The Traitor Crown Princess (Transmigration) - Chapter 11

Shen Yi’s jawline tensed, and he shifted his gaze unnaturally. “…Of course not. I simply felt that another person means an extra pair of hands, so I wanted to share the burden for Your Highness.”

Chu Yun caught a glimpse of the red tinge on Shen Yi’s ears, and the corners of his lips curled upward. “Then let us go.”

Having received permission, Shen Yi turned and left in a hurry, unaware that his guilty little actions had long been seen through by Chu Yun.

There were no accidents on the way back to the mines, and the path was completely unobstructed.

Two guards stood watch at the entrance of the mine; anyone entering had to show the pass jade butterfly at their waist to gain access.

Shen Yi found himself in a dilemma. Unexpectedly, Chu Yun flicked out the willow-leaf blades hidden between his fingers. Two iron shards, one large and one small, struck the guards’ necks with lightning speed and precision.

The two guards trembled, then two streaks of blood flowed from the corners of their mouths before they collapsed, never to rise again.

Shen Yi’s eyes lit up. He gave Chu Yun a thumbs-up and whispered, “I’m impressed.”

Chu Yun raised his chin slightly without a word.

The two quickly entered the mine. The air was filled with a foul, damp odor, and the cramped, suffocating environment made Shen Yi feel somewhat irritable.

He took a torch from the wall and moved forward.

Light flickered around the bend ahead, accompanied by the intermittent sound of knocking. As they approached and looked, they were stunned by the scene before them.

A massive furnace was burning in the middle of the cave. Around it stood eight or nine blacksmiths, continuously hammering ironware on anvils.

Behind them, several crates of ironware were piled up, emitting a series of eerie, chilling gusts under the candlelight.

Forging weapons?

They intend to rebel!

Shen Yi was startled by the thought that popped into his mind. His foot struck a stone, making a loud “clank.”

The sound was not loud, but it caught the attention of a patrolling guard.

“Who’s there!”

Shen Yi turned and ran. “Run!”

Chu Yun: ……….

A flurry of footsteps sounded from behind, and the damp smell in the air grew stronger. As they approached the cave entrance, they ran head-on into two more guards.

The four of them stared at each other. Chu Yun was the first to throw his willow-leaf blade, claiming the life of one man. Shen Yi reacted a moment later, raising his hand to throw the torch at the other, and they surged out of the cave entrance.

The two used their lightness skills to rush back along the path they had come. They finally saw the path down the mountain, but their good luck did not last long; the exit was completely blocked by a group of guards. It was impossible to get out.

If they tried to force their way through, not only would they get injured, but they would very likely be forcibly detained, and whether they lived or died would no longer be in their own hands.

Chu Yun immediately changed his strategy. “To the forest.”

Just as Shen Yi turned, a long black arrow shot toward Chu Yun. Shen Yi instinctively pushed Chu Yun away, and the arrow pierced straight into Shen Yi’s shoulder.

“Hiss”

The intense pain left Shen Yi’s mind blank for a moment, and his body swayed, about to collapse.

In the next second, several long arrows were fired simultaneously, heading for the two of them.

Chu Yun wrapped one arm around Shen Yi’s waist and leaped into the nearby forest. Almost at the same instant, several long arrows pierced deep into the tree trunks, densely packed like the quills of a hedgehog.

The lead guard made a gesture, and several secret guards poured into the forest.

The sky darkened, and a torrential downpour began.

Two figures leaped through the woods. The cold wind, mixed with icy rain, hit their faces like poison-tipped knives, scraping the skin on his face inch by inch. It was painful and itchy. The only sound left in his ears was the whistling of the wind and the rain. The clothes on his body stuck to his skin, mixed with the freezing rain, making him feel miserable.

After Shen Yi opened his eyes, he saw that it was Chu Yun holding him, and the uncomfortable feeling in his body had actually eased slightly.

Because of his inertia, he leaned against Chu Yun’s shoulder. In his heart, a flower resembling a Datura stramonium had bloomed. He knew that he was dangerous and not sincere, but he always found himself addicted to him invisibly, willing to stay by his side…

Chu Yun placed Shen Yi under a banyan tree. “I will be back in a moment.”

