Chapter 1 Extra Chapter 2 (1) If the Fox, Snake, and Dog Were Reborn: The Overbearing...
The moon rises above the palace walls, casting slanting shadows of branches.
Lu Yuanyuan opened her eyes groggily, a wisp of cold white smoke swirling around her lips.
It was completely dark by then.
Earlier, before the sun had set, she could see a dozen lifelike roof ridge beasts crouching on the palace roof, their scales made of jade and glass, their mouths holding glittering golden pearls. Now, only a jagged expanse of various shapes remained.
Today is her second day in Yong Kingdom as a princess of the Yan Kingdom sent to marry a foreign ruler.
As far back as Lu Yuanyuan could remember, the states of Yan and Yong had been at war. This protracted war ultimately ended in the defeat of the Yan state.
To end the war, the Yan state not only ceded three cities to the Yong state, but also sent her, an unfavored princess, to marry the Yong crown prince. To put it nicely, it was a marriage alliance between the two states. To put it bluntly, it was a hostage situation.
On the eve of her departure, the head maid pointed to the distant and vast northern lands on the map and told Lu Yuanyuan that Yong was a dog-eat-dog world. The noble children did not like to stay in the palace composing poetry, but were ashamed of not being able to draw a bow. They were all strong and skilled in battle, barbaric and fierce, the complete opposite of Yan, which valued the gentlemanly way of life.
Now that relations between the two countries have soured and they are separated by thousands of miles, a princess from a defeated country is entering Yong alone, and her future days are unlikely to be easy.
Sure enough, on her second day in Yong Kingdom, those people couldn't contain themselves and deliberately locked her in this remote palace.
No matter how much she knocked on the door, it was quiet outside, and no one answered. She tried to climb over the wall, but couldn't find any footholds. So she sat on the stone steps and waited, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep against the wall.
When I woke up, the moon had already risen.
In the northern winter, the biting wind seeps in relentlessly, scraping the skin like a knife. The fine snow is as salty as salt, and a layer of frost has settled on Lu Yuanyuan's eyelashes.
Perhaps because she hadn't eaten all day, she felt weak in her limbs, as if her bones had been removed. Her eyelids were heavy, her breath was hot, and she instinctively pulled her cloak tighter around herself and shrank into a corner.
After an unknown amount of time, the crunching sound of footsteps on snow echoed from outside the heavy door. Several unfamiliar and mocking voices could be faintly heard.
"I wonder if he peed his pants in fear."
"She actually dared to come? Could she really believe we want to host a banquet for her? Who wants to associate with someone from Yan!"
"Hmph, don't you even realize this is the Great Yong? A mere hostage, if we 'invite' her here, would she dare refuse?"
"It's a pity that my third brother is not in the palace right now and has missed out on this fun."
"His Highness the Third Prince went on a winter hunt at Langya Mountain. It's been five days now, so he should be returning to the palace soon."
"That's not necessarily true. My third brother has never returned within ten days. Five days is hardly enough to enjoy himself."
...
Suddenly, everyone stopped talking and laughing.
They had all heard it: someone was approaching the desolate palace, their footsteps heavy and hurried. Behind them followed a panting palace servant: "Your Highness, the ground is slippery, and it's too dark ahead. I'll light a lamp for you, Your Highness, please walk slowly..."
...
Who's here?
Lu Yuanyuan turned to the side and saw the two palace gates slowly open, letting in a cold wind. The palace lanterns glowed faintly like fireflies, spilling onto the stone steps. Outside were several young men in brocade robes.
Unexpectedly, she and one of the boys in black locked eyes.
He didn't look much older than her, only around fifteen years old, with narrow eyes and red lips, and a handsome appearance. The wind and snow blurred his features, but Lu Yuanyuan had a strong intuition that as soon as the door opened, his two gazes locked onto her.
Among those present, he wasn't the oldest, and he was only accompanied by a pale-faced palace servant carrying a palace lantern, but his status was clearly extraordinary. Everyone else seemed somewhat afraid of him, carefully observing his expression before acting.
Finally, a young man in a blue robe spoke up awkwardly: "Third brother, didn't you go on a winter hunt? Why are you back at the palace so soon this time..."
The Third Prince? Is that Yue Hong, the Third Prince of Yong Kingdom?
I heard that his mother was Consort Xie, the most favored concubine in the harem, and he was favored by the emperor from a young age, his popularity rivaling that of the crown prince. No wonder these people reacted this way when they saw him.
Yue Hong asked, "What are you doing? Who is that child?"
The moment Lu Yuanyuan was mentioned, the blue-robed youth perked up, saying smugly, "Third brother, that's the princess Yan Gou sent over. We're just teasing her..."
Before he could finish speaking, two cold gazes fell upon him, and the blue-robed youth trembled inexplicably, his voice instantly becoming softer.
