“This is already the third one this month.” The man deliberately lowered his voice and glanced ahead.
The person beside him shrank his neck. “Sigh, another girl’s going to die!”
Night had fallen over the streets of Yan Capital.
For dozens of miles, the city was awash in red wedding decorations. Carriages stretched from one end of the street to the other, accompanied by deafening gongs and drums—yet the groom was nowhere to be seen.
The long bridal procession drew crowds of onlookers to both sides of the street. Eyes would occasionally dart to the bridal sedan chair, whispering about how long this Princess Consort of Yan might survive.
Yu Jiao, dressed in a crimson wedding gown, hid in a narrow alley. She had just exhaled in relief as she watched the procession slowly pass by, but in the next moment, she straightened her waist, her entire body freezing.
Where was that smell of blood coming from?
She turned, and a sharply defined face suddenly filled her vision, catching her completely off guard.
Her body stiffened.
The man in front of her wore a striking red outfit. He was half-squatting, leaning slightly, his long right leg planted straight with a half-glimpse of black boots showing. His right hand rested casually on his knee, making him look devilishly charming.
If it weren’t for the strong scent of blood, one might have mistaken him for some reckless young master sneaking out for fun.
His eyes were full of amusement as they slowly moved from her to the distant bridal procession. Then he glanced lightly at the red gown she wore, and his eyes darkened with a hint of wickedness and bloodthirst.
“Shh!”
Yu Jiao leaned forward, covering his mouth with one hand while placing a finger in front of her lips with the other. Her eyes were clear and alert. She glanced at the bridal procession before turning back to him.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she asked, “Hey, what a coincidence—you’re running away from your wedding too?”
“Too?”
Chu Yin raised an eyebrow and looked at the hand covering him. Was this little creature really unaware of who he was, or was she pretending to be an innocent little white rabbit?
Yu Jiao received no response and grew slightly nervous.
She had only arrived in this world fifteen minutes ago, and the memories of the original owner were scattered and fragmented. She hadn’t yet had a chance to make sense of them when she was forced into a wedding gown and placed in a bridal sedan to marry the unpredictable Mad Prince.
She had heard that the Prince acted purely on impulse, was not only insane but also a short-lived ghost, and that her marriage was only meant to bring him luck.
Finally escaping, what would happen if this man shouted and brought her back?
Looking at the indifferent man before her, an inexplicable chill ran through her surroundings. She swallowed hard. “Y-you guess who I’m marrying?”
Chu Yin lowered his eyelids and looked at the wrist held by her hand. The red gown made the girl’s skin appear even whiter and more delicate.
Such fine wrists—just a gentle grip would probably snap them.
He thought it, and he acted. The hand that had been resting on his knee closed around her snow-white wrist. As he had imagined, it was indeed very slender.
A little tighter… with just one more slight pressure, it could break.
“I’m marrying the Prince of Yan, Chu Yin!” Yu Jiao thought he might try to pull away, so she pressed her other hand down as well and murmured, “And you? I’m the Princess Consort of Yan, so… I’m probably marrying someone better than you.”
At her words, Chu Yin loosened his grip slightly, a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he looked at her.
Someone was actually rushing to claim the title of Princess Consort of Yan?
The girl in front of him was only fifteen. Her face was like a finely carved porcelain doll, smooth and flawless with a faint pink flush.
Such tender skin—just a light scratch with a fingernail would break it.
Her snow-white face complemented by bright red must be extraordinarily beautiful.
He raised his other hand toward her face, fingers long and fair with rounded nails, but she swatted it away before he could touch her.
He gave a disinterested snort.
Yu Jiao’s eyes darted around and she tried to scare him. “If you stay with me, watch out—the Prince of Yan will take your bones apart to make a lampwick! The Prince of Yan is ruthless and loves ghost-fire lanterns!”
“So, if you don’t tell me, I’ll have him tear your bones out!”
Ghost-fire lanterns? That was a new one.
“Pfft!” Chu Yin laughed, releasing her. He leaned back against the wall.
Yu Jiao hadn’t expected him to fall backward. He still held her wrist, and as he tilted back, she stumbled forward, landing on top of him. Her lips accidentally brushed his forehead. Her eyes widened.
Boom!
She scrambled up, her pale pink flushed into red, making Chu Yin’s gaze deepen and his throat tighten.
The air suddenly grew silent. Yu Jiao cleared her throat and pressed further, “And you? You still haven’t said.”
“Heh,” Chu Yin’s hand traced her lips, mapping them delicately. “My name is Chu Yin.”
Ch…Chu…Chu Yin?!
Yu Jiao’s hand froze mid-motion as she wanted to wipe her lips.
Seeing her surprise and fear was highly satisfying for him. His large hand slid down her face inch by inch—from her beautiful chin, to her slender neck, to her alluring collarbone.
Chu Yin leaned closer, his side brushing her neck, warm breath tickling her ear as he said softly, “Do you like the lanterns on the street?”
A cold touch pressed on her neck. His voice carried no warmth, as if he were a demon risen from hell.
Yu Jiao’s eyelashes trembled, and her voice quivered as she stammered, “Th-they’re… beautiful.”
One hand on her neck, the other on her collarbone, the slight curve of her clavicle perfectly sculpted.
“Then, what if this Prince takes your bones to make a lampwick? Let the lantern burn with a crystalline blue flame—it would be beautiful.”
He twirled a strand of her hair around his pale fingers and smelled it near his nose.
“After all… this Prince also wants to see that ghost-fire lantern.” Chu Yin turned his head, gazing at her flushed earlobe, the scent of her hair lingering.
Orange-scented.
He bit her earlobe.
“Ow…” Yu Jiao couldn’t help but cry out, her tiny voice sounding pitiful.
This man truly held grudges.
“Tsk, you cry over this little pain. What will you do when I tear your bones apart?” Chu Yin lifted his head, pinching her chin, scrutinizing her—his tone not joking at all.
Yu Jiao glimpsed the lanterns across the street. Imagining her bones inside a deep blue flame made her gasp and reflexively grab his hand.
“No! Stop!”
“If you’re torn apart, you’ll only make lampwicks. I have other uses— I can do everything!” Yu Jiao’s eyes welled with tears, looking pitiful, she pointed to her fingers one by one. “I can… I can… I can…”
She hesitated, unable to articulate what she could do, but her eyes stayed fixed on him, innocent and helpless.
The scent of blood intensified. Her red gown, already as red as maple leaves, now bore visible bloodstains.
Pressure on her chin increased, making Yu Jiao cry out, “I’ll bandage you!”
He seemed not to hear, his hand tightening, lips curving into a faint smile that sent a chill down her spine.
Just as she feared her jaw might dislocate, he finally raised an eyebrow and looked at her incredulously. “Bandage, you say?”
“I can!”
“Serve people too?”
The pain in her chin left no time for thought; she blurted, “I can!”
A hint of a smile curved Chu Yin’s lips. “And… bedroom arts, you can do that too?”