The Traitor Crown Princess (Transmigration) - Chapter 9

Shen Yi returned to the Eastern Palace, changed back into his consort’s robes, and sat on the raised platform. He specifically had a curved screen brought in and placed in the center, partitioning the room into two separate spaces.

The light at the doorway was blocked by a figure. Hanxiang led in a man dressed in a blue round-collared robe. The man had handsome features and a red cinnabar mole between his brows, which made his eyes look like a vast, clear moon as if he had walked right out of a painting.

He stopped before the screen and bowed with hands cupped: “This official, Zhao Jing, pays respects to the Crown Princess.”

Shen Yi said: “Rise.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Zhao Jing stood up. “May I ask what ailment is troubling your body?”

Hanxiang dismissed everyone else and closed the door. Qiushui stepped forward and pressed a piece of jade pendant into Zhao Jing’s hand. Zhao Jing looked down at it and was immediately shocked: “Why is Master’s jade pendant in your possession?”

Shen Yi said: “Naturally, it was given by your master. This time, I wish to ask for Physician Zhao’s help; I wonder if you are willing?”

Zhao Jing said: “Since you are a friend of my master, I will certainly help with what I can. May I ask what it is?”

Shen Yi said: “I have matters to attend to outside the palace for a month, and I would like to ask you to help me fake an illness, claiming that I have contracted the plague and require complete rest.”

Zhao Jing hesitated for a moment before agreeing: “Very well. I will report this to His Majesty and suggest that he arrange for you to recuperate at the Lake Pavilion.”

Shen Yi said: “Then I thank Physician Zhao in advance.”

Qiushui stepped forward to take back the jade pendant and pressed a pouch of silver into Physician Zhao’s hand.

Zhao Jing’s face darkened, and he stuffed the pouch back into Qiushui’s hand.

“Since you are a friend of my master, helping is my duty. There is no need for gold or silver to seal my lips. Please rest assured, Your Highness.”

Shen Yi’s lips curled upward, knowing the matter was settled. He expressed his gratitude: “Then thank you, Physician Zhao. Qiushui, see him out.”

Qiushui said: “Yes. Please follow me, Physician Zhao.”

After Zhao Jing left, he reported Shen Yi’s “plague” to the Emperor as promised. Chu Chen did not take it lightly and immediately arranged for his aide, Zhao Gao, to handle the matter.

He first arranged for Shen Yi to temporarily recuperate on the small island at the Lake Pavilion, then organized for people from the Imperial Hospital to disinfect the environment where Shen Yi had lived with mugwort. He also sent someone to take the Crown Prince’s pulse. Fortunately, the results showed that only the Crown Princess and two maids had contracted the plague; the Crown Prince had not been infected.

Chu Chen did not take it to heart, merely offering a few perfunctory words before heading off to enjoy himself with his beloved concubines and beauties.

The next morning.

Shen Yi wore casual red clothes, packed his belongings, and waited at the palace gate.

He waited for a long time, and as it approached noon, Chu Yun still had not appeared. Growing anxious, he entered through the side gate back toward the Eastern Palace.

He searched the area but could not see Chu Yun’s shadow. His gaze fell upon the teapot sitting in the center of the Eight Immortals table.

Perhaps…

Shen Yi took the “child-worm” from his sleeve, opened the teapot lid, and dropped it into the water.

Just as he was about to lean in to look closer, Chu Yun’s cold, sinister voice came from behind him.

“What are you doing?”

Shen Yi’s body shuddered, and the teapot in his hand nearly crashed to the ground. Fortunately, he reacted in time to catch it, preventing the disaster.

Chu Yun approached. Shen Yi quickly withdrew his hand and did his best to keep his expression natural: “Greetings, Your Highness. This consort came to find you so we could go to Jiangnan together.”

A meaningful, inscrutable smile tugged at the corner of Chu Yun’s mouth: “Are you thirsty?”

“…Not particularly.” Shen Yi had a sudden thought. He picked up the teapot and poured two cups of tea: “Your Highness, let us drink this tea and be on our way.”

Chu Yun gave a forced, mirthless smile: “Very well, you drink first.”

Shen Yi’s hand tightened on the teacup. Chu Yun’s smile deepened: “Official Su, why do you not drink? Could it be… has someone poisoned this tea?”

“How could that be?” Shen Yi gave an awkward laugh: “I will drink it now.”

Shen Yi drank the tea.

Chu Yun’s gaze lowered. His finger pressed against Shen Yi’s Adam’s apple, sliding down gently as Shen Yi swallowed the tea.

Shen Yi’s expression remained indifferent, as cold and calm as if he were watching the most ordinary event. His emotions did not change because of Chu Yun’s actions; on the contrary, he appeared very docile.

Even the most ferocious predator would lower its guard upon seeing such an expression, but Chu Yun was different—he held steadfast to the view that human nature is inherently evil.

However, he was willing to play the role of the beast tamer.

Whether it was a cunning rabbit or a proud, solitary eagle, he was confident he could tame them one by one.

Shen Yi took a well-timed step back and smiled brightly: “Your Highness, it is time to depart. If we are any later, we will not arrive until the day after tomorrow.”

Chu Yun withdrew his hand: “What if I do not wish to go?”

Shen Yi did not understand why Chu Yun would create complications at such a critical juncture, so he persuaded him: “Does Your Highness have any concerns?”

