Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Disdainful of Becoming a Consort The Emperor of the Ye Kingdom was in the prime of his life. Moreover, all several of his sons were accomplished in both literary and martial arts; they simply each had different ambitions. Thus, he had yet to appoint a crown prince. Once the princes of the various palaces completed their coming-of-age ceremonies, they moved into residences outside the palace. Without an imperial decree, they were forbidden to enter the imperial palace. If they had any business to report, they had to announce it at every stage and pass the message up through the proper channels. They could not enter the palace at will. In her previous life, Ling Jiayue had heard long ago that the Ye Kingdom’s Seventh Prince had been intelligent and resourceful from childhood, calm and composed, with the appearance of an immortal youth and the wisdom of a prodigy. At nine, he had already excelled in literature, martial arts, military strategy, and the arts, earning the deep affection of the Emperor of the Ye Kingdom. After coming of age, he had gone to war and established countless military merits. The soldiers he trained were all upright, passionate men filled with heroic spirit, and he was deeply beloved by the common people. Wuqing Hall was the closest of all the princes’ residences to the imperial palace. This alone was enough to show the emperor’s trust in and expectations for Mu Yuheng. In her previous life, Ling Jiayue had been sincerely convinced after losing to him at Shigu Pass. The carriage wheels rolled onward, and before long, they arrived outside Wuqing Hall. With Lingxue supporting her, Ling Jiayue descended from the carriage and looked up at the plaque above the entrance. The three characters “Wuqing Hall” were written in sweeping, powerful strokes, their momentum seeming capable of cleaving the heavens. A couplet was inscribed on the pillars at either side of the gate, but before she could examine it closely, Feng Yan urged her across the threshold and into the residence. The instant she entered the bedchamber and saw Mu Yuheng, Ling Jiayue felt as though she had been cheated. She turned her head toward Feng Yan. “This is the seriously ill prince you said was bedridden?” He was clearly perfectly well! The blue robe with flowing sleeves set off his handsome, elegant bearing to perfection. A thick sable shoulder cape rested across his shoulders, yet his tall, strong, well-built figure remained plainly visible. His complexion was rosy and healthy, and his expression was leisurely. He held a teacup in one hand, steam curling lazily from it, while the other held a book. His dark-jade eyes never left the page, and he was reading with great concentration. “Since the Seventh Prince is in good health, this commoner will take her leave.” Ling Jiayue gave an irritated bow, stomped her foot, and turned to leave. “Stop.” Mu Yuheng set down his book and rose, then paced toward her. “Did I permit you to leave?” His eyes were deep and unfathomable, his bearing as refined as an orchid’s. His tall, imposing shadow enveloped her completely. With a wave of his hand, Feng Yan retreated with perfect understanding. Before leaving, he did not forget to take Lingxue with him, leaving the two of them alone in private. The enormous room now held only two people—a lone man and woman together beneath one roof. “What does the Seventh Prince mean by this?” Ling Jiayue asked, puzzled. Could he have seen through her identity? Impossible. This body was nearly ten years younger than the one she had possessed in her previous life. Besides, she and he had met only once back then. He had probably long forgotten who the person he had fought at Shigu Pass had been. With that thought, Ling Jiayue straightened her back, confidence returning to her heart. Her voice rang out with force. “If the Seventh Prince has no other business, you should send this commoner home as soon as possible.” Mu Yuheng pressed his thin lips tightly together, unable to make sense of it no matter how he thought about it… “Forget it. Diagnose my pulse first.” With a soft sigh, he walked to the bed, rolled up his sleeve, and revealed a section of his strong arm. Ling Jiayue stood frozen in place. When he beckoned to her, she stopped thinking about it, walked over, and sat down beside him, placing her jade-white fingers against his pulse. She had assumed he had fabricated the illness to trick her into coming, but unexpectedly, his pulse was indeed unstable, his heartbeat irregular, and there seemed to be a hidden ailment. “How does your body normally feel, Seventh Prince? Have