After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 96

The two of them rose again and turned to bow in thanks to Prince Yan and Princess Consort Yan seated at the head of the hall.

Even the mask couldn’t hide the frost on Li Huan’s face, while Xiao Yunru, by contrast, smiled warmly as she handed Qun Qing a jade ruyi.

Unfamiliar with Dachen’s wedding customs, Qun Qing discreetly watched whatever Lu Huating did and followed suit.

Thankfully, the bride didn’t need to walk around. From behind her fan, Qun Qing observed Lu Huating making the rounds to toast at each table. His manners were flawless, his responses smooth and polished—so composed that no one could tell this marriage was merely for appearances.

The ceremony had started at noon and didn’t wrap up until dusk. Even with her strong constitution, Qun Qing found herself zoning out multiple times. When the eunuch finally called out in a drawn-out voice, “Escort the couple to their chambers,” she actually let out a breath of relief.

Two palace attendants pushed open the heavy hall doors, finally closing out the noise behind them.

The bridal chamber was lit with candles of varying heights. Qun Qing glanced around and saw that flowing curtains had been hung to divide the spacious side hall into several sections.

Given their situation, having a bit of separation made things more convenient.

Now that they were alone, Lu Huating had already taken off the silk flower pinned to his chest and tossed it on the table. Qun Qing saw him sweep aside the peanuts scattered across the bed, lean back against the headboard, and rest.

A strip of red silk hung from the bed canopy and brushed against his cheek, making his complexion seem even paler. He grabbed it and yanked it down. After a brief pause, he slowly began untying his ceremonial robes.

In the dim candlelight, Qun Qing suddenly noticed cold sweat glistening on his forehead—then spotted a spreading patch of bl00d on his shoulder.

The smell of bl00d mingled with the damp scent of rain in the air. Qun Qing froze—so she hadn’t misheard earlier. Something had been shot at him. And it had hit.

Lu Huating pulled out a dagger, held it over the flame for a moment, then—crack—a sharp sound rang out. A short, razor-edged three-bladed dart clattered to the floor, landing in a puddle of bl00d.

Qun Qing asked, “Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

Isn’t Prince Yan’s residence supposed to be extremely alert to spies?

Lu Huating lifted his lashes to meet her eyes. Under the flickering candlelight, his striking gaze held a trace of teasing. 

“Wife, if I’d shown I was injured during the wedding, imagine what people would say.”

“What would they say?”

“They’d say you’re cursed. A husband-killer.”

“So what if they do.” 

Qun Qing hesitated but after seeing him still gripping that strip of red silk, she pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve and pressed it against the wound. She then took the red silk from his hand and wrapped it around his shoulder. 

“Let me.”

Lu Huating didn’t resist. He leaned back against the headboard, letting her come close. 

“If that rumor spreads, wouldn’t it hurt your chances of remarrying?”

Qun Qing studied his face. When he looked up at someone, there was a rare intensity in his expression. Strange, wasn’t it? She knew he was dangerous, and yet, she couldn’t help but feel her heart race. Maybe it was the heat from the candles, but sweat beaded on her brow too. She sat up, removed her headpiece and robe, and tossed them aside.

Lu Huating stirred slightly, but Qun Qing’s cool fingers pressed against his wrist to take his pulse. He stilled again. She glanced at the dart on the floor. “It’s poisoned. Might interfere with you going to court tomorrow to give thanks. Where’s the kitchen? I’ll make some baiji decoction to stop the bleeding.”

Lu Huating gave a soft hum of agreement. Qun Qing stood, took a few steps, then realized—this was Prince Yan’s residence. She turned back and reached for the fish-shaped token at his waist. He suddenly grabbed her wrist.

“The kitchen’s to the left,” he said. “Don’t go the wrong way.”

Only then did he remove the token and hand it to her.

As soon as Qun Qing left, Lu Huating opened the window. Zhu Su was already waiting outside and accepted the bloodied dart in stunned silence.

“This… this is the Crown Prince’s concealed weapon. What’s the meaning of this?”

Wasn’t it obvious?

Lu Huating let out a cold laugh. Clearly, someone didn’t want them consummating their marriage tonight.

He leaned out slightly. From afar, he could see two palace servants holding lanterns, leading Qun Qing toward the kitchen. He instructed Zhu Su, 

“Follow her.”

