Offered as a Lucky Bride to the Mad Princess to Ward Off Misfortune - Chapter 6

6: “Do You Like This Prince So Much?”

Xiao Qiling lowered her gaze to examine Yu Nanqing.

Having removed her phoenix crown and fled for her life along the way, Yu Nanqing’s hair had long since come loose, with strands falling at her temples and clinging to her jade-like face, glowing faintly in the dark night.

She looked rather pitiful.

The courtyard assigned to Yu Nanqing was far from here, yet she had crossed half the estate to appear in this place. Could she be in league with those assassins?

But no matter how you looked at her, this princess consort didn’t seem like someone trained in martial arts. Xiao Qiling narrowed her eyes, a hint of interest suddenly sparking within her. The tip of her sword lifted slightly, its cold glint flashing as it raised Yu Nanqing’s chin.

The rouge applied during the day had somehow been wiped away, leaving her face pale from fright, yet her eyes were as alluring as a fox’s—moist and captivating. A stunningly beautiful face crashed abruptly into Xiao Qiling’s vision.

Xiao Qiling froze for a moment.

Darkness churned in her eyes. “Bite you?”

Yu Nanqing was forced to lift her head, her chin resting against the cold blade. Her eyelashes fluttered rapidly, unsure what answer Xiao Qiling wanted to hear. Even with the wedding dress cushioning her knees, kneeling for so long had made them ache. Just as she was about to adjust her posture, a mocking laugh came from above.

The sword tip pressed harder, forcing Yu Nanqing to tilt her head further back, exposing the slender column of her neck. Faint blue veins were visible beneath the skin, an unspoken temptation in the dim night.

Xiao Qiling’s fingers rubbed against the green jade inlaid on the sword’s hilt as she asked again, “Why are you here?”

Yu Nanqing’s lips were dry, her voice hoarse from the wind. “I was worried about Your Highness.”

“I was so ill I couldn’t even attend the wedding. Why would I be in the front courtyard?” Xiao Qiling’s tone was faint, a glimmer of amusement flashing in her half-lidded peach-blossom eyes. “Third Miss Yu, if you’re going to lie, at least make it believable.”

Yu Nanqing repeated, “I was worried about Your Highness.”

Xiao Qiling laughed.

Fresh from killing, she was still shrouded in a bloody aura. Paired with her current expression, she truly lived up to her reputation as a bloodthirsty, sinister figure.

The cold sword reflected Yu Nanqing’s unnaturally flushed face—a sign that her frail body was on the verge of falling ill after prolonged exposure to the chilly night.

Xiao Qiling studied Yu Nanqing. “Let me guess. The fact that you said that means you know quite a bit about my illness. Knowing there were assassins in the front courtyard, why did you still come? Are you their accomplice?”

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Yu Nanqing before shaking her head. “No, with your physique, they probably wouldn’t want you.”

Yu Nanqing: “…”

Yu Nanqing clenched her utterly powerless hands, cursing Xiao Qiling ten thousand times in her heart.

“Then it must be… you wanted to steal your dowry and escape in the chaos.”

Yu Nanqing remained motionless, kneeling quietly without a trace of panic on her face.

Xiao Qiling idly flicked her wrist. The blade grazed the side of Yu Nanqing’s neck—just one slight deviation, and it could slit her throat.

The sword severed a strand of hair, which drifted down onto Yu Nanqing’s hand. Yu Nanqing still didn’t move, slowly closing her eyes.

Xiao Qiling’s smile faded. She sheathed her sword with a crisp sound, then crouched to meet Yu Nanqing’s eyes. “Open them.”

Yu Nanqing obeyed.

Xiao Qiling commanded expressionlessly, “Leave.”

Yu Nanqing’s eyelashes trembled slightly before she finally lifted her gaze to meet Xiao Qiling’s.

The courtyard held only the two of them now. Outside, the entire Ning estate was being swept for assassins, ensuring no stragglers remained.

Xiao Qiling spoke again. “Not leaving?”

Yu Nanqing lowered her eyes. “Your Highness and I are already wed. Why should I leave?”

“As you can see, I’m not a man. The Duke’s residence sent you here as a pawn. Don’t you want your freedom?”

“I dare not.”

“Is it that you dare not, or that you don’t want to?” Xiao Qiling’s voice was soft as she leaned closer. Her slender fingers traced Yu Nanqing’s cheek, the slight roughness of her fingertips making every touch keenly felt.

The cold, bloody aura around Xiao Qiling was intoxicating, like a demon luring souls to damnation.

“Yu Bingru, to please the one in the palace, didn’t hesitate to send his own legitimate daughter to me. Since tonight’s assassination failed, sooner or later, you’ll become a pawn… But if you leave tonight, you won’t have to face that dilemma.”

