The Seventh Princess Insists on Making Me Be a Kept Woman (GL) - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: The Triple Denial

“Your Highness,” Lian Liejin took a pill from her cuff and gave it to Gao Jingxi. “This medicine can replenish Stellar Energy.”

Unexpectedly, with no time to catch their breath, one wave hadn’t subsided before another arose. Rustling footsteps sounded all around them. Lian Liejin slightly narrowed her eyes and whispered in Gao Jingxi’s ear, “Your Highness, how are your swimming skills?”

“You, you’re suggesting we escape through the water?”

“Your Highness, we don’t know how many assassins there are. Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, escape is the best. Besides, you need to heal.”

Without waiting for the weakened woman’s reply, Lian Liejin once again picked up Gao Jingxi in a bridal carry and strode toward the riverbank, deliberately choosing the direction with taller grass.

“Your Highness, the river water will be cold. Endure it. Take a deep breath now, close your eyes. I will hold you the whole time.”

The river water in the middle of winter was icy cold; in some places, a thin layer of ice had formed. After entering the water, the feeling of cold immediately seized both of them.

The already weak and injured Gao Jingxi fiercely clung to Lian Liejin—because Her Highness the Seventh Princess, who was always intelligent, studious, and quick-witted, could not swim.

The last time, in the hot spring, Lian Liejin had tossed her in and she choked on the water. This time, the dark and deep river water instilled even greater fear in her heart.

Feeling Gao Jingxi tremble with fear, like a startled young animal, Lian Liejin held the woman in her arms and swam toward the deeper, more distant parts of the river.

Gradually, Gao Jingxi noticed that her body wasn’t as cold. The person holding her tightly was burning hot, emitting a reassuring warmth.

After swimming for a while, Lian Liejin surfaced with Gao Jingxi to take a breath.

“Liejin, I feel awful.”

Looking at Gao Jingxi’s pale cheeks and wet eyes, a strange feeling arose in Lian Liejin’s heart. She hugged Gao Jingxi tightly again. “Just hold on a little longer. We’re not far from the opposite bank.”

On the other side of the riverbank, it seemed many people were holding torches. As the numbers increased, they were nearly illuminating the entire river surface.

“Your Highness, take a deep breath. We need to stay underwater for longer this time.”

More and more people gathered on the bank. Gao Jingxi nodded and sank into the water with Lian Liejin again.

The river in Changyong City was called Suiyu (Shattered Jade). It circled the entire city, acting as a natural moat.

The water weeds at the bottom were regularly cleared, so the two of them swam quite smoothly. Lian Liejin swam quickly. Gao Jingxi’s left hand was fiercely clutching her clothes, and her right hand still held the radish lantern.

Gradually, Lian Liejin felt the hand gripping her clothes lose its strength—Gao Jingxi had almost half-fainted.

Since the entire river surface was illuminated, Lian Liejin could easily see Gao Jingxi underwater: her eyes were tightly shut, and her pearly teeth were clenched against her lip.

Because Lian Liejin was burning hot, Gao Jingxi didn’t feel cold; she just couldn’t hold her breath anymore. After sustaining internal injuries, she felt even shorter of breath and weak.

Finally, a mouthful of air was transferred. Gao Jingxi gained enough strength to open her eyes. She saw Lian Liejin’s magnified face and felt the warmth and tingling on her lips.

She’s being taken advantage of by Lian Liejin again! Gao Jingxi instinctively kicked Lian Liejin in the exact same spot she had kicked her last time.

Although Gao Jingxi’s old wounds hadn’t healed and she had new injuries, this kick was still quite powerful.

It sent Lian Liejin retreating two meters, looking pained. Several bubbles emerged from her mouth, but she reluctantly swam back, wanting to embrace the non-swimming Gao Jingxi.

The underwater world was very quiet. Gao Jingxi could see the panic in Lian Liejin’s peach-blossom eyes, and a hint of… pity? Perhaps it was her imagination.

It was just that at this moment, Lian Liejin’s eyes looked too much like the tabby cat she used to keep. The brownish eyes held a gentle glimmer. When it was poisoned to death, it desperately tried to “meow” at her, even though no sound came out.

For some reason, Lian Liejin noticed Gao Jingxi’s eyes seemed to be turning red, and her whole body was slowly sinking into the water, like a red lotus from a celestial mountain opening in reckless abandon.

Lian Liejin hesitated no longer. She wrapped her arms around Gao Jingxi’s waist, and regardless of whether the Princess consented, she transferred several more breaths to her before stopping.

She truly didn’t understand how Gao Jingxi, a land-dweller who couldn’t swim or hold her breath for long, could be so “afraid of the doctor”.

Lian Liejin forcibly held Gao Jingxi in her arms. The two of them swam in the water for another half an hour, surfacing twice to catch their breath. They finally reached the bank at a patch of reeds.

After being in the water for a long time, and being injured, Gao Jingxi was now completely unconscious. Lian Liejin held the woman in her arms and quickly found a cave that offered shelter from the wind.