After saying this, he stood up and left.

After a while, the rain subsided, but the wound was still throbbing with pain. Shen Yi felt deep regret; had he known it would hurt this much, he wouldn’t have helped Chu Yun dodge the arrow.

He propped his body up to go find Chu Yun. “Ah” Suddenly, a scream echoed throughout the forest.

Shen Yi leaned against a tree as he walked over, poked his head out from behind a slope, and his pupils shrank sharply.

The surroundings were filled with corpses, some even hacked in half. Chu Yun stepped on a corpse with one foot. His silver hair was disheveled, and his face and clothes were stained with blood—whose, he did not know which made his features appear even more demonic. He pulled his long sword out of the body.

His whole body radiated a chilling cold, as if he were an Asura who had walked out of hell. Just looking at him was enough to make one shudder.

He slowly raised his head, and their eyes met. Instead of being angry, he smiled. Water droplets slid down his face and into his collar, like the whispers of a siren, enticing him to share in his pleasure and fall together into a whirlpool of love.

No.

Shen Yi’s sanity cleared at this moment.

A prince of foreign descent who could survive in the deep palace a place that eats people without spitting out their bones and whom the palace servants treated with courtesy, could not be simple.

He could not let his head be clouded by beauty.

Just as Shen Yi was pondering, Chu Yun walked closer. He came over, bringing the cold air and bloodstain with him.

“What are you thinking about?”

Shen Yi leaned against the tree, struggling to stand straight. “…I was thinking that we might not be able to get out today.”

“Hmm.” Chu Yun sheathed his long sword. “There are too many of these people to kill, and all kinds of wild beasts will come out at night. They will not dare to search the mountain at night. Let us spend the night in the mountain and leave tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Shen Yi picked up a branch to use as a crutch, barely able to walk.

Chu Yun’s expression remained unchanged as he voluntarily slowed his pace and walked toward the dense forest.

Outside the cave, it was drizzling, and the roar of a tiger could be heard from time to time. Inside the cave, it was warm and comfortable, with a campfire burning in the center.

Shen Yi sat by the fire to warm himself.

His clothes were almost dry from the fire, but he was ravenously hungry.

Chu Yun walked in from the cave entrance, holding two skinned wild rabbits.

Shen Yi asked, “How did you catch them? Rabbits are so fast.”

“I found a rabbit burrow and smoked them out.” As he spoke, he picked up a sharpened branch from the ground, skillfully pierced the wild rabbits, and placed them over the fire to roast.

Shen Yi was faint with hunger, and the pain in his lower abdomen kept him constantly alert.

He had only eaten two vegetable buns in the morning; how could he handle this? He could only lean against the stone wall to rest.

A cold sensation came from his lower abdomen, making Shen Yi shiver. He opened his eyes and saw Chu Yun tending to his wound. He instantly sobered up, shielding his wound and shrinking back. “I’m fine.”

Chu Yun said sinisterly, “If you don’t want to be disabled from the waist down, then don’t treat it.”

Shen Yi became obedient instantly. He lay tentatively on the slope, biting his lower lip in unease. “Then how are you going to treat it… pull the arrow out, and then apply medicine?”

Chu Yun: “Something like that.”

As he spoke, he gripped the long arrow at the site of the wound and, without caring if Shen Yi would be in pain, pulled it out forcibly.

“Hiss—”

Shen Yi closed his eyes, forcing himself to suppress the urge to let tears fall. He hung his head, gasping for air, biting his lower lip hard to prevent himself from making a sound.

Chu Yun glanced at him lightly, his movements unceasing. He took the golden sore medicine from his pocket, opened the cap, and sprinkled it evenly over the wound.

The wound had been burning with pain, but now it felt cool and itchy.

The pain and the sensation of relief alternated in a short period. Shen Yi bit his teeth so hard he didn’t even moan.

