Double Rebirth: The Scumbag Heroine is Terrified of the Yandere Prince! - Chapter 19

An hour later, Shen Ruoli and Xie Xuanyin departed for the capital.

Xie Yuanxun and Xie Xuansong stood at the gate to see them off. One’s face was livid, the other was gnashing his teeth. Seeing them fuming yet unable to speak out, Xie Xuanyin felt as refreshed as a spring breeze.

“Prince Chu,” he instructed calmly, “Sixth Uncle is getting on in years and has no son of his own. You must fulfill your filial duties and do your utmost to strategize and care for him during your stay.”

“Yes, Crown Prince.” Xie Xuansong clenched his fists so hard they trembled.

Seeing Xie Xuanyin helping Shen Ruoli into the carriage, a cunning idea flashed through Xuansong’s mind. Xie Xuanyin was the Crown Prince and outranked him, so he had to endure the pressure—but that didn’t mean he couldn’t find a way to disgust his brother.

He stepped forward, looking at Shen Ruoli with exaggerated concern. “The Princess was startled yesterday and has caught a chill. You must take care of your health! You have always been frail, especially in the winter. I shall order the servants to prepare hand-warmers immediately for your journey.”

Shen Ruoli paused. Is Xie Xuansong having another fit of insanity? Xie Xuanyin was already dismantling him, yet he still had the nerve to provoke him in public? He could be suicidal all he wanted, but he shouldn’t drag her down with him!

“Prince Chu should worry about himself instead,” Ruoli remarked, glancing back coldly. “In this freezing weather, wounds do not heal easily. You should focus on your own recovery!”

Her icy gaze was like a sword piercing his heart. Previously, he had never cared about her; he found her humble attempts to please him cheap and nauseating. But now that she genuinely seemed not to care—treating him with nothing but cold disdain—Xie Xuansong felt an unbearable sense of irritation.

“By the way,” Ruoli added, her lips curling into an ambiguous smile, “Qingying said she is most devoted to serving Prince Chu. Therefore, she shall stay by your side to tend to you. I believe with her ‘care,’ you will surely recover very soon!”

She let the curtain fall, leaving Xie Xuansong stunned. If she hadn’t mentioned it, he almost would have forgotten!

A few days ago, after Ruoli stabbed him, he had sent Qingying to give her the Jade Snow Balm. As a “return gift,” Ruoli had sent a medicinal ointment back through Qingying, claiming it was a rare medicine from the Miao frontier that Xie Xuanyin had obtained, perfect for regenerating skin and stopping bleeding.

He had let the Imperial Physician check it, and the doctor confirmed it was indeed a high-quality medicine for wounds. Thus, he had used it confidently. Yet, even after several days, his wound refused to close. Instead, it bled daily and felt as if thousands of ants were gnawing at it during the night.

“Princess…” He tried to speak, but Xie Xuanyin moved to block his line of sight.

“It seems Prince Chu is quite concerned for my Princess,” the Crown Prince said with a half-smile. “With me here, how could Ali possibly be cold? We won’t trouble you to prepare hand-warmers.”

The way he said “Ali” made Xie Xuansong feel as if he had just been forced to swallow a bucket of vinegar. He withdrew his gaze sourly. “It is truly enviable to see the Prince dote on his wife so.”

“If you are envious, then you should focus on doting on your own Consort.” Xie Xuanyin nodded to the King of Zhenbei and turned to board the carriage as well.

Feng Qing, holding the horses nearby, was stunned. Master isn’t riding back? He said he didn’t want to see the Princess’s hypocritical face. Why is he crawling into the carriage now?

As the carriage pulled away, Xie Xuansong stood with his teeth grinding together. He turned around only to meet the dark, brooding eyes of Xie Yuanxun.

“Xuansong,” the King of Zhenbei said, his voice laced with suppressed rage, “I believe it’s time we had a proper talk, nephew.”

Xie Xuansong’s heart sank. This was the first time Sixth Uncle had ever addressed him with such venom. “Does Uncle wish to discuss the bandit suppression?”

Suppression? Xie Yuanxun wanted to suppress this bastard first!

“Heh, suppression? Do you think I’m so old I can’t move? That I need you to handle my affairs?”

When Xie Xuanyin first suggested the arrangement, Yuanxun thought it was the Prince’s own idea. But a servant had just “secretly” told him that the Crown Prince claimed this was all done at Xie Xuansong’s request! The story was that Xuansong had begged to stay in Fuzhou to “help” his uncle.

To Yuanxun, it was clear: Xie Xuansong was coveting his fief and power.

“Prince Chu, you are truly capable! Not only are you plotting in the capital, but you’ve stretched your hand all the way to my Fuzhou! It seems your ambition is so great that before you pull the Crown Prince down, you intend to swallow my territory first!”

Xie Xuansong was floored. “Sixth Uncle, what on earth are you talking about?”

“Stop pretending!” Yuanxun snapped. “The Crown Prince is gone; there’s no need for riddles. I see your wolfish ambition clearly! I took pity on your circumstances and intended to support you, but it turns out you are just rotten wood that cannot be carved!”

“Sixth Uncle!” Xuansong roared, finally losing his patience. He hated people mentioning his birth, he was the Emperor’s eldest son, yet treated like a charity case. He didn’t need anyone’s pity!

“The Emperor was wise indeed to see through your mask. Even though you are the eldest, he chose the legitimate son over you. Xie Xuansong, this is all you will ever be!” With a cold huff, Xie Yuanxun swept away.

Xuansong’s face turned white with rage. He tried to chase after him, but his guards stopped him. “My Lord, calm yourself! This is Fuzhou—this is his territory!”

“Am I to just endure this humiliation?!”

“The Crown Prince dared to leave you here because he likely has the Emperor’s permission. If you turn on the King of Zhenbei now, you lose everything. You must achieve something to make the Emperor look at you differently!”

The guard’s words cooled his head. Xie Xuansong took a deep breath. He had to endure. He had to get back to the capital.

“Where is Qingying?” he asked darkly. His men had searched for a day and night to no avail, yet Yuanxun found her instantly. Yuanxun’s sudden hostility must have come from something she said after all, only Qingying knew the full extent of how he had used the King of Zhenbei!