Yue Hong said coldly, "Teasing? That child is a hostage sent by the Yan Kingdom. In this cold weather, if something happens to her, wouldn't that give the Yan Kingdom an excuse to break the treaty and start a war? How will you explain that to the Emperor then?"
After being scolded, the blue-robed youth immediately wilted and said with a mournful face, "Third brother, I was wrong, please don't tell Father!"
The little figure huddled in the corner inside the door remained motionless. Yue Hong subtly turned to the side, blocking the wind from entering the doorway, his expression impatient: "Alright, alright, you can all leave now. I'll have someone take her back, lest she really catch a cold."
With someone cleaning up the mess, the boys, upon hearing this, all showed gratitude and scattered like birds and beasts.
Lu Yuanyuan hung her head, her mind hazy. The voices of those people seemed to rise and fall in her ears. Gradually, the surroundings quieted down, and she felt someone stride towards her, squat down in front of her, and take off their outer garment. Immediately afterward, she felt a warmth spread through her body as she was enveloped in this thick, soft garment.
He was much taller and bigger than her, and his clothes were too big, making her look like a silkworm cocoon. The warmth of his body lingered on the inside of her clothes, dispelling the biting chill.
Humans are strange like that. Prolonged exposure to cold can cause numbness, but a sudden return to warmth can cause uncontrollable trembling in the hands and feet. Seeing this, the other person tucked both her hands inside her clothes to warm them.
As if in a dream, Lu Yuanyuan heard the other person talking to themselves above her head, their tone full of regret and self-blame.
"Okay, it's alright, it's alright."
"...I couldn't have misremembered the date...how come...we arrived in Dayong half a month early..."
It's so noisy. What is he mumbling about?
Lu Yuanyuan's vision went dark. It turned out that the other person had tugged at her clothes, covered her face, and picked her up horizontally. The movement was so easy that it was as if she had no weight.
"Light up, let's go back."
"Yes, Your Highness."
...
The next day, Lu Yuanyuan woke up in her own palace.
She lay in bed, looking at the curtains above her, wondering if the last part of last night was a dream.
She remembered someone wrapping her up in a garment and carrying her back. She could even picture the feeling of her cheeks pressing against that person's chest.
Could it be that pale-faced palace maid with the lantern who carried her back?
However, the palace maid was plump, like a smiling Buddha. The person carrying her was clearly more muscular and strong, without any excess fat.
If it wasn't that palace maid, then there was only one candidate left.
Lu Yuanyuan: "..." This person is even less likely to be able to do it.
Lu Yuanyuan turned over listlessly.
Perhaps she caught a chill yesterday; she took a nap but still felt listless.
After eating the breakfast brought by the palace servants, she lay back down on the bed and slept soundly until noon. When she opened her eyes, it was already dark outside. The bedchamber was lit, and several dishes were laid out on the table; she didn't know if they were the missed lunch or dinner.
In the dead of winter, in the palace, every dish served was kept warm under a brazier. Right now, the flame on her brazier had long since gone out, and the food was completely cold.
Looking around, the bedchamber was empty, and there were no palace servants on duty.
As the saying goes, even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner. In a place like the palace, even the dogs of nobles are fatter and stronger than their peers. If the master is out of favor, his subordinates will be like weeds trampled on by anyone, ready to be stepped on and vent their anger. The palace servants assigned to her knew their future was bleak, so they were quite perfunctory in their work and were often nowhere to be found. Right now, they're probably hiding in some side hall sleeping.
Her stomach was growling with hunger, and Lu Yuanyuan knew she had to eat something to fill her stomach. She groped for her clothes by the bedside, put them on, and put her feet on the ground. Just as she stepped into her shoes, she suddenly heard a barely audible "click" in the quiet night.
Lu Yuanyuan turned around at the sound, puzzled, and found a shadow gradually appearing on the window paper.
Someone has climbed over the wall!
The palace was quiet; even the guards had gone to slack off. If someone were to shout for help, the uninvited guest outside would likely be the first to burst in.
Lu Yuanyuan felt a wave of fear. She swallowed hard, crawled under the bed, and nervously lay on the floor, staring outside.
Almost at the same time she hid, her window was opened, someone climbed in, landed silently, and closed the window.
Due to the height restriction, Lu Yuanyuan could only see the other person's boots getting closer and closer.
Exquisitely crafted, with a black base and gold thread, these shoes were not the standard-issue shoes worn by palace guards.
Assuming she was asleep, the person moved silently and tiptoed to the bedside. Through the bed curtains, they saw the bedding was disheveled and still warm, but no one was there. The person let out a soft, puzzled hum: "Hmm?"
That sound...
Lu Yuanyuan was startled and forgot that she was in the narrow space under the bed. She suddenly sat up and the back of her head hit the wooden board with a "thud".
Those outside, hearing the noise under the bed, were slightly startled and quickly took a step back.
She'd already been discovered; there was no point in hiding any longer. Lu Yuanyuan rubbed the back of her head, crawled out a couple of steps, looked up, and met the boots' owner's gaze.
