Chapter 30: Afraid This Prince Might Cut Off Your Tongue Too

No way—he was too terrifying. He cut off someone’s tongue just because of a disagreement—and it wasn’t just anyone, it was the family members of court officials! Wasn’t he afraid they’d all band together to deal with him?

She dabbed the corner of her lips with a handkerchief. Just as she was about to stand up, she saw Mo Ying enter.

“Princess, it’s time to leave the palace,” Mo Ying said in a low voice.

As he approached, Jiang Huaiyue’s sharp eyes caught sight of the bloodstains on the edge of his robe. Remembering what Qiu Chan had said—that he had just cut someone’s tongue out—she felt a wave of discomfort.

She lowered her eyes. “I understand.”

Qiu Chan was equally frightened. She helped support Jiang Huaiyue with trembling hands as they left Changchun Palace together.

Outside the palace, Jiang Huaiyue saw many people hurrying back and forth—likely all handling the aftermath of what had just happened.

In that moment, a wave of fear washed over her. Surviving under Pei Ji’s rule was no easy feat.

She thought of how Jiang Jingchen had instructed her to seduce Pei Ji, to make him fall for her. But could someone so cold and heartless ever truly develop feelings for a woman?

While lost in these thoughts, they had already arrived at the palace gates. Seeing the familiar carriage, and knowing who was sitting inside, made her heart tense up.

“Princess, please board the carriage,” Mo Ying’s voice sounded in her ears.

For some reason, to Jiang Huaiyue, it sounded more like he was asking her to walk to her death.

Qiu Chan’s hand trembled as she helped her up. Jiang Huaiyue hesitated for a moment, then lifted the curtain and entered.

Inside the carriage, Pei Ji’s gaze landed on her the moment she stepped in, his sharp eyes making Jiang Huaiyue’s heart tighten.

She thought to herself—she hadn’t provoked him today, had she? Why was he staring at her like that?

Could it be that after cutting off someone else’s tongue, he suddenly remembered that he should have cut her tongue off that day?

Just the thought made her face go pale with fear.

Pei Ji noticed her expression and smiled playfully. “What’s wrong? Afraid this prince might cut off your tongue too?”

His tone was casual, as if he were just making an offhand remark.

Jiang Huaiyue’s fair hand clenched tightly. Her voice was stiff. “Your Highness jests.”

“Only when the loose-tongued lose their tongues do they finally learn what should and shouldn’t be said,” he said, glancing at her lazily.

Jiang Huaiyue’s eyelashes quivered—was he warning her?

“Please rest assured, Your Highness. I’m very discreet,” she said, lifting her eyes and giving a slightly ingratiating smile.

Pei Ji carefully studied her fragile and pitiful appearance. Thinking of what those noblewomen had said earlier, she really didn’t resemble that Jiang Qi at all.

Could it be that she already knew her true origins, and that’s why she dared to love Jiang Jingchen?

Pei Ji remained silent, but his gaze never left Jiang Huaiyue.

His staring made her feel incredibly uneasy. She had no idea what madness had taken over him, but his intense gaze made her fidget uncomfortably in her seat.

The next day.

In Longqian Palace, Jiang Jingchen woke up after a night of heavy drinking. His head was splitting, and there was a constant noise in his ears, making him irritable.

“Yu Jue, get in here!” he shouted, his face filled with anger.

Yu Jue quickly pushed open the door and ran inside. “Your Majesty, you’re awake?”

“What’s all the noise outside?” Jiang Jingchen asked coldly.

Last night, upset after learning that Xi’er didn’t care for him, he had drunk too much. By now, he couldn’t even remember how he got back.

Eunuch Yu knelt on the ground and reported, “Your Majesty, Lord Liu from the Ministry of Rites, Lord Wang from the Ministry of Revenue, and Lord Shi from the Ministry of Personnel are outside requesting an audience.”

“What do they want? Is there anything so urgent that it can’t wait until morning court?” Jiang Jingchen rubbed his temples, feeling the dull ache in his head, and spoke irritably.

“It’s about last night. Somehow, their wives offended the Regent Prince, and His Highness had their tongues cut out,” Eunuch Yu said, still shaken by the bloody scene he had witnessed.

Thankfully, he had been quick to assess the situation and escape from the Prince Regent’s manor the last time.

Jiang Jingchen stared at him in disbelief. “What did you say? Pei Ji cut out the tongues of officials’ wives? Who gave him that kind of nerve?”

Outrageous. Utterly outrageous. At a palace banquet, he had brazenly mutilated the family members of court officials. Did he think he could do whatever he wanted—did he even regard the Emperor at all?

“Your Majesty, what should we do about the officials?” Eunuch Yu asked carefully.

Jiang Jingchen stepped down from the dragon bed, and Eunuch Yu rushed over to help him get dressed as he spread his arms.

“Do we know what those women said to provoke Pei Ji?”

Could it be something related to his own secrets? But if that were the case, given Pei Ji’s temperament, he likely would have killed them outright. Cutting out their tongues seemed oddly restrained.

As Eunuch Yu helped him change, he replied, “The women had their tongues cut out. They can’t speak.”

“They can’t speak—but do they not have hands? Were those cut off too? Or do they not know how to write?” Jiang Jingchen said coldly.

A wave of frustration welled up in his chest. One thing after another—he felt as though he could barely breathe under the pressure.

He was almost ready to order Pei Ji’s execution on the spot, just to ease his own fury.

“Let them stay where they are. Once they figure out what happened, then they can come plead their case.” He had suffered too many setbacks at Pei Ji’s hands, and he had learned to proceed with caution. He would withhold judgment until he fully understood the situation.

Otherwise, he risked being outmaneuvered again and suffering greater loss.

Eunuch Yu bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

---

Elsewhere, at Yunxiang Pavilion, He Lan leaned by the window, watching the bustling market with a smile. “Word is spreading fast. Everyone knows you had those women’s tongues cut out last night.”

He was genuinely curious—what had set this man off to the point where he would so openly mutilate officials’ wives at a palace banquet?

In a private room, Pei Ji held a teacup in his hand, his posture relaxed. “Good.”

“What’s good about it? The little emperor finally has an excuse now—he’ll definitely use this to come after you,” He Lan shook his head in exasperation.

Shen Yanli suddenly asked, “What happened? Why did you suddenly cut out their tongues?”

He was more curious about the cause than the outcome.

Pei Ji tapped the rim of his teacup lightly and spoke, “Check into whether Jiang Huaiyue’s mother had any romantic involvement before the talent selection.”

He Lan turned to him, incredulous. “You’re not saying… that Young Lord Yun He isn’t Jiang Qi’s biological daughter?”

“If that’s true, then you two don’t really have a grudge anymore,” Shen Yanli said with a raised brow, pouring himself a drink.

“Oh right—so what are you going to do then?” He Lan asked with a teasing look in his eyes.

Pei Ji shot them both a cold glance, his lips slightly parted. “Everything stays the same.”

Whether or not she was Jiang Qi’s daughter had nothing to do with him. In the end, she was still just an unimportant person.

“Is that so? But I feel like you’re different with her. If you really wanted to kill her, you would’ve done it already,” He Lan said with a mocking click of his tongue.

“Sounds like you don’t want your tongue either,” Pei Ji said darkly.

He Lan shrugged and casually found a chair to sit on. “Then tell me—why did you cut out their tongues? Wasn’t it because you were afraid the rumor would spread?”

It was obvious he was protecting her. The same had happened with that fake military token last time too.

Even if it wasn’t love, it definitely wasn’t nothing.