Chapter Twelve: Caught in Infidelity?

“Bang—”

The door was kicked open. Yan Ziyu, startled while bathing, quickly grabbed a nearby garment and covered the wooden tub. She glared at the intruder with a dark, angry expression and asked coldly, “Prince, what do you mean by this?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Long Xiaoyan’s eyes as his cold gaze swept over Yan Ziyu still in the bath. A strange look flashed within them, but he ignored her anger and strode toward the inner chamber. Noticing the slight bulge on the bed, his expression turned cold as he abruptly threw back the covers.

“Why is it you?” Long Xiaoyan frowned, startled to see Rui’er lying there, pouting and still half-asleep.

Rui’er was frightened by his sudden appearance, clutching the blanket tightly and shrinking back, her face pale as a sheet.

“Who else would the prince think it was?” Yan Ziyu moved swiftly like lightning, pulling on her clothes with a trace of mockery. She entered the room and hugged the trembling Rui’er. “Rui’er was tired and just fell asleep on my bed. What’s wrong with that? Is the prince really so bothered that he’d storm in here to catch someone? Or does the prince think there should be someone else on my bed?”

Before Long Xiaoyan could respond, she suddenly feigned realization, her eyes drifting toward the group of women who had just stepped into the garden. With a sneer, she said, “Ah, so many people—does the prince come to… catch a betrayal? Ha, how laughable!”

“Sister, you must be mistaken. The prince was worried since you hadn’t gone to the front hall for the banquet for so long, fearing you were unwell. That’s why he came. We also followed behind to keep an eye on you. If we have offended you, please forgive us,” said Concubine Yu, speaking carefully and convincingly. She expected Yan Ziyu to acquiesce—after all, offending the prince was no small matter.

But some people just don’t play by the rules.

“Smack!”

“When did I ever allow you, a mere concubine, to speak when I’m talking to the prince? Who do you think you are? And you, sister, how dare you? Kneel before me!” With a slap, Concubine Yu’s face swelled like a steamed bun. She snorted coldly, a gleam of sharpness flashing in her eyes as she hissed.

“You…”

“Prince, the country has its laws, the family its rules; there is a distinction between legitimate and concubine offspring. As the Princess Consort of Prince Xiao, it is my responsibility to discipline these unruly concubines. Since the prince is busy with important affairs, he need not trouble himself with such trivial matters,” Yan Ziyu quickly cut in before Long Xiaoyan could speak. “Concubine Yu is clearly dissatisfied with me—or is she displeased with His Majesty?”

“Prince…” Concubine Yu covered her swollen cheek, her voice full of humiliation.

Long Xiaoyan’s expression flickered unpredictably. He stared at Yan Ziyu, who had suddenly become assertive and fierce. In his memory, she was nothing more than a timid, humble daughter from a general’s household, someone he only married out of necessity. Over the years, she had been meek and unassuming, almost forgotten by him. Was this sharp-tongued, confident woman really the same Yan Ziyu?

A deeper curiosity glimmered in his eyes.

“Lv Liu, prepare yourself. Tomorrow, this princess consort will enter the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.” At these words, the concubines fell silent.

Anyone with knowledge of the court knew the Empress Dowager valued distinctions between legitimate and concubine-born above all else. Previously, when a third-rank minister’s favored concubine destroyed his wife, the Empress Dowager was furious. She immediately stripped him of his rank and banished him to his birthplace, never to be employed again. With that precedent, who dared challenge the tiger’s den?

Concubine Yu’s expression shifted. Suppressing her humiliation and resentment, she knelt before Yan Ziyu, her eyes filled with bitterness.

---

“Eh? Princess Consort, why is there blood on your bed? And this blood…” Without warning, Lady Qian approached the bed, noticing a crimson stain beneath a cup. Curiously, she lifted a corner of the blanket and gasped in shock.

All eyes turned to the bloodstain, many watching with anticipation. Long Xiaoyan’s gaze grew cold as he looked at Yan Ziyu, a flash of frost in his eyes.

He could dislike this woman, treat her like a gift to be passed around, but he could not tolerate her secretly consorting with others behind his back—that was a great insult to him!

“How could there be blood here?”

Under Long Xiaoyan’s icy glare, Yan Ziyu’s body trembled imperceptibly. Her hands clenched tightly beneath her sleeves; her palms were damp with sweat. A cold flash crossed her deep eyes.

“Mother… mother… it hurts, Rui’er…” Tears streamed down Rui’er’s cheeks as he crawled from the bed and clung to Yan Ziyu. His undergarment was stained with small spots of blood on his arm.