—

Prince Yan’s kitchen was built similar as palace kitchens. It even had an herb cabinet. Qun Qing opened the drawers—everything from common medicinal herbs to basic tonics was well stocked.

She grabbed a few hemostatic herbs and threw them into a bubbling clay pot. Watching the steam rise, she felt it was a waste to just stand there doing nothing.

Through the wooden kitchen window, she could see Li Huan’s room.

It was late, yet the lights inside were still on. Li Huan hadn’t been in politics long and lacked the Crown Prince’s experience, but he firmly believed in making up for it with hard work and often stayed up until midnight reading documents.

A flash of lightning lit the sky, followed by a low rumble of thunder. Rain was clearly on its way.

Just as Zhu Su arrived to check on things, the two palace maids guarding the kitchen rushed in, pale with alarm.

The soup pot was still boiling, a fan lay on the table—but Qun Qing had vanished. And they hadn’t seen her leave through the front door at all.

Back inside the hall, Li Huan threw down a memorial in frustration. 

“This Official Liu keeps filing reports about Southern Chu harassing Yunzhou and now about flood disasters too. Always coming up an excuse to squeeze money out of the court. Who knows if the floods are even real? And where did the relief funds end up? If I hadn’t sent Zhang Qiru to investigate, I’d never have uncovered the corruption behind it all.”

Behind the bookshelf, Qun Qing leaned quietly in the shadows. She listened to the movement inside the room, deep in thought.

The sealed memorial on the desk is from Liu Jun about flood relief. Judging by this, it wouldn’t be long before Li Huan would present it to the emperor.

She glanced around again and saw Xiao Yunru seated by the inkstone stand, supported by Li Huan.

“Cuiyu said your leg is injured—why are you still standing all this time?”

“It’s fine,” Xiao Yunru said, then added, “I want to follow Your Highness to Yunzhou.”

Li Huan said, “With your health, how could you manage such a long journey?”

“I have my own reasons,” she replied softly. “Your Highness may have earned great military merit, but when it comes to public sentiment, you still can’t compare with the Eastern Palace. The bad reputation left behind from the last incident—if you were to help with the disaster in Yunzhou, perhaps it would clear some of the misunderstandings about you.”

Just then, thunder cracked and heavy rain started to pour. A gust of wind blew through the unlatched windows, instantly snuffing out both lanterns and plunging the room into darkness.

Startled, Xiao Yunru leaned into Li Huan, who steadied her and called for someone to light the lamps.

A group of palace maids rushed in, hurriedly relighting the candles. Only after the room was lit again did the chaos settle.

Li Huan stared at the flickering candlelight for a moment, then suddenly slammed his hand on the table and roared, 

“Someone’s been in here! What are you all doing—eating rice and standing around?”

In the few seconds of darkness earlier, someone had clearly rifled through the memorials on his desk.

Outside, the hidden guards of Prince Yan’s residence immediately loosed a volley of arrows. The storm raged on, and the sounds of rain and clashing weapons filled the night. Zhu Su came in to report, his head bowed, not daring to meet Li Huan’s glare. 

“Your Highness… we’ve caught them.”

Qun Qing had already slipped back through the window, returning to the kitchen. Her shoulders were soaked by the rain. She shook open a dry robe and draped it over herself, covering the bl00d that had started to seep through her sleeve. Then she picked up a bowl and walked calmly back into the hall.

Lu Huating was reclining on the couch. Hearing a faint rustling, he also caught the smell—bl00d mixed with dampness and rain.

He sat up, lifted the bowl of bai ji decoction, and drank it all in one go. Then he walked to the edge of the canopy. Behind the hanging curtain, Qun Qing’s silhouette was faintly visible.

She was sitting on the floor. One of the arrows fired by the guards had hit her in the arm—it had come too fast to dodge. The arrows from Prince Yan’s troops had barbed heads; pulling it out had been excruciating.

She bit down on her shawl and tied her shoulder tightly, rolling up her sleeve to wrap the wound herself.

Lu Huating used his finger to lift the curtain. Qun Qing tugged it back down. When he lifted it again, she had already dressed and composed herself. She looked up at him. 

“What are you doing?”

Lu Huating replied, “Your bl00d is keeping me awake.”

His sharp gaze made her uneasy. Qun Qing turned her face away.

