Chapter 32: I’d Have to Be Sick to Like Him

“We’ll go to Miaojiang first. That’s where the Gu poison originates—maybe we’ll find a cure there.” Su Xiangwan had returned and read many more books about Gu poison. In the grand scheme of things, everything has its counter—there had to be another way to resolve it.

Jiang Huaiyue noticed the dark circles under her eyes and knew she had been worrying day and night about her condition. Her heart ached with a sour, bitter feeling.

“Alright, let’s leave. Forget about that damn prince and those damn men.”

Young people following orders wasn’t the point—just take one step at a time. Their lives weren’t worth much anyway, so why not fight?

“Mm. I’ll get everything ready. Let me know when you’re set.” Su Xiangwan had thought about it—if their identities were becoming shackles, then maybe leaving the capital would actually lead them to a better future.

Jiang Huaiyue nodded. “Okay.”

Not long after, Ningxiang entered from outside, looking slightly anxious. “Miss, two of Her Highness’s maids are headed this way.”

“You only have one maid though?” Su Xiangwan asked in confusion.

She remembered she only had Qiuchan. When did another one show up?

Mentioning this, Jiang Huaiyue’s expression drooped. “Don’t bring it up—Pei Ji sent her to spy on me.”

Su Xiangwan frowned. She had seen Pei Ji from afar once. She had to admit—he was exceptional, but also dangerous.

Her gaze drifted to Yueya’s face, and a strange unease welled up. What if…

“Yueya, you should stay away from Pei Ji, understand?”

Jiang Huaiyue saw the worry in her eyes and couldn’t help but laugh. “What, are you afraid I’ll fall for him? No way. Sure, he’s handsome, but his emotions are all over the place—like a rabid dog. I’d have to be sick to like someone like that.”

The kind of man she liked was gentle, refined, a gentleman through and through. Pei Ji? No thanks—he wasn’t even in her consideration.

“Your Highness, they’re here,” Ningxiang reminded her again.

Jiang Huaiyue gave Su Xiangwan a quick hug and whispered in her ear, “I’m off. See you next time.”

Watching her leave, Su Xiangwan said nothing.

What worried her wasn’t Yueya falling for Pei Ji—it was that Pei Ji might fall for Yueya.

That man was deep, brooding. Clearly someone who had faced great upheaval in his youth.

Yueya was pure, delicate, and full of vitality. Anyone near her would feel warm—moved.

People trapped in darkness for a long time were easily drawn to light. Even more so if that person held great power—able to take life or spare it with a word. If he really set his mind on her, it wouldn’t be easy to get away.

After Jiang Huaiyue left, Yunshang entered the room and immediately saw Su Xiangwan’s troubled face. She asked, “What’s wrong?”

Su Xiangwan looked at her. “Yunshang, do you have someone you love?”

The question clearly caught Yunshang off guard. She thought of the man who had once saved her from fire and water, and a flood of emotion surged in her heart.

She didn’t know how he had reacted after she ran away. Probably didn’t care—after all, she had only been a plaything to him.

Su Xiangwan saw her expression and guessed she’d touched on something painful. She quickly said, “Sorry. It just slipped out.”

“No matter. But why did you suddenly ask, Wanwan?” Yunshang gave her a soft smile, brushing off the awkwardness.

“No reason, really. Just asking.” Su Xiangwan felt maybe she was overthinking it. Someone like Pei Ji, cold-hearted and emotionally detached, probably wouldn’t fall in love so easily.

Jiang Huaiyue stepped out of Qingshan Pavilion, and just as she did, Fuyao and Qiuchan arrived at the gate.

“Your Highness, the physician isn’t in,” Fuyao said. Though she knew Jiang Huaiyue had only sent her away as a distraction, she had followed the order seriously.

Jiang Huaiyue walked down the steps. “It’s fine. Maybe the doctor had something to do. I’ll go visit him myself another day.”

After speaking, she remembered the way Fuyao addressed her. “Fuyao, don’t call me ‘Your Highness’ when we’re out. Just call me ‘Miss.’”

“Yes,” Fuyao replied.

“Then let’s head back to the residence,” Jiang Huaiyue said with a smile, turning to walk ahead.

Qiuchan and Fuyao followed closely behind.

As soon as Jiang Huaiyue returned to her courtyard and hadn’t even sat down yet, Mo Ying arrived.

“Princess, the Prince requests your presence.”

“What does he want me for?”

Jiang Huaiyue wondered if he had somehow found out about the plan she and Wanwan had cooked up to escape. But that didn’t seem right—hadn’t she already sent Fuyao away?

She frowned slightly and stood up. “Do you know why he’s summoned me?”

“I don’t,” Mo Ying replied emotionlessly.

Jiang Huaiyue sighed inwardly. “Let’s go then.”

After leaving the courtyard, she grew more uneasy the further they walked—the path looked increasingly familiar. Wasn’t this the way to Pei Ji’s sister’s courtyard?

What was going on? Could it be he figured it out and was going to cut out her tongue?

The more she thought about it, the more wrong it seemed. She stopped in her tracks, clutching her stomach. “Um, I suddenly don’t feel well. Go tell the Prince I’ll come in a little while.”

Mo Ying replied calmly, “Princess may use the dressing chamber.”

“I know where it is,” Jiang Huaiyue said, her smile tight and forced.

Before Mo Ying could respond, a cold male voice came from behind her. “Is that so? I thought the Princess was just afraid of getting her tongue cut out.”

Jiang Huaiyue turned to see his cold, stern face and gave a sheepish smile. “Your Highness, really now?”

She cursed him inwardly—what was with this man and his constant threats about cutting tongues? Was he proud of it or something?

Pei Ji stood at the foot of the stone steps, hands behind his back. Today, he wore pale-colored robes, which slightly softened his typically sharp, imposing presence. His long, defined features gave him a noble air.

“No joke. I was waiting especially for the Princess,” he said, his tone unreadable as he took in her forced smile without showing a flicker of emotion.

Seeing that she could no longer avoid him, Jiang Huaiyue raised her voice and met his gaze. “What does Your Highness need me for?”

“A-Yuan wants to see you.” Pei Ji recalled how his subordinate had just informed him that A-Yuan disliked all the companions he’d arranged for her. She kept clamoring for Jiang Huaiyue.

They’d only met once—why was she so fixated on her? Had she said something to A-Yuan?

Jiang Huaiyue’s face was full of question marks. Wasn’t he super protective of his sister?

“Your Highness, they say the more you know, the faster you die. I think maybe I shouldn’t see her,” she said cautiously, trying to refuse.

Pei Ji immediately saw through her thoughts and replied coldly, “Is the Princess suggesting that those who know my secrets ought to be killed?”

This man was so quick to jump to murder—Jiang Huaiyue silently screamed that she really couldn’t afford to provoke him.

Lifting her skirt, she climbed the steps and passed behind him, saying cheerfully, “Didn’t Your Highness say A-Yuan wants to see me? Let’s hurry then—don’t keep her waiting.”

Thinking of A-Yuan’s adorable demeanor, she found it hard to believe she was actually Pei Ji’s sister.

What a cute little sister, and yet her brother was like a grim-faced executioner—truly terrifying.

Pei Ji watched her figure as she walked ahead. His hand at his side brushed lightly against his robes, and then he followed.

When Jiang Huaiyue arrived, she saw from a distance that the small courtyard was still locked. She asked suspiciously, “Your Highness… don’t tell me A-Yuan has stayed in this tiny courtyard all these years?”