Chapter 1903: Trade

Zuan felt a stir within him. If it were an ordinary flirtatious and beautiful woman throwing herself into his arms like this, he might not have reacted so strongly. But a virtuous woman, usually as innocent as a white flower, suddenly becoming so charming and alluring – her appeal was truly irresistible.

He managed to compose himself with great difficulty and asked, "Does Her Highness's 'revenge' refer to that Zuan?"

The Princess Consort nodded. "Precisely. Although I understand he might also be a victim in this whole affair, my husband did indirectly die because of him. Had he strictly adhered to the proper conduct between a subject and his sovereign, none of this would have happened, and I wouldn't be left alone and desolate now."

She knew Zuan was a favorite of the Crown Princess. She understood her sister-in-law well; the Crown Princess made all her decisions rationally, always prioritizing her own interests. How could a deceased imperial brother-in-law compare to a rising, highly influential general under one's command?

From the tone of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, she had subtly perceived the palace's stance. She knew that if things were left to run their course, the man named Zu would likely face no serious consequences, at most receiving some insignificant punishment. If the two powerful figures in the palace weren't pursuing the matter, how could she, a poor woman who had just lost her husband, possibly seek revenge?

Her family was not a renowned clan; they struggled even to protect themselves now, let alone offer her any substantial assistance.

Zuan felt a wave of irritation. What kind of situation was this, asking him to retaliate against himself? Neither the Prince Consort nor his wife were easy to deal with.

Prince Consort Jin's arrogant behavior was one thing, but this woman was also a hidden danger. It was fine that she sought him out this time, but if she approached others, he would unknowingly gain many enemies. It would be better to nip it in the bud...

As he mused, he was suddenly startled. What was wrong with him? Why had such malevolent thoughts suddenly appeared? After all, the Princess Consort was an innocent woman, and none of this was truly her fault.

At that moment, the Princess Consort, unaware that she had narrowly escaped death, continued, "Besides that man named Zu, there are other masterminds behind my husband's demise, such as the Princess Consort Dai."

As she spoke of the latter, she gritted her teeth slightly, a hint of hatred appearing on her delicate face.

"Princess Consort Dai?" Zuan was taken aback. He never expected her deepest resentment would be directed at this person. Shouldn't it be Prince Dai or the Meng family?

Seeing his perplexed expression, the Princess Consort replied, "Princess Consort Dai is the most hateful. On the surface, she claimed we were good sisters, but then she stabbed us in the back. This whole incident was likely her doing. That woman is usually cunning and shrewd. I originally thought we had no conflict of interest and didn't mind being friends with her, but who would have thought she would treat me like this!"

Feeling the hatred in her voice, Zuan understood somewhat. Such two-faced individuals were indeed detestable.

However, he did not agree. These were their feuds; why should he get involved? He casually asked, "What kind of recompense did Your Highness mention earlier?"

In his view, the Princess Consort's bargaining chips were limited. He could simply find an excuse to refuse when the time came.

Sensing his lack of interest, a hint of struggle appeared on the Princess Consort's face.

How could she not know she had no leverage? Although she was nominally a Princess Consort, her husband was destined for an early demise due to his poor health. Daughters from top families in the capital were unwilling to marry him, which was why she was chosen.

While her husband was alive, she could bask in some reflected glory, as Prince Jin was the Emperor's most favored son. But now she heard the Emperor had died, and Prince Jin was also dead.

What support did she have left?

Hailing from a minor family, she clearly understood that while the capital was prosperous, it was a place that devoured people without leaving a trace. When she, a widow, became a Princess Consort without a husband, even the servants in the mansion might not take her seriously.

What worried her even more was her maternal family. Without her own backing, her family would inevitably be implicated.

She simply wanted nothing but to live out the rest of her life in peace, yet fate was so capricious. She and her family had inexplicably become embroiled in the struggle for the throne.

The crucial point was that others targeted the He family merely to slander Zuan; they never considered that the He family itself would be annihilated as a result.

The thought that she had not only failed to bring honor to her family but had instead brought about their utter destruction, pained the Princess Consort deeply.

She thought of her loving parents, and her adorable younger siblings. Suddenly, her expression became resolute. Her own life was over, but she had to do something for them.

Seeing her prolonged silence, Zuan cupped his hands. "I've said what needed to be said. My condolences, Your Highness."

With that, he turned and walked away.

For some reason, he felt off today. Images he had seen on a computer screen in the past kept appearing in his mind.

"Hm, best to leave this cursed place quickly and calm down."

Just then, the Princess Consort's trembling voice came from behind him. "Wait. Look at me carefully."

Zuan frowned, thinking, "Could this woman have also cultivated some mental attack technique that she activates through her eyes? Heh, to actually attempt such a skill against me, she clearly doesn't know what death means."

He coldly turned around, pondering how he would teach her what true mental attack was once she initiated hers.

Unexpectedly, what met his eyes was not a gaze brimming with mental attack, but a pair of exceptionally gentle eyes, faintly veiled with a watery mist.

