TRT – Chapter 14 The Fourth Prince

I was just getting into the mood with everyone else when, completely out of place, that brat Shou scooped me up. With a few quick leaps, he was already out of Cangchun Tower—faster than any elevator.

Strange thing, though—this brat is about the same height as me, even skinnier, only fifteen years old, yet he can carry a full-grown person while hopping across rooftops. What’s he going to be like when he’s grown?!

While my thoughts were running wild, Shou already set me down, tugged off his veil, and gave me a sidelong, concerned glance: “Minmin, have you gained weight again lately? Why are you so heavy? My arms nearly broke…”

That little *#￥%！！

Ignoring my murderous glare, Shou wiped his sweat with the veil, then ordered with great authority: “Just stay put here. I’ve already instructed those two maids of yours. They’ll be bringing your luggage and meeting us here soon. Don’t run off—that’s how you can help everyone.”

And then he turned to leave.

I hurriedly grabbed him. “Where are you going?”

For some reason, that brat actually put on a smug, manly expression, patted my head, and soothed me in an infinitely gentle tone: “Don’t worry. I’ll go make some arrangements and be right back.”

No… I wasn’t afraid of that. I just thought— I glanced at his delicate, flower-like face, then worriedly reminded him:

“Listen, Shou’er, you’d better keep your veil on… In the middle of the night like this, if some evildoer gets tempted by your looks…”

His face froze. In that instant, it was as if countless flames flared up behind him, burning like the cosmos in Saint Seiya!

He was furious again…

Storming to the doorway, he stopped, turned back to glare at me still standing dumbfounded, then stomped back with heavy steps! Without a word, he yanked off his outer robe and draped it over my shoulders. The warmth of his body clung to the cloth as it covered my bare shoulders and back—unexpectedly considerate.

“…Don’t call me Shou’er anymore. From now on, call me by my name.” He fastened the buttons as he whispered beside my ear. The night breeze lifted the strands of hair across his forehead, brushing over eyes that seemed to hold the stars themselves. His long lashes cast a gorgeous shadow across his face, and under the moonlight, the straight bridge of his nose was etched with manly sharpness. Though still a boy, his lowered voice carried a mature, husky edge—sexy enough to make me shiver!

Watching his silhouette fade into the distance, I couldn’t help sighing: This kid is something else! In another five years, he’ll definitely be a heartbreaker for a whole generation of girls!

Looking around, I realized he’d left me in a rundown temple.

Well, nothing to do, so might as well find some water to take off this makeup. Those fake tattoos had to come off quickly too. Without foundation in this era, keeping it on too long would ruin my skin. If you don’t care for your skin before twenty, no amount of upkeep after thirty will save it! This is the only face I’ve got…

I was lost in thought when suddenly—a chill gust swept over my back!

An arm locked around my waist in an instant, and my mouth and nose were covered!

Who?!

Before my mind could even process it, my body reacted instinctively!

I dropped my elbow, slamming it hard into his ribs! The attacker clearly hadn’t expected resistance—he let out a grunt, loosening his grip. I immediately planted my feet firmly, caught his thumb with my left hand, clamped down on his arm with my right, then—pivot! shoulder drive! knee twist! waist force! All in one smooth motion, I executed a perfect over-the-shoulder throw!

With a solid thud, the man was slammed onto the ground!

Hah! Of all people, you dare to ambush me?! Do I look that easy to mess with? You’ve got rotten luck crossing me! Let’s see who you are—

Straddling him, I tore off his mask—

“…You?!”

Wasn’t this the guy I ran into on the street, the one who looked like Zhiyuan?!

Still reeling from shock, I suddenly felt a sharp numbness at the back of my neck. My vision went black—and I knew nothing more.

……

………………

This time, I woke up in bed.

After all that running around, I’d ended up back at the starting point.

No Sleeping Beauty grace to speak of—just a lump of a person struggling up from a tangled mess of bedding (I’ve always been a terrible sleeper), groaning in pain from the soreness in my neck.

Hearing my groans, a maid lifted the bed’s gauzy curtain, poked her head out, and cried: “Ah! She’s awake!”

At once, the whole roomful of maids bustled into action—tea being served, water fetched, someone sent to call people over…

Soon, both doors of the room were opened, and the sound of footsteps approached from outside…

Judging from the fanfare, someone important was about to enter.

Sure enough, a man in a light yellow robe, flanked by two armed guards, strode in unhurriedly.

He didn’t seem in any rush to look at me. Instead, he sat down at the table, and a maid immediately presented him fragrant tea.

One guard tested it with a silver needle before handing it over.

The man raised the bowl, leisurely skimming away the foam with the lid, then began sipping elegantly.

He wasn’t in a hurry, and neither was I.

Perfect chance for me to get a good, long look at him!

With such attendants, he was clearly powerful—at the very least, very rich.

Graceful in his tea drinking, his manners suggested he must be from some noble household.

But honestly… this man wasn’t handsome at all! And a bit old too… his cheeks were gaunt, his features sharp and cold, his whole body exuding a stern aura and an oppressive pressure that made people not want to get close. Especially those eyes—completely unreadable. Single-lidded, narrow and long, the ends slightly tilted upward. The more I looked, the more he resembled… hmm, a fox!

Sensing my gaze, the big fox set down his teacup and turned his head toward me.

Usually, at a moment like this, men would say something utterly meaningless like “You’re awake” as an opening line… I was just thinking so out of place.

The big fox stood, gave a light cough, and said:

“You’re awake?”

I stared at him, stunned for a second, then suddenly burst into earth-shattering laughter…

He said it! He actually said it! Hahahahahaha… ridicule him!

