Cheng Sijin was furious, attacking with both fists and feet in a flurry of movements that came whistling like dense raindrops. Shen Yue was happy to spar with her, employing grappling, throws, palm strikes, and sweeping kicks… Their figures intertwined, dancing through the narrow shop.
“Crash—”
The tea set shattered into pieces.
“Bang—”
The counter split with a large crack.
“Ouch—”
A shop assistant was unfortunately caught in the crossfire.
They exchanged blows for a full quarter of an hour until Shen Yue finally lost patience. With a move of “Entangling Silk Hand,” she restrained the other in her arms, slender fingers hooking under Cheng Sijin’s delicate chin.
“Had enough, beautiful? Can you sell me the medicine now?”
“…In your dreams!”
Flushed with shame and anger, Cheng Sijin secretly drew two poisoned needles from her sleeve while Shen Yue was distracted.
But how could Shen Yue not notice?
She was fully prepared and could have struck a fatal blow before her opponent even made a move.
Unexpectedly, just as Cheng Sijin was about to act, a familiar male voice rang out.
“Stop this at once.”
Under Shen Yue’s astonished gaze, a man wearing a dark brocade robe and a mask slowly emerged from the hidden chamber.
“Your… Your Highness?”
What was he doing here?
Xiao Yuheng seemed slightly embarrassed, pausing for a moment.
Was his voice that recognizable? She identified him immediately?
Well, he had intended to reveal his identity anyway.
The man extended his pale, slender hand and quietly removed his mask, revealing his handsome features.
“Ahem, Sijin, just give this gentleman the antidote. Otherwise, he’ll be too anxious to sleep.”
He raised an eyebrow and leaned slightly forward to face Shen Yue directly. “Isn’t that right, Shen Er?”
“…What the hell?”
Shen Yue was utterly shocked.
He knew it was her!
Since when did he know? When she called him “Your Highness”? When the hidden chamber door opened? When she first entered the Black Market? Or had he always known she was from the Netherworld Hall?
Regardless, he knew.
What to do?
Kill him?
Remembering the tea leaf he had tossed earlier that day, Shen Yue gulped nervously.
Ancient martial arts mostly combined techniques with Inner Force. Based on their encounter in the study, she could hold her own against Xiao Yuheng in terms of technique, but when it came to Inner Force, she was no match for him.
Better to try a softer approach.
Thinking this, she swiftly withdrew the hand hooked under Cheng Sijin’s chin, removed her mask, and revealed an ingratiating smile.
“Hehe, Your Highness, what a coincidence meeting you here! Have you eaten? Uh, you look really handsome in that outfit today…”
Xiao Yuheng raised an eyebrow, quietly observing her. When he heard her say “handsome,” he instinctively glanced down at his attire.
This was just casual wear he’d chosen when leaving his residence—aside from the top-quality fabric, there was nothing special about the style. But from Shen Er’s tone, it seemed like she was complimenting his appearance?
If anyone looked good today, it was Shen Er. Dressed in a sapphire-blue narrow-sleeved martial attire that made her skin appear fair and radiant, she somehow managed to exude femininity despite the standard male disguise.
Her peach-blossom eyes were clear and bright, her small nose glistening with barely visible sweat from the earlier fight. Her full lips moved as she spoke, and though her words were flattering, they sounded unexpectedly pleasant.
And those hands—not only small but also looking so soft…
Wait, that’s not right… why is his hand still on Cheng Sijin’s waist? How improper!
Our little shadow guard Shen Yue had been grinning cheekily while buttering up her boss, when suddenly he pulled her over without warning.
“A man and a woman pulling and tugging like this – what kind of behavior is this?”
Her boss seemed somewhat displeased.
Well, of course – seeing his woman get beaten up by another man and taken advantage of, it’d be strange if he were happy about it.
“That… this subordinate knows her mistake! I didn’t mean to touch your woman on purpose, really I didn’t!”
With her boss standing before her, Shen Yue didn’t spare her knees, dropping to the ground in a kneel.
Xiao Yuheng unconsciously furrowed his brow. “Who said she’s this prince’s woman?”
“Huh? She’s not?” The two women spoke in unison.
Shen Yue looked up in surprise: Weren’t you two playing all sorts of games just the other day? And she’s not your woman? Really not?
Cheng Sijin also put her hands on her hips in confusion: Young master, young master, we agreed I’m the top courtesan and you’re the patron – aren’t I your woman? Hmm?
“Ahem…”
Under their probing gazes, Xiao Yuheng uncomfortably averted his eyes.
“Shen Er is one of us, no need to hide it from her.”
He moved to the counter, where the attendant hurriedly brought over the last surviving chair and placed it behind him. Cheng Sijin also came forward with hot tea to serve him. “Young master, please.”
“Mm.”
The man impassively took the teacup, gently blowing on the steam, completely unaware that Shen Yue’s mouth had fallen slightly open in shock.
“Young master?” She blinked. “So… Wanbao Pavilion is Your Highness’s business?”
The man lifted his eyes slightly, tacitly acknowledging it.
“And Mantingfang too?”
The man didn’t deny it either.
“And Miss Cheng is also Your Highness’s person?”
The man was about to nod but then frowned slightly.
While technically correct, the phrasing didn’t sit quite right with him.
“To be precise, she’s someone under this prince’s command.”
“Oh, I see.”
Shen Yue had an epiphany, but then seemed to remember something. She scrambled to her feet and came behind Xiao Yuheng, beginning to massage his shoulders like an eager lackey.
“So, Your Highness, since Wanbao Pavilion is ours, wouldn’t it be easy to reward your little shadow guard with an antidote? I mean the kind that completely neutralizes the poison.”
Xiao Yuheng almost laughed at her words – what did she mean by “ours”? Who was she to use “we” with him?
But in the end, he didn’t refute her, instead curling his lips proudly. “Of course it wouldn’t be difficult.”
Hearing this, Shen Yue’s little fists worked even more energetically.
“Then thank you, Your Highness!”
At her words, Xiao Yuheng’s recently curled lips straightened again.
This rascal was pulling the same trick again.
Last time, he’d claimed the title of Second Bureau Chief without waiting for permission, and now he was trying the same method to cheat him out of the antidote. How utterly cunning!
“This prince only said it wouldn’t be difficult. When did I say I would reward you with it?”
Xiao Yuheng raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Standing behind him, Shen Yue naturally couldn’t see his expression and thought he was going to make things difficult for her. She said urgently:
“Your Highness has long known this subordinate’s identity but has kept me alive, which means I must still be of some use to you. Please be merciful and save me – I definitely won’t let you suffer a loss!”
“Really?”
“Yes, yes, yes! Really, really!”
The little shadow guard nodded like pounding garlic, her voice brimming with irrepressible joy. Hearing this, the man’s smile deepened at the corners of his eyes.
Standing nearby, Cheng Sijin witnessed the entire scene, her eyes rolling so far back they nearly disappeared and her mouth twisting into an inverted U-shape.
So many noble young ladies had previously shown favor to the young master, yet none had ever caught his eye. Who would have thought he actually preferred men? Tsk, tsk, tsk!