Double Rebirth: The Scumbag Heroine is Terrified of the Yandere Prince! - Chapter 6

Xie Xuanyin could almost see the suspicion flickering in Shen Ruoli’s eyes.

His breath hitched.

He had let it slip!

If Shen Ruoli were to find out that he was someone who had returned from a previous life, how could he continue his revenge? How could he properly torment them?

Internally, Xie Xuanyin was panicked, yet his face remained as calm and composed as ever. He coldly averted his gaze, acting indifferent. “Shen Ruoli, this is the Eastern Palace! Every word you speak and every move you make is crystal clear to me.”

This was also a warning to her: Under my watchful eye, don’t even dream of pulling any little stunts.

Before Shen Ruoli could respond, he continued with a sneer, “Earlier today, didn’t your maid, Qingying, mention to Feng Qing that you were preparing to head to Mount Tianzhao in two days? Why? Did you suddenly change your mind because you couldn’t wait to deliver some secret intelligence to your ‘master’?”

So that was it!

Shen Ruoli let out a long breath of relief. She had nearly thought that Xie Xuanyin was also reborn!

She blamed her own over-sensitivity. If he truly were reborn, given his temper, he likely would have strangled her the moment she woke up on the city walls, rather than just threatening to throw her off.

“It’s not that I changed my mind,” Shen Ruoli explained softly, lowering her head to hide the lingering fear in her eyes. “I simply thought that since I’m going to pray for Mother Empress’s birthday, the earlier the better. Sincerity is shown through promptness.”

She reached out and gingerly tugged at his sleeve again, her voice becoming small and pleading. “Your Highness, please… just lend me Feng Qing for one day. I promise I will return safely and won’t do anything to disappoint you.”

Xie Xuanyin looked down at her small hand gripping his sleeve. His heart, which he had tried so hard to harden into stone, gave a traitorous throb.

In the previous life, she had used this same pitiful, “damsel in distress” act to lure him into an ambush at Mount Tianzhao. He had been so blinded by her “tears” that he walked straight into a trap, ending up with a poisoned arrow in his chest that nearly claimed his life.

Was she planning to repeat history?

But she had moved the date up by one day. Was she trying to catch him off guard?

“Fine,” Xie Xuanyin said, his voice dropping to a dangerously low pitch. A dark, murderous glint flashed in his eyes. “Since the Crown Princess is so ‘sincere,’ I will grant your request.”

He wanted to see what kind of play she was going to put on this time. If she dared to betray him again, he wouldn’t even wait for the rebels to strike, he would kill her himself on that mountain.

“Thank you, Your Highness!” Shen Ruoli’s face lit up with a genuine, radiant smile.

Watching her joy, Xie Xuanyin felt a bitter tang in his mouth. Shen Ruoli, I hope your smile remains this bright when you realize that this time, the hunter is the one being hunted.

Late at night, in the side chambers.

Qingying was secretly scribbling a note by the light of a dim candle. Her movements were hurried.

“The target has moved the trip to Mount Tianzhao to tomorrow morning. Prepare the ambush early. Also, she has become suspicious of me; I need a way to regain her trust.”

She rolled up the thin strip of paper and was about to head to the window when the door was suddenly pushed open with a loud bang!

Qingying jumped, instinctively hiding the note in her palm.

“Princess? Why are you still awake?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady as she saw Shen Ruoli standing at the door.

Shen Ruoli stepped into the room, followed by Runyue, who was holding a lantern. The light cast long, dancing shadows on the walls, making the room feel suffocatingly small.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Shen Ruoli said, her voice eerily calm. She walked toward the table and glanced at the extinguished candle. “I saw a light in your room and thought you might still be packing for our trip tomorrow.”

“Yes… yes, I was just finishing up,” Qingying stammered, her hand trembling slightly behind her back.

Shen Ruoli smiled, a cold, thin expression that didn’t reach her eyes. “You’ve worked hard, Qingying. Tomorrow is a big day. I’ve asked the Crown Prince for extra protection. He’s even letting Feng Qing come with us.”

Qingying’s heart skipped a beat. Feng Qing? The Prince’s most elite guard? This would make the assassination much harder. She had to get this information out to Xie Xuansong immediately!

“That’s… that’s wonderful news,” Qingying forced a smile.

“Is it?” Shen Ruoli took another step closer, her gaze locking onto Qingying’s hidden hand. “By the way, Qingying, what is that in your hand? Is it a gift for the Prince of Chu? Since you miss him so much, perhaps I should see it?”

The air in the room seemed to freeze. Qingying’s face turned paper-white.