Just as he wondered what she truly meant,

The Princess Consort suddenly unfastened her collar with her hands, and her clothes slid down from her body. In an instant, the entire room seemed to grow brighter with a pale glow.

Zuan's breathing immediately quickened. He turned around abruptly, saying, "What are you doing, Your Highness?"

A blush spread across the Princess Consort's face. She, too, felt a hint of confusion at that moment. She had lived her entire life by the rules, a good girl in everyone's eyes, so why was she acting so boldly today?

However, she quickly remembered the recent events, and her eyes hardened. She walked directly to Zuan and tightly embraced him from behind.

"This is the recompense I spoke of."

Zuan's entire body instantly stiffened. His voice was a little dry as he said, "Your Highness, do you know what you are doing?"

"I know," the Princess Consort said, a silent tear tracing a path down her cheek. "I am utterly alone from now on, and I merely wish to find someone to rely on and protect me."

Zuan was silent, yet his heart was tumultuous. In an instant, he waged countless internal battles.

At this point, the Princess Consort took a deep breath and spoke again, "Chief Commander, rest assured. This matter will be known only to you and me; no one else will ever find out. I also won't cling to you for anything. I only ask that you help me avenge myself. From now on, Chief Commander, you may come whenever... whenever you wish."

"This is a transaction?" Zuan raised an eyebrow, realizing for the first time how thick the Embroidered Uniform Guard uniform felt, making him uncomfortably warm.

"Yes!" As she uttered that word, the Princess Consort felt a stab in her heart. She was a Princess Consort, after all; why was she demeaning herself like this?

Yet, for some unknown reason, she didn't feel much distress. Instead, her heart raced with a strange sense of anticipation.

His tall, well-built physique, and the distinctly masculine aura she felt while embracing him, stirred a peculiar impulse within her.

Her life in recent years had only been outwardly glamorous; in reality, her heart had been as still as stagnant water, like an old person nearing their end.

But at this moment, she felt as if she had come alive again, returning to her youthful, vibrant self, filled with beautiful fantasies about everything.

She feared he might simply walk away, and then she would truly have no face left to live.

***

In Prince Jin's private garden, a few young maids were tidying a flower-lined path in the backyard with brooms.

"No one's visited here for ages. I wonder why Nanny suddenly made us clean this place."

"Yeah, even when His Highness was alive, he hardly ever came here. The last time anyone came to enjoy the flowers was probably when the Princess Consort first married in. And now that His Highness is dead, even fewer people will come here."

"Lower your voice! If Nanny hears you, she'll punish you again. Actually, Nanny means well. Those Embroidered Uniform Guards are fiercely interrogating the young servants in the mansion right now. Having us come here is also a way to protect us."

"Hmph, why doesn't she come herself? It hasn't been maintained for so many years. It's overgrown with trees, and this path has narrowed so much; you have to squeeze just to move forward. I just scraped the skin off my hand."

"Yeah, yeah, and the ground is wet and slippery. I almost fell several times."

"There was a light rain just now, so there are dewdrops everywhere along the path. Everyone be careful. We should be able to go back once those Embroidered Uniform Guards leave."

Meanwhile, in the front courtyard, Old Dai Seven and Old Chen Eight, as the young maids referred to them, were inquiring about who had visited Prince Jin recently and what they might have discussed with him.

At first, the servants were unwilling to speak. After all, those serving in the lower ranks believed in avoiding trouble, fearing that saying something improper might invite immense disaster.

The two finally grew impatient and forcibly pressed one glib and delicate young servant onto a table.

*Whack, whack, whack!*

Old Dai Seven grabbed a water-fire rod from a subordinate and struck him fiercely on his buttocks.

The young servant shrieked repeatedly, struggling in agony.

"Lie still!"

Old Dai Seven roared, and another round of blows followed. The servant trembled all over, gripping the edge of the table tightly, no longer daring to move. His face was streaked with tears, and he pleaded repeatedly, "Lighter, lighter! It hurts!"

"It should hurt! You're a lowlife, insisting on torture. Do you remember now?" Old Chen Eight sneered from the side.

"I remember, I remember!" The young servant's face was covered in tears. He inwardly cursed himself for his loose tongue, knowing that these Embroidered Uniform Guards were notorious, terrifying figures.

"Tell us everything, completely, about everyone who has visited Prince Jin's mansion these days. You tea-serving and water-carrying servants must have heard what they said. Those who answer will be rewarded; those who don't will come back to the Embroidered Loft with us, where we'll help you 'recover' your memories." Old Dai Seven grinned sinisterly.

The young servants turned pale with fright. What kind of place was the Embroidered Loft? They had heard that even first-rank officials of the court never came out alive once they entered.

"I'll talk! I'll talk!" The young servants scrambled to speak, terrified that if they were a step too slow, a companion might share the information first, leaving them with nothing to say.

Old Dai Seven said in a deep voice, "Interrogate them separately, one by one. No fabrications. If we find out you've lied, we'll make sure you learn what it means to wish for death."

"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare..." The young servants hastily offered nervous smiles, and one by one, they confessed everything they had seen and heard.