After Becoming a Succubus, I Was Offered to My Mortal Enemy - Chapter 12

Wasn’t she supposed to take her to the kitchen? Why bring her to the bedroom?

On second thought, it seemed somewhat reasonable. Sikong Xue was now the Prime Minister, no longer the wild girl who only knew how to cause trouble in their childhood. It wouldn’t look good for a dignified Prime Minister to be seen eating by the stove in the middle of the night; she likely intended to have the servants bring the food to the room.

However, if that were the case, Sikong Xue could have just told her to wait in her own courtyard. Why bring her here?

Ning Yuan observed secretly. Sikong Xue’s bedroom was filled with the scent of Chen-shui incense, her favorite from the past; the fragrance was elegant and soothing. It seemed that after becoming Prime Minister, Sikong Xue’s taste had improved significantly. But the room was too desolate—no ornaments, no warmth—like the tomb of the living dead.

Seeing the foreign woman warily surveying her bedroom, Sikong Xue asked, “Do you not like it in the bedroom?”

Could it be that this foreign woman wanted to be outdoors, with the sky as her curtain and the earth as her bed…? It was said that Succubi had many “tricks” regarding such matters; she hadn’t expected her to be so shameless. That wouldn’t do; guards patrolled the manor, and it would be inappropriate to be caught. Since she possessed a face identical to Ning Yuan’s, Sikong Xue did not want her to be seen in such a state.

Despite having considered finding someone to marry and protect this girl earlier that day, now that they were alone in a room, Sikong Xue felt a ridiculous urge to simply let the mistake continue.

Ning Yuan didn’t understand why Sikong Xue would ask that. She simply waved her hand and said, “How could I not like the bedroom? As long as I can eat my fill, it doesn’t matter where I am.” She assumed Sikong Xue brought her here because the bedroom was closer to the kitchen.

Sikong Xue set aside her sword and carefully washed her hands. Turning back, she saw the foreign woman sitting there, propping up her head and waiting expectantly. Sikong Xue looked elsewhere, her tone carries a hint of unnaturalness: “Do you… wish to bathe?”

Ning Yuan: ?

It was just a pastry; why make it so complicated with bathing and changing? In the past, when Sikong Xue returned from the mountains covered in dirt, she would grab snacks and eat all the same. How was it that after becoming Prime Minister, the rules were so many that she had to bathe before eating?

Ning Yuan was starving and had no strength to bathe. She made a long face and said, “Can I bathe after I’ve eaten? I am really so hungry…”

Even though she was living under another’s roof and should follow the rules, surely such a strange rule could be negotiated? By her count, she hadn’t had a proper meal in twelve hours. Having been used to a life of luxury, she never knew hunger could feel this miserable. Now, as long as it wasn’t the “slop” made by that foreign chef, she would eat anything.

Looking at Ning Yuan in her thin nightgown, Sikong Xue’s eyes darkened. Seeing that Sikong Xue wasn’t agreeing, Ning Yuan’s tone became even more piteous as she spoke: “Must I really bathe first? Please, let me eat first, alright?”

The nightgown fit her, but the fabric was too thin to hide her fair neck. Her pink lips parted and closed, looking like an enticement.

“Mhm,” Sikong Xue responded awkwardly. She glanced at the bed curtains and then at Ning Yuan huddled in the soft chair. “Are you not going to the bed?”

She had never performed such an act before; she had intended to close her eyes and help this foreign woman relieve her heat. But with the girl sitting there, was she expected to carry her to the bed? No—helping her was a decision made after much internal struggle. This woman wasn’t Ning Yuan; how could she truly…

Her heart was in agony, constantly warning her that this was only someone who looked similar, not Ning Yuan. But once she had resolved to help her, Sikong Xue’s heart couldn’t help but race.

Ning Yuan tilted her head and looked at Sikong Xue. Go to the bed for what? Could it be that this wasn’t Sikong Xue’s bedroom, but just an empty room? Was Sikong Xue bringing her here to make her go to sleep so she wouldn’t feel the hunger? She had thought Sikong Xue wasn’t bad at heart, but she actually intended to let her starve!

Thinking this, Ning Yuan angrily walked to the bedside, lay down with her back to Sikong Xue, and said, “I knew you wanted to starve me to death.”

Sikong Xue: …

It seemed this foreign woman was truly “starving.” Usually, she was very submissive, her eyes reddening piteously if scolded. Now, controlled by the heat of passion, she even dared to speak to her this way. If she didn’t help her now, something might truly go wrong from “hunger.”

Sikong Xue took a deep breath and walked to the bedside. Her heart accelerated uncontrollably, and her fingertips trembled slightly as she reached out. Just as she touched the button of Ning Yuan’s nightgown, Ning Yuan suddenly screamed.

“You-you-you-you-you! What are you doing!”

Ning Yuan had just closed her eyes to try and sleep off the hunger when Sikong Xue started fumbling with her. She grabbed the quilt, wrapping herself tightly, and stared at Sikong Xue in panic: “You lured me to your room just to do this kind of thing?!”

To think she had believed Sikong Xue wasn’t a bad person; she was about to faint from hunger, yet Sikong Xue actually had the mind for this! Forced onto the bed by her old nemesis, the innocent Ning Yuan’s face turned pale with fright.

“I lured you?” Sikong Xue found it incomprehensible.