But his eyes followed the line of her jaw, settling on her neck.

The thin fabric of her soaked dress clung to her skin. Rainwater and sweat mixed with bl00d. Her breathing was shallow from the pain—she looked utterly disheveled. Yet he found himself unable to look away, simply standing there and staring.

Perhaps this is how a serpent spirit takes on human form, he thought.

Outside, thunder rolled and someone pounded on the door. Lu Huating turned and opened it a crack, pushing a furious Li Huan back just enough to block his way. 

“Sanlang, barging in on a wedding night—isn’t that a bit much?”

“Do you realize what was taken? That memorial I worked so hard to compile—it’s gone.” Li Huan, noticing Lu Huating had already changed out of his ceremonial robes, was stunned and angry. He glanced into the inner chamber several times but couldn’t see anything, so he had no choice but to swallow his frustration and storm off.

Lu Huating returned, lifted the curtain, and looked at Qun Qing. With his left hand, he gripped her wounded shoulder, and with his right, reached into her sleeve—pulling out the stolen memorial. Just as he was about to read it, Qun Qing twisted her wrist, snatched it back, and with a swift throw, sent it flying straight into the brazier.

Lu Huating’s expression shifted. Qun Qing, leaning against the pillar in pain, let out a faint breath of relief.

At least Li Huan is covered, she thought.

“That was proof of embezzlement,” Lu Huating said coldly, crouching beside her. “Even if it’s to protect the Eastern Palace, don’t you think this is going too far?”

Qun Qing opened her eyes and met his gaze. “You knew I’d lose my rank, yet you still married me to protect yourself. Isn’t that also going too far? I’m not protecting the Eastern Palace. I’m protecting myself.”

“You were once a spy from Southern Chu. Are you really planning to rise through the ranks here in Dachen?”

“Not just rise—I want to reach third rank as quickly as possible,” Qun Qing said, still seated on the floor. “If I become a third rank official, I can be sent as an envoy to Southern Chu one day. Only then will I have a chance to bring my mother back through a hostage exchange.”

Lu Huating paused at her words and studied her face. 

“Your mother is in Southern Chu? Who told you that?”

“Whether you believe me or not… if you want the antidote to Xiangsi Yin, what option do you have other than helping me?”

For a moment, Lu Huating was speechless.

“The flood is real. We both know that,” Qun Qing said, looking out the window.

The room fell quiet, and only the sound of rain clattering against the panes could be heard.

In the second year of the late emperor’s reign, there had been heavy rains. Both Yunzhou and Wanzhou suffered severe flooding. And because the prefect of Yunzhou had embezzled disaster relief funds, aid was delayed, and countless people were displaced.

Later, despite immense pressure, Lu Huating would imprison Official Liu. But that was another story.

Qun Qing continued, “The princess was right—distant water won’t quench a nearby fire. Instead of bickering in front of the emperor, wouldn’t it be better for Prince Yan to go to Yunzhou himself? First, to save lives. Second, to gather evidence personally. Wouldn’t that carry more weight than a single memorial?”

And third—him being away would give her more freedom to move within the mansion.

Just as she reached that thought, Lu Huating smiled. 

“My lady wants me gone… and preferably not coming back.”

A moment later, he pulled a half-dead skylark from his sleeve and placed it in her lap.

Seeing her own Southern Chu carrier bird in his hand, Qun Qing was momentarily stunned. Luckily, it wasn’t dead. After a few gentle squeezes, the bird revived and fluttered into her sleeve.

The message was clear: he wouldn’t interfere with her communications to Southern Chu any longer.

“Sanlang doesn’t trust you. He’ll test you again tomorrow,” Lu Huating said. “You’ll know what to do to keep your cover.”

What kind of test? she wondered. To see if their feelings are genuine?

“Wait.” Just as Qun Qing was about to stand, she saw him take out a gold bracelet. He wiped it clean with his sleeve. The warm glow of it reflected in his focused eyes.

He gently pulled her hand over—through the sleeve—and slipped the bracelet onto her wrist. It fit perfectly.

Qun Qing had heard that among common folk, giving gold was part of the wedding tradition. She figured he was trying to ward off suspicion, so she didn’t refuse. The cold metal pressed against her skin.

Lu Huating stared at it for a while, seemingly satisfied. 

“Rest early. You take the bed—I’ll sleep on the floor.”