As expected, the person who visited her bedchamber at night was none other than the Third Prince Yue Hong, whom she had met briefly the previous night.
The two, one standing and one lying down, stared at each other for a while, then spoke almost simultaneously:
Why are you sleeping under the bed?
Why did you climb over the wall to get in?
Lu Yuanyuan blinked, looked at him, and didn't say anything.
Looking into those clear, black and white eyes, Yue Hong awkwardly touched his nose, coughed, and took a step back: "Get up first, the ground is cold, don't lie down."
Lu Yuanyuan looked at her own movements, said "Oh," and slowly crawled out, patting the dust off her sleeves.
As she climbed out, Yue Hong also surveyed the layout of the palace. Soon, he noticed the dishes on the table that should have been cleared away long ago.
Seeing the table of cold food, a flash of anger crossed Yue Hong's eyes, but he quickly concealed it. Looking down at Lu Yuanyuan, he adopted a calmer tone: "You haven't eaten yet?"
"Not yet, I'll eat now."
“Those things are cold, don’t eat them.” Yue Hong took out something wrapped in a silk handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her: “Here, eat this, Jade Belt Crystal Cake.”
The warmth seeped through the silk handkerchief and into her palm. Lu Yuanyuan was startled, then quickly untied the knot in the handkerchief and saw three crystal-clear, soft pastries inside, emitting a freshly baked aroma that made her mouth water.
Lu Yuanyuan's eyes widened as she held out a silk handkerchief: "Is this for me to eat?"
Yue Hong nodded.
After all, she was just a twelve-year-old child who hadn't eaten two meals. Without thinking, Lu Yuanyuan grabbed a pastry and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing with her cheeks bulging.
Although the pastries weren't a main meal, they were incredibly filling. Once they entered her stomach, she felt warm and cozy, with her stomach at the center of her body.
After finishing her meal, Lu Yuanyuan wiped her lips and asked softly, "Your Highness, did you climb over the wall because you didn't want me to tell anyone about what happened yesterday?"
Yue Hong, who had been standing beside her watching her eat, shook his head upon hearing this and then knelt down on one knee beside the bed. This brought their eyes together.
This wouldn't be a big deal for an ordinary family, but for a prince who is usually the one to kneel before and is treated like royalty, it's quite astonishing. Moreover, the person before him is merely a hostage princess, completely at the mercy of others. Yue Hong's demeanor, however, was quite natural, without the slightest awkwardness. He examined her face and asked, "You were out in the wind for so long yesterday, are you feeling unwell anywhere, perhaps dizzy or feverish?"
"I was a little dizzy at first, but after taking a nap and eating something, I feel much better now," Lu Yuanyuan answered obediently. After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Did you come to see if I was sick?"
Yue Hong propped himself up on the bed, tapped the bed with his index finger, and softly hummed in agreement.
Seeing that she still seemed a little confused, he shrugged and said, "Do one good deed every day."
Lu Yuanyuan: "?"
Yue Hong glanced at the silk handkerchief in her hand and changed the subject: "Is this pastry delicious?"
Now that they were looking at each other at eye level, the distance between them had narrowed, and Lu Yuanyuan was describing the Third Prince's face in such detail for the first time. He looked very much like Consort Xie, yet his beauty differed from Consort Xie's.
The eyes are like a clear sky, bright and clear.
Lu Yuanyuan snapped out of her daze, licked her teeth, which still tasted sweet: "Delicious."
“I can still bring you food later so you won’t go hungry anymore.” Yue Hong paused, staring at her seriously, and said, “But if a third person finds out about this, I won’t be able to bring you food anymore, understand?”
Lu Yuanyuan was taken aback.
Even though they didn't understand the other person's motives, no one could refuse the kindness extended by another in such an unfamiliar place.
Lu Yuanyuan made a sewing motion to her lips and said seriously, "Okay, I won't tell anyone I've seen you."
Yue Hong smiled and extended his little finger: "Shall we make a pinky promise?"
Lu Yuanyuan looked at him, then at his outstretched hand. After a long while, she slowly extended her little finger. She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that when their fingers were intertwined, his hand seemed to tremble slightly, as if he was both nervous and reluctant to let go.
.
Despite the pinky promise, Lu Yuanyuan didn't hold out much hope that Yue Hong would keep his word. Perhaps this was just a prince's whim when he was bored, and the game would end when he got tired of it.
Just as Yue Hong himself said, do one good deed every day.
Doing good deeds today doesn't mean you have to do them tomorrow.
However, Yue Hong's "feeding" continued.
He didn't come every day. He always appeared late at night, scaling the wall. The negligent palace servants gave him countless opportunities. The things he brought were varied: hot dishes, pastries, and stews in food boxes, as well as snacks that could be stored for a long time. Once, he even magically pulled a whole roasted chicken out of his pocket and shared it with her.
However, whenever there was a third person present, such as at a palace banquet, Yue Hong was extremely cold towards her. When they met face-to-face in the corridor, he wouldn't even glance at her and would simply walk past her.