Only when both the front and back of the wound were covered in medicine did Chu Yun finally put away the bottle, saying coldly, “Done.”

The words seemed to pull Shen Yi out of the pain. He could not control his body, and his head naturally drooped onto Chu Yun’s shoulder. He panted softly. The distance between them was very close—so close that he could feel the other’s warm breath against his skin.

Shen Yi hadn’t been leaning for long before his shoulder was pushed away by Chu Yun. Shen Yi raised his head, and their noses almost touched. Shen Yi hurriedly moved his body backward, his black eyelashes masking his reddened eyes as he said in a husky voice, “Thank you.”

Chu Yun shifted his gaze away, threw the medicine bottle into Shen Yi’s hand, and turned to tend to the roasted meat. “Apply it yourself from now on.”

“Understood.” Shen Yi moved his shoulder and found that the wound didn’t hurt at all, which made him happy. “Your medicine is quite effective.”

Chu Yun skillfully cut the rabbit meat into small pieces with a small knife, placed them on a banana leaf on the ground, and ignored Shen Yi’s words. However, Shen Yi did not take it to heart and remained full of enthusiasm.

The rabbit meat was roasted until it was golden and crispy. Shen Yi became suspicious: “Didn’t you grow up in the palace? Why do you know martial arts and how to roast rabbits?”

Chu Yun: “….. I learned it from my master.”

Shen Yi picked up a piece of rabbit meat and put it in his mouth, asking curiously, “Master? Would the Emperor let you apprentice under someone else?”

Chu Yun finished cutting all the meat and placed it in front of Shen Yi. “I… when I was young, I was weak and sickly. My mother had me live in a Taoist temple outside the palace for a few months. That was when I apprenticed to my master and learned martial arts.”

“….I see.” Shen Yi said meaningfully. “Then, your mother…”

Chu Yun’s expression was indifferent. The yellow flames reflected in his red pupils, making it impossible to see the emotions in his eyes. He suddenly became serious. “This is not something you should be thinking about.”

Shen Yi listened quietly. If he remembered correctly, the book described Chu Yun’s mother as the last princess of a foreign ancient kingdom. She had white hair and red pupils and was extremely beautiful. Chu Yun resembled her by seventy percent in his features, which was enough to reach a breathtaking level, showing just how beautiful his mother must have been.

Forget it. Since Chu Yun had said so, he wouldn’t bring trouble upon himself.

Shen Yi shrugged and continued eating the rabbit meat. However, his gaze never left Chu Yun’s face. He picked up a branch from the ground to poke the firewood, and asked while leaning toward Chu Yun as if it were unintentional: “Your Highness, what kind of woman do you like?”

Chu Yun looked at him speechlessly. “Why do you ask that?”

Shen Yi smiled awkwardly and found an excuse. “Isn’t it because I want to find you a few beautiful concubines, so I’m asking.”

Chu Yun answered casually: “Naturally, women who are delicate, fragile, and unable to take care of themselves.”

Shen Yi’s smile stiffened, and he subconsciously rubbed his waist. There was a ring of fat around it, and he felt secretly unhappy in his heart: “The original host is really something—he’s already this fat and still hasn’t lost weight!”

Early the next morning.

Taking advantage of the guards changing shifts, the two used their lightness skills to leave the mine together.

When they returned to the yamen (magistrate’s office), they happened to run into Leng Feng, who had just rushed back.

Leng Feng was carrying a bundle containing the 1,000 taels of silver allocated from the neighboring county magistrate’s office. Although it was not a large sum, it was enough to ensure that all the victims in the disaster area would have enough to eat for a short time.

Chu Yun gave instructions: “Use this borrowed silver to expand the scale of the porridge stalls. Additionally, find a safe place to build a few thatched huts with the lowest costs to temporarily house the villagers.”

The bailiff cupped his hands. “Understood.”

He then hurried away in a flurry.

Nanfeng Pavilion was located in a wealthy area of Jiangnan. The male prostitutes and young male entertainers here were more beautiful than women. The Chu Kingdom did not favor men’s fashion, but there were still many wealthy women and high-ranking officials who came here for amusement, including both men and women.

