After Becoming a Succubus, I Was Offered to My Mortal Enemy - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Inside the County Princess’s Manor, jade vessels and cups lay shattered across the floor. Countless priceless artifacts had been reduced to a heap of shards.

Upon leaving the palace and returning to her manor, Yuchi Jin began smashing things to vent her rage.

“That Sikong Xue! She used to cross me at every turn, and today she actually dared to rob me in broad daylight! She’s a fool—exchanging the Late Emperor’s imperial decree for a mere tribute! What an idiot!”

She smashed as she spoke, scaring the attendants so much they dared not approach. The County Princess’s temperament was unpredictable; while she maintained royal decorum in public, she became a different person entirely once back in her manor.

“Since Sikong Xue is the one being foolish, why should the County Princess be so upset? You are only hurting your own health for nothing.”

Ruan Qingshu stepped around the shards on the floor, walked up to Yuchi Jin, and performed a graceful salutation. As the daughter of the Minister of Rites, she had been fawning over and currying favor with Yuchi Jin since childhood. Having heard the interesting news from the court today, and knowing Yuchi Jin’s personality well, she immediately set out for the Princess’s manor to offer her flatteries.

Yuchi Jin hadn’t been able to fight Sikong Xue in the imperial court and could only comfort herself that it was just a tribute. But after leaving the palace, the more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She said hatefully, “Back then, she used to pester Little Sparrow every day, nearly ruining the grand plan of my mother and me. And today, she has to snatch the tribute I had my eye on!”

And she actually succeeded in snatching her away.

Thinking of that face—identical to Little Sparrow’s—Yuchi Jin felt a surge of resentment. She had thought that once Ning Yuan was gone, she wouldn’t care at all. But after killing Ning Yuan with her own hands, Yuchi Jin felt as though something was missing. Perhaps it was because that face was too beautiful; having grown up together since childhood, how could she not have felt a flicker of attraction?

Every time she dreamed of Ning Yuan questioning her why, Yuchi Jin would retort with exhausting desperation: “I killed you for your own good! Ning Yuan, do you have any idea how bitter the road to exile is? If I hadn’t killed you, you would have been defiled by others, and you would have sought death yourself. Rather than that, it was better that I sent you on your way!”

That was her betrothed wife. Even if the Ning family was stripped of status and exiled, and even if the engagement was annulled, their names had once been written on a single marriage contract. She would not allow anyone else to lay a finger on Ning Yuan.

She had never thought of protecting Ning Yuan or shielding the Ning family; she simply viewed Ning Yuan as an object. An object that others were forbidden to touch.

The Late Emperor was suspicious. Even if she had dealt with the Ning family for him, the moment she showed any pity for Ning Yuan, she might have drawn suspicion onto herself. How could she take such a risk for a Ning Yuan?

She just hadn’t expected that in a mere four-odd years, the Late Emperor would pass away, the originally weak and cowardly prince would become the new Emperor, and the Ning family’s criminal status would be cleared. Had she known, she would have kept Ning Yuan in her manor back then. Though she couldn’t have given her the status of a primary wife, keeping her by her side would have been good.

No. Ning Yuan looked fragile, but she wasn’t like that in her bones. Keeping her by her side would have been like nurturing a tiger that would eventually cause trouble. Killing Ning Yuan back then was something she had to do.

Seeing this tribute today, Yuchi Jin couldn’t help but think of the peerless beauty that should have belonged to her.

Ruan Qingshu smiled. “Since the County Princess likes her, why not just spend some silver to buy her? Sikong Xue lost her mind in the Great Hall like that; she must have mistaken her for Ning Yuan. Once she comes to her senses, she’ll regret it before it’s too late.”

Yuchi Jin had spent her strength smashing things. Looking at the broken jade, she began to feel a pang of regret for the cost.

Slumping back into her chair, she said, “What if she doesn’t regret it?”

That tribute had the same beauty as Ning Yuan but lacked the threat of Ning Yuan’s family background. Moreover, Sikong Xue had traded an imperial decree for her; how could she possibly part with her love?

Ruan Qingshu said, “Because of the Ning family incident, Sikong Xue has to rely on soul-soothing medicine every day just to get through. Her body is already ruined. With just a little stimulation, even if we can’t snatch the tribute away, we can still fish for other benefits.”

Ruan Qingshu’s words brought a glimmer of light back into Yuchi Jin’s eyes. No matter how mediocre the new Emperor was, he wouldn’t allow a madwoman to hold power forever. The Sikong family had held power for so many years; it was time for the court to see a change in the weather.

After staying in her room for several days, Ning Yuan grew even more frustrated as she watched the manor servants clear the weeds and transplant a large number of begonia flowers into the courtyard.

Just how much did Sikong Xue hate her? Not only was the yard filled with flowers she disliked, but even the clothes sent over were in colors she would never normally wear. Indigo blue, emerald green… what a waste of such fine fabrics.

The maid delivering the new clothes noticed that Ning Yuan seemed displeased, so she had people bring several bolts of silk. She said, “The lady can make do with these clothes for now. These are newly arrived fabrics. Please see if there are any you like, and I will immediately instruct someone to tailor new clothes for you.”

Ning Yuan looked at the brocades and asked, “Why is there no primrose yellow or watery red?”

As soon as she spoke, the maids in the room hurriedly knelt down. They said, “Miss, please do not say such things again. Master hates those two colors the most.”

The servants in the manor dared not wear such colors on their persons. Even if Sikong Xue didn’t normally mistreat her subordinates, she would never be lenient if she saw someone parading around in those colors.

Ning Yuan: …

No wonder Sikong Xue always bullied her in the past; it turned out it was because she loved wearing primrose yellow most of all. If she hated it that much, she should have just said so earlier—why go to such lengths?

