Chapter 094
Chapter 94: Take This Lowly Wretch and Chop Her Head Off
The inn was quiet until a sharp, commanding voice suddenly rang out: “Her Highness the Princess has arrived!”
Dressed in luxurious robes, with her hair adorned in pearls and jade, Chu Zhi Rou radiated nobility and grace. Her face, as smooth and fair as congealed fat, held delicate features lightly touched with makeup. Her eyebrows carried an air of superiority and arrogance.
Moments later, the door to the room was kicked open.
“Bang!”
Shi Zi Chu, who had been lying fully clothed, turned over with a start. Her eyes fluttered open just in time to see several guards, armed with knives, burst into the room.
The imposing guards were terrifying in their stature. They locked their gaze on Shi Zi Chu, but did not act immediately.
Not long after, Chu Zhi Rou entered the room, supported by a palace maid.
Seeing Shi Zi Chu lying motionless on the bed, the palace maid instantly adopted a bullying tone, shouting, “You lowly wretch! How dare you not salute when Her Highness the Princess arrives?!”
Looking at Shi Zi Chu’s thin, yellowish, and darkened face, Chu Zhi Rou felt no jealousy—only disdain filled her eyes as she looked down on her.
Shi Zi Chu sat up lazily and yawned.
“The noble Her Highness the Princess has graced us with her presence. What advice do you have for me?” Her sleepy voice rang out, laced with a casual, dismissive tone that showed no respect for Chu Zhi Rou.
[Did you see the fine silver ring on her finger? That should have been your spatial storage ring!] System 003’s voice echoed in Chu Zhi Rou’s mind.
Chu Zhi Rou focused and finally noticed the small, unadorned silver ring on Shi Zi Chu’s left ring finger, plain and simple.
As the system had said, that ring should have been hers!
A determined gleam flashed in Chu Zhi Rou’s eyes, and the next moment, her haughty voice rang out, “Hold her down.”
Before the words could even fade from the air, two guards moved swiftly to the bed and seized Shi Zi Chu, forcing her to kneel on the ground.
As they dragged her down, Shi Zi Chu’s mind raced. She had only just arrived in the capital, so why had Chu Zhi Rou found her so quickly? Even as a princess, it would take time to gather people, wouldn’t it?
And those eyes… did Chu Zhi Rou know that the ring was a spatial storage ring?
Had she found some opportunity?
As Shi Zi Chu lowered her head, Chu Zhi Rou was already stepping closer.
Chu Zhi Rou smiled cruelly. “Cut off her left hand.”
The guard drew his sword and slashed toward Shi Zi Chu’s left hand.
In the blink of an eye, a golden hook phoenix butterfly fluttered its wings above Shi Zi Chu’s head.
“Ahhh!!”
One after another, the piercing cries of pain filled the air.
When Ye He Qi entered the room, he found Shi Zi Chu sitting helplessly on the floor, looking frail and vulnerable.
In stark contrast, the guards who had been holding the knives had been reduced to pools of blood, their deaths swift and without hope of rescue.
The room, once full of palace maids, eunuchs, and guards, was now empty, with only Shi Zi Chu and Chu Zhi Rou untouched.
Seeing Chu Zhi Rou’s expression of terror, unable to even scream, Shi Zi Chu’s eyes flicked toward Ye He Qi. She gave him a pitiful look and called out, “Husband, save me~”
?!
Chu Zhi Rou was so shocked that she froze, her mind spinning. “Big Brother?! How… How could Big Brother be here?!”
Looking at the tearful Shi Zi Chu, Ye He Qi felt a strong urge to turn and leave.
His guards, trailing behind him, were equally stunned. When had this peasant girl become married to the Seventh Prince?
They had no idea!
Under Shi Zi Chu’s subtly threatening gaze, Ye He Qi could only adopt a concerned, gentle expression and approached to lift her up.
Shi Zi Chu sobbed, clutching his shoulder as she whispered in a trembling voice, “Husband, she’s killing people and framing me, woo woo…”
Why had he come?
Why did he believe that Shi Zi Chu would be the one to suffer?
Ye He Qi silently asked himself for the third time.
But in the end, he turned his gaze to Chu Zhi Rou, his voice refined. “Ninth sister is a wise woman.”
He said no more, and with that, Ye He Qi left with Shi Zi Chu in his arms.
Chu Zhi Rou stared at their departure, dumbfounded. It took her a long time to regain her composure.
