Double Rebirth: The Scumbag Heroine is Terrified of the Yandere Prince! - Chapter 3

The Crown Prince’s Manor.

Because she had been suspended for so long, Shen Ruoli’s wrists were severely swollen and bruised.

Xie Xuanyin was personally applying medicine to her injuries. His face was dark, but his mind was a chaotic mess. If she was unharmed, he hated her; if she was hurt, his heart ached for her. For an entire day, he hadn’t been able to decide how he should truly treat her.

Watching Xie Xuanyin’s focused expression, Shen Ruoli’s eyes grew hot. In her previous life, he had cherished her more than his own life, yet she had brought him nothing but ruin. In this life, she would do everything in her power to make amends.

“Your Highness, I can do it myself,” Shen Ruoli choked back her tears, pulling her hand back slightly out of guilt.

“Why? Feeling guilty?” Xie Xuanyin looked up, his eyes devoid of any warmth. “Didn’t you just say you wanted to make a deal with me?”

Startled, Shen Ruoli hurriedly spoke, “Xie Xuansong covets your position as Crown Prince. That is why he sent me into the Eastern Palace.”

Surprised by her bluntness, Xie Xuanyin stared at her intently. “I am aware of that.”

“Then let me tell you something Your Highness doesn’t know!” Shen Ruoli summoned her courage and leaned in, whispering the details of Xie Xuansong’s secret plan into his ear. Once finished, she looked at him earnestly. “I will help you eliminate him! Not just him—anyone who dares oppose Your Highness is an enemy of Shen Ruoli!”

Xie Xuanyin searched her eyes for any sign of deception. But her gaze was transparent and sincere.

Before he could speak, she added, “Whether you believe me or not, time will tell! I don’t need promises of wealth or status. I only ask that you don’t kill me before Xie Xuansong is dead, and that you act as a loving husband in front of others. Once the dust settles, my life will be at your disposal!”

She knew she had to stay alive to get her revenge.

“Fine,” Xie Xuanyin replied curtly after a long silence.

He took her hand gently—his palm was warm, but his voice was like ice. “Xie Xuansong doesn’t dare tell Father that it was you who stabbed him, but he certainly dares to let Father know what I ‘did’ to you today.”

“This medicine was brought back from the Miao frontier by Feng Qing. It is miraculously effective at ‘erasing traces,'” he paused, his voice dropping an octave. “Reducing swelling is child’s play for it.”

At the phrase “erasing traces,” Shen Ruoli couldn’t help but shiver.

Without giving her time to react, he resumed applying the ointment with meticulous care. The warmth of his fingertips and the familiar intimacy of his touch felt both nostalgic and dangerously electric. Shen Ruoli hardly dared to breathe.

“What are you afraid of?” Noticing her pale face and trembling hands, Xie Xuanyin gave her a mocking glance. “Since I have agreed to your deal, I will not go back on my word.”

At least, not until my goals are achieved, he thought.

Once the medicine was applied, Xie Xuanyin stood up to leave.

“Your Highness!” Shen Ruoli couldn’t stop herself from standing up to stop him. “It’s late. Stay the night.”

“Hmm?” Xie Xuanyin arched an eyebrow. Before she could explain, he added mockingly, “Are you no longer ‘keeping yourself pure’ for Xie Xuansong?”

They had been married for only seven days. For the past week, she had used every trick in the book to keep him from touching her. Of course, he had never forced her. Her sudden invitation caught him off guard.

“In the past, I never kept myself pure for anyone. From now on, I only belong to Your Highness.” She stepped forward and caught his sleeve.

Shen Ruoli was a natural beauty with skin as fair as snow. Having rolled up her sleeves for the medicine, her slender forearms were exposed, making her look even more alluring.

Xie Xuanyin hadn’t expected such a drastic change in her behavior. He averted his gaze, looking slightly flustered. “Shen Ruoli, if you want this deal to continue, behave yourself!”

“I understand.” Afraid of angering him, she didn’t dare push further and pulled her hand back dejectedly.