Both of them were soaked, like drowned spirits. Gao Jingxi’s forehead felt hot; she had clearly developed a fever.

Gao Jingxi’s eyes were tightly shut in her arms, and the lips that had been full and rosy were now drained of color. Even in a coma, the woman’s body was trembling slightly.

Seeing this, Lian Liejin couldn’t bear it. She took out the black jade she kept over her heart and tossed it aside. Then, a thin layer of black mist suddenly rose from behind her. The black mist was shaped like a phoenix preparing to fly. Meanwhile, her eyes flowed with a lava-like gold that gradually covered her entire iris.

The Black-Feathered Phoenix circled Gao Jingxi. In less than a quarter of an hour, her lips returned to their original redness, and her clothes were completely dry—her internal injuries had recovered by more than half.

Lian Liejin retrieved the black jade from the ground, checked Gao Jingxi’s pulse again, and nodded with satisfaction. She took another pill from her cuff, pinched Gao Jingxi’s chin, and was about to feed her the medicine.

Unexpectedly, Gao Jingxi woke up very quickly. Before the medicine reached her mouth, the two were staring wide-eyed at each other again.

“Your Highness! Your humble servant merely intended to feed you another pill! I absolutely have no ill intentions towards you!” Lian Liejin quickly withdrew her hand and placed the pill in Gao Jingxi’s palm. “Even if you beat me to death, it’s impossible for me to like you.”

“I can swear to the heavens!” Lian Liejin squatted on the ground, pointing a finger at the sky, her other hand behind her back. “My heart is witnessed by the vast heavens.”

Completely awakened by Lian Liejin’s magnetic baritone voice, Gao Jingxi shot a displeased glance at the cold, black-clad girl before her, feeling that she was somewhat protesting too much.

“How are our clothes dry?”

“This…” Lian Liejin saw Gao Jingxi’s dark, bright eyes, and her heart began to thump. “Your humble servant started a fire. Didn’t Your Highness see your humble servant starting a fire today?”

Fortunately, there was indeed a patch of leftover ash from a previous fire nearby. Gao Jingxi asked with a half-smile, “So, you took off my clothes again?”

Lian Liejin: “…” I didn’t, I haven’t! Even if you are a Princess, you can’t just make up things.

“Let’s go back,” Gao Jingxi ignored Lian Liejin, pressing her lips together. “The person who attacked us was a high-ranked Star Tamer. Although I severely wounded him, it doesn’t mean they won’t send more people.”

They dared not send any signal to A You. A high-ranked Star Tamer had mastered the Stellar Domain—the ability to create a spatial illusion to isolate and shield a fight, or even send enemies into a time-warping space, ensuring they never return.

Luckily, before the enemy’s Stellar Domain was fully formed, Gao Jingxi used a self-destructive move that effectively suppressed its formation.

However, they couldn’t be careless yet. Only by returning to the Princess’s residence could they be truly safe.

Slowly sitting up from the ground, Gao Jingxi expected a sharp pain, as she had been severely injured just moments ago.

She eyed Lian Liejin suspiciously. She knew how severe the injury was. Even with the Imperial Physician’s medicine, it would require at least three months of recovery.

So, what kind of miracle medicine allowed her to recover by more than half in such a short time?

“Your Highness, do you have any idea about the mastermind behind your assassination?”

To ease the strange, awkward atmosphere, Lian Liejin actively started a conversation.

It was already late at night. A cold moon hung in the sky. Gao Jingxi walked ahead, asking lightly, “Who does the Consort think would assassinate me? The Lian family has been loyal for three generations and never participated in factional struggles. Presumably, the Old Duke has taught you much. Can’t you guess who it is?”

There was a lot of wet mud under the reeds. Lian Liejin carefully avoided the puddles. “Not exactly. Your humble servant left Changyong when I was five and hasn’t returned once in thirteen years.”

“Not even once?” Gao Jingxi was surprised. The Duke of Yan’s fondness for Lian Liejin was well-known. He had sent hundreds of people to welcome her back to Changyong, an entourage with great pomp and fanfare.

“No. My father and I both prefer to stay together than part. Since meeting always leads to separation, it’s better not to meet.”

Not paying attention to the path ahead, Lian Liejin lowered her head, and her chin bumped right into the back of Gao Jingxi’s head.

One covered her mouth, the other rubbed her head. Both winced in pain, tears welling up.

“Hiss,” Gao Jingxi turned around, rubbing her head fiercely, pouting slightly. “What kind of thing is that to say?”

“Alas, that’s what your humble servant believes. However, it’s probably because he misses my mother,” Lian Liejin shrugged. “He says my eyes are too similar to my mother’s, and it causes him too much pain.”

“I remember the Duchess passed away from illness more than ten years ago. I even ate the sugar cake she made. Your mother was a very gentle woman.”

Lian Liejin looked intently at Gao Jingxi. “Thank you, Your Highness, for remembering. Mother was afraid of loneliness. The more people who remember her, the less lonely she will be.”