Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince-Chapter 56 - It Depends on Her Fate

It would have been better to say she was ugly.

Shen Xiheng laughed out loud without reservation.

While laughing, he also gave Song Ling a bow, “Brother Song, long time no see, you’re still as witty as ever.”

Song Ling’s hand trembled, and his head dropped even lower, his tone respectful, “Master Shen.”

“We have known each other for many years; no need for such formality.” Shen Xiheng used his folding fan to lift his hand, the smile in his eyes slightly fading.

Song Ling closed his eyes in pain, yet dared not raise his head.

Shen Xiheng could talk and laugh freely, yet he, a criminal, must stick to his proper role, not overstepping even by half a step.

All of a sudden, Li Mingjue spoke in a cold voice, “Song Ling, raise your head.”

Song Ling shivered.

Suddenly he remembered that day in the dark dungeon, Li Mingjue had spoken to him in the same way.

Yet he was scared.

Song Ling said with a trembling voice, “Why must you, Prince…”

Li Mingjue coldly cut him off, “I am not inclined to save you, it is the Princess’s kindness.”

This time, Song Ling did not keep his head lowered.

He glanced at Qi Yu, then kneeled down and kowtowed, “This criminal thanks the Princess for saving his life.”

Qi Yu was dumbfounded.

Just a second ago, someone said she looked “very special,” and the next second, this person was kneeling before her.

Under Li Mingjue’s frigid gaze, which could freeze someone, she half-heartedly raised her hand, “Rise.”

When Imperial Physician Chen entered with his medicine box, the atmosphere in the tent had already lightened somewhat.

He diligently bandaged the wounds on Song Ling’s arm.

“Prince, it is done,” said Imperial Physician Chen under the watchful eyes of many, the pressure evident.

Li Mingjue nodded slightly.

Yet Qi Yu stopped him, “He has injuries on his back as well; please check on them, Imperial Physician.”

Song Ling paused, not expecting her to notice that.

Imperial Physician Chen nodded and, along with his assistant, went to his own tent.

After everyone had left, Li Mingjue suddenly clenched his teeth and asked, “How did you know he had injuries on his back?”

Qi Yu’s hand trembled as she held her teacup.

She couldn’t simply say she saw them when Song Ling was standing in front of her, could she?

That evening, Song Ling was only wearing a white garment.

The faint bloodstain had not escaped her notice.

Furthermore, her nose was particularly sharp.

Close by, that hint of blood had been unmistakably clear to her.

But she couldn’t say that, otherwise, wouldn’t she come off as some kind of freak?

Qi Yu silently took a sip of tea, then said, “I guessed.”

Li Mingjue didn’t know whether to believe her or not, but after suppressing that subtle emotion in his heart, he began to settle accounts with her, “Why did you run around with a strange man tonight?

Do you know how dangerous that was?”

At that time, when he arrived, he saw Qi Yu surrounded by a group of bandits, with a bottomless cliff behind her.

God knows how much his hand trembled as he held the bow and arrow.

Qi Yu knew she was at fault, but there wasn’t a better option at the time.

If it were just her, she could have hidden in her space and everything would have been fine.

But there was also Song Ling, who seemed even weaker than her, covered in wounds from who knows where.

Other than running around with him, what else could she do?

However, saying this would surely infuriate Li Mingjue.

She bowed her head and sincerely said, “I know I was wrong.”

Li Mingjue had no intention of letting her off the hook.

This man didn’t seem to know what panic and fear meant.

She admitted her mistake smoothly now, but he was sure she would dare to do it again.

“When will you take your own life more seriously?

If something had happened to you…” His tone grew heavier, the mix of tenderness and fury in his eyes making Qi Yu’s heart flutter.

Qi Yu usually feared nothing in heaven or earth, but at that moment, she felt as though she has grown fearful of something more.

She feared making Li Mingjue angry, and even more, causing him sadness.

It seemed today she had managed it all.

Qi Yu bowed her head, for the first time not retorting.

Though she appeared calm, an inexplicable sense of grievance could be seen.

Li Mingjue felt tormented as if his heart were being fried in oil.

Not only couldn’t he calm down, speaking about her could easily break his heart.

He was truly in a dilemma.

He withdrew his gaze and turned towards another, who was casually watching the whole drama with a fan in hand, and directed his remaining anger at Shen Xiheng, “Have you watched enough of the show?”

Shen Xiheng chuckled lightly and coughed feebly, “I dare not.”

“However,” his gaze suddenly shifted, looking outside the tent, he made a roundabout statement, “what about that person?”

Anyone who wasn’t blind could see that Gu Xi was interested in Li Mingjue.

He wasn’t worried that Li Mingjue would become distracted because of her.

One Qi Yu was already enough of a headache; he hardly had any spare attention for another woman.

But his intentions were ultimately unknown to others, which could lead to undue assumptions.

If anyone foolishly attempted to bring Gu Xi to his bed, it would surely turn everything upside down.

Qi Yu seemed carefree, but she was more stubborn than anyone and certainly not the type who would accept sharing her husband with another woman.

If pushed, causing Gu Xi to become paralyzed wasn’t beyond her capabilities.

Right now, it was crucial to nip all those twisted intentions of Gu Xi in the bud before she did anything.

Li Mingjue’s eyes darkened, and he couldn’t hide the chill that enveloped him.

He sneered disdainfully, “That depends on whether she has the fate for it!”

This statement had a double meaning, clearly stating that Gu Xi neither had the fate to marry into the Prince Qiu Residence nor the fate to climb into his bed.

Shen Xiheng’s lips curled slightly, noting that Prince Qiu was as unyielding as ever.

Those in the capital city always assumed that after Prince Qiu’s illness, he was no longer as formidable as before, now leaning towards supporting Prince An’s faction.

But they had spent so many years playing court intrigues, yet all of them were within Li Mingjue’s calculations.

In the darkness, some things, if they can be concealed, that is all well and good; those that can’t deserve to be taken care of.

He rose, made a casual bow, and took his leave.

Li Mingjue looked at the somewhat distracted person and suddenly extended his hand toward her, “Let’s go.”

Qi Yu came back to her senses and gently placed her hand in his palm.

A warm flow passed from the center of his hand, dispersing some of the early winter’s chill.

The two of them walked into the night, unaware that a sinister gaze was tracking them from behind.