have been frozen. The wine that Yu daren had just drank sat in his mouth, he couldn¡¯t swallow it no matter what. That mouthful of wine was no longer a good wine but a fatal poison to him. His mouth slightly opened, the wine slowly dripping down from his shaking mouth, rolling down his neck and into his clothes like a venomous snake crawling across his body.

    In that instant, it waspletely silent, the strange atmosphere suffocated everyone.

    Hen Xiang¡¯s mask was cut open by the liquid andnded on the ground. A peerlessly beautiful face was revealed¡ª

    (1) In Chinese mythology, Chang¡¯e is the Moon goddess, and is the originator of the tradition of cing mooncakes out on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

 Chapter 39 - Flawless

    Chapter 39 wless

    ck eyebrows, skin as fair as snow, a pair of eyes as clear as water. It was clearly an expression of helplessness, but there was a ray of light swimming in the eyes, making it look unspeakably charming.

    So she had a woman that resembled her in both figure and in voice, with such a bewitching face. As expected of a beauty! Princess Rong Le¡¯s indifferent smile behind the pearl curtain carried hints of scorn. That¡¯s right, she was Man Yao who secretly switched with the fake princess in the bathhouse, and the one who once pretended to be a fake princess and picked out her future husband at the pce Hen Xiang also sank into the water like she did. When they all left, she turned into a dancing courtesan from Heavenly Fragrance House, wearing a silk gauze as a mask so as to distract Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s attention.

    Zongzheng Xiaoren turned around and saw Hen Xiang¡¯s face, his eyes widening in happy surprise. Even the pain from his nose was forgotten as he praised, ¡°Beautiful, too beautiful!¡± She was even more beautiful than the wives and concubines in his residence.

    Gazing at thepletely unfamiliar face of the rainbow-clothed woman, Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze suddenly darkened, it actually wasn¡¯t her?! He suddenly couldn¡¯t figure out whether he actually wanted that woman to be her? Or did he not want that woman to be her? Tilting his head downwards, he no longer looked at the rainbow-clothed woman. The empty house was filled with the heavy stench of alcohol, filling up his nostrils and causing his heart to be restless.

    Fu Chou maintained his gentle smile, his emotions never fluctuating, causing that smile to look more like a mask. At times when his smile deepened, no one could tell what he meant by it. He set down his cup and stood up, speaking in an apologetic tone, ¡°It¡¯s my fault for overextending myself, I actually forget Prince Li does not touch alcohol, I¡¯m very sorry, I hope that Prince Li will not me me! Someonee, hurry and take the alcohol away and bring some tea.¡±

    The people below bustled. This banquet was held with everyone harboring their own personal motives anyways, and now that this happened, they lost all their appetite and the banquet ended on a rushed note.

    The guests left the General¡¯s residence together, and the fake princess Hen Xiang left with the Crown Prince. Zongzheng Wuyou also boarded his carriage and Man Yao finally let out a sigh of relief. Even though her heart felt empty, it also calmed down. She was getting ready to step onto the carriage when a heavy voice suddenly sounded out from the luxurious carriage behind her, ¡°Princess Rong Le, please wait.¡±

    Her heart startled and she froze. Why was Zongzheng Wuyou calling out to her right now? Could it be he saw through her? She did not think that she had unintentionally let slip of anything during the banquet so she hurried rposed her features and spoke calmly, ¡°Please speak, Prince Li.¡±

    It was a different voice, but this type of calm tone, as well as that natural elegance, brought forth a feeling of familiarity. It was so faint that it could be easily ignored unless he was abnormally calm and of clear mind, but at this moment, Zongzheng Wuyou wascking those qualities.

    Zongzheng Wuyouzily sat inside the carriage, his gaze wanting to prate past the pearl curtain and into her eyes, but her gaze was lowered so his eyes could only stop at the pearl curtain hanging in front of her. He spoke in a heavy voice, ¡°Princess dared to risk her life to fight for a dy of six months, it was actually to wait for General Fu¡¯s return¡­what hard work you must¡¯ve put in!¡±

    Man Yao was stunned and a bitter smile rose on her face. The two months of peace and freedom as well as her sessful disguise into another identity was abruptly ended the day Fu Chou returned and that fake princess chose him to be her husband, causing this series of events to seem unusually smooth.

    She raised her eyes, her gaze going past the extravagant carriage, past the arrogant child of the heavens, and towards the darkened horizon, muttering, ¡°Right, it really costed a lot of effort!¡± It¡¯s just, the person who exerted all that effort¡­wasn¡¯t her!

    All she wanted was just freedom and a true heart, and now, she lost her freedom and she no longer obtained the sincere feelings of anyone, no, actually she was never really free. The two months of so-called freedom that she had were all within her imperial brother¡¯s control; he didn¡¯t stop her because it wasn¡¯t time yet. And the sincere feelings that she had desired¡­what a joke, it was just a dream, forget it.

    Zongzheng Wuyou stared nkly for a moment before his gaze became sharp and Man Yao immediately regained her senses, rposing herself and smiling, ¡°Prince Li is mistaken. As the princess of a nation, even after knowing that Prince Li had no interest in me, I would not stoop so low as to try to create such a scenario. You¡¯re right, it was pretentious of me to think that I would be able to change Prince Li¡¯s thoughts within six months. The real reason was that I wanted to learn more about the princes and pick the most suitable one to be my husband. Since this marriage concerns the congeniality between two nations, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for me to just casually pick a person as a substitute just because Prince Li rejected the marriage right? If so, where would the face of my Qiyun nation go?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou gave a smile that wasn¡¯t a smile, ¡°It looks like you think that the great general in control of the military gives you more face than the noble blood running through the princes?¡±

    Man Yao smiled cynically, ¡°Not exactly, I didn¡¯t have a choice. Didn¡¯t Prince Li also see, when Rong Le picked a husband, because I was ugly, those princes treated me like a snake and ran away. Only General Fu was different, if I didn¡¯t choose him then who else could I choose?¡±

    Each of her sentences was logical, causing Zongzheng Wuyou to recall the situation at the great hall that day. Man Yao saw that he was in deep thought and she became a little unsettled. It was not appropriate for her to speak so much to him, she had to leave immediately. Thinking up to here, she smiled, ¡°What, does Prince Li regret rejecting the marriage that day? If that¡¯s true, turning back now¡­there¡¯s still a slight chance.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou sneered, his gaze full of mockery and he raised his hand, letting the carriage¡¯s curtain fall. With a ¡°return to the residence¡±, her heart finally settled down.

    Just like this, Man Yao escaped from Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s grasp! A single scattered fragrance pill caused the feminine scent that he hated to emanate from within her, changing her original scent. A single restorative sound pill restored her normal voice, no longer bing so hoarse. A dancing courtesan that resembled her figure sessfully pulled his attention away. An old and excellent wine, making use of his taboo, ruffled his emotions. Every person¡¯s taboo had something that they could never ever touch. This was the strategy she used to escape. With Hen Xiang and Fu Chou¡¯s wless harmony, it was considered perfect, but also because they synchronized so perfectly, it made her think that this whole thing was custom-made for them.

    The luxurious carriage disappeared into the distance and what was left in front of her was darkness. She raised her head, exhaling a deep breath and got onto the carriage, also disappearing into the night.

    Fu Chou walked out the gate, gazing in the direction the carriage disappeared off into, his usual warm smile gone. No matter how intelligent Zongzheng Wuyou was, he never would have expected that the person he was looking for was sitting right next to him the whole time. That woman sure was thorough, she used everything she could from things, people, and even people¡¯s hearts. The empty bathhouse at first nce, the opaque bottom of the pool, Hen Xiang¡¯s movements, Crown Prince¡¯s lecherousness, Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s conceitedness, and his involvement¡­these were all within her control. But there was just one thing that she probably didn¡¯t realize. If the alcohol he prepared was not ¡°Ten Miles Fragrance¡±, it would not have been so easy to sessfully deceive Zongzheng Wuyou.

    Fu Chou sped his hands behind his back, standing on the steps and gazing off into the distance, his posture like a lofty person looking down at the ants of the world. He raised the corners of his lips and faintly smiled. He was really looking forward to the wedding in two days!

 Chapter 40 - Resigning to Fate

    Chapter 40 Resigning to Fate

    The night was as dark as ink, Man Yao returned to the residence of Princess Rong Le. Ling¡¯er, who was walking in circles around the courtyard, called out, ¡°Master, you¡¯re finally back! We were so worried.¡±

    If it was before, Man Yao would definitely have weed her, smiling and reassuring her that nothing was wrong, but today, Man Yao only stared at her indifferently, directly walking into her bedchambers, not saying anything. Ling¡¯er was stunned and frantically rushed to follow her. Xiao Sha silently followed behind with unhurried steps.

    The moon was bright and cold, Rong An Pavilion was lit in a haze of yellow. Man Yao stood facing against the wall, showing her lonely back view to the outside.

    Ling¡¯er walked to the doorway, her steps unconsciously falling more quiet, her heart unsettled. She stopped about ten paces behind from Man Yao and cautiously called out, ¡°Master/!¡±

    Man Yao didn¡¯t turn around, her eyes still on the white wall. After a beat, she finally opened her mouth, ¡°You said you were worried about me? What were you worried about?¡±

    Her voice sounded cold, like a basin of water poured directly from the ice-cold moon, chilling the very depths of people¡¯s hearts. Ling¡¯er froze, not knowing how to reply.

    Man Yao ridiculed, ¡°Worried that Prince Li would see through my disguise, so then I would not be able to sessfully marry the Lord Protect General, causing you to fail your mission, right/¡±

    Ling¡¯er¡¯s entire body shook, immediately dropping down to her knees, lowering her head, silent.

    Man Yao¡¯s heart was cold. They were her closest confidants, yet three years of friendship could notpare to their loyalty towards Imperial Brother. She shifted her gaze towards the ck sky, murmuring faintly, ¡°Even you guys can¡¯t be trusted, I really don¡¯t know if in this world¡­there¡¯s still anyone left that¡¯s worth my trust?!¡±

    Ling¡¯er raised her head, the tears in her eyes glistening. She bit her lips, speaking, ¡°Master, Ling¡¯er would never do something to betray you. It¡¯s just His Majesty, he¡­was worried that you were being bullied, so¡­¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± She sneered and turned around, her eyes filled with self-contempt.

    On the contrary, Ling¡¯er looked at her with a clear gaze, seriously nodding her head, ¡°Yes, Master. His Majesty originally wanted to personallye to your wedding, but there was not enough time so he said that he wille to visit youter. His Majesty really dotes on you, he¡¯s never cared this much about anyone before.¡±

    Man Yao found a seat to sit down, her gaze moving to Xiao Sha who was standing by the doorway, only to find his gaze was slightly heavy yet undaunted. She turned back to Ling¡¯er, calmly asking, ¡°Does that include you? Ling¡¯er, when did you enter the pce? How many years have you followed Imperial Brother?¡± She never thought about these questions before, only believing that the most valuable thing between people was honesty, so there was no need to investigate someone.

    Ling¡¯er answered, ¡°I entered the pce when I was ten years old, at the time His Majesty was still an unfavored prince. I was skinny and small and my body was not well. I was a servant that was left over after the other princes were done choosing their servants, but His Majesty didn¡¯t detest me and even taught my martial arts, saying that it was to help strengthen my body. I had been serving by His Majesty¡¯s side for five years and seven months before Princess picked me.¡±

    Recalling the past, Ling¡¯er¡¯s voice carried feelings that were hard to ignore. Man Yao¡¯s heart jumped, even after knowing her for so long, she had never realized Ling¡¯er¡¯s peculiar feelings about Imperial Brother! After arriving in this world for three years, even though she had conducted matters with caution, she had always considered herself as an outsider so there were many matters that she did not take to heart. It was to be expected as considering Imperial Brother¡¯s background, forget Ling¡¯er, even within the whole nation of Qiyun, which woman didn¡¯t dream about receiving this ruler¡¯s love?! Thinking up to here, Man Yao asked, ¡°Did you me me when I chose you?¡±

    Ling¡¯er nodded then shook her head, ¡°At first I was disappointed, but after following Master for so long, I truly liked Master. I¡¯ve never met anyone like Master who treats their servants like friends. I believe that being able to serve Master is a fortunate matter.¡±

    She spoke very earnestly, every wording from the bottom of her heart. Man Yao¡¯s gaze slightly change and she spoke softly, ¡°Rise.¡±

    Ling¡¯er¡¯s eyes brightened, asking, ¡°Master, do you no longer me me?¡±

    Man Yao sighed, what could she me her for? Ling¡¯er was a simple-minded girl, she only did things that she believed were for their benefit. She didn¡¯t understand that for an unfavored prince to defeat the doted upon and favored upon princes to sit on the treasured throne of the emperor was not as simple of a matter as it seemed on the surface.

    Man Yao asked, ¡°Do you know about Hen Xiang¡¯s background?¡±

    Ling¡¯er shook her head, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen her before. When she arrived, she was carrying His Majesty¡¯s handwritten letter as well as a token.¡±

    Even Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t know about that woman¡¯s identity? Man Yao frowned and allowed them to rest. Xiao Sha turned around to leave, from the beginning to the end, he never spoke a single word.

    It was gettingte and sheid down. The moment she closed her eyes, her brain was filled with the events that happened these past few days, and she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. She gave up and sat up when she suddenly saw a dark figure pass by the window. She immediately became alert,ying back down pretending to be deep in sleep.

    The mysterious person already walked to her bedside, speaking in a low voice, ¡°Master, it¡¯s me.¡±

    She was stunned and immediately opened her eyes, Xiao Sha?! ¡°Is anything the matter?¡±

    Xiao Sha drew nearer to the bedside, his back towards the window. The moonlight was faint and although she couldn¡¯t tell what expression he had on his face, she could clearly feel his imposing aura, hearing him speak in an unhurried and serious voice, ¡°Master, if you don¡¯t want to marry him, this subject¡­is willing to take you away from here.¡±

    Man Yao froze, raising her eyes to look at him. The Xiao Sha in her impression was always someone who knew how to read situations, he understood in what situations he should or should not do something. But right now, he said that if she didn¡¯t want to marry, he would take her away! Did he realize what this means? It means betraying her imperial brother, and it also means they would be fugitives of two powerful nations! Man Yao slowly sat up, in the darkness, her eyes focused on his ink-ck eyes as she spoke in a heavy voice, ¡°Xiao Sha, are you aware of what you¡¯re saying?¡±

    Xiao Sha spoke in a firm voice, ¡°This subject understand. This is what this subject had already thought about two months ago on the road to Lintian.¡±

    Man Yao was astonished and she sighed, leaning against the ice-cold wall, ¡°Leave? Where would we go?¡­ Bing Qiyun and Lintian¡¯s criminals, no matter how vast thisnd is, there would not be a ce that could harbor us.¡± She wanted the freedom to choose the way she wanted to live her life, not go into exile in some far-off ce, and even more so, she did not want to implicate Xiao Sha. No matter how strong his martial arts were, how could he win against two countries?

    Xiao Sha lowered his head when he heard her words, staring at the moonlight underneath his feet, his eyes dimming.

    Man Yao drew her nket closer, speaking softly, ¡°Go back to bed. The date of the wedding is around the corner. The tea garden will be temporarily closed so you and Ling¡¯er should not step out for the next few days. Zongzheng Wuyou previously did not pay attention to you guys, but if he bes suspicious, no matter how skilled you are, you cannot escape his eyes.¡±

    Xiao Sha saw her fatigued face, ayer of thin ice seemed to have formed over her originally clear eyes, causing them to look not as bright and clear as before. He still wanted to say something but did not speak in the end. After standing for a bit, he left.

    Man Yao stared at his leaving figure that was straight and full of determination. No matter how she looked at it, it did not look like someone who was a servant.

 Chapter 41 - The Bystanders See The Clearest

    Chapter 41 The Bystanders See The Clearest

    The night was as cold as water, in Prince Li¡¯s residence, there was not a single light on in Wuyou¡¯s pavilion.

    Within therge room, Zongzheng Wuyou was sleeping restlessly and as if he was trapped in his dreams, he had a tight frown.

    ¡°Imperial Father, what is this wine? It smells so good!¡± The seven year-old boy with a face prettier than any girl¡¯s looked like a fairy. The stern face of the man next to him held hints of fatherly doting, and he smiled, ¡°This wine is called ¡®Ten Miles Fragrance¡¯. If huang¡¯er(1) likes it, then Imperial Father will call for them to bring some more over for tomorrow night¡¯s banquet.¡±

    ¡°Okay, but¡­Mother doesn¡¯t like it when I drink wine, so I can only drink a tiny bit. Imperial Father, you should also drink less, otherwise, Mother will ignore you even more.¡± The little boy spoke in a serious tone. But he could never have expected that it was this wonderful smell that ultimately sent his most beloved person to the deepest parts of hell.

    The stern man¡¯s gaze slightly dimmed, only after a long time did he sigh.