In the center of the hall, beauties were dancing, accompanied by male entertainers; the atmosphere was lascivious and indulgent, as if it were a paradise on earth.

When Shen Yi and Chu Yun arrived, they were immediately greeted by the servant who had been waiting at the door for a long time.

The servant intimately hugged Shen Yi’s arm and said in a charming voice, “If you want to listen to songs or chat, I can do both.”

The sentence gave Shen Yi goosebumps all over his body, but in order to find someone, he endured his disgust: “Listen to songs.”

“Alright, sir, please go to the second floor. My pipa playing is very good. I will play it for you immediately.”

The servant in blue turned around and saw the young entertainer in pink standing awkwardly in place, his face filled with a fawning smile. He immediately became serious: “If you don’t entertain the guests properly, what are you doing!”

His voice was very high-pitched, which made people feel very uncomfortable, and combined with his coquettish demeanor, it made his voice sound even stranger.

The young entertainer in pink felt his heart pounding. He secretly looked at the handsome man before him, clenching his teeth.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to entertain him; it was that he didn’t dare!

He felt that if he got any closer, this man would tear him into pieces!

The blue-clad servant had no choice but to say to Shen Yi: “The two guests please go upstairs first and choose any private room. We will be up shortly.”

Shen Yi said nothing and went upstairs with Chu Yun.

Pushing the door open, the furnishings in the room were quite elegant: a blue-and-white porcelain vase from the end of the Qing Dynasty, silk and satin from the Yan Kingdom hanging on the wall, and soothing incense burning in the corner, making one feel naturally relaxed.

From here, one could see the river in the distance, its surface sparkling with a few fishing boats casting their nets.

The blue-clad servant soon returned. He sat intimately beside Chu Yun, his eyes full of charm, wishing he could stick to Chu Yun, secretly casting flirtatious glances: “This is Fuding white tea picked this year. Would you like to try it, sir?”

Chu Yun remained cold-faced, glancing at him as if it were unintentional.

He didn’t know what was going on. This person clearly had an excellent figure, was delicate and boneless, and his face was like a peach blossom, especially those affectionate peach-blossom eyes, which were much better-looking than average. It was clearly similar to the type he liked, but he just couldn’t bring himself to like him.

He wouldn’t hold back his tears, wouldn’t lean his head on his shoulder, and wasn’t fat.

In contrast, Shen Yi was much more natural: “Do you know the owner of the nearby mine?”

The young entertainer in pink: “Naturally, I know him. He is our boss. He used to be a famous top-tier entertainer in Jiangnan.”

Shen Yi: “Help me invite him over.”

The young entertainer in pink smiled: “This master might not know, but he disdains singing for ordinary people.”

Chu Yun glared at him coldly: “Just say that people from the yamen have come and would like to ask him to sing.”

The young entertainer in pink was shocked: “People from the yamen… He hates people from the yamen the most…”

The blue-clad servant gave him a wink: “Whether it works or not, just go and ask. Do not dampen the interest of the officials!”

Only then did the young entertainer in pink nod and leave. The blue-clad servant poured tea for the two: “I’m sorry, he’s new and doesn’t know the rules. If there are any problems, please bear with us.”

Shen Yi and Chu Yun smiled without speaking.

After a while, the door was pushed open from the outside.

A man in white walked in. The man’s black hair was tied up, his face was like a peach blossom, and he wore a half-faced tassel mask. One could tell at a glance that he was a beautiful person piled up with gold and silver.

However, he wore a bracelet carved from wood on his right wrist.

He was followed by two servants who moved a blue jade qin to the table in front and exited in an orderly fashion.

His gaze swept over the two, and the servants and entertainers exited, not forgetting to close the door.

Mo Li sat naturally beside Chu Yun, his slender hands hugging his arm, his voice like an oriole: “Sir, I am a little sleepy. May I sit beside you?”

“Bang”

The blue-and-white porcelain teacup in Shen Yi’s hand was directly crushed into fragments, and the tea dripped through his fingers.