My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 11: Do you think you can fool me?

　　Although Xie Xu used the pretext of showing concern for Xie Jue, his act of leading troops into the Bai'en Palace still incurred the emperor's furious wrath and suspicion, leading to a severe reprimand.

　　Having been so cunningly manipulated by the Empress, Zhang Guifei and Xie Xu harbored resentment in their hearts. They were even more anxious about the prospect of the Crown Prince's position falling into the hands of the Seventh Prince, and they were so worried that they couldn't eat or sleep. For now, let's leave their situation aside.

　　……

　　When Yun Ling woke up, he was already gone. Remembering how he had rushed in through the night, drugged, and forbidden her from making a sound, she realized he must have been someone who couldn't be discovered.

　　And she had actually sensed him leaving before dawn. Though she had fallen asleep exhausted the previous night, sleeping beside a capricious demon king hadn't allowed for a peaceful rest. The slightest movement would wake her.

　　Yun Ling woke up at her usual time. As she was changing clothes, she lowered her head and saw the marks of red and purple on her chest.

　　Such a hidden, soft and jade-like place couldn't withstand such rough treatment, and even now, there was a lingering ache.

　　After changing her clothes, Yun Ling put her thoughts aside, but then another matter came to mind.

　　Since he had come here in secret, and yesterday was the anniversary of the late Empress's death, what had happened was something that couldn't be tolerated by the rules of propriety. Yet, he had been drugged and had no choice but to come to her. If the Sixth Prince wanted to cover this up and keep it hidden, the best and safest way would be…

　　To kill her!

　　Yun Ling was startled by this thought.

　　She wasn't sure if the Sixth Prince trusted her, or if he even had such a thought, but she couldn't help but consider the possibility.

　　Just as she was pondering what might have happened last night, there was a sound from the palace gate. Pushing aside her thoughts, Yun Ling hurried out.

　　It was the Sixth Prince, escorted back by two guards. He was dressed in white, which, compared to the dark and mysterious aura of black, made him seem even more distant and unapproachable, like cold jade.

　　Yun Ling immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully, “Your Highness.”

　　Xie Jue seemed not to notice, his black eyelashes like crow feathers, didn't even lift as he walked past her.

　　The seductive aura from last night was gone, replaced by a cold and ruthless expression.

　　Pausing for a moment, Yun Ling turned and followed him.

　　Once inside the hall, Xie Jue had already seated himself at the desk. Without speaking, his dark, narrow eyes looked over, their coldness a stark contrast to the heated intimacy of the previous night.

　　He remained silent, and Yun Ling stood below, her head slightly bowed, not daring to make a sound, standing quietly.

　　The atmosphere in the room was heavy, pressing down on them, making it impossible to move.

　　There was a silence so profound it seemed to stifle all sound.

　　Half an incense stick later, time ticked by slowly, and she couldn't tell what he was thinking. The suffocating atmosphere finally forced Yun Ling to break the silence. “Your Highness, you were so unwell yesterday, I was so worried, I couldn't eat or sleep properly.”

　　By bringing up what happened last night, she was subtly reminding him that if she had any disloyal intentions, she could have easily spread the news. The fact that it remained quiet was a testament to her silence.

　　But she didn't. She was simply worried about him, from last night until today.

　　Hearing her voice, Xie Jue finally raised his eyes and met hers. His cold gaze swept over her, like a sharp arrow in the stillness, incredibly dangerous.

　　“Were you waiting for me?” A cold voice came from the desk.

　　Yun Ling replied, “Yes.”

　　Xie Jue narrowed his eyes and suddenly asked, his voice laced with an unknown meaning, “Do you know what day it was yesterday?”

　　Yun Ling lowered her head slightly and replied, “It was the anniversary of Empress Zhaohui's death.”

　　Xie Jue responded, “It was my mother's death anniversary, yet I favored a palace maid that day. What will be the consequences if this is revealed?”

　　Yun Ling said, “It would certainly damage Your Highness's reputation, and the Emperor would lose all hope in you.”

　　Xie Jue tugged at the corner of his lips, a hint of a smile playing on his face. “You are indeed clever. Since you know, what are you waiting for me for?”

　　“I was waiting for Your Highness to return safely,” Yun Ling said without hesitation. “Your Highness must have encountered danger yesterday to become like this. As for other matters, I will keep them locked away in my heart forever. I only care about Your Highness's safety.”

　　She wouldn't say anything, she wouldn't spread the news. Hopefully, this would dispel the Sixth Prince's suspicions.

　　Xie Jue's deep black pupils flickered.

　　His phoenix eyes, narrowed and unblinking, fixed on the woman standing before him.

　　Suddenly, he rose from his chair and walked slowly towards Yun Ling, who was still bowing her head.

　　“Waiting for me... to return safely…” Xie Jue said, enunciating each word slowly, “It's been many years since anyone has said that to me. You are truly... bold.”

　　A pair of long, cold white hands instantly clamped around Yun Ling's delicate neck. Feeling the tremor she was desperately trying to suppress under his palm, Xie Jue's face showed no sign of pity, only chilling terror. “I underestimated you.”

　　“Are you scared now that I might kill you?”

　　Yun Ling couldn't help but flinch, her shoulders trembling. She didn't understand why he was so volatile, why he had suddenly erupted in anger.

　　“I... I am,” Yun Ling was forced to look up, her breath becoming increasingly labored. A blush crept up her cheeks, making it difficult for her to speak.

