The Possessive Villain Is Too Clingy [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 46

It was late spring, and the sky was a clear, brilliant blue. Ye Zhixia and Princess Ninghua rode Líying to a small stream.

The water gurgled softly, crystal clear and transparent.

Líying came to a stop, and Ye Zhixia loosened the reins, dismounting with effortless grace.

Though she had been staying in the servants’ quarters these past days, the conditions were still far better than during military campaigns. Not only had her skin improved, but the scars from before had faded to barely noticeable marks.

Princess Ninghua sat atop the horse, gently stroking Líying’s fur. The horse stood obediently, showing no resistance.

Then, satisfied, she dismounted and led Líying toward a small tree, instinctively intending to tie the horse there.

“Wait!” Ye Zhixia called out to stop her. “Líying values its freedom. Just let it roam and play on its own.”

Princess Ninghua recalled Ye Zhixia’s earlier explanation about Líying’s temperament and found the suggestion reasonable. So she folded the reins a few times and draped them loosely around the horse’s neck.

Líying turned and trotted away into the distance.

“Why have you brought me here?” Princess Ninghua turned to face Ye Zhixia, her tone guarded and questioning.

Ye Zhixia stood tall and straight, bearing none of the subservience expected of a slave.

“I am not a slave sent by Nansheng. I am the general who defended Jicheng.”

Princess Ninghua had led troops against Nansheng and knew that Jicheng had been the last city to hold out.

At the time, spies had reported that the Nansheng emperor had agreed to cede territory for peace. The defending armies of other cities had either withdrawn or, demoralized by the imperial court’s passive stance, had fallen within days.

Only Jicheng’s garrison had held out to the bitter end.

With no reinforcements coming from behind, and the allied forces gradually shifting their focus to Jicheng after victories elsewhere, the outcome was inevitable—the alliance had prevailed.

“I remember hearing that all of Jicheng’s defenders perished. How did the general manage to survive?” Princess Ninghua’s lips curled slightly, her words dripping with scorn.

For an entire army to fall while its general escaped in the chaos was the greatest disgrace a warrior could suffer.

“Did the generals of Liguo not report to you that I was retrieved from a mountain of corpses?” Ye Zhixia replied calmly, neither cowed nor defiant. “It was the same day I first met you.”

Princess Ninghua seemed to ponder this. “No wonder a mere slave could kill Captain Ruan.”

As she spoke, she tightened her grip on the sword in her hand.

To Ye Zhixia, this gesture only confirmed that the princess was far more cautious than in the original storyline.

Ye Zhixia dropped to one knee, bowing her head with hands clasped. “As a general of Nansheng, I have already died once. But upon my return, I saw the loyal families of Nansheng being exploited by a foolish ruler.”

“Your Highness is kind and benevolent. I beg you to shelter these unfortunate souls. In return, I will serve you with unwavering loyalty!”

Princess Ninghua took two steps back, wary of any hidden weapons.

She tilted her chin up slightly, looking down at the kneeling figure. “I am a warrior who has fought on the battlefield. What kindness or benevolence do I possess? And what value does a mere horse-tending slave hold for me?”

A faint smile flickered across Ye Zhixia’s lowered face, but it was quickly replaced by an expression of firm sincerity.

She raised her head. “I am willing to brave fire and water for you, to conquer cities and seize lands—to help you ascend to the throne!”

Princess Ninghua drew her sword and pointed it at Ye Zhixia. “Do you know that such words are punishable by death?”

Ye Zhixia faced Princess Ninghua without fear: “As soldiers on the frontlines, we’ve long been prepared to carry our heads at our waists!”

Princess Ninghua sheathed her sword and attempted to mimic Ye Zhixia’s whistle, but after a while, she realized Shadowlynx showed no response.

Ye Zhixia stood up and handed the princess a stainless steel whistle.

Princess Ninghua took it, first curiously running her fingers over its unfamiliar material before attempting a blow.

Shadowlynx immediately came trotting from afar.

The princess tentatively mounted first, and when the lynx didn’t resist, an unconscious smile of satisfaction appeared on her face.

Ye Zhixia mounted as well, and the two rode back together.

Ye Zhixia knew—having spoken words that could cost her head, yet still keeping it—that the princess was clearly moved.

