Chapter 15

Near the hour of Hai, silence reigned throughout Prince Yan’s Manor. Only the occasional rustle of turning pages sounded from the study.

After finishing a book, Xiao Jin closed the volume, returned it to the bookshelf, and let out a long breath.

Through days of browsing and research, although the traditional characters and classical prose gave Xiao Jin a headache, she had persisted and read several volumes.

The books touched upon the histories of the four great kingdoms of this world, as well as various smaller states.

Wherever she couldn’t understand, Xiao Jin circled and marked it in cinnabar before searching through other related books. If a passage eluded her completely, she didn’t expect to puzzle it out—a shallow read was enough.

After all, she only wanted to understand the cultural history of Qi and Yao.

Finishing her reading, Xiao Jin recalled the section of history concerning the Yao Kingdom’s “Imperial Preceptor’s Misrule.” She thought for a long time but still couldn’t grasp the internal logic behind that person’s actions.

Back then, that Imperial Preceptor had already reached a position just below the King and above the multitudes. He practically had everything.

Yet in the later stages, he engaged in a series of blind maneuvers—massive construction projects to build “Glazed Glass City” and large-scale conscription to attack small border states.

So much so that when the original owner led her troops into Yao’s main city, there were only a little over twenty thousand elite soldiers left inside, with no power to resist.

Xiao Jin’s face was full of black lines. The mastermind behind Yao’s destruction wasn’t the original owner at all—it was the Imperial Preceptor of Yao, wasn’t it?

She was just sighing inwardly when she looked up and saw a young maidservant enter from outside the study. The girl bowed respectfully to her. “My Prince, Manager Zhang sent this servant to relay a message: Her Highness the Princess Consort is already waiting in the chambers.”

Reminded by the young maidservant, Xiao Jin remembered she still needed to discuss important matters with the female lead. She nodded. “Return to the chamber.”

The wheelchair passed through the corridor, rolling over bamboo leaves scattered on the stone slabs.

A maidservant pushed the bamboo wheelchair. Xiao Jin looked up and saw the lanterns of Prince Yan’s Manor being extinguished one by one; it seemed the hour had grown deep into the night.

As they arrived at the chamber door, Xiao Jin sharply noticed that the guards who usually kept watch on either side of the main courtyard seemed to have vanished.

Xiao Jin couldn’t understand this arrangement at all. She turned and asked the maidservant beside her, “Where are the guards in the courtyard?”

Even if dozens of manor guards were standing here, given Chu Shao’s martial arts, she could probably still mow them down like wheat.

But having them was better than nothing—at least it provided some small comfort.

The young maidservant, though still quite young, understood a few matters. She looked at Xiao Jin, blushed, and quietly explained, “Answering my Prince, this was Manager Zhang’s arrangement. He said… he said the guards should not disturb my Prince’s mood.”

“…”

Hearing the word “mood,” Xiao Jin suddenly realized that Old Zhang had probably misunderstood something.

At this moment, she still held a sliver of hope, sincerely praying that Old Zhang’s mind was normal and not filled with colored… waste material.

But when the maidservant pushed open the door and then slipped away silently, Xiao Jin understood that things had already gone completely sideways.

Yet Xiao Jin hadn’t expected things to go this sideways.

Standing at the threshold, gazing at Chu Shao seated by the bed curtains, Xiao Jin felt that her entire being was no longer okay.

She was now regretful—extremely regretful. Why hadn’t she smashed Old Zhang’s dog head back then, instead of allowing him to scheme wildly and survive until now?

Looking at the several swaths of red silk hung on the bed canopy, then at Chu Shao—seated upright on the bed, clad in nothing but a single layer of sheer gauze—

Xiao Jin fell silent. She couldn’t roll the wheelchair anymore. She stopped at the door.

As for why she couldn’t roll it, it was because Xiao Jin truly lacked the courage.

In Xiao Jin’s heart, Chu Shao possessed powerful logic and a dangerously unpredictable emotional state. Xiao Jin had long categorized her as a madwoman.

And the Chu Shao before her now was clearly no longer just a madwoman, but a madwoman wearing a certain… evocative nightgown, adorned with cosmetics and rouge, forced into this charade.

As far as Xiao Jin’s eyes could see, Chu Shao’s ink-black hair was loose, and she wore a robe of reddish-brown gauze. Gazing from afar, she looked like layered splendid towers half-hidden behind crimson curtains.