Besides no longer going hungry, Lu Yuanyuan's life seemed to be quietly changing for the better.
At first, some people tried to bully and tease her. But rumor has it that at a banquet, when the matter was brought up, Yue Hong seemed to scoff and say that the prey was too weak and uninteresting, just as a lion is too lazy to bother hunting a rabbit. If you're bored, you might as well go to Langya Mountain and hunt a few more times.
The noble youths in the city almost all followed Yue Hong's lead. Given his status, he didn't need to do anything; he only needed to let out a word, and those who wanted to curry favor with him would rush to agree with him, like what he liked, and hate what he hated, in order to reverse the course of a bloody storm.
Of course, not everyone was completely obedient; some slipped through the net. But strangely, these people would soon encounter all sorts of misfortunes. One would trip and fall on the street, breaking a tooth, while another would get into trouble outside, get reported to their father, and be confined to their home.
Over time, these fish that slipped through the net also disappeared.
The palace servants who had neglected Lu Yuanyuan were soon transferred away for various reasons. The new palace servant was taciturn but very reliable in her work. From then on, someone always remembered to add fuel to the charcoal brazier in her palace, and she no longer had to eat cold food.
Two years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Late autumn, Langya Mountain.
The trees covering the mountains and fields are covered with mottled gold, bright and dazzling, like the morning glow and mist.
This season is traditionally the time when the Yong Kingdom holds its hunting competition.
The people of Yong were brave and skilled in battle, and horsemanship and archery were fundamental skills for noble children. On the day of the hunting competition, banners fluttered at the foot of the mountain, and the imperial guards stood in formation. All the princes and nobles were present.
As the nominal Crown Princess, Lu Yuanyuan was also required to attend this occasion.
However, things didn't go smoothly from the very beginning of the day they set off.
As soon as she got up, the palace maid knelt down with a troubled expression and begged for forgiveness, saying that the window was not closed properly last night, and the wind blew over the candlestick, burning a hole in the front of the hunting robe she was going to wear.
In other situations, changing clothes would suffice. But this is a hunting robe specifically prepared for a hunting competition. Even if one isn't participating in the competition, the robe must still be worn.
Fortunately, there were spare hunting outfits in the palace, and the palace servants immediately went to collect them. With the back and forth delay, Lu Yuanyuan was a full half an hour later than the scheduled departure time before she boarded the carriage, thus falling to the very back of the group.
To reach the Langya Mountain hunting platform, one must traverse a dense forest, a journey that is not short.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting flickering shadows on the carriage curtains. The mountain road was uneven, and the carriage inevitably swayed. Listening to the sound of the wheels rolling over the mud and leaves, Lu Yuanyuan hugged her knees, drifting off to sleep. She didn't know how much time had passed when she suddenly felt the carriage jolt violently and come to an abrupt stop.
Lu Yuanyuan stumbled, woke up, lifted the curtain, looked ahead, and was somewhat surprised.
That's strange, shouldn't she be at the very back of the group?
At this moment, the woods ahead were lush and green, with no trace of any other carriages.
Was the carriage ahead going too fast? Or was her carriage going too slowly and falling behind?
No, now is not the time to think about these things. Lu Yuanyuan looked at the guard driving the carriage and asked, puzzled, "Why did we stop here?"
The guard driving the carriage knelt down and said, "Your Highness, the wheels are a little loose. I need to loosen the horses and check."
"Okay, loosen it now."
Lu Yuanyuan leaned back in the car, rubbing her sore and numb calves. Suddenly, a furious roar came from outside: "You come back here!"
What happened?
Lu Yuanyuan quickly climbed to the curtain and peeked out. She found that the horse had been frightened for some reason, and the reins had come loose, causing it to run away.
The guard yelled angrily and chased after him.
Soon, the dense canopy of branches swallowed his silhouette.
The situation happened too suddenly. By the time Lu Yuanyuan realized what had happened, she was all alone in the vast forest.
Lu Yuanyuan: "..."
She sat back in the carriage and waited.
At first, I thought the guard would return with the horse soon. However, half a day passed, the scorching autumn sun climbed to its zenith, and the shadows that had been flying across the grass gradually receded and drifted in another direction, but the guard still hadn't returned.
An ominous premonition welled up in Lu Yuanyuan's heart, and she clenched her palms.
Could something have happened?
No, if this continues, the sun will set.
Although she had never spent the night in the woods before, she knew how dangerous it could be after dark.
We can't just wait here.
She remembered that the hunting platform was to the east, and Yue Hong had taught her how to use sunlight to determine direction.
While it's still light, the sooner we set off, the sooner we'll arrive. There are soldiers patrolling near the observation platform; even if it's only within a hundred or two meters, it'll be good. As for wild animals… if there really are, are we really safe staying in this wooden carriage?