He took the opportunity to explain the benefits and his own stance to Chu Yun: “I can guarantee that the greatest beneficiary of this affair will absolutely be Your Highness.”

Chu Yun lowered his brows and walked toward the palace gate with his hands behind his back: “Let’s go.”

Shen Yi followed him, cursing internally every step of the way.

The carriage waded through rivers and traveled over slopes, finally stopping in front of an inn.

The sound of cold wind came from outside the carriage: “Master, we have arrived.”

Shen Yi opened the door and stepped off the carriage. The inn was located in a small town, and the conditions were acceptable.

Upon walking into the inn, a waiter immediately came forward to welcome them: “Good evening, guests. How many people are there?”

Shen Yi: “Three. Please book a table, and open three rooms for me.”

Waiter: “Understood! Guests, please have a seat anywhere; I will arrange seating for you gentlemen immediately.”

Shen Yi nodded, chose a random table, and beckoned to the two who had walked in: “Over here.”

Chu Yun and his attendant sat down. Shen Yi asked: “What would you like to eat? I will have the waiter come over to introduce the menu.”

Chu Yun: “Anything will do.”

Another waiter came over and asked with a smile: “What would the three guests like to eat?”

Shen Yi had been traveling all day and had a hearty appetite: “What are your signature dishes here?”

The waiter smiled: “Our signature dish here is the beef noodles. The beef is raised by our boss himself, and the taste is over a thousand times better than anywhere else. If the three guests do not mind, you might want to try them.”

Shen Yi: “Are there no other dishes?”

The waiter gave an awkward laugh: “Most of the other options are also noodle dishes, such as tomato noodles, mutton thread noodles, and so on.”

Shen Yi: “Then I will have a bowl of beef noodles. What about you two?”

Chu Yun: “The same.”

“Very good! Please wait a moment, guests; it will be here immediately.”

Shen Yi looked at Chu Yun, feeling somewhat surprised: “Are you accustomed to eating such food?”

Chu Yun looked at him with his red eyes, looking somewhat speechless: “Otherwise, how do you think I survived these past few years?”

Shen Yi raised his eyebrows: “That is true. I just did not expect Your Highness to be so down-to-earth.”

It seems he suffered quite a bit in his childhood.

Three bowls of beef noodles were placed on the table. Shen Yi added a spoonful of chili sauce and ate happily.

“I’m exhausted!” At this moment, a figure walked in through the doorway. The man was covered in soot and grime; he looked like he had come from a nearby mine.

The waiter respectfully welcomed him, not turning him away despite his dirty appearance. He asked politely: “Good evening, guest. What would you like?”

The man: “A bowl of chicken thread noodles, extra chicken. Send it to my room as usual.”

Waiter: “Certainly, guest. Please go up and rest; the noodles will be sent shortly.”

Shen Yi asked out of curiosity: “Are there mines nearby?”

Leng Feng responded: “Yes, this entire area is full of mines. They were only just opened in the last few months.”

Shen Yi nodded and buried his head in his noodles.

After dinner, the three returned to their respective rooms to rest.

In the middle of the night, Shen Yi tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He decided to get up, open the window, and admire the moon.

The moon tonight was large and round. Inspired by the sight, Shen Yi changed his clothes, jumped onto the roof, and lay down to watch the starry sky in the cool breeze.

Perhaps because there was no pollution, the ancient moon always felt larger and brighter far more beautiful than in the real world.

The tiles near his shoulder were nudged aside. Shen Yi sat up, intending to replace them, but his eyes were dazzled by the warm light from below. He impulsively looked down.

In the hazy candlelight, Chu Yun was bare-chested, wiping his arms with a towel.

This was the first time Shen Yi had seen someone bathe from such close range. Chu Yun’s skin was very fair tenderer than most girls’. The warm yellow candlelight cast a golden rim around his edges, his skin reflecting the light, revealing a well-defined, flowing musculature, down to the abdominal muscles on his lower stomach. The physique was perfectly proportioned.

With that face and that body, he could simply crush a crowd of male celebrities in the entertainment industry.

Shen Yi could not help but be mesmerized. It wasn’t that he had never been to a bathhouse in the Northeast, but Chu Yun possessed a kind of magic like the apple in the Garden of Eden, tempting Eve to commit sin.

Without realizing it, Shen Yi’s mind and body experienced a certain reaction; his heart began to beat violently, and the blood in his entire body began to boil.

Chu Yun reached out to undo his belt, but suddenly, his hand paused. Before Shen Yi could see clearly, a willow-leaf blade flew toward him.

Shen Yi tilted his head to the side, and the blade flew past him. Fortunately, he dodged in time, otherwise, his face would surely have been opened up.

Shen Yi hurriedly covered the tiles, stepped away quickly, jumped back into his room, covered himself with the quilt, and pretended he knew nothing, hoping to muddle through.

The surroundings were very quiet—so quiet he could hear his own heartbeat, thumping faster than when he ran eight hundred meters.

He did not know what was wrong with him; he had never felt this way before.

Creak,

There was a rustling sound at the door.

At first, Shen Yi did not take it to heart, thinking it was a mouse. After a while, the rustling grew louder, until there was a very faint “creak.”

It sounded like the door was being opened.

Shen Yi opened his eyes wide.