After Becoming a Succubus, I Was Offered to My Mortal Enemy - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Already prone to insomnia, having glimpsed such a scene before bed made it even more impossible for Sikong Xue to sleep.

The next day, after the morning court session, Sikong Xue went straight to the Imperial Library to find ancient texts recording the Succubus. She had intended to put the book back after reading it, but her mind was in a state of turmoil; every time she caught sight of the word “Succubus,” she thought of A-Yuan’s face. In her helplessness, she had no choice but to take the book back to her manor to study it slowly.

Since the new Emperor’s ascension, this volume of Records of Foreign Tribes was no longer a forbidden book. However, in order to record the characteristics and habits of the Succubus in detail, the text inevitably contained some erotic descriptions. Seeing exactly which book Sikong Xue intended to take, the official in charge of the library immediately paled. She wanted to pretend she hadn’t seen it, but she was obligated to record the ancient text taken by the official. She took a piece of cloth to wrap the book for Sikong Xue and, trembling with fear, saw her off.

After Sikong Xue left, several young attendants began to whisper again about the stunningly beautiful Succubus she had brought back to the manor.

Back at the manor, Sikong Xue flipped open a page. Seeing it written that Succubi mostly possessed skin like congealed fat and eyes containing the autumn waters, her mind once again conjured the image of that Succubus—who looked so much like A-Yuan—with her clothes in disarray and tears hanging from the corners of her eyes… Those gasps were so pleasant to the ear; if it were truly A-Yuan calling out to her…

Sikong Xue gulped down a large mouthful of tea, forcing herself not to think about it. Looking further down, she saw it written that when these foreign creatures were moved by passion, they refused no one who came to them…

Sikong Xue slammed the ancient text shut, her heart filling with an involuntary agitation. Refuse no one who comes? How could she, while wearing a face identical to A-Yuan’s, refuse no one? Did it mean that after some time, there would be no other way besides performing that kind of act with her?

In her distraction, she sought out Yin Chiyun’s residence. Seeing her face full of misery, Yin Chiyun knew the girl at the manor had disturbed her spirit again.

Yin Chiyun adopted an air of detachment and said, “If her presence in the manor is truly a bane, why not end her with a single stroke of your sword?”

“What nonsense are you talking!” Sikong Xue reflexively denied it.

Yin Chiyun smiled and said, “You see, since you cannot bear to hurt her, why not treat her well? After all, the dead cannot return to life; life must go on. You always say you will go to accompany A-Yuan once you’ve dealt with the Princess Royal’s faction, but perhaps A-Yuan has long since been reincarnated. How do you know this foreign girl isn’t A-Yuan’s spirit in heaven sending someone to keep you company?”

The people of the Prime Minister’s Manor moved quickly. The door to the main room of the West Court, which Sikong Xue had kicked broken, was repaired the very next day.

Ning Yuan propped up her head, sitting in the courtyard sunning herself while watching them work. Not being allowed to leave the yard, and with her only source of entertainment—the ancient zither—snatched away by Sikong Xue, Ning Yuan found the days terribly dull.

Chun He came in from outside, joyfully announcing, “Great news, Miss! Master said that as long as she is not in the manor, you may move about the residence freely. You may take whatever trinkets you like from the storehouse. Only one thing: you must not go to the Master’s study.”

“Oh,” Ning Yuan responded listlessly.

Ning Yuan was used to gold, silver, and pearls, so she didn’t find them particularly novel. The items in the storehouse couldn’t pique her interest.

Xia Xun assumed something had truly happened between the two of them last night, which was why the Master had granted Ning Yuan her freedom. “Master treats the Miss so well; why are you so unhappy?”

“This counts as being treated well?” Being confined to the manor was still a lack of freedom. It was likely that Sikong Xue felt guilty for taking advantage of her yesterday, which led to this. She still couldn’t go out, couldn’t get close to Yuchi Jin, and couldn’t investigate news about the Ning family.

Ning Yuan suddenly thought of something. Sikong Xue’s defensiveness was partly due to this face. Since childhood, Sikong Xue had crossed her at every turn, and now she was simply used to bullying her. As for not letting her leave the manor, she likely treated her as a foreign spy, fearing she would pass information to the tribes. If she could dispel Sikong Xue’s suspicions, perhaps Sikong Xue would allow her to go out. If she remained distant every day and Sikong Xue felt no goodwill toward her, how could she dispel those suspicions? She had to find a way to please Sikong Xue.

But she had just been seen in that state by Sikong Xue last night; how could she fawn over her now?

As she was thinking, Xia Xun appeared from somewhere with a kite and said to Ning Yuan, “The spring scenery is perfect. There is a large garden in the back of the Prime Minister’s Manor. Why don’t you go fly a kite, Miss?”

Ning Yuan asked, “Master is not in the manor?” She didn’t want to see Sikong Xue right now.

Chun He said, “Master went to see Lord Yin.”

Lord Yin likely meant Yin Chiyun. Ning Yuan had been close friends with her. Originally, Yin Chiyun had been diligent in her studies at the academy, but she was later led astray by Sikong Xue. When those two got together, they were liable to turn the school upside down. Back in the Great Hall, when Yuchi Jin had asked for her, it was Yin Chiyun who, despite the breach of protocol, reminded Sikong Xue to look back. These two were still as thick as thieves even after entering officialdom; Ning Yuan didn’t know what to say.