“If you leave tonight, the Ning estate will announce tomorrow that you died in the assassination. No one will ever control you again.”

For a woman, marriage meant submission to her husband, yet she still relied on her family’s power. Whether it was the Duke’s residence or the Ning estate, neither was something a weak woman could afford to offend.

Yu Nanqing had to admit, these words were incredibly tempting. In her past life, no one had known Xiao Qiling was a woman, so surely Yu Nanrou hadn’t encountered this scene when she married into the estate. With her rebirth, everything was veering onto a different path from her previous life.

But compared to the revelation of Xiao Qiling’s true gender, that temptation was insignificant. To deceive the entire court—what could be more fascinating than that?

Moreover… was Xiao Qiling truly forced into abdicating the crown prince’s position because she had no other choice?

Under Xiao Qiling’s intense scrutiny, Yu Nanqing acted without fear. She rose slightly, only to deliberately twist her ankle and collapse into Xiao Qiling’s arms. “Why won’t Your Highness believe I came for you? I’ve admired you for so long! Whether you’re a man or a woman, you’re my husband!”

A ripple finally stirred in Xiao Qiling’s eyes, which had been calm until now. She looked down at the woman in her arms, her dark gaze swirling with scrutiny and curiosity.

“If you stay tonight, you’ll never escape later.”

Yu Nanqing lowered her head obediently. “I dare not.”

After a long silence, Xiao Qiling stood, laughter spilling from her lips. “Then get up.”

Yu Nanqing slowly rose, her legs trembling from kneeling so long. Just as she steadied herself to take a step, she stumbled again—only to be caught once more.

Xiao Qiling chuckled, gripping her hand. “Princess Consort, why are your hands so cold?”

A moment ago, it was “Third Miss Yu.” Now, it was “Princess Consort”—a title laced with ambiguity and dominance.

But this form of address didn’t put Yu Nanqing at ease. Instead, she grew warier. Flustered, she murmured, “Your Highness…”

Xiao Qiling’s presence was cold, but her embrace was warm. Yu Nanqing, never one to suffer discomfort, nestled deeper into her arms without reservation.

As for whether her own chill would bother Xiao Qiling—Yu Nanqing couldn’t care less.

“Do you like this prince so much?”

Her tone was drawn out.

Xiao Qiling stared down at the woman in her arms, pinching Yu Nanqing’s chin lightly. The slightest pressure left red marks. Tense as a startled deer yet refusing to leave, Yu Nanqing gazed at her with something akin to a fledgling’s devotion—utterly docile.

Xiao Qiling’s eyes lingered on Yu Nanqing’s exquisite features.

Clearly wanting to flee, yet refusing the chance when given.

What was her real motive?

Yu Nanqing held her breath, softening it. “Y-Yes.”

“Then you’d better live well, so you can keep looking at me.” Xiao Qiling’s eyes crinkled with amusement, unable to resist teasing her.

“After all, the rumors outside are all true.”

A crack finally appeared in Yu Nanqing’s composure.

Rumors?

What rumors?

The most infamous rumor about Xiao Qiling was that she suffered from madness and was nearing death—that when her illness struck, she lost all reason and could only be sated by killing and drinking bl00d.

Too ill to attend her own wedding.

A courtyard full of corpses.

A mind now fully lucid.

And her early death in the past life.

Yu Nanqing squeezed her eyes shut, her usually bright eyes clouded with rare confusion. “…They’re… true?”

Xiao Qiling didn’t miss a single flicker of emotion on Yu Nanqing’s face. Her smile deepened. “Mhm. But I’ve killed enough for today.”

Yu Nanqing instinctively filled in the rest: That’s why I’m sparing you—for now.

Xiao Qiling asked gently, “Scared?”

“N-No, I’m just… tired.”

The grand ambitions she’d just begun to nurture shattered instantly. Yu Nanqing’s face cycled through shades of pale and green.

After a long silence, as if finally giving up, she took a step back, withdrawing from Xiao Qiling’s embrace.

In a dejected murmur, she said, “…No need to trouble Your Highness. I can walk on my own.”

Xiao Qiling studied her deeply, seemingly skeptical of Yu Nanqing’s physical stamina.

“Yin San.”

The shadow guard who had vanished earlier reappeared out of nowhere. “Your Highness.”

Xiao Qiling took the cloak she had removed earlier and draped it over Yu Nanqing’s shoulders. The reddish-brown fur added a touch of color to Yu Nanqing’s pallid face.

After a satisfied glance, Xiao Qiling turned away, her demeanor instantly reverting to indifference.

Her slender back stood solitary as a pine tree, hands clasped behind her as she gazed silently at the moon, blending into the night.

“She’s timid. Be careful not to frighten her on the way back.”