Chu Ruoyan’s heart sank.
Empress Pei meant well, but she likely hadn’t anticipated Prince Bao tagging along.
Prince Bao was a vicious and cruel man—his three previous consorts had all been tortured to death. Yet because he had aided the current emperor’s ascension and was the last surviving brother of the late emperor, the ruler turned a blind eye. The families of those three consorts had no choice but to endure.
Now, he had set his sights on her...
Chu Ruoyan furrowed her brows. Lady Liu asked, "Is something troubling you, Eldest Miss?"
Chu Ruoyan shook her head. After seeing Lady Liu and Chu Ruoyin out, she immediately said, "Nanny Zhou, I must trouble you to make another trip—please summon Prince Qin here!"
"Prince Qin?" Nanny Zhou was taken aback.
Chu Ruoyan replied firmly, "Yes. If he refuses, tell him plainly about Prince Bao’s intentions. Given the royal family’s reputation, I doubt he’ll ignore it."
Nanny Zhou left swiftly. Soon, footsteps echoed outside.
"Your Highness, our young mistress is inside..."
Nanny Zhou spoke, but Murong Jin chuckled. "Wouldn’t entering like this tarnish your mistress’s reputation?"
Nanny Zhou faltered at the question. A calm, clear voice rang out from within: "Your Highness, please come in. As a divorced woman, what reputation do I have left to ruin? Unless... you’re worried about your own standing?"
Murong Jin raised a brow. If she wasn’t concerned, why should he be?
Pushing the door open, he found Chu Ruoyan seated at the table, leisurely brewing tea.
He couldn’t resist remarking, "You’ve got nerve. With my uncle eyeing you, you still have the composure to drink tea?"
Chu Ruoyan replied coolly, "What else should I do? Wail and beg the heavens for mercy?"
Murong Jin was momentarily speechless. He sat across from her. "Fine. Tell me your plan."
Had Prince Bao targeted anyone else, it wouldn’t matter. But this woman had the backing of Duke Chu, not to mention Third Yan’s peculiar interest in her—even Young Master Pei had recently taken a liking to her. If something happened here, the imperial family’s dignity would be at stake.
Chu Ruoyan poured a cup of tea. "Your Highness, I’d like you to escort my mother, aunt, and younger sisters away from this place."
At the mention of "younger sisters," his brow twitched imperceptibly. He crossed his arms, intrigued. "Just that? What about you? Aren’t you asking me to take you too?"
She slid the freshly poured tea toward him. "Even if you protect me this time, what about the next? Or are you willing to confront Prince Bao for my sake?"
Murong Jin stiffened.
Impossible!
They’d coexisted peacefully for years. Prince Bao was his elder uncle—he’d never defy him for an outsider.
Chu Ruoyan’s lips curled into a faintly mocking smile. "Of course. How could we lowly women ever compare to the exalted nobility?"
Her words were a jab at their indifference toward the deaths of Prince Bao’s previous consorts.
Murong Jin coughed awkwardly. "Well, aside from his... tendencies, he’s not entirely... Anyway, I’ll handle this. If you wish, I can take you with me. In the future, stay out of sight and be cautious. He won’t easily get his hands on you."
Chu Ruoyan countered, "So you suggest I spend my life looking over my shoulder?"
Murong Jin had no retort.
One could guard against a thief for a day, but not forever.
He frowned. "Then what’s your plan? Prince Bao isn’t an easy foe. Don’t gamble and lose yourself in the process."
"That’s no longer Your Highness’s concern. Please."
Such an outright dismissal. Murong Jin laughed wryly and stood to leave.
Strange. As Prince Qin, he was being ordered about by this woman—and odder still, he somehow believed she could win?
After Murong Jin left, Chu Ruoyan clutched her chest, her face contorted in pain.
Nanny Zhou fretted, "Is the cold ailment acting up again? Miss, I told you not to exert yourself!" She hurriedly fetched a calming pill, but Chu Ruoyan said, "Bring two."
"Miss?"
"Two. Tonight’s plan is risky—I can’t afford weakness."
Nanny Zhou reluctantly complied. "Miss, perhaps we should return to the capital first? Inform the Duke..."
"And then what? Without proof, can Father openly oppose him?" Chu Ruoyan swallowed the pills. "Even if he does nothing, his mere presence near the estate would be unbearable."
Like a fly—you know it’ll bite, but not when.
She refused to live in such dread.
Seeing her resolve, Nanny Zhou asked, "What shall we do? We came unprepared—Uncle Liu isn’t here, and we lack capable hands."
"No men, but we have horses." Chu Ruoyan’s eyes glinted coldly. "Tell the stablemaster Prince Bao demands aphrodisiacs for the steeds."
Nanny Zhou’s eyes widened, but Chu Ruoyan enunciated slowly, "If he craves such pleasures, let him have his fill."
By evening, Murong Jin escorted Lady Jiang the Younger and the others away.
Chu Ruoyin hesitated, but Chu Ruoyan claimed fatigue, saying she’d rest overnight and return later, urging them to inform their father of their safety.
Once they left, Nanny Zhou produced the drug. "The stablemaster warned—this is potent. If a stallion takes it without release, it’ll die swiftly. We must be careful."
Chu Ruoyan took it, sensing the familiar gaze watching her. "Retire for now, Nanny. I’ll take a stroll."
Knowing she’d only be a burden, Nanny Zhou squeezed her hand. "Be cautious, Miss!"
The imperial hunting grounds sprawled vast. Beyond the polo fields lay stables and paddocks.
Chu Ruoyan wandered alone near the stables. The men tailing her muttered:
"What’s a woman doing here at night?"
"Quiet! Knock her out and take her while it’s empty!"
"Shouldn’t we report to His Highness first? Last time, he took her right in the woods..."
The group snickered lewdly.
Prince Bao was depraved, craving thrill—doing it in a stable would excite him further!
Eager to please, one rushed to inform him.
Soon, Prince Bao arrived. "Where is she?"
His voice was hoarse, lust barely contained. A subordinate pointed. "Inside that stable!"
Prince Bao grunted. "The pills."
A servant handed him a foreign stimulant.
The old lecher, past sixty, relied on drugs to perform. He swallowed one and ordered, "Once I enter, light ‘Trembling Delight’ and lock the door. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Trembling Delight was a potent aphrodisiac—a whiff, and even the chaste would turn wanton.
After Prince Bao entered, the men lit the incense and secured the door with an iron lock.
Within moments, sounds erupted from within.
The subordinates exchanged knowing smiles—Prince Bao was certainly playing a bold game this time!
Soon after, someone slammed into the door, pounding on it frantically. The subordinates all turned their backs, listening to the chaotic commotion inside until it was punctuated by a blood-curdling scream—
"Ah!! My family jewels!!"
Only then did they realize something was wrong. They hurriedly swung the door open, nearly getting trampled by the wild horses that charged out.
When they finally scrambled to their feet and looked inside, Prince Bao was in complete disarray—his most vital area mangled as if trampled by hooves, limp and bleeding.
"Your Highness!"
"Quick! Fetch a physician!"
The screams tore through the night. Perched atop the stable roof, Chu Ruoyan watched the scene coldly.
He got off lightly.
Just as she prepared to leap down, a strange fragrance suddenly teased her nose.
The scent was somewhat similar to the ylang-ylang perfume she had smelled on her aunt at the Xue residence that day, but far sweeter, more cloying—flooding her senses in an instant and setting her blood ablaze.
"Damn it!"
She covered her nose and mouth, but it was already too late. Her legs turned to jelly, and she tumbled headfirst from the roof...
Yet the expected pain never came. Instead, she landed in a pair of cool, familiar arms.
Chu Ruoyan looked up. Under the moonlight, she could only make out the man’s sharp nose, thin lips...
And those perpetually indifferent eyes, now burning with fury.
"Yan... Zheng?"
Was she dreaming?
