Chapter 13: Taking the Princess Away

Pei Su's brow arched slightly, and his voice suddenly softened.

"Your Highness, the princess of the former dynasty — might I ask... how you are called?"

The young woman seemed to have been thrown into a daze by Pei Su's alternating courtesy and aggression, and simply answered, "Jiang Suining."

Pei Su's gaze drifted with playful amusement between Jiang Suining and the young man lying on the ground.

"This man was willing to take the blame for the princess, and the princess was willing to shed tears for him. Could it be that the two of you are... bound by affection?"

The tear tracks on Jiang Suining's face had not yet dried. She immediately said, "Don't talk nonsense! The fault lies with me, yet another bears the punishment. I... cannot accept that."

Her voice caught in her throat as she spoke, yet she could not bring herself to blame Pei Su — for this matter had been shaped by Granny Ling and all the others who had stayed silent.

Pei Su gave a soft "oh," then walked over to the young man whose life had not yet fully slipped away, and casually dropped a pill beside him.

"Take it. You might still hold on to a broken life..."

Several people immediately rushed forward in a panic to carry the blood-soaked young man away.

What is the Young Lord doing...?

Behind him, the black-robed elder stared in bewilderment.

Not even the imperial princesses of Great Jin or the noble daughters of the ancient clans had ever moved the Young Lord like this. Could it be that he had some new scheme in mind?

After speaking, Pei Su turned his gaze back to Jiang Suining's face.

"Heir of the Northern Marquis — what do you intend to do?"

The old woman stepped forward with a grim expression, enunciating each word deliberately, her eyes locked onto Pei Su without blinking.

"Simple enough," Pei Su advanced two steps and said lightly. "Before the suspect is apprehended, I must ask this princess to accompany me for the time being..."

"Ha! Don't jest with me, Heir of the Northern Marquis."

"I am not jesting."

"Your Highness, step back." The old woman's voice dropped low. She had noticed that Pei Su's advance had left only two steps between him and Jiang Suining.

Jiang Suining, still in a daze, had just begun to step back when Pei Su suddenly reached out and seized her wrist.

"Insolence!"

In an instant, the old woman erupted, no longer caring about Pei Su's background.

"You court death!"

Another low shout rang out. To everyone's eyes, a dark shadow flashed across their vision — and then Granny Ling went flying backward.

"Granny Ling!!!"

Everyone cried out. Jiang Suining stared at Pei Su in fear, unable to break free no matter how she tried, and could only tremble as she spoke —

"Heir of the Northern Marquis... please don't hurt Granny Ling. Don't take your anger out on others..."

"*Cough, cough!*"

On the grass in the distance, the old woman rose to her feet, blood at the corner of her mouth, but her eyes burned with deep fury.

"Release Her Highness."

Everyone's gaze shifted back, and they saw that Pei Su still held Jiang Suining's wrist — fair and white as mutton-fat jade.

Their eyes turned red with rage.

She was the sole legitimate princess of their Xia Dynasty. From childhood, no man had ever been permitted within three feet of her, let alone been allowed to touch her skin — such brazen impropriety.

To these former imperial kinsmen who regarded the Jiang bloodline as the highest glory, this was nothing short of naked desecration.

"There is also one Heaven-Man whose vital energy is in decline. Will you not show yourself?"

Pei Su surveyed his surroundings, his face still wearing that light, unhurried smile.

"Then again, if you were to enrage me — this notoriously temperamental Heir of the Northern Marquis — the next visitors might well be the Northern Marquis's iron cavalry..."

At those words, every person present felt their pupils tremble and their bodies shudder.

Even the ever-cold old woman pointed at Pei Su, her chest heaving with fury, yet she could not find a single word to say.

"No..."

At that very moment, Jiang Suining reached back and clasped Pei Su's wrist with her own hand, her eyes still misted with tears, trembling faintly.

"I will go with you. I only ask that you spare my clanspeople — give them a way to live."

Pei Su released her hand, then turned away, the faintest smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Then let us go, Your Highness."

Jiang Suining stood where she was. On the grass not far away, everyone was watching her, their expressions varied.

