Double Rebirth: The Scumbag Heroine is Terrified of the Yandere Prince! - Chapter 18

“Princess?”

Seeing Shen Ruoli lost in thought, Runyue waved a hand in front of her face and popped another preserved plum into her mouth. “What are you thinking about? Are you moved to tears by the Prince’s kindness?”

“I don’t dare move,” Shen Ruoli shook her head.

If she were the only one reborn, she would have already slaughtered her way through her enemies without hesitation. But unfortunately, Xie Xuanyin was reborn too—and he hated her to the very bone. Every step she took had to be meticulously calculated. She had to avenge herself against Xie Xuansong while simultaneously repenting to Xie Xuanyin, all without stepping on his “landmines.”

The problem was, Xie Xuanyin’s temperament had become completely unpredictable. She didn’t even know where his landmines were buried anymore! Until he made a move or explicitly told her his intentions, she truly didn’t dare act rashly. She couldn’t afford to die by his hand before her revenge was complete.

“Princess, the Prince is being so good to you. How can you not be moved?” Runyue whispered as she leaned in. “Didn’t you say you wanted to take him by force? I’ve checked the almanac—tomorrow is a perfect day! It’s auspicious for marriage, blessings, and even… ‘bedroom affairs’ and conceiving children…”

Before she could finish, Ruoli shoved a plum into her mouth to silence the chatter. She knew tomorrow was a good day. In her past life, she had chosen that very day to go to Mount Tianzhao. But she was only there to pray back then; she hadn’t given a thought to “bedroom affairs.”

She did indeed “covet” Xie Xuanyin’s body, but she wouldn’t allow herself to get pregnant until her debts were settled. She would wait for the perfect moment to bring her child back into the world.

Her eyes darkened with resolve. “Since the Prince has started making moves, it means we’ll be heading back to the capital today. Pack our things. I’m going to the front hall to see what’s happening.”

But before she could cross the threshold, Feng Qing blocked her way.

“Crown Princess.” Following her “stab” from yesterday, Feng Qing was noticeably more respectful today.

“What is it?” Ruoli narrowed her eyes. “Am I under house arrest now?”

“I wouldn’t dare!” Feng Qing took a step back.

Strange! He thought. When she narrowed her eyes just now, she looked seventy or eighty percent like the Crown Prince. He had followed Xie Xuanyin for years and knew exactly when the Prince made that expression. Ruoli had only been married to him for a few days, how had she mastered his habits so perfectly? They say a couple starts to look alike after years of deep affection, but he was seeing the Prince’s shadow in her already! I must be seeing things, he told himself.

“Master said the Princess is unwell and should stay in bed. Once he is finished with his business, we will depart for the capital.”

“So, I am grounded,” Ruoli arched an eyebrow.

Xie Xuanyin was likely afraid she would cause trouble if she saw Xie Xuansong. The man hated things spiraling out of his control.

“You could say that,” Feng Qing gave a forced smile. “But Master is doing it for your own good! I’m just the messenger.”

“Fine, I won’t make it hard for you.” She knew they couldn’t disobey a direct order. Though she wanted to mock Xie Xuansong to his face, the thought of him being stuck in Fuzhou without a summons while he and Xie Yuanxun turned on each other gave her a sense of dark satisfaction. For the time being, she was the one attacking, and he was the one powerless to resist.

She sat back down. “Are we certain about returning today?”

“Certain.” “And Xie Xuansong is definitely staying in Fuzhou?” “Certain.” “Where did the Prince go last night?”

“Huh?” Feng Qing blinked. The topic jumped too fast! One second they were talking politics, and the next she was asking about his master’s whereabouts.

“After the Prince left the room last night, where did he go?” Ruoli asked again.

“This…” Feng Qing scratched his head.

“Can’t answer, or don’t know?” Ruoli looked at him solemnly. “Feng Qing, if you don’t answer, I’ll start making wild guesses. Did the Prince go to someone else’s room? Or did he go out looking for ‘fun’ with you lot?”

“I wouldn’t dare!” Feng Qing looked like he was about to cry. He used to hate her because of Prince Chu, but he never knew she was so bold and had such a vivid imagination.

“Then where did he go?” She propped her chin on her hand.

After a long hesitation, Feng Qing stammered, “Master… Master didn’t go anywhere! He stayed in the room right next to yours all night.” His ears turned red as he spoke.

“What?” Ruoli was stunned.

Feng Qing couldn’t meet her eyes. His face was flushed all the way to his neck. “He was right next door.”

“Next door?” She hadn’t explored the wing yet. “Is the room next door another guest room?”

“No!”

Runyue suddenly had an epiphany. “Oh! Princess, there’s a bathhouse next door!”

“A bathhouse?” Ruoli was confused. Why would he spend the night in a bathhouse instead of a comfortable bed? Then, it clicked.

My goodness! He didn’t just sleep there; he must have been soaking all night! And since she hadn’t heard any servants bringing hot water last night, it meant the man had soaked in cold water for an entire night just to suppress his desires?!

“Impressive,” she murmured, giving a silent thumbs-up.

She had teased him on purpose, but she assumed that if he lost control, they would just follow through as husband and wife. She never expected his self-control to be even more terrifying than in her previous life. To soak in cold water for a night… he really wasn’t afraid of catching his death.

Feeling a bit guilty, she cleared her throat. “Pack up, we’re leaving. I didn’t sleep well, so I’m going to take a nap. Oh, and Feng Qing, tell them at the front hall: Qingying’s injuries are too severe for a long trip. Let her stay at the Zhenbei Manor to recover. She can return to the capital with Prince Chu whenever he’s summoned back!”

As for whether she’d return to the Eastern Palace or the Chu Manor… Ruoli already had that planned out.

“Yes, Princess,” Feng Qing left to deliver the message.

The moment he was gone, Ruoli turned to Runyue. “Write a letter to my brother immediately.”

She was going to take advantage of Xie Xuansong’s absence to turn the Chu Manor—no, the entire capital, upside down!