Chapter 18: Still Smells So Sweet

Wu Ciyun’s body reacted even faster than her mind.

The instant Xiao Wan lunged at her, she flusteredly twisted aside.

Xiao Wan pounced at empty air.

She wasn’t angry in the slightest. Instead, she simply lay down directly onto the soft pillow where Wu Ciyun had just leaned, taking a deep breath and saying lazily, “You still smell just as nice.”

“……”

Wu Ciyun felt as if even her facial expression was becoming hard to maintain.

She forced herself to calm down and said coldly, “If the Princess has come all this way just to make a fool of me, then please, you should leave.”

“Make a fool of you?”

Upon hearing those words, Xiao Wan suddenly let out a cold laugh.

“You say I’m making a fool of you, but who’s really making a fool of whom?”

“Wu Ciyun, wasn’t it you who had those pearls sent to me on my wedding day? And after I poisoned Zhao Xiang to death, wasn’t it you who helped me clean up the mess? If you don’t like me, then why did you save me! If you don’t like me, why didn’t you just let me die!”

Her father, in order to curry favor with Grand Preceptor Zhao, married her off to Zhao Xiang.

Zhao Xiang’s looks were utterly unremarkable, and his temper was irritable and unpredictable.

He had neither talent nor virtue, spending his days only playing with weapons.

She had thought, so be it; life lasts only a few short decades—she’d just grit her teeth and get through it.

But Wu Ciyun refused to let her be. On the day of her wedding, Wu Ciyun sent those pearls, reigniting the heart that ought to have been dead, setting her burning day and night, unable to find peace.

At first, she thought she could endure it.

But as the days dragged on, the fire in her heart only grew fiercer, and Zhao Xiang before her became more and more unbearable.

She hadn’t intended to kill him—she’d only wanted Zhao Xiang to be paralyzed, so he wouldn’t be a constant eyesore.

But who would have thought Zhao Xiang was all looks and no substance?

The first time she tried something like this, she didn’t know the right dosage, and used a little too much.

Zhao Xiang ended up dead.

Grand Preceptor Zhao didn’t believe his son would suddenly die.

He ordered a thorough investigation.

At first, Xiao Wan was terrified, but it was the maid, Miss Liu, who helped her cover things up.

“Miss Liu said she used to be a maid at the Wu Mansion. Wasn’t it because you were afraid I’d suffer that you sent her to me?”

“Princess, at that time I’d already been exiled to Yunzhou. I had nothing with me except a pair of pearls gifted by the common folk, and those were the only thing worth giving. I sent the pearls simply to congratulate you on your wedding, with no other intention.”

“As for Miss Liu…”

Wu Ciyun paused and explained, “You must be mistaken, Princess. Back when the Wu Family was confiscated, all the servants were sold. I really didn’t have such ability.”

Wu Ciyun flatly denied Xiao Wan’s account, looking so open and upright it was as if she were truly innocent.

Even the System wanted to call her a hypocrite.

Those pearls had been a gift from the little daughter of Yunzhou’s former governor to Wu Ciyun, who had simply repackaged them as a wedding present for Xiao Wan.

The System didn’t believe Wu Ciyun, as sharp as she was, could possibly not realize what this would make Xiao Wan think.

Or, more accurately, Wu Ciyun wanted Xiao Wan to think too much—so she could further use her to achieve her own ends.

Xiao Wan bit down hard on her lower lip.

Seeing Wu Ciyun unmoved, she lifted her hand and unfastened the jade belt at her waist.

The phoenix, embroidered in gold thread, fluttered to the floor.

Wu Ciyun’s brow twitched.

She grabbed the cloak on the ground to throw it over her, but Xiao Wan tossed it aside.

“Put your clothes back on!”

“I won’t. I came here today just for you.”

Xiao Wan smiled sweetly as she advanced step by step towards Wu Ciyun.

Wu Ciyun instinctively wanted to run, but Xiao Wan, having learned her lesson, pounced like a hungry tiger, blocking her escape.

