Double Rebirth: The Scumbag Heroine is Terrified of the Yandere Prince! - Chapter 4

The next day, before the break of dawn, Shen Ruoli was already busy in the small kitchen.

Once the morning meal was finally prepared, Runyue came to report that the Crown Prince was awake. Shen Ruoli quickly washed her hands and hurried into the Changyang Palace.

Seeing her approach, Feng Qing, who stood guard outside the doors, knit his brows, wondering if he was seeing things. After all, in the few days since she had married into the Eastern Palace, this woman had never once come to serve the Prince during his morning routine.

“Why has the Crown Princess come?” Feng Qing extended an arm to block her path.

Inside, the lamps were lit, a sign that Xie Xuanyin was already up. Shen Ruoli brushed past Feng Qing and walked directly into the hall.

Xie Xuanyin, who was currently being dressed, stiffened the moment he saw her.

“Master…” Feng Qing followed closely behind, but before he could explain, he was dismissed by a single sharp look from Xie Xuanyin.

Shen Ruoli said nothing. She stepped forward and began to expertly arrange Xie Xuanyin’s robes.

Xie Xuanyin’s gaze darkened. “You, the grand Eldest Miss of the Shen family—since when did you become so skilled at serving others?”

Shen Ruoli’s movements faltered. She knew he was mocking her.

In her past life, although she had been blind enough to only have eyes for Xie Xuansong, she was still the pampered daughter of a Duke and the favorite of the Empress Dowager. No matter how much she adored the Prince of Chu, she would never have lowered herself to such a degree.

Her “skill” at serving others was something she had cultivated in her previous life after her awakening, born out of a heart full of guilt toward Xie Xuanyin. From small daily chores to protecting him from the shadows, she had learned it all for him.

“For the sake of Your Highness, I specifically asked Runyue and the others for guidance,” she explained immediately, knowing he had misunderstood.

As she spoke, she was about to signal Xie Xuanyin to lift his arms, only to find that he had already done so instinctively. It seemed he, too, remembered every single day and night they had spent together.

A faint smile touched Shen Ruoli’s lips, and her eyes brightened—So, in this life, I still have a chance!

Seeing her smile, Xie Xuanyin’s eyes flickered with a trace of emotion before he lowered his arms in annoyance.

“Get out!”

He clearly cared that she was near, yet his hatred forced him to speak against his heart. Shen Ruoli acted as though she hadn’t heard him and continued her work.

“I am speaking to you. Have you gone mute?” Xie Xuanyin pulled his arm back, his brow furrowed with rage.

“I am not mute.” Shen Ruoli looked up, her expression earnest. “It’s just that before the wedding, the Empress Mother instructed me to serve Your Highness well. If Your Highness is displeased with my service, I will be held accountable by her.”

“That suits me just fine,” Xie Xuanyin huffed.

Despite his sharp words, he allowed her to finish adjusting his belt. He knew well enough that the Empress did not like Shen Ruoli. If she were to find a reason to punish her, Shen Ruoli would not escape easily. Though he claimed to want to see her suffer, the thought of someone else—even his own mother—punishing her made him feel uneasy.

Xie Xuanyin’s mind was a mess, yet he maintained his mask of indifference. He looked down at Shen Ruoli’s pale hands moving across his chest, meticulously smoothing his court robes. For some reason, the tips of his ears began to burn.

“What is wrong, Your Highness?” Seeing the redness creeping up his ears and cheeks, Shen Ruoli feared he was falling ill. She reached out to touch his forehead. “Why are you so warm? Did you catch a cold? Feng Qing, quickly call the phy—”

Before she could finish, Xie Xuanyin clamped his hand over her mouth! This woman… was she determined to make him lose face?

“Shut up!” Xie Xuanyin hissed through gritted teeth. “I am perfectly fine!”

His warm breath fanned against her ear, sending a ticklish sensation through her. Her body was far too familiar with him; a jolt of electricity seemed to spark through her, making her legs go soft. She quickly grabbed his arm to steady herself, barely avoiding falling into his embrace—otherwise, she’d surely be subjected to another round of his poisonous tongue.