you noticed anything unusual?” Mu Yuheng answered truthfully, “I have had little appetite these past few days and have been eating less. I cannot sleep at night, and I often feel anxious. That is all.” These symptoms… Ling Jiayue’s brows drew together slightly, and a hazy light entered her jade eyes. “Have you had the food you have eaten recently tested for poison with a silver needle?” At those words, Mu Yuheng immediately grew alert, one brow lifting. “You mean I have been poisoned?” “This commoner is only making a guess.” Once she finished the pulse diagnosis, Ling Jiayue withdrew her hand and asked several more detailed questions. Every answer matched what she had suspected. “The poison the Seventh Prince has ingested is called Iris Mist. It originates from the Sheyu Kingdom. It is colorless and odorless and dissolves in water immediately. It will not affect a person in the short term, but over time, the poisoned person will lose their appetite and become mentally listless. Eventually, their body will grow sluggish, their martial abilities will deteriorate, and they will slowly become useless.” “Based on your judgment, how long have I been poisoned?” Ling Jiayue drew a deep breath and answered frankly, “I fear it has been about half a month.” She had been extremely cautious while giving her diagnosis, afraid that she might anger Mu Yuheng. Yet his reaction was extraordinarily calm. His eyes were deep as a green pool, without the slightest ripple. “Feng Yan, come in.” A breeze swept through the room. In the blink of an eye, Feng Yan darted in from outside. He knelt on one knee before Mu Yuheng’s bed, his expression solemn and self-reproachful. “Please forgive me, Your Highness. This subordinate and the others will certainly uncover the person who administered the poison.” Ling Jiayue pressed her lips together without speaking. It appeared that a Sheyu Kingdom infiltrator had entered the Ye Kingdom. That person knew Mu Yuheng was the Ye Kingdom’s great general, so assassination would not work. They had therefore chosen poison, intending to eliminate him without anyone realizing it. Mu Yuheng had an excellent temperament and did not punish Feng Yan, merely ordering him to redeem himself through meritorious service. Feng Yan had heard every word Ling Jiayue said from outside the window. He hurriedly asked, “Miss Ling, may I ask whether this poison can be cured?” Mu Yuheng looked toward her as well, a trace of hope flashing through his eyes. He was the guardian of the Ye Kingdom. He absolutely could not afford to suffer misfortune. The frail shoulders of the young girl suddenly felt unbearably heavy. A physician’s foremost duty was to save lives. Even if she and he had been enemies in her previous life, she had been reborn here in this life and already owed him two lives. How could she refuse to save him? The people of the Ye Kingdom were all living beings, and it was only because he risked his life to defend the country on the battlefield that they enjoyed peace and prosperity. “This poison can be cured, but it will take some time.” Ling Jiayue no longer hesitated. She immediately called for paper and brush, wrote out a prescription, and sent someone to purchase the medicinal ingredients. She then began decocting the medicine. After going through three stages of preparation, it was already deep into the night when they finally produced a bowl of medicine. Once it had cooled to a suitable temperature, Mu Yuheng drank it down in one go. Seeing how cleanly and decisively he finished it, Ling Jiayue’s heart filled with complicated emotions. “Seventh Prince, aren’t you afraid that I might poison you?” Mu Yuheng took a handkerchief and wiped the medicine from the corner of his mouth before replying, “If I did not trust you, why would I have gone to the trouble of sending someone to ask you to cure my poison?” Ling Jiayue was puzzled. “But why do you trust me so much?” They had met only a few times since her rebirth and could hardly be considered close. Mu Yuheng did not answer her. If he revealed the secret in his heart, he feared that the woman before him would never believe him. “The night is cold and heavy with dew. I have already sent word to the Prime Minister’s residence. You will stay here tonight and leave tomorrow. Your maid has also been settled; she is resting in the side room.” His arrangements were thorough and complete, leaving Ling Jiayue unable to think of any reason to refuse. “Thank you, Seventh Prince.” When Ling Jiayue arrived at the room Mu Yuheng had arranged for her, the candle had not yet burned out. The cool wind howled outside the window, and