Lu Yuanyuan closed her eyes, made up her mind, tightened her trouser legs, got off the ground, picked up a handy long branch from the ground to cut through the grass and scout the way, in order to avoid stepping on snakes or sinkholes.
Guided by the setting sun, she carefully moved forward, parting the grass and heading east. The carriage behind her gradually disappeared into the forest.
She didn't know how long she had walked, but probably not long, because the sun hadn't completely sunk behind the mountains, when she suddenly heard a strange rustling sound coming from the distant woods.
Lu Yuanyuan stiffened, alertly picking up the stick, just as she heard a familiar voice coming from that direction: "Is anyone there?!"
That voice... Lu Yuanyuan exclaimed in disbelief, "Yue Hong?"
Lu Yuanyuan panicked and rushed over, practically tumbling and crawling. She saw a deep, sunken patch of grass, hidden by several dense bushes. If she hadn't deliberately parted the leaves, she probably wouldn't have noticed it even from a meter away. Yue Hong was sitting against a tree, without a horse or attendants, clutching his waist, faint traces of blood seeping from beneath.
"Yue Hong!"
The slope was very steep, and Lu Yuanyuan slid down it, half-sitting and half-crawling, until she reached Yue Hong's side. She asked anxiously, "What are you doing here? Are you injured?! Where's your horse?"
Having lived in Yong for two years, Lu Yuanyuan wasn't entirely unaware of the current situation. Her marriage partner was the Crown Prince of Yong, the son of the late Empress, not Consort Xie. If people found out that Yue Hong had a private relationship with her, it would definitely cause trouble for Consort Xie.
However, the situation was urgent, and there was no one else watching, so she didn't need to pretend that she didn't know Yue Hong.
Yue Hong was much calmer than her, and said, "The horse was startled and ran away."
Lu Yuanyuan frowned, staring at the bloodstains on his belt: "Then what about here..."
"I was accidentally injured by a trap. It must have been left by a hunter from the past. The bleeding has stopped, it's nothing serious."
Lu Yuanyuan remained silent, grabbing his wrist and insisting on looking. Fortunately, he didn't press down, and the bloodstains on his clothes didn't spread; the bleeding had indeed stopped. Lu Yuanyuan breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to look inside his clothes. But this time, Yue Hong refused to give in no matter what.
Lu Yuanyuan could only say, "Can you still stand up? Let me help you, and we'll walk back together. We need to find a doctor to take a look at you."
Yue Hong pulled her back to his side, and she was surprised by the strength he had, even though he was injured: "No, it's getting dark and we don't have any horses. It's better to spend the night in this downwind spot than to wander aimlessly in the woods."
Since he had said that, Lu Yuanyuan couldn't force him to stay, nor could she leave him alone. Looking up, she saw that the sky, which had just been illuminated by the afterglow of the setting sun, was now shrouded in a murky twilight. The light in the woods dimmed, and the path ahead became invisible. Countless trees intertwined and overlapped, as if something was hidden within, but upon closer inspection, there was nothing there.
This secluded hollow became a temporary refuge. Not to mention, there was Yue Hong nearby, who seemed to have plenty of yang energy.
As if to ease her unease, Yue Hong took her hand, squeezed it, and asked, "Are you hungry? I have some food on me."
Lu Yuanyuan whispered, "A little."
Yue Hong took out two steamed buns wrapped in a silk handkerchief from his pocket; they were still fragrant even though they were cold. Lu Yuanyuan took them and suddenly felt that something was wrong: "Didn't you fall off the horse? How come these buns aren't crushed? They're still so plump."
Yue Hong clicked his tongue lightly: "Are you going to eat it or not? If you ask me again, I won't give it to you."
"I was just asking."
Sigh, sometimes this guy's personality is really weird, and asking him doesn't help. Lu Yuanyuan thought to herself, silently eating her steamed bun. As the saying goes, don't forget the well-digger when you drink water, after eating the second steamed bun, she broke it in half and handed it to Yue Hong: "You eat some too."
Yue Hong snorted and turned his head away: "Is this how you offer flowers to Buddha? Do you want me to eat your saliva?"
Lu Yuanyuan was stunned for a moment, feeling somewhat wronged: "I didn't put this half in my mouth, it's clean."
A muttered voice drifted on the night breeze: "It's not even as good as having it in your mouth."
Lu Yuanyuan didn't hear clearly: "What did you say?"
"It's nothing." Yue Hong cleared his throat awkwardly. "Give it to me."
To his surprise, Lu Yuanyuan didn't hand the bun to him, but instead fed it directly into his mouth, her fingertips inevitably slipping lightly between his lips.
Yue Hong stopped moving, as if he had been struck by a magic acupoint, and fell silent for a moment.
Lu Yuanyuan didn't notice his strange behavior at first. After finishing her half, she turned around and found Yue Hong silently rubbing his lips with his fingertips, as if he was savoring something.
Lu Yuanyuan was puzzled for a second, then suddenly realized.
He was probably savoring the aroma of the steamed buns.
