Chapter 11: I’ll Kill Your Brother Together with You

Pei Ji lifted his eyelids and suddenly raised his eyebrows:
“How would I know if the princess is just paying lip service?”

“The prince is wise. I am but a weak woman. To say it nicely, I am the princess; to say it bluntly, I’m just a pawn. Even ants steal life to survive—I only want to live,” Jiang Huaiyue said, then gave a self-mocking smile.

Pei Ji hadn’t expected that she actually understood her situation clearly—she wasn’t too stupid after all.

“What conditions?” he asked.

“Hm?” Suddenly speaking, Pei Ji caught Jiang Huaiyue off guard. She looked up at him in confusion.

Pei Ji glanced at her coldly:
“The princess said she wanted to make a deal with me. What are your terms? What can you offer me?”

Jiang Huaiyue recovered quickly and calmly said,
“I know you dislike and distrust me. If your brother gives any orders in the future, I’m willing to inform you immediately.”

As she finished speaking, she looked up and met Pei Ji’s scrutinizing gaze, suppressing her unease, and continued,
“When you married me, it must have been a temporary convenience. I’m willing to ask for a divorce, and from now on, we will each marry and live separately.”

Inside the luxurious carriage, silence reigned. No response came from him, and Jiang Huaiyue’s heart felt as if it were being scorched. She carefully considered that she hadn’t said anything wrong.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Pei Ji’s cold voice came:
“The princess keeps saying she adores me. Why then would she want to ask for a divorce so quickly?”

Seeing her momentary panic, Pei Ji narrowed his eyes—apparently, her lying skills still weren’t very refined.

Jiang Huaiyue bit her lip. She had gotten too emotional and forgotten that part.

Thinking quickly, she put on a sad expression and said softly,
“Prince, you misunderstand. Loving someone means wishing for them without demands or complaints. I know I’m not worthy of you, so as long as you’re happy, I’m willing to stay far away and watch over you.”

At least for a moment, Jiang Huaiyue felt touched by her own words.

“Oh? But the princess just said ‘divorce and marry separately.’ Are you thinking of leaving me to marry someone else?” Pei Ji watched her act without showing any emotion.

Jiang Huaiyue’s mouth twitched. Was this man doing it on purpose? If she divorced, whether she remarried was none of his business.

“Not at all. My heart belongs only to you. If divorced, I’ll live a life of solitude and prayer, lighting lamps and reciting sutras day and night, praying for your long life,” she said, taking out a handkerchief to wipe away nonexistent tears, acting deeply sincere.

Pei Ji scoffed and said lazily,
“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be easier for me to just kill you and be done with it?”

He had planned to deal with her on their wedding night but unexpectedly softened and let her live longer.

Now she was bold enough to play tricks on him and talk conditions.

Jiang Huaiyue stiffened.
“Prince, even if you kill me, your brother will find other ways to watch over you. It’s easier to dodge an open attack than a hidden arrow. Why not keep me around first?”

She spoke to persuade him, but in her heart, she thought, No wonder you’re the villain in the book, killing people at the drop of a hat.

“In that case, I’ll just kill your brother together with you, then it’s settled,” Pei Ji said casually, words utterly rebellious.

But he didn’t hesitate, nor did he fear Jiang Huaiyue would spread what he said.

“Prince, you’re joking with me, right?” Jiang Huaiyue edged backward slightly, eyes cautious.

Seeing his cold expression, she wailed inwardly, Oh my god, what kind of nightmare world did I get transported into?

This was completely different from the script—Pei Ji was actually planning to kill Jiang Jingchen and usurp the throne.

If things continued like this, no matter what she did, she was doomed to die. She had already openly offended Jiang Jingchen, and Pei Ji was suspicious of her, wanting to kill her at every moment.

Besides, since he was the villain opposing the male lead, he was definitely going to die in the end. No, she had to run—run as fast as possible without stopping.

“I never joke,” Pei Ji said, noticing her subtle movements, a mocking smile curling on his lips.

If he really made a move, did she think she could dodge it?

Jiang Huaiyue felt death was near but still wanted to try to save herself a little: “Prince, what did you just say? I suddenly went deaf and couldn’t hear anything.”

Her eyes flickered lightly as she covered her ear with her hand, putting on an innocent and pure expression.

Pei Ji was about to say something when suddenly the carriage jolted violently, as if it had hit something.

Jiang Huaiyue, not sitting steadily, was thrown forward, about to crash into a small table beside her. At the last moment, she reached out and grabbed Pei Ji.

Pulled by her, Pei Ji almost fell with her but reacted quickly, pulling her back and steadying their balance.

Jiang Huaiyue thus collided into his embrace. A sharp pain struck her nose; her eyes quickly reddened as she whimpered from the pain, “Ow~ that hurts~”

Was this man made of iron? How was he so hard? It hurt her terribly. Luckily, her nose wasn’t broken.

Pei Ji lowered his eyes, a faint floral scent wafting up. The person in his arms was soft like a cotton ball, with reddened eyes like a rabbit’s—so vulnerable it made him want to destroy her.

He suppressed his expression and pushed her away. Outside the carriage came the voice of Mo Ying apologizing: “Prince, forgive me. A child suddenly rushed out just now.”

“Drive more carefully,” he ordered loudly.

“Yes,” Mo Ying responded, wiping the sweat from his brow. He had expected punishment but was surprised Pei Ji let it go just like that.

Jiang Huaiyue was shoved out of his arms and fell to the ground. She blinked wide-eyed, staring at the cold man in front of her.

She cursed him in her heart, saying he had no idea how to cherish a delicate woman. No wonder he was over thirty and still unmarried.

“Your Highness, aren’t you getting up? Planning to sleep here?” Pei Ji glanced at her, then straightened his somewhat messy robe.

Jiang Huaiyue slowly got up, ignoring him.

The carriage stopped at the market entrance. Jiang Huaiyue said in a calm tone, “Prince, you can go back on your own. I want to take a walk.”

With that, she turned and got off the carriage.

Pei Ji’s fingers lifted the curtain to watch her figure, then he ordered, “Have someone follow her and see who she meets and what she does.”

“Yes,” Mo Ying replied softly.

“Go to Yunxiang Tower,” he added calmly, withdrawing his gaze.

Mo Ying drove the carriage toward Yunxiang Tower while Pei Ji picked up a nearby tea cup and took a light sip.

Looking at the place Jiang Huaiyue had just sat, it seemed the air still carried her faint scent.

Thinking back to the touch just now, his eyes gradually darkened, lost in some unknown thoughts.