The sound of bamboo clappers marking the night watch echoed in the distance. In the main hall of the Ji family residence, three elderly maids and two young servant girls stood rigidly at attention, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Ji Yingying stifled a yawn, but after receiving a stern glare from Matron Li, she quickly straightened her back and sat properly.
“Young Miss, please endure a bit longer. We mustn’t let those Nanzhao barbarians look down upon us.”
“I understand.”
Ji Yingying shifted slightly, knowing she had to endure the full two-hour watch from Zi Hour to Chou Hour. Sitting ramrod straight was exhausting. That cursed Sheng Fengze—was he planning to appear only at the end of Zi Hour?
“Yingying.” Ji Yaoting entered through the doorway and, noting the tense atmosphere in the hall, couldn’t help but comment, “Have you been sitting like this the whole time?”
Matron Li gave a slight bow and said, “Young Master, please have a seat.”
The usually warm and friendly matron had such a stern expression that Ji Yaoting fell silent and obediently sat beside his sister.
“When the Madam wakes up, she would never approve of you showing such deference to that black-hearted villain. The Madam would rather die than bow her head to him.”
The siblings exchanged glances, knowing that their mother’s illness had thoroughly angered the three maids who had originally served in a marquis’s household. Ji Yingying spread her arms, displaying her wide sleeves, before properly folding them back in her lap, gesturing for her brother to look at her appearance.
Ji Yaoting finally realized the source of his earlier unease. His sister was in full formal dress! Her hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with four symmetrical coral hairpins. She wore a pomegranate-red, bird-patterned jacket trimmed with marten fur that had been made for the New Year. Seated on the low couch before the screen, she looked every bit the noble lady. The three matrons and the maids Ying’er and Xiang’er were also dressed formally and properly. These women—Ji Yaoting didn’t know what to make of it.
Who were they trying to intimidate? The other party was the prince of Nanzhao, a titled king! How naive!
Ji Yingying spoke softly: “The matrons say that Nanzhao is a land of harsh mountains and treacherous waters, inhabited by barbarians who greatly revere the Imperial court’s etiquette.” As she spoke, she raised her eyebrows and winked at her brother. Ji Yaoting could only shake his head and remain silent.
Ji Yaoting sat for another half hour, but still, there was no sign of Sheng Fengze. With nothing to say between them, the hall gradually fell into an unusual silence.
Ji Yingying had long grown weary of sitting, and her eyelids began to droop. She didn’t know how long she had dozed when a sharp, spicy sensation in her nose caused her to sneeze violently, suddenly jolting her awake.
Sheng Fengze’s face loomed before her, so close she could see his long eyelashes. Ji Yingying was startled and fell backward. His hand caught her head as he teased, “Careful not to fall—those beautiful hairpins might scratch your face.”
Ji Yingying turned her head to see her brother slumped in his armchair, while the matrons and Ling’er and Xiang’er all lay on the ground. She rose in shock, but Sheng Fengze pressed down on her shoulder: “Seeing such a grand reception, I wondered if I should kowtow to you in greeting, so I let them sleep for a while.”
Just unconscious. Ji Yingying relaxed slightly but glared at him: “Where’s the medicine?”
Sheng Fengze leaned down, resting his hand on the armchair’s handle, casting his shadow over her: “You should be begging me. Why do you act as if I owe you something? Dressed so beautifully to receive me, you should speak gently like a true noble lady.”
Others might have swallowed their pride and spoken sweetly to beg him. But Ji Yingying couldn’t stomach it, pushing against him forcefully: “You harmed my mother! Will you give me the antidote or not? Either kill me, or I’ll tell everyone about your scheme to steal the Yizhou brocade secret formula!”
Her strength was like that of an ant trying to shake a tree. Sheng Fengze allowed her to strike him while easily catching her wrist: “Such a fiery temper. Killing you would be easier than crushing an ant. But what benefit would there be in killing your entire household? However, if you want to spread such tales, I can’t guarantee I won’t change my mind.”
