VBNWDW - Chapter 106
Chapter 106
"Hiss…"
In a room of green bricks and gray tiles, someone cried out in pain. The quilt covering them slipped off as they turned over.
Luo Yueqing opened her eyes, her gaze shifting from dazed to clear before she blinked rapidly.
She called out, "System."
The familiar electronic voice sounded. "You're finally awake, Host."
Her voice was heavy as she said, "Tell me this is all a dream."
The System's voice remained as cold as ever. "If you're referring to the incident where you got drunk and pinned the villainess down, then that was most certainly not a dream."
Luo Yueqing closed her eyes, forcing a strained smile.
In the original plot, the original owner of this body was just an ordinary daughter from a noble family. To avoid an imperial marriage decree, her family had arranged for her to enter a Daoist temple and become a fake nun.
On this very day in the original story, the fake Daoist had indeed had a little too much to drink, which led to her acquaintance with the not-yet-corrupted Grand Princess. However, in the original plot, she had merely passed out drunk under a tree, where she was found by the Grand Princess, who then had her sent back to her room. Later, to express her gratitude, the original owner paid a personal visit to the Grand Princess with a gift. Through these interactions, the two became friends.
But after the Grand Princess left the temple, their relationship faded. It wasn't until Zhong Jueyu had been thoroughly corrupted and led her army to slaughter a city that she had a brief encounter with the captured original owner. With a wave of her hand, she let her go, exiling her to a remote land.
That was why Luo Yueqing had been drinking in broad daylight. She had planned to meet Zhong Jueyu first, then use the pretext of thanking her to slowly build a rapport.
She never expected her alcohol tolerance to be so poor. She had met her, alright, but she had also pushed her to the ground during their very first encounter…
Luo Yueqing took a deep breath and said, "My marriage arrangement with the Crown Prince hasn't been called off yet, has it?"
The System gave an affirmative reply.
Luo Yueqing pulled the quilt up, silently covering herself.
Just great.
On the very first day they met, the sister-in-law had pounced on her little sister-in-law in the middle of nowhere and even flirted with her, calling her a beauty.
After a long moment, she spoke again, her voice muffled. "System, why aren't you reacting at all?"
She had left such a deep impression on her target during their first meeting, yet the System was remarkably calm.
The System paused for a moment before saying, "Perhaps I'm used to it…"
Before Luo Yueqing could ask anything else, it suddenly announced, "The Grand Princess has moved in next door to you."
Fortunately, that part hadn't changed because of what happened during the day.
Luo Yueqing breathed a sigh of relief. As she tried to get up, a sharp pain shot through her, and she let out another cry.
The original owner was just a frail and weak noble lady. Two years on the mountain hadn't improved her constitution. If Zhong Jueyu hadn't cushioned her fall, she might have ended up with broken arms and legs, miserably bedridden.
But even with someone to protect her, her body was covered in bruises that ached terribly whenever she accidentally moved.
She couldn't help but ask, "System, do you have a one-click healing function?"
System: "…Her Highness the Grand Princess next door should have some ointment prepared."
"And you think I can borrow it right now?"
"Why don't you try?"
Outside, the moon was bright and the breeze was clear. The faint scent of Michelia flowers filled the air. The quiet little courtyard was paved with square green bricks, and the moonlight reflecting on them made them look like a placid lake.
The wooden door was pushed open. Luo Yueqing, draped in an outer robe, had just stepped down the stairs when she saw a figure in red, partially visible through the carved stone window in the wall separating the two courtyards.
Her initial delight was quickly replaced by an ineffable sense of embarrassment.
It wasn't that she actually wanted to ask Zhong Jueyu for medicine—a place as large as Xuanmiao Temple wouldn't lack such a basic item. It was just that she would have to go on a bit of a walk to get it. But to run into her right after stepping out…
Her forward steps halted. Before Luo Yueqing could figure out what to say, a voice came from the next courtyard.
"Is Master Qingyue thinking about how to climb the wall and fall into my arms a second time?"
The voice was clear and bright, like the moonlight blanketing the ground. Though the words were teasing, they were delivered with a strange seriousness.
