Chapter 106 Never Breaking a Promise
Zhang Heze looked up with a hint of anger in his eyes, meeting Xiao Yongjing's cold gaze.
"what are you up to?"
His tone turned cold, and he made preparations with his hands.
"what are you up to?"
Xiao Yongjing countered with a question, his tone even, yet exuding authority without anger.
Their eyes clashed in mid-air, a subtle tension swirling between them.
The next second, Xiao Yongjing flipped his wrist, and his folding fan moved with lightning speed, striking Zhang Heze's arm pressure point directly. Zhang Heze was unable to dodge in time and took the hit.
Although he was skilled, Xiao Yongjing was clearly superior and had the upper hand.
In just a few moves, Zhang Heze felt a numbness in his arm as Xiao Yongjing deftly deflected his attack, causing him to stagger back a step.
Xiao Yongjing stopped looking at him, bent down, and with casual yet very careful movements, picked up Song Yiqiu horizontally.
He leaned close to Song Yiqiu's ear, his warm breath filling her earlobe, making her heart flutter.
"Stop pretending, Song Yiqiu. I know you're not drunk."
Startled by the commotion inside the courtyard, Bai Mei and Qing Zhu hurriedly put on their clothes and came out. They were both surprised to see the Crown Prince carrying their young mistress. They then exchanged a gossipy look and made way for him.
Ignoring Zhang Heze's unpleasant expression, Xiao Yongjing carried Song Yiqiu and walked into the house.
After closing the door, Xiao Yongjing looked down at the person in his arms, whose eyes were still tightly closed and whose eyelashes were trembling. He spoke with a teasing tone:
"What? Is it because my embrace is too warm that General Song is reluctant to leave?"
Knowing she couldn't keep up the act any longer, Song Yiqiu suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze clear and bright, showing no trace of drunkenness.
She glared coldly at Xiao Yongjing, struggled to jump out of his arms, and swayed slightly as she landed in her haste.
"Your Highness, please leave! My humble temple cannot contain such a great Buddha as you."
Xiao Yongjing wasn't angry. Instead, he walked around behind her with great interest, bent down, and his warm breath brushed against her neck, his tone low and ambiguous:
"General Song, you truly break my heart. I cooperated with you in this charade of getting drunk to avoid your love affair, is this how you treat your allies?"
Song Yiqiu turned aside to avoid his approach:
"Even if Your Highness doesn't show up, I have my own way of getting away."
She suddenly realized what he had said to Zhang Heze earlier and pressed him for an answer.
"What did you mean by what you just said to Lieutenant Zhang?"
Zhang Heze might have just taken it as the Crown Prince's usual intimidation, but she sensed something unusual in it.
Xiao Yongjing watched her wary expression with interest, then casually pulled out a chair and sat down, pouring himself a cup of cold tea.
"What? Are you worried about him?"
Song Yiqiu remained expressionless.
"Fine, don't tell me then. Please leave."
Xiao Yongjing stared at her stubborn expression and suddenly chuckled softly:
"General Song, you really are... charmingly straightforward."
The word "cute" came out of his mouth with an indescribable charm, causing Bai Mei and Qing Zhu in the room to widen their eyes instantly. What was going on?!
Song Yiqiu frowned slightly, looking at him impatiently.
Xiao Yongjing didn't care at all, his tone full of meaning:
“From childhood to adulthood, Xingrong has never given up on anything she sets her sights on. I remember when she was seven, the emperor found her a learned tutor, but just because he praised one of the princes in class, the tutor disappeared the next day. General Song, do you understand what I mean?”
Song Yiqiu frowned even more deeply:
"Lieutenant Zhang, he..."
"yes."
Xiao Yongjing interrupted her.
"Father and Consort Zhao dote on Xingrong, granting her every wish. How long do you think my dear sister can tolerate my interest in Zhang Heze?"
"Guess again, given Zhang Heze's unyielding nature, what will his ultimate fate be? Will he submit, or... disappear?"
Song Yiqiu's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes turned completely cold:
Why are you telling me all this?
Xiao Yongjing toyed with the teacup:
"Compared to your younger sister, you are indeed lacking in some aspects. When Xingrong was ten years old, the palace recruited eligible young ladies from all over the country to accompany her in her studies."
"As a result, none of them were able to leave her palace unscathed. Only your good sister Song Sangyu, and a few of her followers, stayed by her side for several years and are still alive and kicking. I'm telling you this because of... our current relationship."
Song Yiqiu lowered her head and remained silent for a moment.
The frontier is harsh and cold. To her, Zhang Heze was not only a comrade-in-arms but also family. She could not stand idly by and watch him be drawn into the princess's obsession and lose his life.
She raised her head and looked directly at Xiao Yongjing:
"Then what should I do?"
Xiao Yongjing put down his teacup, stood up, and walked to her again.
With his folding fan, he gently lifted Song Yiqiu's chin, forcing her to meet his gaze:
"Song Yiqiu, do you really want to save him?"
Song Yiqiu did not hesitate:
"yes."
Xiao Yongjing stared at her, confirming again:
Even if... there's a price to pay?
Unusually, Song Yiqiu didn't dodge the fan ribs, but looked back at him and asked, word by word:
What do you want?
Xiao Yongjing put down his folding fan and leaned lazily against a pillar against the wall.
"What I wanted...didn't the Crown Princess already agree to it?"
Crown Princess? !
These words startled Qingzhu, who was standing to the side, so much so that she almost dropped the tea tray she was holding.
Bai Mei was so shocked that she jumped up and stammered:
"Madam...the Crown Princess?!"
Song Yiqiu coughed lightly, choked by his blunt words, but she forced herself to remain calm on the surface, though her heart suddenly trembled.
She steadied herself and retorted:
"When did I agree to that?"
Xiao Yongjing smiled, his eyes crinkling, and pressed closer step by step:
"Now."
Song Yiqiu was speechless. This was simply a roundabout way of using Zhang Heze's safety to coerce her into agreeing to cooperate.
That... bitch!
She cursed inwardly, but slowly a warm smile appeared on her face, though her eyes were icy cold:
"good."
She should answer readily.
"You'd better remember what you promised me: protect Zhang Heze, or else..."
Before she could finish speaking, her figure flashed, and a cold light gleamed from her sleeve.
The silver hairpin that Xiao Yongjing had hidden in his palm when he picked her up was now firmly pressed against his carotid artery, exuding a chilling murderous aura.
Even the usually vigilant Xiao Yongjing was almost caught off guard by this sudden counterattack.
He subconsciously raised his hands and pretended to take a half step back, but there was no panic in his eyes. Instead, his aggressive admiration was almost overflowing.
Song Yiqiu's hand holding the silver hairpin trembled slightly. Although she was moving forward step by step, she felt inexplicably uncertain.
She didn't understand what Xiao Yongjing was trying to do. Even though she was used to strategizing, she couldn't figure out what he was thinking.
The feeling of losing control made her take two more steps forward, her eyes filled with undisguised murderous intent.
Xiao Yongjing chuckled softly, the threat at the side of his neck seeming nonexistent to him, and spoke leisurely:
"I never break my word."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