“Teacher Wu, Ciyun-gege, good husband—believe me, I’ll treat you well…”

Xiao Wan gripped Wu Ciyun’s sleeve and reached to untie her clothes.

Wu Ciyun struggled with all her might to break free, shouting, “Princess! If you keep making trouble, I’ll call for someone…”

“Go ahead, call. If you’ve got the nerve, just shout.”

Xiao Wan only laughed more cheerfully.

Raising her brows, she threatened, “If you dare to call, I’ll say you molested me.”

Wu Ciyun frowned, warning, “This is the Wu Mansion!”

Xiao Wan tilted her head, smiling sweetly.

“Of course I know this is the Wu Mansion. Worst case, our reputations will be ruined together. If things really go wrong, we’ll just die together and continue as a pair of lovers in the underworld.”

“Wu Ciyun, I’m telling you, I’m not like those Ladies and Misses who sit indoors embroidering and playing the qin all day. This Princess has strength and tricks! I don’t care if you’re a Meritorious Official or an Immortal—even if you’re a woman, tonight I’m going to sleep with you!”

No matter what, she was determined to go through with this tonight.

As for the consequences, that was a problem for the future.

Xiao Wan lunged at Wu Ciyun again.

Wu Ciyun was aghast, dodging as best as she could.

The two chased each other around the room, the sound of furniture bumping and clattering piercingly loud.

Miss Liu stood in the corridor, holding a child.

She stroked the child’s rosy cheek, trying her best to ignore the noises inside.

“Did you come with Princess Zhaoning?”

From a distance, Rong Tan saw a stranger standing in the corridor with a bundle, dazed. Walking closer, he saw it was a woman holding a child.

Miss Liu jumped when she heard Rong Tan’s voice.

Instinctively, she hugged the child tighter and whispered, “Yes, I’m the Princess’s maid.”

“Is this the Princess’s child?”

Rong Tan lowered his gaze to the sleeping child in Miss Liu’s arms.

A gentle smile appeared on his face.

“He’s so cute. May I hold him?”

Miss Liu saw Rong Tan seemed fond of children.

She hesitated, then gently nodded.

Rong Tan had never held a child before and was a bit clumsy, but he carefully took the child.

Looking at the infant’s serene face, he marveled at how light and soft new life could be.

A cold wind blew by.

The sleeping child wrinkled his nose and sneezed. Rong Tan quickly wrapped the child tighter.

“Babies can’t handle the wind. Let me take you to wait in the Warm Pavilion for a while.”

Miss Liu hesitated at first, but worried the child would get cold, she nodded, “Thank you, Young Master.”

“Rong… mmph…”

Wu Ciyun vaguely heard Rong Tan’s voice.

She had just opened her mouth to call out when Xiao Wan clamped a hand tightly over her lips, leaving her to listen as Rong Tan’s footsteps faded away outside.

Bastard!

Rong Tan, that useless good-for-nothing who always ruins things!

A few years ago, Wu Ciyun could have still wrestled with Xiao Wan.

But in recent years, her health had worsened.

After running around with Xiao Wan just now, she was so breathless she could hardly catch her breath.

Xiao Wan pinned her down, seeing Wu Ciyun’s ragged breathing, she smiled sweetly, “Ciyun-gege, stop running—let’s enjoy ourselves together, won’t you?”

She’d pined for this face for six years, ever since Wu Ciyun first entered the court.

How could there be someone so perfectly suited to her?

Wu Ciyun closed her eyes and forced herself to steady her breathing.

After a long moment, she opened her eyes again, looking at Xiao Wan with a calm expression.

Seeing Wu Ciyun no longer struggling, Xiao Wan thought she was finally giving in. She leaned forward to kiss her, but Wu Ciyun suddenly grabbed her chin.

“Enjoy ourselves?”

Wu Ciyun raised her eyes to look at Xiao Wan, half-smiling.

“Princess, going out with your child to seek a lover—your way of having fun is certainly unique.”

Xiao Wan’s movements froze.