Ning Yuan waved her hand helplessly and said, “Whatever, then.”

She didn’t like any of them anyway. Living under someone else’s roof, having clothes to wear was already good enough.

Over the past few days, the food continued to be things she previously disliked, yet this succubus body seemed to have an excellent appetite. Things she used to refuse to swallow now tasted quite sweet and delicious.

Xia Xun said, “If the lady doesn’t like these bolts of silk, we won’t make the clothes. Master ordered that if you find staying in the courtyard boring, you can keep the bolts of silk just to tear them up for fun.”

Ning Yuan twitched the corner of her mouth, trying her best to give a well-behaved smile. “Please thank the Master for me. Say that I like these brocades very much.”

She had seen through it long ago—these two little maids were nominally there to care for her, but in reality, they were monitoring her. Every night, one of them would always disappear for a while.

Chun He said, “That’s more like it. Master is still very good to you. If Master knows you like these things she bestowed, she will surely treat you even better in the future.”

Xia Xun chimed in, “Miss is so beautiful; you look good in any clothes. Once Master is free and sees you, she will surely like you.”

Born like a lotus rising from the water, Ning Yuan had been too lazy to let them style her hair into elaborate buns these past few days. She simply tied her ink-black hair loosely behind her head, letting the rest hang down with a few stray strands over her forehead, looking quite pitiable and moving.

Chun He and Xia Xun couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. As expected of a beauty from a foreign race—no wonder the Master was so attentive to her.

Hearing them mention Sikong Xue, Ning Yuan finally perked up. Propping up her head, she asked, “Is the Master this busy every day? I eat and drink for free in the manor every day, and the Master is so good to me, yet I cannot serve her to repay the debt. Over time, I feel truly uneasy.”

Chun He and Xia Xun exchanged a look. Xia Xun said, “We do not dare to ask about court matters. I expect the Master will come over before long.”

Being from a foreign race, they didn’t dare tell Ning Yuan about the affairs of the Great Liang.

Chun He relayed Ning Yuan’s words to Sikong Xue. Sikong Xue put down the scrolls in her hand and asked, “She really said that?”

Chun He said, “Yes. That girl asked me to thank the Master for her, and even said she wants to serve you personally to repay the debt.”

Hearing Chun He’s words, Sikong Xue couldn’t help but feel a sense of melancholy. If those words had been spoken to her by Ning Yuan, she would have been overjoyed. No—if it were Ning Yuan, she would surely have lost her temper over these matters. How could she say such many high-sounding words?

Those things were everything Ning Yuan usually hated most; Ning Yuan would never go against her conscience to say she liked them.

Initially, she had sent those things to test her; later, it was to warn herself that the girl was merely someone with a similar appearance and was not Ning Yuan.

But for some reason, she actually began to dream of this succubus who looked exactly like Ning Yuan. She dreamed of her dressed in gauzy clothes, enticing her piteously. With such a face, every frown and smile so alluring, how could Sikong Xue not be moved?

In her dreams, she several times came close to touching her, only to wake up filled with self-reproach. Knowing it wasn’t Ning Yuan, how could she do such a thing?

Perhaps she really should listen to Yin Chiyun’s advice and find a good husband for this foreign woman soon. Sending her off to be married would keep her out of sight and out of mind.

After Chun He withdrew, Sikong Xue threw on a robe and strolled through the manor. Somehow, as if led by a ghost or a god, she found herself walking outside the West Court.

The candlelight inside had not been extinguished, and the sound of a zither seemed to drift from within. Hearing the tune, Sikong Xue couldn’t help but knit her brows tightly.

A few days ago, the maids from the West Court had reported that the foreign woman wanted a guqin. Sikong Xue hadn’t cared to ask much and had simply told Song Yan to find one for her in the storehouse. She had originally thought a foreign tune would be different from those of the Central Plains, but this tune was clearly the one A-Yuan liked most while she was alive.

Sikong Xue wasn’t originally skilled in music; she had simply spent time leaning over the wall listening to Ning Yuan play the zither, and over time she had memorized it. How could a foreign woman play this song?

Without a second thought, Sikong Xue pushed open the door to the West Court and burst into Ning Yuan’s room.

The person playing the zither was startled and nearly snapped a string. The two little maids waiting nearby also hadn’t expected Sikong Xue to come over suddenly; they hurriedly saluted and greeted her.

Sikong Xue’s face was devoid of expression, her brown eyes filled with frost that seemed not to have melted for years. Dressed in plain clothes, she was clearly beautiful, yet the aura surrounding her made people afraid to approach. It felt as if if anyone overstepped at this moment, she would draw her sword.

Ning Yuan looked somewhat nervously at this rather fierce person, momentarily unsure if she should stand up and salute. Living under her roof, she probably should.

Just as Ning Yuan stood up and before she could even greet her, she heard Sikong Xue say coldly, “From now on, you are not allowed to play the zither in the manor. It’s unpleasant to hear.”

With that, she picked up the guqin and turned to leave.

Playing the zither was one thing, but how could she play this song?

Carrying the guqin out of the West Court, Sikong Xue leaned against the courtyard wall. Looking at the bright moon in the sky, she suddenly felt a hint of regret.

She was just a poor girl treated as a pawn by her tribesmen, locked in a courtyard with only a zither to relieve her boredom. Why was she losing her temper at her?

Tonight, she had clearly intended to bring her the medicine to suppress the heat of passion. How was it that instead of talking about the main business, she had snatched away her guqin?

After such an incident, it was unlikely she could go back in. Who knew when exactly the foreign succubus’s heat of passion would begin? Giving her that medicine one day late probably wouldn’t matter much, right?

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