Zhu Zhuqing

Zhu Zhuqing

"Who is it?"

Dai Yao pondered. Who could it be at this hour?

Since the duel, some people had come looking for him, saying they wanted to support him, but according to Third Uncle Dai Hengyu's assessment, they were all the sort who chased influence and clung to power.

Once he accepted their loyalty, they might use the Fourth Prince's name to throw their weight around, bully others in the market, and ruin his reputation.

So he refused without hesitation.

He came to the courtyard. The moon was bright, the stars were few, and the lingering snow had yet to melt.

He opened the door, and what entered his eyes was a scene as beautiful as a painting.

The woman before him raised her head slightly, revealing a delicate Pretty Face.

She was a little shorter than Dai Yao, yet the graceful curves of her figure could already be seen.

Her skin was fair with a rosy glow, her jade-like nose was straight and delicate, and her red lips parted slightly. Only in those crystal-clear eyes was there a chill that made one's heart go cold.

The bright moonlight fell over her waterfall-like long hair, hazy and indistinct, making her breathtakingly beautiful.

"Zhu Zhuqing?" Dai Yao said in surprise.

Not long ago, he had already been engaged to Zhu Zhuqing, and today was the day the engagement was to be fulfilled.

The Palace Maid beside her dipped in a curtsy to Zhu Zhuqing and said, "Fourth Imperial Concubine, this is Fourth Highness." She looked at Dai Yao, then slowly stepped back. "If Your Highnesses have no other instructions, I will take my leave first."

"Go on, then." Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing showed no intention of speaking, Dai Yao coughed lightly, a little embarrassed, then said this to the Palace Maid.

He walked in front, Zhu Zhuqing behind him. In the Cold Palace, there was only the sound of feet crunching over broken snow.

After leading Zhu Zhuqing into the room, neither of them spoke. An awkward atmosphere hung between them, like two young people on a blind date who had no idea what to talk about.

Zhu Zhuqing was cold by nature and did not like to speak. As for Dai Yao, he simply did not know what to say.

In his previous life, he had just been an ordinary person who had never even held a girl's hand. Now he was sitting together with a woman of stunning beauty; the fact that his hands were not trembling was already impressive.

He prepared tea, but still did not know what to say. Zhu Zhuqing also remained silent, and the awkward atmosphere grew heavier and heavier.

Dai Yao was extremely nervous inside. Why did talking to a girl feel even more nerve-racking than his decisive battle with Dai Mubai?

Gritting his teeth, Dai Yao opened his mouth haltingly. "Your name is Zhu Zhuqing. Can I call you Zhuqing from now on?"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded, her bright, large eyes watching him.

Dai Yao simply threw caution to the wind, and his speech grew smoother and smoother. "My name is Dai Yao. I'm six years old this year. My mother unfortunately passed away the day I was born. I don't have a powerful Maternal Clan like Dai Mubai does, so I can't give you a very comfortable life."

"The Fifth Elder said that being engaged to a woman of the Zhu Family is the fate of every prince."

"I just don't know whether you're willing or not."

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, her expression complicated.

Looking at her expression, Dai Yao understood. Just like two people on a blind date, it was very hard for them to take to each other at first sight.

He sighed inwardly, then turned and said, "I'll go tell them to prepare a room for you to rest in tonight."

But the instant he turned around, a piercing killing intent shot straight toward his neck.

Warning bells blared in his mind. With no time to think, Dai Yao quickly used Explosive Step, ducked low, and rolled forward.

Ding—

The strike that should have been certain to land hit empty air.

Dai Yao looked back and saw that Zhu Zhuqing had already entered Martial Soul Possession. Her body was like a spirit cat's as she crouched low, holding a blade in one hand, poised to attack.

He said in disbelief, "You want to kill me?"

If he had not reacted quickly to that strike just now, his head would already have been separated from his body!

Immediately after, blazing anger surged up in Dai Yao's heart. Blood rushed to his head, the veins of red in his eyes clearly visible. His expression turned utterly ferocious, and his tone was like cold air from the depths of the underworld. "You... actually tried to kill me!!!"

Ever since he was little, he had grown up under the Empress's shadow, spending every day in fear. Now he had awakened Twin Martial Souls, become the Fourth Prince, won the duel, and become engaged to Zhu Zhuqing.

A bright future seemed to be beckoning to him, yet he was still shrouded in the Empress's shadow.

In his imagination, he and Zhu Zhuqing would support each other, rely on each other, and walk together through the difficult years ahead. After seeing Zhu Zhuqing, he had been preparing to speak openly with her and eliminate any estrangement between them in the future.

But he had never expected Zhu Zhuqing's first reaction to be trying to kill him! I gave my heart to the bright moon, but the moon shone on the ditch instead. His sincere feelings had been thrown to the dogs, and so he became utterly furious.

In an instant, he entered Martial Soul Possession, stepped with Explosive Step, and reached out with one hand to seize Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing had not yet obtained a Spirit Ring, so she was no match for Dai Yao to begin with. Before Dai Yao, her Soul Power could not even circulate properly, much less in such a narrow room.

In just a few moves, Dai Yao smashed through all of Zhu Zhuqing's attacks as easily as breaking dry branches.

One hand seized Zhu Zhuqing's swan-like neck.

"Talk. Why did you try to kill me?" Dai Yao's tone was incomparably cold.

Zhu Zhuqing was lifted into the air by Dai Yao with one hand. Her neck hurt sharply from being strangled, and she could not speak.

"Still not talking, are you?"

Zhu Zhuqing gripped the hand Dai Yao was using to choke her with both hands, but she still said nothing. She only quietly looked into Dai Yao's eyes as crystal-clear tears slid down her face, one after another.

Dai Yao sighed, set Zhu Zhuqing down, and said, "Go. As for the engagement, I'll explain it to the Council of Elders."

Zhu Zhuqing stared at Dai Yao in disbelief, never expecting that he would actually let her go.

Step by step, she walked to the doorway and reached the front door, but then she hesitated, her expression indescribably conflicted. A moment later, she turned around and went back inside.

Dai Yao was still vexed. After all, this was Zhu Zhuqing. As long as he was a little more ruthless, he could absolutely keep her by his side. But when he thought of Zhu Zhuqing's inexplicable killing intent, he still chose to give up.

Hearing footsteps outside the door and seeing Zhu Zhuqing return after leaving, Dai Yao said in surprise, "Why did you come back?"

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze dodged slightly as she explained, "I'm sorry, Dai Yao. Yesterday, the Empress came to see me and said that as long as I killed you, she would give me freedom."

"Freedom? What freedom?"

"The Empress promised me the right to break free of the engagement, so I wouldn't have to marry any prince, and I wouldn't have to take part in the brutal struggle for the throne."

Dai Yao let out a cold snort. She was truly far too naive. She actually thought killing him would let her escape her fate. The consequence of killing a prince would inevitably be burial alongside him.

But in the next instant, inspiration flashed through his mind, and he realized this was an opportunity.

Calmly, he pulled open the clothes at his chest a little, baring his chest. Pointing at the heart on the left side, he said, "All you have to do is stab here. Drive your knife an inch into this spot, and you can gain your freedom. Will you stab me or not?"

Dai Yao's tone was calm and cold, as if he were talking about something utterly trivial. Though his expression was composed, inside, he was unbearably tense. After all, he was gambling with his life.

The gesture startled Zhu Zhuqing badly. She backed away several steps, her face filled with fear.

"I'll give you two choices. Either you kill me now and go pursue your own freedom, or you fulfill the engagement. From now on, we support each other and face the future together," Dai Yao said.