The big fox’s face immediately darkened. “What are you laughing at?”

“N-no… haha… nothing at all… hehe…” I replied, still gasping for air between laughs. How could I answer him? Because you were too cliché?

The big fox strode toward my bed, looking down at me. “I very much dislike people hiding things from me.”

Heh… I wiped the tears of laughter from the corners of my eyes and looked him straight in the eye. “Actually, I dislike that too. So, let’s both be honest. You answer my questions, I’ll answer yours.”

We stared at each other for what felt like forever, though maybe it wasn’t long at all. My eyes were burning red with veins, and I didn’t dare blink.

According to the unspoken rules of transmigration, no matter who challenges you to a staring contest, as the female lead, you must never back down! One down is one less! Two down is a pair gone!

Women were never supposed to raise their heads before men, but at last, he broke the silence and withdrew his gaze.

I immediately dropped my head and pretended to do eye exercises.

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re very bold?” the big fox suddenly asked with a smile.

“You’re not the first.” I bared my teeth at him.

The big fox reached out a hand toward me. Instinctively, I slapped it away! At once, I heard the sound of guards unsheathing their blades. But the big fox didn’t press further. He pulled his hand back, strolled back to the table, and resumed sipping tea.

“Ask what you want,” he said lazily.

“Why did you capture me?” I asked bluntly.

“The immediate reason was to send you to someone. The deeper reason is I want you to coax him into being happy, so he’ll do things for me.”

“And who is this someone?”

“Prince Luo.”

“And who are you?”

“The one who wants Prince Luo on his side.” (Which was basically saying nothing.)

“And if I refuse?”

“I have your two precious sisters in my hands.”

“…Has anyone ever told you that you’re shameless?”

“You’re the first.” The big fox smiled. (Truly shameless…)

“Well… I can help you, but I have one condition!”

“You think you’re in any position to bargain?” he looked down at me coldly.

“Of course I am!” I scrambled up from the bed, standing tall on it so I could look down at him instead. Negotiations are all about momentum! If you don’t have the height advantage, your aura loses half its power!

“Listen here! Don’t think you can threaten me just because you caught Xiao Tao and Qingqing! I, Minmin, am no good person! I… I don’t recognize six relatives! (I’ll betray anyone!)” I pulled the most shameless, scoundrel expression I could muster. “So you’d better honestly agree to my condition. Otherwise, if I get unhappy, I’ll just wave my sleeve and leave without a trace! Then let’s see who you’ll send to butter up that Prince Luo!”

Mm, much better! Looking down at the big fox as I spoke gave me much more confidence!

“Oh? Then those two girls are useless, hm?”

“Yes, completely useless!”

“Very well. Yang, kill them.” The big fox ordered casually.

“Wait, wait, wait! H-hold on! Um… since they’re useless, why not just let them go? Killing them would mean you still have to deal with the corpses—what a hassle, right?” I hastily tugged at his sleeve.

“No worries. I don’t mind trouble.” The big fox smiled pleasantly.

You don’t mind trouble! Of all the times to be diligent, it has to be now?! I ground my teeth in frustration.

What to do? What to do? Clearly Qingqing and Xiao Tao couldn’t be saved this way. This big fox was clearly not someone easy to mess with. And dragging them along would only make escaping harder. My only hope was to rely on that brat. But first, I needed permission to leave this place, so I could link up with Xiao Shou. Yet he wouldn’t agree to my conditions… what to do?

No choice—time to use my ultimate move!

I scrunched my face, covered my eyes with both hands, and rolled onto the bed, fake-crying…

“Wuwuwuwu… you’re so cruel… you ask someone for help but won’t even grant their one request… it’s not even a difficult one… wuwuwu… I’m about to be thrown into the tiger’s den, I just wanted to spend my last bit of freedom strolling through the temple fair in the west of the city, and you won’t let me… wuwuwu… my lifelong wish was to go there… (because the crowd is chaotic) Waaaaaah…”

The big fox remained unmoved…

So playing on emotions didn’t work. Time for logic!

“Wuwuwu… you’re not smart at all… even a black-hearted boss knows to give employees paid leave to boost morale. You’re worse than a black-hearted boss… waaaaah…”

Still no reaction…

Damn it, last resort—provocation!

“Waaaaah… you’re useless… you don’t even dare let me out… with someone like you, currying favor with Prince Luo is pointless… wuwuwu… and all you guards here, you’re blind too, following such a master, what’s the point… waaaaah…”

“Enough. I’ll agree.” The big fox finally cut me off before I could incite mutiny.

Eh? He agreed? He really agreed! Yesss—my provocation worked!

Uh… why did it look like the big fox was secretly laughing though?

Never mind! Who cares! Once I get to the temple fair, with all those people around, I’ll just ditch the guards, find Xiao Shou, rescue Qingqing and Xiao Tao, and then we’ll flee far, far away. To the ends of the earth, you’re crazy, I’m silly, hand in hand we’ll leap off a cliff… freedom! Freedom, here I come—!

“Master, Xiao Shou requests an audience.” A guard reported softly.

“Let him in.” The big fox replied calmly.

Eh? Am I hallucinating?

Before my shocked eyes, Xiao Shou entered the room. Right in front of me, he knelt on one knee before the big fox. My eyes nearly popped out of my skull when he respectfully said:

“Your servant Xiao Shou greets Your Highness, the Fourth Prince!”

Eh? Did my eyes go blurry?

The big fox graciously told him to rise, then turned to me with a rather pleased expression.

“Minmin, just now you mentioned a temple fair tomorrow, didn’t you? How about I accompany you personally?”

………

Mom, am I about to die?