After Spending a Passionate Night with the Eldest Princess - Chapter 16

Xin Yuan paused, embarrassment appearing on her face. For a moment, she did not know what to say.

Miss Qin slowly withdrew the smile from her lips, her gaze clean and cold. “Miss Xin, this is the last time.”

“What?” Xin Yuan was stunned.

“I also cannot stand the act of selling one’s daughter for glory.” She was not doing it because she had been threatened. Miss Qin looked deeply at her, then turned and left.

Sleeping with her eyes open? Hah. There were plenty of ways in this world to keep a person awake, unable to beg for life or death.

Xin Yuan stared blankly at that crimson figure from behind.

So, she meant this was the last time she would tolerate Xin Yuan saying threatening words.

That also meant this woman did not care about her threats at all.

Xin Yuan suddenly regretted her impulsiveness. She had come from the modern world, and some of her thoughts were inevitably preconceived, making her seem naive and laughable.

For example, the conditions she thought could be negotiated might be completely unworthy of mention in the other person’s eyes.

This was ancient times, an era with strict hierarchy, where power was greater than the heavens.

Only belatedly did she realize a cruel fact. This woman had a noble background and countless servants. Taking Xin Yuan’s life would be as easy as lifting a finger. How could she possibly be threatened by her?

After recognizing reality, a deep helplessness suddenly surged in Xin Yuan’s heart.

She lifted the corners of her mouth in self-mockery, finding some bitter amusement in the thought that at least she had woken up in time. Otherwise, she might not even know what day she died.

As she was thinking, the young guard named Jiang Si walked over.

“Miss Xin, Master asked me to escort you to the carriage. It is time to set off.”

Xin Yuan nodded absentmindedly and did not look toward Guo Xiaowu again. Since Miss Qin had already agreed, there should be no need for her to worry unnecessarily about what came next.

The facts were just as she expected. She and Jiang Si had only just gotten into the carriage when Guo Xiaowu followed them in.

Xin Yuan could not help glancing at her.

Solved that quickly?

Guo Xiaowu was also full of things she wanted to say. Once she sat down, she could not help asking, “What did you say to Miss Qin?”

Thinking of the scene just now, she still felt lingering fear.

One moment, she had been talking nonsense with that foolish second brother of hers. The next, a group of guards had come over and directly surrounded them with drawn swords.

It had frightened both her and Second Brother so badly that neither dared breathe loudly.

Then she had been escorted back by the guards, and she had no idea what happened afterward.

Xin Yuan’s face turned slightly pale. What had she said to that woman?

She had tried to threaten her and ended up being threatened instead. Just thinking about it made her feel stifled.

She tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Nothing. Miss Qin agreed to help. You can relax now.”

Guo Xiaowu still wanted to ask more, but after glancing at the young guard standing there like a wooden stake, she silently suppressed her curiosity.

Behind them, Young Master Guo looked at Tang Er and the others, who were still holding their sabers horizontally and watching him like tigers eyeing prey. He still did not dare make a sound, so he could only give Uncle Niu a look, signaling for him to speak.

The corner of Uncle Niu’s mouth twitched. He cupped his hands toward Tang Er first, then mustered his courage and asked, “May I ask what Your Excellency means by this?”

Tang Er sheathed his saber and said coldly, “Her Highness has given an order. Fifth Miss Guo is an honored guest of the Eldest Princess’s residence. If Young Master Guo remains stubborn and dares offend her, he will be killed without mercy.”

After saying this, he waved his hand and led the dozens of guards who had stayed behind to mount their horses, no longer paying any attention to Young Master Guo.

Only after they had gone far away did Young Master Guo recover his courage. “What did he mean by that?”

Uncle Niu sighed softly. “The Eldest Princess has likely learned our identities.” And she had also revealed her own to them.

From now on, they could not continue following.

Young Master Guo clenched his fists and said, “I know. That damned girl must have told her. Come. I want to ask what exactly ‘killed without mercy’ means.”

He was Prince Chang Guo’s beloved son and the future heir to the princely title. Could the Eldest Princess really kill him? It was all those guards’ fault for looking too intimidating, causing him to forget how to react in his fright.

“Young Master!” Uncle Niu called out heavily. “Haste makes waste. If we continue following and anger the Eldest Princess, she could charge us with great disrespect. It is possible that she could kill every one of us.”

Young Master Guo froze, then scoffed. “Kill all of us? So what if she is the Eldest Princess? Father King will definitely avenge me…”

“Young Master, mind your words. There are only a dozen or so of us. If the Eldest Princess intends to cover it up, who would know how we lost our lives, or whose hands we died by?” Seeing his reckless manner, Uncle Niu could only exaggerate the risk.