–

That night, the other Nanheng slave girls in the stables asked Ye Zhixia whether the princess had given her trouble that day.

Ye Zhixia simply said the princess had a kind heart and might become their protector in the future, urging them to show her more respect.

After the candles were extinguished, she pondered the strange reaction of the white stone at her chest to Princess Ninghua.

She wondered—if this stone was indeed Chu Ning’s incarnation, could the princess be someone related to her by blood?

But then again, these worlds had no temporal continuity; claiming kinship seemed far-fetched.

Closing her eyes, her consciousness slipped into the interdimensional space.

“Xiao Mi, do you know what’s up with this stone?” Ye Zhixia called out loudly in the void.

Xiao Mi appeared after a long delay.

“What? I didn’t catch that earlier.”

Ye Zhixia repeated her question.

Xiao Mi pinched her chin thoughtfully after hearing it: “Usually, after completing a mission, the story’s characters who had their wishes fulfilled turn into objects and are stored in the Fast Travel Bureau’s archives. As for what happens afterward, I don’t have clearance to know.”

“This fragmented white stone is likely Chu Ning’s incarnation, but why it wasn’t reclaimed by the Bureau, I’m not sure.”

Xiao Mi suddenly had an idea while staring at the stone: “What if I check whether there’s any spiritual residue attached to it? Then we’d know if Chu Ning’s still in there!”

She immediately began scanning the stone.

As the beam faded, Ye Zhixia pressed, “Well?”

Xiao Mi shook her head helplessly. “No signs of a soul, but there are traces of conscious energy carrying Chu Ning’s essence.”

Ye Zhixia fell into deep thought, then adjusted her approach: “If it’s not spiritual matter, could it be a physical incarnation?”

Xiao Mi considered this possibility: “If that’s the case, the residual energy might react to spiritual entities. If you encounter Chu Ning’s spirit, it could alert you.”

Ye Zhixia instantly recalled the stone’s reactions upon meeting Princess Ninghua—hope surged within her!

If the princess truly was Chu Ning, it meant she could find her reincarnations across different worlds!

But for now, these were just speculations. Confirming whether Princess Ninghua was Chu Ning would take time.

The most pressing matter was making the princess aware of her father and brother’s designs on her military power.

“Xia Xia, Shadowlynx says she thinks she hasn’t had enough playtime outside,” Xiao Mi said, stretching her neck.

Although Ye Zhixia had considerable expertise in horse training, Liying was not among the subjects of her study.

Liying was a foal born in the embrace of nature, nurtured by the essence of heaven and earth, and had already developed a spiritual intelligence.

Over the past half-month, aside from Ye Zhixia’s genuine care, the greatest credit went to Xiaomi, who could communicate with Liying.

Liying was utterly delighted to meet a little kitten that could converse with her. Usually, when Liying played outside, she wasn’t alone but would romp and frolic wildly with Xiaomi.

During the day, when Liying took that step forward toward the princess, it was Xiaomi sitting on the horse’s head who had reminded her.

“As long as you can ensure she doesn’t run off, you can take her out to play anytime,” Ye Zhixia said casually.

For a spiritual creature like Liying, if she ever desired to leave for freedom, there was no way Ye Zhixia could forcibly keep her.

Xiaomi chuckled mischievously, “Tonight, I’ll sleep right next to Liying! Your big communal bunk is no place for a little kitten like me!”

Ye Zhixia thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

The slaves slept in a large shared space, and inevitably, some might toss and turn restlessly, possibly kicking or stepping on Xiaomi.

Liying regarded Xiaomi as a pet, and likewise, Xiaomi saw Liying as her own pet.

–

In the princess’s chambers, Princess Ninghua tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

On the second day after capturing Ji City, while she was directing the withdrawal of other troops, a strange phenomenon suddenly occurred—a flaming meteor streaked across the sky and fell toward the battlefield near Ji City.

Her head throbbed with pain as fragmented scenes, both familiar and foreign, flooded her mind.

