Chapter Five: The Deal Is Struck

Over on the other side, Honglian whispered, “Miss, he never asked you to like him... The way you’re talking, it almost sounds as if you do!”
Xue Fanzhi fell silent.
Xiao Yi’s brows knitted into something of a question mark, his tone incredulous: “What’s going on in that head of yours? Are you an idiot?!”
This was a habitual gesture of Xiao Yi’s. In her previous life, he often called her a fool. What he didn’t realize was that she was actually very clever. She only became a lovesick fool in front of him, and in the end, she was left scarred and battered.
Memories surged up in Xue Fanzhi’s mind. She hated herself for constantly thinking about Xiao Yi, and also for her clumsy words. Her ears flushed red with shame.
Xiao Yi swept his gaze over her, a warning in his eyes. “In your current state, it isn’t appropriate to go straight to your family. I suggest you find somewhere to tidy yourself up first!
Of course, if you really insist, I won’t stop you!”
Xue Fanzhi looked down at her torn clothes and seemed to understand.
In her past life, it was because she’d returned in such disarray that rumors began to circulate—that she’d been defiled by lowly outcasts.
Wounds followed, then the broken engagement...
Even her mother believed the rumors. Every time she saw her, she would sigh, already planning to marry her off to some distant place.
Her eldest brother and her great-uncle did all they could to suppress the gossip, but it never stopped. Because of this, she missed many marriage prospects. Her reputation in Jiankang City suffered; if not for Xiao Yi agreeing to marry her, who knows which remote mountain she might have ended up in.
Thinking back, she realized she truly couldn’t return looking like this. She had to protect her reputation, and probe a little—where had those rumors started? Why couldn’t her family stamp them out?
Why had her mother been so unwavering in her belief? Her mother and grandmother were ahead of her and should have only heard bits and pieces about the refugees.
Something wasn’t right!
So Xiao Yi hadn’t meant what she thought he did.
Xue Fanzhi gave a mortified smile and asked, “Heh, heh, I thought you were being aggressive, but it turns out you were looking out for me. Really, how can someone be so changeable? You claim you’re a prince, so I worry you’ll use me!”
Xiao Yi snorted, “So you’re blaming me, is that it?”
Of course she was. The Ninth Prince had never been kind to anyone!
Xiao Yi always appeared to be a perfect gentleman, but in truth, he was not someone just anyone could approach, much less someone who would take the initiative to show kindness.
All these years, he’d hidden himself away for the throne, mingling with scholars and artists, playing the role of an idle, carefree prince, never meddling in others’ affairs, and certainly never drawing close to a woman without reason!
Xue Fanzhi still remembered the last woman Xiao Yi had ever shown concern for—it was his own aunt, the Princess Royal, because the state treasury was empty and she controlled the granaries. He needed military funds!
Before that, it was the favored consort of Emperor Hongde. After showing concern for her for two days, evidence of her infidelity was delivered straight to the emperor’s desk. The consort was deposed, and even her exceptionally favored son was stripped of his military command!
And before that...
There was always a reason!
Now he was treating her with cold indifference—was there truly no ulterior motive?
“Fine, go back and court death if you want!” Xiao Yi suddenly turned and strode away.
Before Xue Fanzhi could react, Hongxiao grew anxious and whispered in her ear, “You’ve offended him—beg him!”
Xue Fanzhi stayed silent.
“You have nothing to lose anyway. Just beg!”
She remained silent.
Honglian also came over to encourage her, “Go on, beg him, or you’ll lose even more face!”
Heeding her maids, Xue Fanzhi caught up with Xiao Yi, but she truly couldn’t bring herself to beg the man who would one day kill her.
“Zhi zhi, wu wu!” She muttered, hoping Xiao Yi would understand.
Everyone else was speechless.
Only Xiao Yi did not laugh. Though he stopped in his tracks, his voice was cold as frost: “So you’ve given up your wishful thinking? You’re begging me?”
“Fine. But you have to promise that from now on, whenever I tell you you’re wrong, you’ll admit it and never repeat the mistake!”
His tone wasn’t flippant, yet it sounded strangely intimate. Most importantly, wasn’t this like selling herself to him?
He looked at her as if she were a fool, and she was supposed to sell herself to him? Death would be preferable to such humiliation!
Xue Fanzhi turned on her heel to leave.
Xiao Yi was silent.
“Get back here!” He seized Xue Fanzhi. “Do you know what I sacrificed to save you? I haven’t even lost my temper and you’re throwing a fit at me?”
Sacrificed what?
He hadn’t lost anything!
Then why save her at all? He hadn’t been like this in her past life.
Ah, but in her past life there had been no refugees, and he hadn’t killed anyone—perhaps he’d only lost a bit of his gentlemanly composure.
Xue Fanzhi retorted, “I won’t damage your reputation, all right? You don’t have to bother with me. Go!”
“You really are a simpleton,” Xiao Yi said quietly.
She was speechless.
“And now you’re insulting me?! This is our first meeting—I haven’t offended you, have I?!” Things hadn’t gone this way in her past life.
“Are you coming with me or not?!”
“I’m not going with you—let me go...”
They argued, each pulling in their own direction.

Xiao Yi suddenly realized something and asked, “You really won’t beg me?!”
His tone was imperious, as if issuing a final ultimatum. Xue Fanzhi, in a fit of stubbornness, replied, “No...”
She hadn’t even finished the word before Xiao Yi released her. Unprepared for his pettiness, she fell with a thud to the ground.
Everyone stifled their laughter, nearly hurting themselves.
Xue Fanzhi jumped up in anger, shouting, “Xiao Yi, are you even a man?!”
Xiao Yi swung his arm and strode away. His guards, as if under a spell, followed in neat formation after him.
He did not spare her so much as a glance.
Xue Fanzhi was left speechless.
She watched Xiao Yi walk ahead, his steps steady and unhurried, his figure upright and graceful like a pine tree, drawing the eye and stirring the heart.
He never looked back, as if there was no one behind him at all.
From now on, he would no longer belong to her. Only then did Xue Fanzhi truly realize that there would be nothing between her and Xiao Yi ever again—no shared bed, no shared covers...
Honglian came to her side and asked, “Miss, are you crying?”
“I’m not. My eyes are just dry and need water, that’s all!”
Xue Fanzhi turned away, covering her face. Why would she cry? Isn’t this what she wanted?
Why would she cry?
Leaving Xiao Yi meant she was free!
She would never cry!
But then, there would never be Xiao Yi again!
A sob escaped her.
Suddenly, someone seized her sleeve and began pulling her forward.
The touch seemed rough, but did not hurt her. In fact, the pace matched her shorter stride.
Catching the familiar scent of incense, Xue Fanzhi was overjoyed, though she dared not show it. Awkwardly, she protested, “Let go of me! Where are you taking me?”
“I just want to do a good deed,” Xiao Yi replied, dragging her all the way to a bend in the main road. There, Xue Fanzhi saw a carriage draped in emerald silk, drawn by two horses. Banners fluttered before and behind—a retinue unmistakably belonging to someone of high rank.
Who could it be?