Seducing the Heart - Chapter 23

The weather was mild and the scenery bright; it was an ordinary day in the Prince’s manor.

Having learned of Yun Jin’s whereabouts from a maidservant, Qin Zhanluo went to find her in person. Yun Jin was sitting in a pavilion, practicing a game of chess against an imaginary opponent in her mind. To an average person, this might seem incredibly dull, but for Yun Jin, it was an excellent way to pass the time.

In the past, Yun Jin had a chess partner. For a period, Senior Sister Xie had been quite interested in various chess endgames and would enthusiastically seek her out for a match every day. This lasted until one day when Xie Lianjing suddenly realized that the wins and losses of their games had always been entirely within Yun Jin’s control. From then on, she indignantly refused to play with her again.

Whenever Yun Jin tried to invite her for a game now, Xie Lianjing would recall the silly joy she felt back then when she thought she had actually beaten Yun Jin. Her face would immediately darken as she chased Yun Jin away. Yun Jin had no choice but to give up on that idea.

As Qin Zhanluo approached the pavilion, she watched Yun Jin maintain the balance between both sides of the board with apparent boredom. Most of the pieces had already been placed, suggesting she had been sitting there for quite some time.

Noticing the newcomer observing the board, Yun Jin offered a faint smile. She placed a white piece and called out softly, “Princess Consort.”

“Is the Prince interested in a game with me?” Qin Zhanluo picked up a translucent black chess piece, a spark of interest appearing in her eyes.

Yun Jin smiled again and made a gesture of invitation. Having someone willing to play was, naturally, the best outcome.

It was a scene of refined leisure, the quiet clicking of chess pieces accompanied by a gentle breeze. The two sat opposite each other at the stone table, Yun Jin holding the white pieces and Qin Zhanluo the black. Both maintained the same expression of calm composure. The struggle between the black and white dragons took the four-cornered board as its battlefield, rising in momentum.

Their playing styles were actually quite similar: both were steady, cool-headed, and focused on cautious probing and slow deployment. As a white piece originally meant for positioning was sacrificed to the black pieces due to its owner’s slight oversight, Yun Jin raised an eyebrow slightly, feeling a sense of approval. That inconspicuous white piece had been buried deep; it was something Yun Jin intended to use several moves later. She had not expected Qin Zhanluo to see through it and eliminate it so early.

They were well-matched opponents. The crisp sound of pieces landing on the board was the only rhythm in the air. Yun Jin’s eyes flickered as she casually started a conversation.

“In truth, I have always held a doubt in my heart. I wonder if the Princess Consort might clarify it for me?”

“The Prince may speak freely.” Qin Zhanluo looked at one of her own black pieces that had been neutralized and began replanning her next move.

“Why did the Princess Consort choose to come to the Cloud Capital for a political marriage? Given Northern Chu’s national strength, relying on another country should not have been a necessary option.”

Qin Zhanluo did not hesitate, providing a reason that was perfectly logical. “The Prince should know that once two countries are joined by marriage, it can be considered an alliance among nations.”

Yun Jin understood her meaning. Once an alliance was formed, neither side could attack the other without a valid reason. To actively violate such a pact would not look good in the imperial history books. However, if one side was truly willing to bear the infamy, any resistance from the other side would then be considered entirely justified.

“Northern Chu chose marriage now simply for the sake of making strength even stronger. I imagine that with the Cloud Emperor’s great ambitions, if Northern Chu had not come for a peaceful union, it would have been a matter of time before an invasion was intended.”

It was more than just intent; even now, there were occasional covetous glances. Yun Jin smiled understandingly. “Thank you, Princess Consort, for clearing that up.”

While their conversation was as light as a breeze, the chess board was already a field of flashing blades and shadows, having endured several bouts of slaughter.

“Does the Prince remember I once told you that my reason for coming to the Cloud Capital was also for a specific person?” Qin Zhanluo tapped a chess piece and looked up at Yun Jin, her gaze shifting. “A beloved person.”

Yun Jin naturally remembered. If not for the existence of this unknown beloved, it would have been difficult for her to live in such peaceful proximity with the Princess Consort all this time.

The number of young noblemen Qin Zhanluo knew was quite limited. Based on Yun Jin’s observations over these past days, she already had an idea of who the person might be.

Yun Jin thought for a moment and asked speculatively, “Is it Scholar Su?”

The movement of Qin Zhanluo’s hand paused. She said nothing, neither confirming nor denying the guess.

Yun Jin was focused on the board and failed to notice the change in Qin Zhanluo. Since she did not speak up to refute it, Yun Jin assumed the guess was correct. “Scholar Su is as gentle as jade; he is a good man.”

Su Peiwen was an old acquaintance of the Princess Consort and even knew some of her habits and rumors. Most importantly, Su Peiwen was currently unmarried. Combining these points, Yun Jin felt her guess was almost certainly correct.

Clack. Qin Zhanluo placed a piece with significant force, then stood up and said coldly, “Your Highness, you have lost.”

The black dragon had coiled around the white one, using a clever maneuver to bind its claws and trap it within the prison of the board. It was a brilliant move that took a risky path to victory.

Both had set their formations, and while Yun Jin’s momentary distraction had led to this outcome, it was still within her expectations. The Princess Consort knew how to judge a situation and seize an opportunity; she was truly an admirable and intelligent person.

However, as Yun Jin remained in the pavilion, collecting the pieces one by one, she could not understand why Qin Zhanluo seemed to have become angry for no apparent reason after winning the game. Could it be that she was shy because the secret was guessed correctly?

