Volume One, Chapter 14: Her Wedding Night

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At a time like this, all she could do was complain.

At first, Su Zhizhi had worried that her younger sister-in-law was a venomous snake.

But now, she had let down all her guards.

This Princess Huayang was nothing more than a wildcat who only knew how to act cute and spoiled, while gossiping behind people’s backs.

A little cat food would be enough to keep her appeased.

“Your Highness, you haven’t eaten much today, have you? I have already sent fresh dishes—lion’s head meatballs, imperial concubine chicken, jade perch, lychee pork, and pearl meatballs—to your chamber.”

At the mention of food, Princess Huayang’s stomach growled loudly.

She really hadn’t eaten much all day, too caught up in her anger.

“Brother Xiao, please come eat with me. Without you, I can’t eat a thing.”

Princess Huayang blinked desperately, her pleading voice melting one’s heart.

The prince had awakened, the culprit had been caught, and Lady Wang was even more convinced that this new princess was a blessing for the manor.

She stepped forward to persuade, “Princess, tonight is the prince’s wedding night. How can you stay in your chamber? If word gets out, the princess will become a laughingstock.”

“My Brother Xiao doesn’t like that woman at all. Why would he share a bridal chamber with her?”

Those words struck a chord with Wei Gu Xiao.

The woman before him was full of schemes and new tricks one after another.

She wasn’t worth his affection.

Su Zhizhi caught the hostile glance the prince sent her way.

She had no desire to compete for favor.

“Qingzhu, let’s go.”

Ignoring the prince’s surprised expression, Su Zhizhi headed toward Zhaoming Hall.

The prince was puzzled.

Was his charm so lacking that this woman didn’t even feel a hint of jealousy?

He was used to women fawning over him in every possible way.

Su Zhizhi was truly different.

Seeing Brother Xiao hesitate, Princess Huayang had no choice but to play her trump card.

Feigning fainting.

Kingfisher, who accompanied the princess in such performances hundreds of times, exclaimed, “Princess, don’t faint and scare us!”

“Prince, the princess has been so worried about your illness that she has hardly eaten. Please take her back and let her have a proper meal.”

Kingfisher spoke pitifully.

Everyone in the manor knew that General Jing and his wife had entrusted Jing Chuwei to Prince Jin before they died.

The prince feared nothing except the princess’s tears.

“Take the princess back to her chamber first.”

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His voice was as gentle as the winter sun.

Wei Gu Xiao was truly a brother who doted on his sister without thinking.

Truly jumping from one pitfall to another.

Su Zhizhi glanced back speechlessly.

At least she wouldn’t be buried alive, nor would she have to see Wei Gu Xiao’s icy, disdainful face.

She exhaled deeply in relief.

Inside Zhaoming Hall, the red candlelight cast a delicate glow on Su Zhizhi’s face, making her look exquisite and charming.

“Young mistress, tonight is supposed to be your wedding night with the prince, yet he’s not with you but with... that woman.”

Qingzhu was displeased, her face full of discontent.

Su Zhizhi was indifferent, “The tragedy of women is that they always foolishly try to capture the heart of a man who doesn’t love them. Instead of wasting that heart, why not use it to love yourself?”

Qingzhu seemed to understand somewhat and nodded.

The prince was cold toward her young mistress, so naturally, she was sad.

But today was still her happiest day.

With a wave of the young mistress’s hand, ten thousand taels of gold appeared like magic before them.

Such sheer dominance.

It turned out that when the young mistress said she would treat her to the best food and drink, she wasn’t lying.

Qingzhu massaged Su Zhizhi’s back, smiling sweetly and happily.

“The young mistress is right. We’ll eat and drink well. Let those people do whatever they want; we won’t let them ruin our good mood.”

Qingzhu’s understanding was indeed sharp.

Su Zhizhi gave a thumbs up. “As expected of my Qingzhu. Well said. Don’t let those stinky men ruin our good mood.”

Just as the two smiled in tacit understanding, a familiar voice sounded beside them.

“Who’s the stinky man? Are you talking about me?”

Wei Gu Xiao? Prince Jin?

Su Zhizhi quickly uncrossed her legs, brushed the sunflower seed shells off herself, and hurriedly stood.

“I pay my respects to the prince.”

Seeing the two locked in a tense glare, Qingzhu wisely bowed, “Prince, princess, I will take my leave.”

After Qingzhu left,

Only the two of them remained in the spacious room.

“Prince, I wasn’t talking about you just now. With your divine looks, how could you be a stinky man?”

Wei Gu Xiao stepped forward slowly, mischievously lifting Su Zhizhi’s chin.

His eyes suddenly flickered, intoxicating and confusing. Su Zhizhi blinked.

No, no, no—there was no affection in those eyes, only hatred.

She just wanted to escape.

“Su Zhizhi, tell me, who exactly are you? How can everything happen just as you predicted?”

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His voice was aggressive, making Su Zhizhi uneasy all over.

“What do you mean, Your Highness? Are you suspecting I am an accomplice?”

Su Zhizhi only wanted to survive. If the culprit wasn’t found, she would be the ninth princess to die a tragic death.

But Defu’s words kept echoing in her mind.

If he wasn’t the murderer who poisoned eight princesses, then who else could it be?

Su Zhizhi’s eyelashes trembled slightly as she sank into thought again.

Noticing that her gaze rarely lingered on him for more than ten seconds, Wei Gu Xiao suddenly flared with anger. “What rotten scheme are you thinking of now?”

Hearing those last three words, Su Zhizhi couldn’t hold back.

“Your Highness, I’m certainly not as gentle and virtuous as Princess Huayang, nor do I have her deep affection for you. I’m a rough woman who only thinks of rotten schemes to survive.”

“You...”

The prince could only shake his head in response.

This madwoman—up close, she was somewhat attractive, but the scars on her face truly offended the eyes.

Su Zhizhi had long been used to the contempt and disgust that others displayed when their eyes fell upon her scars.

“If Your Highness thinks I’m ugly, just say so. I’ll avoid you wherever you go, so your noble eyes won’t be troubled.”

“I am not someone who judges by appearance,” Wei Gu Xiao said, inexplicably flustered as he explained.

“Then perhaps Your Highness should go to Princess Huayang instead. If you come to me, Princess Huayang will probably lose her appetite again.”

Wei Gu Xiao sneered contemptuously.

“I’m used to your seduction tricks. They won’t work on me.”

Though he doted on Princess Huayang, he would never foolishly lose his reason for the sake of his sister.

Turning to Su Zhizhi, his gaze was lecherous. “I’m only reluctantly spending this night with you because you found the culprit and did a great service to the manor.”

Su Zhizhi waved her hand, “I’ve never liked forcing anyone. If Your Highness doesn’t leave tonight, then I will. After all, one bed can’t fit two people.”

With that, Su Zhizhi reached for her jade pillow, ready to leave.

The manor was so large—there had to be a place for her, Su Zhizhi.

She was, after all, a wealthy benefactor who had brought ten thousand taels of gold to the manor.

“Nonsense! If you dare leave this room, don’t blame me for being rude.”

Wei Gu Xiao’s fierce tone startled Su Zhizhi.

He didn’t want her to leave?

Was the prince ill? He was known for keeping his distance from women.

His tone softened. “You’ve been wronged today. I won’t let you endure others’ gossip anymore. Tonight, you sleep on the soft bed, and I’ll take this long bench beside you.”

What?

Su Zhizhi hugged her jade pillow, turned, her eyes saying only three words: impossible.