Chapter 17: You Haven’t Done Anything Wrong, Why Would I Hit You…

Zhao Rongzhang understood his meaning. With a little thought, she could also figure out why he would make such a suggestion.

Her originally troubled heart felt stirred by a sudden gust of wind. Zhao Rongzhang smiled, gently stroking his cheek with her thumb as she tilted her head teasingly, “Tell me, should I be gentle with you?”

The Princess was laughing at him. Guan Xuan lowered his gaze. He truly was laughable. The Princess’s earlier words were not wrong—his nature was wanton. Even when humiliated, he would feel both sorrow and a crumbling, overflowing defeat. This made it even harder to blame her for the earlier humiliation she had inflicted on him.

She patted his face. “Silly Little Cat, so useless. Is the sterility decoction meant to make you sterile like this? I’ll let it go this time, but next time I want it, you can’t refuse. Think of a way.”

In a better mood, Zhao Rongzhang became much easier to talk to. She wanted to get up, but the large hand resting on her arm did not move away. The cat probably wanted to try again, thinking of keeping her there. In his urgency, he instinctively arched his spine slightly, bumping against her. Though the movement was very slight, Zhao Rongzhang was choked up enough to frown, her legs clearly growing even weaker.

She was indeed already satisfied, and her mood had been lifted by him, no longer so troubled. She didn’t want to waste any more time on him. Zhao Rongzhang brushed his hand away, moved her knees onto the couch, and pulled away. Her swollen belly flattened. She took a couple of breaths to steady herself and went to bathe.

Guan Xuan got up, holding his clothes as he watched the Princess’s silhouette on the screen.

At the hour of You, news of the three Turkic envoys’ sudden deaths at the Huìtóng Guǎn spread rapidly throughout the entire palace like a sudden downpour. The new Emperor was shocked, and the Grand Empress Dowager also furrowed her brows deeply, ordering the news to be suppressed immediately. Ministers rushed to Renshou Palace one after another, engaging in secret and intense discussions about the matter.

The sudden deaths of foreign envoys within the capital of Great Zhou, regardless of whether the truth could be uncovered or the culprit caught, would plunge relations between Great Zhou and the northern border to a freezing point. The Three Judicial Offices rushed to investigate and returned to report that the killer’s methods were the same as those used by the murderer who had killed the three prospective consorts. The implication was that it was the same person.

No matter how tightly the news was suppressed, it could not be kept hidden for long—paper cannot wrap fire. The urgent task now was to give the Turkic Khan an explanation that would serve to placate him.

Zhao Jue slammed the table, demanding that the Ministry of Rites immediately select a date for the marriage alliance. The Grand Empress Dowager struck the ground with her cane, and the hall fell silent. Then, without another word, she ordered the Emperor and the court officials to wait in the main hall while she went to the side chamber, summoning Princess Yingrong.

When Zhao Rongzhang stepped out of her sedan and entered the hall, a fierce wind swept the curtains behind her. A heavy storm was about to break. Zhao Jue stood among the court officials on the floor, glaring at her with eyes wide with rage. She glanced indifferently past him, stepped over the threshold, and entered the side chamber to pay her respects to the Grand Empress Dowager seated inside.

“You are far too reckless.”

The elderly woman sat in a large armchair, her back severely hunched. She gazed at her with heavy eyes, taking a long time before uttering just this one sentence. Zhao Rongzhang could hear her disappointment.

“If you did not wish to enter into a marriage alliance, this old one could have helped you. I, too, did not want you to go. But with this act of yours, where do you place me? Where do you place Great Zhou?” The old woman’s emotions grew agitated, her phoenix-headed cane tapping rhythmically on the golden brick floor. She kept telling her what a great disaster she had caused, how the common people would suffer if the two nations went to war.

Everything was in chaos. The heavens were howling with fierce winds, and the imperial palace was filled with anxiety. Both the Emperor and the Grand Empress Dowager were agitated. Against this backdrop, she remained so calm. Zhao Rongzhang felt a vile sense of satisfaction deep within.

