Chapter 12
Half a quarter of an hour had passed, and no one had come from the Minister’s Mansion.
Feigning patience, I checked the time several times, but I truly could not wait any longer. Rising to my feet, I said to Liang Qiusuang, “Forgive me, my lord, but I must take my leave.”
Liang Qiusuang’s expression changed. “Aunt, why the rush? Please wait a little longer. In a moment, I will have someone escort you back.”
Just as expected.
He had never intended to let me leave first.
I let my face fall, feigning anger. “Who knows what mishap has befallen the person you sent to seek instructions? Am I to wait here in your mansion until nightfall?”
Regardless of whether Liang Qiusuang tried to stop me, I was determined to leave.
After all, Liang Qiusuang still remembered that I was someone close to Concubine Xiao and dared not forcefully restrain me, for fear of offending me too deeply.
Relying on his apprehension, I strode out without a care.
Liang Qiusuang followed behind, calling out incessantly, “Aunt, please slow down, Aunt, please wait, Aunt…”
“Lord Liang, it is not that I am being unreasonable, but palace rules are strict. If I miss the time to return to the palace, even Concubine Xiao will be blamed.”
“For us servants, being punished is of little consequence, but if our masters are implicated, the crime is far greater.”
No sooner had I finished speaking than I heard a sudden laugh.
My heart sank as I looked toward the source of the laughter. There stood a man wearing a tall crown.
He was not tall, and the crown on his head seemed a mere show of bravado.
I had often heard people mock him, saying that he wore a tall crown to make up for his lack of stature, like a lame man walking on stilts, desperate for others to notice his limp.
He could not bear to hear such words.
Those who mocked him, if their families remained prosperous, it was well enough, but should their fortunes decline, not one escaped his revenge.
Everyone knew that the son of the Minister of War, Xiao Jinyi, was vengeful and never forgot a slight.
The moment I saw Xiao Jinyi, I knew my plan had been exposed. A chill surged in my heart, and I thought, “It’s over.”
Xiao Jinyi feigned courtesy and saluted me. “Greetings, Sixth Princess.”
The instant he called me by name, Liang Qiusuang’s face visibly darkened.
Cold sweat broke out on my back, but I understood one thing:
If I showed fear now, it would only embolden them further.
If I remained calm, they would have to weigh my worth in secret.
Forcing myself to remain composed, I raised my eyes and looked steadily at Xiao Jinyi. I said to him, “I have learned nothing. Let me go, and no matter who asks about today, I will not utter a word. What do you say?”
“Sixth Princess, you think too well of yourself,” Xiao Jinyi said, approaching me. His steps were small, but in a few strides, he was close.
“I still have many questions for you, Princess. For example, how did you come to be here?”
After asking, he stopped right in front of me.
I disliked anyone standing too close, but faced with his deliberate pressure, I did not retreat a single step. Instead, I smiled and reminded him, “Xiao Jinyi, even if I am out of favor, I am still a princess of the imperial family.”
He replied, “Precisely because of that, I absolutely cannot let you leave.”
I said, “To harm a member of the imperial family is to doom nine generations. Are the Xiao Family and the Liang Family truly prepared for that?”
Hearing this, Liang Qiusuang broke out in large beads of cold sweat.
But Xiao Jinyi only gave a wicked grin. “As long as no one knows, who cares where the princess dies?”
As if in response to his words, the Gatekeeper suddenly rushed in, flustered. “My lord! The Prince of Zhenbei is here to pay a visit-he, he is right outside!”
“Who?!” Liang Qiusuang asked.
“The, the Prince of Zhenbei!”
Liang Qiusuang’s legs gave out, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.
Xiao Jinyi grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up, every word of his threat landing squarely on Liang Qiusuang’s face.
“Lord Liang, what we have done is already a crime that dooms nine generations. It is too late to turn back now-we can only see this through to the end.”
“So what if the Prince of Zhenbei is here? You are an official of the court-can he tear your house down by force?”
“Go meet him and brush him off.”
“As for her,” Xiao Jinyi’s gaze shifted to me, and he let out a pleased laugh, “your Concubine’s Daughter can endure torture, but this one is different. A delicate and noble princess-she probably doesn’t even know what torture devices look like.”
He reached out and yanked my hair, pulling me down hard.
The force was tremendous.
He bent me over with the pull, and I cried out in pain.
I knew I had reached a dead end.
Closing my eyes, I threw caution to the wind and shouted with all my strength, “Third Imperial Brother! Save me!!!”
Suddenly, a sharp pain struck the back of my neck.
My cry was cut short, and I collapsed limply to the ground.