Sir, You've Got The Wrong Person - Chapter 13

The news of Prince Yu’s upcoming wedding was causing quite a stir throughout Xijing. Even within the prince’s residence, preparations for the joyous event were in full swing. It seemed Prince Jun Tianyu was truly spending lavishly on this baffling marriage.

Everyone said that Lady Rumeng must have accumulated great fortune over several lifetimes to earn such an honor. However, nobody was aware that this marriage was merely a shrewd ruse.

For several days, Yan Yiyi had been compelled to remain in Prince Yu’s quarters. She realized that worrying would not help her and concentrated on healing her wounds because she knew that the only way she could live was to regain her strength.

Chu Mufeng seemed to have an urgent business that required him to leave the residence for a few days, and Yan Yiyi hadn’t seen him since. Whether it was intended to test or provoke Chu Mufeng, Jun Tianyu’s high-profile announcement of their impending marriage was obviously a mistake. He had overestimated her influence over him as well as her relationship with Chu Mufeng. Jun Tianyu was the only one who would take such a dangerous and futile gamble.

Yan Yiyi actually felt relieved by Chu Mufeng’s absence. Dealing with one person was easier than dealing with two. If he were still around, even if she managed to slip away from Jun Tianyu on the wedding day, escaping Chu Mufeng would be another matter. Now, she could only hope that his promise to return for the wedding was just empty words.

The wedding day finally arrived two weeks later. From early morning, the entire residence was buzzing with festive excitement. A bright red wedding dress was delivered to Yan Yiyi at dawn, accompanied by none other than Jun Tianyu himself.

“Lady Rumeng, to be honest, I can’t bring myself to feel any joy about this wedding,” Jun Tianyu said, rubbing his chin as he watched her hold the dress, his tone somewhat troubled.

Yan Yiyi rose gracefully and walked over to him, smiling charmingly. “Honestly, my lord, I’m not looking forward to it either. So why not call it off before this pretense becomes real?”

Jun Tianyu placed a finger against her lips, his seductive eyes flashing with amusement. “The show isn’t over yet. Who knows if the best part is still to come? I’ve already invested heavily in this act—ending it now would be a big loss. If someone comes today to steal the bride, I’ll let you go with them. But if no one shows up, Lady Rumeng, you’ll marry into my household and enjoy riches others can only dream of.”

Yan Yiyi narrowed her eyes slightly. “My lord won’t make things difficult for whoever tries to snatch the bride?”

“That depends on who it is,” Jun Tianyu chuckled. “Tell me, do you think Young Master Chu will stay until the wedding night?”

Her suspicious gaze fell on his face. “Whether he comes or stays seems like none of my concern.”

“True. But I’m quite curious to see if he dares to disrupt this wedding!” Jun Tianyu withdrew his hand from her lips and turned to the maid holding the dress. His voice turned cold. “Help Lady Rumeng change into her wedding gown!”

Then he looked back at Yan Yiyi with a faint, chilly smile. “I’ve already given orders—so long as Chu Mufeng is here, anyone who tries to ruin this wedding will be killed without mercy. So, Lady Rumeng, don’t get any foolish ideas.”

As he spoke, he tossed a small, bloodstained white mouse onto the ground and then left.

Yan Yiyi’s face turned pale instantly. Her hands trembled slightly as she stared at the lifeless little mouse on the floor. After a long pause, she knelt and gently picked up its cold body. There was a bleeding hole on its side, as if a stone had pierced right through it.

“Squeaky… I’m sorry,” she whispered, stroking its fur with trembling fingers. Staring at the mouse she had raised since birth, her voice was choked and her eyes were misty. The little mouse had been smart and loyal. Though raised mainly to send messages in times of danger, they had formed a deep bond. She had only sent it out with a simple task, never imagining that Jun Tianyu would notice and even see through her 

Noticing that the bloodstains on the little white mouse hadn’t yet dried in some places and feeling the lingering warmth on its body, she figured it must have been spotted and killed by Jun Tianyu upon its return. Since it had made it back, Xiao Yunfei and Aunt Mei should already know of her current situation.

But… recalling the harsh words Jun Tianyu left before departing, she feared that if they dared to come, they too would be facing danger.

“Miss, it’s time to change into your bridal gown—the auspicious hour is near.” The matron, holding the red dress, carefully reminded Yan Yiyi as she squatted there while cradling the little white mouse.

Her hands tightened slightly around the tiny body, taking a deep breath to force back the tears welling in her eyes. She stood up, gently laid the mouse on a white cloth atop the table, then turned to take the gown from the matron. She whispered, “I’ll do it myself” and moved behind the screen. A few seconds later, she came out wearing a bright red dress.

“Beautiful—stunning! Miss, you truly look like a fairy descended to earth in this gown,” the matron gushed with squinted eyes and a wide, flattering smile. “Come now, let me do up your hair and paint your face. I swear, you’ll have our prince utterly spellbound tonight.”

Chattering as she worked, the matron pulled Yiyi to sit before the dressing table, deftly combing her hair and applying makeup.