Ning Yuan thought of the night’s events and said aggrievedly, “You deliberately had someone make unpalatable food so I couldn’t eat, just to lure me out and entice me into doing this?! Don’t you know that these things require mutual consent? A forced melon is not sweet!”

Though she was currently a tribute and Sikong Xue was her master, such behavior was simply shameless!

Hearing what Ning Yuan was saying, Sikong Xue’s head suddenly “buzzed.” So when the foreign woman said she was hungry, she was actually hungry—it didn’t mean what she thought it meant. How could she have misinterpreted her so badly and almost done that to her… She blamed that cursed book she read during the day; it had caused her to misread the situation entirely.

Seeing Ning Yuan in such a panic, Sikong Xue pulled her hand back awkwardly, unsure if she felt disappointed or relieved. “You said you were hungry… you were actually hungry? The chef I specifically invited from the Western Regions—his food doesn’t suit your taste?”

Ning Yuan frowned. What was this about “real” or “fake” hunger? Hunger was hunger. After thinking for a long time, she finally realized what Sikong Xue meant by “hungry.” Her face flushed hot, and regardless of her status, she grabbed the soft pillow beside her and threw it at Sikong Xue.

“You-you-you… you’re shameless!”

After having two plates of pastries and warm milk sent in, Sikong Xue looked apologetically at the person gorging themselves before her. She said, “In the future, if the food doesn’t suit you, tell Chun He and Xia Xun. There is no need to endure like this.”

Ning Yuan glared at Sikong Xue, but as she opened her mouth to speak, she choked. Tears came to her eyes from the choking, and she only felt better after a large gulp of milk. It was Sikong Xue’s fault for such a misunderstanding, yet she had the nerve to blame her. Truly wicked.

After Ning Yuan had some pastries, the kitchen staff delivered two simple stir-fried dishes. Sikong Xue, usually aloof and unyielding to anyone in the imperial court, rarely lowered her head to say to a foreign tribute: “What happened today was my fault. I will never force you to do that kind of thing. Do not be afraid.”

Just as she was lifting a morsel to her mouth, Ning Yuan’s hand stiffened. Since when did Sikong Xue know how to coax people? In the past, if Sikong Xue upset her, she wouldn’t apologize at all—which was how Yuchi Jin had found an opening. It seemed Sikong Xue didn’t know she was a reincarnated soul, so she could be kind to a stranger.

Ning Yuan simply kept stuffing food into her mouth, ignoring Sikong Xue. Fortunately, Sikong Xue wasn’t annoyed; she just sat quietly to the side, watching Ning Yuan eat heartily. Seeing her eat with such gusto, Sikong Xue couldn’t help but curl her lips, though a trace of loneliness rippled in her heart.

The old Ning Yuan had been very picky with food and needed to be coaxed to eat more, which was why she always looked so frail. By comparison, this foreign woman was much easier to provide for. During these days in the manor, no matter what food or items were sent, the girl never complained.

Sikong Xue had conducted an investigation a few days ago and confirmed that the person before her had no contact with the foreign tribes. The envoys who escorted her had already left Great Liang, leaving her behind like a discarded pawn. Being so helpless and without support was piteous; perhaps she should…

No. She wasn’t A-Yuan. She couldn’t treat her as A-Yuan.

Sikong Xue stood up abruptly, walked to the window, and pushed it open, letting the cold wind rush in to clear her head. Ning Yuan, focused on her food, was startled by the movement. Even as a childhood playmate, she had found Sikong Xue somewhat unpredictable; now that she held a high position, she was even more intimidating.

Having quietly finished her meal, Ning Yuan felt sleepy. After thinking it over, she decided to take her leave and return to her own room to sleep. The West Court was quite far from Sikong Xue’s bedroom; thinking of the walk, she worried she might get hungry again, so she picked up the unfinished pastries to take back.

Without turning her head, Sikong Xue simply said, “The night is deep and the dew is heavy. You may rest here.”

She went to the side room, leaving the bedroom to Ning Yuan.

Ning Yuan gave a lazy yawn, too tired to think much more. Since Sikong Xue was giving up the bedroom, she unceremoniously lay down on the bed. Smelling the pleasant incense, Ning Yuan slept peacefully through the night, entirely unaware of how frantic Chun He and Xia Xun were when they couldn’t find her at dawn.

The Master had told them to take care of the girl, but they had managed to lose her. Xia Xun was nearly in tears: “Sister Chun He, what should we do?”

Chun He’s face was ashen as she said, “We can only go and accept our punishment.” Losing her was one thing, but if the girl was a spy who stole the Master’s things to give to the foreigners, that would be real trouble.

Both were prepared for severe punishment, but when they reached Sikong Xue’s courtyard, they saw a cleaning maid smiling. “You two are truly lucky. Following this foreign girl in the future, you’ll surely get many benefits.”

Chun He gave a bitter smile. Benefits? We’ll be lucky if we aren’t dragged to our deaths.

Seeing their grief-stricken faces, the maid said, “What? The girl received the Master’s favor last night, and you’re actually unhappy?”

“What?!” Chun He and Xia Xun felt they had misheard.

Xia Xun didn’t believe it: “You aren’t lying to us?”

“Why would I lie? Everyone in the manor knows. The girl is still resting in the Master’s room. Before the Master went to the palace, she ordered us not to disturb her. Once she becomes a mistress of the house, just wait for your rewards.”