for some reason she was not sleepy at all. She sat down at the writing desk, picked up her brush, and began considering a prescription to purge the poison. The more she thought, the more muddled her thoughts became. She raised her eyes in contemplation, then caught sight of a bottle of Bamboo Leaf Green sitting atop the cabinet. The bottle was exquisite, and when she opened it, the fragrance of wine immediately filled her nose. Her stomach began to crave it. The Ling Residence strictly forbade women from drinking. Since her rebirth, she had not touched a drop of alcohol. Tonight, at last, she could indulge. Half an hour later, the wine bottle was empty. Several sheets of paper covered the table, their writing crooked and their pages crumpled beyond recognition. “Your Highness, Miss Ling, she…” “Shh—” In the dead of night, two grown men crouched by the wall, peering inside through the narrow gap in the window. After laboring over the matter for several hours, and with her body having only recently recovered, Ling Jiayue could not withstand such exhaustion. At last, she collapsed onto the desk and fell asleep. The candlelight flickered, its dim yellow glow bathing the young girl’s sweet sleeping face. Her willow brows were dark and graceful, her pink lips curved faintly upward. Her small face was entirely free of cosmetics, yet she remained breathtakingly beautiful. After waiting a while and seeing that she showed no sign of waking, Mu Yuheng quietly pushed open the door and crept to her side. He had been unable to sleep and had wanted to see whether she was resting peacefully. Who could have guessed that he would find her asleep with her head on the table? He bent down and reached out, gathering the girl into his arms and lifting her with one powerful motion. Feng Yan was completely stunned. His prince, who had never been interested in women, had actually embraced Miss Ling again! The girl’s breathing was steady, and she slept deeply and sweetly, entirely unaware that she was being held in someone’s arms. She remained as docile as a cat. Mu Yuheng carried her to the bed and laid her down. He bent to remove her shoes and was just about to pull the covers over her when a slender jade hand suddenly hooked around his neck. His body sank under the force. Had he not restrained himself with all his strength, he would nearly have fallen against the girl’s delicate body. The smell of alcohol rushed into his nose. Mu Yuheng could not help looking toward the foot of the writing desk, where an empty wine bottle lay crookedly on the floor. Clearly, the girl had been drinking. Mu Yuheng could not resist glaring at Feng Yan. How could he have left alcohol lying around? Feng Yan knew that he had made a poor arrangement in preparing the room. He hurriedly fled outside and closed the door. Mu Yuheng had rarely approached women and had yet to take a wife or concubine. Suddenly subjected to Ling Jiayue’s unintentional “seduction,” a strange fire rose within his lower abdomen and shot straight to his mind. He exerted every effort to restrain himself, removed Ling Jiayue’s arm from around his neck, and looked away while pulling the quilt over her. He turned to leave, but just as he reached the door, several pained murmurs and sobs suddenly came from the bed. “Don’t go! Don’t leave me…” “No, no! Don’t kill them!” “Don’t go! I beg you, don’t leave Yue’er…” Mu Yuheng’s expression changed drastically, and he turned around. The girl had kicked the covers to the corner of the bed. Her hands flailed through the air, her face streaked with tears and her expression filled with pain, as though she were trapped in a nightmare and unable to break free. Mu Yuheng crossed the room in three strides. Without another thought, he pulled her into his arms and gently comforted her. “Yue’er, be good. It’s all right now. It’s all right. I’m here.” Under his patient reassurance, the girl’s body gradually relaxed. The murmuring from her lips grew weaker and weaker until she finally settled into peaceful sleep. Mu Yuheng breathed a sigh of relief. He grabbed the covers and pulled them over her again, only to find that the girl’s arms were wrapped tightly around his waist, her head pressed against his chest, leaving him completely at a loss. The woman in his arms almost completely overlapped with the beautiful figure in his memories. Was she truly that person—or merely an insignificant legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister? Before he could think further, the medicine in his stomach began to take effect. Mu Yuheng, who had suffered from insomnia for a long time, was suddenly overcome by