    The ck night was like a dark and gloomy prison, sucking people in. Zongzheng Wuyou who was engrossed in his dream frowned deeper like a tight knot. As the pictures continued, the soul-shattering scene appeared once more¡­

    A house full of the smell of medicinal herbs, ripped pieces of clothing messily scattered on the floor, the man who lost all rationality who was crazily demanding, each drop of his sweat causing people to feel disgusted. The person below him had already lost all color in their face, the slender fingers digging into the bed¡¯s headboard, the bloody flesh disying their despair and hopelessness. Death arrived soundlessly¡­

    His facepletely ashen, giant drops of cold sweat rolled down Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s face as he was trapped in his nightmare, causing the bedsheets to be wet.

    Suddenly jerking away, the pair of ink-ck eyes were full of sorrow and pain. He closed his eyes, trying to calm his breathing before opening them again, revealing their usual coldness. He flipped the nket away, standing up to walk towards the window. Raising his hand, he opened the window, allowing the cold wind to enter, blowing through his inner clothes that were soaked with sweat, the coldness prating deep into his heart.

    He inhaled, calling out, ¡°Leng Yan.¡±

    Leng Yan immediately appeared behind him, his usual apathetic expression slightly changing when he stared at the tall and lonely back in front of the window. Master had another nightmare! This nightmare has clung onto him for thirteen years, every night he would awaken in the middle of the night and open the window, his deste and miserable figure chilled by the cold wind.

    Zongzheng Wuyou did not turn around and stared off into the ck night in a daze. His voice was like ice dropped onto the stone bricks, cold to the point of making people shiver, ¡°Why is there ¡®Ten Miles Fragrance¡¯ on this earth? Didn¡¯t you say it was all destroyed?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that year when the Qin n was exterminated, none of the wine in the wine storage was left.¡± Leng Yan paused, recalling something, ¡°The ¡®Ten Miles Fragrance¡¯ at the banquet today smelled a little different from the one back then, it doesn¡¯t seem like one that¡¯s been brewed for very long.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou started, turning around and narrowing his eyes, as a cold glint shed through his eyes, ¡°You¡¯re saying¡­The two orphaned children of the Qin n did not die? Investigate!¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Leng Yan obeyed, preparing to leave.

    ¡°Wait.¡± Zongzheng Wuyou stopped him, pausing before speaking again, ¡°Still no movements from the General¡¯s residence?¡±

    Leng Yan nodded, ¡°We¡¯ve looked everyone, we did not see the person.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s expression returned to normal but inside, he was still unsettled from that dream of his, causing his mind to be scrambled, unable to calm down to think rationally. He paced back and forth in front of the window, his brows knit tight as he spoke in a heavy voice, ¡°Continue watching the General¡¯s residence. Tomorrow, close the city gates and investigate each family and person, you must find her.¡±

    Two whole days have passed, Jingcheng was full of soldiers. From the East City to the West City, each inch ofnd was turned over, he even sent people to the pce and the Crown Prince¡¯s residence to investigate in secret, but they could not find any trace of that person.

    The drizzle outside kept falling, and the room was quiet.

    The guard who came to give a report was kneeling uneasily on the ground, his heart pounding as his forehead hit the ground. He didn¡¯t dare to breathe.

    Zongzheng Wuyou tightened his fists, feeling extremely fidgety. Ever since she left, he never had a day where he felt at ease.

    The Ninth Prince walked in withrge steps, sitting down across from him without giving any greetings. He poured himself a cup of tea, downing it in one shot before loudly exhaling, ¡°I¡¯m so tired! Seventh Brother, where do you think Li Yue is hiding? Between therge streets and small alleyways and the houses and the straw cottages in Jingcheng¡­I¡¯ve looked everywhere. A living and breathing body, how could it just disappear into thin air?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s fist rested against his lips, his brows furrowed as he looked at the foggy rain drizzling outside, not speaking.

    The Ninth Prince saw that he didn¡¯t have any reaction and curled his lip, seemingly remembering something funny, he drew near with a mysterious expression on his face, ¡°Aye, Seventh Brother, tell me¡­Li Yue looks so beautiful, do you think she¡¯s an immortal fairy who came down to the mortal world? You broke her heart, so she turned into smoke and disappeared from this world, returning to her original home¡­¡±

    Before he could finish, Zongzheng Wuyou shot a sharp look at him, sessfully sealing his mouth.

    As the saying goes, ¡®people speak thoughtlessly but listen intently¡¯, the woman was originally an orphaned soul who borrowed her body anyways. Now, she seemed to have evaporated like mist from the mortal world, not a single trace of her could be found. He suddenly remembered that the day she left, she had a cold smile on her face when she spoke, ¡°I know Prince Li¡¯s power reaches even farther than the heavens, but there are some things in this world that will not always be within your control. There will always be one person that you can¡¯t have even if you beg; there will always be one thing that will cause you, Zongzheng Wuyou to overturn heavens and earth, but still not be able to change.¡±

    This sentence was spoken with such conviction, could it be¡­thinking about how that woman very well could have left his world, Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly felt fear spreading within him. He didn¡¯t think too much about where this fear came from, but lowered his gaze, gripping the armrests of his chair so tight that his fingertips turned white. Thinking from another angle, he felt it wasn¡¯t quite right. If she really did leave this world, then her body should still be here, but up ¡¯til now, they haven¡¯t even found a corpse, which meant this hypothesis was unlikely.

    Where did she go? Jingcheng was sorge, how could there be a person that he could not find?!

    As his frustrations grew, his hands unconsciously gripped tighter until a ¡°kacha¡± sound rang out, the armrest couldn¡¯t handle his strength and was broken, the wooden fragments littering the ground.

    The abrupt sound rang out with no warning, causing the prostrating guard on the ground to tremble and break out into a cold sweat.

    The Ninth Prince was stunned and he stared with his eyes wide open, feeling astonished. The Seventh Brother that he knew was always cold and indifferent, he had never treated anyone sincerely, yet now he was turning over the entire Jingcheng in such a brazen fashion to search for a woman, even getting angry. This was apletely inconceivable notion to him.

    Zongzheng Wuyou started, looking at the scattered wood fragments, he nked out for a moment.

    The Ninth Prince waved a hand at the guard below, indicating for them to leave. The guard had a joyous expression on his face, rushing to stand up and leave before he finally let out a breath of relief.

    The rain dropped endlessly on the roof. The Ninth Prince leaned forward, sticking his head out and rolling his eyes before suddenly speaking, ¡°Seventh Brother, why are you in such a hurry to look for Li Yue? I¡¯ve never seen you treat anyone or anything so seriously! You¡­could it be¡­you have feelings for Li Yue?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s body quaked, raising his eyes as his lips hooked up. His gaze, however, was chilly and terrifying, as if he [the Ninth Prince] said some great big cold joke. But when Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes met with the man¡¯s across from him, seeing the Ninth Prince¡¯s usually yful gaze filled with iparable seriousness as if he was looking directly into the depths of his heart, Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s smile stiffened. He stood up, turning his back, forcefully suppressing his sudden surprise.

    What are feelings? He didn¡¯t even have a heart, so where would he develop feelings?¡±

    ¡°Are you bored out of your mind?! Then go find that person, if you can¡¯t find her then don¡¯te back.¡± Zongzheng Wuyou spoke coldly.

    The Ninth Prince was startled, he was just saying it casually, thinking that Seventh Brother would make fun of him for speaking nonsense. He did not expect that he would receive such a different reaction instead.

    The Ninth Prince stood up, gazing at his back for a while, he shook his head and went out. When he stepped out the doorway, there was an unprecedented serious expression on his face. He spoke to the person behind him, ¡°Seventh Brother, have you ever thought that for someone as intelligent and cautious as Li Yue, why did she fall into your gentle trap so easily? If you didn¡¯t have any serious feelings towards her at all, do you think that she would not have noticed?¡± This was definitely the most decent sentence he ever spoke in his whole entire life!

    (1) huang¡¯er: Affectionate term referring to a (young) prince.

 Chapter 42 - Events Unfolded

    <strong>Chapter 42 Events Unfolded</strong>

    The Ninth prince left and the servants all retreated. When the door was closed, the wind that slipped in blew out the candles. He waved his hands, indicating that there was no need to re-light them.

    Thest ray of light was extinguished, engulfing the room in a sea of darkness. Zongzheng Wuyou leaned against the chaise, not moving as his hand held a tea that had long turned cold. The cold temperature of the cup seeped into his fingertips, chilling his heart and turning into an inexplicable sense of loneliness, dissipating into the air.

    The Ninth Prince¡¯s words were like a heavy gong, hammering at his heart. A question he had never considered was nowid out in front of him.

    Why did he have to have her? When he touched other women, he would be conflicted, but why is it that he only wanted to get closer to her?

    He never nned on taking a wife, but there were times when he would imagine about the future with her by his side, thinking that life was not that boring after all. She was just a tool that he finished using, why was he so anxious to find her, even to the point of using Wuyin Lou¡¯s people? It¡¯s only been two days, yet her disappearance caused an emptiness in his heart.

    This¡­what exactly was it?

    He closed his eyes, the images of that woman¡¯s pale face swimming in his mind, including the cold and shallow smile that surfaced on her face after she knew the truth as well as the pain in her eyes that she tried to cover up¡­it wasn¡¯t that he did not notice all of this but rather he chose to ignore it all, burying it into the deepest parts of his heart.

    The rain fell for the whole night, the faint soundsing in from the tightly shut window. When the skies brightened, he was asleep on the chaise, fatigue could be seen between his eyebrows. The cold tea was still in his hands, not a single drop was touched.

    The steward, seeing how there weren¡¯t any movements from inside, ordered the servants to guard the door. Even though he ordered them to not allow anyone inside to disturb him, it could no stop the Ninth Prince¡¯s loud voice, ¡°Seventh Brother¡­¡± The moment he stepped into the residence, he began to loudly yell.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s brows furrowed and he opened his bloodshot eyes. A shushing sound came from the servants outside as they pleaded in a soft voice, ¡°Your Highness, please stop yelling, wangye hasn¡¯t woken up yet.¡±

    How could the Ninth Prince listen to them, he directly opened the door and yelled out, ¡°Seventh Brother, what time is it, why are you still asleep?¡± He walked into to see Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s fatigued expression and paused before letting out a teasing smile, ¡°Seventh Brother, were you unable to fall asleep because you were thinking about Li Yue all night? This is not the Seventh Brother I know!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou froze for a moment before standing up and ring at him. The Ninth Prince hurriedly changed his tune, ¡°My Seventh Brother like a celestial being, viewing money¡­no, viewing women as dirt, how could he be hung up and have insomnia due to a woman? Isn¡¯t that right¡­Seventh Brother? If anyone were to do that it would be me, hehe¡­¡±

    Seeing his cheeky smile and exaggerated mannerisms, Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s lips twitched.

    The Ninth Prince butt in front of him, ¡°The General residence sure is rowdy, even with such a big rain, all the officials are gathered there. The number of people bringing gifts could cover the distance between Northern City and Southern City.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eye twitched and he didn¡¯t speak. After washing himself up, the steward ordered the servants to bring forth the heated up breakfast. Zongzheng Wuyou waved his hand; he didn¡¯t have an appetite. He turned to eye the Ninth prince, speaking indifferently, ¡°I told you to go there to find someone, not to join in on the fun.¡±

    The Ninth Prince sat down, his face sullen, ¡°I can have fun while trying to find her. This time, we really let Fu Chou off too easily, even the Crown Prince¡¯s official wedding was not as extravagant as his, not to mention Imperial Father¡¯s bestowments, Princess Rong Le¡¯s dowry, and the wedding gifts from the court officials, pei pei(1)¡­¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou poured himself a new cup of tea and took a sip, listening to Old Ninth¡¯s sourness, his lips curved up into a faint smile, ¡°What, are you regretting it?¡±

    The Ninth Prince raised his eyebrows, ¡°I don¡¯t regret it, but¡­if Princess Rong Le looks like Li Yue, then it¡¯s such a deal to marry her, he gets two people for one!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou shot him a look, there¡¯s only one Ah Man in this world! He spoke casually, ¡°Their figures are simr and if they even look the same, then wouldn¡¯t they¡­¡± Wouldn¡¯t they be the same person? He didn¡¯t finish his sentence, abruptly stopping as the thought in his mind quickly shed by.

    ¡°Seventh Brother, you¡­¡± The Ninth Prince saw that he didn¡¯t finish speaking but his face had changed and was about to ask him when he stopped.

    Zongzheng Wuyou slowly stood up and walked in front of the window. Therge raindrops fell onto the ground, creating ripples in the puddles, new ones forming before the old ones finished, erasing the traces of the previous ones. Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s mind was nk.

    In the bathhouse within the General¡¯s residence, it was the only time Princess Rong Le had disappeared from his sight for a short period of time. By the time he had entered, Fu Chou ordered for the curtains to be taken away, and the entire bathhouse was within his view, giving off the feeling that he was mistaken. Afterwards, he saw Princess Rong Le reaching her hands out into the water, why did she do so? Whether that water was from the hot springs or not could be distinguished with just a nce, why did a princess need to personally touch the water someone had already used and had yet to be cleaned out to determine the temperature? Unless¡­someone went into the pool and creating ripples on the water was just to cover it up.

    What a thorough n, she actually dared to do switch right underneath his nose! But, why did Princess Rong Le help her to this extent? One was the princess of Qiyun, the other was an exiled noble from Qiyun¡­both were people of Qiyun!

    Zongzheng Wuyou closed his eyes, thinking deeply.

    In the banquet hall, she once said, ¡°Wuyou, if¡­I¡¯m saying if, if I am Princess Rong Le, you¡­¡± She never finished that probing sentence and he treated it as if she were just a normal woman trying to probe his heart. That night at the banquet, she was very distracted.

    By the hot springs, she said, ¡°Wuyou, if¡­I¡¯m getting married, would you be happy for me?¡± At that time, Princess Rong Le and Fu Chou¡¯s wedding was set to happen in three days.

    One by one, each event slowly unfolded, shocking him to his core, paining his heart. He suddenly opened his eyes, unwilling to think further. Turning around, his words carried hints of urgency he was unable to hide, ¡°Old Ninth, when you came here, did the princess of Qiyun¡¯s carriage arrive at the General¡¯s residence yet?¡±

    The Ninth Prince froze, not understanding why he asked but still answered, ¡°At this time, they must be getting ready to bai tang(2).¡±

    Before he finished, Zongzheng Wuyou already left and the Ninth Prince yelled out frantically, ¡°Seventh Brother, where are you going?¡±

    What answered him was the rustling sounds of Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s white robes as they flew past¡ª

    (1) The sound of someone spitting.

    (2) bai tang °ÝÌÃ: In traditional Chinese weddings, there is a ritual where the bride and groom kneel three times each to their parents, to heaven and earth, and to each other.

 Chapter 43.1 - The Princessâ€™ Grand Wedding (1)

    <strong>Chapter 43.1 The Princess¡¯ Grand Wedding (1)</strong>

    The rain began to fall harder with no indications that it was going to stop anytime soon, but this did not deter the flocks of horse carriages on their way to the Northern City.

    From the Southern City to the Northern City, the wide roads were filled with the people in the wee party dressed in bright red robes signaling happiness. The fog made it difficult to see, and someone once said that it was ominous to hold weddings in this weather, but this was the date that His Majesty personally set so who would dare to suggest otherwise?

    Man Yao sat within the wide and luxurious horse carriage, listening to the rain falling outside onto the carriage, imitating the sounds of dreams shattering.

    Because of the rain, it was not convenient for Fu Chou to ride a horse, so he sat with her in the carriage. Sitting across from her, he was in a rxed andidback posture.

    The red head cover blocked her vision, and she could only see the wedding robes of the man sitting across from her as well as the hands he had resting on his knees. It was that pair of hands that will soon be holding her own when they walked into the prison that was marriage. She could feel his gaze on her as if he was trying to find something.

    As the bride, her mood was unusually calm with none of the shyness and excitement of someone that was soon bing a wife. She had no hopes or desires towards her future husband, no pain or tears from bidding goodbye to her family, no sadness from having to leave her maternal family. From her bones to her skin, everything about her was so calm, it caused others to feel uneasy as if she was actually a bystander going to witness someone else¡¯s wedding.

    Ling¡¯er sat next to her, being unusually quiet. She asionally stole some nces at the man across, he was full of charm and intelligent and as gentle as jade, he was definitely one of the few men in the world that match up to her master! If Master marries him, she should be happy right?

    The carriage passed through a ditch and shook. Man Yao instinctively reached a hand out to steady herself only to find a pair ofrge hands firmly holding hers. Those hands were a little rough yet warm, and she heard him speak in a gentle voice, ¡°Careful.¡±

    Man Yao lightly nodded her head and steadied herself, ¡°Thank you, General.¡±

    Fu Chou smiled, ¡°You and I will be husband and wife after weplete the wedding ritual, there¡¯s no need to be so polite.¡±

    He spoke so casually, without any hint of unfamiliarity. Man Yao pursed her lips, not speaking.

    The carriage became steady again, and her hands were still being held by him. The woman¡¯s fingers were slender and her smooth skin was cold to the touch, just like the cold rain that would asionally drop into the carriage. Fu Chou furrowed his brows, ¡°Why are your hands so cold? Are you very cold? I¡¯ll tell them to stop the carriage and find you a coat to wear.¡± Finished, he didn¡¯t wait for her to answer before he ordered, ¡°Stop the carriage.¡±

    The carriage stopped, and a servant stepped forward to receive orders, but before they could do so, Ling¡¯er spoke, ¡°This servant knows where Master¡¯s coat is, this servant will go to get it right now.¡±

    Instead, Man Yao spoke apathetically, ¡°No need, I¡¯m not cold.¡± It wasn¡¯t spoken intentionally to create distance, but it caused people to feel as if they were separated from her by thousands of miles.