Granny Ling's eyes were red, her face a mask of anguish.

The elders of the valley, who had always doted on her, were either sighing or turning their heads away, unable to bear watching.

Among her peers — the young men and women of her generation — some looked bewildered, some sympathetic, and others were seething with rage.

She had grown up in Butterfly Dream Valley, rarely venturing beyond its bounds. Those around her had always treated her with the utmost reverence, telling her again and again that she was the offspring of the Xia Emperor — the last legitimate bloodline of the former dynasty.

Even with her limited awareness of the world, she understood well enough what kind of mission and identity she carried.

Jiang Suining bowed gently toward those before her.

"I am grateful to all the elders for more than a decade of guidance and companionship. But Suining has made a grave mistake, and this time, I fear I must be away for a while. Please do not worry about me."

When she turned around, she saw Pei Su strolling ahead at a leisurely pace, with no intention of waiting for her.

She drew a deep breath and hurried after him.

* * *

A somber, desolate atmosphere had settled over the valley.

Everyone went about their tasks in silence, not a word spoken.

They all understood perfectly well — the so-called court fugitive was nothing but a pretext. The Heir of the Northern Marquis had only one true target: the princess of the former dynasty.

No matter how they maneuvered or argued themselves hoarse, as long as they still feared the Northern Pacification Marquis's iron cavalry — as long as they feared the Duke Pei's Manor standing behind Pei Su — nothing could change the outcome.

* * *

Deep within the valley, inside a bamboo cottage.

"Granny Ling, you've suffered serious internal injuries. You must rest now."

A young woman with delicate features, dressed in blue, helped the old woman onto the bed and continued in a hushed voice:

"Granny need not worry too much about Her Highness. Though she has left with the Heir of the Northern Marquis, I believe she will be safe..."

Granny Ling: "?"

The blue-clad maidservant's cheeks flushed slightly. "It's just that... I noticed the way the Heir of the Northern Marquis looked at Her Highness just now, and the jealousy in his words. I think he may have... fallen for the princess at first sight..."

"Fallen for her at first sight?!"

Granny Ling's face convulsed violently — more dramatically than anyone had ever seen from her.

"What nonsense are you spouting!

"Saying that someone of the Pei clan could be bewitched by beauty is as laughable as saying that treacherous minister Pei Zhao is utterly loyal to the Son of Heaven!"

The young woman in blue blinked.

"But I saw the Young Lord treat us all with arrogance, yet speak to Her Highness in a gentle voice. He even gave out a pill to save someone's life so as not to leave a bad impression on Her Highness. And he... held Her Highness's wrist for quite a long time..."

"An act! Lanrui, the family Pei Su belongs to is a clan of madmen who place clan interests and personal gain above all else.

"Beyond that, love between men and women, moral principles, and human bonds are nothing more than tools they use to achieve their ends and seize what they want."

At that, the old woman closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. After a long silence, she murmured —

"He must have sensed the Heavenly Cloud Glazed Heart within Her Highness..."

* * *

Outside the gorge, Pei Su and Jiang Suining had made their way to Green Pine Pavilion.

Pei Su suddenly stopped and turned to look at Jiang Suining.

Jiang Suining immediately averted her gaze and lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes.

Though she knew little of the world, she was not naive. By now she understood that the so-called court fugitive had likely been nothing but a pretext — and that Pei Su had used the entire Xia royal remnant as leverage, with the sole purpose of taking her away.

What she did not know was why Pei Su had sought her out.

The only things about her that could be considered extraordinary were two: her bloodline, and her appearance.

Her bloodline was that of the Xia Emperor's descendants — once the most exalted identity under heaven. But within Great Jin, no one would ever wish to be associated with her.

As for her looks — even as sheltered and unworldly as she was, she could vaguely sense that her appearance was indeed... rather unusual.

Could it be...

Jiang Suining clutched the hem of her garment tightly, her heart suddenly hammering with anxiety.

Pei Su simply watched Jiang Suining's face in silence, brow furrowed, as though he wanted to say something — but in the end said nothing at all, and let her follow along behind him.

Before long, Jiang Suining understood why Pei Su had held back those unspoken words.