She knew Yue Hong must be hungry.
To repay Baozi's kindness, she had to do something. Lu Yuanyuan made a decision: "I won't sleep tonight. I'll keep watch, and you can sleep."
A pair of long arms reached out and pulled her body over.
Caught off guard, Lu Yuanyuan was pulled down to lie down with him, her head resting on his arm. He gently pressed the back of her head, and she buried her face in his chest. Yue Hong's voice rang out above her, leaving no room for argument: "Close your eyes and go to sleep."
The nights in the mountains were cold, but Yue Hong's body felt like a furnace.
Lu Yuanyuan struggled: "No, someone still needs to keep watch at night!"
Yue Hong clicked his tongue and emphasized, "I'll guard you, you go to sleep."
"But I'm afraid I'll be a restless sleeper and put pressure on your wound."
She struggled a few times, but her lips were covered with a soft "mmm." Yue Hong leaned closer, looked down at her, and narrowed his eyes slightly: "Langya Mountain has many man-eating beasts. If you keep moving around like this, what if you attract them..."
Lu Yuanyuan: "..." She suspected Yue Hong was trying to scare her. However, hearing his words, and seeing the rustling sounds around them, goosebumps still crept up her skin. She swallowed hard and asked cautiously, "What will happen?"
Yue Hong smirked: "Anyway, I can always outrun you."
Lu Yuanyuan: "..."
She increasingly felt that Yue Hong was trying to scare her.
Fortunately, I slept soundly through the night, and nothing happened.
The next morning, as the sunlight shone on her eyelids, Lu Yuanyuan was awakened by the sound of cavalry searching the mountains, and she also heard someone calling Yue Hong's name.
As her memories returned, her sleepiness vanished instantly. Lu Yuanyuan realized she was still lying in Yue Hong's arms, and she sat up abruptly.
Someone's here looking for you!
Lu Yuanyuan grabbed Yue Hong's arm and shook it, saying, "Yue Hong, I hear someone coming! Get up quickly!"
However, Yue Hong, who was full of energy last night, is now lying with his eyes closed, not waking up for a long time. But a check of his heart and breathing shows that everything is normal.
What's wrong with him?
Worried that the search party would leave, Lu Yuanyuan disregarded everything else, stood up, and shouted towards the outside of the pit, "We're here!"
Soon, the bushes rustled, and a soldier's head popped out: "Found him! His Highness the Third Prince is here!"
In a flash, soldiers swarmed the area, escorting two people who strode towards them. It was the Emperor of Yong Kingdom and Consort Xie, Yue Hong's birth mother. They had come in person to find him.
Upon arrival, they saw Yue Hong lying on the ground, his life hanging in the balance, with the Yan Kingdom princess, who had been missing all night, beside him. Both of them had ashen faces. Fortunately, at this moment, Yue Hong slowly opened his eyes, his gaze focusing: "Mother, Father..."
Upon seeing him awake, Consort Xie wept with joy and rushed to his side, crying out, "Hong'er! Hong'er!"
She turned around and said, "Your Majesty, look! Hong'er has woken up!"
The emperor's tense expression softened somewhat. He patted Consort Xie on the back to comfort her before asking, "What exactly happened? Who hurt you?"
Yue Hong closed his eyes briefly: "Yesterday I chased a golden-eyed white tiger to this place and left the group. The horse was startled by the commotion in the forest and ran away. I accidentally fell into a hunter's trap and was injured. After that, I passed out and don't remember anything. When I opened my eyes, I saw you."
The surroundings were completely silent.
The emperor stood under the canopy, looking at Lu Yuanyuan with eyes that held both anger and authority: "So it was you who saved Hong'er."
Yue Hong claimed that he had been unconscious, but his wounds had been bandaged, and Lu Yuanyuan happened to be with him. Therefore, it is not difficult to deduce what happened.
No.
Lu Yuanyuan sat amidst the messy weeds, her lips moving slightly.
When she arrived, Yue Hong's wounds had already been bandaged; it wasn't thanks to her. Besides, according to his current account, he shouldn't have opened his eyes the entire time. So, could the person who spoke to her last night, gave her steamed buns, and slept with her be a ghost?
Suddenly, she felt a hand, hidden by the grass, find her hand and squeeze it tightly.
Lu Yuanyuan was taken aback, and swallowed back the words that were about to burst out of her throat.
Her hands were wet and cold, with dirt still clinging to her fingernails. The large hand that held hers, however, was dry and warm, calloused from years of drawing bows and wielding knives, and it enveloped her.
Despite being a wounded and weak person, he radiated a fiery warmth.
Lu Yuanyuan's silence was tantamount to acquiescence. Consort Xie calmed down considerably, gently wiped away her tears, stood up, took the emperor's arm, and said softly, "Your Majesty, it seems that the princess saved Hong'er's life."
The emperor nodded: "What reward do you desire? Tell me."
