Chapter 4: If Only She Were a Dead Wife

Inside the room, Jiang Huaiyue listened to Su Xiangwan’s reminder and looked over at her.

“Wanwan, I’ll head back first. I’ll come find you again in a few days.”

“Alright. Don’t overthink things. No matter what happens, your own life comes first. Nothing else matters.”

Su Xiangwan stood up from her chair, softly advising her.

Jiang Huaiyue picked up on the deeper meaning behind her words and nodded gently.

“I understand. Don’t worry.”

With that, she turned and left. After leaving the general’s estate, Jiang Huaiyue took Qiu Chan with her and returned to the Regent’s manor.

---

The Imperial Palace

Pei Ji had just stepped out of court when Mo Ying, waiting at the gates, approached him with a cold expression to report:

“Your Highness, the Princess has left the estate.”

The warm spring sun shone down as the hem of Pei Ji’s purple robe swayed. The luxurious fabric sparkled under the light. He lifted his gaze.

“Where did she go?”

A flash of the woman from last night appeared in his mind, and his pitch-black pupils grew even colder.

Mo Ying replied:

“The Princess went to see General Xiao’s wife.”

“Su Mingwei’s legitimate daughter?” Pei Ji turned the jade thumb ring on his finger, his tone laced with casual disinterest.

“Yes.”

Upon confirmation, Pei Ji chuckled lightly—but the smile never reached his eyes.

That old fool Su Mingwei was far too rigid. He constantly stirred up trouble for him in court, and he was firmly loyal to the little emperor.

No wonder Su Xiangwan had no sense of propriety. On the very first day of their marriage, she had rushed back to her family’s estate. She must have been eager to deliver some kind of message.

Thinking this, Pei Ji clicked his tongue, and a sinister glint crept onto his handsome face.

“Still too soft,” he muttered.

Having served at Pei Ji’s side for years, Mo Ying immediately sensed the murderous aura rising off him.

---

Jiang Huaiyue had thought that by returning a bit earlier, she could avoid running into Pei Ji. But fate was cruel—she bumped right into him at the front gates.

---

In front of the Prince Regent’s estate, a luxurious carriage pulled to a stop. As the door opened, someone stepped out.

Jiang Huaiyue saw Pei Ji and forced herself to suppress the fear surging in her chest.

Since they had crossed paths, there was no use pretending otherwise. She walked over and greeted him with a calm expression:

“Your Highness, you’ve returned from court.”

Pei Ji had already seen her. Hearing her voice, he looked up.

Bathed in sunlight, she wore a pink dress. Her face was delicate and beautiful, her eyes clear and smiling like rippling water. Her skin glowed like jade—indeed, the princess raised in the palace was a true beauty.

But the more exquisite she looked, the colder Pei Ji’s gaze became.

“Where did the Princess go?” he asked, as if offhandedly.

His assessing gaze fell on her, and even though she stood in broad daylight, Jiang Huaiyue felt like she had plunged into an icy abyss.

The man before her wore a purple robe that accentuated his tall, lean figure. His aura as a powerful figure overwhelmed everything. Only God knew how much effort it took for Jiang Huaiyue to keep from showing fear in front of him.

“I used to always stay in the palace, so I rarely got to go out. I just took the chance to walk around a little,” she said softly, lowering her gaze.

In her heart, she thought: I can’t let him know I went to the general’s estate. With his suspicious nature, he’d definitely think she went to pass along messages—or betray him.

Pei Ji let out a cold snort. If he hadn’t ordered someone to follow her, he might have actually believed her nonsense.

“Is that so?”

“Of course. I just went out for a stroll. Why would I hide something like that from Your Highness? If you’re free sometime, we could even go together,” she said with a bright, genuine smile, thinking of as many happy things as she could to steady herself.

Pei Ji stared at her without a trace of emotion.

“Does the Princess want to know what happened to the last person who went shopping with this prince?”

“Where are they now?” Jiang Huaiyue asked, playing along.

Pei Ji stepped forward, his voice like a whisper from a tomb:

“They were stabbed until they looked like diced meat. I’d wager the grass on their grave is as tall as you are now.”

He suddenly leaned in closer. Jiang Huaiyue instinctively took a step back.

“Your Highness must be joking!” she said with a nervous laugh, her eyes full of the familiar fear he knew so well.

“Princess Consort may as well give it a try,” Pei Ji replied.

Jiang Huaiyue shook her head, rejecting the idea. “Better not.”

She still wanted to live—to one day roam the world freely with Wanwan. Dying now was not part of the plan.

“Your Highness, how about we… eat something? I’m hungry,” she said cautiously.

Heaven knew how much she wanted to shout with confidence: “I’m the Princess Consort—I demand food!” But she didn’t dare. After all, she was a consort in name only.

Her father was dead, her mother gone, her brother didn’t care for her, and even her husband was someone who could take her life at any moment. Why was it all so hard?

Why couldn’t she have ended up like Wanwan—already widowed?

She wondered if she started wishing for Pei Ji’s death now, would it ever come true?

Pei Ji didn’t respond. He walked past her and entered the residence.

Jiang Huaiyue pouted, then hurried after him like a little servant. What could she do? Under someone else’s roof, one had to bow their head.

Besides, even the male lead was cautious around him. She was just a fragile girl—if groveling could keep her alive, then grovel she would.

After convincing herself, she quickly followed Pei Ji inside.

In the main hall, he was already seated when she approached.

Seeing the table full of delicious and fragrant dishes, Jiang Huaiyue felt even hungrier.

She had barely slept last night, then spent all morning worrying about Wanwan. She hadn’t eaten a thing and was absolutely starving.

When no one said anything, Jiang Huaiyue tried cautiously to sit down.

“Your Highness, I’m hungry. May I eat now?” she asked.

Pei Ji said coolly, “If I say no, will you simply not eat?”

Jiang Huaiyue pursed her lips, unsure how to respond. After a moment, she gave a strained smile.

She picked up her chopsticks and began eating, taking the dish closest to her and popping it into her mouth. Her eyes lit up instantly.

Not bad at all, she thought secretly. The food in this prince’s residence is really good.

She lowered her head and focused on eating, unaware that Pei Ji’s gaze had been quietly observing her the whole time.

Pei Ji studied Jiang Huaiyue. Recalling the investigation he had ordered earlier, a mocking glint appeared in his eyes.

The Princess Consort of Yunhe, they said, was timid and weak. But the woman before him seemed like a completely different person.

Still, who she really was didn’t matter. She posed no real threat either way. He’d let her stay a few more days—he was curious to see how the young emperor planned to use this pawn.

Nighttime, Imperial Palace — Imperial Study

Jiang Jingchen, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat in the imperial study, his expression cold as he listened to his subordinate’s report.

“You’re saying Yunhe tried to drug Pei Ji and failed—but she survived?” he asked.

The dark guard, kneeling on one knee, replied gravely, “Yes, Your Majesty. Prince Pei forced the drug down the princess consort’s throat and then left. She was submerged in cold water all night.”

Jiang Jingchen had been secretly cultivating his own forces for years. He’d long had eyes watching Pei Ji, waiting for the right moment to bring him down.

Giving Yunhe to Pei Ji had been a gamble. Whether it succeeded or failed, it didn’t cost him anything.

After all, his dear father hadn’t left him much—but there were plenty of “sisters” to spare. He had simply picked the most obedient, prettiest one and gifted her to Pei Ji.