Following Chun He and Xia Xun to the back garden, she saw many phoenix flowers in bud. Ning Yuan looked at the flowers and was confused. With so many phoenix flowers planted here, why was her West Court filled with begonias?

Xia Xun smiled. “The Miss might not know, but our Master loves phoenix flowers most. In another month, the garden will be full of blooming phoenix flowers—a sea of red. It’s beautiful.”

Ning Yuan was even more confused. The phoenix flower was clearly her favorite; why would Sikong Xue like it? One year for her birthday, Yuchi Jin had planted a garden full of phoenix flowers for her, even using ice to delay their blooming. She had been overjoyed, but Sikong Xue had called them ugly. Ning Yuan sighed helplessly; it seemed what Sikong Xue disliked wasn’t the phoenix flower, but her.

In an instant, she lost her mood for kite flying. Just as she was about to return to her courtyard, she saw Song Yan rushing toward them. Seeing Ning Yuan, Song Yan’s expression darkened even further.

“Why is the lady here?”

Xia Xun hurriedly explained, “Sister Song Yan, please don’t be angry. Master said the Miss is permitted to wander the manor. Sister Chun He and I were afraid she was bored, so we brought her to fly a kite. Has the Master returned?”

Song Yan wasn’t blaming them, but she was nervous. She looked around and pointed to the rockery in the garden. “Miss, go hide behind the rockery quickly.”

Before Ning Yuan could even ask, she was half-pushed behind the rocks. She clutched her kite, feeling stifled. So much for being allowed to wander; as soon as Sikong Xue returned, she had to hide.

What she didn’t expect was that the person arriving wasn’t Sikong Xue, but Yuchi Jin—the betrothed who had killed her with her own hands.

Her heart beat faster and faster. She wanted to rush out and kill Yuchi Jin, yet she was terrified of being discovered. As Yuchi Jin approached, Song Yan drew her sword to block the way. “County Princess, my Master is not in the manor. If you have business, perhaps you should come back another day.”

Yuchi Jin said, “I have offered a hundred taels of gold to buy that foreign tribute. Why should Sikong Xue let her pride get in the way of gold for a mere tribute? Why is she avoiding me?” Her tone was high, sounding full of certainty.

A hundred taels of gold was no small sum, but compared to Sikong Xue’s imperial decree, it fell short. Song Yan said, “I cannot make decisions for the Master. Please leave, County Princess.”

Song Yan had let Yuchi Jin barge in through a moment of inattention, and she expected Sikong Xue to punish her upon her return. If Yuchi Jin took this girl away, the Master would be truly furious.

Yuchi Jin said relentlessly, “Sikong Xue is such a wooden-headed person; leaving that tribute in her manor is a waste.”

Hiding behind the rockery, Ning Yuan’s heart sank. She used to think Yuchi Jin was more steady and gentle than others; whenever she was sad, Yuchi Jin would comfort her softly. The current Yuchi Jin was so overbearing and shrill, exactly like the Princess Royal. It seemed her previous gentleness was all an act, and this was her true face.

“Whether it is a waste or not, she is a member of my household. Please leave, County Princess.” Sikong Xue walked up slowly. Catching sight of the shadow behind the rockery, her frown deepened.

Yuchi Jin mocked, “What, even a hundred taels of gold can’t buy a tribute with the same face? Sikong Xue, you’re not planning to use her as a substitute for Little Sparrow, are you?”

Sikong Xue said, “A-Yuan is A-Yuan; no one can replace her. But you—why are you offering so much gold for her?”

Ignoring royal decorum, Yuchi Jin said, “With a face like that, she’d make a fine plaything in the manor. Didn’t you bring her back for the same reason? If you truly can’t bear to part with her, why not settle her in my Lanyue Pavilion? I wouldn’t mind playing with her together with you…”

At those words, Sikong Xue immediately drew her sword and pressed it against Yuchi Jin’s neck. The blade was so sharp that a lock of Yuchi Jin’s hanging hair was sliced off.

“Get out.” Sikong Xue’s eyes held a murderous intent, as if she truly would kill Yuchi Jin if she dared speak such words again.

Yuchi Jin was finally frightened and fled the manor with her gold.

Ning Yuan, hiding behind the rocks, turned pale with fear. She knew what kind of place Lanyue Pavilion was, but she hadn’t expected the owner to be Yuchi Jin. Lanyue Pavilion was like the “forest of meat and lake of wine” from ancient texts, a place for the powerful to seek pleasure. Most who entered to serve there met a miserable end. She used to go out of her way to avoid passing that place.

Ning Yuan covered her mouth tightly, afraid to make a sound. Sikong Xue was so furious; she must have met with some frustration in the court.

Song Yan saw Sikong Xue’s face was livid and was about to speak, but Sikong Xue strode behind the rockery and pulled the girl out.

“Who permitted you to come here?” Sikong Xue felt her irritation growing. She had only just allowed her to walk around and she was already running about. If she hadn’t returned in time, or if Yuchi Jin had brought more people and actually dragged her to Lanyue Pavilion, what then?

Ning Yuan felt her legs go weak. She clutched the kite in her hands tightly and said tremulously, “I know I was wrong. Please don’t send me to Lanyue Pavilion…”

She looked ready to cry, and the kite in her hands was crumpled by her fear. Sikong Xue’s heart immediately softened, and her tone grew gentler. “Don’t be afraid. I will not let Yuchi Jin take you to Lanyue Pavilion.”

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