Yu Jiao’s eyes widened suddenly. She froze in his embrace, then reacted and pulled back sharply.
Chu Yin frowned, displeased, and glanced at her. He pressed her wrist down onto the wound.
“If you move again, the Prince’s wound will split. And if it splits, blood will flow. Once it bleeds, the Prince cannot guarantee he won’t break the bones of your long-lost maid,” he warned viciously.
The back of her hand pressed against his own was burning, searing hot, with his wound beneath. Yu Jiao dared not move.
Her body tensed, letting him hold her hand as he moved it.
But he deliberately inched it upward toward his waistband, paused for a moment, then lifted her hand, revealing half of the wound.
Her palms and fingers felt the heat of his skin through the fabric. Yu Jiao’s heart throbbed strangely, prickling as if tiny insects were crawling over her—both tingling and nerve-racking.
Just as Yu Jiao thought he would go further, he finally let go of her hand.
She exhaled sharply in relief. Fortunately, his trousers were still on, showing only half the wound—nothing that would make her blush or feel her heart race.
Chu Yin’s lips curved in a mischievous smile.
His gaze moved to her face, flushed enough to seem like it might bleed.
He leaned back, straightened his waist, and casually lifted his outer robe, faintly revealing the figure beneath.
Seeing her blush deepen, he suddenly spoke, “Princess Consort of Yan, where are your thoughts wandering now?”
Yu Jiao was startled, her face instantly flushing even redder. The sensation beneath her seemed stronger, as if it was growing.
Chu Yin handed her the medicine and raised an eyelid to signal, “Change the dressing.”
Yu Jiao froze, clutching his sleeve, reluctant to take it, shrinking closer into his chest. Her voice trembled as she whispered, “The gates are still open. If someone sees us, it’ll be too embarrassing…”
He had done it on purpose. Leaving the rest of the wound covered forced her to undress herself.
With his temperament, what if a commoner passed by? What if his hand moved—either untying her sash or his own? What if someone saw?
Or perhaps, from outside, one couldn’t see his wound, and someone might mistakenly think she was reaching elsewhere.
“Is that so?” Chu Yin slanted his eyes at her. “But Princess Consort of Yan promised she’d obey the Prince in everything. If you go back on your word… then this tongue must be cut off.”
The little white rabbit in his arms trembled visibly, pursing her lips, silent, hiding deeper in his embrace.
Chu Yin lifted his eyelids lazily and glanced at her. “Refusing to change the dressing… then this hand shall be cut off too.”
Yu Jiao quietly hid her hand inside her sleeve, feeling uneasy, and even tucked it under his outer robe for safety.
Chu Yin was not done. His voice turned cold: “And as for that maid, break her limbs, marinate them, and dry them in the sun for three days.”
Each word made her shiver. She still had a little hope… Xiu’er…
Finally, she simply took the ointment, peeled off the old dressing, and gently pressed the new one onto the wound.
He let her hands brush against his skin occasionally, but his gaze was icy, cutting through her. One maid mattered this much?
Just a moment ago, he had spoken of eternity and lifetimes.
Instinctively, she wanted to push him away.
Yu Jiao’s brows furrowed slightly. Sensing his rising anger again, she impulsively pressed her lips to his, then quickly pulled back, as if committing a misdeed.
“Prince, be good and don’t move. It’ll be done soon, and I’ll be gentle.”
Chu Yin paused, then suddenly laughed.
What did she mean by telling him to “be good”? Her audacity was remarkable.
At first, Yu Jiao’s hands had trembled uncontrollably, brushing against his skin by accident. Later, she relaxed, even deliberately brushing against him, focused and diligent.
The ointment pressed lightly against his wound, stinging slightly. Chu Yin wanted to push her hand away, but did not. He loosened up a little.
Those who rejected him deserved to die.
But she was changing his dressing—so perhaps they could survive a little longer.
When the dressing was done, her entire face burned crimson, her ears hot as if smoking. Yu Jiao didn’t hesitate; she stood up and dashed away, afraid there might be a next time.