“Don’t cry, Rui’er. Tell mother, how did your arm bleed? Does it hurt? No pain, no pain. Mother will soothe you.”

Yan Ziyu carefully removed Rui’er’s clothes. His body bore fading purple bruises and a bloodied left arm. To those watching, combined with his innocent, doe-like face, the injuries seemed real. Though Yan Ziyu knew they were fake, her heart still ached painfully. Her eyes grew moist as her gentle voice choked with emotion.

“Rui’er isn’t hurt. Mother, don’t cry. Rui’er was naughty and tried to pick fruit from the tree for mother, so he accidentally fell. Rui’er isn’t hurt, really. Mother, please don’t cry…”

“I’m not crying, it’s just the wind playing tricks on my eyes. Rui’er, be good and go with Lv Liu to get medicine. The pain will go away soon, be good!” Lv Liu came forward, holding the young Rui’er. She knew the princess consort didn’t want the young master to see what would happen next.

“Prince, have you seen clearly now? Do you know where the blood on my bed comes from?” Wiping away her tears, Yan Ziyu’s face turned icy cold. Her sharp gaze swept over Concubine Yu kneeling on the ground and the elaborately dressed Lady Qian.

“Heaven watches what man does! I don’t know why the prince suddenly came here today or who schemed against me, but—whoever harms my son shall be punished! This is my vow to heaven, earth, myself, and Rui’er. Anyone who lays a finger on him, I will annihilate their entire clan. Don’t doubt my ability—prince, you know this better than anyone, don’t you?”

Indeed, she was gambling.

She was betting on her importance to Long Xiaoyan and the entire Great Yun Kingdom. She had discovered something unusual within herself—an astonishing yet exhilarating secret, her most guarded trump card, her ultimate survival weapon.

Sure enough—

Long Xiaoyan trembled at her words, staring at her in disbelief and unease. Could she know…?

No, impossible. How could she know that secret? It was locked away in the royal library, accessible only to him and his elder brother. A fragile woman like her had no way of knowing.

As his thoughts raced, he gradually regained composure and said coldly, “The affairs of the rear courtyard are handed over to the princess consort. Concubine Yu, you are unwell; go back and rest. Everyone may disperse.”

Boom—

---

Long Xiaoyan’s words hit Concubine Yu’s mind like a thunderclap. Her chest tightened, her mind blank. Coupled with the humiliation of the slap earlier, she suddenly collapsed, unconscious.

“Escort Concubine Yu back to her chambers,” Long Xiaoyan said coldly, then turned and left.

With that single command, the power over the entire rear courtyard of the prince’s residence was placed squarely before Yan Ziyu. A faint sneer curved her lips as she looked at the group who had arrived with such fanfare but now lacked their former vigor. Her eyes gleamed coldly.

“Princess Consort, that was close—almost…”

Lv Liu exhaled in relief, her tension easing slightly. Earlier, when she brought hot water, she saw Ah Li lying unconscious on the bed. Despite her naivety, she understood what had happened. She quickly helped the princess consort throw Ah Li out the window, then, following Yan Ziyu’s instructions, brought the young master here. Meanwhile, Qiu He and Zi Yi took Ah Li away. All this had to be done silently and without alerting anyone. No one knew when the prince might return, so they had to risk everything to finish the preparations first.

Fortunately, they succeeded!

A cold smile lingered on Yan Ziyu’s lips, her fist clenched tightly beneath her sleeve. Though Rui’er’s injuries and tears were fake, who could guarantee they wouldn’t become real one day?

At this moment, her heart burned with a fierce desire for strength. She wanted to grow stronger, to protect those she cared for!

Perhaps… she could cooperate with him.

The memory of that ambiguous night in the Ice Spring Cave flashed through her mind, a cold gleam sparking in her eyes.

They had even resorted to aphrodisiacs—apparently, her decree to enter the palace banquet had truly stirred resentment. Well, if they wanted to play games, she would play along.

A wicked smile curled her lips as she summoned the steadier Qiu He and whispered instructions into her ear.

“Princess Consort, the prince will surely be angry if he finds out…” Qiu He said worriedly.

Yan Ziyu smiled with a hint of mischief. “Exactly what I want—let him be angry. I want to see where his limits lie. Just as he crossed my boundaries, it’s more interesting when it’s give and take, isn’t it?” A cold light flashed in her eyes. “If no one provokes me, I won’t provoke them. But those who touch my bottom line… Heh…”

She sneered inwardly.

Long Xiaoyan, our game has only just begun!