She didn't sound angry.
Luo Yueqing felt an inexplicable sense of relief and walked toward the wall.
The houses in Xuanmiao Temple were built strangely. Although they were individual small courtyards, they were all connected. The houses were separated by nothing more than a brick wall, so if someone made a loud noise, their neighbors could hear it.
The courtyards were even more peculiar. For some reason, a carved stone window had been built into the dividing wall. Although low shrubs were intentionally planted to obscure the view, one could still see into the adjacent yard if they really tried.
Some had joked that Xuanmiao Temple was deliberately built this way to encourage the disciples to supervise one another. If anyone broke the rules, it would be discovered within a day.
Luo Yueqing didn't know if that was true. She simply pushed aside the branches and leaves and called out, "Your Highness."
The woman sitting at the stone table didn't turn her head. Her eyes were lowered, studying the black and white Go board on the table. She held a black stone between two fingers, seemingly contemplating her next move. After a long moment, she placed the stone and spoke again. "Sober now, you recognize me?"
Her voice was still level, her deep-set eyes hidden in the half-lit shadows of the trees, making her look like a paper-cut silhouette meticulously crafted by an artisan.
Luo Yueqing could only reply, "The temple received news yesterday. Everything was cleaned from top to bottom, all to welcome the arrival of Your Highness, the Grand Princess."
The implication was that she already knew the other party was coming yesterday, so it was easy to guess Zhong Jueyu's identity.
The reason she was being so vague was to deliberately hide her own identity.
The original plot didn't detail whether Zhong Jueyu was dissatisfied with the Crown Prince at this point, but she was certainly disheartened. If Luo Yueqing foolishly brought up her connection, she would be implicated by association with the Crown Prince and rejected before she could even get close to Zhong Jueyu. It was better to use the identity of Master Qingyue for now and confess later.
Hearing this, Zhong Jueyu suddenly let out a faint laugh tinged with mockery. "So, preparations were made yesterday."
It wasn't a hasty decision made after she rushed back to the capital. It was something that father and son had planned long ago.
Without waiting for a reply, Zhong Jueyu asked, "Why is Master Qingyue out so late at night?"
Hearing this title, Luo Yueqing's eyes lit up, thinking she had successfully concealed her identity. Then, she belatedly remembered to thank her and quickly said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for having someone bring me back to my room today."
Zhong Jueyu casually picked up a game piece. "It was nothing," she said nonchalantly. "But the Daoist should be more careful in the future. Xuanmiao Temple receives pilgrims every day, and it's inevitable that some may have ill intentions."
Luo Yueqing nodded in agreement, then answered the previous question. "I wanted to go find some ointment…"
She had intended to avoid the topic, but she had no choice but to bring it up.
The hand placing the stone paused, and Zhong Jueyu's tone was strange as she remarked, "The Daoist is quite delicate."
Anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was the one who had used Luo Yueqing as a cushion, pinned beneath her.
Luo Yueqing didn't know how to respond and could only offer a few sheepish laughs.
"Wait here."
Zhong Jueyu stood up, pushed open her door, and went inside. She emerged a moment later with a small porcelain bottle in her hand. She passed it through a gap in the stone window and instructed, "Twice a day. Apply it to the wound and rub it in circles. It will be fine once the bruised blood has dispersed."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Luo Yueqing quickly reached out to take it. The wide sleeve of her robe pulled back, revealing a slender wrist marked with the faint imprint of Zhong Jueyu's fingers.
The stone window looked wide, but it was filled with intricate carvings, leaving only narrow gaps. As she passed the bottle, their hands inevitably touched.
Their fingertips brushed, and the difference in temperature made the sensation all the more distinct.
The Grand Princess had been practicing martial arts since she was a child and didn't feel the cold even in a single layer of clothing. In contrast, the little Daoist, draped in a wide outer robe, had become chilled after just a short time outside.
Zhong Jueyu quickly withdrew her hand. She rubbed her thumb over the tip of her index finger, suppressing the strange, ticklish sensation that had arisen. "The night air is heavy with cold," she added. "The Daoist should return to her room soon."
The person on the other side agreed, then seemed to remember something and quickly said, "What about Your Highness? Today, I…"
The little Daoist in green robes clutched the medicine bottle, a look of embarrassment on her face. It took her a long moment to finish her sentence. "Your Highness was underneath me. Were you injured as well?"
She then stammered, "D-do you need my help?"
Zhong Jueyu raised an eyebrow, her dark gaze fixed on the person opposite her.
Just then, a breeze picked up. It was late spring, before the sweltering heat of summer had arrived, and a lingering chill clung to the air, making the night wind feel quite cold.
Luo Yueqing subconsciously tightened the outer robe draped over her shoulders. The loose garment made her seem even more petite. Perhaps because she was just sobering up from the wine, her face was a little pale, which made the blush of embarrassment spreading across her cheeks all the more obvious. Her almond-shaped eyes, glistening like autumn pools, fluttered, making her look both weak and shy.
For some reason, it reminded Zhong Jueyu of a small deer she had encountered in the forest during an autumn hunt with her father and brother in her youth.
At that time, Zhong Jueyu had been hiding in the bushes, her bow already drawn, aimed at the little deer that was lowering its head to drink from a stream. But for some reason, the deer had turned to look at her, its eyes just as dark, moist, and bright.
Her hand, hooked on the bowstring, had frozen, unable to release the arrow.
It wasn't until the sound of a large party of men approaching from behind—His Majesty and the Crown Prince catching up—that Zhong Jueyu's heart had leaped in panic. She shot the arrow wide, landing it beside the deer's hoof. The little deer, startled, had fled in terror.
Later, when His Majesty heard about the incident, not only did he not blame her, but he praised her at length and, under the pretext of comforting her, rewarded her with many things.
The sudden silence made Luo Yueqing misunderstand. She quickly explained, "I was just worried Your Highness wouldn't be able to reach the injuries on your back."
Seeing that she was being ignored, the little Daoist grew even more flustered. Her clear eyes seemed to ripple as she called out anxiously, "Your Highness?"
Zhong Jueyu lowered her gaze, her thick lashes casting a pale gray shadow on her eyelids.
Although they were born of the same mother, their Father Emperor had always favored her Imperial Brother the most. Every aspect of his life was meticulously chosen by their father, who wanted to give him only the very best.
The itching numbness on her fingertip grew more intense. Even when she pressed down on it, it wouldn't fade, instead becoming even more unbearable.
The wind rustled the leaves in the forest, creating a rhythmic tapping sound. The shadows of the trees on the ground swayed back and forth, like bewitching phantoms.
"Come here," Zhong Jueyu said suddenly, her voice low and unreadable.
"Ah?" The person opposite her hadn't reacted yet, staring at her with wide almond eyes.
Zhong Jueyu had to repeat herself. "Come here. I'll open the door for you."
A white Go piece on the stone table was blown forward a single step. Though a simple change, it altered the entire state of the game.
But Zhong Jueyu no longer had the mind to care. She walked straight to the door.
Squeak!
The old door hinges let out a piercing sound. A figure in green swept past the threshold, following closely behind the one in red.
The candlelight flickered for a moment, casting the small room in shifting light and shadow. The sandalwood incense that had been burning for a long time did not fade; instead, its fragrance grew stronger.
Zhong Jueyu sat sideways on the edge of the bed. After untying her sash, she slowly pulled off her robe.
The little Daoist behind her was a bit nervous. She clutched the medicine bottle tightly, subconsciously turning her head away to look at the floor, but in the next second, she couldn't help but let her gaze drift back.
Her tied-up hair swayed. The crimson python-patterned robe contrasted with her porcelain-white skin, revealing one half of her beautifully sculpted shoulders and neck. If one were to step a little closer, they could even glimpse the half-hidden, graceful curves of her figure.
Her Highness the Grand Princess frowned slightly and turned her head to look at her, commanding, "Hurry up."
A pair of phoenix eyes reflected the candlelight, the upward tilt of their corners adding an unexpected touch of seductive charm.
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