IRTBACIWLATCP CH 08

Chapter 8. Prince Jing

“Song Jiui, open your eyes.”

The dignified, cold voice carried a hint of anger.

As the voice rang in her ears, Jiui felt such intense cold that she almost wondered whether she had fallen into an ice pit.

The back of her head was throbbing faintly.

Still dazed, she slowly opened her eyes.

A sharply defined face was extremely close to her.

Thick, handsome eyebrows, deep-set eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. Judging solely by his appearance, he would have been considered exceptionally handsome even if he were placed in the modern world.

“Who are you? Where am I?”

Jingyun curled his lips into a cold smile.

His large hand, with prominent knuckles, was as cold and hard as ice.

He gripped Jiui’s chin tightly. With just a little more force, it felt as though her jaw might break.

“You never imagined this, did you? That you would fall into this Prince’s hands so soon.”

When the familiar scent of medicine and his breath reached her, Jiui’s heart sank.

This man… he’s that thief who broke into my room last night!

Wasn’t he locked up in the Jingzhao Prefecture? How did he get out so quickly?

Slightly flustered, Jiui quickly looked around.

The main hall she was in was luxurious yet restrained.

Even a prestigious family like the Anjing Marquis Residence could not compare with such grandeur.

The man before her was wearing a golden robe embroidered with a dark crimson flying-dragon pattern, and a jade crown adorned his head.

His noble and imposing presence was enough to make anyone feel oppressed.

She didn’t need to think twice.

This man’s status is clearly much higher than Lu Xingyun’s!

I’m finished…

Not only had she stripped this man’s clothes and beaten him mercilessly last night, she had even handed him over to the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Even when I hadn’t offended this man, he had already wanted to kill me to silence me. Now that he has had his people abduct me, he must be here for revenge, right?

Regret came rushing over Jiui belatedly.

If I had known this would happen, I should have poisoned him to death last night!

Jiui blinked her clear, beautiful eyes and pretended not to know him.

“Handsome big brother, who are you? Did you mistake me for someone else? I don’t know you.”

Anger flashed through Jingyun’s unfathomably dark eyes.

A cruel smile soon appeared on his lips.

“You’re still trying to deny it? Song Jiui, now that you’ve fallen into this Prince’s hands, I will make you wish you were dead.”

“This Prince? Y-You’re Prince Jing!”

Jiui’s heart began pounding wildly, and someone suddenly came to mind.

Could this man really be the God of War of the Xiao Kingdom, Prince Jing—Xiao Jingyun?

Xingyun had once told her about the various powers in the capital.

Prince Jing, Xiao Jingyun, held military authority and possessed the greatest power among all the imperial princes and royal lords.

He had joined the army at the age of thirteen, and by sixteen, he had already become the God of War who made enemy nations tremble in fear.

He was famous for being proficient in both civil and military affairs, as well as for his decisiveness.

Countless people in both the common populace and the imperial court worshiped him. Even the Emperor had taken notice of him and once told his ministers that he was the most suitable person to become the heir.

Unfortunately, three years ago, Xiao Jingyun had been poisoned by an extremely deadly poison.

The poison had penetrated deep into his bones, and no one had been able to cure him.

In the end, the position of Crown Prince fell into the hands of Prince Jin, Xiao Ningyuan.

His body was afflicted with a deadly poison, his heart was ruthless, his methods were fierce, and he referred to himself as “this Prince.”

Everything matched perfectly!

The man standing before me is definitely Prince Jing.

Jingyun let out a low, mocking laugh.

“A country bumpkin from the countryside actually recognizes this Prince. It seems you must be quite close to Xingyun.”

Jiui didn’t answer. She merely let tears roll down her cheeks.

“Boo-hoo… Your Highness Prince Jing, last time I failed to recognize your esteemed identity and offended you terribly.”

“Your Highness is broad-minded. Surely you wouldn’t stoop to arguing with a weak woman like me over such a trivial matter, would you?”

Jingyun raised the corner of his lips and tightly wrapped his large hand around Jiui’s neck.

“Are you trying your tricks again? Do you think I’ll be fooled by you a second time?”

When we were at the inn, this woman pretended to be so pitiful and innocent that she clouded my judgment. In the end, I lost all my dignity.

Moreover, this woman knows that I secretly entered the Imperial Palace last night. I absolutely cannot let her live.

Jingyun’s gaze became fierce and dark, while the strength in his hand gradually increased.

Jiui’s pale face quickly flushed red. Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

Fear and despair overwhelmed her, causing her entire body to tremble.

There was genuine intent to kill in Prince Jing’s grip.

Jiui struggled desperately, barely managing to force the words out.

“Don’t kill me. I… I can cure the poison!”

Jingyun’s eyes grew even darker.

“Even when you’re about to die, you’re still trying to deceive people. Even killing you a thousand times wouldn’t be enough!”

“Cough… It’s true. I-I really mean it!”

At the boundary between life and death, Jiui desperately clung to that one glimmer of hope.

Jingyun’s iron-like grip paused ever so slightly.

Although he did not completely withdraw his strength or release her, Jiui did not let the opportunity slip away.

Her eyes were red, but her voice remained calm.

“Your Highness Prince Jing has been poisoned with Heart-Seeking Poison, and you even took medicine that temporarily boosts your physical strength.”