Hearing this, Young Master Guo kept a stern face and thought for a long while. He said nothing more and no longer mentioned following them.

Father King had controlled the northern lands for many years and commanded many troops. If Young Master Guo died, Father King could use avenging him as a reason to rebel directly.

The main point was that he felt using his own life to help Father King achieve his great cause was not worth it.

He was meant to enjoy the fruits of success and inherit the throne. He could not die before accomplishing anything.

Seeing that he seemed to have understood, Uncle Niu felt slightly relieved. But his expression remained grave. Judging from the Eldest Princess’s attitude, he feared this trip to the capital would be difficult to accomplish.

And there was also Fifth Miss, who had been missing for many days. She had actually obtained the Eldest Princess’s protection. This matter had to be reported to the prince quickly so he could make a decision. Otherwise, if the young master continued making trouble, forget accomplishing anything—they might all be in grave danger…

As for Xin Yuan’s side, she had originally thought she would be able to sleep properly that afternoon. But because of one careless move, she ended up being watched by the young guard again.

She wanted to sleep but did not dare close her eyes, so she could only force her eyelids open and stare blankly.

After sitting there dazedly for a while, her eyes lifeless, she was just beginning to feel bored when she heard a sharp smack. Her ears instantly buzzed, and the other side of her face went numb too.

Xin Yuan covered her face and gritted her teeth. “I did not close my eyes!”

If looks could eat people, she would have already swallowed the young guard whole with her wide-eyed glare.

Jiang Si subconsciously rubbed his hand, his feelings also somewhat complicated. “My apologies. Master instructed that Miss Xin has the ability to sleep with your eyes open. As long as you go five breaths without blinking, I must wake you.”

Still with a slap. Still without holding back.

Xin Yuan’s expression twisted. She was so angry the corners of her mouth trembled. If she did not blink for five seconds, he would slap her!

Good. Very good. Ruthless enough!

She really wanted to curse, but she also knew the young guard was only following orders.

In the end, that woman was warning her. If she dared threaten her again, even breathing might become a crime.

At the side, Guo Xiaowu touched her own face. “Xin Yuan, can you really sleep with your eyes open?”

Just how exactly had this sister offended the Eldest Princess? Miserable. Truly miserable. Miserable, miserable, miserable!

She suddenly felt that she herself was very blessed. At least she could blink whenever she wanted. Oh, and she could also close her eyes at any time.

Xin Yuan rubbed her aching, swollen face and said word by word, “I can my ass.”

In her anger and grievance, she truly could not help cursing.

Guo Xiaowu looked at Xin Yuan’s face, swollen like risen dough, her eyes full of sympathy. “Don’t hold a grudge against Miss Qin either. Apologize to her tonight. If we offend her, we just have to admit defeat.”

They had no choice but to admit defeat. Miss Qin was the current dynasty’s Eldest Princess.

Holding a grudge was even more impossible. Holding a grudge against the Eldest Princess was just courting death.

Xin Yuan clenched her fingers hard and said furiously, “Stop the carriage. I want to see your master.”

If she could not provoke that woman and could not avoid her either, then she could at least go glare under that woman’s nose, right? If this beating continued, would her face not be swollen every day?

But the coachman only focused on driving the carriage and had no intention of stopping at all.

Jiang Si said expressionlessly, “Master instructed that she will not see Miss Xin.”

Xin Yuan: “…”

She and that woman could not live under the same sky. She was going to die of anger.

After that, Xin Yuan passed an extremely difficult afternoon. Closing her eyes was not allowed. Going a few seconds without blinking was not allowed either. She felt as if she was about to lose control of her facial features.

Near dusk, the procession finally reached the city.

“We’ve arrived in Yongzhou. Yongzhou is right next to the capital. We should be able to enter the capital around noon tomorrow.” Guo Xiaowu lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the two large characters on the city gate tower.

Her future was just like Yongzhou under the setting sun—hazy and unclear.

Xin Yuan did not speak. She had been holding back a mouthful of anger the whole time. As soon as the carriage stopped, she rushed out, shut her eyes hard, then shook her head with her eyes wide open. Only then did she feel alive again.

When she was arranged to share a room with Guo Xiaowu, and the young guard followed them inside to continue watching her, she felt as though she was about to die all over again.

Xin Yuan secretly gritted her teeth. After dinner, she walked outside.

Jiang Si dutifully followed, staying close at every step.

Xin Yuan stopped, raised her hand, and knocked on the door, smiling especially brightly. “Miss Qin, I’ve come to drink and chat merrily with you.”

Jiang Si looked at her slightly chilling smile and silently turned around, standing outside the door.

A moment later, the door opened, accompanied by Miss Qin’s calm and steady voice.

“Please come in.”