    Ling¡¯er¡¯s eyes dimmed and she pursed her lips, turning her eyes to Fu Chou.

    Fu Chou very naturally held her hands tightly and smiled, ¡°Today is our wedding day, you can¡¯t copse before we even step into the wedding hall. Wear anotheryer.¡± Even though he was smiling when he said it, his words carried amanding tone. Turning his head, he ordered Ling¡¯er, ¡°Go.¡±

    Ling¡¯er happily obeyed, when she stepped down from the carriage, she secretly thought: General is gentle and considerate and he also looks after Master in every possible way. The husband His Majesty(1) picked for Master is a good one!

    The two people were left alone in the horse carriage. There was an extremely faint fragrance that lingered at the tip of their nose. It was a very pleasant smell and Fu Chou couldn¡¯t help but inhale, trying to breathe in more of it before he suddenly became indifferent.

    Man Yao tried many times to retrieve her hand but Fu Chou did not let her, tightening his hold instead as he lightly smiled, ¡°Your hands are too cold, I¡¯ll help you warm them up.¡± No matter if it was his actions or the way he spoke, he was always so natural, as if they were an old married couple.

    Cold hands could be warmed up but if a person¡¯s heart turned cold, how should one warm that up? She persisted in taking back her hand and smiled indifferently, ¡°Thank you General for you kind intentions! However¡­I¡¯m already used to this temperature.¡±

    Fu Chou was momentarily stunned. She was the princess that was heavily doted upon by the Emperor of Qiyun, why would she say that she was used to this ice-cold temperature? Even the words she spoke when she smiled revealed the pain she held inside of her. He frowned, looking at his empty hands and switched to sit next to her. Turning her shoulders, separated by a head cover, he spoke lightly, ¡°In the future¡­you will slowly begin to get used to being warm by my side. Remember¡­I¡¯m not an outsider, I¡¯m your husband, the person who will walk beside you for the rest of your life.¡±

    His gentle voice held hints of determination, making people feel reassured. Man Yao couldn¡¯t shrug off his hands, and felt two hot rays of his burning gaze through the red head covering,nding squarely on her face, and she stiffly turned her head away.

    (1) No mention of which emperor she¡¯s referring to, but this trantor is assuming the author is referring to the Emperor of Qiyun

 Chapter 43.2 - The Princessâ€™ Grand Wedding (1) Contâ€™d

    <strong>Chapter 43.2 The Princess¡¯ Grand Wedding (1) Cont¡¯d</strong>

    Because the two of them had sat in the horse carriage, they had arrived a little earlier than the predicted time. At this time, the auspicious hour tomence the bowing ritual had not yet arrived.

    The servants brought forth therge red knot, and Man Yao reached a hand out to grab it but was blocked by Fu Chou. He grabbed her hand and directly walked inside, greeting the guests along the way.

    The guests snapped back to reality and rushed to offer their congrattions. The happiest people were Yang daren of the Ministry of Rites. He spent a lot of effort on this marriage alliance, and despite the waves and the change of person in the middle, it was still sessfullypleted. He happily congratted them, ¡°Congrattions to General Fu on your wedding!¡±

    Fu Chou smiled, ¡°We¡¯re all happy.¡±

    Another official offered simr congrattory words, and Fu Chou responded politely. Yu daren also stepped forwards, his usual congrattory words slipping out, ¡°Congrattions to General Fu for bringing back a beauty!¡±

    With these words, the surrounding people froze, each of their gazes shooting towards Yu daren. Rumors said that Princess Rong Le was extremely ugly, but he just had to congratte the groom on marrying a beauty. Anyone listening to it would think it¡¯s an insult.

    There was not a single sound in the room. The guests all held their breaths, waiting for the general¡¯s reaction, and the offsprings of the noble families idled around, their expressions saying that they were waiting for a good y to unfold, as they reveled in the misfortune of others. Even though none of them wanted to marry this princess, but seeing the dowry full of pearls and treasures being carried in trunk after trunk, they couldn¡¯t help but feel slightly bitter. They secretly thought: All of this could have been ours, damn¡­!

    A court official bumped his elbow against Yu daren who was still in a daze, pointing his mouth at the bride, reminding him that he spoke too carelessly.

    Yu daren started, finally understanding and the smile that was on his face stiffened as he hurried to exin, ¡°General Fu, this official¡­this official didn¡¯t mean it that way¡­¡±

    Fu Chou¡¯s expression never changed, his smile still as gentle as ever even as his gaze became darker by a few degrees, causing people unable to guess what he was thinking. He turned around to look at the woman underneath the veil and continued smiling, ¡°Many thanks for Yu daren¡®s blessings!¡±

    Yu daren was stunned, when a voice suddenly sounded out from outside, ¡°The Crown Prince has arrived!¡± Wearing the yellow robes of a crown prince, Zongzheng Xiaoren strode over with a woman beside him. The woman had an outstanding figure with a beautiful face, her appearance brightening her surroundings, captivating the gazes of everyone present.

    Fu Chou hadn¡¯t yet greeted him when some boot-licking people already went to give greetings with ttering smiles, ¡°This person must be the new meiren(1) Your Highness just got, Xiang furen(2) right? As expected, such an outstanding beauty capable of causing the downfall of a country, Crown Prince has a good eye!¡± Before his words were finished, the crowd spoke in agreement. It was true that the woman was beautiful and this ttery was made in truth as well.

    Zongzheng Xiaoren was overjoyed and in front of everyone, he wrapped an arm around the waist of the beauty beside him, smiling, ¡°An outstanding beauty¡­Xiang¡¯er is not worthy.¡± As for ¡®capable of causing a downfall¡¯¡­a peerlessly beautiful face from the prison suddenly appeared in his mind. Unfortunately, Old Seventh stole that one away!

    The woman being referred to as Xiang furen was Hen Xiang that was taken away two days ago by the Crown Prince back to his residence. She leaned into the Crown Prince¡¯s embrace, a shallow smile on her pretty face, and any male who saw it was instantly bewitched. Her eyes roamed and when her gazednded on the handsome man in wedding robes, her pupils shrank, as a fleeting look of pain shed through her eyes.

    Fu Chou finally stepped forward to give his greetings, smiling, ¡°With a beauty by your side, Crown Prince is indeed different from before.¡±

    Zongzheng Xiaoren felt a little smug and loudlyughed, ¡°Thanks to General¡¯s, I must thank General for this matter.¡±

    Fu Chou: ¡°No need, no need.¡± He never spared the woman beside the Crown Prince a single nce.

    Man Yao always disliked this type of setting but she was unable escape so she could only quietly stand there, her eyes focused on the light gray bricks underneath under feet. Suddenly, an extra pair of boots appeared and yellow robes followed after, it was clearly the Crown Prince. She frowned as she extremely disliked this person.

    Zongzheng Xiaoren walked until he was in front of Man Yao and tilted his head downwards to look at her. He couldn¡¯t tell at all what her figure was like as she was covered up by the loose and wide wedding robes. Feeling pity for Fu Chou who sacrificed himself to secure peace for the two countries and had to marry this ugly princess, he patted Fu Chou¡¯s shoulder. Assuming the tone of a ruler, he spoke sincerely, ¡°General has always been loyal to my nation and is a role model for everyone. If Seventh Imperial Brother was half as open-minded and far-sighted as you are, Imperial Father would not have had so many restless nights.¡±

    What Zongzheng Xiaoren meant was, whoever married her was open-minded and far-sighted, sacrificing for the country? The people in this era were so shallow, marrying people based off of their looks. Man Yao hooked her lips up into a sneer only to hear Fu Chouugh, ¡°Crown Prince is overpraising, it is my honor to be able to take Princess Rong Le in as my wife.¡±

    They spoke a few more polite words to each other when Steward Liang came to report, ¡°General Fu, the auspicious hour has arrived.¡±

    The firecrackers began to explode, their sounds ringing out and dissipating the gloomy air brought by the rain. The entire General¡¯s residence was filled with a joyous air. The wedding music began to y, a happy melody sounding out. The rites official sang, ¡°One bow to heaven and earth¡ª¡±

    They turned around to face outside before bowing to the heaven and earth. Man Yao had an indifferent smile on, it was so easy to bow down to the heavens and the earth, it was just bending the waist.

    ¡°Second bow to gaotang(3)¡ª¡±

    No one knew who Fu Chou¡¯s parents were, were still alive or did they already pass away? There was no one sitting in the seats reserved for the gaotang, and they bowed anyways to the two empty chairs. On the raised table, even the incense did not seem to have ever been lit.(4)

    ¡°Husband and wife exchange bows¡ª¡±

    This bow, in this era where divorce was not allowed, would cement her future. Whether it was good or bad was no longer up to her to choose. Fu Chou had already bowed down but she stood still. After a beat, she bent her waist, a feeling of numbness spreading throughout her heart at that moment. Just like that, she became the General furen.

    ¡°The rites have finished, send to the bedchambers¡ª¡±

    Man Yao lightly exhaled, finally she could leave this group of people! She hated these people with their superficial expressions and words. Someone came over to assist her, guiding her towards the bedchamber when someone else blocked her, ¡°General Fu, it won¡¯t be toote to send her to the bedchamber after we take a look at your beautiful bride with the countenance of a flower and a face like the moon!¡±

    Countenance of a flower and a face like the moon? It was a direct insult, not even beating around the bush. Man Yao coldly smiled, if they really thought she was so beautiful, then why did each of them lower their heads in the banquet hall, afraid that they would get chosen?

    Another person chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right, Princess Rong Le has arrived in my dynasty for two months already, there hasn¡¯t been anyone yet who has seen the princess¡¯ real face! Last time in the pce, the princess once said that Qiyun customs dictate an unmarried woman cannot show her face to outsiders. Now that the wedding rites have been performed, we¡¯re allowed to take a look at what she really looks like now, right?¡±

    ¡°General Fu, don¡¯t be so petty, we just want to take a nce at Qiyun Princess¡¯ glory¡­¡±

    All of these were the royal offspring that treated her like a joke at the banquet. She coldly sneered, they gave out such flowery reasons just to see her make a fool of herself. No matter what motives they had in mind, wasn¡¯t their goal just to see how ugly this princess who once held their fates in the palm of their hands was?

    The wind picked up, bringing with it the rain and the onlookers frantically rushed to the two sides to take shelter. The wind was extremely fierce, lifting up a corner of her veil, revealing an earlobe and a swatch of snow-white skin before dropping back down.

    None of the people in the hall dared to speak, their gazes all focused on the Lord Protector General, watching to see how he would handle this matter. With the splendid and radiant Xiang furen present, even a normal beauty would be suppressed, not to mention an ugly woman! If he were to really take off the bride¡¯s veil, he would be seeking humiliation. At this time, everyone in the hall was thinking the same thing.

    Fu Chou¡¯s elegant smile never left his face, was he not affected? It was difficult to not be displeased, and after pondering for a moment, he spoke, ¡°Even though Princess has already be my wife, but Princess¡¯s identity¡­It was still quite special and it also touched upon Qiyun¡¯s customs, so it would depend on the Princess¡¯ will. I don¡¯t know if Princess¡­is willing?¡± With just the mention of ¡°special status¡±, he reminded them that she was not only a princess but also the symbol of peace between the two countries.

    Those royal offsprings were naturally not dumb people, hearing the hidden meaning behind Fu Chou¡¯s words, they understood. Even though they were unwilling, they could only temporarily retreat. Zongzheng Xiaoren took the opportunity to voice out, ¡°Alright, today is General Fu¡¯s wedding day, no one is allowed to mess around. If you guys want to see the princess¡¯ glory, you¡¯ll have plenty of opportunities in the future. Hurry and send them into the bedchambers.¡±

    It was supposed to be a perfect conclusion. Not only did it help Fu Chou escape from this situation, it also disyed his iparable identity and status,ying down his prestige in front of these court officials. Unfortunately, the heavens never followed the wishes of mortals. Who knew if it was just bad luck or some other reason but just as he finished, a cold voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall, ¡°Hold it!!¡±

    Hearing this voice, Man Yao jerked and suddenly stiffened.

    In the end¡­he¡­still came!

    (1) meiren means ¡°beauty¡± or (in this case) is the name of a concubine rank.

    (2) furen refers to a woman that is already married.

    (3) gaotang can refer to ancestors or parents (in the case of wedding rites)

    (4) For those unaware, you usually light incense in memorandum for deceased family.

 Chapter 44.1 - The Princessâ€™ Grand Wedding (2)

    <strong>Chapter 44.1 The Princess¡¯ Grand Wedding (2)</strong>

    Following the entrance of the person who came in like a tornado, the temperature inside the wedding hall dropped into freezing temperatures. Robes as white as snow, ink-ck hair flying everywhere, and a handsome face that was as dark as the deepest depths of hell with sinister and icy eyes. With just a nce, he caused everyone to feel panic-stricken.

    All the officials who originally intended to step forward to greet him were rooted to the ground, afraid to take even half a step forward and was even forced to retreat back by his sinister and ice-cold demeanor. Prince Li who never attended other people¡¯s weddings actually angrily stormed in here, they felt that something big was going to happen today.

    In this freezing atmosphere, only General Fu was able to continue smiling so calmly and naturally. A glint shed through Fu Chou¡¯s warm eyes and he smiled, ¡°This general is extremely honored for Prince Li to attend this general¡¯s wedding. Even though the wedding rites have already beenpleted, Prince Li did note toote. Please take a seat and rest a moment, the lunch banquet will be ready soon.¡±

    Fu Chou was telling him that the wedding rites were alreadypleted, they already finished bowing! Zongzheng Wuyou felt his heart tighten up and his face darkened further. He walked to the center of the hall and stopped at a distance from the woman wearing the wedding robes. The bright red colors pricked at his eyes, he had never hated a color so much until now. It was as if there was something inside of him that was boiling, giving him the urge to rip them to shreds. He clenched his hands into fists, forcing himself to stay calm, the principles he had upheld for thest thirteen years allowed him to keep his emotions in check. There was still a chance that that woman was not her.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s voice was heavy and biting, his words carrying double meaning, ¡°How could benwang note when Princess Rong Le is marrying?¡±

    The bystanders were confused, secretly feeling conflicted. Prince Li once rejected Princess Rong Le and even harmed her in the imperial pce, why did hee today for Princess Rong Le? Is there some other motive?

    Fu Chou gave a smile full of meaning and nced at Man Yao by his side, ¡°So Prince Li¡­is actually here for Princess, then this general¡­will thank Prince Li on behalf of Princess for giving us the face.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou: ¡°No need for General to exert effort on her behalf, isn¡¯t Princess Rong Le right here?¡± His eyes were focused on the veil that covered up the woman¡¯s face, slowly walking towards her.

    Man Yao tightly gripped her clothes, and as if someone was choking her heart, she felt suffocated. Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s arrival implied that he was already suspicious of her identity. How could such a proud and conceited person allow for something that he originally thought was in his control to leave him? She had no idea what he would do next.

    Her entire body was rigid, the steps closing in on her sounding extremely loud on the cold bricks, as if they were stepping on her heart. As that person¡¯s steps unceasingly drew closer, the suffocating pressure he brought with it also greatly increased. Other than the sound of his feet, there were no other sounds in the hall. In an instant, there was a sort of unspeakable feeling of treachery in the air.

    When the white robes appeared in her line of vision, there were only three steps between her and that person. He stopped walking. Her heart felt like it was on the edge of a cliff, she could clearly feel his sharp gaze on her, trying to prate through the head cover and straight into her eyes to peer into her soul. The Zongzheng Wuyou right now gave her the same feeling when she saw him at the imperial pce that one time: cold, sinister, extreme pressure. She couldn¡¯t help but slightly quiver when she heard him say, ¡°Benwang also wants to take a nce at this rumored peerlessly ugly face of Princess Rong Le, want to see how uniquely ugly¡­it is? Is it the anger of the heavens and grudges of the people(1)? Or is itpletely opposite?¡±

    He spoke so frivolously but his words were wrought with hidden meanings. As he spoke, he reached his hand out to swiftly throw away the cover. Only a distance of three steps, it would be taken off in the blink of an eye, but when that amount of time passed, the cover was still securely on her head, never having moved an inch.

    No one saw when Fu Chou had taken action. With their skills, they were even quicker than lightning. Fu Chou¡¯s hand had firmly grasped Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s wrist. Although his eyes were dark, his face still had an elegant smile, ¡°Prince Li is even more anxious than this general. No matter how anxious you are, the veil of this general¡¯s wife¡­it is still better for this general to personally take it off. No need for Prince Li to do the work!¡± His tone was as warm as always, but carried a hint of dominance within. With his status as the general of a nation, it was very reasonable to stop someone from taking off the veil of his wife, even if that person was the most favored son of the Emperor.

