The Sixth Prince’s favor did not end with words.
On the first day, he just thanked me and left, but the next day he sent a messenger to the Moon Dance Palace with a real invitation.
“Salutations to you, Your Excellency. The Sixth Prince has requested to meet you at Seonghwan Palace, after Ahhure’s evening watch.”
“How could this be…….”
Receiving the invitation with a stunned expression, the messenger boasted as if he were announcing a grand achievement.
“The Second Prince will also be there, Your Excellency. Both princes seemed to have taken a liking to you during the hunting competition. It is a great honor.”
Although I knew the messenger was not at fault, his grin while delivering this unsettling news made me lose control of my expression.
“Thank you.”
I managed to force a smile as I thanked him, and the messenger bowed before trotting away.
This thin piece of paper feels like a ton of weight. I sighed and tucked the invitation away.
‘If something good happens to me that wasn’t there before, my apprentice will surely be suspicious.’
Despite gaining the favor of the two princes, I felt stifled, not knowing who would be the ultimate winner.
“You must be pleased to have gained the trust of both brothers.”
Startled by the sudden voice behind me, I turned around. My apprentice was leaning against the door frame, smiling.
I bowed slightly and replied, trying to act as nonchalant as possible.
“Come in quickly. The class time is almost up.”
“I came out because class time is almost up and you weren’t here.”
“It’s my fault. I apologize.”
“What can you do? You couldn’t reject the messenger when he was delivering an invitation from the princes.”
My apprentice spoke as if he understood everything, but I still felt uncomfortable and hurried into my study, sitting at my desk.
As I was looking for the book we had studied up to yesterday, my apprentice casually strolled to his seat and asked,
“Are you free tomorrow night?”
I was so surprised that I almost tore the book.
Staring wideeyed, my apprentice answered with a gentle smile.
“I haven’t had a proper meal with you, my master. I want to entertain you before the princes do. You are my master, after all.”
Was this a plan to kill me, suspecting that I might be colluding with the Second or Sixth Prince? It’s the simplest and safest way.
No matter how much I thought about it, my apprentice’s intentions did not seem good.
Anyway… if my apprentice took this stance, I had no choice but to struggle as best I could.
“May I bring a friend, Your Highness?”
“I do not wish to invite others to a flowerviewing between priests.”
Why? Are we strangers too?
Maybe my expression betrayed my feelings, for my apprentice asked with a teasing tone.
“Don’t you want to enjoy the flowers with me?”
Obviously.
“I have a prior engagement.”
“You said you had a prior engagement tomorrow night. Do you have one tonight too? Do you always have engagements at night?”
Even if I were to cancel my engagements, I feared my apprentice would want to meet during the day.
“Is it okay if I come with a friend, Your Highness?”
“I do not wish to invite others to a flowerviewing between priests.”
Why? Are we strangers too?
For a moment, my expression must have faltered, for my apprentice raised his lips and teased,
“Don’t you want to enjoy the flowers with me?”
Obviously.
“I have a prior engagement.”
“You said you had a prior engagement tomorrow night. Do you have one tonight too? You must make appointments every night?”
It seemed that way, but I wanted to cancel them and meet him. If I did, he might want to meet during the day.
Unable to come up with a good excuse to meet, I eventually racked my brain and replied.
“I have a prior engagement, but Your Highness has once canceled, and I cannot refuse again. I will make sure to explain to the person I’ve arranged to meet that I must see Your Highness.”
By telling others that I will be meeting my apprentice, he probably won’t try to kill me at night, right…?
If my apprentice intends to follow his past life’s actions, just doing this will prevent him from killing me tomorrow night. After all, he has almost no power at the moment.
The apprentice responded with a light laugh as if it didn’t matter.
“Let it be so.”
(This is a time separator.)
“Linhwa, sister, please do me a favor.”
As soon as I returned home, I sought out my younger sister Linhwa.
Linhwa, displaying a strange talent for embroidery while swinging, quickly discarded the diligent embroidery she was working on and stood up as I appeared.
“What favor? Go away!”
Our parents consider Linhwa a miracle from the sky, but I think she might be a brat kicked out of heaven. Why does she get irritated whenever I speak to her?
“I will be going to the palace tonight. The 13th Prince has summoned me.”
“Showing off?!”
“If I don’t return the next day, please tell Sunan.”
Mentioning Sunan brings peace to Linhwa’s face at once.
Despite our bad relationship, I told Linhwa this for that reason.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
