Chapter 32 Part 2

Xiao Jin: “…”

Describing a brothel visit as “amusement”? The second male lead’s gift of the gab was truly second to none.

But come to think of it, at this moment, Xiao Jin was actually the most comfortable.

She, a cannon fodder character and the most crucial person in this entire incident, could leisurely sit behind the bamboo blinds and listen to the drama. Truly blessed.

What’s more, this drama gathered all the stars—the male lead, male second lead, female lead, and female supporting character were all present. Such a grand scene definitely belonged to a once-in-a-lifetime series.

The person involved, Xiao Jin, looked up at Chu Shao, noticing the other seemed somewhat dazed. She felt a deep pity.

What a shame the female lead didn’t have a chance to appear. Otherwise, it would definitely turn into a bloodbath in minutes.

Only, judging by the currently severely-collapsed character of the female lead, this bloodbath of forced love and obsession might not be between the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince. It was more likely to be… Chu Shao.

Chu Shao had no idea Xiao Jin’s inner thoughts were so excited.

When she heard the Crown Prince’s voice, she actually frowned. Even the way she looked at Xiao Jin was filled with incomprehension.

Because Chu Shao truly didn’t understand how Xiao Jin knew there were silver needles hidden in Su Tan’s bamboo tube, or how she could predict the Crown Prince would definitely come to the Misty Rain Pavilion.

After a moment, a smile lifted the corners of her lips. Xiao Jin had too many mysteries. If she slowly explored them, it could actually be quite an entertaining thing.

Thinking this, Chu Shao lowered her eyes to look at Xiao Jin and asked the mystery she was most interested in.

Her method of asking and her tone were equally gentle: “My Prince, was the person you were waiting for the Crown Prince?”

Xiao Jin was currently using the broken edge of the chair’s armrest to saw at the white silk binding her hands. Only after the sharp edge had frayed the ribbon did she calmly answer Chu Shao’s question: “No.”

Chu Shao quietly watched Xiao Jin flex her wrist joints. Having been bound by the silk for so long, some red marks had been chafed onto her skin.

Like rouge smeared on peony petals, or fresh blood dripped onto an ice bellflower.

Recalling that snowfall from long ago, the melodies of the Great Yao Imperial Palace echoed in Chu Shao’s ears.

She could no longer remember those tunes clearly. The only thing she could remember was that ice bellflower splattered with blood.

The current Xiao Jin reminded her of that ice bellflower.

Xiao Jin’s present situation was clearly more desperate than that flower’s, but the other didn’t seem to feel despair.

This made Chu Shao realize that perhaps something about Xiao Jin was as fragile as snow, soon to melt away in the spring.

But if it were in the harsh winter, the sweeping blades of frost would make the snow even more vast and mighty, transforming it into unshakable, solid ice.

Unseduced, unshakeable—this was truly a beauty of solidity that brooked no violation.

Thinking this, Chu Shao looked at Xiao Jin and softly asked: “Not the Crown Prince, then what were you waiting for?”

The severed strips of white silk fluttered to the ground. Xiao Jin stroked the fractured armrest and did not answer Chu Shao’s question.

How was she supposed to explain? After all, what she was waiting for was the plot.

Xiao Jin could only raise her head and give Chu Shao a deeply meaningful look for her to interpret on her own.

Just basic transmigrator operations. The natives wouldn’t understand.

…

The atmosphere in the main hall was not as leisurely as upstairs.

Because the newcomer wore a jade belt and was clad in dragon robes: the current Crown Prince. The moment this person appeared, it carried more deterrence than the Court of Judicial Review sending a hundred guards.

In fact, the Crown Prince Xiao Yu had indeed led a contingent of guards, but these guards were drawn from the Divine Machine Camp, overpowering the Fourth Prince’s in sheer presence.

The Crown Prince first ordered this squad to lift the lockdown of the Misty Rain Pavilion, then looked toward the Fourth Prince standing at the staircase and smiled. “Fourth Brother, Gu is not here for amusement. I merely heard Fourth Brother has been growing increasingly willful lately, so I came to take a look.”

The Fourth Prince’s most hated thing in life was the Crown Prince calling him “willful.”

If they were talking about willfulness, Xiao Jin was a thousand times more willful than him, and a thousand times more detestable. Why didn’t he see this Crown Prince, renowned for his virtue, go discipline him?

Alas, Xiao Yu was the Crown Prince, his elder brother.

Even if the Fourth Prince harbored resentment, he could only say respectfully: “Imperial Brother, this time it is not your subject brother being willful, but a matter with just cause.”

The Crown Prince smiled again: “What cause?”

Sitting up in the pavilion, Xiao Jin listened boredly as the Fourth Prince once again recited the reason: “Someone reported a secret, thus he is hunting the assassin on Third Brother’s behalf.”

Because Chu Shao was present, Xiao Jin’s face remained expressionless, but inwardly she was thoroughly sick of being used as a pretext for someone else’s agenda.

If it weren’t for the fact that she was wearing a white robe and still afflicted with the System’s Clamping Voice, she would definitely go down there and demand: Does This Prince need you to seek justice on my behalf?!

