Chapter 5: Whose Dog Is Barking Again?

When Jiang Jingchen had Yun He drug Pei Ji, he already anticipated the possibility that she might be killed by him. But he hadn’t expected that she would actually survive.

Still, her survival might be a good thing. He had a feeling that his little sister might just be the key chess piece he needed to bring down Pei Ji.

“Got it. Keep watching. Report immediately if anything happens.”

“Understood,” the shadow guard replied.

Jiang Jingchen waved his hand, and the shadow guard disappeared silently from the imperial study.

Gazing at the mountain of memorials on his desk, each already approved by Pei Ji, Jiang Jingchen’s expression grew cold.

“Pei Ji, your days of arrogance are numbered.”

For so many years, Pei Ji had used the title of Regent Prince to dominate the court. Jiang Jingchen had long since come of age, yet Pei Ji still clung tightly to power, acting with impunity.

What emperor could tolerate a subject like that?

---

After eating, Jiang Huaiyue returned to her bedroom.

Perhaps because Pei Ji already knew Jiang Jingchen’s real motive in marrying her off, the so-called wedding had been extremely perfunctory—there hadn’t even been a proper ceremony.

Last night, the room Jiang Huaiyue stayed in wasn’t even the main courtyard of the prince’s manor. They had just casually picked a place to house her.

But that was fine by her. She didn’t want to deal with Pei Ji anyway. If no one came to bother her, she’d be even happier.

What she didn’t expect was that trouble would come knocking as early as the next morning.

---

At the break of dawn, a gentle breeze stirred as life began to return to the world.

Qiu Chan hurriedly pushed the door open and entered. Seeing the girl still sleeping soundly on the bed, she called out softly:

“Princess, Princess? It’s time to wake up.”

Jiang Huaiyue was still in a deep sleep. She waved her hand.

“No. Let me sleep a little longer.”

“Princess, you can’t sleep anymore. Lady Yu is here. His Majesty wants to see you.” Qiu Chan glanced outside the door and gently shook Jiang Huaiyue.

“What Lady Yu or Lady Li… I’m not seeing anyone,” Jiang Huaiyue muttered, thoroughly annoyed at being disturbed during her sleep.

Qiu Chan had grown up serving Jiang Huaiyue and knew very well that she used to be thrilled whenever she got to see His Majesty. Besides, the Regent Prince didn’t treat her well at all—maybe meeting His Majesty could help her situation.

Thinking this, she lowered her head and raised her voice slightly:

“Princess, someone from the palace has come. His Majesty wants to see you.”

The palace? At the mention of those two words, Jiang Huaiyue paused and quickly came to her senses. She abruptly sat up in bed.

“Qiu Chan, who did you say wanted to see me?”

Sweeping her hair back over her shoulders, Jiang Huaiyue furrowed her brows slightly as she asked.

Seeing her mistress fully awake, Qiu Chan smiled.

“Your Highness, Lady Yu said His Majesty sent her to invite you.”

Unlike Qiu Chan’s joy, Jiang Huaiyue’s face fell upon hearing this.

What’s going on? Why does the male lead suddenly want to see her?

Was it not enough that she was already walking a tightrope between life and death? Couldn’t he just let her have a few peaceful days?

“Go tell them I’m not well. I can’t go to the palace today.”

Right now, she absolutely didn’t dare step foot in the palace. She feared that if she went in, Pei Ji would make sure she didn’t come out.

So—if she could delay it, she would.

Qiu Chan looked puzzled at how her mistress was now trying to avoid it completely.

“But Princess, you used to love seeing His Majesty the most…”

Jiang Huaiyue lifted her eyes and looked at her, her expression calm as she said, “Qiuchan, I want you to remember that I am your mistress. If you’re unwilling to follow me, then return to the palace today.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Qiuchan’s face turned pale. She quickly knelt down and kowtowed, “Mistress, I was wrong. Please don’t drive me away. I want to follow you for life.”

Back in that ruthless and merciless deep palace, it was always the two of them enduring hardship together. The mistress was a gentle person who never hit or scolded. Qiuchan felt that having such a mistress was a blessing she had earned in this lifetime.

Jiang Huaiyue closed her eyes briefly, suppressing her pity, and said coldly, “Stand up. Go out and deliver the message.”

In this strange world, she feared one wrong step would mean death without a grave. Since Qiuchan was by her side, absolute loyalty and obedience had to be guaranteed.

“Mistress, you’re not really going to drive me away, are you?” Qiuchan looked up, her eyes filled with hope.

Jiang Huaiyue sighed inwardly, pretending to be angry, “If you don’t go, I really will.”

Qiuchan understood her meaning immediately and smiled. She stood up and bowed deeply. “I will go right away.”

Outside the courtyard, Jade Eunuch Yu had been waiting for a long time and was growing impatient, but he didn’t dare act rashly—after all, this was the Regency Prince’s residence.

With the creak of the door opening, Qiuchan hurried to his side and politely said, “Jade Eunuch Yu, the mistress has a fever and hasn’t fully recovered yet. She cannot go to the palace today.”

After delivering the message, Qiuchan’s palm was sweating nervously.

This Jade Eunuch Yu was the person the emperor relied on most closely. Even the concubines in the inner palace would show him some respect. Now, with the mistress like this, Qiuchan feared offending him.

Jade Eunuch Yu gave a sharp glance at the closed door and raised his shrill voice deliberately: “The emperor said he misses the mistress very much. He specially ordered me to prepare a sedan chair to fetch her. I’m afraid if we are late, the emperor will be displeased.”

There was disdain in his eyes. Just a little unwanted mistress, now that she had married the Regency Prince, she was putting on airs.

Back in the day, the Yunhe Mistress would have been very attentive, frequently going to the imperial study. Now that he had pulled the emperor out, he was determined she would come out.

Inside the room, Jiang Huaiyue, who had already gotten up from the bed and stood beside it, saw Jade Eunuch Yu’s bullying attitude in the courtyard. Hearing his threatening words, she curled her lips coldly.

This mistress’s situation was pitiful—she was even being trampled on by a mere eunuch.

Qiuchan’s face was sweating nervously. Summoning courage, she said, “Eunuch Yu, please forgive me. The mistress really is unwell. I hope you understand.”

Smack! With a crisp slap, Jade Eunuch Yu waved the dust whisker in his hand.

“You’re just a servant. What right do you have to speak here?”

He used full strength, and Qiuchan staggered, immediately showing five finger marks on her face.

Jiang Huaiyue’s eyes instantly turned cold when she saw Qiuchan struck. She stepped to the door, ready to leave.

At that moment, a cold voice came from outside: “I heard the dog barking all the way from outside the courtyard. I thought it was someone else. It’s just you, Jade Eunuch Yu.”

Pei Ji entered the courtyard with a majestic presence. At his words, Jade Eunuch Yu’s face changed repeatedly.

He immediately trembled and knelt down, “Greetings, Prince. Please forgive me, I was too loud and disturbed you.”

“Knowing you disturbed me, why don’t you punish yourself?” Pei Ji’s narrow eyes lifted slightly, speaking casually.

Jade Eunuch Yu had long lost the arrogance he had moments ago and replied, “Yes, Your Highness.”

Then the courtyard rang with a series of crisp slaps as his face quickly swelled red and bruised.

“Prince, your servant knows his mistake,” Jade Eunuch Yu’s voice was not as clear due to the pain on his face.

Pei Ji idly played with the jade pendant on his waist and asked, “Jade Eunuch Yu, what brings you here today?”