Chapter Two: How Shall Vengeance Be Taken? How Shall Kindness Be Repaid?

“The Emperor has granted this marriage. What choice do I have?” the Crown Prince said, seizing Su Baizhi by the waist and pulling her forward with sudden force.

Su Baizhi’s grip on the armrest tightened, her eyes flashing with a trace of venomous resentment. Even after everything they’d done, he still intended to marry that wretched Su Lilu!

No matter how much hatred churned within her, Su Baizhi’s face only grew more aggrieved. “Your Highness, do you truly wish to see me wed to the impotent Prince Yi, condemned to a lonely widowhood for the rest of my days?”

As she spoke, her body recoiled, but Yun Xiaofeng, caught up in his desire, refused to let her slip away, dragging her back with a possessive grip. “My sweet Baizhi, you little enchantress, are you trying to drive me mad? If you marry my royal uncle, I’ll seek you out just as I do now—won’t that be delightful? How could you be a widow then?”

Hearing this, Su Lilu couldn’t help but laugh. So the Crown Prince meant to bed Su Baizhi and leave Yun Yanyi to wear a cuckold’s horns for life!

The bitterness in Su Baizhi’s gaze grew even darker.

Su Lilu nudged Yun Yanyi behind her with her heel. “Your Highness, these lovers are trying to turn your bedchamber into a pasture. Are you truly going to let them get away with this without a lesson?”

Yun Yanyi’s eyes narrowed, danger radiating from him. This little woman—first she caught him off guard and sealed his acupuncture points, and now she wanted to provoke him into action? She certainly calculated well.

“Your Highness, time is running short…” Su Baizhi’s voice interrupted Su Lilu’s anticipation of Yun Yanyi’s response.

A low growl answered, followed by a violent collision, and then the two’s passionate cries filled the palace chamber.

Afterward, they hastily tidied themselves and left, but as the door opened, a startled maid’s greeting was heard. “Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“What are you doing here?” Yun Xiaofeng’s voice was dark and menacing.

“Your Highness, the maid may have been here for some time—I fear our affair…” Su Baizhi’s hushed voice drifted in, and Su Lilu’s heart sank lower still.

“Speak. What did you see and hear?” Yun Xiaofeng’s tone was frigid.

“Spare me, Your Highness! I saw and heard nothing! I was only accompanying—”

A sharp scream cut her off.

“Murder! Help!” Su Baizhi’s shriek followed.

Yun Xiaofeng’s cold, furious voice rumbled, “You have some nerve—committing murder and silencing witnesses inside the palace itself.”

Su Lilu frowned, realizing the maid had been killed. What was going on? Was it the work of whoever lured her here? But why show her this scene?

“Someone, dispose of the body. Not a word of this is to leave this room,” Yun Xiaofeng commanded.

“Your Highness, the maid said she was accompanying someone. Do you think there’s someone else in the palace?” Su Baizhi’s words made Su Lilu’s heart jolt. If Yun Xiaofeng and Su Baizhi discovered she’d been hiding inside… She could wager her life that Yun Xiaofeng would stop at nothing to silence her before the truth came out.

“Search the place!” Yun Xiaofeng ordered, and the sounds of feet shuffling echoed outside.

Su Lilu glanced at Yun Yanyi; now, her only hope for survival lay with this frail, “impotent” prince.

She flashed a small, gentle smile, showing two white teeth. “Your Highness, it seems we are both unfortunate souls, stranded in the same world. Shouldn’t we help each other, support each other?”

Yun Yanyi lifted his gaze, his black eyes still and unreadable, leaving Su Lilu guessing at his intentions.

“Your Highness, I spoke out of anger a moment ago, please forgive me. Allow me to…” she said, approaching him with three silver needles in hand.

But before she could finish, Yun Yanyi sprang up, seized her shoulder, and threw open the cabinet door.

Su Lilu instinctively tried to resist but was firmly restrained, unable to move an inch. She nearly burst into tears—was he really going to drag her out as revenge?

Yet the moment they stepped out of the cabinet, the world blurred, and in the next instant, Yun Yanyi seemed to break through something, and a dizzying sensation swept over her as they soared through the air.

When her feet touched solid ground again, she found herself behind a rockery in the imperial garden, with Yun Yanyi standing before her, amusement glinting in his eyes.

Su Lilu patted her racing heart, and once calm, she looked at Yun Yanyi with a fawning smile. “Thank you for your timely rescue, Your Highness. I won’t say more—you’re busy enjoying the moon, and I’ll take my leave.”

She tried to slip away, but before she took a step, a strong grip held her fast, and she couldn’t move.

Su Lilu turned back in resignation, knowing it wouldn’t be so easy.

“Your Highness, let’s talk this over calmly,” she said with a sycophantic grin.

“Then tell me,” Yun Yanyi said lazily, “first you stabbed me with needles, then I rescued you from dire peril—how should I settle this grudge, and how will you repay this debt?”

Su Lilu’s face fell. This man could endure his own woman making a lifelong fool of him with his nephew, yet he wanted to quibble over such a small matter with her!

Was it true love for Su Baizhi, or did he just think Su Lilu was an easy target?

“Your Highness, let’s do this. All blame for today’s events lies with me, and you saved me as well. From now on, at your word, I’ll do whatever you ask—even as a beast of burden!” Su Lilu declared, gritting her teeth with righteous resolve.

She’d only meant to put on a show and divert his attention before making her escape. But Yun Yanyi merely curled his lips. “Remember what you’ve said.”

With that, he vanished before her eyes.

Su Lilu stared in shock, then muttered under her breath, “Damn it, I’ve been played. This wretched Yun Yanyi comes and goes like a ghost—who said he was an invalid?”

Grumbling, she found a maid to lead her back to the banquet hall.

Meanwhile, Yun Xiaofeng, upon hearing from his men that someone had fled the palace chamber but couldn’t be identified, furiously kicked the guard to the ground. “Useless!”

Su Baizhi, however, fluttered her lashes and gently caressed Yun Xiaofeng’s chest. “Don’t be angry, Your Highness. It’s not worth your health. Even if someone knows about us, who would dare speak out? Still, Your Highness, that maid seemed to serve the Imperial Consort.”

“The Imperial Consort? So she belongs to the Third Prince?” Yun Xiaofeng’s face grew even darker.

A glint flashed in Su Baizhi’s eyes. If the Imperial Consort and the Third Prince learned of her affair with Yun Xiaofeng, they would surely make a scandal of it.

By then, with her father—Prime Minister Su—enjoying imperial favor, and with her intimacy with Yun Xiaofeng already a fact, she could rightfully marry him as Crown Princess and ascend to the highest position, admired by all.

Scheming in her mind, Su Baizhi returned to the banquet hall, her face free of worry and instead tinged with quiet joy. She looked at Su Lilu with even more disdain.

Feeling Su Baizhi’s gaze, Su Lilu simply turned away unconcerned and popped another delicate pastry into her mouth. The palace feast was exquisite, but there was one flaw—she had to maintain her image. These tiny cakes could be eaten in one bite, but she had to nibble demurely. So unsatisfying!

While Su Lilu was thoroughly enjoying herself, the official’s daughters performing on stage finished, and the next to take the floor was Su Baizhi.

Su Baizhi glided to the center of the stage and bowed gracefully.

Su Lilu watched her fluid movements with a tsk of admiration. This woman had just engaged in such wild passion, yet not a trace remained—her shy, demure appearance now was a world apart from her earlier abandon.