IRTBACIWLATCP CH 10

Chapter 10 — Jiui Is Mine!

He furrowed his brows and immediately explained.

“Uncle Ye, there’s been a misunderstanding. That woman is merely the physician who saved my life and my benefactor.”

Ye Minghui looked at him meaningfully.

“But I heard that she is the woman in your heart, and that you even promised to take her as your wife in the future?”

Qingsha also stepped forward, but after hesitating for a moment, she ultimately said nothing and simply looked at him in silence.

Realizing that both father and daughter were waiting for his answer, Xingyun gritted his teeth inwardly.

Ye Minghui was pretending to be angry on behalf of his daughter while testing Xingyun at the same time.

Although he had chatted pleasantly with Xingyun throughout the journey back, the existence of Jiui was ultimately like a thorn lodged in Qingsha’s heart.

‘If Xingyun clearly swears in front of Father that he has nothing to do with Jiui, I’ll feel much more at ease too.’

After remaining silent for a moment, Xingyun spoke in a low voice.

“Someone is deliberately spreading such rumors to drive a wedge between Qingsha and me.”

“Uncle, you can rest assured. There is absolutely no improper relationship between Song Jiui and me. The woman I have always intended to take as my wife, from beginning to end, is Qingsha alone.”

Xingyun’s voice was firm and resolute.

After speaking, he looked at Qingsha with deep and gentle eyes.

His gaze was filled with affection.

Qingsha was overjoyed inwardly and said in a coquettish tone,

“Father, Lu-lang and I have shared feelings for each other for many years. How could I possibly be compared with some country girl? Lu-lang has only just recovered from his illness, so stop teasing him.”

“That is simply the concern of a father who has a daughter. I suppose I was worrying for nothing.”

Ye Minghui shook his head indifferently before turning to Xingyun.

“Xingyun, now that you’ve returned, we should hurry and settle the date for your wedding. Only after you start a family can I arrange an official position for you at court. Once that happens, both your mother and I will finally be able to rest easy.”

Xingyun respectfully clasped his hands.

“I will follow your wishes in everything, Uncle.”

Qingsha smiled sweetly.

“Lu-lang, we’ll soon be husband and wife. Why do you still call him Uncle?”

Xingyun naturally corrected himself.

“I will follow my father-in-law’s wishes in everything.”

By now, night had completely fallen.

Only then did Xingyun leave the Ye Residence.

The moment he climbed into the carriage, the gentle smile and courteous demeanor that had been on his face disappeared instantly, replaced by a cold expression.

“Ye Minghui, you old fox. After finding so many marriage prospects for your daughter, you still pretend to be deeply affectionate in front of me.”

He clenched his fists tightly.

‘If it weren’t for the Emperor’s interference, the Ye family would have married Ye Qingsha off to the Crown Prince long ago.’

Deungyun said cautiously,

“Prime Minister Ye may have gone a little too far, but fortunately, Miss Ye is devoted to Young Master.”

Xingyun slowly relaxed his clenched hand.

“As soon as I marry Qingsha, the Ye family and the Anjing Marquis Residence will become one. With the Crown Prince’s support added to that, the position of Heir will practically be within my grasp.”

If that happened, his future would be smooth sailing.

The moment the carriage stopped in front of the Anjing Marquis Residence, Xingyun raised his brows.

He hurriedly stepped out of the carriage and looked toward Song Qingshan and A-Hui, who were being stopped by the guards stationed outside the gate.

“Uncle Song, what brings you here?”

Song Qingshan cried out anxiously,

“Young Master Lu! Jiui has been kidnapped by someone!”

Xingyun’s face immediately darkened.

“What did you say?”

A-Hui carefully explained everything, starting from the moment she had been knocked unconscious.

After hearing the story, Xingyun felt as though his insides were burning.

“She was definitely taken by someone. Guards! Search for her immediately!”

But Deungyun hesitated.

“Young Master, Miss Song hasn’t really made any enemies. Who would kidnap her? Perhaps she simply went somewhere on her own…”

Xingyun’s face turned cold as he erupted in anger.

“She may not have any enemies in the capital, but I certainly do!”

In the past, he had been pursued by people and driven all the way to the outskirts of Yunzhou. During that ordeal, his leg had even been broken, and he had nearly lost his life.

‘Now that I’ve returned to the capital, it isn’t impossible that those people might take their grudge against me out on Jiui.’

Xingyun clenched his fists and spoke in a low voice.

“Uncle Song, go home for now. Once we find Jiui, I’ll personally bring her back to you.”

“Then, Young Master Lu, I’ll leave her in your hands.”

As Song Qingshan gazed at the enormous Anjing Marquis Residence, he finally realized that he had no position to enter the estate. He turned around and left with A-Hui.

Xingyun gathered the guards of the residence and issued an order.

“Song Jiui has gone missing. Every one of you, go out and search for her immediately!”

At that moment, everyone’s eyes suddenly turned toward the area behind him.

Madam Shen walked forward with a stern expression.

“Everyone, leave us. I have something to discuss with the Young Master.”

“Yes, Madam.”

The servants bowed respectfully before quietly withdrawing.

Xingyun spoke anxiously.

“Mother, what are you talking about right now? Jiui may have been taken by someone. We need to find her immediately!”

Madam Shen scolded him with an displeased expression.

“Xingyun, Jiui has nothing to do with our Lu family anymore. Why should you concern yourself with that girl?”

Xingyun gritted his teeth.

“…She is the person who saved my life. I can’t pretend I don’t know her.”

Smack!

Madam Shen raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.

“Lu Xingyun, have you thought about what will happen if the Ye family learns about your behavior?”