Shen Ruoli let out a breath of relief. But as soon as she found her footing, she heard his mocking voice: “Shen Ruoli, did the ‘self-harm’ ruse fail yesterday, so today you’ve switched to the ‘honey trap’?”

“What?” He actually thinks I’m throwing myself at him on purpose!

Shen Ruoli was speechless. “We only just agreed to our deal yesterday. I told you I would prove my loyalty and asked you to stop doubting my motives. Yet today, when I come to serve you dutifully, it becomes another ‘ulterior motive’?”

This man was far more difficult to handle than in the previous life! He was now impervious to both soft and hard approaches; Shen Ruoli felt like she was about to be driven to tears.

“Yesterday, I not only broke ties with Xie Xuansong but also stabbed him. He surely harbors a grudge against me now! Does Your Highness not see that?” she argued, her teeth gritted. “I have offended him; there is no turning back for me now. What possible benefit would I gain by offending Your Highness as well?”

Xie Xuanyin fell silent. It was unclear whether he was moved by her logic or the glint of tears in her eyes. After a long moment, he leaned down slightly, refraining from further insults. Shen Ruoli blinked, then quickly reacted by smoothing his collar.

The two of them said nothing more, yet they moved with a strange, practiced harmony.

Until Feng Qing pushed the door open. Seeing the bizarre atmosphere between them, he whispered, “Master, Runyue is here. She says the Crown Princess rose at the hour of the Tiger (3-5 AM) to brew a medicinal soup for you. It has just arrived.”

The hour of the Tiger? Since when did this woman wake so early? And to brew soup for him? Could she truly be so kind-hearted?

Xie Xuanyin’s cold eyes narrowed. “Do you wish to poison me?”

Shen Ruoli was so angry she almost laughed. “Runyue!”

Without wasting words, she called Runyue in and had her take several sips of the soup in front of Xie Xuanyin. Then, she ladled a bowl for him.

“Your Highness must rise early for court, and afterward, you spend hours reviewing memorials with the Emperor,” Shen Ruoli explained patiently. “You are often too busy to eat, which has ruined your stomach. I only wished to nourish your body.”

Before she had earned his trust in the past life, she had always believed he was a good Crown Prince and would be a great Emperor. But he was a failure as a son, a husband, and a father. She ached for him.

These words… they were almost identical to what she had said in the previous life! However, that had happened much later. Had time become distorted because of his rebirth? Was that why she was acting so strangely?

Xie Xuanyin gave her a long, deep look. In the end, he did not take the bowl. He simply dropped a cold remark and walked away with Feng Qing: “I find it filthy.”

Watching his figure vanish into the night, Shen Ruoli frowned and set the bowl down. Xie Xuanyin was a notorious germaphobe. Because she had taken a few sips to prove it was safe, he now found it “filthy” and refused to touch it.

“Sigh.” Shen Ruoli let out a long, weary breath. Making him believe her was proving to be harder than climbing to the heavens! But since she was the one who had betrayed his trust first, she had to endure it.

“Princess, you stayed up almost all night to brew this for him, yet he didn’t take a single sip.” Runyue looked at her mistress’s tired eyes with pity.

Shen Ruoli quickly pulled herself together. “It’s fine! If he won’t eat it, we will! Then, we’ll sleep!” She had always been someone who refused to admit defeat.

Once the Prince went to the palace, he likely wouldn’t return until evening. This was the perfect time for her to catch up on sleep and prepare for the next round of their battle of wits.

Shen Ruoli was eventually woken up by Qingying. She sat up with a slight headache, her voice raspy. “What time is it?”

“Princess, it is the hour of the Monkey (around 3:15 PM),” Qingying said softly. “Prince Chu is gravely injured. He even missed the morning court today. A messenger from his manor came to say that he was unconscious for a whole day and night. Now that he’s awake, he refuses to eat or let anyone tend to his wounds.”

“Princess, please go and see the Prince!”

Shen Ruoli snapped awake instantly.