Ji Yingying struggled to free her hand, but Sheng Fengze straightened up and pulled her into his embrace.
“What do you want? You said you’d bring the medicine at Zi Hour tonight. Give me the medicine and leave.”
“Nanzhao enjoys spring all year round, with blooming flowers everywhere, green mountains, and mirror-like blue lakes. It’s an extremely beautiful place. You call the Nanzhao people barbarians, but ‘man’ doesn’t mean savage—it means straightforward and honest.”
Ji Yingying looked at him with a cold smile: “A barbarian who carelessly embraces young ladies, showing no shame!”
Sheng Fengze released her and turned his palm up, revealing a medicine bottle: “After taking this medicine, your mother will wake up, and her health will be better than before.”
He spread his arms: “Embrace this barbarian willingly, and I’ll give it to you.”
Because she had called him shameless, he wanted her to act shamelessly and throw herself into his arms. Ji Yingying’s face flushed with anger as she cursed, “You, you’re truly shameless!”
Sheng Fengze delighted in watching her eyes fill with struggle and anger as he continued to tempt her: “Just one embrace—I won’t touch a single hair on your head. If you hesitate longer, This King might change his mind and require a kiss instead.”
Just one embrace—like hugging a pig or a dog! Ji Yingying closed her eyes and hugged him firmly: “There, satisfied?”
Sheng Fengze’s hand locked around her waist, preventing her from leaving. He lowered his head and laughed near her ear: “Let me tell you—Yang Jingyuan is watching from the roof across the way.”
Ji Yingying trembled in fear. She opened her eyes, but Sheng Fengze blocked her view.
“He saw me drug everyone in the room and wake only you.”
“He saw you throw yourself into my arms, nestling against me intimately.”
“And you must keep silent about it. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee your mother will truly wake up. Ji Yingying, what will you do?” Sheng Fengze finished speaking and released her, placing the medicine bottle in her hand. “He came to the Ji residence to question you after I left at noon, didn’t he? But he didn’t tell you he was following me. You see, he’s not completely honest with you either.”
He laughed with extreme pleasure, his eyes gleaming.
Yang Jingyuan had come during the day—he had seen Sheng Fengze. He hadn’t just happened to pass by to check on her. His words had carried other meanings. He had known all along that she knew Sheng Fengze. At the courier station, he had even dragged her to meet him. Ji Yingying’s face turned pale: “Why are you trying to drive a wedge between us?”
Sheng Fengze smiled: “Seeking refuge with the Yang family, daring to break faith and play games with me—you should have known the Ji family would pay the price sooner or later. As for Yang Jingyuan…” His smile grew brighter, “Ji Yingying, he’s not the strong tree you can rely on. At most… he’s a sapling This King can break at will. Following me will have its consequences too. Farewell!”
“Stop!”
Sheng Fengze turned back.
“I’ll give you the Ji family’s dying secret. Please… please spare us? I was foolish before, I offended Your Highness. I’m begging your forgiveness, please?” Ji Yingying clenched her fists. In all her life, she had never begged anyone against her will like this. The humiliation and grievance felt like stones pressing against her chest, almost unbearable.
Her dark pupils flickered with fear and anxiety. Her eyes were red, like a rabbit’s.
From the first time she had gone to watch the commotion at the Zhao family, Ji Yingying had never forgotten to scratch and fight back when cornered. Seeing her suddenly submit and surrender, Sheng Fengze stared at her as if she were a stranger, completely unaccustomed to this version of Ji Yingying.
He suddenly realized: “You’re begging me for Yang Jingyuan’s sake?”
Ji Yingying looked at him, biting her lip. Begging Sheng Fengze and admitting her wrongs had already made her want to find a hole to crawl into.
Sheng Fengze looked at her expressionlessly and said slowly: “Too late!”
He strode out of the main hall, cast a challenging glance toward the roof across the way, and vanished into the darkness.