Her elder brother presenting a concubine from Nansheng as a gift for their father’s birthday banquet; herself fighting battles across the land for the kingdom of Li, only to be urged by her father and brother to relinquish her military authority after victory; on her sixteenth birthday, her father announcing her betrothal to the leader of the Yanlin tribe; three months later, she was struck down by a hail of arrows in Yanlin…

She knew these visions in her mind must be connected to the meteor, so once she felt somewhat better, she rode toward Ji City to investigate.

Strangely, the closer she got to Ye Zhixia, the clearer the scenes in her mind became.

At the time, she hadn’t paid it much heed. But today at the horse track, as she and Ye Zhixia galloped side by side, more and more memories—both good and bad—surged into her mind like a tidal wave.

What puzzled Princess Ninghua was that all the figures in these memories were familiar, yet Ye Zhixia was conspicuously absent.

She knew her father and brother each harbored their own schemes and viewed her with deep suspicion.

When Ye Zhixia subtly hinted several times today that she should seize power, she felt a flicker of temptation. A trembling voice barely sufficed for self-preservation—why not raise the banner of rebellion and enter the fray?

Who wasn’t a battlefield commander, after all?

At worst, it would mean death. But to fight with every last ounce of strength and die for a dream was far better than perishing miserably under someone’s machinations!

Ye Zhixia’s desperate defense of Ji City was the most tragic tale in the war between the alliance and Nansheng.

If she could truly win Ye Zhixia’s loyalty, her chances of success would undoubtedly soar.

But what if Ye Zhixia was a spy sent by her brother to get close to her?

In the following days, to gain a clearer understanding of what lay ahead, Princess Ninghua visited the horse track daily. Under the pretext of bonding with Liying, she spent time alone with Ye Zhixia.

Yet, it was precisely this behavior that would bring her a calamity of bloodshed.

Princess Ninghua had always been carefree, coming and going without any set pattern. Moreover, her martial skills were exceptional, making it difficult for those who secretly coveted her to find an opportunity to strike.

However, her recent habit of taking the same route to the same location for several consecutive days gave her pursuers the opening they needed, and their murderous intent flared.

A black-clad assassin trailed Princess Ninghua closely.

The princess usually preferred casual attire, blending seamlessly into the crowd.

That day, the market was bustling with activity, and the dazzling array of goods caught Princess Ninghua’s eye. She bought many small trinkets, enchanted by the lively scene.

The dense crowd made it difficult for the assassin to find the right moment to strike.

By the time Princess Ninghua finally arrived at the horse ranch, it was already noon.

As she stepped through the ranch’s gate, she noticed the guardhouse was empty.

Only then did she glance up at the sun and realize the servants had likely all gone for their midday meal.

Seizing the opportunity, the assassin raised a short crossbow and fired a silent, poisoned bolt.

The arrow struck true, piercing Princess Ninghua’s heart.

As she collapsed, a sense of helplessness washed over her.

She had just resolved to take bold action—why had this misfortune struck now?

In the memories that had surfaced, she was still safe at this time, with no assassination attempt.

If only she had been more cautious—could she have avoided this fate?

Regret, resentment, and fury tangled in her heart before darkness swallowed her vision, and she lost consciousness, crumpling to the ground.

Seeing no one coming to investigate, the assassin calmly fled the scene.

Ye Zhixia, who often cooked for herself in her spatial realm and avoided the usual mealtime rush, was the only one still lounging under the sun at the ranch.

Suddenly, the white stone pendant at her chest grew scorching hot and emitted a crimson glow!

Startled awake by the heat, Ye Zhixia watched as specks of starlight drifted from the stone and flew toward the ranch’s main gate.

A sense of foreboding gripped her, and she hurried after the light.

As soon as she reached the guardhouse, she saw Princess Ninghua lying motionless on the ground.

The starlight gathered above the princess before coalescing into a radiant orb and plunging into the wound where the arrow had struck her heart.

The sight jolted Ye Zhixia’s memory—back in the previous world, she had arrived just in time to save Chu Ning from a car accident.

But now, Princess Ninghua had been struck in a vital spot, and Ye Zhixia was wracked with doubt.

After scanning the area to ensure no one was around, she scooped up the princess and immediately retreated into her spatial realm.

The space had already transformed into an operating room. Ye Zhixia laid Princess Ninghua on the surgical table, cut open her clothing, and exposed the wound over her heart.