    Zongzheng Wuyou felt the inner force Fu Chou¡¯s palm was emitting. It was clearly just to block his hand from moving forwards, but he felt a killing intent emanating from that person, a type that was hidden so deep it was one that was nurtured and hidden for many years in the depths of the heart. His phoenix eyes narrowed and gave a smile that wasn¡¯t a smile, ¡°Does General think that finishing bowing means you¡¯ve be husband and wife? Benwang doesn¡¯t think so!¡±

    The two of them looked like they were holding hands and speaking jovially in a rxed manner, but underneath that peaceful exterior were surging waves. The hands on his wrist, along with the inner force being added to it, even the slightest intention could cause a stone wall to be crushed into dust. Zongzheng Wuyou had always known that Fu Chou¡¯s martial arts were the level of an expert, but did not expect that it was so strong he could actually match him.

    Two experts could gauge each other with just a nce to determine the extent of the other¡¯s skill. Yet right now, they were exchanging a rare blow with each other. Fu Chou¡¯s heart trembled but he still maintained a smile, ¡°If evenpleting the wedding rites don¡¯t count, then what does Prince Li¡­think counts as being husband and wife?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou nted his eyes towards Man Yao, slowly hooking up his lips, ¡°Of course it only counts when you¡¯ve entered the bedchambers.¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s body flinched as her heart pained. He was reminding her that she was no longer a virgin, so how could she be someone else¡¯s wife?! It looks like Zongzheng Wuyou was dead set on not letting her go! Whatever, since he has alreadye, he would definitely not leave before he got his answer. Now that things havee to this point, she had no reason to continue hiding, it was better to justy everything out in the open. She didn¡¯t believe that with a Qiyun nation and a general who carried the military seal, would the Emperor of Lintian continue to let him do as he wished? Thinking up to here, she suddenly calmed down and rxed, faintly smiling, ¡°I did not expect that my ugly countenance would garner the attention of so many people, even the noble Prince Li made the trip just for me, so how could I¡­disappoint everyone?¡±

    A calm demeanor with mocking words caused Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s heart to shake. Both Zongzheng Wuyou and Fu Chou retrieved their inner forces at the same time and retreated back three steps. Before he could think further, Man Yao had already raised her hand and lifted the bright red veil from her head herself, throwing it away. Her movements were straightforward, just like if she were throwing away trash. With just a hint of carelessness, she seemed very elegant. The sleeve in the air made its way down in a beautiful curve. The bright red coat on her body also slid down,nding on the ground. The form-fitting wedding dress that was revealed hugged her slender curves.

    Without the red veil blocking her sight, her vision cleared up. She slightly raised her chin, just like a lofty celestial being, her cold eyes looking down at the mortals as if they were mere dust.

    What answered her was the collective gasp of the people inside the hall. Some people¡¯s teacups fell and shattered on the ground, the liquid inside spilling out.

    (1) Meaning her ugliness is a result of the heavens being angry with her or rued bad karma from people holding grudges against her

 Chapter 44.2 - The Princessâ€™ Grand Wedding (2) Contâ€™d

    <strong>Chapter 44.2 The Princess¡¯ Grand Wedding (2) Cont¡¯d</strong>

    Afterwards was silence, it was dead quiet.

    Everyone¡¯s gazes pointed to her alone. The royal offsprings who were moring to see her true looks earlier now all had their eyes so wide, their eyeballs were about to fall out from the staring as they couldn¡¯t believe that this was the woman they once treated as a snake. All of them had the same question running through their heads, ¡°She, she¡­she¡¯s really¡­Princess Rong Le?! This¡­is impossible!¡± There was no such thing as impossible, the truth was right in front of them!

    The rumors said the Princes Rong Le was ugly beyondpare, but this woman¡­in what way was she rted to the word ¡®ugly¡¯? They always thought very highly of themselves in being well-educated and schrly, but at this moment, they had no idea how to describe this woman¡¯s beauty. No, this woman did not just simply have an extremely beautiful countenance, the most bewitching part were those ssy eyes that were filled with a sort of intelligent light, as if the light of the sun and the moon gathered in her gaze, even a nce from her would look through someone¡¯s heart. And the noble aura that seemed to emanate from deep within her bones, something thatmoners could only reach for. These hot-blooded royal offsprings felt a deep sense of inferiority and took a look at the radiant Xiang furen again, but no matter how much they looked they couldn¡¯t find any part of her that was mesmerizing?

    This time, they really felt that they were shallow beyondparison, they actually believed these groundless rumors! They missed out on a once in a thousand year¡¯s chance, sending this celestial-like woman into the arms of someone else.

    The Crown Prince was in an even greater state of disbelief as his mouth was wide open. How could there be such a beautiful woman in this world? If he knew, he would havee up with all sorts of ways to divorce the Crown Princess Consort in order to be the best choice to marry the Princess.

    Within the hall, there were more than a hundred people, and each of their thoughts were different. Seeing the Crown Prince¡¯s soulless look, Xiang furen nced at him with a mocking look in her eyes before she turned her head. Looking at the man in the wedding robes, she saw him staring at that woman with starry eyes, the joy in his gaze uncontainable. Her heart fell with a heavy thud.

    The moment the veil was lifted, Zongzheng Wuyou felt his heart breaking apart. Standing only six steps away, he dazedly stared at that lofty woman, his heart turning over a thousand times, losing the ability to speak or move. Only three days ago, she willingly offered herself to him, but three dayster, wearing a set of wedding robes, she was perfectlyposed as shepleted the wedding rites with another person. Using that cold and apathetic gaze to look at him, it was the same as if she were looking at a stranger. His heart was in great pain, as if there was a heavy hammer knocking upon it, a bleeding dark hole appeared in his heart all of a sudden.

    It really was her!! So he wasn¡¯t the only person who wasn¡¯tpletely honest. And she, she was lying to him the whole time! Zongzheng Wuyou felt that something was wrong with his brain. He should¡¯ve been raging but instead he curled his lips up, his thin lips carrying a sneer. Even he did not realize that his expression could not hide his bitterness and pain.

    Seeing his smile, Man Yao froze for a moment, feeling it odd. She actually felt from his expression that he wasn¡¯t angry like she expected but was actually in pain. His gaze was abnormallyplicated, as if the thousands of grasses within had suddenly dried up, causing the hearts of others to also be anxious. Man Yao gave a self-mocking smile, was it not enough to fall for his tricksst time? Towards this man with such high-level acting skills, forget about what she was seeing with her eyes, she could not even rely on her gut feelings. She turned around, speaking indifferently, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve all seen it, can I leave?¡±

    Fu Chou smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll escort you. Everyone please be at ease, this general will be back.¡± He was the most calm amongst everyone here. Most of the time, all of his attention was focused on Zongzheng Wuyou, and asionally, a glint of light would sh through his eyes. In a very natural manner, he held the hand of the woman beside him and gave an iparably gentle smile that was full of tenderness.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s gaze immediately darkened as his eyes sharpened into knives. Was this the unchangeable situation that she told him? So she had already nned for this day! He suppressed the waves raging in his heart, suddenly letting out a coldugh, ¡°Where is Princess Rong Le going?¡±

    Man Yao paused but didn¡¯t turn back. Fu Chou gave a rxed smile and was about to speak when he saw a cold light sh through Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes, ¡°In such a hurry¡­are you trying to enter the bedchambers? Did Princess Rong Le forget the night from three days ago already? Should benwang remind you? How you willing offered your own body, how you writhed in pleasure under benwang¡®s movements? It¡¯s only been three days, but you¡¯re so eager to throw yourself into the arms of someone else¡­the people say that a man is fickle, but when a woman bes heartless, she surpasses men countless times.¡±

    His words were like a bomb exploding in the hall. The audience was shocked, and they looked at each other in dismay. Three days ago was the day Princess Rong Le personally picked General Fu as her husband, she actually rolled around with another man when she was preparing to be a wife?! The regretful royal offsprings from earlier finally found a bnce of some sort. Their surprise and envy from earlier was reced with despise. Their gazes allnded on this cuckolded groom who was made to wear a green hat(1) on his wedding day, their faces full of sympathy and some had expressions of glee as well.

    Fu Chou¡¯s face immediately changed and turned to look at the woman next to him. He clearly saw the hurt in her eyes caused by the person she loved. The answer was as clear as day. His heart quaked, his usually gentle eyes instantly turning sinister. On the day of his wedding, in front of all the court officials, schrs, and soldiers, it was announced that his wife was touched by someone else. How could he stand for his pride and dignity to be trampled on like this? He slowly released her hand, his eyes full ofplicated feelings.

    Ling¡¯er was extremely shocked, she disregarded her own status and hurried tried to exin, ¡°Your Highness Prince Li, don¡¯t believe it.(2) Nonsense, defaming our Master, how could our Princess possibly¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, she was pulled back by Xiao Sha and she raged, ¡°Xiao Sha, what are you doing? Master is being bullied by someone, it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t help out but you dare to stop me!¡±

    Xiao Sha pursed his lips, not speaking, using his eyes to warn her to not meddle too much. It was clear from Master¡¯s gaze that Prince Li was speaking the truth. If they continued to argue, it would be equivalent to pouring salt on Master¡¯s wounds.

    At this time, a small voice was heard from the sea of people, ¡°I didn¡¯t think that she was so vulgar despite looking like a fairy!¡±

    Another person chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right, she¡¯s even a princess. Willing sending herself to seek a man, how she any different from the girls from Heavenly Fragrance House¡­¡± Before the sentence was finished, a few sharp res shot his way at the same time, wanting to rip him apart. He reacted quickly and shut his mouth, shrinking back.

    The rain outside began to fall harder, the winds pounding against the windows. Something seemed to block her eyes as her vision became fuzzy. The cold winds blew through her light clothing and her entire body shivered. She could not believe that the man she once loved was this heartless. It wasn¡¯t enough to break her heart, he had to trample all over her dignity as well! She really wanted to walk over and fiercely p him a couple of times, but in the end, she did not do so. She told herself over and over again that he was someone she had no rtion with. He could say whatever he wanted to, but as long as she didn¡¯t care, he would not be able to hurt her, not be able to¡­but why was her heart in so much pain? She felt like she was about to die! She raised her head, opening her dry eyes, she gazed at the thick fog outside the windows. She suddenly tasted something salty inside her mouth. She didn¡¯t know when she bit two holes in her lips, the blood trickling inside her mouth. When she swallowed, the saltiness traveled all the way down her throat to the bottom of her heart, bitter beyond words.

    Countless eyes were staring at her, waiting for her to make a fool out of herself. She inhaled deeply and turned around. Walking towards Zongzheng Wuyou, she stopped in front of him, raising her head to look at him and spoke as if nothing happened, ¡°Your Highness Prince Li, do you know¡­the difference between man and beast?¡± Her voice was very faint, but each word was clearly sent to the crowd¡¯s ears. The onlookers were startled, breaking out into a cold sweat for her. Did this woman go crazy from being provoked, she actually dared to call Prince Li a beast?! Did she forget the time when she almost lost her life at the imperial pce? With Prince Li¡¯s personality, as long as you made him angry, even if it was the Princess of Qiyun, there would not be a good ending waiting.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes darkened, his gaze turning sharp as he saw the broken skin of her lips. His body shook and the anger inside of him immediately disappeared, pain recing it. He unconsciously raised his hand, wanting to wipe away the traces of blood, only to snap out of it halfway and lowered it back down. He looked at her, not speaking a word.

    Man Yao: ¡°Man, has a heart, has blood and flesh, has feelings, but beasts do not.¡± Her lips were slightly curled up, revealing an apathetic and shallow expression, as if she were speaking to a stranger. Finished, she sneered, turning around to leave. Before she could take a single step, however, her arm was firmly grabbed by someone.

    (1) To wear a green hat means the person in question was cheated on.

    (2) This trantor thinks that the author meant to write General Fu, not Prince Li, but this is what the raw says, so this is the name I put.

 Chapter 45 - Divorce

    <strong>Chapter 45 Divorce</strong>

    Without realizing, he had already unconsciously grabbed her hand, using so much strength it was as if he was going to crush her bones into dust. Wrinkling his eyebrows, he red at this extremely arrogant woman as countless needs seemed to stab into his chest and leave behind deep, bleeding holes. It wouldn¡¯t take his life, but it was a long and torturous pain, umted over days and months in his five viscera and six bowels and in his bones. She said he was a beast?! Heartless? He had also always believed that he could treat anyone heartlessly, but at this moment, he was extremely disappointed with himself! In front of this woman, his thirteen years of efforts could not evenpare to the ten days she apanied him. If it were anyone else that betrayed him, he would havee up with thousands of different ways to torture them.

    Man Yao coldly looked back at him, ¡°What does Prince Li want?¡± She raised her other hand, peeling off his fingers one by one, her expression as stubborn as ever as if she was using all of her strength.

    Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly felt he lost all strength in front of this woman, what should he do? This was apletely strange feeling that he had never felt before.

    ¡°Seventh Brother¡­¡± The Ninth Prince barged in like a tornado. He felt the atmosphere was off the moment he stepped in the great hall and immediately slowed down, sticking his head in first to take a look before slowly walking through. When he saw Man Yao, he was stunned and proceeded forward withrge steps. pping his jade-bone fan excitedly against his hands, he yelled, ¡°Li Yue?! It¡¯s you? I¡¯ve spent so long searching for you! You have no idea, I haven¡¯t had a good day of rest because I¡¯ve been trying to find you, I¡¯m going to die of exhaustion! Aye, it¡¯s so good to see you, I can finally have a good night¡¯s sleep!¡± He prattled onwards without caring about the reactions of other people, reaching a hand out to pat Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s shoulder. Yawning, he spoke, ¡°Seventh Brother, I¡¯m finished over here, I¡¯m going back to my residence to sleep.¡±

    Finished, he turned around and left. Other than the sounds of his footsteps, the hall was unusually quiet. He suddenly stopped, remembering something and his eyes widened as he whipped around and ran back. Pulling Man Yao¡¯s red wedding robes every which way, he looked at her, then looked at Fu Chou who was wearing the match set of wedding robes. Looking at his Seventh Brother¡¯s ice-cold re andplicated expression, he was stunned before finally hoarsely voicing, ¡°Li Yue? You, you¡­why are you dressed like this? Don¡¯t tell me, you, you¡¯re actually Qiyun¡¯s Princess Royal Rong Le??¡± Actually he didn¡¯t even need to ask, the answer was obvious.

    The onlookers were even more shocked, Li Yue? The Ninth Prince called her Li Yue? They rushed over to take a closer look at this woman¡¯s face before realizing that the ¡°Li Yue gongzi¡± known to be more beautiful than women was actually a woman to begin with, and the rumored female that was ugly beyondpare at that! No wonder Prince Li came today. But, hold on, there¡¯s something wrong with this situation. She already moved into Prince Li¡¯s residence, so why did she pick General Fu? Also, that day in the great hall, Li Yue gongzi was also present, so who was Princess Rong Le?

    Man Yao expressionlessly nced at the Ninth Prince, her silence taken as affirmation.

    The Ninth Prince held his head and wailed, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? If I knew before, then I wouldn¡¯t have had to take those hundred beatings!¡± He frustratedly stamped his feet on the ground. His heart was stifled because those one hundred beatings were for nothing!

    Zongzheng Wuyou frowned and shot a re at him. When those two ice beams shot over, the Ninth Prince immediately quieted down and stiffly walked over to stand behind him.

    Man Yao twisted away from Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s grip and turned around to face the calm Fu Chou, ordering Ling¡¯er, ¡°Bring over brush, ink, inkstone, and paper.¡±

    No one knew why she wanted the four treasures of the study(1) all of a sudden. Could it be that she wanted topose a poem even under these circumstances? The surrounding people were curious.

    Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t dare to ask any question and left toplete her task. After a while, the items were set on the table. Man Yao didn¡¯t say anything and went to personally grind the ink, her actions smooth and well-practiced. A drop of ink sshed on her hand and slid down following the contours of her fingers, leaving behind its trace like a tear from an unknown person. Now that she¡¯s arrived at this step, she could no longer turn back. Reminiscing about the past twenty years of her life, it always seemed to be within the control of someone else. She was also pushed along by her fate, walking on the path set for her, without being offered any choices.

    The Ninth Prince couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity and leaned over, questioning, ¡°Li Yue, what are you doing grinding ink? Are you going to paint? How about you paint me? This prince is like a jade tree in the wind(2), handsome, and elegant¡­very worth being painted¡­¡± He straightened his shoulders and gave a spin, showing off his supposed qualities. Before he could finish his spin, he met Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes and immediately stopped, changing his tune, ¡°Actually you should just paint Seventh Brother, he¡¯s¡­more handsome than I am.¡± This sentence was said with much reluctance.

    Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s mouth twitched, more lines formed on his forehead.

    Man Yao shook her head silently. Originally such a heavy and gloomy atmosphere was disturbed by him, she didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. She sighed and stopped her movements, picking up the brush nearby and turned to face Fu Chou. Under the gaze of everyone around them, she spoke in an unusually calm voice, ¡°General, please.¡±

    Fu Chou was stunned for a second before realizing her purpose and walked to the front. Looking at the hand holding the brush, darkness settled in his eyes and he didn¡¯t move.

