TRT -Chapter 39 Transformation

Before I could finish speaking, he rushed over in three long strides and pulled me straight into his arms!

He held me so tightly it felt like he wanted to crush me into his bones!

“It really is Minmin… That’s wonderful… You’re alive…!”

“I… I am alive… You’re squeezing me too… tightly… If you keep this up, I… I’ll die for real!”

Struggling for dear life in the Big Fox’s arms, I was already at my limit—between suffocating and becoming the center of everyone’s attention, my body and mind were both under assault…

His chest shook slightly, as if he were laughing. When he finally loosened his grip and I looked up, that guy had already returned to his eternally expressionless poker face.

Stepping back, he examined me carefully.

“Our scouts reported that Prince Luo’s convoy was attacked. You fell off a cliff. I thought… How did you…”

“Forget that for now!”

I cut him off in a hurry, grabbed his sleeve, and dragged him outward.

“Guo’er has been poisoned! I’m here for the antidote! Hurry! He won’t last many days! If we’re late, it’ll be too late!”

He grabbed my wrist and effortlessly pulled me back to his side.

“That can wait. First, tell me—where did you come from?”

I looked at him. After not seeing him for a while, he seemed much more worn out. Was it because of the war? Or something else?

His cheeks were thinner, and his narrow eyes were unfathomable. Only his overwhelming nobility and authority remained unchanged.

After hesitating, I answered honestly.

“…From Xitai City.”

A commotion arose among the generals waiting outside the prison gate.

The Big Fox remained expressionless. He only summoned two attendants and told them to take me away to bathe and rest.

Rest?! How could I possibly rest?!

“No! I’m not going! Do you know what time it is?! Guo’er is dying! Let go of me! Why bathe? Why rest?!”

Those two attendants were clearly trained—they subdued me in no time.

“Behave. I’ll have someone send the antidote. As for the rest, we’ll discuss it later.”

He was calm as a mountain.

Easy for him to say—the one who was poisoned wasn’t him!

Just as I was about to curse him out, he elegantly reached out. One hand covered my mouth firmly, the other gently patted my head.

“Xiao Tao is in the camp too. Go see her.”

I froze instantly.

To outsiders, it sounded like concern.

To those who understood, it was pure threat.

So I obediently let myself be dragged away…

Now I finally understood how hundreds of billions in national assets disappeared every year!

Extravagance in peacetime was one thing—but this was a military campaign!

His sleeping quarters stretched across three tents, and in one side tent, there was even a geothermal hot spring!

Servant girls bustled about.

Soaking in the silky warm water, nearly buried in flower petals, I pouted.

Xiao Tao caught me immediately and flicked my forehead lightly.

“My dear Miss Minmin, what are you dissatisfied with now? His Highness treasures this Jade Pool dearly—even Consort Jiwen wasn’t allowed in. You got lucky on your first visit! The kitchen’s preparing a feast too, and you’re still pouting?”

“Miss Xiao Tao, you’re a classic example of weak revolutionary will! You’ve been fooled by that capitalist fox’s fake kindness! You think good food and hot springs can buy me off? I still remember what he did to you!”

Her expression dimmed.

“Minmin… don’t dwell on that anymore. His Highness isn’t a bad person. He’s treated me well… He’s meant for great things, so he needs methods… Didn’t you say, ‘extraordinary times need extraordinary measures’? Besides… the way he treats you… it’s more than good. It’s… pampering…”

“Xiao Tao!” I stared at her. “You didn’t… fall for him, did you?!”

“How could I?” she smiled bitterly. “And… I can’t.”

“But he hurt you! Don’t you hate him?”

“Minmin… you don’t understand. Things aren’t that simple. The person who hurts you might be the one you care about most. Hearts are made of flesh—they can be moved… And often, you hurt the person you least want to hurt…”

I didn’t understand.

Not at all.

After bathing, I hurriedly put on clothes.

Same old taste—layers upon layers, countless buttons and ties, gorgeous and impossible to wear.

Barefoot, I rushed out—

And saw the Big Fox calmly drinking wine at a table of food.

“You—!” I pointed at him, shaking. “How long have you been in here?! The screen is semi-transparent!”

“Since you dismissed the attendants.”

I hate ancient times! No human rights whatsoever!!!

“Come eat,” he said.

“I’m not eating! I—I haven’t dried my hair!”

I turned around proudly—

And promptly tripped over my clothes and fell flat on my face.

“You’re bleeding,” he said.

“Huh?!”

“And… your clothes are open.”

“AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!”

My face turned crimson. My nose bled like the Yellow River…

“Don’t use hot spring water—blood flows faster.”

“Why didn’t you say that earlier?!”

…

In the end, he stopped my nosebleed, cleaned my face, helped me dress, and tied all those complicated straps.

Then he ordered me to eat and started drying my hair himself.

His technique was awful, but surprisingly gentle.

“…Um… maybe switch sides? My right side is still wet. The left is about to catch fire…”

He froze awkwardly.

A slight sound came from outside.

He looked up.

“Say what you need to say. Now.”

So I told him everything—falling off the cliff, Xitai City, the robbery, meeting the Sixth Prince, Guo’er’s poisoning…

His face darkened more and more.

When I mentioned his brother’s critical condition, he looked stormy.

Softly, I asked:

“Hey… you’ll go see him, right? If you go, the antidote will go too.”

“Minmin…”

He sighed and hugged me.

“Don’t move… just for a moment…”

His chin rested on my shoulder.

Fine. I pitied him.

“…Hey? Isn’t that enough?”

Suddenly, he lifted me up.

“Why?!”

“You asked if I’d go see him. Of course I will. Now.”

“Now?!”

He mounted his horse, summoned four masked guards, and issued orders.

“If I don’t return in two hours, burn the city.”

My eyes widened.

So he wasn’t emotional at all.

He’d planned everything.

Even for family, he never lowered his guard.

How exhausting his life must be…

With one arm around me and one on the reins, he shot forward like an arrow.