Chapter 1904: Helping You Avenge

The Princess Consort Jin lay prostrate on the coffin, her face close to Prince Jin's. She instinctively covered her mouth, trying not to make a sound.

"My dear husband, if your spirit is watching over me, you'll surely understand me, won't you?"

"I am now alone and helpless, needing someone to rely on."

"The Grand Commandant effortlessly defeated Prince Dai's protector. He certainly has the power to avenge you."

In truth, after her recent conversation with the Grand Commandant of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, she had realized who her real enemies were and no longer harbored hatred for Zu An. After all, he was merely caught up in a conspiracy; if not him, it would have been someone else. Prince Dai and his consort, on the other hand, were the true masterminds behind the scenes, along with the Bi family. Each was a formidable power, incomparable to her own humble family background. Now, as a widowed princess consort, she couldn't even protect her own family. The Grand Commandant of the Embroidered Uniform Guard could at least help her safeguard the He family. And for all this, she naturally had to pay a price in exchange…

My husband, please forgive me!

Just then, Prince Jin, who had been lying in the coffin, suddenly opened his eyes, glared at her furiously, and roared:

"No, I don't understand!"

"I don't forgive you!"

"Ah?" The Princess Consort Jin trembled, her soul nearly leaping out of her body. She jolted awake and sat up, discovering she was in her bed, drenched in cold sweat. She looked around and realized she was in her own room.

"Was all that just a dream?" Princess Consort Jin murmured to herself, instinctively touching her flushed cheeks. "But why would I have such a dream?"

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" At this moment, her personal maid, Dong'er, hurried in upon hearing her.

Princess Consort Jin's heart stirred, and with a slight blush, she asked, "Dong'er, how did I get here?"

She remembered being in Prince Jin's mourning hall just now, as if she had a vivid and enchanting dream, but many specific details had already slipped her mind.

Dong'er chattered away, gesticulating, "Your Highness, you fainted from crying in the mourning hall. Forgive my bluntness, but the Prince has passed away, and Your Highness must still take care of yourself; don't ruin your health with crying…"

She rattled on like a chatterbox, but Princess Consort Jin automatically ignored most of it, only remembering the words "fainted."

Could she truly have fainted from excessive grief in the mourning hall? But why couldn't she remember anything? She vaguely felt something was amiss but couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Suddenly, she thought of something and quickly asked, "How did I get back here after I fainted?"

Dong'er replied, "The Grand Commandant of the Embroidered Uniform Guard carried you back."

"Ah?" Princess Consort Jin was stunned, her cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She glared at her maid, both embarrassed and annoyed. "Dong'er! He's a man! How could you let him carry me?"

Dong'er stuck out her tongue. "But I'm not strong enough to carry Your Highness, and the Grand Commandant didn't ask me to. He's very stern, and I dared not object."

Thinking of being carried back to her boudoir by another man, Princess Consort Jin felt a strange weakness in her limbs. She chided her maid, "So if he had taken advantage of me, you would have just let him do as he pleased?"

Dong'er was momentarily taken aback. "Your Highness, what are you thinking? Although the Embroidered Uniform Guards are fierce, everyone knows they are loyal to the imperial family. Besides, the Grand Commandant looks very dignified and upright; how could he do such a thing?"

Princess Consort Jin paused. Yes, how could she have such a thought? How strange. The Grand Commandant's tall and imposing figure appeared in her mind, and unconsciously, her cheeks flushed. She wondered what he looked like beneath his mask. She remembered wanting to lift his mask several times, but he wouldn't allow it… Thinking this, she suddenly froze. When did that happen? Why couldn't she remember? Was it also in the dream?

Seeing her lost in thought, Dong'er simply assumed she was uncomfortable about being carried by another man and quickly reassured her, "Your Highness has no need to worry. In the eyes of everyone in the capital, the Embroidered Uniform Guards are monsters; no one really sees them as men."

"Monsters, huh…" Princess Consort Jin's legs involuntarily twitched. He was indeed like a monster, utterly unlike a human… She quickly covered her face. What was wrong with her? Why were her thoughts filled with such chaotic images? Was it truly because of that dream just now? He Yuan, oh He Yuan, how could you have such a dream? Have you no shame?

Suddenly, she remembered something and quickly instructed, "Dong'er, you must not tell anyone about this. If others find out, I'll have no face to show."

"I know, Your Highness, and the Grand Commandant also warned me. He's very fierce," Dong'er said, remembering how he had threatened her, and couldn't help but shiver. It was just a hurried act of carrying the Princess Consort after she fainted, not like he had slept with her. Was there really a need to be so nervous?

Hearing her words, Princess Consort Jin breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time, a trace of goodwill arose towards the Grand Commandant. He was thoughtful, after all, considering her reputation.

"By the way, where is the Grand Commandant? Is he still here?"

Dong'er shook her head. "He left after carrying you back, but he left a few Embroidered Uniform Guards to protect us here at the manor, he said."

"He left…" Princess Consort Jin's small mouth slightly parted. For some reason, she felt a faint sense of loss.

