Chapter 84: Caught

Outside the city, a white figure rode swiftly on horseback, galloping away.

The sky was dark, and the road was unclear, so Jiang Chenbi had no choice but to press on. She rode hard for a stretch but nearly fell off the horse. She looked just like someone fleeing for her life.

In fact, she was indeed fleeing for her life—and also fleeing from something else.

Along the way, she had heard enough about how much Cui Wangshu loved her Empress. Cui Wangshu forbade anyone in the realm from gossiping and protected her so well that she never even appeared at state banquets.

And what about her? Even her name was forbidden to be mentioned!

The more she heard, the more disgusted she felt. She couldn’t face Cui Wangshu, nor did she want to see those eyes filled with murderous intent staring at her.

She could only hide from her. This place was too close to Tongzhou; she absolutely couldn’t go there.

Jiang Chenbi thought that worst case, she would return to the Southern Frontier. With her master there, Cui Wangshu couldn’t do much to her. If even her master couldn’t protect her, she would head to Kunlun to find Liu Xuan.

Before, she had thought that if she got caught, so be it—she would die. After all, she had been the one to err first; she owed Cui Wangshu. But after hearing those things, the temper Jiang Chenbi had suppressed for so long surged back up.

Why should she die? Cui Wangshu was living just fine and had even married. Why should she die?

She wouldn’t die. Not only would she not die, she would make a comeback and live more freely than Cui Wangshu. Forgiveness? Finding another good match? That was something the old Jiang Chenbi had said before she died—it had nothing to do with her now.

So what if she was jealous? She had never been some virtuous and benevolent person. If not for her ordeal at death’s door tempering her, and her feeling indebted to Cui Wangshu, with her old personality, the moment she learned of Cui Wangshu’s marriage, she would have stormed the Imperial Palace and killed someone.

Jiang Chenbi found a place to rest, lying on a sturdy tree branch, and took a furious swig of water.

The more she thought, the angrier she got. She, Jiang Chenbi, the former Palace Lord of Yellow Path Palace and Young Sect Master of Poison Gu Sect—when had she ever fled so miserably?

Jiang Chenbi wiped her lips, took a deep breath, and after cursing inwardly for a while, finally vented that pent-up frustration.

Liu Xuan had said Jiang Chenbi had changed, and he was right—but also wrong.

Five years ago, Jiang Chenbi had no choice. The upheaval brought by He Yin filled her with guilt. She felt she had dragged Cui Wangshu into the vortex, yet failed to keep her promise.

To ensure Cui Wangshu ascended to the throne, Jiang Chenbi chose to seek out He Yin. Before leaving, she left that letter because she thought she might not return.

Back then, she had nearly not returned, but who could have expected Liu Xuan to save her?

She had come back to life, only to learn of Cui Wangshu’s grand wedding. At first, Jiang Chenbi was furious, but she also felt she had no right to be angry. She had hidden too much and left that letter behind. From Cui Wangshu’s perspective, she hadn’t done anything wrong.

But people were selfish. Some things Cui Wangshu could do if Jiang Chenbi was truly dead, but since she wasn’t, Cui Wangshu couldn’t.

Moreover, two years had passed since her “death”—longer than the time she and Cui Wangshu had known each other. Two years was enough for another “Jiang Chenbi” to appear. She had her pride too. After learning of the marriage, how could she go seeking her out?

So she hid herself away in Zhongnan Mountain, avoiding news of Cui Wangshu, thinking time would make her stop caring.

But after leaving Zhongnan Mountain, all the news about Cui Wangshu flooded in. The ivory tower of her delusions crumbled, and her self-deceptive mask finally shattered.

Jealousy, resentment, rage—all surged to the forefront. Jiang Chenbi felt nauseous. Even knowing she shouldn’t, even knowing Cui Wangshu might not realize she was alive, she couldn’t help cursing Cui Wangshu inwardly as heartless and traitorous.

With emotions tangled in her heart, Jiang Chenbi couldn’t face Cui Wangshu and chose to stay away, each going their own way. Otherwise, she didn’t know what she might do.

Since leaving Zhongnan Mountain, Jiang Chenbi hadn’t rested. She had planned to rest that night, but then ran into Jiang Ci. Now she had to sleep on a tree branch in the wilderness, cursing Cui Wangshu even more viciously in her heart.

She had to search and search. Wasn’t it just hiding the matter of the Twin-Born Daughters? Did she have to scour the world for her, killing her to erase that “stain”?

And she had helped secure military power for her too. Why didn’t Cui Wangshu think of that?

She was simply insane.

After cursing to her heart’s content, Jiang Chenbi finally felt better. Her temper flared, and she felt years younger.

These past years, she had lived too calmly, sometimes feeling like she had aged. This outburst brought back some of her youthful fire.

Exhausted from days on the road, Jiang Chenbi dozed off uneasily on the branch. When dawn broke faintly, she lost all desire to sleep. With dark circles under her eyes, she mounted her horse helplessly.

