Jiang Yun’s voice echoed in the somewhat empty Yongxin Hall.
Yongxin Hall is the main hall of the East Palace and also where Jiang Yun lived.
Although the interior decoration is not too luxurious, it has a unique elegance.
The sound was coming from the west, and Jiang Rongyin turned her head to look in that direction.
A small couch was placed by the window, and an incense burner with a thousand mountains reflected on it sat on a tall table beside it.
A few wisps of fragrance rose gently from the incense burner, drifting towards Jiang Rongyin.
Jiang Yun appeared to have just finished showering, her long hair, still damp, draped over her shoulders.
He casually leaned against the small couch, holding a booklet in his hand, which was a memorial from the imperial court.
The light veil hung down, and the candlelight cast a hazy shadow over his figure.
“I was just kept after class by the teacher, and I came over after I finished my lessons.”
Jiang Rongyin offered an explanation, but Jiang Yun did not reply.
He didn’t even look up after hearing her words.
The man sat there, turning the pages of a memorial in his hand.
The room was eerily quiet; Jiang Rongyin didn’t even dare to breathe.
“At the morning court session this day, Qin Shiyan submitted a memorial, stating frankly that the border is currently short of soldiers and that he wants to go and guard the border.”
Jiang Yun suddenly spoke up, and Jiang Rongyin listened to his words, somewhat confused about what he was trying to say.
She has said many times that she and Qin Shiyan have nothing to do with each other anymore.
Qin Shiyan is about to get married and live a peaceful life.
Jiang Rongyin didn’t want to cause Qin Shiyan any more trouble because of herself.
On the contrary, Jiang Yun acted as if she couldn’t understand what he was saying, and kept bringing him up every time.
“Coincidentally, I also discovered a sneaky little palace maid in Guanghua Palace today.”
“She said that Young Master Qin asked her to deliver a letter to Xiao Jiu.”
Jiang Yun closed the folded document and tossed the letter beside her onto the small couch.
“Xiao Jiu reads it to me.”
He changed his posture, a smile playing on his lips, making him unpredictable.
Through the fluttering veil, Jiang Rongyin met Jiang Yun’s eyes, which were as cold as a thousand-year-old pool.
He was laughing, but the laughter didn’t reach his eyes.
His dark eyes concealed displeasure and anger.
Jiang Rongyin stepped forward, lifted the veil, and then walked to Jiang Yun’s side, picking up the letter.
There was no signature or title on it.
With trembling hands, she opened the letter, and the familiar handwriting came into view.
Jiang Rongyin suddenly looked up at Jiang Yun.
That was Jiang Yun’s handwriting, not Qin Shiyan’s at all.
“Your hands are shaking so badly, what are you afraid of?”
Jiang Rongyin stood in front of Jiang Yun, and he reached out and pulled her to his side.
The letter was snatched away by Jiang Yun, who tossed it aside, and it floated lightly to the ground.
“Your Highness, this joke is not funny at all.”
Jiang Rongyin struggled somewhat, trying to pull her hand away.
“If this isn’t a joke, Qin Shiyan really did write you a letter.”
“Xiao Jiu, what should you do now?”
Jiang Yun held her wrist tightly, watching her kneeling beside the small couch.
Jiang Rongyin’s leg injury hadn’t healed yet, and kneeling here was causing her pain, making her face pale.
“I’m in some pain.”
She looked up at Jiang Yun and exclaimed softly.
But Jiang Yun did not let go of her.
Jiang Rongyin’s legs ached from kneeling, and her wrists hurt even more.
“When I was young, I was in the army. At that time, I was still young, and the veteran soldiers in the army always liked to bully me.”
“But at that time, I was just a lowly soldier, and naturally I was no match for the centurion or the commander of a thousand. So I came up with a way to solve the problem once and for all, so that they would never dare to bully me again.”
Jiang Yun slowly released Jiang Rongyin, his fingers landing on her cheek.