    Man Yao stretched out her hand, ¡°The grand marriage between the two countries has been thrown into disarray. Because this is due to Rong Le, I will naturally ept the responsibility and the consequences. General does not need to contemte any further, you can just write the xiu shu(3).¡± Her face was void of expression and her voice was void of emotion. In this era where the husband was treated as heaven, a woman who was given a divorce letter would never be able to find happiness, only able to grow old alone. As such, her iprehensible actions caused the surrounding people to look at each other in shock. If it were amon woman encountering such a situation, they would definitely be breaking down in sobs, kneeling down and begging for forgiveness. Who would be so foolish as to ask for their husband to divorce them?

    Fu Chou gazed into her eyes which were clear without any ripples. It was as if him divorcing her was just par for the course and would not affect her at all. He frowned, resentment sprouting within his heart as he reached out to take the brush from her. However, even after a long time, he did not touch the ink.

    The rain outside slowly stopped and there was ayer of humidity everywhere. Man Yao was as calm as ever, she didn¡¯t bother to rush him. This time even the Ninth Prince was quiet as he stole a nce at Zongzheng Wuyou only to see his usually cold and dead eyes sparkling with a little light. He finally had a different expression on his face, seemingly like the expectant gaze of love.

    Time passed by ever so slowly. Fu Chou suddenly threw away the brush in his hand and grabbed the paperying on the table, ripping it into shreds. The onlookers were shocked. The gentle expression made its way back onto his handsome face again. He gently caressed her forehead and gave a kind smile, ¡°Who said this general wanted to divorce you? Did you forget what I said to you on the way here? After the ceremony, I am your husband, the person who will apany you for the rest of your life. No matter what happens, I will share the burdens with you.¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s heart trembled, her gaze no longer steady. She was clearer than anyone of the consequences she brought upon Fu Chou today. In this day and age, what did that mean for his life? It was humiliation; even if he divorced her, he would not be able to erase the humiliation. In addition, the pride he had as a man would be a joke amongst everyone. For a moment, she did not know what to say, only feeling that the man whose hand was holding hers right now, was very warm.

    When these affectionate actions unfolded in front of Zongzheng Wuyou, he felt something pricking his heart. He clenched his hands into fists, the veins on the back popping out, almost ready to explode at any moment. He gave a coldugh and in a sh, he arrived right next to them, pulling the woman away. He spoke in a harsh voice, ¡°General Fu¡¯s love is as deep as the sea, how moving. However, even if General doesn¡¯t mind, benwang minds. How can benwang¡®s woman marry someone else!¡±

    Caught off guard, Man Yao fell into Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s arms. His entire body was as hard as steel so her whole body turned numb from pain. When she returned to her senses, she tried to push him away, but his arm was firmly holding her waist in ce, not allowing her to move. She angrily raised her head and violently shoved her hand against his chest, at the area where it was easiest to rile someone up, yet his face was as cold and expressionless as always. Man Yao was dumbfounded for a moment.

    Fu Chou dropped his smile. When he became expressionless, that handsome face became abnormally cold, ¡°Prince Li, please let go of my wife! I don¡¯t care what rtionship she had with Prince Li before, but now that the Emperor has bestowed this marriage, and everyone has witnessed our bows to heaven and earth, we have be husband and wife. For what reason does Prince Li have to keep clinging on to us? Yang daren, you¡¯re the person in charge of this engagement, do tell, Princess Rong Le¡­is she not my wife?¡±

    Yang Wei trembled. When he saw that something went wrong with the marriage alliance, his heart was already hanging on by a thread, and now that the general directly called him out, his entire being turned numb yet he could not disagree, only saying, ¡°After finishing the bows to heaven earth, the ceremony ispleted and¡­bes¡­bes husband and wife.¡± He shrunk his neck, his voice bing smaller and smaller to where even he struggled to get out thest few words because Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s stare was as cold as the eighteenth level of hell. Even if they were far away from each other, his blood still froze.

    Zongzheng Wuyou shut his eyes, his cold voice resounding, ¡°Yang Wei, lift your head and look at benwang. What you just said. say. it. again. Benwang didn¡¯t hear it just now.¡±

    Yang Wei¡¯s whole body was shaking as his limbs turned soft and his forehead was slick with cold sweat. It was already hard enough to stand up, where could he find the courage to repeat it. He could only stutter, ¡°This, this¡­¡±

    Fu Chou frowned, a dark glint shing across his eyes. When he swept his gaze over the hall, everyone couldn¡¯t help but take a step back, afraid that he would call one of their names next. The Prince Li right now was like King of Hell¡¯s Yama, no one dared to provoke him. Even the Crown Prince Zongzheng Xiaoren¡¯s eyes were trembling.

    The Ninth Prince let out augh, ¡°Did General Fu and Li Yueplete the ceremony? Howe I didn¡¯t see it, did you guys see it?¡± He was the definition of a rogue! But this was the Ninth Prince¡¯s style as always. When the people heard his question, they couldn¡¯t nod or shake their heads, so they could only pretend to not have heard anything.

    The corner of Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s lips hooked up into a slight smile. Seizing the chance that he was distracted, Man Yao gathered up her inner force and wrestled out of his grip, retreating back next to Fu Chou, ¡°Ninth Prince does not need to exert any more effort. Regardless of whether you admit or not, it will not change the fact that I and General Fu have alreadypleted the ceremony. Prince Li, don¡¯t forget that two months ago when I first entered Jing, you were the one who ordered the servants to shut the gates of residence, rejecting me at the doorsteps. In the great hall, you once again rejected me as your wife. When you insulted me, it was like a sword stabbing me over and over again.¡±

    She remembered all of these so clearly, so why didn¡¯t she remember those days they spent together, when he let down his guard and treated her so gently? Why didn¡¯t she remember how every day, they would drink tea and converse together? Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s heart was squeezed in pain and he clenched his fists even tighter. Fiercely meeting her gaze, his voice wasced with anger and coldness, ¡°So you wanted to take revenge,ing up with schemes to get close to benwang so that when benwang finally fell for you, you would decide to marry someone else in order to attack benwang¡®s pride and dignity¡­is that right?¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s smile held self-mockery. What deep grudge they they hold between each other that was worth her sacrificing her lifetime happiness to seek revenge? She sneered, not bothering to exin or care about what he thought, ¡°However Prince Li thinks¡­it¡¯s up to you.¡±

    This kind of careless attitude could attack someone¡¯s pride even harder than any sort of cold words. Zongzheng Wuyou could no longer maintain his calmness as shes of hurt flickered in his eyes. His heart was trembling in pain. He suddenly was suspicious of the woman in front of him, did she ever have feelings for him?

    ¡°Leave with me.¡± He coldly spat out these three words and grabbed her hand. Man Yao instinctively avoided him and Fu Chou immediately raised an arm between them, asking, ¡°Where is Prince Li trying to take my wife?¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou narrowed his eyes, ¡°Benwang already said that she is not your wife! Scram.¡±

    Fu Chou continued to smile without mirth. He didn¡¯t remove his outstretched arm, having no intention of retreating, ¡°Whether she is my wife or not is not up to Prince Li.¡±

    The two people were in a deadlock, one a general inmand of the army, and the other was the prince favored by the Emperor. This is the second time they had gone head to head for the same purpose. The atmosphere in the hall immediately turned cold, even people¡¯s breaths turned into frost. Silence surrounded them.

    Zongzheng Wuyou suddenly waved his hand, ¡°Leng Yan.¡± Like a ghost, Leng Yan immediately appeared inside the hall along with at least twenty other people.

    A violent wind began to pick up, shaking down countless branches and leaves from the trees. When these people appeared, a strong killing intent appeared as well, covering the entire residence. Each person¡¯s hand wielded a sword, the steel blinding and as cold as winter as if they were an army risen from the depths of hell, thirsty for fresh blood. The seven people in the front wore red demon masks that covered only half their face. The color that resembled fresh blood was reminiscent of the river of death in hell.

    Someone in the crowd suddenly yelled, ¡°Wu Yin Lou¡¯s Seven Devil Asuras(4)?!!¡±

    (1) ÎÄ·¿ËÄ±¦ (Four treasures of the study): Refers to brush, ink, ink stone, and paper

    (2) ÓñÊ÷ÁÙ·ç (yu shu lin feng): lit. a jade tree in the wind; it¡¯s usually used to describe a man that is both handsome and talented

    (3) ÐÝÊé (xiu shu): Letter of divorce given by the husband to the wife (you can think of it as basically the husband throwing away the wife)

    (4) ÐÞÂÞÆßÉ· (xiu luo qi sha): There¡¯s no direct trantion for this so I had to improvise the best I can.

 Chapter 46.1 - Happiness is Fleeting

    <strong>Chapter 46.1 Happiness is Fleeting</strong>

    Three days. Man Yao had been confined in this pitch-ck house for three whole days. No food, no water, even the air was thin and cold, emitting a moldy smell. She had no idea if it was daylight or nighttime outside or what happened at the General¡¯s residence after she was taken away.

    ¡°Seven Devil Asuras¡± were the seven greatest assassins from jianghu¡®s mysterious Wu Yin Lou. It was rumored that these seven people were martial arts experts that appeared and disappeared like ghosts. The base price to hire them was five hundred thousand and two hundred silver taels. Each person only epted one job per year and would act alone. They never failed and alwayspleted their missions in a clean-cut manner. The moment they appeared, the officials¡¯ faces all paled. When she finally came to, she was already taken out of the General¡¯s residence by Zongzheng Wuyou. That speed was so frightening she didn¡¯t dare to think further. Afterward, she was stripped of her wedding robes and thrown into thispletely sealed and dark house. On top of this house was the ce where they had entangled with each other that night, next to the hot spring. Confined with her in this ce, was Zongzheng Wuyou himself.

    She couldn¡¯t understand why he did so, so she could only protect herself by retreating into a corner, waiting for when Zongzheng Wuyou would finally open his mouth. As she waited, one day turned into three, yet Zongzheng Wuyou was still as quiet as ever, so quiet to the point it was almost as if he was not even here. He did not speak, did not move, even his breathing was so faint that it was imperceptible.

    This house was not veryrge, but it was bare; other than the floor it was the wall. She curled into a ball against the wall, feeling cold.

    ¡°Are you cold?¡± In the darkness, Zongzheng Wuyou finally spoke his first words in three days, asking if she was cold. His voice carried maic hoarseness, as cold as the floor underneath her.

    Man Yao pursed her lips, not making a sound, continuing to curl up into a ball. In this environment, one could not help but reminisce about their past life. Yet her life, other than the word tragic, she could not think of any other word to describe it.

    After going without food, water, or sleep for three days, she felt extremely exhausted. Her head felt dizzy and heavy. As she leaned against the wall, she felt sleepiness take over.

    In a daze, she felt that the wall she was leaning on suddenly became very warm, and she instinctively desired for more of that heat and thus nestled even closer, wanting to burrow her whole body into it. She didn¡¯t even notice that the warm ¡°wall¡± moved.

    Zongzheng Wuyou circted his inner force to warm up his body and tightened his embrace around the slender woman. His chin rested on top of her head, gently rubbing against her hair. His heart became soft. This house was the ce where he would recuperate from his wounds. After that nightmare thirteen years ago, he would often shut himself in here without food or water, refusing to see anyone. In this darkness, he eventually ground his heart down into bing cold and unfeeling. Ever since then, he had not returned to this ce for thirteen years. But now, he once again stepped foot in here with her, which could only mean one thing. Those days of interacting with her, when he purposely faked a gentle and infatuated demeanor, was the one who actually fell first her or himself?

    When Man Yao woke up, she still could not see anything when she opened her eyes. The wall behind her was as cold as always, unlike the warmth in her dreams. She could not help but mock herself, how could a wall be warm. A dream would always be just a dream.

    ¡°Zongzheng Wuyou.¡± She was unsure if he was still here, so she called out his name. When she didn¡¯t receive a reply after a long time and her surroundings were as quiet as always, she suddenly felt her heart tighten. She could not help but admit that during these three days, even though her defenses were raised, she was never truly afraid because he was here.

    After a long while, when she finally thought that she was the only one in this ce, a quiet voice sounded out from her left side, ¡°En.¡± For some reason, her heart was at ease.

    She straightened up and restrained her emotions. Turning her head in his direction, she calmly asked, ¡°Until when do you n on confining me here?¡±

    ¡°Are you scared of being with me?¡± Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s voice was emotionless, but she somehow felt a sense of resignation and sadness. Maybe it was because after being in the dark for so long, her intuition was not as sharp as before. She let out augh and then sighed, ¡°Let me go. Don¡¯t forget that I am the princess that came to marry, furthermore it was through the decree of your Emperor. Although General Fu¡¯s status is not as high as yours, he stillmands the army and holds the trust and admiration of his troops; he holds the life of this country in his hands. No matter what you do, it will not change the reality that the marriage isplete. As long as he does not divorce me, I can only be the General¡¯s wife with no further rtions with you.¡±

    ¡°Then if he divorces you, you¡­¡±

    ¡°He won¡¯t.¡± Her voice was calm and confident. If Fu Chou wanted to divorce her, then he would have done so three days ago.

    ¡°You¡¯re that confident?¡± His voice suddenly became very cold, with hints of anger seeping through. Zongzheng Wuyou turned around, grabbing her shoulder, his cold eyes staring directly into hers. He had already mastered the art of night vision when he was ten.

    She instinctively wanted to avoid his eyes, but she couldn¡¯t move and could only spit out, ¡°Yes.¡±

    She felt his body shake; he did not speak. Such a pervasive feeling of heaviness caused her heart to be restless. After a long time, that cold voice with hints of pain sounded again, ¡°Why? Do you think that his motives for marrying you despite how I have already obtained your body are pure? How do you know that he¡¯s not using you?¡±

    Man Yao gave a bitter smile, ¡°I am willing¡­¡± She wanted to say that she was willing to be used by anyone, but the only person she did not want to be used by or lied to was him. But she could not finish that sentence and left it like that. When those three wordsnded in Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s ears, his heart felt like it was being stabbed multiple times, a stab for each word.

    He tightened his grip, and when she thought her bones would be crushed underneath his fingers, he suddenly lowered his head and harshly kissed her. The kiss was full of anger, as he punished her, forcing his tongue in, wanting to crush and swallow her.

    She struggled against him, but he was like an iron wall. No matter how much she struggled, he held her tighter and tighter.

    The taste of blood filled her mouth, entering her throat and settling on the tip of her heart. She didn¡¯t know if it was hers or his but¡­it was bitter beyond words.

    He pushed her onto the ground, crazily showering kisses upon her, not stopping for even a moment. It was as if he had no need for air.

    After a while, when the air in his lungs was all used up, the suffocation he felt mixed with the taste of her lips and tongue gave him a wonderful thrill. How could he stop when there was such an enticing person in front of him? Being able to touch her right now reminded him that at this moment, she was still his. She was still in his embrace, underneath him. His hands quickly slid underneath her clothes, desperately seeking to console the despair in his heart with her body.

    Man Yao trembled and couldn¡¯t help but let out a moan, shocking her. In such a situation, she could still react? A feeling of shame washed over her, what did this man take her for? She didn¡¯t know where she got the strength from but taking the chance when he was distracted, she pushed him away and without hesitation, a resounding pnded on his handsome face.

    Zongzheng Wuyou was stunned, for a moment his mind waspletely nk. What is he doing? Is he actually forcing the woman he likes? That was something that he could never tolerate! As if a big blow struck him, he sat up, his thin lips pursed into a straight line. He didn¡¯t even notice the pain from his face.

    Man Yao hurriedly sat up, clutching her clothes. Escaping from the corner, no matter how many deep breaths she took, she still felt suffocated.

    Who knew how much time passed before Zongzheng Wuyou opened his mouth to ask, ¡°Ah Man, towards me¡­are you sincere?¡±

    Man Yao suspiciously raised her head. An arrogant person like Zongzheng Wuyou, he would ask these kinds of questions too? She lowered her head again, not answering him. No matter how strong her feelings were towards him, she would bury them.

    As time slowly trickled on, Zongzheng Wuyou heavily leaned back against the wall, a thudding sound rang out when he made contact. Heughed bitterly as he spoke with self-mockery, ¡°Not even just a little bit? Then¡­go.¡±

    Man Yao was stunned in disbelief. He was going to let her go this easily? He revealed his actual strength and kidnapped her from her wedding, confining her with him in this space for three days, all for what purpose? A whooshing sound came nearby, and the stone door opened. A ray of sunlight lit up the room and she turned her head away, her eyes not used to the brightness. Zongzheng Wuyou spoke in a deste voice, repeating, ¡°Go.¡±

    She forced herself to stand up despite her body feeling limp and drained of energy. She could only use her hands to steady herself against the walls as she slowly walked out. When she exited the door and took the first step, she couldn¡¯t help but look back. When she did, she saw a self-mocking smile on those thin lips, looking abnormally deste. It drove straight into her heart, and she felt extremely pained. Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s face was pale and he sat lifelessly on the ground, his eyes full of pain. He had none of the arrogance and pride from his former days. Instead, he was like a child that was fatally wounded.