“If you don’t detoxify it quickly, you won’t last more than two months at most.”

Jingyun looked down at her as though gazing upon someone from a great height.

His eyes were like those of a beast stalking its prey.

“Did Lu Xingyun tell you that?”

“No… The moment I saw you last night, I knew there was a deadly poison in your body. It’s just that at the time, I…”

“I simply didn’t know who you were!”

Jingyun thought back over what had happened, then frowned.

This woman sensed that something was wrong merely from the aura emanating from my body.

It was only after she saw the black lines appearing around my chest that she immediately recognized it as Heart-Seeking Poison.

Jingxun, who was standing nearby, looked at Jiui in surprise.

“Miss, do you really know medicine?”

Jiui’s diagnosis was exactly the same as that of the imperial physicians.

Jingxun had already investigated this woman.

She was from Yongxian, Yunzhou, and was merely the daughter of an extremely ordinary family.

Last night, the Prince had been pursued by the Dragon Scale Guards, and on top of that, this woman had falsely accused him.

In the end, he had been mistaken by the common people for a lecher and beaten before being handed over to the Jingzhao Prefecture.

His Highness is a person as precious as gold and as noble as jade, someone who stands above the world. When has he ever suffered such humiliation?

It is only natural that His Highness would be furious.

Even I was so angry that I wouldn’t have felt satisfied even if I killed this woman.

But no one had been able to cure the Prince’s poison for several years.

If Song Jiui can really cure His Highness’s poison, then everything will be completely different.

Jiui struggled desperately.

With her neck being squeezed, she clenched her teeth and forced the words out.

“When Lu Xingyun’s legs were broken that year, even his severed tendons and shattered bones… I healed them all.”

“If Your Highness Prince Jing kills me now, you may be able to vent your anger, but you will also lose the chance to detoxify the poison and make a full recovery. Wouldn’t that be a waste?”

Hearing her words, Jingxun was already impatient to test her skills.

“Your Highness, why not give Miss Song a chance?”

He knew Xingyun’s condition better than anyone.

The person who had personally broken Lu Xingyun’s legs that year, crushed his leg bones, and severed both of his tendons was none other than Jingxun.

Lu Xingyun had been driven into a dead end. Even if he survived, he was destined to become a cripple for the rest of his life.

Yet Jiui had perfectly repaired his legs and enabled him to walk normally again.

That was proof of her exceptional medical skills.

Jingyun stared at Jiui with dark, gloomy eyes before slowly moving his thin lips.

“What if you can’t treat me?”

Seeing that his resolve was beginning to waver, Jiui finally breathed a little easier.

“Two months. If Your Highness’s symptoms don’t improve at all within two months, you may kill me and bury me. I won’t hold it against you.”

Jingyun remained silent for a long while before slowly releasing his hand.

“Fine. As you said, I’ll give you two months. If my symptoms don’t improve within that time, I will tear you into a thousand pieces and kill you.”

He didn’t have much time left. Yet there were still far too many things he needed to accomplish.

If there was a chance, naturally he wanted to survive.

“Don’t worry.”

Jiui coughed several times and rubbed the red marks around her neck left by his grip.

She calmly poured herself a cup of tea and drank it.

Even under the gazes of Jingyun and Jingxun, she remained composed.

“Your Highness and I have no personal grudge. Everything that happened before was simply a misunderstanding. I will definitely do everything in my power to cure Your Highness’s poison.”

Jingyun’s aura was as cold and sharp as a blade.

Killing intent radiated from his entire body.

“Jingxun, bring that man who is locked in the prison here. I will personally see what Miss Song is capable of.”

“Yes.”

Jiui frowned.

“Your Highness Prince Jing still doesn’t trust me.”

But that was only natural.

Jingyun looked at her with his dark, deep eyes.

“Words alone aren’t enough. I need to see it with my own eyes.”

“Of course you should verify it. Your Highness only needs to give me a problem to solve.”

Jiui stood up. There was already a hint of a smile in her watery eyes.

“However, I’m also afraid that after I help Your Highness cross the bridge, you’ll destroy it the moment you reach the other side. So why don’t we make a contract?”

“If I cure Your Highness’s poison, you must promise that you will never make things difficult for me again.”

Jingyun chuckled lightly.

As an overwhelming aura spread from his body, the air inside the spacious hall seemed to freeze instantly.

“How dare you bargain with me?”

Jiui felt momentarily suffocated by his murderous aura, but soon curled the corner of her lips as though nothing had happened.

“Then forget it. Your Highness has such noble character. Surely you wouldn’t be the kind of person who destroys the bridge after crossing it… I’ll trust you.”

In terms of martial strength, she would struggle even against a single guard from the Prince Jing Residence.

In terms of power… Prince Jing possessed enough authority to cover the heavens.

Crushing me to death would probably be as easy for him as stepping on an ant.

Then the only thing I can do is endure.

What’s so terrible about bowing my head temporarily?

Jingyun gave a cold snort.

“All you have is a sharp tongue.”

Jingxun, standing beside him, gave Jiui a meaningful smile.

This young lady is quite interesting. She knows how to bow when she understands the situation.

Soon, a prisoner wearing shackles was dragged into the hall.

His hair was disheveled, his face was dirty, and his beard was so thick that it was difficult to tell his age.

It was obvious, however, that he had been imprisoned for a long time.