"In my opinion, the princess is also quite frightened by this incident. Why don't we send Hong'er back to camp first and let the physician treat his injuries? We can ask him about the details later."
The emperor hummed in agreement: "That's true."
The palace servants, following orders, stepped forward and gently lifted Yue Hong onto the stretcher. Lu Yuanyuan had to make way for him. She felt Yue Hong squeeze her hand one last time before letting go, his grip much lighter.
Unlike before, this time it was more like a silent reassurance.
.
Upon returning to camp, all the physicians were summoned to the main tent, and the emperor and Consort Xie also went in together.
Lu Yuanyuan was naturally not allowed to enter. She was led to another tent to bathe and change into clean everyday clothes. The palace servants also brought her food, freshly roasted wild boar meat sprinkled with salt, sizzling with oil.
She had no appetite and kept glancing towards the door.
I wonder how Yue Hong is doing now.
She didn't answer the Emperor's question earlier. Consort Xie also said she would ask for details later. So, if they summon her for questioning later, how should she answer?
Yue Hong squeezed her hand just now, probably to make her go along with him and not tell the truth.
Lu Yuanyuan waited and waited, until she finished a whole plate of roast meat and even took a nap in her chair, but the emperor still didn't summon her.
Later, Lu Yuanyuan learned that many coincidences had occurred that day.
The convoy, which was originally scheduled to go to the hunting platform, was attacked by bears and the entire convoy was scattered.
If it weren't for the fact that her hunting attire was accidentally burned by the candlelight that day, slowing her down, she would have been in the middle of the main group. When the bears attacked, she would have been among the first to be hit.
Because she set off late, her carriage went astray in the forest without her even realizing it. That's why she couldn't see the rear of the carriage in front of her when the guards stopped the car.
However, it was thanks to this unexpected detour that she met Yue Hong.
One thing leads to another, as if every step was orchestrated by an invisible destiny, guiding her to good fortune and avoiding misfortune, and even... she was unfairly given credit.
Yue Hong held a prestigious position in the Yong Kingdom, being almost the most favored prince. Now, with the title of "the Third Prince's savior," her treatment in the Yong Kingdom and her reputation in the eyes of the Emperor and Consort Xie had risen accordingly.
But Lu Yuanyuan always felt that things weren't that simple.
Langya Mountain is rarely visited by humans and teems with wild beasts. Yue Hong said he came here chasing a white tiger. If he didn't catch it, it must still be lingering nearby. However, for a whole day and night, she heard no howls of any animals; apart from the sound of the wind and the rustling of grass, there was nothing else. It was as if the area had been cleared beforehand, and all the beasts had been driven away.
Secondly, this wasn't Yue Hong's first time hunting in Langya Mountain. Given his skills, would he really be so easily injured by a dilapidated trap?
If all of this wasn't a coincidence, but rather a carefully orchestrated scheme by Yue Hong, then she was undoubtedly the beneficiary. Through this incident, both Consort Xie and Yue Hong owed her favors. So why would Yue Hong do such a thing?
Lu Yuanyuan wanted to see Yue Hong and get some answers. However, a sudden battle report disrupted her plans.
Along with her, her chance at life as a princess sent for a political marriage was also torn apart.
After all, a princess sent for a political marriage is essentially a hostage. If the Yan Kingdom behaves itself, she might have a few more years of good life. But if the Yan Kingdom acts unethically, she, like a fish on a chopping board, is doomed.
Unexpectedly, things took an unexpected turn for the better.
Yue Hong pleaded for her.
.
Inside the Imperial Study.
The Emperor of Yongguo looked at the person kneeling in the hall and said in a stern tone, "Say it again."
Yue Hong knelt on the ground and said clearly, word by word, "Your subject dares to beg Your Majesty to spare the life of the Princess of Yan."
The Emperor of Yong slammed his hand on the table.
The surroundings were so quiet you could hear a pin drop. All the palace servants were trembling with fear, afraid that if they breathed too loudly, they would be heard.
Consort Xie looked worried and glanced at her son on the ground: "Your Majesty..." but was interrupted by the Emperor: "Let him continue."
Yue Hong raised his head and solemnly said, “Father, the Yan Kingdom has broken its promise and, according to the law, should indeed execute the Yan princess to establish the prestige of our Great Yong. However, the Yan princess has been dutiful these past few years and has just saved my life. If it weren’t for her, I would be a pile of dust by now. To the Yan Kingdom, she is nothing but a pawn; but to Father and to Great Yong, she is a pawn that can be used to our advantage. If we spare her life, it will better demonstrate the magnanimity of Great Yong, neither letting the Yan people who invade our borders go unpunished nor breaking our promise to repay their kindness. In the future, this will surely become a beautiful story in history.”
"Of course, Yan State has broken the treaty after all. Even if she doesn't die, she is no longer qualified to be the Crown Princess of Dayong. If Father Emperor is worried about spies getting close to her, he might as well put her under house arrest for now."
...