    Zongzheng Wuyou seemed to have felt her gaze and raised his eyes. When the woman outside bathed in sunlight looked at him with a sh of distress in her eyes, a sliver a hope raised in his heart. He gazed at her and using all of his sincerity, he spoke, ¡°Ah Man, if you are willing to turn back, I will give you¡­my love that will transcend our lives.¡±

    Her heart shook and her body froze. The foot that was preparing to take the next step seemed to be nailed to the ground, not lifting up even half an inch. A love that will transcend a lifetime? When hearing such words from the mouth of the man she loved, it sounded so enticing. His eyes were full of sincerity and expectations, telling her that as long as she was willing to turn back, even if she just took one step, then she held their happiness in her hands. Who could reject this temptation?

 Chapter 46.2 - Happiness is Fleeting Contâ€™d

    <strong>Chapter 46.2 Happiness is Fleeting Cont¡¯d</strong>

    She bit her lips, her rational side struggling with her heart. When the seeds of desire popped up in her heart, she forced it back down. Never moving from her original spot, her posture was still in the midst of taking half a step. Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes dimmed, even the semnce of liveliness that had returned to his face earlier had disappeared. Her heart felt like it was pricked by a needle, and she unconsciously turned around.

    Seeing her turn her body, Zongzheng Wuyou¡¯s eyes lit up, waiting for her to take that first step. Suddenly, there was the sound of chiselinging from above their heads, each ringing louder than the previous. When Zongzheng Wuyou originally entered this ce, he had destroyed the mechanism outside, making so that the stone door could only be opened from the inside. Most likely those people outside were getting restless for not seeing him for the past three days and wanted to create a tunnel.

    Man Yao returned to her senses as her mind cleared up. If she did not alreadyplete the ceremony with Fu Chou, then there might still be a chance for things to turn around. But now that everything¡¯s been done, if the matrimony between two countries were treated as a child¡¯s y, on one side is Qiyun and the other the talented military general of Lingtian, even the Emperor of Lingtian would not be able to change anything. Moreover, was it not enough for her to have been tricked by Zongzheng Wuyou once already? How could she forget so quickly! Was she going to wait for him to dere victory and gloat how this was just another one of his schemes, to prove how there was nothing in this world that he, Zongzheng Wuyou, could not obtain. How can she hand over her feelings so easily to him, she was a person, not an object.

    Thinking up to here, her tumultuous heart calmed down. Slightly raising her chin, her gaze calm and chilly, ¡°I will not believe you again! Some roads, if you take even one step, there is no going back.¡± Finished, she turned around and went up the steps, not taking even a single nce back. As a result, she did not witness how the gaze of the person behind her shattered, how heughed bitterly without a sound.

    The setting sun was blood-red, dying the skies nearby. Next to the hot spring, there was a crowd of people kneeling on the ground, each and every one of their foreheads touching the cold ground, afraid to even take a deep breath.

    The imperial face of the Emperor of Lingtian was filled with fury and spoke in a heavy voice toward¡¯s the steward of Prince Li¡¯s residence, ¡°Zhen¡®s royal son entered this stone basement for three days already, why did not one report to zhen? You bunch of useless servants, what is the purpose for zhen to raise you? If¡­zhen¡®s royal son has something happen to him, I will kill all of you!¡± As the term ¡°royal son¡± came smoothly out of his mouth, it was a term solely reserved for Zongzheng Wuyou. His words were full of anxiety, none of his usual calmness could be found. Whenever he recalled what happened thirteen years ago and how lifeless Wuyou appeared when he came out of here, the Emperor of Lingtian became even more anxious. He walked to the mound of mud in front of him, and disregarding his own status, he kicked the diggers that were working slowly, furiously yelling, ¡°Hurry up, before nightes, if zhen is unable to see huang¡¯er(1), zhen will exterminate your entire family(2)!¡±

    Those people were frightened out of their wits, ¡°We will obey.¡±

    Pieces of yellow dirt flew into the air as the setting sun turned bloody red. The sudden onset of cold sweat dampened the ground around them. Chen gonggong brought over a chair but the Emperor of Lingtian was too restless to sit down. His face was so dark and heavy it frightened everyone as he walked back and forth with his hands sped behind his back. Behind him, a crowd of officials had their heads down as they stood guard, too afraid to look up.

    A banging sound came out by the boulder. When the anxious people heard it, they trembled and raised their heads to look over. Within the entrance the stone door revealed, out walked a female so stunningly beautiful, it was actually Princess Rong Le who had disappeared with Prince Li. Everyone¡¯s faces were full of joy, but they only saw the female, not Prince Li. Looking at her current state of a pale face and lifeless steps, her long hair wasying against her fragile shoulders, her white robes were disheveled and the red wedding robes from three days ago had long disappeared.

    Everyone sucked in a breath, digesting the sight before them. Their minds could not help but wander off about how during these past three days, she and Prince Li were in the same room together alone, and whether anything happened. All of them looked towards General Fu who was standing behind the emperor. A man was publicly humiliated on his wedding day by being told that his wife was no longer chaste, and then when they had finished the rites, his wife was kidnapped and spent three days and nights with another man. Faced with such a scene, one definitely needed a certain ability to endure.

    Fu Chou¡¯s hands were tightly clenched. When he saw her dazedly walking out, her body swaying as if she would topple with just a slightly blow of the wind, his eyes were gloomy and full of pity.

    Seeing so many people in front of her, Man Yao stopped in surprise and then walked forward to bow, ¡°Greetings to the Emperor.¡±

    The Emperor of Lingtian was stunned for a moment, a sh of shock ran through his eyes. No wonder why such a mess would happen this time, it was a case of hong yan huo shui(3)! When he saw that she was the only one who came out, his eyes darkened and rushed into the stone room, only to stop after a few steps. After thinking about it further, he slightly turned his body around and nced at her, speaking in a heavy voice, ¡°You are Princess Rong Le?¡±

    Man Yao responded, ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    The Emperor of Lingtian walked in front of her and stared at her, coldly asking, ¡°Princess Rong Le, do you know the crime youmitted?¡±

    Man Yao raised her head in suspicion and frowned, ¡°Replying to Your Majesty, Rong Le does not.¡± What crime did shemit? She really did not know.

    The Emperor of Lingtian mmed a hand down on one arm of the chair then stood up, yelling furiously, ¡°Hng! You sure have a lot of guts, six days ago at the pce banquet, you dressed up as a man to enter the pce, and even found a fake princess to select a husband for you, that is the crime of deceiving the Emperor! As a princess here for a marriage alliance, instead of sitting quietly at Princess Rong Le¡¯s residence, you went around showing your face everything, first seducing zhen¡®s royal son then seducing my nation¡¯s General. Scheming to sow discord between Prince Li and the General, you have thrown my court into chaos, this is an extremely vicious crime. Someonee, throw her into prison, and have her wait for execution.¡± His voice was extraordinarily loud as if he infused it with the strength of his inner force, to the point where it directly entered into the stone basement.

    Man Yao¡¯s heart was stunned and her lips unconsciously curled up. Saying all of this, the Emperor of Lingtian essentially allowed Zongzheng Wuyou to escape from all responsibilities. All of the crimes were then pushed onto her alone. Causing chaos in the court? This was such a big hat to put onto her head, it looked like the Emperor of Lingtian really wanted her life!

    Fu Chou hurriedly kneeled, ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡± Before he could say any more, the Emperor of Lingtian shot him a sharp re as he spoke, ¡°Beloved official Fu wouldn¡¯t be asking for mercy for her, would you? She humiliated beloved official and caused beloved official to lose all dignity. You¡­you should hate her!¡±

    Fu Chou was stunned. Of course, he knew how to read between the lines. As such, he replied, ¡°Replying to Your Majesty, this official is thinking on behalf of the peace between the two countries. Your Majesty, please do not break off the century-old peace and friendship between two nations and send border troops to meet each other just because of a woman. May Your Majesty think thrice.¡±

    The Emperor of Lingtian gave a cold sneer, ¡°If the Emperor of Qiyun really ced importance on the friendship between our two countries, then he would understand why zhen is dealing with Princess this way. If he cannot understand and border troops really must be moved, then must trouble beloved official. Zhen believes that as long as beloved official is here, no one should think about even taking a single step onto my Lingtian¡¯s ground.¡±

    Before Fu Chou could open his mouth, the Emperor of Lingtian waved his hand in annoyance, ¡°Alright, zhen has already decided so beloved official does not need to say anymore. Someonee, take her away!¡±

    Man Yao smiled bitterly and didn¡¯t argue. Truthfully, she didn¡¯t even have the energy to talk and could only let the two soldiers capture her.

    Seeing this, the Ninth Prince began to anxiously speak, ¡°Fuhuang please calm down, this matter requires long-term considerations¡­¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡± The Emperor of Lingtian forcibly cut him off, ¡°Zhen already said that zhen has decided. Whoever wants to beg for mercy will be punished the same way! Take her away.¡± With the unique force of an emperor, his words left no room for disagreements.

    The Ninth Prince could only shut his mouth and quietly retreat to the back. The court officials were clear in their hearts that if Princess Rong Le were to be executed, then it was inevitable that the two countries would go to war. However right now, even General Fu and the Ninth Prince had been met with a wall so they were even more afraid to protest. All of them could only bow their heads and look at their shoes, too fearful to raise their head even half an inch. Fu Chou and the Ninth Prince helplessly watched as she was dragged down the hill by the guards.

    ¡°Let go of her.¡± A coldmand rang out, carrying the natural aura of a royal, causing people to unconsciously acquiesce. The guards instinctively stopped. Man Yao did not need to look back to know that other than Zongzheng Wuyou, no one else would have the guts to issue amand in front of the Emperor of Lingtian.

    The Ninth Prince¡¯s face lit up with joy and immediately went up to wee him, ¡°Seventh Brother, you finally came out, I was worried to death.¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou stepped out of the stone room and turned back into his lofty and arrogant Prince Li. His eyes were pitch-ck like the depths of hell, cold and full of evil. His thin lips moved as he spoke in a calm voice, ¡°Let her go.¡±

    Seeing him, the Emperor of Lingtian finally felt as ease but also came to a realization. He walked forward a few steps and looked at Zongzheng Wuyou with aplicated gaze full of worry, tenderness, anger, and me. In the end, he only let out a long sigh and spoke with resignation, ¡°Wuyou, you made a big mess again. Seal this stone room, you are not allowed to go in there anymore.¡±

    It was as if Zongzheng Wuyou didn¡¯t hear him. Without even ncing at him, his voice was calm and cold as always but a bit more forceful, ¡°I said, let her go!¡±

    The Emperor of Lingtian looked at the female held by the guards and spoke, ¡°Alright, since Prince Li asked for mercy, then this matter will end here. In the future, no one can bring this up again. Understand?¡± As he spoke, his voice became extremely cold and everyone anxiously agreed, ¡°Understand.¡± Their voices were in unison.

    Fu Chou walked ahead to steady her faltering body, his voice full of care, ¡°Careful.¡±

    Man Yao struggled to restrain herself to not look at Zongzheng Wuyou and nodded at Fu Chou, forcing herself to give him a faint smile. Borrowing his strength to stand up straight, she responded, ¡°Thank you!¡±

    Zongzheng Wuyou coldly watched them, the hands inside his sleeves were clenched into fists while his face did not betray any emotion, cold and expressionless as always. Taking a deep breath, he looked away and didn¡¯t bother about the people around him. He walked forward, brushing past her as he walked step by step down the hill.

    The wind gently rustled his ck hair, his back was stiff and straight like a painting drawn from cold and straight lines. His white figure was bathed in the blood-red light of the setting sun, adding hints of destion and coldness, separating him from the rest of the people in this world.

 Chapter 47 - A horse galloped full of red dust, the imperial consort smiled

    <strong>Chapter 47 A horse galloped full of red dust, the imperial consort smiled</strong>

    T/N: The title of this chapteres from a line in a poem by Tang dynasty poet Du Mu about Yang Guifei (one of the four ancient beauties of China). One of the stories about her was about her love of lychees, and in order to please her, Emperor Xuanzong would often have them delivered to the pce using fast horses, riding day and night. While the poem itselfments about how the extravagant desires of royalty (and Yang Guifei in particr) are fulfilled at the expense of themon people, this particr line is a metaphor for the lengths someone will go to in order to please the person they love.

    Time quickly flew by, in a blink of an eye, a year had already passed. The sun in the summer afternoon was as hot as fire.

    General¡¯s residence, Qing Mi Garden. Within the thick bamboo forest, Man Yao found a cool and shady ce to set down a chessboard. In her hand was a red chess piece as she dazedly looked at the board.

    ¡°Mistress, why are you over here?¡± Ling¡¯er walked over with big steps, smiling.

    Man Yao calmly replied, ¡°The weather¡¯s getting hotter and I can¡¯t sleep. It¡¯s cooler here so I came out for a while.¡±

    Ling¡¯er sat next to her, gentling fanning her, ¡°Mistress wants to y chess? I¡¯ll y with you.¡± After following her mistress for four years, even though she was not particrly well-educated, she felt it was lonely to watch her mistress y chess alone.

    Man Yao lightly shook her head and smiled, ¡°Even if I went easy on you, you would notst past an incense stick. Where¡¯s Xiao Sha? Recently he¡¯s been disappearing quite often, even busier than I am.¡±

    Hearing this, Ling¡¯er immediately began toin, ¡°I know right, Mistress, I can never find him when I need him for something, you should give him a good scolding.¡±

    Man Yao faintly smiled, raising her eyes just in to to see Steward Liang bring forth some servants and a few chests walking over and bowing, ¡°Reporting to furen(1), this is what General had the servants bring over just now, it is the Emperor¡¯s reward. May furen check.¡±

    She swept a perfunctory gaze over the things. It was probably the same as always, some jewels and luxurious bolts of fabric. When she saw thatst chest that was finely crafted, her eyes lit up and she immediately stood up.

    Ling¡¯er was curious, ¡°Mistress, what is this?¡±

    ¡°Lychee.¡± Such a deep red color, it seems like they were very fresh. Man Yao took one in her hands, such an icy sensation was very refreshingpared to the hot summer day. Peeling off the topyer, she saw the flesh inside still slightly frozen. In this world, fruits were very rare, especially lychees since they were difficult to keep fresh. In this era where delivery technology was not very advanced, by the time they reached the capital cities, they were usually no longer fresh. It was even rarer to see frozen ones.

    Steward Liang had on a congrattory smile, ¡°Furen is knowledgeable. Xiang Mei, leave this chest of lychees behind for furen.¡±

    Man Yao waved her hand, ¡°No need, just leave a little bit to taste them while they¡¯re fresh, as for the rest, put them in the cer so that we can bring them out when General returns.¡±

    ¡°Yes, furen.¡± Steward Liang agreed and retreated away with the rest of the room. When Man Yao peeled the shell, a long-lost feeling of familiarity rose up within her. She didn¡¯t remember how long it¡¯s been since shest had a lychee. Qiyun did not have this fruit, and in Lingtian, only the pce had it.

    Ling¡¯er smiled, ¡°Mistress, the General treats you really well. No matter what the Emperor rewards, General always gives it to Mistress first.¡±

    Man Yao faintly smiled and her gave became heavier as she stayed silent. Ling¡¯er tilted her heady to look at her, constantly feeling like there was a look of unspeakable loneliness between her eyes, ¡°Mistress, do you know? Right now in the whole capital, all thedies are envious that Mistress married such a good husband. But why do I feel like Mistress is¡­not happy at all?¡±

    Man Yao froze. She had never thought about whether she had been happy or not these during this time. Fu Chou treated her very well, so well that she could not find any faults with it. Other than official matters, no matter where he went, he would bring her with him. No matter where they were, he would always treat her extremely tenderly, never minding that there were outsiders present. This type of care made her think that it was unreal and very forced like it was done specifically to show others, to tell everyone else how well he treated her. Even so, she should have been satisfied with this. Fu Chou did not have any concubines so she did not have to face the scheming and tricks that went on between women. Such a peaceful life was what she had always wished for but why couldn¡¯t she feel any happiness?

    Ling¡¯er spoke again, ¡°I always felt that Mistress had a lot on her mind even beforeing to Lingtian. Aftering here, Mistress has even more matters weighing on your heart. Mistress, after so long, do you still harbor a grudge against the Emperor?¡±

    After a year, it no longer mattered whether she held a grudge or not, everyone had their own stance. Her days right now were very nice. Man Yao slowly stood up and gazed at the clouds in the sky, her voice airy, ¡°I¡¯m not unhappy. It¡¯s very good right now.¡± Her heart was like still water, her life was without any disturbances, there was nothing bad. Peeling another lychee, she handed it to Ling¡¯er, ¡°You taste it too.¡±

    Ling¡¯er tasted it and nodded her head in praise, ¡°En, it¡¯s delicious. It¡¯s unfortunate that the chest was too small.¡±

    Man Yao: ¡°This chest is not considered small. I heard that only Jiang Nan produces lychee, so to be able to keep it this fresh all the way to the capital, they must have used express horses. Who knows how many riders they switched, how many horses have fallen in exhaustion.¡±

    Ling¡¯er didn¡¯t really understand, ¡°If Mistress likes it, then let the General send people to Jiang Nan on express horses to bring some more back then. The General has so many people under him, and he treats Mistress so well, he would definitely agree.¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s smile disappeared, ¡°You really think I¡¯m Yang Guifei.¡± A horse galloped full of red dust and the consort gave a smile, no one knew the lychee had arrived. The legendary love story between a legendary woman and an Emperor, other than proving that ¡°the most heartless was the imperial family¡±, nothing else was left. She never desired for something that would shock the heavens, only for a calm and peaceful life. But in the end, even this small wish did note true.

