Chapter 31: Threats

“What?!”

Xia Tong’s eyes widened. Without saying another word, she grabbed her arm, got out of bed, and threw on a cloak, heading straight for the door. The kitchen should still have something to eat.

“Master!” Fang Yu was so frightened that she quickly ran after her.

But just as Xia Tong reached the doorway, she froze. A cold, gleaming sword was pressed tightly against her neck.

“By the prince’s orders, the princess is not allowed to wander around. If you disobey, you will be killed on the spot!”

The woman wore a form-fitting black outfit, her hair tied high, her expression cold. The sword in her hand didn’t waver even the slightest, as if the moment Xia Tong moved, she’d be killed instantly.

Fang Yu sneaked up behind Xia Tong and whispered softly in her ear, “The prince just wants you to rest well.”

Their eyes met. Staring at the woman in front of her, Xia Tong frowned slightly. She believed this woman was genuinely capable of killing her, but all she wanted was to get something to eat from the kitchen, not to escape.

She stepped back and glanced at the woman, her brow furrowed slightly. “What’s your name?”

The woman withdrew her sword but continued to stand guard at the door with her back to Xia Tong. Her voice was cold. “Hongxue.”

Watching the cold, lonely figure at the door, Xia Tong reluctantly closed the door. The person outside, meanwhile, unintentionally glanced at the door and a trace of impatience flickered in her eyes. She didn’t understand why her master would still keep someone like Xia Tong around.

Lying back on the bed, Xia Tong was feeling hungry. She could only glare at the door, frustrated. She felt like this person had been sent to watch her, but she was really starving.

“Master, please bear with it for now. The doctor said you shouldn’t eat anything too greasy. Tomorrow morning, I’ll bring you something early,” Fang Yu said as she tucked Xia Tong in. Only then did she reluctantly leave, glancing back three times as she walked out, her face full of worry.

With the candle extinguished, darkness engulfed the room once more. The person in bed shifted restlessly before finally gritting her teeth and falling asleep, fighting the hunger.

Early the next morning, Qing’er brought over a bowl of plain congee and a steamed bun. Xia Tong knew without thinking that it was the villain who was abusing her, but it was better than having nothing to eat.

She wasn’t sure how big of a commotion the assassin incident had caused, but before noon, her mother came to visit. The housekeeper, being sensible, didn’t stop her and directly let her in. Xia Tong made a mental note to give him a raise later.

As soon as she entered, Madam Liu anxiously looked Xia Tong up and down. Once she confirmed her daughter was unharmed, she finally felt relieved, though her face still showed lingering fear.

“How did you end up encountering an assassin? Your father and I were worried sick! He didn’t even want me to visit you, but I couldn’t just stand by!” Madam Liu grasped her hand with concern, eyeing the box in the maid’s hand. “This is a thousand-year ginseng gifted by the emperor. I know the prince’s residence has everything, but you must take good care of yourself.”

Xia Tong nodded slightly and glanced at Qing’er beside her, who immediately walked out with the others.

“I don’t know why there was an assassin either. Does Father have any idea?” she asked curiously.

Madam Liu shook her head, a hint of doubt on her still elegant face. “The matter is being investigated by the Shuntian Prefecture. But according to your father, it will likely end without any resolution. So, be extra careful when you go out in the future. There are many rebels these days, and we don’t know who their target is.”

She glanced around, then leaned in and whispered, “I’ve also heard that the prince hasn’t stayed here for several days. Even though you hold the household management rights, that’s not reliable. You need to plan for yourself.”

After saying that, she slipped a small white bottle into Xia Tong’s hand, her expression peculiar. “This is a secret tonic from the palace, not a drug, but it enhances the pleasures of the bedchamber. Your top priority now is to bear an heir. No one knows if someone new might come along later, and by then, it will be too late to regret.”

Xia Tong: “…”

Looking at the bottle of medicine in her hand, she pushed it back as if shocked, her face flushing bright red. “Why… why would you… I don’t need this, mother.”

“Silly girl, love between a man and a woman is perfectly natural. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. This is for your future,” Madam Liu gently tapped her forehead and shook her head slightly.

Xia Tong still didn’t dare accept it and hurriedly called out, “Qing’er, quickly take Mother back!”

“Eh…” Madam Liu wanted to say something more, but seeing her daughter’s embarrassment, she could only shake her head and turn her attention to Qing’er.

After they left, Xia Tong still felt incredibly awkward. Not to mention, there was no way she and the villain would do anything like that. Even if she used that stuff, he’d probably skin her alive and turn her into a lantern.

“Master, it’s time to take your medicine.” Fang Yu suddenly walked in, holding a bowl of dark, bitter liquid.

Seeing the black concoction, Xia Tong, thinking it was better to get the suffering over with quickly, took the bowl and gulped it down in one go. Immediately, her whole body shuddered from the bitter taste.

Seeing her master in such discomfort, Fang Yu felt very distressed, but the prince had ordered that Xia Tong was only allowed to eat porridge, nothing else, so she was helpless.

After drinking several sips of warm water, Xia Tong finally felt a little better. She couldn’t keep going like this—if she did, she’d be nothing but skin and bones soon.

She threw off the covers, grabbed her cloak, and headed straight out the door, with Fang Yu startled and quickly following behind.

