Chapter 62: Reunion at the Palace, Things Have Changed

I had just finished weeding halfway through the west wing when I heard hurried footsteps outside the gate, accompanied by a servant's respectful call: "Your Highness! Why are you here?"

Yun Zhi's grip on the hoe suddenly paused, the dirt on her fingertips rubbing against the hem of her plain skirt, leaving a dirty streak. Without looking back, she slowly straightened up and leaned the hoe against the corner of the wall. Her movements were slow but revealing a deliberate submission—a gesture she had practiced repeatedly in the ruined temple, trying to appear humble without being too contrived, to make Xiao Jin feel that she was still the "slave" who would remain in awe of him.

Footsteps grew closer, the hem of a dark robe sweeping across the freshly mowed grass, picking up a few dead leaves. Xiao Jin's scent enveloped her, carrying a faint scent of ambergris, just like three years ago, yet it made Yun Zhi's stomach churn. She would never forget the hands that had brought her the bowl of abortion medicine; the voice that had sent her into hell time and again.

"Who asked you to come out to work?" Xiao Jin's voice was cold and condescending as usual. His eyes swept over her muddy hands and tattered dress, and his brows unconsciously frowned.

Yun Zhi immediately turned around, lowered her head, and knelt in greeting, her voice soft and gentle, "Your Highness, this servant... this servant saw that the yard was too messy, so I thought of cleaning it up to make Your Highness feel more at ease."

She deliberately avoided his gaze, staring only at the jade pendant around his waist—a token of love given by Shen Qingyue, now cherished by him as a treasure, worn day and night. Her nails dug deep into her palms, the sharp pain keeping her awake and not letting any hatred show in front of him.

Xiao Jin looked at her lowered head, her jet-black hair held up with a simple wooden hairpin. Her exposed neck was slender and white, but a few faint scars could be seen - from the beating she had received from Lin Wanru's men. He felt an inexplicable irritation in his heart, not because of her obedience, but because of her excessive calmness.

In the past, Yun Zhi, no matter how docile she was, would always have a light in her eyes when she looked at him, a glint of grievance, a resentment, and even a secret glare at him. But now, she was like a soulless puppet, devoid of any emotion except obedience.

"You've become sensible." Xiao Jin's tone was full of sarcasm, and he kicked the hoe beside him. "Why? After suffering outside, you know that only I can give you a way out?"

Yun Zhi's shoulders trembled slightly, as if stung by his words, but she still didn't look up, only lowering her voice: "Your Highness, you are joking. I am the daughter of a criminal, and it is a favor from Your Highness that I can stay in the palace. This servant... This servant dare not have any other thoughts."

"Don't you dare?" Xiao Jin sneered, reaching out to pinch her chin and forcing her to look up. His force was so strong that Yun Zhi frowned in pain, but she still forced herself to look terrified. Her eyes were slightly red, and she looked pitiful.

But this look made Xiao Jin even more irritated. He didn't want to see this, not her obedience, not her fear, but she would cry and refute him, would push him away angrily like before. Even if it was hatred, it was better than the numb look she had now.

"Don't you have anything to tell me?" Xiao Jin's thumb caressed the skin under her chin. The touch was cold, different from the temperature he remembered. "For example, where have you been these past few months? Who have you been with?"

When the question of "where to go" was mentioned, Yun Zhi's body stiffened for a moment, and a trace of panic flashed in her eyes - this was a reaction she had planned long ago, to make him feel that she was "indeed" wronged, but she didn't dare to say it. This would arouse his suspicion without making him immediately want to kill her.

"I... I was kidnapped by a group of men in black. They... They locked me up in a dilapidated temple and only gave me a little food every day. I... I didn't dare ask who they were, nor did I dare to escape..." Her voice was filled with tears, and her tears fell at the right time, hitting the back of Xiao Jin's hand. "It was not until a few days ago that they suddenly left, and I dared to beg all the way back... Your Majesty, I really did not betray you. Please believe in me..."

She deliberately emphasized "no betrayal" in order to hit the point that Xiao Jin cared about most - he could tolerate her being a sinner, he could tolerate her disobedience, but he could never tolerate her being "unclean."

Xiao Jin watched her tears fall, the warmth on the back of his hand easing his irritation. He recalled the secret guard's report, stating that she had indeed stayed in the ruined temple after being abducted and had no contact with other men. He felt a strange sense of relief. But just as this relief faded, he was stung by the numbness in her eyes.

He let go of her hand, and Yun Zhi immediately collapsed to the ground, clutching her chin, her shoulders trembling slightly. She looked extremely pitiful. But Xiao Jin felt that all this was just an act, a ploy to gain sympathy.

