Yi Xiao hesitated before untying the silk ribbon. From the sachet fell a cold, heavy piece of metal. She turned it in her palm, eyes narrowing.
“An arrowhead?” she asked softly, looking up. “Did I use this before?”
Feng Suige’s gaze was icy. “You don’t remember? That arrow was dug from my shoulder.”
Yi Xiao blinked, then gave a careless shrug. “There were so many on the battlefield. If I had to remember every single one, my head would’ve long exploded.” Her tone turned sharp. “If it struck the Prince’s shoulder, it only proves one thing—His Highness was standing very close to you that day.”
Feng Suige sneered, “So loyal to him, aren’t you?”
Yi Xiao’s eyes glinted. She tossed the sachet and arrowhead back. “Strange. Didn’t the Shusha Kingdom sign a peace treaty with Jinxiu? Your little ‘abduction’ here—wouldn’t that count as a provocation?”
Feng Suige leaned closer, his voice dripping with mockery. “If I tell the world I crossed into Jinxiu just to retrieve a runaway lover, whose story do you think they’ll believe?”
Yi Xiao laughed instead of flinching. She tilted her head, the corners of her lips curling into dangerous amusement. “In that case, I’m inclined to believe the Prince just wants to take advantage of me.”
Her audacity made him falter for the briefest second—just long enough. In a flash, Yi Xiao yanked the hairpin from her bun and thrust it toward his throat. But before the strike could land, a strong hand seized her wrist.
There was a sharp crack as she was shoved hard against the carriage wall. She fell onto the fur-lined floor, pain searing through her wrist. When she glared up, Feng Suige was already advancing, his shadow looming over her like a predator closing in on prey.
“I nearly forgot,” he said darkly, “the prettier the flower, the deadlier the poison.”
Yi Xiao bit her lip, meeting his gaze without yielding.
Just then, the carriage curtain was thrown open. A guard burst in. “Prince—!” His words froze when he saw the scene before him.
“Who told you to come in?!” Feng Suige barked, his fury laced with shame. He had almost fallen for her again—distracted by her smile, bewitched by her fire.
The guard stammered, “Th-this subordinate heard a noise, so I—”
“Get out!” Feng Suige snapped.
The man bowed hastily and fled.
Feng Suige turned back to Yi Xiao, his voice cold as steel. “You should thank him. Another moment, and I might’ve strangled you.” His eyes narrowed. “Now answer me. What did Xia Jingshi send you to do in these four years? And what’s the connection between that and his sudden illness and refusal to marry Princess Xiyang?”
Yi Xiao stared at him in disbelief. Then, suddenly, she began to laugh—a bright, brittle sound that echoed through the carriage.
“Stop pretending,” Feng Suige growled, grabbing her arm. “Speak!”
“Fine!” she snapped, eyes flashing. “I forced him to abandon the marriage alliance by threatening to kill myself. These four years, I did nothing but wander. He didn’t marry because he’s been waiting for me to come back.”
Feng Suige’s expression hardened. “Do you take me for a fool?”
Her laughter spilled again, now tinged with tears. “What are you, if not a fool? I never imagined I mattered enough to break an alliance between two nations…”
Before she could finish, Feng Suige struck the side of her neck. Her world spun into darkness.
The Prince’s Restlessness
In the study, Xia Jingshi paced with a scroll in his hands but couldn’t read a single line. Yi Xiao’s tear-filled eyes haunted him, her words cutting deeper than any blade.
This time, he had truly hurt her. Even four years ago, when she had stood with blood on her sword, her eyes had never been this cold.
And then, echoing faintly in his mind—his mother’s derisive laughter.
“So that’s how it is, Xia Jingshi… You’ll never be king. Never. How pitiful—ha-ha-ha…”
He gritted his teeth and forced the memories down. Perhaps… perhaps he should send someone to find her. If she left in anger, with that stubborn pride of hers, who knew what foolish thing she might do?
Just as he reached for the door, a voice called from outside. “Your Highness, General Ning requests an audience.”
“Let him in,” Xia Jingshi said quickly.
Ning Fei rushed in, barely bowing before blurting, “Your Highness, Yi Xiao may have acted rashly, but please forgive her—for the sake of her past merits!”
Xia Jingshi frowned. “Stand and speak. What has she done now?”
Ning Fei blinked. “Has Your Highness not detained her? Then… where is she?”
That familiar silhouette flashed through Xia Jingshi’s mind. He turned away. “She left.”
“Left?!” Ning Fei’s voice rose. “Does Your Highness know where she went?”
“I don’t.” Xia Jingshi forced calm into his tone. “She said she would never return.”
Ning Fei’s expression tightened. “Then she’s in danger!”
“What do you mean?”
Ning Fei quickly explained, “After I escorted Miss Ling back to the mansion, she couldn’t find Yi Xiao. Her luggage was gone. I questioned the city guards—none had seen Yi Xiao leave through any of the gates. We checked all four exits, still nothing. Miss Ling waited at the post station toward Caocheng, but Yi Xiao never arrived.”
Xia Jingshi frowned. “Perhaps the guards were careless. She might have slipped through unnoticed.”
“I thought the same,” Ning Fei said, “but Miss Ling insisted something was wrong. I’ve already dispatched men to investigate secretly.”
“You—” Xia Jingshi’s jaw tightened. “Fine. Report back as soon as you find her. Go!”
Ning Fei saluted and hurried out.
Chains and Shadows
When Yi Xiao regained consciousness, cold iron bit into her skin. Her wrists and ankles were shackled, a heavy chain fixed to the wall. She struggled, but the chains didn’t budge.
A faint ache spread through her limbs, her pride stinging sharper than the wounds. Xueying must be frantic by now, she thought. She’d surely gone to Lucheng for help—perhaps even to Xia Jingshi.
The thought made Yi Xiao’s chest tighten. Years of love and loyalty… and what had they earned her? Only betrayal.
The cell door creaked open. Laughter and perfume filled the air as Feng Suige entered with two courtesans draped on his arms.
He smiled when he saw her awake. “So, you’ve finally joined the living.”
A guard pulled a chair forward. Feng Suige sat elegantly, one leg crossed. “Still unwilling to tell me the truth?”
Yi Xiao met his gaze coldly. “I already told you everything in the carriage. Why ask again?”
He chuckled. “With a lie that clumsy, you think you can rival Princess Xiyang for Xia Jingshi’s affection?”
Yi Xiao’s eyes flashed. “You can’t even tell truth from lies. No wonder you’ve never beaten him.”
Her words were like a whip to his pride. The smile slid from Feng Suige’s face. Slowly, he turned toward the woman beside him. “Yun Yi, tell me—what’s the most fitting punishment for a stubborn prisoner?”
The woman giggled. “I’ve heard a whip soaked in salt water and chili powder works wonders, my Prince. Every lash burns and tears the flesh. Most would beg for mercy after ten strikes.”
Feng Suige smirked. “She’s not most people. Prepare a hundred.”
His voice dropped, cold and final. “Go.”
Yun Yi bowed, her silk sleeves fluttering as she left.
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