I heard that there is a large prison under the Yong Kingdom's palace. Every prisoner who has been there is either taken to the execution ground or goes insane when they come out, and can even grab dirt into their mouth.
Lu Yuanyuan wasn't imprisoned in the main jail, but instead placed under house arrest in a heavily guarded palace on the outskirts of the city. Although she couldn't leave, her treatment was far better than that of someone in jail. If it weren't for the imperial guards outside, one would think she was still in the palace.
Yue Hong didn't tell her exactly how he got the emperor to accept his opinion that day. However, there was no doubt that Yue Hong's previous avoidance of suspicion towards her had been a great help. Precisely because outsiders perceived her as the crown prince's person, and Yue Hong was at odds with the crown prince and had no personal relationship with her, it was possible to demonstrate that his plea for mercy at this critical moment was not out of personal motives, but for the greater good.
"Were you confident when you did this?"
Yue Hong patted her head, pondered for a moment, and then said, "I'm confident. However, there are always exceptions. If this path doesn't work, I'll have to use another method."
Lu Yuanyuan asked him what the other method was, but Yue Hong just smiled and refused to tell her.
On her first day at the palace, Lu Yuanyuan noticed something strange about this place where she was being held captive. The palace servants in the courtyard didn't seem like ordinary people; they weren't responsible for serving tea and water, but instead patrolled day and night in shifts, surrounding her bedroom in layers. Many cinnabar talismans were also pasted in every corner of the palace.
Talismans are naturally used to ward off evil spirits. So, are these people cultivators disguised as palace servants?
The biggest crisis had clearly been averted, and there had been no rumors of demons or ghosts harassing the people within a ten-mile radius. She couldn't understand what kind of monstrous threat Yue Hong was secretly planting these people in, acting as if facing a formidable enemy.
On the third day after arriving at the palace, Lu Yuanyuan finally learned the answer in a bloody and terrifying way.
This night was a moonless night.
Lu Yuanyuan looked towards the source of the sound. It turned out that the window had been blown against the wall by the wind.
She got out of bed, put on her shoes, and went to the window. The rain had been pouring since nightfall, and it seemed to be getting heavier. Through the open window, she could see the yellow talismans pasted on the pillars, damp with moisture.
Lu Yuanyuan leaned over and pulled the window back, then clicked the lock shut.
The thunder had faded away, the air was stagnant, and the room felt much stuffier. For some reason, she was restless tonight and couldn't fall asleep even when it was time to go to bed.
Perhaps the light was too bright.
Lu Yuanyuan walked around the bedroom, blowing out all the lamps. Only one small candle remained, its flame flickering weakly, seemingly about to go out.
She turned around, her gaze lingering on the window.
There were always hazy tree shadows on her window, even on moonless nights, the corridor lamps would cast the shadows onto the window paper. Was it an illusion? At this glance, the tree shadows on the window seemed much closer than before, almost covering her entire window.
Lu Yuanyuan's gaze stopped, and she frowned slightly. Under her gaze, the shadows of the trees on the window seemed to come alive, quickly swallowing up the remaining light and completely blocking the window.
The candlestick fell to the ground, and the flame went out, turning into a wisp of smoke.
Lu Yuanyuan took a step back in shock.
That wasn't a tree shadow, but rather thick, dark, wet clumps of hair!
Without the indoor light, the outline of the clump of hair occupying her window became even clearer, with a few strands already like seaweed, about to slip through the window cracks.
Could it be that what Yue Hong has been guarding against these past few days is...?
Oh, right, there are cultivators outside!
Lu Yuanyuan broke out in a cold sweat, flung open the door, rushed out into the corridor, and ran frantically toward the place she remembered being guarded. Lightning flashed across the sky, and she witnessed a horrifying scene.
The monks dressed as palace servants lay sprawled in the rain, thick blood washing over the blue bricks, and a lingering stench filled the air.
Lu Yuanyuan turned around and saw the corridor lights behind her going out one by one. Her black hair, like a wave, swallowed up the entire space of the corridor. She hurriedly stepped back, stepping on the rainwater on the steps. Just as she was about to fall to the ground, a hand steadily supported her lower back.
A bright sword light flashed through the rain, cutting the raindrops in two, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, "ding-ding" as they landed on the blade.
Author's Note: [Minor Ideas/Mini-Drama]
Yuehong: Beware of fire, theft, rivals, scheming women, and manipulative snakes! (=Benefit=)
The pig-slaughtering scam of fate has begun to turn. ︿(￣︶￣)︿
This side story is short, lighthearted, and purely sweet with no angst.
The reason why the reborn fox and snake didn't strike first, but instead chose to start from familiar territory, will be explained later.
Of course, another important reason is that if the fox and snake had arrived earlier, then the dog wouldn't have been involved in this side story. ╮(╯v╰)╭
[The cut-out mini-drama]
Duan Lansheng: Gods and immortals are fighting.
Yin Xiaozhu: Mortals were not invited.
Yue Hong: …………
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