    Ling¡¯er curiously asked, ¡°Who is Yang Guifei?¡±

    Man Yao: ¡°An ancient person.¡±

    Ling¡¯er went ¡°Oh¡± and remembered something, ¡°Mistress said that the Jiang Nan produces lychees, isn¡¯t Jiang Nan under Prince Li¡¯s control?¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s hand trembled and the lychee she had peeled fell to the ground and rolled far away. No one had mentioned this name for a long time. One year ago, after the three days in that dark room, he did not care about the Emperor of Lingtian¡¯s disagreement and left the capital to go to his fief. No one knew the reason why. When the new year came, all the provinces brought forth tributes except for Jiang Nan. With his personality and his disgust towards the royal pce, how could he possibly order express horses to send lychees to the capital?

    She fell into a daze, Ling¡¯er called her name several times but she didn¡¯t hear it.

    ¡°Rong Le, what are you thinking about? You have such a serious look on your face.¡± At some point in time, Fu Chou appeared beside her.

    Man Yao returned to her senses and faintly smiled, ¡°Howe General returned so early today?¡±

    Fu Chou grasped her hand out of habit and pulled her to sit down, smiling, ¡°What, you¡¯re not happy that I¡¯m back early?¡±

    Man Yao lightlyughed, ¡°Of course not. I just feel that it¡¯s¡­odd.¡± She was used to him holding her hands. Since they were husband and wife already, she had to get used to epting his acts of intimacy. After sitting down, she suddenly turned towards him, ¡°The lychees that the Emperor sent down today were very fresh.¡±

    Fu Chou faltered for a moment and frowned, ¡°Lychee? His Majesty only rewarded jewels and pearls today, where did lycheese from?¡±

    Man Yao was stunned and Ling¡¯er hastily responded, ¡°General, there are, this servant also ate some. Look, there¡¯s a piece that fell over there.¡±

    Fu Chou¡¯s eyes followed to where her finger pointed, finally seeing the round lychee that had rolled onto the ground. His gaze instantly sharpened and called out, ¡°Xiang Ying.¡±

    ¡°This subject is present.¡±

    Fu Chou: ¡°When did an extra case of lychees appear from the rewards His Majesty bestowed?¡±

    Xiang Ying: ¡°Replying to General, this subject followed General¡¯s order and was returning to the residence with His Majesty¡¯s rewards then not long after exiting the pce, Chen gonggong caught up to this subject and said that we had left behind one. He also said¡­this chest of lychees was for furen.¡±

    Man Yao¡¯s originally calm heart suddenly became anxious. Tightly holding her hands, her fingertips turned white. Because of what happened one year ago, the Emperor of Lingtian had always resented her, why would he give her such a precious gift out of nowhere?

    Fu Chou¡¯s expression became somewhat heavy and with an unfathomable gaze, he looked at her, ¡°It looks like he already returned to the capital. He was pretty fast, able to get her in only five days.¡±

    She closed her eyes, her thick eyshes gentle trembled and she couldn¡¯t help but ask in a small voice, ¡°Who General referring to?¡±

    Fu Chou let out an elegant smile with a hidden meaning, ¡°Naturally, it¡¯s Prince Li.¡±

    Man Yao knew the answer but she couldn¡¯t help her heart from bing restless. Fu Chou held her hand again, asking, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, why are your hands still so cold when it¡¯s so hot outside?¡±

    Man Yao retracted her hands back into her sleeves and carelessly ced down a chess piece as she lightly smiled, ¡°I¡¯m fine. He¡­I mean Prince Li, doesn¡¯t he detest the pce? Why would hee back?¡±

    Fu Chou answered with a question of his own, ¡°How does Rong Le know he doesn¡¯t like the pce?¡±

    He clearly had a warm smile on, but she somehow felt there were traces of coldness within. Man Yao turned away and opened her hand. Unknowingly, the chess piece she held was a ck one. She lowered her eyes, not speaking.

    Fu Chou didn¡¯t seem to mind and smiled again, ¡°In seven days, there will be a flower banquet at the pce. Come with me.¡±

    Another banquet, she frowned. Fu Chou held her hand and along with it, the ck chess piece. He had a lot of strength and it felt like he was going to crush the chess piece between their hands. After a moment, he spoke, ¡°Rong Le, I know you don¡¯t like those types of gatherings, but this is His Majesty¡¯s order, all of his court officials and their wives and daughters must attend. That¡¯s why¡­you can only suffer for a little bit.¡±

    How pleading! Man Yao pursed her lips, to say suffer, she would not really suffer, it was just a required gathering that she did not like is all. It was just, why would the Emperor of Lingtian also require his officials bring their wives and daughters as well? Framing it as a royalmand at that! Nodding her head, she agreed, ¡°Alright.¡±

    Fu Chou smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, helping her stand up. He spoke in a gentle voice, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here. I won¡¯t let anyone bully you.¡±

    She gave a faint smile and lowered her head in silence.

    When night fell, the moon had note out. The sky was as ck as a hole.

    Qing Mi Garden was the General¡¯s residence¡¯s farthest garden. It was thick with growth and looked to be a very deste area, but also happened to seem more natural as well. There was a natural pond near the walls and the water was very cooling. During the summer, she liked toe here alone at night and sit. Running her hands through the water, she would be able to calm the frustrations and worries she had in the day.

    Fu Chou apanied her tonight and stood behind her, quietly watching her hands run through the water. The surroundings were very quiet, and the light from the fireflies lit up her pale and slender fingers. It was an unspeakably beautiful scenery. Fu Chou restrained himself for stepping forward and turned his eyes away, looking in the distance.

    This garden was very bare, only a few servants lived here and not many people passed by here during the day. As such, the people in the garden tended to be more rxed, whenever they opened their mouths, they would not hold back.

    Three young girls walked out from the house on the western side, their hands holding food as they walked to sit down at the stone table in the middle of the garden. The girl sitting in the middle was about eighteen or neen years old and looked quite charming, she even had a few hints of pride on her face.

    The girl on the left swiped away the little bugs flying in front of her andined, ¡°This garden has the most bugs, when can we finally escape from this damn garden and serve the front courtyard?¡± As she spoke, she pushed the food towards the girl in the middle, ¡°Xun guniang, here, you eat first. When you be the ce furen(2), don¡¯t forget about us!¡±

    The girl on the right side smirked, ¡°I bet that General probably already forgot about you. It¡¯s already been a year since furen married in, who doesn¡¯t know how much General loves furen, how could he possibly remember you. Besides, furen is such a beauty, just like a celestial being, take a look at yourself, how could youpare?¡±

    Hearing this, Xun guniang¡®s face immediately cked and gave a cold snort, ¡°Who cares how beautiful she is when she¡¯s not a clean woman? I started serving General since I was fifteen, at least the body I gave General was a clean one, how could shepare?¡±

    ¡°Yours is just pure luck, wasn¡¯t it just once? It was even an ident. Here I was wondering, how could General possibly touch you at that time when he was injured and barely conscious?¡±

    Xun guniang paled and then gave a mysterious smile, ¡°En¡­I¡¯m not telling.¡±

    The groupughed and then the left girl spoke again, ¡°Aye, don¡¯t you guys think it¡¯s weird, it¡¯s been a year already, I heard¡­General never steps foot into furen¡®s room at night, do you guys know why?¡±

    ¡°Is there a need to think about it, he must hate how her body¡¯s not pure. Don¡¯t just look at how he treats her like a treasure in the daytime, how could he not have a thorn in his heart? The thing men hate the most is when their woman is not clean, they might as well go to the brothels to find a prostitute.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s true. However, speaking of which, Prince Li has an esteemed status and he¡¯s even the Emperor¡¯s favored son, he might even be the next Emperor, plus, he¡¯s so handsome¡­.If he were to be interested in me, I¡¯m willing to die.¡±

    ¡°You sure have an active imagination, you think Prince Li would be interested in you? Dream on!¡± Xun guniang knocked against that girl¡¯s head, ¡°No matter how good Prince Li is, I won¡¯t like him. I only like¡­Gen¡­General¡­¡± Xun guniang suddenly held her hand over her mouth, seeing the man standing in front of her, her eyes widened in shock. The bowl in her hand shattered on the ground and the food within sttered in the vicinity. When the egg mixed with the red colors of the vegetables, it was simr to when a bloody head rolled away after being chopped off. The other two girls followed suit and raised their heads. When they saw Fu Chou, they were scared witless and their bodies shook. They hurriedly kneeled down, wailing, ¡°Gen, gen¡­General¡­have mercy!¡±

    (1) ·òÈË (fu ren): Used to indicate a woman that is married

    (2) ²à·òÈË (ce fu ren): Means side wife (but really just a concubine in the end)

 Chapter 48 - Proof of Innocence

    <strong>Chapter 48 Proof of Innocence</strong>

    Fu Chou stared at them, his gentle expression never changing, but there were hints of coldness shooting out from his eyes. The three maids shook all over and heard him say, ¡°Xiang Ying, get me Liang Sheng.¡±

    The forty-something year old Steward Liang arrived in a rush, his face uneasy. Under the sweltering summer day, his forehead was full of cold sweat, he didn¡¯t have time to wipe it away. He rushed forward and bowed, ¡°General, furen.¡±

    Fu Chou cast a sidelong nce at him and spoke without nonchntly, ¡°Liang Sheng, it¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve handled the residence¡¯s affairs, howe the servants in this residence are bing more and more insolent? They dared to talk behind their master¡¯s back!¡±

    Steward Liang froze and then kneeled onto the floor to admit his crime, ¡°This ve did not properly fulfill duties, did not teach them well, and resulted in them offending General and furen. This ve begs General¡­please punish!¡±

    ¡°You should be punished.¡± After a moment, Fu Chou looked back at the woman behind him to see Man Yao quietly standing to the side without any expression.

    Sometimes, it was a curse to have inner force. The ability to hear was much sharper than ordinary people, and during this past year, Man Yao often heard idle conversations in line with tonight¡¯s gossip, it was not the first or second time this happened. At first, she felt hurt but now all she felt was numbness, she was long used to it. Since she could not seal the mouths of others, then she could only numb her heart so that she would not be hurt. She calmly looked at the three people kneeling and closed her eyes, not saying anything.

    Fu Chou walked over to hold her hand and gently smiled, ¡°Furen, how¡­do you think they should be punished?¡± He always called her furen in front of others, he would only call her Rong Le when they were alone.

    Man Yao was surprised for a moment, not expecting that he would ask for her opinion. A year has passed since she entered the residence, and she spent her days idly. She never meddled in the residence¡¯s matters, unwilling to expend any effort. No servants dared to say anything in front of her either, so ever since she entered, she had never punished any servants, so she had no idea what the rules of the residence were. Moreover, out of these four people, disregarding the two girls on the left and right, one was a trusted steward that had been in charge of the residence for many years; the other was a servant, although, from the contents of their conversation, it seemed like she was once his woman. Since she wasn¡¯t clear on what the rules of the residence were, it would be wrong if she let them off too easy or if she was too heavyhanded.

    She frowned and pondered for a while before finally throwing this hot potato back, ¡°General, Rong Le is used to beingzy, I¡¯m not very familiar with the residence¡¯s rules¡­General should make the decision.¡±

    Fu Chou¡¯s eyebrows twitched and he nodded his head with a smile, turning around he gave an order, ¡°Xiang Ying, take Liang Sheng away, punish him with twenty strokes, deduct three months¡¯ sry. As for these three¡­mouths full of rubbish, spinning lies, breaking the rules of the residence, we cannot keep them. Drag them to the punishment room and beat them to death.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t, please don¡¯t, General¡­this servant knows she¡¯s wrong, this servant will never dare to do it ever again, may General please have mercy on this servant this one time¡­General, please have mercy on this servant¡­¡± The two girls on the left and right immediately paled and threw themselves in front of Fu Chou, grabbing at his clothes to plead for mercy, only to be wrenched away by two manservants and dragged out from Qing You Garden. The one named Xun guniang copsed onto the ground, her eyes widening in fear. She knew that the residence had strict rules, and the consequences would not be light since General caught them in the act, but she never expected that the General would actually have them beaten to death for this. In shock, tears filled her eyes and rolled down her face, she forgot to even beg for mercy.

    Man Yao was stunned and unexpectedly stopped them, ¡°Hold on.¡± Since she grew up in a pce, she was naturally used to life and death, but she couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. The General¡¯s residence always gave her a feeling of peace and harmony, and Fu Chou always looked so gentle and elegant,pletely unlike a cold and unreasonable person who would take someone¡¯s life on a whim. Right now, he turned around and gave her a gentle smile. She really had difficulty imagining that someone who could smile so captivatingly would be able to give out such a cruel order to take away someone¡¯s life.

    Seeing how she didn¡¯t speak for a long time, his eyes brightened a little almost as if he were asking her since she gave up the right to punish, why did she still stop him?

    She also knew that she already allowed him to do as he wished, so she shouldn¡¯t interfere, but it was the lives of three people! She arrived in this world four years ago, possessing the noble status of a princess and alsopared people¡¯s lives to weeds and grass, but she would never randomly harm anyone or put someone to death. She didn¡¯t consider herself to be a kind person, she just didn¡¯t like seeing something so bloody. But Fu Chou was different, he was a general and lived his life on the battlefield, with a wave of his hand he stole hundreds of thousands of lives. Such a person, how could he possibly be as gentle and harmless as he looked?

    One of the girls saw that she didn¡¯t say anymore and like a drowning person who saw a piece of drifting wood, she used all of her strength to escape from the two manservants that were holding her down and held on to Man Yao¡¯s leg, sobbing and begging, ¡°Furen, this ve knows that you are magnanimous and virtuous with the heart of Buddha, please save this servant¡­this servant knows she¡¯s wrong, please have mercy on this servant, this servant doesn¡¯t want to die¡­furen, please¡­¡± She pleaded for mercy over and over again with a tear-stricken face, cing all of her hopes on the woman she was holding on to.

    She was still a dirty woman that was notparable to even a prostitute just a moment ago, but now she became the furen that was magnanimous and virtuous with the heart of a Buddha. Man Yao sneered, people¡¯s personalities were just so. She sighed.

    Fu Chou shot a look and the manservant rushed forward to drag that girl a way. Fu Chou wrapped his arm around her shoulder, his voice exceedingly clear and tender, asking, ¡°Why did furen sigh? Are you bothered because they¡¯re too loud? Xiang Ying, quiet them down.¡±

    Xiang Ying assented and immediately used his fingers to tap the acupoints on the two girls¡¯ throats, and the surroundings immediately became silent. Only the sounds of their pants could be heard.

    The evening breeze gentle blew, a suffocating feeling filled the lungs. Seeing Fu Chou¡¯s nonchnt smile, Man Yao couldn¡¯t help but feel unsettled inside.

    Fu Chou tilted his head, ¡°Furen has something to say¡­feel free to speak.¡±

    After thinking for a bit, Man Yao spoke slowly, ¡°General, they¡­they were just speaking nonsense, it¡¯s fine to just punish a little to prevent repeats, there¡¯s no need to take their lives?¡± She naturally understood that what these three people discussed were not just her sore point, but also a humiliation that a man would never want to be exposed by others.

    Fu Chou¡¯s warm smile never faltered but his gaze darkened. Staring at her for a while, he suddenlyughed, ¡°Alright, since furen¡­already said it, then as a husband, how can I go against furen¡®s words? We¡¯ll keep their lives, drag them away and mute them.¡±

    When the two girls on the ground heard this, they immediately fainted and some people dragged them away.

    Man Yao froze. Turning them into mutes meant that their tongues would be pulled, never able to talk again.

    Xun guniang had a deathgrip on a tree and refused to let go, streaks of blood were left on the rough bark. She broke into heartbreaking sobs, ¡°I won¡¯t¡­General, you cannot treat me this way, I¡¯m different from them¡­¡±

    Fu Chou had his usual smile on but his eyes turned to frost and walked closer to her. He grabbed her chin and asked in a light voice, ¡°Oh? How so?¡±

    Seeing his handsome face, Xun guniang began to stutter, ¡°I-I¡­one night of love, endless devotion, General and I had¡­had¡­¡±

    Fu Chou: ¡°Had what? Speak.¡±

    ¡°Had one night¡­of love¡­¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Fu Chou smiled. Xun guniang suddenly couldn¡¯t finish, her heart quickened at the sight of his smile, beating so quickly it was going to jump out of her chest. She didn¡¯t hear how his tone was emotionless and cold.

    A sh of light glinted in Fu Chou¡¯s eyes and his fingers forcefully gripped her. With just a ¡®ka-cha¡¯ sound, the woman widened her eyes in shock as her eyes bulged out in pain. She cried out tragically, her jawbone was crushed. Her mouth hung open as she looked in disbelief at the man in front of her who still had that same gentle smile on his face. Her tears were like a broken string of pearls, continuously rolling down her face.

