Chapter 6: Princess, Are You Willing to Die for Me?

Eunuch Yu lowered his head and replied,
“Reporting to Your Highness, it is His Majesty who wishes to see the princess. He specifically sent me to invite her.”

Pei Ji glanced with a sidelong look at the half-open window and lazily said,
“Is that so? Has she been invited yet?”

The moment his gaze landed on Jiang Huaiyue, she instinctively recoiled backward, feeling as if Pei Ji had indeed seen her.

Before Eunuch Yu could answer, Qiu Chan knelt forward two steps and spoke first,
“Your Highness, the princess had a fever a couple of days ago and it has been fluctuating. She has not fully recovered and cannot enter the palace for now.”

Eunuch Yu, who had been about to reply, shot a resentful glare at Qiu Chan—what a little troublemaker.

“Your Highness, I am only conveying His Majesty’s order. Since the princess is unwell, perhaps we could have the imperial physician examine her.”

His tone was earnest and sincere, looking genuinely concerned for Jiang Huaiyue’s health.

Pei Ji of course knew perfectly well that Jiang Huaiyue was completely fine. But he hadn’t expected her to refuse the young emperor’s order, feigning illness to avoid going to the palace. That was somewhat interesting.

“Eunuch Yu, go back and tell His Majesty that tomorrow I will personally bring the princess to the palace to meet him.”

Eunuch Yu hesitated,
“This… His Majesty did send me to invite the princess, so there must be a reason, but if I return without her, I fear I won’t be able to explain it properly.”

Seeing his hesitation, Pei Ji’s eyes flashed coldly,
“What? Can’t hear me? Or do you think there’s something wrong?”

“I—I understand. I will report back to His Majesty at once. I take my leave.” Eunuch Yu thought of the rumors about the ruthless methods of the Regent Prince, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. He hurriedly finished speaking and turned to leave.

As the group left, silence fell over the courtyard. Pei Ji lifted his foot and strode toward the room.

By the window, Jiang Huaiyue saw him approaching and quickly ran back to the bed, pulling the embroidered quilt over herself.

Pei Ji entered the room and sneered as he saw the person pretending to be ill lying on the bed,
“I hear the princess is sick?”

He loosened his robes and sat down on the small couch by the window, his imposing aura pressing down, his handsome brows tinged with a hint of malevolence.

Watching his behavior, Jiang Huaiyue secretly scoffed in her heart. Someone so good-looking but with such a terrible temper—what a waste of a face.

After a long silence, Pei Ji lifted his eyes and caught the astonished look in hers. Instinctively, he frowned.

Raising his voice, he said,
“The princess must be deaf. Seems she really is sick. How about I have someone send for a doctor?”

Jiang Huaiyue came back to her senses,
“Your Highness is joking. I just didn’t react immediately.”

Thinking of how he had just said outside that tomorrow he would bring her to the palace, she clutched her chest, coughed softly twice, and looked weak,
Cough, cough—“Your Highness, I’m still not well. I’m afraid I can’t enter the palace tomorrow either.”

She didn’t understand his thinking. She already knew Jiang Jingchen had asked her to go to the palace to discuss plans against Pei Ji, yet he still insisted on sending her there.

If she had to go, fine. But she just wanted to stay quietly. She had no interest in their power struggle whatsoever.

Pei Ji glanced at her. She wore a dark-colored cross-collared nightgown, and he could faintly see the pattern of her undergarments beneath. Her long hair draped over her shoulders. Her delicate brows were slightly furrowed, as if she might break apart at any moment.

Thinking of something, he rose from the couch and took a few steps toward her.

Jiang Huaiyue was just putting on an act of weakness when she saw him coming closer, her eyes showing a flicker of nervousness.

She worried he might kick her again—or even strangle her.

“Since that’s the case, I will have Moying go to the palace and invite the imperial physician to examine the princess.” Pei Ji sat down by the bed and said coldly,
Because their proximity was close, Jiang Huaiyue didn’t dare even breathe deeply. Hesitating, she looked up with a pitiful expression,
“Your Highness, I don’t want to go to the palace.”

The beautiful woman before him had slightly flashing almond-shaped eyes, her expression seeming both aggrieved and a little coquettish.

If it had been anyone else, they might have already been unable to resist pulling her into their arms to soothe her softly.

But Pei Ji sensed something unusual. What struck him was that she was trying to flatter him.

“The Emperor is your elder brother, and the palace is his home. Why don’t you want to enter the palace?”

Under the embroidered quilt, Jiang Huaiyue clenched her palm tightly and softly replied, “You are mistaken, Prince. I have already married you, so from now on, you are my family. The Regency Prince’s mansion is my home.”

She had thought it through — right now, the most important thing was to live safely under Pei Ji’s control. Besides, that wedding night, she had recklessly told him she admired him.

Given Pei Ji’s suspicious nature, he naturally wouldn’t believe her, but this was a breakthrough—a matter of identity given by oneself when going out.

She was pretending to be deeply affectionate toward him, making him believe she was willing to betray Jiang Jingchen for him.

After all, since ancient times, once someone is touched by passion, they lose their rationality. Thus, her act of love became reasonable.

Pei Ji’s thin lips pressed lightly together, his sharp and refined face without a trace of emotion, quietly watching Jiang Huaiyue perform.

He fiddled with the finger ring in his hand. The blushing face of the young girl before him appeared in his sight. His eyes narrowed slightly as he suddenly reached out and pinched her chin.

“The prince’s mouth sure does talk nonsense.”

His movement reminded Jiang Huaiyue of how he had forced her to drink that night. Her body trembled involuntarily, eyes filled with fear.

But she knew that the more critical the moment, the calmer she needed to be.

Looking up, she smiled, “Prince, what I said is true. I truly admire you. For you, I can do anything.”

As if! Ugh—

Even she felt like throwing up saying that. She had never thought her acting was this good before.

The one pinching her chin moved deliberately closer.

Jiang Huaiyue’s breathing slowed by half a beat. No way, was he going to kiss her? How should she react—shy, resisting but secretly willing, or push him away?

Lost in wild thoughts, the man leaned close to her ear, lips moving: “If that’s the case, Prince, are you willing to die for me?”

The burning breath brushed over her neck, making all the hairs on Jiang Huaiyue’s body stand on end.

Goodness, what kind of madman was this? His way of showing love was to tell her to die?

She swallowed nervously, stepped back slightly, creating distance, and carefully reached out to hold his clothing corner.

“Prince, I don’t want to die. I want to live and be with you.”

Hearing her reply, Pei Ji abruptly loosened his grip, seeing the hand still clutching his garment. He said coldly, “Prince, if you don’t let go soon, I’ll have to take this hand off.”

Her bold grip on his clothing made Pei Ji feel rather uncomfortable.

Jiang Huaiyue silently pouted and quickly withdrew her hand.

She thought to herself, so petty—does he think I like his clothes that much?

“At the day and hour of the wedding, I will be waiting for you at the door.”

Pei Ji finished coldly, stood up, and left.

After he left, Jiang Huaiyue lifted the embroidered quilt and sighed heavily, muttering, “I still can’t escape having to enter the palace. What a pain.”