She instinctively wanted to explain, but faced with Wu Ciyun’s cold gaze, she swallowed her true motive.

“If you really want to have fun, I can only ask you to leave.”

Wu Ciyun coolly pulled away from her.

“If you have other matters, though, I’d be willing to hear them.”

“…Grand Preceptor Zhao has started to suspect me lately.”

Xiao Wan pursed her lips and finally told Wu Ciyun the truth.

“He must have found something, maybe even thinks I have ties to the Emperor’s uncle. These past two days, he’s searched my courtyard under the pretext of looking for assassins. It took a great deal of effort to send you a Letter.”

Though she was a Princess, her heartless father was already dead.

Her maternal family were mere civil officials, no match for Grand Preceptor Zhao’s overwhelming power in court.

If Grand Preceptor Zhao really found out she was the one who killed Zhao Xiang, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“I brought the child to see you for no other reason than to beg you to look after him. If anything happens to me, please save his life…”

She did indeed want to spend a night with Wu Ciyun, but at the same time, she schemed to use this as leverage, binding Wu Ciyun to her completely.

Hearing this, Wu Ciyun’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

She said blandly, “That is the Zhao Family’s only flesh and blood. Grand Preceptor Zhao will not harm him.”

Xiao Wan looked hesitant.

She bit her lip and said softly, “Qi Brother isn’t Zhao Xiang’s child…”

Zhao Xiang was ugly and stupid.

If she’d had a child with him, it would most likely have been an ugly fool.

So she had to find another way.

Wu Ciyun understood the implication in Xiao Wan’s words.

She was stunned for a moment, then a thoughtful look flashed in her eyes.

“Princess, I’ll give you a plan that can ensure you and your child’s safety.”

Wu Ciyun paused, then added, “But on the condition that from now on, you and I keep to our own paths.”

Xiao Wan was stunned, and tears began to well up in her eyes again.

But Wu Ciyun ignored her, stood up, straightened her clothes, and went to the desk to write and seal a Letter.

She handed the Letter to Xiao Wan and said gently, “Take this Letter to Grand Preceptor Zhao and say you can’t decide on your own, so you can only ask for his help.”

Xiao Wan quickly read through the Letter and hesitated.

“Will this work?”

“You’ll only know if you try.”

Wu Ciyun leaned closer, coaxing, “Princess, power is something you must hold in your own hands. Think about it—though Grand Preceptor Zhao holds military command, he’s already elderly and won’t live much longer. Your son is now the Zhao Family’s sole bloodline. It’s time to make use of that.”

Xiao Wan gazed blankly at Wu Ciyun’s face, so close.

She blinked, and after a while, realized what Wu Ciyun was saying.

A thoughtful look appeared on her face as she murmured, “Yes… you’re right.”

Relying on others never truly brings peace of mind.

Only when power is in your own grasp can you be confident.

If she truly had power and influence, she’d never have to live in fear again. Whatever she wanted would come easily.

Xiao Wan stood, calmly putting on her outer garments and fixing her hair ornaments.

Then she turned and gave Wu Ciyun a deep look.

Wu Ciyun grew wary at once, subconsciously backing away in case Xiao Wan lost her mind and threw herself at her again.

Miss Liu took Qi Brother to play in the Warm Pavilion for a while.

Estimating the time, she decided to go and remind Xiao Wan.

“Princess, the time is almost…”

Before Miss Liu could finish, the door opened from within.

Xiao Wan was already dressed neatly.

She said calmly, “Where’s Qi Brother?”

“Here.”

Rong Tan reluctantly handed the child back to Xiao Wan and said gently, “He got tired from playing and isn’t too energetic right now.”

Xiao Wan gave Rong Tan a quick once-over and frowned. “Who are you?”

Rong Tan explained, “I’m the Housekeeper here.”

Xiao Wan ignored him, carrying the child straight to Wu Ciyun, motioning the boy to look at her.

In a soft voice, she said, “Come, meet your future father.”

Rong Tan: “??”

System: [?!]

Wu Ciyun: “……”