Ying Jue carried the used dressing back. Princess Consort had said it took half an hour to change the Prince’s dressing.
He scratched his head, examining the dressing in his hands. Couldn’t the Prince lift something so light?
…
Yu Jiao walked back while recalling the Original Owner’s memories. Xiu’er had indeed been her most loyal maid, never leaving her side. On the night of her wedding, she hadn’t seen her all day.
Sudden events must hide something strange.
The Original Owner came from a wealthy family. Though merchants held the lowest status in this dynasty, she was the daughter of the richest man in Yan Capital, controlling most of the city’s economy. Her father had been granted a marquisate.
But her father only cared about commerce.
Two years ago, while traveling for business, her parents disappeared. Her Second Uncle, claiming she was too young, took over all the shops.
When she transmigrated, she was immediately married off in a bridal sedan. If memory served, the Original Owner had liked the Second Prince.
As she pondered this, she pushed open the door—and Xiu’er collided with her.
“Miss, are you alright? Miss, wuuu wuuu wuuu! Miss!”
“…Stop!” Yu Jiao groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead.
The crying ceased immediately.
“Xiu’er, I need to tell you something serious. The truth is, I never liked the Second Prince. I’ve always liked the Prince. Liking the Second Prince was just a ruse to get close to the Prince, to marry the Prince.”
Tears froze on Xiu’er’s face. Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Miss… you… really?”
“Of course it’s true. I knew Yu Ning’er liked the Second Prince. I deliberately chased him, becoming a thorn in her side. To stop me, she naturally arranged for me to marry the Prince.”
Xiu’er sniffled, taking a moment to process.
So it had all been a pretense. The Miss had always loved the Prince. It was all a strategy!
She had suspected Miss wasn’t bright—why chase the Second Prince? But it turned out Miss had planned everything.
Tearful, Xiu’er looked at her. “Miss, do you really love the Prince?”
Yu Jiao nodded firmly. “Yes, Xiu’er. I love him, and I will not leave the Prince of Yan. Don’t speak of this again. By the way, how did you get out?”
Xiu’er blinked, her eyes clear. “I couldn’t find you. Yu Ning’er said you were dead. I wanted to die with her if I couldn’t save you. But she slapped me unconscious. Before I passed out, I think I saw someone in black. When I woke, I was already on the street. I heard them say you were at the Yan Wang Residence, so I hurried to rescue you.”
She grabbed Yu Jiao’s hand and said, “Miss, I’m so glad you’re alright. Poor MasterMadam is missing, or else you wouldn’t have been bullied like this. But now we’re out. We won’t go back, and we won’t be bullied anymore.”
Yu Jiao squinted, noticing the knot in her clothes. Chu Yin had tied it beautifully.
She smiled. “No, we have to go back. The Yu Residence belongs to my parents. Every flower and blade of grass belongs to them. Why shouldn’t we return?”
“Not only will we go back, but we’ll take everything that’s ours. They’ve had it too long; it’s time to get it back.”
She recalled marrying off with only a coarse wedding dress and no hairpin. Now she even had to wear Chu Yin’s clothes.
How could Yu Ning’er and the others enjoy riches while she suffered?
Yu Ning’er had drained the Yu Residence dry, posing as a wealthy girl in the capital. The Second Prince scammed the Original Owner’s feelings, hoping to recruit soldiers through her.
Everyone treated her like a fool, taking advantage of her.
Yu Jiao paused, then looked in the bronze mirror at her disheveled hair and laughed. “Xiu’er, am I missing some hairpins? Am I missing some jewelry?”
Xiu’er nodded nervously, increasingly uneasy.
“Miss, I thought… the Second Prince and Yu Ning’er are too powerful for us to confront. The Prince of Yan is unpredictable and terrifying. If you still like the Prince, we should escape now.”
Before she finished speaking, the door was kicked open.
Chu Yin stood in the doorway, dark and brooding, his entire presence radiating menace as he looked at her.
“Escape?”