Yet the Fourth Prince unilaterally declared he would seek justice for Xiao Jin.

Even though everyone present knew he and Xiao Jin were at odds like fire and water, and that this person had his bride snatched by Xiao Jin just days ago…

As long as his tone was earnest enough and his skin thick enough, even if not a single person present believed him, the Fourth Prince could still carry on his performance solo.

Only, after he finished performing, the Crown Prince looked at the Fourth Prince and replied nonchalantly: “Fourth Brother is thoughtful. However, Third Brother’s matters naturally have the Court of Judicial Review to worry about. It seems there is no need to be so…”

He paused, glancing at the guards packed tightly around the Misty Rain Pavilion, and stated bluntly: “Exaggerated.”

Hearing the Crown Prince’s assessment of the Fourth Prince, Xiao Jin also found it quite apt. But she hadn’t expected Bai Zheng to actually laugh out loud with a “Pfft.”

Bai Zheng, who had always aspired to be the Crown Princess, upon seeing the ideal man she sought, showed none of a maiden’s shyness.

She stepped forward and curtsied to the Crown Prince, smiling: “Many thanks to Your Highness the Crown Prince for leading troops here to break the siege of the Misty Rain Pavilion. This commoner woman is endlessly grateful.”

The Crown Prince directed his gaze at Bai Zheng. He glanced at her and nodded. “Miss Bai is courteous. Fourth Brother is Gu’s own sibling. For his offense today, I hope the young lady will be generous and forgiving.”

Bai Zheng said with a beaming smile: “With Prince Yan and the Crown Prince present, this commoner woman naturally will be generous and forgiving.”

Xiao Jin: “…”

She couldn’t help rubbing her temples. Why was Bai Zheng dragging her into this again?

Taking innocent fire was one thing, but putting her name before the Crown Prince’s—was she deliberately trying to draw aggro?

The guests now also cast admiring glances at Bai Zheng.

Any clear-eyed person could see the Crown Prince’s words were mere pleasantries. But Bai Zheng, true to her nature, actually followed the thread and continued. Not only claiming she would “forgive” a prince of the nation, but she also put the Crown Prince’s face behind Prince Yan’s.

Truly a heroine among women, daring to say anything.

The Fourth Prince, who had been “forgiven” for no reason, was rather irritated. The Crown Prince coming to discipline him was one thing, but what gave Bai Zheng the guts to forgive him?

The Fourth Prince wanted to flare up, but then remembered Bai Zheng had just mentioned both Xiao Jin and Xiao Yu. If he lost his temper now, it would inevitably give others ammunition.

It was then he understood: Bai Zheng was not simple either.

Her words seemed rash on the surface, but if he truly found fault, he’d be falling into the trap she set.

After all, Bai Zheng was “forgiving” him on account of the Crown Prince and Prince Yan. If he mocked Bai Zheng again, he’d be disrespecting both Crown Prince and Prince Yan.

Helpless, the Fourth Prince could only swallow his anger and remain silent.

The Crown Prince looked at Bai Zheng, laughed, and cupped his hands in salute. “Then, Gu thanks Miss Bai on Fourth Brother’s behalf.”

Even as bold as Bai Zheng was, she dared not accept the Crown Prince’s salute, immediately returning the gesture. “This commoner woman does not dare… However, if the Fourth Prince must thank someone, he should thank Prince Yan.”

The Crown Prince was taken aback.

Bai Zheng raised her head, swept her gaze around the pavilion once, and then said softly: “In my youth, at the hunting ground, Prince Yan once saved this commoner woman’s life. Perhaps Your Highness believes this small matter is not worth mentioning and has long since forgotten it, but this commoner woman still remembers your kindness to this day.”

Hidden inside the bamboo blinds, Xiao Jin had nothing but silence.

Because she truly hadn’t expected that even staying offstage, she could still catch stray bullets. Even less expected: the original host, a cannon fodder supposed to exit the story in three chapters, had actually saved the Third Female Lead Bai Zheng.

And judging by Bai Zheng’s words, did she somehow know who Xiao Jin was, and was deliberately saying this for her to hear?

Chu Shao had clearly also discovered this point. She gently lifted the lid of the Spring Mountain Void box in her hand and said to Xiao Jin with a smile: “It seems the romantic debts My Prince owes are more than just one.”

“…”

Xiao Jin was silent. She could barely comprehend the original host inexplicably leaving her a debt, but she really couldn’t grasp that last line.

So she slowly asked: “What other debt is there?”

Chu Shao’s fingertip moved slightly. The delicate fragrance of Spring Mountain Void immediately swirled within the bamboo blinds, like hazy rain mist rising from a mountain stream.

Through the haze, the corners of Chu Shao’s lips curved into a smile. The teardrop mole beneath her eye was nearly scorching.

“On the day My Prince snatched the bride, you claimed to have fallen for this humble wife, swearing you would marry no one else in this life. This humble wife believed you then. Therefore, this humble wife is also a romantic debt owed by My Prince.”

“Have you forgotten?”