Big Brother actually… with Shi Zi Chu? Impossible!
System 003’s voice rang out, reminding her of her next move: [You should take this opportunity to go to the palace and report the matter. How could the Seventh Prince be more important than the Emperor?]
…
Inside the carriage.
Shi Zi Chu sat obediently on one side, her hands placed neatly on her lap, her posture prim and demure.
Ye He Qi, glancing at her innocent, almost angelic appearance, couldn’t help but sigh. He pressed his fingers to his forehead, exhausted.
Perhaps… perhaps it would be better if she were dead.
Shi Zi Chu, smiling mischievously, tilted her head. “Help me with something.”
“Speak.”
“The Bone Dissolving Elixir. Chu Zhi Rou,” Shi Zi Chu said simply.
Ye He Qi raised a hand and tapped on the window frame. The guard outside immediately responded, “What orders does Master have?”
“Send a few bottles of Bone Dissolving Elixir to Ninth Sister’s residence,” Ye He Qi instructed.
The guard acknowledged the command and left.
Once the orders were given, Ye He Qi’s eyes fell on Shi Zi Chu’s hair.
The golden hook phoenix butterfly had perched there, like a delicate hairpin.
Shi Zi Chu, ignoring Ye He Qi’s searching gaze, spoke casually. “Phosphorus powder was also placed on your little sister, but she’s fine.”
Thinking of the guards and palace maids who had turned into blood in an instant, Ye He Qi’s expression darkened.
In the Three Thousand Worlds, there was no spiritual power, meaning no magic artifacts could be used. Yet, Chu Zhi Rou had survived the phosphorus powder without a scratch.
She certainly had some powerful artifacts.
Shi Zi Chu extended her hand. “Shall we cooperate?”
Ye He Qi raised his hand and slapped hers, agreeing, “A pleasant cooperation, Prince’s Consort.”
With Shi Zi Chu’s help, his task would become much easier. Mutual benefit for both, why not?
Before they could return to the Prince’s estate, however, the Emperor summoned them.
Imperial Study.
Chu Zhi Rou, her eyes red and swollen, sat on a stool, occasionally wiping away her tears with a handkerchief.
The Emperor, seated on the dragon throne, looked utterly heartbroken.
When Ye He Qi and Shi Zi Chu entered, they were greeted with the sight of an ink stone being hurled to the floor.
Both of them instinctively slowed their steps as the ink stone crashed with a muffled sound.
Before either could kneel, the Emperor’s voice rang out, full of fury. “Take this lowly wretch and chop her head off!”
“Royal Father!” Ye He Qi cried out, straightening his back and speaking clearly, “Please, Royal Father, hear me out!”
Without the Emperor’s command, the imperial guards outside dared not enter.
The Emperor, silent for a moment, seemed to give a tacit nod, allowing Ye He Qi to speak.
“When I was gravely injured at the border pass, it was Zi Chu who saved me,” Ye He Qi said, bowing low. “It is thanks to her that I still live, and I led the army to defeat the Chu Kingdom.”
The Emperor glanced at the thin, fragile peasant girl, and his anger seemed to ease slightly.
Chu Zhi Rou wiped her tears, sounding hurt and sorrowful. “Royal Brother…”
“Ninth sister, how can you lie before Royal Father?” Ye He Qi’s voice was gentle, yet carried a note of reproach. “Zi Chu is just an orphan, how could she possess Bone Dissolving Elixir?”
With that, he turned to the Emperor. “Royal Father, please see reason!”
The Emperor, sensing it was a misunderstanding, waved his hand. “Forget it.”
He wasn’t about to scold his beloved daughter over a mere peasant girl.
Chu Zhi Rou looked furious, but the Emperor had already dismissed it. Anything she said now would only make things worse.
Ye He Qi bent forward, speaking again. “Royal Father, I ask for a favor.”
The Emperor waved his hand. “Speak.”
“I wish to marry Zi Chu,” Ye He Qi said, his voice firm. “I ask Royal Father’s approval.”
Before Ye He Qi’s words had even finished, the Emperor erupted in anger. “Preposterous!”
A peasant girl, how could she be worthy to be a Prince’s Consort?
“Royal Father, please…” Ye He Qi began, but the Emperor silenced him.
“A mere peasant girl cannot be your consort. To make her a concubine is already a great favor. No more words.” The Emperor’s tone left no room for argument.