    Fu Chou let go of her and the woman sank to the ground, her face as pale as paper, her body convulsing as she was unable to make any sounds.

    Man Yao¡¯s heart turned cold and subconsciously frowned, ¡°General, you, why did you do this? She¡­she¡¯s still your woman.¡±

    Fu Chou turned around. His eyes were dark and unfathomable, she couldn¡¯t tell what he was feeling, or maybe, he didn¡¯t have feelings in the first ce. ¡°My woman?¡± He sneered, turning around to look at the woman on the ground who was in torturous pain yet did not bleed, ¡°This General is also curious, when I was half-conscious, when did I touch you? How about this¡­¡± He stretched out a hand to point at two random people, ¡°You two, help me check this woman, did I truly touch her? Take her into the room.¡±

    Xun guniang¡®s body shook, she was so frightened she was speechless, her eyes were full of despair. She mored to stand up, ramming her head towards the stone table. However, before she could get near the table, she was already held down by the two manservants and dragged into a room nearby.

    Shrill cries pierced the dark skies, causing people¡¯s hearts to tremor, a sinister aura filled the garden.

    Man Yao stared at this husband in name of hers in shock, only to see his handsome face graced with his usual tender expression, looking like nothing happened. She couldn¡¯t help but grip her hands. Although it was a hot day, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill entering her body, starting from her head and feet, ending at her heart as a fierce stab. She shivered.

    In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the door to the room opened. Someone brought out a white sheet that was stained with a couple drops of blood.

    Fu Chou calmly swept his gaze over it and then turned around to look at her, silently telling her that he and that woman never had rtions. Man Yao pursed her lips, looking calm and unaffected on the surface, but she was extremely restless inside. To outsiders, everything Fu Chou did today was for her. He could¡¯ve done it in secret, but he did all of this in front of her, why? Was it really just to prove that he was innocent? She wasn¡¯t actually bothered, but even if she were, what did those few drops of blood prove? Or maybe, he was using this opportunity to remind her? Why not some other day, why today of all days after learning that Zongzheng Wuyou had returned to the capital?

    Fu Chou waved his hands at them and smiled gently, ¡°Furen, it¡¯s already nighttime, let¡¯s go back and rest. Xiang Ying, I will rest at Qing Mi courtyard tonight, you don¡¯t need to follow.¡±

    Man Yao shuddered, her body immediately froze.

 Chapter 49.1 - Accident

    <strong>Chapter 49.1 ident</strong>

    Qing Mi Courtyard, bedroom.

    Fu Chou gestured for all of the servants to retreat, leaving only the two of them in the big house. Man Yao stood in front of the window, a little nervous. In the end, she still could not escape this part. As a wife, this was a responsibility she had to fulfill, originally it was not such a big deal but she¡­aye! She lightly exhaled and raised her head to gaze at the horizon. A crescent moon hung in the empty night sky, its silver rays shining down, dimly lighting up the night, but she did not have the heart to appreciate it.

    Fu Chou sat at the bedside, watching the woman as her white robes were bathed in the moonlight. She looked like a fairy that descended from the heavens, even the moonlight became her apaniment, making people tempted to touch her to make sure she was real. The curves of her slender book looked straight from the paintings, her beauty emitted a calm yet heartstopping aura, enticing him to subconsciously move closer. He couldn¡¯t help but imagine what her current expression was, her lips were probably closed as the corners slightly curled up with a trace of indifference and coldness; her eyebrows, gently furrowed, concealing the sadness within; her eyes, as foggy as the sky yet as clear as spring water, at this moment they are probably looking at the distant horizon with hesitation and struggle¡­

    Hearing the sound of footsteps behind her, Man Yao snapped out of her reverie, the peaceful night disturbed. As the footsteps drew close, her body tensed up. When a hand held her shoulder, her body shook and the indifferent smile that hung at the corners of her mouth froze.

    Fu Chou¡¯s hands held her shoulders, her body was even slimmer than he imagined, so skinny that he could not help but feel sad. He sensed her body tensing up and his hands froze. He lowered his head by her ears and spoke in a gentle voice, ¡°Rong Le.¡±

    Before his words finished falling, Man Yao suddenly turned around and retreated two steps, her body hitting the windowsill. Countless thoughts swirled in her mind but she could not find a suitable excuse.

    ¡°General, I¡­¡± Before she could finish, his fingernded on her lips. Fu Chou tilted his head and drew close, his smile extremely kind as he stared closely into her eyes, ¡°Rong Le, don¡¯t try to find an excuse¡­don¡¯t say that your body is unwell. It has already been a year, how much longer do you want me to wait before you¡¯re ready?¡±

    Man Yao froze, he saw right through her. She bit her lip and pushed away his hand, stepping off to the side, she lightly coughed, ¡°I¡¯m going to wash up.¡± She could only leave for now.

    Fu Chou was surprised for a moment before smiling, ¡°Didn¡¯t you already take a bath after eating dinner?¡±

    A light shed through Man Yao¡¯s eyes but her face was as calm as ever. She forced a faint smile, ¡°The day is too hot, I sweated again when we were at Qing You garden. I¡­cannot sleep if I have sweat on my body, General¡­you should rest first.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for him to reply before turning around and walking out of the room with big steps.

    Fu Chou watched as she left in a hurry and the smile on his face deepened as he murmured, ¡°Rong Le, even someone as calm as you has times when you¡¯re nervous? Bath? Alright, then I will wait for you here.¡± He looked rxed as he sat by the table, but there was a sense of joy and tion in his heart that even he did not understand. He called out to the people outside, ¡°Someonee, bring a pot of tea.¡±

    The servants outside assented and brewed a pot of tea, bringing it in front of him along with a cup before retreating off to the side. Fu Chou took a sip, a clean and refreshing feeling filling his mouth, this was high-grade Xihu Longjing tea! He couldn¡¯t help but frown, if he didn¡¯t remember wrongly, this was the type of tea that that person liked the most. His gaze dimmed, he continued to drink as he quietly waited for her. However, who could have thought that this wait would turn into two hours, it was already the fourth time this teapot had been emptied, but she¡­still did not return.

    He looked down and frowned, setting down the purple sand teapot in his hands, he spoke to the maidservant serving at the side, ¡°Go to the bathhouse, why has furen not returned after so long?¡±

    ¡°Yes, General.¡± The maidservant was about to walk outside before she was stopped by him, ¡°Never mind, I will go myself.¡±

    In the foggy mists inside the bathhouse, there was a faint fragrance that permeated the air. In the center, the blue water in therge bath was covered with delicate flower petals, rendering the woman within to look even more white.

    Man Yao¡¯s brows were furrowed and her eyes were closed as she leaned against the side of the bath. The water was turning cold again, she could not remember how many times she had added more water already. She loved taking flower baths, whenever she bathed, her spirits would lift up but at this time, her emotions were a mess. She did not know how to face Fu Chou. She was his wife, if he wanted to rest in her chambers, it was the natural order, and moreover, he did not have any concubines. To continue on like this was not proper. She sighed, the knot in her heart could not be untangled. Ever since she tactfully rejected him once a year ago, he never burdened her. Why did he suddenly want to stay tonight? Was it to prove to others that he didn¡¯t detest her body? Or was there another reason?

    She lifted a handful of water, sshing it onto her face. Her hands held her face as she felt exhausted. Why were the people around her soplicated? None of them allowed her to live in peace. A wave of tiredness took over and she wanted to fall asleep just like this, maybe if she slept, would she drown in this bath? Setting down her hands, she called out to the maidservant outside, ¡°Add some more hot water.¡±

    No one responded to her, she could only hear the sound of footsteps getting closer and then the sound of water entering the bath. She continued to have her eyes closed, too tired to open them.

    The warm water entered the bath, separating the flower petals in front of her and exposed a sliver of smooth and tender skin of her chest, revealing an extremely tempting luster, not allowing people¡¯s eyes to look away. Her long ck hair was damp and draped over her shoulders. The thin shoulders that peeked out above the water were as smooth as jade, beautiful beyondpare. The person behind her picked up the bath towel that was next to her and dipping it in water, gently wiped her slender neck, the movements extremely delicate, like the actions of a lover. She couldn¡¯t help but frown, ¡°I don¡¯t need anyone to serve me, retreat.¡±

    The person behind her didn¡¯t leave but instead came even closer, their breathing bing heavier. She could feel the breaths of the person behind her getting hotter. That person set down the bath towel and used their hands to rub the curves of her shoulders, startling her. The feeling of calloused palms on her shoulders cleared her mind and she opened her eyes, the feelings of exhaustion immediately disappearing and she quickly hid to the side, ¡°General¡­why are you here?¡±

    Fu Chou seemed to have predicted that she would react this way and grabbed hold of her shoulder, cutting off her escape, ¡°I saw that you didn¡¯t return after such a long time and was afraid that something might¡¯ve happened so you, so I came to take a look. What¡¯s wrong, is it because it¡¯s too hot and you don¡¯t want to leave the bath? If you fall asleep like this, you¡¯ll catch a cold.¡±

    Man Yao lowered her head, sinking her body into the water until it covered her shoulders before speaking, ¡°General still has to attend morning court session tomorrow, so you should head back and rest first. I, I still want to bathe a little longer before returning.¡±

    Fu Chou brushed away the damp strands of hair on her neck and spoke tenderly in a slightly hoarse voice, ¡°No matter. Since Rong Le likes to bathe, then I will apany you.¡± Finished, he stood up and prepared to take off his belt, his eyes sparkling withughter.

    Man Yao froze for a moment before she hurried to stop him, ¡°No need, General. Even though I want to bathe a little longer, but today¡­I¡¯ve already spent enough time. I will get up, may General please¡­wait outside first.¡±

    The moment she finished speaking, a low rumble ofughter resounded by her ear and she immediately realized that she got yed! She felt frustrated for a moment and turned around, his hot breathsnding by her ear lobe, causing it to itch. She couldn¡¯t help but get startled and shrank her neck, about to turn back around, but he grabbed her jaw all of a sudden. The kiss swept over her like a storm, carrying urgency and hints of dominance with it, different from his usual kindness.

 Chapter 49.2 - Accident Contâ€™d

    <strong>Chapter 49.2 ident Cont¡¯d</strong>

    This kiss came so sudden, her body shook and froze. After interacting with each other for so long, Fu Chou had never done anything excessive towards her, the most he ever did was hold her hand or shoulders. She never predicted him to give her such an urgent kiss and her heart was thrown into sudden chaos. She frantically tried to escape him and didn¡¯t expect that Fu Chou, who was leaning halfway at this moment, would lose his bnce from her push and with a ¡°putong¡± sound, he fell into the bath, sshing water and flower petals all over her.

    She froze and wiped away the water on her face, opening her eyes to see that Fu Chou had disappeared, the flower petals covered the entire pool of water, not even a shadow of him could be seen. She waspletely naked, and he was underwater, so didn¡¯t that mean that he would¡¯ve seen her body? This Fu Chou, no idea if he purposely fell into the water or was he really identally pushed by her? She was a little frustrated, the best way to escape from him right now was to immediately leave the bath!

    She rushed to step out of the water and right as her foot stepped onto the side of the pool, arge hand suddenly grabbed it, fiercely pulling it into the water. She cried out in surprise and her body fell in, causing waves of flower petals to hit the water.

    Man Yao who sank into the water was enveloped in Fu Chou¡¯s embrace, she frantically tried to breathe and choked on water.

    Fu Chou carried her out of the water and she violently coughed as if she was about to cough up a lung.

    His hand softly patted her back, his thin clothes, wet with water, stuck closely to his body, revealing his muscles. His face was covered in droplets of water, and when the gentle expression on his handsome face faded away, the wrinkles from his frown added a bit of coldness, making him look even more heroic. But the gaze he held towards her was extremely tender and loving.

    She finally calmed down after coughing for a round, her throat felt like it was on fire. Her chest felt extremely stuffy and her eyes slowly turned cold.

    Fu Chou held her in his embrace, seeing her wet, long hair tangled and scattered all over, blocking the ray of spring light from the water. Her delicate and moist lips were tightly pursed, the corners of her mouth hanging with hints of anger, her ink-ck eyes stubborn. A drop of water hung at the corner of her fan-like eyshes, lightly shaking but not falling, like a teardrop burrowing into the heart of people, causing one unable to help but feel pity. This type of her, so beautiful it could stir one¡¯s soul, tugging at the heartstrings and the weaknesses of people¡¯s hearts, making people tremble from their bones, tempting them to willingly abandon the mortal world for her.

    Fu Chou¡¯s heart shook and his eyes changed. As though he encountered a venomous snake or ferocious beast, he immediately let go of her and stepped out of the pool. With his back facing her, his chest was heaving up and down, his breathing unsteady, ¡°It¡¯s unhealthy to soak for too long, I will wait for you by the door.¡±

    Man Yao struggled to calm her inner turmoil, and although she couldn¡¯t understand his sudden departure, she felt relieved. She wiped down her body and grabbed a clean robe to wear. How was she going to pass tonight? If she could avoid it this time, what will she do next time?

    Outside the door, Fu Chou¡¯s hands were sped behind his back as he looked out to the neverending ck sky. Neither his body nor his heart had calmed down even after a long time. The moonlight gave his body a thin silver glow, illuminating his loneliness.

    When Man Yao came out, he did not turn around. He gave a sidelong nce and spoke in a soft voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He walked with light steps ahead of her. Man Yao blinked and didn¡¯t say anything, falling in step behind him. On this short journey of only a hundred meters, their minds were whirling with thoughts.

    Returning to the bedroom, Fu Chou waved his hand for the servants to leave and took off his wet clothes in front of her, changing into a clean inner robe. His face resumed his normal gentle and elegant expression and waved at her, ¡°Rong Le,e here.¡±

    Man Yao resumed her usual indifference and looked at him without moving, only speaking in a calm voice, ¡°General, we¡­can we talk?¡±

    Fu Chou raised an eyebrow and seemed delighted, ¡°What does Rong Le want to talk about?¡±

    Man Yao casually walked a few steps, speaking, ¡°Our marriage is based on political reasons, and although I brought you unerasable humiliation, I also gave you things that you wanted.¡±

    A light shed through Fu Chou¡¯s eyes, ¡°Such as?¡±

    Man Yao turned back and spoke resolutely, ¡°More power.¡± Even though she was scolded by many people, she was still a princess, and the princess that was most favored by the Emperor of Qiyun at that, which meant that he had the backing of an entire nation. This past year, the borders were peaceful, and after they married, Qiyun¡¯s troops had great rtions with neighboring countries. One can imagine that when two great nations formed an alliance, who would dare to offend them? The court official became more and more incensed, and during this year, he steadily built up his own power base to where now, even the Emperor of Lingtian had to think thrice.

    Fu Chou¡¯s eyes sharpened, a hint of coldness shing through. She smiled mirthlessly, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry, I¡¯m not asking for anything, I just want to continue living peacefully like now. We¡­should just keep this status quo, alright?¡± Her voice was very calm and steady, without any fluctuations in her emotions.

    Fu Chou stared at her, not saying anything for a long time. After a while, he suddenly rushed towards her and spoke hoarsely, ¡°What if I said no? I¡¯m a greedy person, I want your body¡­your heart.¡± Finished, his hands had already grabbed her shoulders, and faced with the thin lips that were always formed into an indifferent smile, he really wanted to fiercely smother them with his own.

    Man Yao didn¡¯t struggle, she was aware that his martial arts skills were much stronger than her own, she wouldn¡¯t be able to overpower him even if she tried. She could only turn her head away, ¡°Does General not care that I am not chaste?¡±

    Fu Chou was stunned and raised his head, his smile slowly disappearing as his eyes instantly darkened. His hands gripped her harder almost as if wanting to tear her arms off. As he stared into her clear and indifferent eyes, he frowned as seeds of anger were sprouting within him, ¡°Do you hate me that much? In order to reject me, you¡¯re willing to reopen your own wounds?¡±

    Man Yao bit her lips, averting her eyes to look at the cold hard stones on the ground, ¡°Not hate. You¡¯re very good! It¡¯s just, only by acting as an emotionless pawn can lessen the pain of being sacrificed. As for the person who held the pawn, they would not have feelings either, unless¡­when sacrificing this chesspiece, they felt it was a pity.¡± This was how she protected herself. It was not easy toe to terms with being used as a pawn by other people. Since she could not control her own destiny, then she can only control her own heart, however cold this world was however cold her heart would be.

    Her apathetic voice seemed to shatter all the destion in this world. Fu Chou¡¯s heart trembled violently and his gaze immediately changed. He suddenly felt that a knife shed through his heart, leaving behind a wound that would never heal. He let go of her and stepped back, looking at her with aplicated gaze. His voice was not as gentle as before, ¡°Why are you so intelligent? If you were just a little more foolish, you would lead a much happier life, and the people around you would also not worry as much.¡±

    She shuddered, suddenly remembering that once there was a person who also said the same thing, if she were just a little more foolish, she would not encounter so many hurtful situations. It was not that she didn¡¯t want to, instead, too many things were out of her control.

    Fu Chou reached out to hold her hand, turning around to walk towards the bed. He sighed, ¡°It¡¯ste, let¡¯s go to sleep.¡±

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