Riding along, Jiang Chenbi felt she had gone too far yesterday, cursing Cui Wangshu like that. She had been too tired and lost control of her emotions. Now rested and calm, she retreated back into her shell.

The route to the Southern Frontier passed through Luozhou for sure. Jiang Chenbi planned to get through it quickly. After all, the Empress’s Thousand Autumn Festival was there, and plenty of eyes would be watching.

After days of exposure to wind and dew, Jiang Chenbi finally arrived in Luozhou, feeling like she was starving to death.

Ever since Liu Xuan saved her, all her ailments, big and small, were gone. She only had the Love Gu left, which was actually lighter than before.

But with her illnesses cured, her appetite returned fully. Before, she never felt hungry.

Now it was different. She felt like she would starve to death in Luozhou City any second.

Jiang Chenbi didn’t dare go to a fancy restaurant and found a small eatery instead. The moment the rice entered her mouth, she nearly teared up.

Forgetting elegance, she devoured her meal like a whirlwind and finally felt alive. Full and content, she no longer wanted to curse Cui Wangshu.

She paid the bill, donned her veil, and led her horse toward the city gate to continue. On the way, she passed the so-called Divine Temple in people’s mouths.

Jiang Chenbi stood outside the temple, staring at the gates, and let out a mocking smile. What a grand gesture—building a Divine Temple right in the heart of Yunyu Fang, next to the Auspicious Palace Merchant Guild’s pavilion.

What did Cui Wangshu mean by this?

Could she give that Empress something better than Yellow Path Palace?

Jiang Chenbi ground her molars, staring at the temple, a impulse rising. She really wanted to see just how beautiful that face was to earn Cui Wangshu’s undisguised favoritism.

She tied her horse to the roadside, narrowed her eyes, and walked into the temple.

Plenty of people had come to worship. Jiang Chenbi sneered inwardly as her feet carried her uncontrollably toward the statue in the main hall. The closer she got, the tighter her brows furrowed.

Why did that statue look so familiar?

Just as Jiang Chenbi prepared to step closer, the sound of the main doors closing echoed from behind. Before she could turn, a familiar, icy, hoarse voice rang out.

“Caught you…”

Jiang Chenbi froze in place. She knew that voice all too well. Her heart raced, and she hesitated to turn, afraid of seeing the hatred in Cui Wangshu’s eyes.

The so-called worshippers in the temple had surrounded her orderly the moment the doors closed. They weren’t common folk at all—they were Cui Wangshu’s guards.

Cui Wangshu stood behind Jiang Chenbi, her dark eyes fixed tightly on her. The emotions in those eyes were inscrutable—repressed yet out of control, carrying an indescribable feeling.

“Not going to say anything?” Cui Wangshu’s voice rose again, low and cold.

Jiang Chenbi bit her lower lip hard, determined to deny everything. “Miss… have you mistaken me for someone else?”

“Heh—” The woman’s light laugh seemed squeezed through clenched teeth.

“Do you think I’m stupid?” Cui Wangshu saw she wouldn’t turn and didn’t force her. She sauntered casually to stand before Jiang Chenbi.

Meeting those familiar yet strange eyes, Jiang Chenbi’s heart skipped a beat. When that familiar, aloof, noble face appeared before her again, she couldn’t deny it.

Her heart pounded wildly, just like that time in Lingnan, nearly bursting from her chest.

She had slimmed down, matured, and become even more beautiful.

Jiang Chenbi averted her gaze in embarrassment and retreated a few steps, wanting to flee.

Cui Wangshu had stared at her intently from start to finish. Seeing her try to escape again, she grabbed Jiang Chenbi’s wrist and yanked her close, staring expressionlessly. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Jiang Chenbi frowned, about to speak, when Cui Wangshu ripped off her veil. Jiang Chenbi instinctively closed her eyes, not wanting to look at her.

“Jiang Chenbi, look at me.” The woman’s tone was chilling, nearly gritted through her teeth.

Jiang Chenbi gritted her teeth, opened her eyes, and looked at her, still denying. “Who’s Jiang Chenbi? You’re hurting me—let go.”

Cui Wangshu stared motionlessly, then suddenly curled her lips in a cold smile. Without a word, she dragged her into the adjacent room.

Cui Wangshu threw Jiang Chenbi onto the bed, gripping her ankle with one hand and tugging at her sash with the other.

Jiang Chenbi hadn’t expected this. Reacting, she kicked away the restraining hand, retreated while dodging the descending kiss, and slapped her across the face. “Calm down!”

Jiang Chenbi straightened her disheveled clothes, eyeing her warily.

Cui Wangshu turned her face sideways, expression hidden behind tousled hair, motionless.

The atmosphere froze to ice.

Cui Wangshu suddenly laughed. With excruciating slowness, she turned her head, her pitch-black pupils gleaming with inexplicable excitement. She stared unblinkingly at Jiang Chenbi, her face devoid of any smile.

