Without a trace of makeup, yet breathtakingly beautiful! Especially those tear-filled eyes, so pitiable they could move anyone to compassion.
The Village Chief and his wife froze instantly, exchanging bewildered glances. How could such a peerless beauty have feelings for their son? Why had their son never mentioned her while he was alive?
The Village Chief’s Wife’s eyes darted shrewdly as she elbowed her husband sharply, whispering urgently: “This one… is perfect!” Their earlier argument had been about the purchased daughter-in-law. Though pretty and skilled in martial arts, her murderous aura and viciousness were terrifying—just looking at her made one shudder! She had advocated buying someone gentle-natured and fair-faced, but her husband had refused due to the cost.
This beauty before them was like manna from heaven!
The Village Chief immediately understood, greed flashing in his aged eyes.
They exchanged a knowing glance. They would make this woman stay as their son’s bride too! Their son deserved the bliss of multiple wives even in the afterlife!
Instantly plastering hypocritical smiles on their faces, they approached: “Don’t cry, miss, we’re his parents…”
Meng Xizhou cut them off sharply: “He promised he’d marry only me in this lifetime! So what if you’re his parents? Even if you were his ancestors, you couldn’t tear us apart!”
The Village Chief couple: “…”
“We meant no offense!” the Village Chief’s Wife hastily explained. “Since you care so deeply for our son, you can be his bride too, and we’ll all be family…”
“Too?!” Meng Xizhou’s voice turned shrill. “No! My husband belongs to me alone!”
The Village Chief’s Wife urgently signaled her husband with her eyes, nodding repeatedly: “Just you! Only you!Meng Xizhou snorted coldly and resumed focusing on digging at the grave. Exchanging another glance, the Village Chief and his wife hypocritically crouched to “help.” Three people with ulterior motives actually collaborated to swiftly unearth the grave, revealing the dark coffin lid beneath.
Meng Xizhou’s heart leaped to her throat! Together with the Village Chief couple, she lifted the coffin lid and peered inside—
Lying silently in the coffin was a woman clad in crude red bridal robes, her face pale as paper. It was the Princess!
Suppressing her agitation, Meng Xizhou discreetly slipped her fingers under the Princess’s nose to check for breath…
A faint trace remained!
Thank heavens! She was still alive!
The Princess had clearly been drugged and, having been sealed in the coffin too long, had fallen unconscious. She needed immediate medical attention!
“How dare you lie beside my husband?!” Meng Xizhou grabbed the Princess’s arm and hauled her out. “Get out of there!”
Just as the Princess was dragged from the coffin, the Village Chief and his wife—who had been pretending to help—suddenly attacked! Like two starving wolves, they pounced on Meng Xizhou from both sides, trying to shove her into the coffin!
Meng Xizhou had been prepared! A cold gleam erupted in her eyes! Instead of retreating, she twisted her waist, seized the male corpse inside the coffin, and with all her strength hurled it at the two assailants!
Whoosh—!
Carried by tremendous momentum, the corpse slammed solidly into the Village Chief and his wife!
“Ah!” they screamed, tumbling into the coffin like dumplings dropped into boiling water, knocked down by their own son’s body!
Without a moment’s hesitation, Meng Xizhou hoisted the unconscious Princess over her shoulder and sprinted down the hillside!
“You little bitch! Stop right there!”
“Help! Thieves! Someone’s stealing a corpse!”
The Village Chief and his wife scrambled awkwardly out of the coffin, frantically chasing after them while shouting at the top of their lungs to rally the villagers!
Meng Xizhou, burdened with carrying someone, found her speed severely compromised. Her lungs burned like fire, yet she gritted her teeth and pushed herself to run with all her might. But the shouts behind her grew closer, and the sound of pursuing footsteps became increasingly distinct!
Stealing a glance back, she saw the Village Chief merely steps away—close enough to lunge and seize her hair!
At this critical moment—
“Ugh!” She collided abruptly with a solid, broad chest.
The man grunted softly from the impact, yet his stance remained as steady as a rock. His strong arms firmly supported both her and the Princess she carried on her shoulder.
A crisp, steady scent of pine and cypress wafted into her nostrils.
The heavy stone weighing on Meng Xizhou’s heart suddenly vanished!
He was here! His Highness the Crown Prince, Song Chengji!
In that fleeting moment, the Village Chief and his wife had closed in, lunging at them with menacing claws!
“Seize them!” A voice, cool as jade yet imbued with supreme authority, rang out.
But before the guards behind Song Chengji could even move, a flash of ferocity crossed Meng Xizhou’s eyes. She swiftly handed the Princess over to Song Chengji and, in the same motion, drew the sword from his waist with lightning speed!
Swish! Swish!
Two arcs of the blade sent blood spraying through the air!
Meng Xizhou instinctively wanted to close her eyes, but a wide sleeve embroidered with cloud patterns, carrying a faint scent of ink, lifted first, shielding her completely.
Meng Xizhou froze for a moment.
As the sleeve lowered, she lifted her head and met a pair of eyes as deep and cold as a frozen pond.
Song Chengji gazed at the young woman before him. Covered in mud, her hair disheveled, she was a picture of utter disarray. Yet her eyes shone with startling brilliance—calm, sharp, and filled with a resilience that had endured countless trials but never yielded. She resembled a plum blossom blooming proudly on a snowy plain, her demeanor dignified, as if she were an eternal victor.
“Meng Xizhou.” He called her name, his voice low and pleasant, carrying a barely perceptible tension. After a pause, he added, “It’s been a long time.”
A faint sense of bewilderment flickered in Meng Xizhou’s heart. “It has indeed been a long time, Your Highness.”
Two whole lifetimes.
Song Chengji stood tall and straight like a solitary pine or an emerald cypress, dressed in a plain white robe. His features were gentle yet naturally carried the dignity of the imperial family, his elegance reminiscent of rare orchids and precious jade—no different from the noble Crown Prince she remembered from her previous life.
Meng Xizhou had been prophesied since childhood to possess the “Phoenix Fate,” and her marriage to the Crown Prince had been arranged early on. The entire capital knew of it, awaiting only her coming-of-age ceremony.
But then she was abducted, her Phoenix Fate stolen, and her betrothed became her sister’s husband. The events of her past life were now like distant clouds.
She didn’t believe Song Chengji couldn’t tell the difference between her and Meng Nanyi. Yet he had married her sister in the end. There was nothing more to say.
The slight ripples of emotion from their reunion were instantly extinguished. Meng Xizhou quickly regained her composure and turned her attention to the unconscious Princess. “Did you bring a physician? Her Highness is in a critical condition!”
“We did! The physician is here!” Song Xubai’s voice, choked with tears, came from among the guards as he pulled an elderly man forward.
Song Chengji carefully laid the Princess down on a soft cushion spread out by the guards. The imperial physician immediately stepped forward to check her pulse and administer acupuncture, then placed a specially prepared smelling salt under her nose.
However, as time passed, the Princess remained with her eyes tightly shut, showing no signs of awakening.
The imperial physician, under the Crown Prince’s icy gaze, awkwardly explained, “I fear Her Highness has suffered a grave injury and held her breath for too long. It may take some time before she regains consciousness. She must be moved to a quiet, warm place to recuperate properly…”
Song Chengji nodded and, ignoring his subordinates’ protests, personally carried the Princess on his back. In a somber tone, he ordered, “Return to the inn in town.”
Meng Xizhou gazed at the Princess, his eyes filled with unconcealed worry, yet his feet remained rooted to the spot. “We part here. I wish Your Highness a safe journey.”