Chapter 4

Originally, Gu Qi’s face had turned pale from the shock just now.

Now, however, a flush had risen to his cheeks, and even his sharp phoenix eyes were misty with moisture, his expression looking quite unwell.

With him lying sprawled on top of her like this, Yu Yunji truly didn’t dare to move at all.

Over the years, she had kept herself pure, not even having a boyfriend, let alone any physical contact.

And Gu Qi’s actions just now had indeed frightened her, though she couldn’t really say anything about it. In a matriarchal society, how could a woman be taken advantage of? It should be the man who feels wronged.

But the body in her arms was so soft and pliant, even if she wanted to help him up, she didn’t know where to begin.

She had just placed her hand on Gu Qi’s shoulder when she heard him let out a muffled groan: “Mmm…” It seemed both painful and pleasurable, his eyes cold yet mixed with a thin mist of moisture that held an enticing quality.

He was half-kneeling, lying sprawled in her arms. Accompanying his stifled groans, she felt something briefly touch her thigh.

Yu Yunji’s mind immediately went blank.

Outside the carriage, someone said gently, “We didn’t mean to disturb His Highness the Xian Prince. Please forgive us.” Yu Yunji was fine, but if she were to lower the curtain and respond now, this scene would surely be seen.

She was just thinking of how to help Gu Qi up when suddenly there was a bright light, and someone lifted the carriage curtain.

The carriage woman hurriedly lifted the curtain and said, “Your Highness, are you alright?!” Everyone in Youzhou knew of the Xian Prince’s debauchery and cruelty, and the carriage woman was terrified of losing her head over this.

But she didn’t expect to see such a sensual scene.

Yu Yunji’s face was still flushed red as she awkwardly met the carriage woman’s gaze, only to realize there was more than just the carriage woman standing outside the curtain.

“It was this humble one who disturbed you! I beg Your Highness for mercy!” The carriage woman immediately knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing.

…You could at least lower the curtain.

Yu Yunji curled her toes, closing her eyes in self-deception.

The person outside the curtain was none other than the male lead, the eldest son of the Yun family’s concubine, Yun Mengze.

The young man outside the carriage curtain was silent for a long while before saying gently, “I truly apologize, I didn’t know Your Highness… I’ve disturbed Your Highness’s pleasure. I hope Your Highness can be magnanimous and not blame this humble man.”

She heard the surrounding onlookers whispering among themselves.

“It’s over, the Yun family’s young master won’t escape this calamity today.”

“I wonder how tragic it will be later, will the Yun young master’s rare beauty be made into a human statue…”

“Human statue” was a technique researched by the Xian Prince in the book. She loved beautiful men, and once she tired of them, she would have people pour secret drugs into their mouths and ears. Once these drugs were poured in, the person could no longer survive.

The corpses of these beautiful men would be left for three days, and they could still stand steadily on the ground as if alive, without decaying and maintaining their beauty for people to admire.

Thinking Yu Yunji was impatient, Yun Mengze spoke again: “If Your Highness still cannot calm down, this humble one will bring my mother to apologize tomorrow…”

“It’s fine, Young Master Yun should be more careful next time,” Yu Yunji said tiredly.

Gu Qi had already crawled out of her arms, presumably hating her to death now. She needed to return to the manor early to settle him, lest he have an episode in public where she wouldn’t be able to handle the situation.

But as soon as she said this, the entire street immediately fell silent enough to hear a pin drop.

How could a demon like the Xian Prince have a moment of not making things difficult for people, and her tone just now, what was with this unprecedented gentleness?

“Aren’t you leaving yet?” came Gu Qi’s impatient cold voice from inside the carriage.

Yun Mengze’s beautiful eyes blinked lightly, and then he said, “Safe travels, Your Highness the Xian Prince.”

The people on the street had various expressions as they watched the luxurious carriage gradually move away.

A woman exclaimed in surprise: “How dare the prince consort speak to the Xian Prince like that, and the Xian Prince even obeys?!”

“Sister, today feels just like a dream. Has the Xian Prince been possessed?”

Yun Mengze watched the departing carriage, lost in thought.

Xian Prince’s Manor.

Gu Qi had locked himself in his room, refusing to come out no matter what.