As her hand left his sleeve and her faint fragrance seemed to dissipate, Xie Xuanyin felt a sudden hollow ache in his chest. Memories of their past moments of tenderness flashed through his mind. For a split second, he almost changed his mind about staying.

Fortunately, reason triumphed over impulse. He secretly pinched his thigh, reminding himself not to be fooled by this cunning woman again. Looking at the curve of her white neck, he felt a rising heat in his gut. He quickly hardened his expression and swept out of the room.

After he left, her maid, Runyue, crept in. “Princess! You scared me to death today! It’s my fault for being useless and failing to protect you!” She knelt and wept.

Runyue was a servant born into the Shen household and had grown up with Shen Ruoli; they were as close as sisters. Shen Ruoli sighed and helped her up. “If he wants to punish me, what could you have done? Stop crying. Am I not fine?”

“By the way, where is Qingying?”

Before she entered the Eastern Palace, Xie Xuansong had given her Qingying. He claimed she was a skilled martial artist and clever enough to protect her. Shen Ruoli had quickly trusted her.

She hadn’t realized the girl was a snake. On the surface, she served as a loyal maid, but behind the scenes, she was sleeping with Xie Xuansong and constantly framing Shen Ruoli. Even Runyue had eventually died because of her.

Seeing Shen Ruoli’s dark expression, Runyue hurriedly said, “After the Prince took you away, Qingying said she was going to the palace to beg the Empress Dowager for mercy… Wait, it’s so late, why isn’t she back yet?”

Shen Ruoli’s eyes flickered. Begging the Empress Dowager? Ha. She had clearly gone to see Xie Xuansong in secret! Otherwise, how could he have arrived at the city walls so quickly?

Speak of the devil—Qingying’s voice drifted in from outside. “Runyue, how is the Princess? Is she alright?” She rushed in with a look of extreme worry.

“Qingying, didn’t you go to see the Empress Dowager? What did she say?” Runyue asked quickly.

“I…” Qingying averted her eyes guiltily. “Princess, I am of lowly status and couldn’t get an audience! However, I went to plead with Prince Chu. When the Prince heard you were in danger, he dropped everything to come save you.”

Shen Ruoli sat down slowly. “You are very thoughtful.”

Perhaps it was the coldness in her tone, or perhaps it was Qingying’s own guilt, but the maid felt as if Shen Ruoli had become a different person. She quickly stepped forward. “Princess, are you hurt? Here, the Prince specifically had the Imperial Physician prepare this ‘Jade Snow Balm.’ He said it will ensure your scars heal without a trace.”

“It can even be used as a face cream! The results are excellent!”

Looking at the jar of ointment on the table, Shen Ruoli’s lips curled into a self-mocking smile. She knew this balm all too well.

In her previous life, Xie Xuansong had sent her this balm under the same pretext. He told her that by using it daily, she would look more radiant and capture Xie Xuanyin’s heart faster. She had believed him and used it religiously. Her skin did become flawless, but the price was that it made it almost impossible for her to conceive.

Her previous pregnancy had been a miracle from the heavens—a child Xie Xuansong had murdered the moment it was born.

Thinking of her baby, Shen Ruoli felt a suffocating pain and began to tremble.

“Princess, what’s wrong?” Runyue was terrified. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m fine,” Shen Ruoli forced herself to stay calm. She shot a cold glance at Qingying. “Leave us. I’ll use the balm later.”

Though suspicious, Qingying didn’t want to expose herself and retreated.

Shen Ruoli’s fingers trembled as she picked up the jar. Only one thought remained: Qingying cannot stay.

She remembered that in her previous life, in order to make her “earn” Xie Xuanyin’s trust, Qingying had orchestrated multiple traps that left Xie Xuanyin severely wounded, nearly costing him his life.

The first of those traps was set to happen in just three days.

This time, Shen Ruoli would not wait to be slaughtered. She would strike first and catch Xie Xuansong completely off guard!