Drawing from her experience as a doctor in other worlds, she knew she had to first sever the arrow’s shaft before carefully extracting the embedded tip.

But judging by the depth of the wound, the arrow had likely pierced the heart. If the damage was severe, not even divine intervention could save her.

With painstaking precision, Ye Zhixia removed the arrow from Princess Ninghua’s heart. Just as she prepared to suture the wound, the light that had entered the princess’s body earlier gathered at the injury site.

The heart muscle rapidly regenerated, restoring its vitality. Layer by layer, the flesh and tissue mended until only a faint black scar remained on the unbroken skin.

Holding the suture thread, Ye Zhixia stared in astonishment at the scene before her. The glow had emerged from the white stone earlier.

This meant the white stone had actively used its energy to save Princess Ninghua—so Princess Ninghua was Chu Ning!

Unable to hold back any longer, Ye Zhixia hugged Princess Ninghua’s body and burst into tears.

Just then, the effects of the anesthetic began to wear off slightly. The sound of crying roused Princess Ninghua, who lifted her eyelids halfway to see Ye Zhixia sobbing while holding her.

“S-stop crying… like someone died,” Princess Ninghua mumbled, her words slurred but laced with displeasure.

Ye Zhixia wiped the tears from her face and quickly soothed her. “I won’t cry, I won’t.”

Still dazed, Princess Ninghua drifted back into unconsciousness.

–

Princess Ninghua was awake, but she kept her eyes closed.

The resentment and fury she felt when the arrow struck her; the fragmented yet increasingly coherent memories that surfaced during her unconscious state; the sight of Ye Zhixia clutching her and weeping when she hazily awoke—all of it left her heart in turmoil.

She tried taking a few deep breaths, but her chest still ached. After all, the wound had only just healed, and her skin hadn’t fully regained its elasticity.

In the end, she opened her eyes.

The clothes she wore weren’t the ones she had on when she left earlier—they seemed to belong to a servant from the horse ranch.

She turned her head to survey her surroundings—a crude servant’s quarters, the bed beneath her a large shared bunk meant for over a dozen people.

Wait, this wasn’t the scene she saw when she briefly woke up earlier.

Before she could ponder further, Ye Zhixia entered the room carrying a basin of hot water.

Noticing Princess Ninghua’s open eyes, she smiled. “You’re awake? Here, wash your face.”

Princess Ninghua sat up and saw the tear stains still on Ye Zhixia’s cheeks. Remembering the raw emotion in her earlier sobs, she felt an odd discomfort.

Ye Zhixia handed her a wrung-out towel.

After wiping her face and fully regaining her senses, Princess Ninghua suddenly realized something was off.

She yanked open her collar and looked down at her chest, then demanded, “I was shot by an arrow—why am I completely unharmed now? There’s not even a scar!”

Ye Zhixia’s ability to play dumb was top-notch, and the acting skills she’d honed in her past life were nothing short of masterful.

“This humble servant has no idea! Surely the heavens favored Your Highness, shielding you from that treacherous arrow. Otherwise, how could you have been shot without a single wound?”

Princess Ninghua was momentarily speechless.

After resting for a while, Princess Ninghua got up and tested her limbs, confirming that her body truly had no issues—which only deepened her suspicion that something was amiss.

Accompanied by Ye Zhixia, Princess Ninghua absentmindedly rode Liying in a slow circle around the ranch.

As she did, she mentally reviewed recent events.

Those memories had surfaced when Ye Zhixia appeared; every time she interacted with Ye Zhixia, the memories grew clearer; and now, after being ambushed, she had miraculously recovered unscathed—all because Ye Zhixia was there.

Ye Zhixia was undoubtedly her lucky star!

She had to find a way to keep Ye Zhixia by her side!

–

In a dimly lit room, the assassin reported to his master, “My lord! The poisoned arrow struck the Ninth Princess right in the heart!”

The masked man rose from his seat, strode over to the assassin, and praised, “You’ve done exceptionally well.”

Then, with a sudden burst of force, he brought his palm down on the assassin’s head. The assassin’s eyes instantly glazed over before his body stiffened and collapsed, blood pouring from his mouth onto the floor.

“Someone, clean this up.” The man wiped his hands with a handkerchief before striding away.

Support