She had just transmigrated here and wasn’t very familiar with things on this side yet. Especially with her current reputation being so bad, there were likely many issues to resolve. With Gu Qi not coming out, she was actually spared some worry.

Yu Yunji walked along a small path towards the inner part, only to discover that this manor had great depth.

Not only had the original owner made the hot spring bath into a special palace, but she had also decorated the place for punishing male concubines magnificently. Long whips, golden rings, and jade implements were all available, and there were even dedicated people to replace them daily.

Yu Yunji felt distressed. If it existed before, so be it, but now the expenses were coming out of her own pocket.

She had never heard of any princess having a hot spring in her manor. The book mentioned that the Xian Prince’s hot spring pool was worth half of the Gong Prince’s manor, showing how favored she was.

“Your Highness, you haven’t viewed the human statues today yet,” a small attendant suddenly spoke behind her, his delicate voice startling her.

Yu Yunji looked at him: “Do I go every day?”

No, the book didn’t say that.

The small attendant shrank back a little, carefully raising his eyes to look at her: “Not only do you go every day, but you also require adding a new human statue every three days. Miss Yue also often comes to accompany you in admiring them, and you promised to gift the most beautiful human statue to Miss Yue…”

Yu Yunji’s brows furrowed slightly. She had truly underestimated the original owner’s level of perversion. Not only did she turn people into specimens, but she also required her friend to come admire them together, and even gifted them as presents.

She had some impression of the Miss Yue mentioned by the small attendant. Miss Yue’s name was Zhou Zijing, with the courtesy name Zhiyue. They had been close friends since childhood. Although Zhou Zijing was a wastrel without proper conduct, she was at least the owner of the Lanfeng Tower, which counted as a reliable business.

…Not that reliable either, as it was under the original owner’s instigation that she opened a male brothel, with a reputation second only to the Nanfeng House.

“Too bold,” Yu Yunji muttered.

Piling up a group of living dead in the great hall and coming to admire them daily was truly insane.

The small attendant led her into the great hall before them. The hall was filled with the scent of sandalwood incense, yet there was an inexplicable chilling breeze. Whether it was psychological or not, Yu Yunji always felt that these human statues were still alive.

The beautiful men selected by the original owner were indeed rare beauties. They all stood there shyly and timidly, as if respectfully awaiting the arrival of their monarch. A few of the human statues had their eyes open, with gems inlaid in their eye sockets, some playing the qin or in dancing poses.

The scene before her was too shocking, too overwhelming. She felt as if she had been thrown into a mass grave.

Yu Yunji took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

She tried not to let her fingertips tremble: “Get rid of these, secretly.”

“Your Highness?” The small attendant looked at her in shock, carefully saying, “Where are you dissatisfied? This slave will change it.”

Yu Yunji frowned, feeling physically and mentally unwell: “This prince wants to change flavors these days.”

Now the small attendant understood.

What kind of person was their Highness? Since she said she wanted to change flavors, she must want to dispose of this batch of young men and replace them with new human statues.

The small attendant responded with a “Yes” and went down, presumably because the original owner had done this many times before.

When no one was around, Yu Yunji finally couldn’t hold back anymore. She hurriedly rushed out of Yishang Pavilion, only then did the feeling of nausea subside a bit.

To dispose of these human statues without arousing suspicion, it would be best to transport them away secretly and then find monks to chant sutras for their souls.

“Reporting to Your Highness, Miss Yue has arrived,” Ruo Shui beside her reported.

Before she finished speaking, a woman behind her laughed heartily: “My Xian Prince, why are you alone in Yishang Pavilion? Didn’t you wait for me to admire them together? I’ve got a batch of good stuff over there today…”

“Zhiyue.” Yu Yunji tried to make herself appear normal.

Zhou Zijing slapped her shoulder: “I heard you’ve been obeying that madman of yours. Don’t tell me you’ve really fallen for him.” Yu Yunji smiled faintly and stepped back a bit: “How am I obeying him? I am the Xian Prince after all.” Zhou Zijing looked at her strangely: “Right now, who doesn’t know that the Xian Prince is henpecked? When the prince consort says leave, you never linger. Hey, we agreed before, once you’re done playing with that Gu family madman, you’d let your sister have a go.”

As the two chatted and laughed, a small attendant happened to pass by carrying a box.