She straightened up, gripped her sword hilt, and sneered, “Finally dropping the act?”

Jiang Chenbi glimpsed the movement from the corner of her eye, her heart chilling. Sure enough, she was going to kill her. Was she really going to die in Luozhou City today?

Jiang Chenbi’s hand subtly slipped into her bosom, ready to crush the token from Liu Xuan.

Feigning calm on the surface, she planned to stall. Though seated, her momentum didn’t waver. In a cold warning tone, she said, “You have no right to control me.”

Cui Wangshu stared expressionlessly, her face sinister, eyes sliding down unabashedly. She chuckled lowly, “Is that so…”

Whoosh—

The sharp sword unsheathed, slicing through Jiang Chenbi’s sash.

Jiang Chenbi’s hand froze on the token, unsure if she should crush it now.

The woman before her stared intently, tossed the sword aside, and slowly knelt before her. Tilting her head up in near-reverence, her eyes brimmed with raw desire, sending chills down the spine.

“Then… do I have the right to be your dog?” Cui Wangshu’s clear, cold voice carried a rasp.

Dog and master… Jiang Chenbi’s thoughts flashed back five years.

Her breath hitched as she watched dazedly while Cui Wangshu stripped her clothes, her tongue brushing red lips, glistening with moisture.

Jiang Chenbi snapped back, stood to run—but it was too late. This woman knew her body too well. Jiang Chenbi went limp on the spot as her legs were hoisted high over shoulders.

Thinking of how she might have tangled like this with other women these years, disgust surged in Jiang Chenbi. Regaining some reason, she pushed against the sensitive assault.

Slap—

Another slap landed on Cui Wangshu’s face.

This one was full force; blood trickled from her lip. Cui Wangshu’s expression remained blank, indifferently licking the wound. She stopped forcing, but stared stubbornly like a rabid guard dog protecting its food.

Jiang Chenbi glared through gritted teeth, eyes full of contemptuous disgust. Word by word, as if squeezed from her teeth: “Don’t touch me. You’re filthy.”

At those words, ripples finally stirred in Cui Wangshu’s emotionless black eyes. The look she gave Jiang Chenbi went beyond cold. Biting out each word slowly: “I’m filthy?”

Jiang Chenbi fastened her clothes, looking down imperiously. Those once-deeply affectionate black eyes now held mockery as she repeated, “Filthy.”

Cui Wangshu rose from the ground, narrowed her eyes, yanked her close, and stared deathly. Suppressing pre-eruption fury, her lips curled mockingly. “You didn’t mind me being filthy when it felt good before. Now that you’ve had your fill, I’m filthy? You’re more disgusting than me, Jiang Chenbi.”

These words completely ignited Jiang Chenbi’s fury. Unwilling to waste any more words with her, Jiang Chenbi glared at her. Her arm was gripped tightly by Cui Wangshu and couldn’t be pulled free, no matter how much she struggled. Finally, Jiang Chenbi said coldly to her, “Let go.”

Cui Wangshu stared at her with great interest and sneered, “Let go? Where do you think you’re going to hide this time? From now on, you’re not allowed to go anywhere. Didn’t you call me filthy? Then prepare yourself to get just as filthy as me.”

Back then, it had clearly been Jiang Chenbi who provoked her first—even knowing about their relationship—and used the Love Gu to control her. What right did she have now to disdain her love as filthy?

A surge of anger rose in Cui Wangshu’s heart. She roughly dragged Jiang Chenbi out of the room. Jiang Chenbi kicked and hit her but couldn’t break free. Cui Wangshu seemed to feel no pain at all, utterly indifferent to Jiang Chenbi’s blows landing on her body.

The nearby imperial guards watched with expressionless faces, not daring to show the slightest emotion in their eyes.

She dragged the woman to the front of the carriage, but Jiang Chenbi refused to get on no matter what. She opened her mouth and bit down hard on the back of Cui Wangshu’s hand, demanding she let go.

Cui Wangshu watched her coldly, letting her bite until blood dripped from the back of her hand. In a hoarse voice, she asked, “Had enough yet?”

Jiang Chenbi glared at her viciously, saying nothing and still refusing to get on.

Cui Wangshu took a step forward, bent down, and warned in her ear, “If you don’t get on, I’ll take you right here.”

Jiang Chenbi’s pupils contracted sharply. She could hardly believe such words would come from her mouth. She instinctively glanced around. The Empress’s imperial guards had tightly surrounded the area—there had to be dozens of them around the carriage, if not a hundred.

Had this woman gone mad?

Jiang Chenbi looked down at Cui Wangshu’s eyes and saw her staring intently, without a trace of jest in them. If she didn’t comply, she really would do it.

Jiang Chenbi couldn’t help staggering back a step, her voice uncharacteristically tight. “I’ll get on.”