Outside, the cold, indifferent Hong Xue was still standin g guard. When she saw Xia Tong come out, she merely cast a cold glance, her eyes devoid of any warmth.

Xia Tong paused, then headed in the direction of the kitchen. The people behind her followed closely, like lingering spirits. How was she supposed to sneak some food with them tailing her?

Reaching a fork in the path, Xia Tong suddenly changed direction, heading toward the study instead. Glancing back occasionally at the hostile woman behind her, her instincts told her that she needed to get rid of Hong Xue—this person was dangerous, and if she didn’t take care of it now, she’d suffer later.

When the guards at the study saw the princess approaching, they no longer blocked her path. Hong Xue, on the other hand, looked shocked as Xia Tong walked in.

Slowly pushing open the door, Xia Tong poked her head inside and glanced around, but the study was empty. Strange, there were so many people guarding outside—how could no one be inside?

But if no one was in the study, and she entered, anything missing would surely be blamed on her. That’s how traps were set.

Just then, the bookshelf suddenly began to move, revealing a large hidden door. Several figures walked out from behind it, but when they saw Xia Tong peeking in from the doorway, they exchanged bewildered glances.

Realizing she might have stumbled upon some big secret, Xia Tong thought about leaving, but since she was already there, she straightened her back and walked in.

Handing a bamboo scroll to the person behind him, Gu Qin frowned at her suspiciously. “Were you planning to steal something?”

Xia Tong: “…”

“Your Highness, you must be joking. I came to see you for an important matter,” Xia Tong took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, and jogged over with a flattering smile.

“Then we, the subordinates, will take our leave first.” Xifeng and the others dared not linger, though they did glance again at the light-footed princess.

Gu Qin leisurely walked over to the desk, still calmly inspecting the letter in his hand, his expression icy.

“I don’t like Hong Xue. Can you replace her? It’s not like I wander around,” Xia Tong leaned over and said flatteringly.

Gu Qin raised his eyes. “Who do you want to replace her with?”

“Xifeng!” she blurted out without thinking.

Xifeng, who had just walked out of the door, couldn’t help but look back at the study door, with a face full of bitterness and hatred. He didn’t know how he had offended the princess for her to want him gone so badly.

Inside the study, the atmosphere was quiet. Gu Qin sat at his desk, staring intently at Xia Tong. Her complexion had improved, but she was still thin, wearing only a light green dress under her cloak. Though she had looked frail yesterday, today she seemed much more spirited.

He hadn’t realized how close his princess had become with his subordinates. Since something had happened in Zhoucheng, sending Xifeng there seemed like the best option.

“Do you think you have the power to choose?” His voice was cold and his expression was indifferent.

Xia Tong blinked and pressed her lips together, saying nothing more. She turned around, ready to leave quietly, deciding to keep a low profile and avoid trouble.

“Where are you going? Get to work.”

She froze mid-step and slowly turned back. Gu Qin was writing a letter, but there was barely any ink left in the inkstone. Gritting her teeth, Xia Tong begrudgingly went over and started grinding ink with her uninjured hand, biting her lip in frustration as she cursed him in her heart. Even with her injury, he wouldn’t let her rest—he had to squeeze every last bit of usefulness out of her.

The wind howled through the window, and Xia Tong rubbed her nose, which had turned red from the cold. She suddenly felt like crying. Not only was she starving, but she couldn’t even see a trace of oil in her meals. Even though the old madam had two faces, at least in the Xiahou family, she never went hungry.

Glancing at her thin frame, Gu Qin frowned slightly. His voice was low and steady as he said, “Go get another cloak.”

Sighing in her heart at being treated like a servant, Xia Tong trudged over to the couch like a zombie and grabbed a black robe. Dutifully, she draped it over him.

“Go back and copy the Women’s Commandments ten times. And if you try to have someone else do it for you… we could use a new lantern outside.”

The chilling undertone in his last words made Xia Tong freeze, her eyes wide with fear.

Pulling off his robe, Gu Qin suddenly stood up and placed it over her small frame, completely enveloping her.

“Does the wound still hurt?” he asked, calmly pressing his hand on it.

Xia Tong’s eyes reddened, and she felt like her wound was about to reopen. What exactly had she done wrong?

“It doesn’t hurt…” She forced a smile, holding back her tears.

The cold wind howled outside, causing a few strands of her hair to dance in the breeze. Her eyes were red, yet she maintained a stiff, shallow smile on her pale face. Her small frame seemed to tremble slightly.

Seeing this, the man, seated and focused on his documents, looked displeased, his sharp features hardening. His voice was cold and emotionless, “It seems you still haven’t learned your lesson.”

Xia Tong had no idea what she had done wrong. Why did she have to endure this kind of torment?

Noticing the faint trace of blood soaking through her clothes again, a sign that her wound had reopened, Gu Qin’s expression shifted slightly. He suddenly realized he might have been too harsh. Still, this woman was so fragile yet daring enough to wander around recklessly.

“From now on, do not undress in front of any other man,” he said coolly, before adding with indifference, “Don’t embarrass me.”

Xia Tong stood there, dumbfounded. When had she ever undressed in front of another man?

On the table, there was a plate of pastries. Remembering that she would always try to take them all, the man hesitated, then took one and brought it to her pale lips, his tone softening a little, “Open your mouth.”