drowsiness. At that moment, he could no longer concern himself with the proprieties between men and women. Still fully clothed, he lay down beside the girl and soon fell asleep. The night was cool as water, silent as a forest. Outside, the cold wind sighed bleakly; inside, sweet dreams carried them into deep sleep. The next day, as dawn barely broke, a light breeze brushed against the window paper, leaving behind a soft rustling sound. Ling Jiayue woke from her dream with an unbearable headache. She had never expected even a small bottle of Bamboo Leaf Green to possess such potency. She opened her eyes groggily, and a handsome face entered her vision. His perfectly sculpted features seemed like the work of divine inspiration, without a single superfluous line. Usually, his impassive expression made him appear aloof and heartless, yet his sleeping face was so gentle and refined, his complexion fair as if powdered. His quiet, peaceful appearance resembled that of an immortal who had withdrawn from worldly affairs. His breathing was even, his broad, powerful chest rising and falling steadily. Fortunately, Ling Jiayue understood the matters between men and women. Seeing that both of them were still fully clothed—and that Mu Yuheng was even still wearing his shoes—she finally managed to calm her rapidly beating heart. But why was he in her room? And why were they lying in the same bed? A woman’s chastity was of the utmost importance. Although she had no interest in love in this life, her dignity still could not be trampled upon. Ling Jiayue was both embarrassed and furious. She wanted nothing more than to kick him, but she did not dare. Her wings had not yet fully grown, and she had no ability to contend with him. Afraid of waking the person beside her, Ling Jiayue crept about as quietly as Mu Yuheng had the night before. She stepped over him, sat on the edge of the bed, and put on her shoes. She had just risen to leave when someone suddenly seized her arm. A tremendous force dragged her back onto the bed, sending her straight into the arms of the imposing, masculine man lying there. Ling Jiayue raised her head in astonishment and collided with the man’s unfathomably dark-jade eyes. “Where are you going? Hmm?” Mu Yuheng’s thin lips were pressed into a straight line. His silent gaze carried a clear interrogation, while the corners of his mouth held a faint, teasing smile. “This commoner… this commoner was going to decoct medicine for the Seventh Prince.” Ling Jiayue struggled to sit up, but the man suddenly tightened his arm around her waist. “Don’t move!” Ling Jiayue’s face went pale. She felt an erection pressing against her soft lower abdomen, and her entire body instantly stiffened. She did not dare move recklessly. Mu Yuheng fought desperately to restrain himself. The area below his abdomen was unbearably uncomfortable, aching with the desire to release itself against the girl’s fragrant, delicate body. “Seventh Prince—” “Mmph…” “Don’t move. I won’t hurt you.” After several seconds of a deep kiss, Mu Yuheng pulled away from her tender, cherry-red lips and buried his face against the side of her neck. The girl’s hair carried a delicate fragrance like orchid grass, and it finally helped him regain his composure. Ling Jiayue remained motionless, her red lips pressed tightly together. She did not know how much time passed before Mu Yuheng released her. He sprang up and landed steadily in front of the bed. His expression was unchanged, his eyes deep. No trace of the turbulent emotions from moments ago remained. His thin lips were as cold and merciless as ever, as though he were an entirely different person. “If you are willing, I am prepared to marry you as my consort. You will be my principal wife, and there will be the six formal rites, three prostrations and nine kowtows, and a proper wedding arranged by matchmakers.” If such words were spoken to any woman on the street, they would likely be met with delighted cries and cheers. Yet he had chosen to say them to her. Ling Jiayue’s face turned iron-gray. She had thought that he would be different from the other members of the imperial family, but she had never expected him to be just as hypocritical and vulgar—a creature of the same ilk as the rest! She straightened her clothes. Her body was supple as a willow, and she used her hands as a comb to smooth her dark hair. With her breathtaking features adorned by a radiant smile and her eyes holding only the faintest ripple of amusement, she gave him a graceful bow. “Thank you for the Seventh Prince’s kindness. However, Jiayue is unworthy of such favor—and disdains becoming a consort!”