Hearing the two discuss this, the small attendant’s footsteps involuntarily slowed.

Yu Yunji raised her eyebrows to meet Zhou Zijing’s animated face, inwardly clicking her tongue. Truly worthy of being the original owner’s good sister, they were of the same ilk. In the book, their endings were not just tragic, but increasingly so.

Zhou Zijing chattered on: “Others might not see it, but I can tell, you’re not ordinary with him. What are you planning in your heart? Are you waiting for him to soften up before making your move?” The small attendant behind the door pricked up his ears, and upon hearing this, tiptoed away.

“How could that be,” Yu Yunji smiled evasively, “Let’s go eat, I’ll let you meet the prince consort. He truly has a good appearance.” She pulled Zhou Zijing towards the main hall. Zhou Zijing muttered, “You’ve really started doting on him?”

In Banyue Hall, Gu Qi was holding a calligraphy practice book, examining it carefully.

This was left at the Gu residence by the Gong Prince years ago. He practiced it daily, and now he could imitate the handwriting with 80% accuracy.

Gu Qi slowly caressed the writing on it, as if through this paper, he was caressing the Gong Prince’s face.

“My lord, I have urgent matters!” A small attendant came running with a brocade box.

Gu Qi put away the calligraphy book in his hand before glancing at Han Yu: “What is it?” He was unhurried; as long as it didn’t concern the Gong Prince, it wasn’t a big matter.

Han Yu, out of breath, said: “It’s, it’s the Xian Prince. The Xian Prince and the Zhou family’s wastrel together, they said they want to… to my lord…” He relayed everything he had heard word for word to Gu Qi, along with his own conjectures.

Gu Qi said calmly: “I see. You may go now.”

He seemed indifferent to this and dismissed Han Yu.

Gu Qi pulled open a cosmetic case. The palm-sized case was extremely tall, but when opened, it revealed hidden compartments. In the inner layer of the case were stacks of yellowed paper, on which ink marks could still be faintly seen.

These were all his feelings for the Gong Prince over the years.

Their statuses were different, and he couldn’t express his feelings openly. Everyone at home assumed Gu Shanlai was her Gong Prince consort. He had no chance, so he wrote all his feelings on paper.

His mother didn’t like him, nor did she like his birth father. It was because his stepfather had offended someone years ago, and the enemy had kidnapped him, mistaking him for Gu Shanlai.

As a man, his reputation was already ruined.

Later, when the Gu family took him back, his father had already been lying in state for three days. His mother didn’t care about him, not even allowing him treatment when he fell ill. He didn’t even get to see his father one last time.

In the grand Minister’s mansion, even if a favored concubine caused the death of her husband, watched the primary husband die of illness, and drove the eldest son mad, it was all because they were considered lowly.

“Heaven is so unfair,” Gu Qi gripped the brush handle, his lips curled with coldness, “Gu Shanlai, why is it you? Why was it me who took the disaster for you, and why is the Gong Prince consort you? These were all supposed to be mine.” Originally, it should have been Gu Shanlai who was kidnapped, and he, the legitimate eldest son, should have been the Gong Prince’s primary husband.

But fate played tricks, and he ended up as the husband of the cruel and heartless Xian Prince, while the Yuanjie he had longed for belonged to someone else. His mother even voluntarily proposed that he replace his stepbrother as the Xian Prince’s husband. Even if his heart was as hard as iron and he cared for nothing, he still couldn’t control his own fate.

He wasn’t resigned to this.

He wanted to escape this exquisite four-cornered cage, wanted to open his heart to his Yuanjie and let her see how infatuated he was with her.

But he couldn’t. Unless Yu Yunji agreed, he couldn’t even leave this Xian Prince’s manor.

A thought screamed in his mind, his hatred growing ever stronger. He wanted to make them all pay the price.

Yu Yunji belittled him, wanted him to serve two masters. He refused to comply with her wishes.

He touched the delicate dagger in his hand, the sharp blade reflecting a cold light, also reflecting his stunningly beautiful face.

“Very well, let’s play then,” Gu Qi said with a smile, his eyelashes lowered. “Yu Yunji, I’ll play along with you…” He wanted to see who would die first, Yu Yunji or him.

Let’s see who has the last laugh.