Under an ancient tree, a beauty brandished a sword with such speed that even a careful observer could only catch a series of blurred shadows. The leaves falling from the tree were the most innocent victims; they had already hit the ground, only to be swept up by the sword’s wind and tragically torn to shreds. If this sword were used on a person, wouldn’t they be covered in wounds?

Ying Xi and Cui’er watched from a distance, their expressions solemn. Both girls stood properly at first, but instinctively ended up half-hiding behind a circular wooden pillar.

“The way the Princess Consort dances with that sword,” Cui’er swallowed, searching her limited vocabulary for the right word, “is quite… majestic.” It made one’s neck feel cold, as if there were tangible waves of killing intent overflowing from time to time. Her expression was also terrifying. Looking at that cold face, Cui’er silently added another evaluation in her heart.

“Ai, our Princess is angry.” Ying Xi had been with Qin Zhanluo for a long time and was naturally familiar with her habits. Whenever the Princess was frustrated, she would take out her flexible sword to practice. Seeing every strike carrying the wind, Ying Xi was certain this was the case once again.

“Then why is the Princess Consort angry?” Cui’er’s gossip-loving heart flared up. Her hands, gripped onto the pillar, were sweating from excitement. Even when a beauty was angry, she was pleasing to the eye—and terrifying.

Seeing Qin Zhanluo change positions with a few swift steps and sword swings, Ying Xi and Cui’er moved in unison, chasing after her to a closer pillar to continue watching.

“Since the Princess is angry while in the Prince’s manor,” Ying Xi thought for a moment, “then it must have something to do with the Prince.” After a moment of reflection, her expression changed, and her brows immediately carried a hint of anger. “What did your Prince do to wrong my Princess this time to make her so unhappy?”

“What do you mean my Prince did something to wrong your Princess? Why can’t it be your Princess just sulking on her own?” Don’t blame everything on our Prince, okay? The Prince is the best; he even gave me a reward yesterday.

The two maidservants, who had been allied in gossip just a moment ago, immediately became hostile in defense of their respective masters. They each took a step back to draw a line between them.

“It is your Prince! Always flirting around! He even kept going to that ‘No Envy of Immortals’ place after marrying our Princess!”

“Bah! If you ask me, it’s your Princess who likes to exchange looks with other men!”

After just a few exchanges, both girls were fuming. However, they both shared the same thought: I cannot lose! I absolutely cannot lose! This is about my master’s dignity!

“Oh? You dare to slander my Princess like that?! See if I don’t tear your mouth apart, you little brat!”

“Ha! Come on then! See if I don’t knock your teeth out today!”

And so, the two girls immediately lunged at each other, locked in a fierce and inseparable scuffle.

“Don’t pinch my face!” “You let go of my hair first!”

“Stop!” Two shouts from different directions successfully halted the intense battle.

Qin Zhanluo and Yun Jin first exchanged a somewhat helpless look. Then, Qin Zhanluo frowned slightly at Ying Xi. She had been practicing her sword to vent her own dissatisfaction, only to have the two maidservants start fighting for no known reason. After hearing the explanation for their quarrel, the two masters both felt a fair amount of embarrassment.

“Your Highness, Cui’er couldn’t stand her talking about you like that.” “Princess, this girl was slandering you, so I…”

“Enough.” Yun Jin waved a hand, looking at the two still-indignant girls with a half-smile. These two young girls did not know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth; if they had any other masters, such words would have likely cost them their heads.

The management of servants in the Prince Jin manor had always been lax, and power was not used to oppress people, which had led to their current free-spirited nature. Yun Jin still did not wish to impose heavy punishment, but a small lesson was necessary.

The girls, who were still complaining about each other, finally sensed the unreadable expressions of their masters and realized too late that their words had overstepped their bounds and constituted a crime. In an instant, as if by prior agreement, they both knelt down together.

“This servant knows her mistake.” “This servant is guilty.”

Yun Jin sighed softly and turned to Qin Zhanluo. “Princess Consort, how do you think these two should be handled?”

“Kill them,” Qin Zhanluo said tonelessly. The casual remark was terrifying.

The two girls were naturally frightened out of their wits. Cui’er, in particular, immediately broke into tears and snot. “Prince, Princess Consort, have mercy!”

Yun Jin saw Qin Zhanluo’s expression and knew she was only intentionally scaring the two girls, so she didn’t expose the lie and simply sat back to watch the show. A little scare would be good for them. Ying Xi understood Qin Zhanluo’s temperament well enough to know she wouldn’t take a life over this, so she simply remained in a deep kowtow.

“Stop crying, it’s giving me a headache.” Qin Zhanluo felt it was enough and changed her tone. “Copy the Scripture of a Clear Heart a hundred times and hand it to the Prince and me by the day after tomorrow. Next time, remember not to talk nonsense again.”

After the two girls left, Yun Jin recalled the little farce and couldn’t help but smile. Qin Zhanluo looked at her from the side, her eyes clearly brimming with a light called affection, yet she quietly kept it hidden.

She reminded her softly, “It is getting late. Your Highness, it is time to retire.”

The moonlight was soft. Yun Jin kept one hand behind her back and reached out her other hand to her Princess, intending to help her up. She responded smoothly, “Alright.”

The single-syllable response was clear and cold, yet laced with a gentleness that was hard to refuse. It was a habit of hers to unintentionally bewitch the soul.

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