Yiyi gazed coldly at her reflection in the bronze mirror. With injuries on her body and no strength to resist, she let the woman fuss over her without protest.

She had now been forced to wear wedding attire twice in less than a year; was this a sign of good fortune or a hidden curse?

“All done! With this makeup, Miss outshines even the goddess Chang’e herself. The prince is bound to lose his heart to our lovely Miss Rumeng tonight!”

Yiyi was so lost in her own reflection that she barely noticed when the matron crowned her with a phoenix coronet. Perhaps at Jun Tianyu’s orders, the matron left off the traditional red veil and only added strings of pearls that hung to half-shield her face.

Yiyi was not bothered. She would be able to move more freely when the time came because the veil would not be blocking her vision.

She didn’t have to deal with riding in a bridal sedan because everything was happening inside the prince’s manor. Jun Tianyu himself came to escort her to the ceremonial hall.

Yiyi’s senses remained keen, taking in her surroundings even though her eyes stayed downcast the entire time. A subtle, intangible scent drifted into her nostrils, slightly soothing her heart. Hidden beneath her sleeve, the dagger in her hand relaxed slightly. That scent—Xiao Yunfei’s special concoction—was a rare poison that only those in close proximity could detect. Its presence here meant that Yunfei had already infiltrated the manor.

“Miss Rumeng, it seems this marriage is a fate neither of us can escape.” As they neared the hall, Jun Tianyu suddenly whispered in her ear. Yan Yiyi’s eyebrows furrowed as she looked up out of habit and saw Chu Mufeng come forward to congratulate her. There was a soft smile on his handsome, sophisticated face, and his eyes would sometimes pass her without a flinch—cold and strange, as if they were strangers.

Yiyi’s frown deepened. She couldn’t help but stare at Chu Mufeng, but he merely turned and smiled softly at her, as mild as spring water.

“Master Chu, it’s an honor that you could spare time from your busy affairs to attend my wedding,” Jun Tianyu said, clasping Chu Mufeng’s hand with a hearty laugh. “Later, you and I must share a few good drinks.” With a polite nod, he then led Yiyi into the hall.

It seemed that this union hadn’t won imperial approval—besides an old eunuch being sent from the palace as a token of congratulations, no royal family members were present. Even Jun Tianyu’s mother, Concubine Xu, was not there.

Yiyi cast a glance at the elderly man seated in the place of honor, and under the cover of her wide sleeves, she quietly pressed her dagger against Jun Tianyu’s side. Without lifting her eyes, she murmured with a low voice, “Chu Mufeng hasn’t made the dramatic move you expected—no bride-snatching spectacle. Your Highness, are you certain you still want to continue this play?”

The sharp edge at his waist made Jun Tianyu stiffen ever so slightly before he curved his lips into a faint smile. Leaning closer, he whispered in her ear, “We haven’t even bowed yet, Miss Rumeng—why the rush?”

His eyes moved to Chu Mufeng’s position, and Yan Yiyi couldn’t resist taking a quick look in that direction as well. Chu Mufeng merely returned their smile with a calm, unreadable expression.

That look?

Yan Yiyi’s frown deepened. She had never seen Chu Mufeng like this before. Even at his most gracious, there was always an undercurrent of menace in his smile. But now, he had completely lost that subtle edge.

Unable to understand—and not wanting to waste time thinking about him—Yiyi looked away. The dagger pressed slightly harder against Jun Tianyu’s waist. She leaned in close like a shy bride to hide the tension, whispering, “I can help Your Highness if he wants to act out this play. But this wedding cannot go through. If someone comes to snatch the bride tonight, I ask that Your Highness show mercy and let them go free.”

“So you’ve arranged your escape already,” Jun Tianyu muttered softly against her ear.

“All I ask is that you spare my friends. Once I’m gone, this whole charade ends—what harm could it do to let it go, Your Highness?”

“But what do I gain by letting you slip away?”

Yan Yiyi lifted her eyes to meet his. “Doesn’t Your Highness wish to know whose orders I was following when I saved you back then?”

“Oh?” His brows arched, intrigued.

“If you guarantee my friends’ safety, I’ll make sure word reaches you once I’m free.”

“And why should I trust you?”

“I don’t have anything right now to gain your trust. It is completely up to you whether or not you believe me. But I’ll be forced to drag you down with me if you try to force my hand tonight.” She skillfully twisted her hand, and the dagger at his waist moved, poised to cut upward. At that very instant, a crash of tiles shattered the air as a masked figure in black burst through the roof, his movements sharp and fluid. He lunged directly at Jun Tianyu with lethal force, taking the prince by surprise and knocking him back a few paces.

That familiar silver mask made Yan Yiyi’s heart leap. As the man in the mask struck, she quickly moved away and escaped Jun Tianyu’s hold. However, an arm wrapped around her waist and lifted her off the ground. Before she could catch a glimpse of his quick footwork—a sweeping kick had sent the rushing guards flying. They bounded up through the broken roof, skimming over treetops with light, easy steps. In a matter of seconds, the prince’s home was completely out of sight.