The Grand Empress Dowager believed her actions stemmed from an unwillingness to enter into a marriage alliance. Indeed, a marriage alliance had never been her goal—she could never have wanted it. But it was a convenient pretext. As for Zhao Jue, regardless of whether he still suspected her true motives, he would have no choice but to send her away for the marriage alliance now.

She would throw the world into turmoil. Everyone said her Mother Consort was mad, but her Mother Consort had only driven herself mad. Her Mother Consort’s daughter would drive everyone else mad.

Zhao Rongzhang knelt before the Grand Empress Dowager. The candles in the side hall flickered violently as gusts of wind seeped in, distorting the light so that no one could clearly see the true expression on her face. She kowtowed and said, “The fault is mine alone, and I alone shall bear it.”

The Grand Empress Dowager, heartbroken, set down her cane and sat back in the grand armchair.

“You alone bear it? Can you, alone, truly bear it? Your Emperor Father treasures you like a pearl in his palm. How heartbroken he would be to know you are to marry far away in a foreign land. Yingrong, Yingrong! Your Emperor Father should not have doted on you so.”

On the way back to Lingxiao Hall, the sky unleashed a torrential downpour. Palace maids and eunuchs raised the ornate canopy, quickened their pace, and escorted the Princess back to her hall. Zhao Rongzhang stared straight ahead at the deep, shadowy palace path, the excitement in her heart gradually subsiding.

Ming Luo did not question her decision and continued to attend to her daily needs with meticulous order. Before she slept, seeing her staring at the bed canopy overhead without closing her eyes, Ming Luo finally spoke softly as she let down the gauze curtains: “No one else is in the Princess’s position—only you yourself are here. Throughout history, those who achieve great things cannot afford indecision or hesitation. Benevolence is a luxury for the victors, Your Highness. You must first become the victor before you can speak of ‘benevolence.’”

You must first become the victor before you can speak of “benevolence.” Zhao Rongzhang fell asleep that night and dreamed of no one.

After a night of deliberation, the court made its final decision: they would proceed with the marriage alliance with the Turks. The official wedding date was set for an auspicious day six months later. As for the betrothal gifts, dowry, and specific policies regarding trade between the two nations, further discussions with the Turkic king would follow once the news reached the northern frontier. As for the deaths of the three envoys, through the designs and schemes of the Imperial Guards and the Eastern and Western Depots, they were falsified as an unfortunate drowning after the three secretly went out boating at night.

This matter was thus considered settled.

Amid the chaos, the transmission of messages became smoother. The next day, Ming Luo whispered in her ear that Prince Su had learned of her plan. He had agreed.

Zhao Rongzhang gave a soft “Mm” in response, then turned over and continued reading.

These past two days, the Princess’s appetite had diminished. The meals brought to her grew increasingly lavish, yet she rarely touched them. Ming Luo brought her chilled fruits and beverages, but she ate little of those as well. This was an unusual situation, and Ming Luo worried privately.

After Ming Luo left, Zhao Rongzhang dismissed the other palace maids as well. She had Little Cat come out to eat.

The cat held a pork knuckle, nibbling at it delicately like a real cat. After he finished all the meat dishes on the table, Zhao Rongzhang pointed to the sliced cold melon and a plate of chilled grapes and lychees on the side table. He picked up the melon and ate it, still with refined manners, not a drop of juice spilling from his lips, quickly reducing it to nothing but the white rind.

Zhao Rongzhang propped her head on her hand and watched, finding it pleasing. The joy of keeping a pet lay in this—whatever the pet did could delight its owner’s mood.

After finishing his meal, Guan Xuan wiped himself clean and washed up, only to notice the Princess spacing out. Her eyes were clearly fixed on him, yet her focus seemed distant. Guan Xuan watched her in return. When Zhao Rongzhang snapped back to reality, she met those clear, curious eyes staring intently at her. She frowned, “Still hungry?”