Although his cheek stung, Xingyun stood straight without moving.

Madam Shen continued,

“The future of the Lu family rests on your shoulders. Even your father’s title depends on you!”

“If you’re willing to throw all of that away, then go and look for that girl right now!”

After saying this, Madam Shen finally burst into tears.

“After your father left, I have carried the entire Lu family on my own. But while you were missing for two years, do you know how much your second uncle and Madam Zhang bullied and pressured me?”

“Just when I thought I had finally found you… Are you really going to abandon the Lu family because of some country girl…?”

Unable to hold back her tears, Madam Shen sobbed.

“My Lord… Where are you? Please take me with you. I truly cannot endure another day like this…”

Xingyun could not unclench his tightly closed fists. He stepped forward and supported his mother.

“Mother, don’t cry. I won’t go.”

Hearing that, Madam Shen wiped away her tears and asked doubtfully,

“Really?”

Xingyun nodded with a firm expression.

“I promise.”

Only then did Madam Shen let out a relieved sigh.

Bang!

After returning to his room, Xingyun slammed his fist down on the desk with a gloomy expression.

“Deungyun! Find out secretly who took her!”

‘Jiui is mine.’

‘No one dares lay a hand on her.’

Prince Jing’s Residence

After confirming the medicinal ingredients with the physician at the residence, Jingxun went to Yunshe Pavilion and informed Jiui.

“Miss Song, all the medicinal ingredients are ready. When would you like to begin the treatment?”

At that moment, Jiui, who had been wondering how she could escape from Prince Jing’s Residence, gave Jingxun a faint smile.

“After dinner, prepare some hot water. I’ll personally conduct His Highness’s medicinal bath.”

After Jingxun left, Jiui took out some medicinal powder from inside her jade ring and slowly wandered around Prince Jing’s Residence.

‘Let’s see whether I can escape from Prince Jing’s Residence tonight before deciding what to do.’

As the sun began to set, Steward Xu arrived with several people.

“Miss Song, His Highness has ordered me to escort you to the front hall.”

She calmly replied,

“Prince Jing’s Residence is so large and magnificent. I was bored, so I thought I’d take a little look around.”

“If Miss Song is curious about Prince Jing’s Residence, I can personally show you around tomorrow. But it is already late. It would be better if you didn’t wander around recklessly.”

“You’re right, Steward Xu. But the moonlight is beautiful, and the night breeze is cool. I wanted to see how different the scenery is at night compared with the daytime.”

Steward Xu said nothing more and simply led her to Jingyun.

The servants had already prepared all the hot water.

Jiui personally mixed the medicine and poured it into the bathtub. After making sure that the medicinal effects had properly dispersed, she looked at Jingyun.

“Prince Jing, everything is ready. You can begin the medicinal bath now.”

Jingyun approached and glanced at the steaming medicinal bath before spreading his arms.

Jiui stared at him blankly, completely puzzled.

“What are you doing?”

Jingyun’s face instantly darkened, and he said coldly,

“Take off my clothes.”

This woman truly had no sense at all.

She asked incredulously,

“Take off your clothes? Me?”

Does this man not have hands?

Jingyun’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“If you don’t want to die, come here and attend to me immediately!”

Despite being speechless, she almost laughed.

After thinking for a moment, she finally stepped forward.

“Your Highness, please stop talking about dying all the time. I have a lowly life, so dying wouldn’t matter much, but your life is precious. How important is it for someone as esteemed as you…”

Jiui grabbed the jade belt around his waist roughly and pulled it with all her strength.

Surprised by her strength, Jingyun inhaled sharply.

Jiui spoke casually, but there was an unmistakable threat in her voice.

“If my one life can be exchanged for Your Highness’s life, then it wouldn’t be such a bad bargain, would it?”

Realizing that she was deliberately provoking him, Jingyun’s gaze turned cold.

With his cold, powerful fingers, he grabbed the back of her neck and slowly tightened his grip.

“I won’t kill you for now. But there are countless ways I can torment you. I can make it so that even though you’re alive, you’ll wish you weren’t—and even if you want to die, you won’t be able to.”

As his grip tightened around her neck, she began to struggle for breath.

At that moment, she realized that she had gone a little too far.

Suddenly, she remembered the prisoner she had once seen dying after taking the Blood-Boiling Powder, and she quickly spoke.

“I’m sorry! I was wrong! I was wrong! So please don’t torment me. I’ll take your clothes off right now!”

Jingyun silently looked down at her.

She admits her mistake this easily?

He had expected her to bare her claws and fight back like before, or at least pretend to cry stubbornly.

Suddenly seeming to lose interest, he released her.

Jiui immediately smiled brightly and said in a sweet voice,

“Prince Jing~ I’ll personally attend to you.”

I’m nothing more than a fish on a chopping board right now, so I have to endure it for the time being.

As soon as I get the chance, I’ll either escape from Prince Jing’s Residence—or simply kill this man…

At her sudden change in attitude, as though she had become a completely different person, Jingyun frowned.

“Stop pretending.”

Even as he said that, he continued standing there with his arms spread wide, waiting for Jiui to attend to him.

As Jiui removed his outer robe, she muttered softly,

“Men all like this kind of thing anyway, yet they pretend they don’t…”

If you really don’t like it, you can do it yourself. Why make me attend to you?

Men really are different on the outside and inside!

Jingyun clenched his fists tightly and glared at her.

There was a dangerous, fiery anger burning in Jingyun’s eyes as he stared at Jiui.

‘This wicked woman keeps testing my patience at every turn.’

‘If it weren’t for her medical skills, I would have taught her a lesson long ago and made sure she could neither live peacefully nor die even if she wanted to…’