Seated on the bed, the corners of her lips held a smile. She seemed to show no particular strangeness.

But what this Chu Shao might do next—Xiao Jin, silent and terrified, couldn’t begin to predict.

She could only curse inwardly. The tableau was too beautiful. Old Zhang, you are truly a devil.

As for Chu Shao, ever since that maidservant knocked on her door and bashfully informed her that Xiao Jin intended to stay the night in her chamber, she had been extremely curious about Xiao Jin’s intentions.

The maidservant had told Chu Shao many things—for instance, that Xiao Jin was cold by nature and uninterested in women, and what exactly should occur between husband and wife.

Throughout it all, Chu Shao merely smiled, listening without a word.

The maidservant chattered on for a long time. Finally, she brought out two boxes and said mysteriously to Chu Shao, “Your Highness, the Prince is always rather disinterested in bedchamber matters. So if you wish to capture the Prince’s heart, you’ll need to employ other means.”

Hearing this, Chu Shao seemed intrigued. “What means?”

The maidservant opened the rosewood box. Inside lay a vermillion garment of gauzy material, embroidered with peony patterns in gold thread that seemed to flow with shattered starlight under the candle flame.

Although the garment was exceedingly beautiful, Chu Shao’s interest instantly faded.

Earlier, hearing “capture the Prince’s heart,” she had eagerly anticipated what kind of sharp implement the maidservant would give her—something that could directly pierce through flesh and tightly grip Xiao Jin’s heart.

She hadn’t expected it to be just an ordinary piece of clothing.

Chu Shao then turned her attention elsewhere and pointed to the second box. “What’s inside this one?”

The maidservant held the box and smiled bashfully. “As for this box… because the Prince’s legs are inconvenient, Manager Zhang has prepared some items. Your Highness may choose on your own and see if any are useful.”

…

Because of the oppression of death, Xiao Jin simply didn’t dare to move.

She didn’t dare move, but Chu Shao, brimming with interest, made the first move. She slowly rose; the gilt bronze pieces on her vermillion robe clinked softly.

Xiao Jin watched Chu Shao step barefoot across the carpet, walking step by step.

The sheer fabric loosely hugged her waistline, outlining an elegant form. The gauze robe trailed behind her like a red carp swimming beneath the water’s surface.

The ceiling of the book’s appearance, plus the ceiling of martial ability—she was now walking to Xiao Jin’s side, smiling as she said, “My Prince, let this humble wife push you into the chamber.”

Honestly, Xiao Jin really wanted to shout for help. But she knew that when one sows one’s own destruction, there’s no escape. Right now, no one could save her.

As the saying goes, one doesn’t give up until the coffin lid is nailed shut, and the boat will go straight when it reaches the bridge.

Driven to extreme tension, Xiao Jin actually grew less afraid. She thought, perhaps she could still explain to Chu Shao that this was all just a beautiful misunderstanding, and the situation wasn’t what she thought.

Xiao Jin opened her mouth, ready to explain to Chu Shao that they were just surface-level spouses, and behind the scenes, they were certainly steadfast allies.

Who knew Chu Shao would suddenly extend her index finger and press it against her lips. “Shh, don’t speak yet.”

The sensation against her lips was very soft. Xiao Jin had no time to register it before she heard Chu Shao say, “Just now, a young lady told this humble wife a little trick. So this humble wife now wishes to test it on you.”

With Chu Shao’s finger pressed firmly against her lips, Xiao Jin felt that if she opened her mouth to speak, she would touch the other’s warm fingertip.

So she simply closed her mouth and gave a flat nod, quietly watching what Chu Shao intended to do.

What Xiao Jin didn’t expect was that Chu Shao, this madwoman, really knew how to stir up trouble.

The moment Xiao Jin nodded her silent consent, Chu Shao’s smile was dazzling. Then she leaned in close and fixed her gaze on Xiao Jin’s neck.

Since the original owner was already a woman, her Adam’s apple was not prominent.

So when Chu Shao bent down and pressed her lips to Xiao Jin’s neck, she found that the spot where an Adam’s apple should be was truly not prominent at all.

Curious, she pressed her hand against Xiao Jin’s stiff shoulder and extended her tongue, lightly flicking over that inch of skin.

Chu Shao’s body pressed very close; she could even clearly sense Xiao Jin’s instinctive resistance and the violent pounding of her heart.