"Get up." Xiao Jin's voice turned cold. "Now that you're back, stay put. Qingyue just returned home, and I don't want to see you upset her. If I find out you're doing anything fishy, ​​don't blame me for being rude."

At the mention of "Qingyue," Yunzhi's body paused, then regained its composure. Slowly getting up from the ground, she bowed and replied, "Yes, I will remember this. I will definitely behave myself and will never cause any trouble for the prince and... for Miss Shen."

She deliberately emphasized the three words "Miss Shen" with a hint of imperceptible humility, as if reminding herself that Shen Qingyue was the one at the top of his heart, and she was just an insignificant sin slave.

Xiao Jin's irritation grew even worse as he watched her like this. He should have been pleased with her obedience, with her reverence for Shen Qingyue, but why did he feel uncomfortable seeing her so numb? Did he remember the stubborn glint in her eyes when she used to look at him?

"Go down." Xiao Jin waved his hand, his tone impatient, "Don't be an eyesore here."

"Yes." Yun Zhi immediately turned around and walked into the house with her head lowered. Her steps were steady, without the slightest hesitation, and she didn't even look back at him.

Xiao Jin stood there, watching her disappear behind the door. He felt a sense of unease and suffocation in his heart. He raised his hand and touched the fingers that had pinched her chin. They seemed to still hold her warmth, cold and trembling.

He didn't know that after Yun Zhi walked into the room, she immediately leaned against the door, breathing heavily. The forced obedience and fear she had just put on had consumed too much of her energy, especially when she mentioned Shen Qingyue in front of him, she almost couldn't help but reveal the hatred in her eyes.

A sharp pain came from her palm. She opened her hand and saw several deep nail marks, oozing blood. She didn't care at all, just walked to the window, lifted a corner of the curtain, and watched Xiao Jin turn and leave with her eyes as cold as ice.

Xiao Jin, do you think I'm still the same Yun Zhi who harbors fantasies about you? You're wrong. From the moment you personally brought the abortion potion, that Yun Zhi was already dead. Now, I'm just a pawn staying by your side for revenge.

You want me to behave myself, to not upset Shen Qingyue? I won't. I want you two, this perfect couple, to experience for yourself what it means to live a life worse than death.

Xiao Jin, who was outside the courtyard, took a few steps before he couldn't help but look back at the door to the west wing. The door was tightly closed, like a barrier, completely separating him from the people inside. A sense of panic inexplicably rose in his heart, not because of Shen Qingyue, but because of this overly submissive Yun Zhi.

"Your Highness, Miss Shen is still waiting for you in the main hall." The captain of the guards reminded cautiously, fearing to anger him.

Xiao Jin retracted his gaze, suppressed the irritation in his heart, and said coldly: "I understand, let's go."

He walked towards the main hall, but Yun Zhi's appearance just now kept reappearing in his mind - the drooping eyes, the numb expression, and those perfectly timed tears. He felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

He didn't know that this was just the first step in Yun Zhi's revenge plan. She wanted to make him accustomed to her obedience, let him down, and then step by step walk into the trap she laid, until finally, he would see the truth and pay a heavy price for his past actions.

At this moment, in the main hall, Shen Qingyue was sitting by the window, holding a book in her hand, but her eyes drifted towards the door from time to time. Seeing Xiao Jin coming back, she immediately put down the book, a gentle smile appeared on her face, and she stood up to greet him: "Your Highness, where have you been? I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Xiao Jin looked at her gentle smile, and the irritability in his heart gradually dissipated. He reached out and held her hand: "Nothing, I just passed by the west wing and took a look at that criminal slave."

"Slave?" A subtle alert flashed across Shen Qingyue's eyes, and then she regained her gentleness. "Is it Sister Yunzhi? She's back? That's good. With her here, the mansion will be more lively."

She deliberately mentioned "Sister Yunzhi" to test Xiao Jin's attitude. As expected, Xiao Jin frowned, his tone filled with disgust: "She's just a criminal slave. Don't let her taint your mouth. Don't mention her anymore in the future."

Shen Qingyue heaved a sigh of relief, and the smile on her face became even gentler: "Okay, I'll listen to you, Your Majesty."

But she didn't know that the criminal slave whom they regarded as "insignificant" was now in the room of the west wing, wiping the dagger repeatedly with a piece of coarse cloth. The coldness in his eyes was enough to freeze the warmth of the entire palace.

A silent war has quietly begun. Xiao Jin and Shen Qingyue, still immersed in their "happiness", are completely unaware that danger is approaching step by step.