Feng Shuying couldn't help but shudder. She stole another glance at Chen Yansheng, who had already been sliced into a bloody mess…
She didn't want to be flayed; she had to find a way to save herself.
Her eyes darted around, and her rims reddened slightly. "I was indeed in the room today discussing elopement with Chen Yansheng.
"But I was coerced by him at the time, and I only pretended to go along with it out of necessity.
"Your Highness also knows that after my parents died, I had nowhere to go and was forced to reside in Lin Fu.
"However, everyone in Lin Fu set their sights on the inheritance my parents left behind and wanted to take my life.
"They were afraid that I would take everything with me as a dowry when I married, so they were unwilling to let me marry into the Prince's Manor.
"That's why Lin Wanting and Chen Yansheng plotted together. They spoke all sorts of ill of Your Highness in front of me to make me elope with him, just so they could take my life in the chaos.
"What they didn't know was that as early as ten years ago, when Your Highness saved my life at Wenquan Shanzhuang, I had already decided I would marry no one but Your Highness.
"So this time, when I found out I could marry Your Highness, you have no idea how happy I was!"
Lin Wanting was startled when she heard this. How did she know about that?
Anxious and angry, Lin Wanting said, "Cousin, it's one thing for you to elope with Chen Yansheng, but how can you slander me like this?
"All these years, Lin Fu has served you well with fine food and drink. I never expected you to be so ungrateful!"
Feng Shuying sneered. "Lin Fu served me with fine food and drink? Are salted vegetables and steamed buns every day considered fine food and drink?
"On the contrary, ever since I brought my family's assets to Lin Fu, the living standards of everyone in your family have taken a massive leap upward.
"It’s bad enough that you've been leeching off me, but you even tried to ruin my marriage and take my life. Are you even human?"
After speaking, she looked at Jing Moye with affectionate eyes and said, "Your Highness, when we have our grand wedding, I will definitely marry you with my entire family estate."
Between tearing off her mask with Lin Wanting and offending Jing Moye, she chose the former without hesitation.
Although doing this would make her future life in Lin Fu difficult, at least she could save her life for now.
She would get through the immediate crisis first and worry about the future later.
Jing Moye's brow quirked slightly. "Is that so? Then this Prince shall wait and see."
He walked over to Feng Shuying's side and blew a breath into her ear. "Although this Prince doesn't know why you've changed your mind…"
Feng Shuying's expression froze as Jing Moye continued, "…for the sake of today's play being quite interesting, I'll spare your life for now.
"Remember to give this Prince a surprise the next time we meet, otherwise, we'll settle the old and new debts together."
Feng Shuying: "…"
So he hadn't believed a single word she said from the very beginning?
Just then, a stray dog rushed out from outside the meditation room and barked wildly at everyone.
Jing Moye said with some displeasure, "So noisy."
In the next moment, the guard behind him fired an arrow that pierced the dog's head, pinning it to a tree. The surroundings fell silent instantly.
Feng Shuying: "…"
Feng Shuying: "!!"
She remembered the words Jing Moye had said before flaying Chen Yansheng, and the hair on her body stood on end.
Jing Moye saw her expression and smiled leisurely. "It's better for this world to be a bit quieter, don't you think, Miss Feng?"
Feng Shuying: "…Yes! Whatever Your Highness says is right!"
Jing Moye gave a light chuckle. With one hand behind his back, he walked away leisurely, looking like a celestial being untainted by the mortal world.
Only the small bloodstain on his white robe reminded her of what he had just done.
She turned her head and saw Chen Yansheng, whose skin had been stripped away but who was not yet dead. She shuddered.
Lin Wanting was, after all, a young lady raised in a boudoir. She had never seen such a scene and felt her limbs go weak.
As soon as Jing Moye left, she didn't care about dealing with Feng Shuying and immediately had someone support her as she left.
Feng Shuying didn't want to stay there long either. She grabbed her bundle filled with gold, silver, and valuables, intending to leave.
However, when she reached the front courtyard, she encountered the Abbot of the temple.
The Abbot said with a beaming smile, "Benefactor Feng's concern for Chu Wang and her prayers for him will surely move the Buddha to protect Chu Wang, granting him a long life and prosperity."
Feng Shuying: "…"
Although she knew she couldn't keep this money after today's ordeal, she really hadn't expected the Abbot to take the initiative to ask her for money.
The properties the original owner brought to Lin Fu were all managed by the Lin family; the money she could move was all brought out today.
She comforted herself: giving up wealth avoids calamity. If the money is gone, she can find a way to earn more, but she only has one life.
So, with a pious look, she handed the bundle of money to the Abbot, but not before surreptitiously fishing out two pearls from a corner and sliding them into her sleeve.
From behind a window lattice not far away, Jing Moye saw this scene. His eyes darkened, yet the corners of his mouth curved slightly. "A little liar with not a word of truth in her mouth!"
After receiving the bundle from Feng Shuying, the Abbot said with a grin, "I get half of this."
He opened the bundle to take his share, but Jing Moye pressed his hand down on it, his peach blossom eyes looking coldly at the Abbot.
The Abbot felt his heart flutter under the gaze and withdrew his hand sullenly, though he still tried to gain an advantage verbally. "It's not honorable for you to keep it all for yourself!"
Jing Moye said calmly, "An impure fake monk like you is talking to this Prince about honor?"
The Abbot flew into a rage. "This poor monk is a legitimate and enlightened high monk, not some fake monk!"
Jing Moye glanced at him lazily. The Abbot immediately calmed his spirit and asked, "Your Highness, this fiancée of yours is quite interesting. Are you really going to marry her?"
Jing Moye said listlessly, "As long as she can live until the wedding day, what harm is there in this Prince marrying her?"
The Abbot looked at him with some surprise. "Your Highness's previous seven fiancées all died. If she dies too, I'm afraid Your Highness's reputation as a Tiansha Guxing will be set in stone."
Jing Moye took two pearls from the bundle and placed them on the table. "This Prince bets these two pearls that she can live until the wedding day."
The Abbot smiled and took out a thousand-tael banknote from his robe. "She's actually worth two pearls in Your Highness's heart. It seems she really is a bit special.
"If Your Highness bets she lives, then I can only bet she dies.
"It's not that I want to curse her to death, but someone will not let Your Highness marry smoothly. From the day her marriage to Your Highness was settled, she was destined to die!"
Jing Moye took out a handkerchief and coughed lightly. He glanced at the handkerchief; there was a striking red stain on it, and his eyes were full of coldness.
He asked the Abbot, "Have you found a way for the Jiezhoushu?"
The Abbot shook his head. "The person who placed the Zhoushu on you is very powerful. If we can't find the object used for the curse, there is no way to break it."
Jing Moye asked, "How much longer can this Prince live?"
The Abbot replied, "The Zhoushu you are afflicted with is extremely vicious…"
"Time," Jing Moye interrupted him.
The Abbot had no choice but to say, "Three months at most. Your fortune will be completely sucked away, and then you will…"