At this moment, she was a little surprised, because she seemed not to dislike contact with Xiao Jin.

And Xiao Jin smelled very fragrant. After the mint scent around her dissipated, one could also faintly detect a colder, more subtle hidden fragrance.

This scent reminded Chu Shao of a sword buried in cold snow. Then she thought that the aura around Xiao Jin was truly unique.

If one ignored the sickly air around Xiao Jin, given her status, she should have originally been clad in silver armor, holding a carved bow and shooting deer in the forest.

But even though Xiao Jin was the tyrannical and unrestrained Prince Yan of Northern Qi, what Chu Shao usually envisioned when she saw Xiao Jin was a different image.

Perhaps there would be a moon, perhaps also snow.

Northern Qi ought to have a heavy snowfall, so that the fine white could cover that person’s black hair.

At that time, Xiao Jin should be sitting before the courtyard.

Moonlight would cast onto the cold steps, refracting an extremely slender, gaunt figure.

And the person on the steps would lower her dark, clear eyes and wipe a blood-stained sword.

That sword would surely be thin and sharp, carrying an extra measure of cold and chill, to match the moonlit night, the snowlight, and the person holding it.

Thinking thus, Chu Shao kissed Xiao Jin’s throat. To confirm another suspicion, she then, almost casually, silently moved her lips down a few inches.

Hearing the other’s suppressed gasp, the hand pressing Xiao Jin’s shoulder shifted position, lightly touching her collar, as if to undo her outer robe.

She watched as her lips reached Xiao Jin’s collarbone, lingering there and leaving several deep red kiss marks.

Just as Chu Shao thought she was about to succeed, Xiao Jin suddenly seized her wrist and coldly rebuked, “Enough.”

Whether from coughing or another reason, as Chu Shao listened to Xiao Jin’s words, she faintly discerned a trace of hoarseness… and a slight anger.

Chu Shao smiled, then stopped her movements, pulling away from Xiao Jin’s neck, and even very gently straightened the other’s collar for her.

Meeting Xiao Jin’s cold gaze, the smile at her lips grew deeper. “It seems my Prince doesn’t like this little trick. Sure enough, this humble wife has overstepped.”

Inside, she felt a little regret at being unable to verify her suspicion.

However, the more Xiao Jin refused to let her touch, the more curious she became, unable to resist probing further.

Why, exactly? Chu Shao truly couldn’t understand. Why was it that every time she thought of one layer, she couldn’t remember what she should consider on the next?

But she understood that she hadn’t been this excited in a very long time.

Uncovering the secrets another person painstakingly concealed was like driving a blade tip between the ribs. One only needed to find the crucial point to render the other unable to move, completely at her mercy.

Chu Shao truly, desperately wanted to know Xiao Jin’s hidden secret. She believed the truth behind it must be very interesting, something that could amuse her for a very long time.

On the other side, hearing the words “little trick,” Xiao Jin was so furious she almost wanted to curse out loud.

Which blind fool dared to teach Chu Shao this kind of “trick”? Was this something a yandere female lead should be doing?!

The very next moment, Chu Shao’s following action completely refreshed Xiao Jin’s understanding of everyone in Prince Yan’s Manor.

That calamity had just passed when Chu Shao took a box from the table.

The box was made of pear wood, carved with orchid patterns. It looked somewhat elegant, so presumably, the inside held some refined object.

Unfortunately, Xiao Jin’s feeling was wrong.

Holding the box, Chu Shao said with a smiling face, “This box was also given to this humble wife by someone from the manor. They said it’s something my Prince can use later.”

“Something this Prince can use?”

Xiao Jin was stunned.

She didn’t even know what she could use, since she had only come to discuss countermeasures with Chu Shao.

Could it be… Old Zhang knew Chu Shao was dangerous and had specially prepared weapons for her self-defense?

Holding the box, which was clearly not light, Chu Shao pursed her lips in a smile. “Yes, they said you could use them. And reportedly, inside are many items made of excellent materials.”

Oh, just items. She had thought they were weapons.

Xiao Jin’s face showed no emotion, but inwardly she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Old Zhang hadn’t been stupid enough to openly display his wariness toward Chu Shao.

Just as Xiao Jin was feeling immensely relieved, she suddenly realized exactly what Chu Shao had just said.

Wait. Items.

What kind of items???