　　Yet for the first time, she dared to meet his gaze directly. Without pleading, she said stubbornly，

　　“Serving you in the Cold Palace for so long, I finally understand the difficulties you face, Your Highness. Even imprisoned here, there are still so many who want to scheme against you, to harm you, to see you dead. So Your Highness suspects me, doubts me, I understand. All this time, I haven't known how to prove my innocence, so I can only do my best to take care of you, to attend to you. I hope for your Highness's well-being and a peaceful life.”

　　Xie Jue felt a splitting headache, his forehead veins throbbing. “Shut up.”

　　But Yun Ling kept her eyes open, a thin film of moisture covering them. “If I don't say this now, I fear I won't have another chance. To find a path to survival in this desperate situation, I am immensely grateful. If there's anything I can do to help Your Highness, I'm willing to be Your Highness's blade, Your Highness's vanguard, I will go through fire and water without hesitation.”

　　“But I don't understand. What did I do wrong? Is it wrong to worry about you?”

　　“Such noble words, ‘go through fire and water without hesitation,’” Xie Jue's knuckles tightened. “Do you truly believe your sweet talk can fool me?”

　　“I don't,” she said.

　　Tears welled up in Yun Ling's eyes, and she slowly closed them.

　　It seemed she had lost all desire to live.

　　He abruptly released her, letting her fall to the ground.

　　Yun Ling coughed violently, struggling to catch her breath.

　　Xie Jue looked down at her with a cold, indifferent gaze. After a long moment, he squatted down, seemingly nonchalant as he asked, “What do you want?”

　　“I want to live,” Yun Ling gasped, “Your Highness lives, I live.”

　　Her breathing finally calmed, but Yun Ling didn't look up. Her fingers curled, clutching the edge of Xie Jue's moon-white robe in front of her. Tears finally streamed down her face like a fountain, her eyelashes soaked, her eyes red-rimmed. Her tears of despair fell one by one, “But Your Highness doesn't believe me.”

　　Her fingers, clinging to the robe, were like vines, unable to let go of the support of the great tree. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and a faint whimper escaped her throat, as if an endless well of grievance and sorrow could no longer be contained.

　　Xie Jue watched her trembling shoulders, his gaze drifting to the obvious mark on her snow-white neck, a clear red welt from his grip.

　　Perhaps it was from the struggle, her collar loosened, revealing a patch of red and purple beneath the mark, swallowed by the collar of her clothes.

　　It was a mark he'd left on her the night before.

　　The faint cries still echoed in his ears.

　　“Have you cried enough?” Xie Jue's handsome brows furrowed, his jaw clenched in a hint of impatience. He leaned closer, looking down at her bloodshot eyes.

　　He closed his eyes, a low, “Will it ever end?” escaping his lips, his expression heavy with gloom.

　　Was she only capable of crying?

　　Without another glance at Yun Ling, he turned and left.

　　Yun Ling watched his retreating figure, wiping away her tears.

　　They said the Sixth Prince was ruthless, violent, and unpredictable. Never before had Yun Ling understood the weight of those words as she did now.

　　He had come in with murder in his heart.

　　In that urgent moment, she had stopped pretending to be foolish and cowardly. She wanted to make it clear that even though she knew of his predicament, she had always remained loyal and true, never harboring any ill intentions.

　　And when he spared her at the last moment, it meant he believed her.

　　After the perilous escape from death, what awaited her was the dawn of life and a new beginning.

　　Yun Ling wanted to stand up, but after being so terrified, she found herself strangely weak.

　　That man was truly… more terrifying than the Yama of hell.

　　……

　　Xie Jue knew perfectly well that the little maid had no intention of informing anyone. If she had dared to take a single step out of the palace gates that morning, she would have been dead without a trace.

　　He slowly closed his eyes.

　　Though he was reluctant to admit it, he had indeed slept with a palace maid last night, a type of woman he had always despised.

　　Ever since he was seven years old, he had been killing off the palace maids sent to spy on him, one by one. His aversion to them was known throughout the palace.

　　The memory of that day eleven years ago remained vivid in his mind. Before he and his cousin went hunting outside the palace, he told his mother that he would bring her the most beautiful fox. She simply smiled and stroked his head, saying, “Mother only wants Jue'er to return safely.”

　　He was already a skilled archer at the time, and catching a fox was no problem. But when he returned to the palace, he learned that his mother had died.

　　It was the last thing his mother ever said to him.

　　A palace maid dared to say she would wait for him to return safely… She was not worthy!

　　He couldn't deny that the little maid was clever. She seemed timid and cowardly, but she had managed to survive by his side all this time.

　　She had even helped him orchestrate his plans several times, demonstrating an intelligence that needed no training, a natural understanding of his intentions.

　　Most importantly, she was not a threat. Whatever her motives, even if she was telling the truth about seeking refuge, as long as she needed him, that was all that mattered.

　　He decided to spare her for now, considering her recent obedience and her diligence in serving him.

　　Just then, a knock came at the door. After granting permission, the tightly shut door was pushed open from the outside.

　　The maid, whose white neck still bore the mark of his grip, her eyes still red from near-death, walked in carrying a basin of water. “Your Highness, let this servant wash your face.”

　　It seemed that no matter how harshly he treated her, she never resented him.

　　Xie Jue, however, couldn't understand why this sight felt so jarring.

Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter