Green Butterfly abducted Chu Xiyin and put her into a carriage, heading straight for the Kingdom of Twilight. The soldiers behind her also fled back in disarray.
The purple imperial sword in the Fourth Prince's hand trembled slightly, then fell heavily to the ground with a thud. Several soldiers hurriedly stepped forward and bound Mu Jing.
Mu Jing glanced at the Fourth Prince with a bitter smile, then looked back at the departing carriage, a strange, inexplicable jealousy rising in her eyes.
"I just want to escape that city and get away from that person. Why do you want me to owe him a favor?" Chu Xiyin leaned against the car window, staring blankly out the window as she spoke indifferently.
“I’m sorry, I only want to save the Third Princess. She has treated me well, and I can’t just watch her die,” Green Butterfly explained.
"Do you know how much I hate being used? The Fourth Prince was willing to sacrifice me for his country and his people. You were willing to sacrifice me for your Third Princess. Am I really that insignificant? Is my life worthless?" Chu Xiyin calmly vented her emotions.
"I owe you, and I can only repay you in the future. Don't worry, even if I can't save the Third Princess, I won't hurt you." There seemed to be a trace of guilt in Green Butterfly's eyes.
Chu Xiyin gave a cold laugh, glanced out the window indifferently, and said nothing more.
For the past three days, Chu Xiyin has locked herself in her room, neither eating nor drinking, and has been staring blankly at the sky outside the window for a long time.
For the past three days, the Fourth Prince has also refused to eat or drink. He paced restlessly back and forth in his tent, wondering what they would do to Chu Xiyin. He had originally thought that if she left him, she would no longer be implicated by him. But unexpectedly, fate had taken many twists and turns, and she was still implicated by him.
"Your Highness!" a young guard reported from outside the tent.
"What is it?" the Fourth Prince asked, frowning and looking agitated.
“That prisoner keeps shouting that she wants to see you. She even said she’d kill herself if she couldn’t see you. Because you said before that you had to keep a close eye on her, so, so…” the young guard said tremulously.
After hesitating for a moment, the Fourth Prince finally went to see Mu Jing with the young guard.
"You've come?" Mu Jing lay on the bed, striking a seductive pose.
"What do you want?" the Fourth Prince asked impatiently.
"I never expected the famous Fourth Prince to be such an impatient person! Do you know that if I give the order, that young lady could lose her life at any moment?" Mu Jing said, stroking her hair and staring straight at the Fourth Prince.
"You're in my hands, what gives you the right to utter such arrogant words?" the Fourth Prince said coldly.
"Don't forget, this is the land of the Twilight Kingdom. The flowers, trees, birds, and beasts here can all deliver messages for me and obey my commands. Doesn't Your Highness know this?" Mu Jing got off the bed, walked to the Fourth Prince's side, and said with a charming smile.
The Fourth Prince was taken aback. It was rumored that the people of the Twilight Kingdom could communicate through flowers, trees, birds, and beasts. Could it be true?
"What do you want?" Despite this, his tone remained cold.
"As for your requirements? They're very simple..." Mu Jing circled around the Fourth Prince and whispered two words in his ear, "Marry me!"
The Fourth Prince abruptly took a step back and exclaimed, "Impossible!"
“If you marry me, I guarantee that the Kingdom of Twilight will never wage war against the Dynasty of Purple Mausoleum again. In this way, the people of both countries can live in peace and prosperity, enjoying lasting peace—wouldn’t that fulfill your wish?” Mu Jing looked at him, completely confident in his abilities. “Furthermore, if you and I are united in marriage, I can even help you ascend—the throne!”
The Fourth Prince stared at her expressionlessly. He could swear to protect the Ziling Dynasty with his life, but he could not sacrifice his love for the sake of the Ziling Dynasty.
What if I don't agree?
"If you don't agree, that girl will die!" Mu Jing deliberately dragged out the word "die".
"I told you I don't know her!"
Mu Jing laughed and said, "If you didn't know her, why didn't you just kill me back then? Was it because the Fourth Prince was too kind to kill me?"
"If you don't know her, even if she dies, it's just that I wrongfully killed an innocent woman, and it has nothing to do with you. If you know her and care about her a lot, then she is the only tool I have to control you!" Mu Jing put her left hand on the Fourth Prince's shoulder, her alluring eyes wishing she could suck him into her body.
"Whatever!" The Fourth Prince shook off her hand and stormed off.
Mu Jing gazed at his retreating figure, her eyes suddenly dimming. From the moment she removed his mask, she had fallen irrevocably in love with him.
She secretly vowed that she would get him, even if it meant using the most despicable means!
Just as the Fourth Prince returned to his tent, a dart suddenly flew in and landed diagonally on the table, with a note attached. The note read, "Tomorrow at 1-3 AM, Ruyi Inn. I would be grateful if the Fourth Prince would bring the princess alone! —Green Butterfly"
That night, a rooster's crow broke the silence of the night.
A light drizzle suddenly began to fall from the sky, and a chilly autumn wind, mixed with the rain, drifted into Chu Xiyin's room. She closed the window, turned and walked to the bedside, lying down with a blank stare.
"The Fourth Prince truly keeps his word!" Green Butterfly put down her teacup and rose to greet the Third Princess.
"Wait, where is the person I asked for?" The Fourth Prince held his knife straight to Mu Jing's neck, cautiously looking around.
"Your Highness need not be nervous. Once you release the Third Princess, I will take you to see Miss Chu!" Green Butterfly said, raising her right hand to lead the Fourth Prince upstairs.
While the Fourth Prince wasn't looking, Mu Jing secretly made a hand gesture to Green Butterfly.
Chapter 42 Hostages (Part 2)
"I will release her once I see her," the Fourth Prince said, gripping the Purple Imperial Sword tightly against the Third Princess's neck.
"Your Highness, please follow me!" Green Butterfly led the Fourth Prince upstairs.
After knocking on the door for a while without getting a response, Green Butterfly, fearing something had happened to Chu Xiyin, suddenly burst the door open. Inside, Chu Xiyin was lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"What's wrong with her?" the Fourth Prince asked, his brow furrowed and his eyes filled with anger.
Green Butterfly looked at Chu Xiyin on the bed and sighed. "These past few days, she's locked herself in her room, refusing to eat, drink, or speak."
The Fourth Prince released Mu Jing, quickly walked to the bedside, and softly called out, "Xi Yin!"
Hearing that familiar call, Chu Xiyin paused, then slowly turned her gaze to the man standing by the bed. She thought it was her hallucination, and two lines of tears streamed down her face with a sharp pain.
"Xiyin..." he called out again.
Before she could react, he had easily swept her up in his arms.
Mu Jing clenched her fists, glaring hatefully at Chu Xiyin. She couldn't understand—what was it about her, the dignified Third Princess of Mu'ai Kingdom, that made her inferior to him? Why was he so gentle with her, yet so cold towards her?
Chu Xiyin felt a wave of dizziness. At this moment, although his face was close at hand, for some reason, it appeared blurry and unreal to her.
"You can't leave!" Mu Jing blocked the doorway, her face domineering.
The Fourth Prince sneered, "That depends on whether you have the ability!" He put Chu Xiyin down and let her nestle in his arms.
“With the two of us, we are no match for the Fourth Prince, but…” Mu Jing gave Green Butterfly a wink, and Green Butterfly understood. With a loud whistle, a group of burly men suddenly rushed out from all corners of the Ruyi Inn.
The Fourth Prince swiftly drew his Purple Imperial Sword from his waist with one hand and tightly embraced Chu Xiyin with the other.
"Well? Now that you're in my hands, you should be obedient and listen to me, right?" Mu Jing crossed her arms and stared straight into the Fourth Prince's eyes.
"Despicable!" The Fourth Prince coldly uttered two words, not even bothering to glance at her.
Chu Xiyin snapped out of her daze and broke free from his embrace.
“Xi Yin…”
Chu Xiyin smiled at the Fourth Prince, took a few steps forward and said, "Green Butterfly, you said you owed me a favor. This time, I'm begging you, please let the Prince go!"
The Fourth Prince watched her retreating figure, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes; she still cared about him.
"I can't believe that a divorced princess would still be so protective of a man who doesn't love her!" Mu Jing said with a sneer.
Although she said that, an undisguised fire of jealousy burned in her eyes.
Chu Xiyin's shoulders trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and said, "Your Highness is trapped here because of me. I just don't want to owe him any favors."
So, she just didn't want to owe anyone a favor! The Fourth Prince's eyes dimmed again.
“I have heard that the Third Princess of Mu’ai Kingdom not only possesses unparalleled beauty, but has also always been respected for her benevolence and righteousness. Today, upon seeing her…” Chu Xiyin deliberately paused for a moment.
"How is it?" Mu Jing's domineering and arrogant personality is just like someone else's!
"The Third Princess's appearance is truly enviable, but Xi Yin cannot agree with the use of the words 'benevolence and righteousness' to describe her."
"Oh?" Mu Jing raised the corners of her lips and said.
"The Fourth Prince and I were husband and wife. He risked his life to save me, which is benevolence. He kept his promise and came alone, which is righteousness. But the Third Princess took advantage of the situation, which is inhumanity. She broke her promise, which is injustice. Being neither benevolent nor righteous, she has only a handsome appearance. How can she win people's hearts?" Chu Xiyin said neither humbly nor arrogantly.
Every word she spoke reached Mu Jing's ears with perfect clarity.
"Miss Chu, you have such eloquence; it's a real pity you're not a lobbyist!" Mu Jing's smile slowly froze on her face. "However, this princess will neither kill you nor the Fourth Prince. I only want..." The Third Princess slowly raised her right hand, pointing directly at the Fourth Prince, "...the man behind you, to become my consort!"
Chu Xiyin glanced back at the Fourth Prince, smoothed her hair, and quickly stepped aside, saying, "Oh! You'll have to ask him about this; I can't handle it."
The Fourth Prince was taken aback, not expecting this woman to be so disloyal. She casually pushed him to another woman.
"I will only have one queen in this lifetime!" The Fourth Prince stepped forward and held Chu Xiyin's hand tightly, gazing tenderly into her eyes. "I promised to take care of you for all eternity, never to leave you!"
Chu Xiyin was stunned, her face flushed. The warmth from his palm, the tenderness in his eyes... everything about him was irresistible to her.
"What if she dies?" Mu Jing gritted her teeth and gestured to Green Butterfly beside her.
"As long as I'm here, she must live well!" The Fourth Prince carefully shielded Chu Xiyin behind him.
Green Butterfly hesitated. She was a top-tier assassin, but not ruthless enough! After all, Chu Xiyin had saved her life.
"Green Butterfly, are you not even listening to me anymore?" Mu Jing said coldly. "Don't forget..."
Green Butterfly took a deep breath and sprayed a dose of bewitching incense at the Fourth Prince.
The Fourth Prince had no time to resist and was forced to inhale the bewitching incense.
"Chuan..." Chu Xiyin cried out in terror.
The Fourth Prince turned and smiled tenderly at her, then suddenly collapsed into her arms. "I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you properly..."
Chu Xiyin shook her head, her tears splashing onto his face, but she couldn't wake him. "Green Butterfly, I beg you, save the prince, please, save the prince..."
"Instead of worrying about the prince, you should worry about yourself!" Mu Jing glanced at Chu Xiyin with disdain.
"Third Princess, Miss Chu saved Green Butterfly's life, and Green Butterfly cannot be ungrateful. Rest assured, I will not let her hinder your marriage to the Prince. Please spare her life!" Green Butterfly suddenly knelt on the ground and begged.
"Why are you all siding with her? It seems I've wasted all these years raising you!" Mu Jing said bitterly. She glanced at the Fourth Prince on the ground and ordered the burly man behind her, "Carry the Prince away!"
"You can't take the prince away!" Chu Xiyin clung tightly to the prince.
Green Butterfly stepped forward and knocked her unconscious with a bang.
After Mu Jing and the others left, Lü Die picked up Chu Xiyin and helped her into the carriage. She knew that if she continued to stay in Mu Ai Kingdom, the Third Princess would definitely not let her go. Moreover, she also knew that, given Chu Xiyin's personality, she would never stand by and watch the man she loved marry another woman.
The carriage stopped at the Ziling Dynasty's camp on the border of the Mu'ai Kingdom, where a soldier discovered Chu Xiyin unconscious inside.
When Chu Xiyin opened her eyes, she saw Hua Shao's hazy, large eyes.
"Oh, Chu Xiyin, you're finally awake!" Hua Shao exclaimed in delight.
"Young Master Hua, how did I get here?" Chu Xiyin shook her heavy head and asked, "Where is the Fourth Prince?"