Guan Xuan gestured with his hands, “I’m full. You ate so little.”

Now he was trying to manage her. Zhao Rongzhang waved her hand dismissively, displeased. “Go back.”

Guan Xuan lowered his eyelashes, as if pondering. Zhao Rongzhang noticed and found it amusing again. Every time she saw him thinking, she found it entertaining, wondering what this dull-witted head of his could possibly be contemplating.

The cat only thought for a moment before slowly retrieving something from his sleeve. It was nearly three feet long, as thick as a finger, and made of a material resembling leather—flexible yet sturdy.

It was a soft whip. Most of the cat’s hidden weapons and tools were crafted by himself; Zhao Rongzhang only provided the materials. So, seeing him pull this out was quite novel.

The cat held the soft whip and offered it to her. The Princess raised an eyebrow, “What’s this for?”

The cat glanced up at her, touched the whip, then touched his own chest. Zhao Rongzhang chuckled, “You want me to hit you with this?”

The cat gave a slight nod.

“You haven’t done anything wrong. Why would I hit you?”

The cat pursed his lips slightly, his ears gradually turning red.

“Hmm?”

The cat remained kneeling, still holding the whip.

Zhao Rongzhang suddenly understood his meaning. He wanted her to be harsh enough, to beat the essence out of him. Zhao Rongzhang was genuinely amused, and the gloom that had weighed on her for days was mostly swept away. She leaned forward, smiling as she looked at him, “Are you trying to seduce me?”

The cat glanced at her shyly once more and nodded.

“Didn’t you cry last time?” Just a few pinches had made him cry. What about this time?

The cat’s gaze no longer avoided hers. His pure intentions were conveyed through his clear eyes. Holding the soft whip, he carefully gestured with his other hand over his chest, “Crying doesn’t mean I’m not sad. I want you to be happy.”

Zhao Rongzhang stopped smiling. She disliked having her emotions guessed or seen through. Her expression turned cold, and she no longer refused, “Then let’s give it a try.”

Zhao Rongzhang ordered servants to clear the table and prepare water. They resumed the same position as before. Zhao Rongzhang hadn’t used him for two days; when her mood was poor, she had no interest in such matters, and the heat toxin had also subsided. The little mute was pinned beneath her, mouth slightly agape, panting heavily. Zhao Rongzhang herself wasn’t faring well either—she wasn’t in the right state today, and the journey felt rough and difficult.

The little mute looked up at her, his eyes brimming with rich and complex emotions. He seemed eager to help but had no way to do so, silently worrying for her. The Princess ground against his abdomen, thinking she should have let him eat first. The Princess never considered her own decisions to be poor; she simply felt displeased, and when displeased, she would blame others. Here, there was no one else—only the cat. She blamed the cat, grabbing his arm and demanding he find a solution.

The cat truly had no good solution. After lowering his eyelashes in thought for a moment, he reached toward himself. Having gained experience in seduction, he was becoming increasingly aware of what the Princess enjoyed watching. If only he could speak, it would be even better—uttering words to humiliate himself would surely amuse the Princess.

The cat kneaded his own pectoral muscles, his expression growing increasingly wanton with shame. This display truly pleased the princess. Zhao Rongzhang realized she had acquired quite a fascinating creature. He could kill, and he could be used—more importantly, his temperament was excellent. She found him adorable.

The princess grew aroused and soon finished. Her stamina had always only allowed for one round. And as usual, he was “useless” and “unimpressive.”

This time, the princess lay on the cat’s chest for a while longer. Her heartbeat gradually steadied, yet she still didn’t rise.

For a moment, Guan Xuan wondered if she had fallen asleep. The thought made his heart skip a beat. He lowered his gaze and stole a glance at her face, hidden beneath her dark hair. But the princess wasn’t asleep. Languidly, she murmured, “Hand me the whip.”

Guan Xuan’s nerves tightened once more.