"Isn't it good that he left? Those Embroidered Uniform Guards are terrifying. Many of the young servants in the manor were beaten bloody and are still crying for their mothers and fathers," Dong'er grumbled, yet she couldn't help but eye the Princess Consort. With her curved brows and small mouth, the Princess Consort was truly beautiful, and now her complexion seemed much rosier than before, making her even more radiant. But whether it was an illusion or not, she just felt that the Princess Consort's small mouth seemed a little larger than before. Was it from crying too much, or had something stretched it? Yet, she hadn't prepared any similar food for her recently.

"Dong'er, please prepare the bath. I need to wash and change." Princess Consort Jin shifted uncomfortably, feeling sticky all over.

"Yes."

Meanwhile, after Zu An had carried Princess Consort Jin back to her boudoir, he returned to the mourning hall. Thinking of the absurdity that had just occurred, he felt a bit dazed. It was as if both of them had been bewitched, all rationality gone.

Suddenly, a thought struck him. After his desires had been completely unleashed, he felt exceptionally rational and clear-headed. This wasn't normal! He looked around, then sniffed the air, his gaze falling upon a small remnant of incense ash in the censer. He pinched a little, then held it to his nose and sniffed.

"Forget-Worry Rosemary Incense?" The *Baopu True Scripture* contained relevant records. He never expected this nearly lost item to reappear in the world. Those affected by this incense would forget what happened before, and any lingering images would only be perceived as a dream. It was truly the ultimate spiritual medicine for seduction, dreamed of by countless individuals with impure intentions. However, this medicine was extremely difficult to refine, its formula long lost, and it required rare and unusual items.

Lord Forget-Worry, who created this medicine, was a genius in alchemy, yet he didn't use his talents for proper purposes. His peculiar癖好 was that he didn't love maidens but favored married women. Relying on this medicine, he slept with many famous beautiful ladies in the martial world, and afterward, they had no idea what had transpired. During the day, he would befriend their husbands, and at night, after charming the couple into unconsciousness, he would take the husband's place. He lived a seemingly carefree life like this for several years, but eventually, the truth came out.

There was a renowned couple in the martial world whose husband, due to an accident, could still perform marital duties but was infertile. Neither of them had revealed this to outsiders. Lord Forget-Worry, unaware of this, eventually caused the lady to become pregnant. Upon discovering this, the husband was furious, and the wife was utterly bewildered. After a thorough investigation, their suspicion finally landed on Lord Forget-Worry. The truth finally erupted, and countless aggrieved parties furiously pursued him. Ultimately, Lord Forget-Worry died a miserable death, and his Forget-Worry Rosemary Incense was lost forever.

"Why is this here?" Zu An's brows furrowed. He suddenly thought of Prince Dai's abnormal behavior earlier and realized: it was him.

He approached the coffin and looked down at Prince Jin inside. His face was ashen, and perhaps because of the reflection from the surrounding cold jade, his entire body faintly glowed green, making his expression appear extremely fierce and grim.

Zu An sighed, "Truth be told, you're quite pitiable. You were unknowingly used and needlessly lost your life, and no sooner were you dead than your brother began eyeing your wife."

"Don't blame me. Even if it wasn't me, someone else would have been here taking advantage of Princess Consort Jin today. In a way, I saved her once."

"This is Forget-Worry Rosemary Incense, planted by your brother, Prince Dai. This medicine does have one benefit: Princess Consort Jin won't remember what just happened. In her heart, she will still be the good wife who maintained a respectful and harmonious marriage with you."

"I will help you protect her, and I will find the mastermind to avenge you."

Perhaps because he heard these words, the grim expression on Prince Jin's face in the coffin softened considerably.

Zu An turned and left. Upon exiting, he instructed Old Seven Dai and Old Eight Chen, "You two, take your men and guard Prince Jin's manor. Protect Princess Consort Jin well, especially from Prince Dai. Do not let him approach her alone."

Old Seven Dai and Old Eight Chen were startled, feeling some confusion but daring not to ask. "Yes, sir!"

Zu An paused. "Also, send more men to investigate who is targeting Princess Consort Jin's maternal family, the He family. Protect the He family, and also find out who is behind this mischief."

"Yes, sir!"

Zu An looked back in the direction of Princess Consort Jin's room, thinking that the entire incident today was a mistake. It would be better for her to regard it as a dream and forget it. With his mind made up, he resolutely vanished into the darkness, leaving Prince Jin's manor.

After he left, Old Seven Dai and Old Eight Chen couldn't help but hide to the side and whisper:

"Why do you think the Grand Commandant is so attentive to Princess Consort Jin? Could it be that he's taken a fancy to her?"

"Heh heh, Princess Consort Jin is delicate and lovely, especially her mouth, it's just like the cherry-like lips described in books. I've never seen such refined lips and brows, and she has such a pitiful and vulnerable demeanor. Any man who saw her would feel a protective urge."

"But she's a princess consort, after all, what if…?"

"Are these things for us to consider? Just obey orders."

Meanwhile, in the back residence of Prince Jin's manor, steam rose. Princess Consort Jin lay in the bathtub, looking at the red marks on her fair skin. For a moment, her expression was bewildered: "Was that… truly a dream?"