The girl was born with a beautiful face, and now, with her eyes red and tears welling up, she was indeed very endearing.
“I opened the cage and led them into the deep mountains. The beasts love the smell of blood. As long as there is a small opening, they can tear them apart instantly and eat them piece by piece until not even bones are left.”
“Kill one, and no one else will dare to bully me again.”
Jiang Yun pinched Jiang Rongyin’s chin with his fingers, stood up, and opened the window.
Outside Yongxin Hall, Baoyin knelt there.
Her face was covered in sweat, and even though her hands were trembling, she still dared not let go of the teapot she was holding.
The spilled tea dripped onto Bao Yin’s head, turning her lips white.
“Your Highness, this has nothing to do with Bao Yin. Release her.”
Seeing Bao Yin’s suffering, Jiang Rongyin bit her lip and reached out to unbutton Jiang Yun’s clothes.
“I will serve Your Highness well, please release Bao Yin.”
Bao Yin was her closest family member.
She didn’t want Bao Yin to suffer.
Jiang Yun stopped her: “I know Xiao Jiu doesn’t care about her own life.”
After saying this, Jiang Rongyin paused, only then realizing the meaning behind what Jiang Yun had just said to her.
To kill one as a warning to a hundred, and to hold those responsible for the crime of collective punishment.
Jiang Rongyin is not afraid of anything, since Jiang Yun won’t kill her anyway.
But Bao Yin is different; she is a servant, and a servant’s life is in the hands of her master.
With just one word from Jiang Yun, Bao Yin would be dead without a burial place.
He was using the precious silver to warn her that if she continued to misbehave, he would destroy everything she cared about.
The hunters in the deep mountains are the best at hunting; any disobedient prey will only end up being torn apart and eaten.
They ate it all, leaving not a single bone.
“I know I was wrong, and I will never do it again.”
Jiang Rongyin choked out a sentence, and Jiang Yun lowered his eyes and took her hand.
“Xiao Jiu is so quick to understand, no wonder even Sheng Huai’an wanted to keep you in the classroom.”
“He can even lend you his favorite travelogue.”
His gaze fell on the travelogue with a corner peeking out in Jiang Rongyin’s arms.
Jiang Rongyin felt a chill run through her body.
Jiang Yun, that madman, has everything in his grasp and knows it all perfectly well.
“Mr. Sheng is just my teacher.”
Jiang Rongyin said softly.
Jiang Yun raised his hand to help her up: “It’s alright. Sheng Yunwan will be entering the palace soon. Xiao Jiu can also ask him about Sheng Yunwan’s preferences.”
“After all, if Sheng Yunwan becomes the Crown Princess, wouldn’t Xiao Jiu have to serve her a cup of concubine tea?”
With each word he spoke, Jiang Rongyin felt the blood in her body freeze a little.
All Jiang Yun brought her was endless oppression.
They’re squeezing out her last place to live.
He wanted to make her completely his possession.
“Go back now, and don’t upset me again in the future.”
“For your sake, I will let Bao Yin go this time.”
Jiang Yun rubbed his fingers on her wrist for a moment before letting go of her.
Jiang Rongyin nodded and limped away from Yongxin Palace.
She bent down to help Bao Yin up and led her away from the East Palace.
The two looked rather disheveled and pitiful from behind. Jiang Yun stared intently as they disappeared through the palace gates.
He couldn’t understand why Jiang Rongyin couldn’t remember any of his warnings and threats.
He had to hit her hard every time before she would cry and admit she was wrong.
As soon as the kite string loosened, Jiang Rongyin wanted to fly high and never come back.
If you tighten your grip, she’ll wilt like a frostbitten eggplant.
“Your Highness, I have already arranged manpower for the route to Tingzhou.”
Xiang Ming stood by the window and said, “But, will the Ninth Princess really run away?”
What do you think?
Jiang Yun scoffed, “Give her a way to run away, and she’d rather die than come back.”