Chapter 4: The Liberated Slave Sings a New Song

Facing Jun Buyi’s questions, Xia Jiuyi had already prepared her answer. “I am truly Xia Jiuyi, without the slightest falsehood. If you don’t believe me, feel free to investigate. You’re just puzzled as to why I possess medical skills, why I can fight, why my temperament has changed so drastically—well, even a cornered dog will leap over a wall. If someone is bullied, framed, and hurt for long enough, it’s only natural to eventually refuse to endure it any longer.”

Jun Buyi glanced at Xia Jiuyi. A drastic change in temperament—was it simply because she no longer wished to remain silent? Had all that previous forbearance been nothing but an act?

Seeing the suspicion in his eyes, Xia Jiuyi went on, “You don’t have to doubt me. Someone did indeed try to use me to trigger your heat-poison. That person not only wanted me dead, but also sought to use my hands to destroy the Prince of Jin’s manor. If I hadn’t concealed my medical skills, I might have truly fallen into their trap.”

It was precisely this fact that convinced Jun Buyi that Xia Jiuyi was being used, that her hands were clean. In the Prince of Jin’s manor, she had been on the verge of death more than once; always passive, always the one being schemed against.

Xia Jiuyi clenched her teeth. “Though I don’t know what really happened with this arranged marriage, my days in the Xia family were no better than those of a servant. I thought that if I kept a low profile, neither fighting nor contending, I could avoid trouble. But I was wrong. They only became increasingly vicious, even poisoning me and sending me into the Prince’s manor.”

According to the memories of this body, Xia Jiuyi had been a good-for-nothing known for swallowing her grievances. Even the maids in the Xia household dared to order her about, with only Green Dew, the maid brought from her maternal family, remaining loyal to her.

Xia Jiuyi let out a soft laugh. “In the Xia family, I secretly learned medicine, not showing it only to have another means of protecting myself. Ironically, they did me a great favor—turning a useless daughter of no consequence into the Princess of Jin.”

Truly, trying to steal a chicken and losing the rice instead.

Jun Buyi raised an eyebrow. “Now that you’re being so frank, what is it you want?”

Xia Jiuyi was straightforward. “I want to cooperate with you.”

Jun Buyi thought she would ask to remain as his princess, but she skipped over that entirely and went straight to discussing an alliance.

With complete candor, Xia Jiuyi continued, “I don’t want to keep enduring humiliation, nor do I wish to live quietly, avoiding notice. I won’t let anyone who tries to harm me get away with it. But I have no power in the Xia family. Only you can be my support. That’s why I wish to work with you.”

The useless, discarded daughter of the Xia family who inhabited this body was already dead, poisoned by her own family. Now that Xia Jiuyi had taken her place, she would never allow herself to suffer such injustice again.

And those lurking in the shadows, having discovered she still lived, would never let her go—unaware that they had set their sights on a tiger. None of those who wished her harm would escape.

Jun Buyi asked, “You’re so sure I’ll cooperate with you?”

A triumphant smile appeared on Xia Jiuyi’s lips. “You also want to deal with those plotting against you, don’t you? You want to know who is truly behind the downfall of the Prince of Jin’s manor. With me as such a tempting bait, wouldn’t it be a waste not to use me? Besides, only I can cure your heat-poison. As long as I remain by your side, your illness won’t flare up.”

A relationship of mutual use—one where both parties stood to gain—was the most secure partnership of all.

Xia Jiuyi truly made Jun Buyi look at her with new eyes. In fact, her words only made him more curious. Since that was the case, he might as well keep her close, to observe more closely and investigate more thoroughly.

When the doors of Xuan Sanju swung open, Steward Meng was shocked by the Prince’s new orders—

Xia Jiuyi was to be regarded as the Princess of Jin, mistress of the Prince’s manor. Within these walls, she represented the Prince; outside, she represented the entire household.

As the consequences of this command dawned on him, Steward Meng’s jaw seemed to drop wider and wider. In the end, Xia Jiuyi feared his chin might actually fall off.

Nightshade, standing by, grew more and more uneasy. He truly wanted to cry, feeling he must have offended someone he could ill afford to. Would the Princess bear a grudge against him in the future?

Elsewhere, Green Dew, Xia Jiuyi’s personal maid, was sobbing ceaselessly in the woodshed.

She had come as the young lady’s dowry maid to the Prince’s manor, only for her mistress to fall ill the moment they arrived. Green Dew wanted to care for her, but the Prince’s household would not allow it, locking her away instead.

Her days in the woodshed dragged on endlessly. She knew nothing of her lady’s condition, nor how many more days she would be confined. She’d thought that after coming to the Prince’s manor, her mistress would finally escape the bullying of the Xia family and stand tall, but—

Footsteps sounded outside. Someone approached, and with a rattle, the woodshed lock was undone. Against the light, Green Dew thought she was hallucinating, seeing her mistress’s silhouette as if in a dream.

Seeing Green Dew’s stunned look, Xia Jiuyi called softly, “Green Dew.”

As she came to her senses and realized her mistress truly stood before her, Green Dew seized Xia Jiuyi’s arm, babbling anxiously, “Miss, are you all right? How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Are you really better?”

Xia Jiuyi looked at the young maid, who was not much younger than herself, and smiled. “Look at how excited you are. Your young lady has turned the tables and is singing her own tune. I’m doing quite well.”

Green Dew had been brought by Xia Jiuyi’s mother, Jiang Ruan, from the Jiang family. She had always stayed by Xia Jiuyi’s side and was a most trusted servant.

Something occurred to Xia Jiuyi, and she added, “Also, I am no longer your young lady.”

Green Dew’s face fell, full of wounded grievance. “Miss, are you sending me away?”

What could be going through this girl’s mind?

Green Dew burst into tears. “Please don’t! I’ve been with you for more than ten years—how could you bear to send me away? I never left your side even when you were unconscious. Now that you’re well, how could I possibly leave? I still have to serve you…”

Xia Jiuyi couldn’t help but laugh. “Silly girl, when did I ever say I was sending you away?”

Green Dew was momentarily stunned. “But you just said—”

With a look of satisfaction, Xia Jiuyi declared, “I’m not your young lady anymore. I’m the Princess now.”

Green Dew suddenly recalled something. “Princess, shouldn’t we start preparing for your return to your family in three days?”

If Green Dew hadn’t mentioned it, Xia Jiuyi might have forgotten. In the Kingdom of Li, five days after a woman’s marriage, she was expected to return to her parental home with her husband, to pay respects to her family and relatives. Moreover, that day happened to be Grand Madam Xia’s birthday banquet. The Xia family would throw a grand celebration—such a double blessing, how could Xia Jiuyi miss the chance to offer her congratulations?

The Xia family probably thought Xia Jiuyi was as good as dead. A sly smile curled at her lips—gone was the bullied girl of old, replaced by a clever little fox. She wondered what interesting things might happen upon her return this time.

She would be sure to make those who orchestrated everything from the shadows regret ever making her the Princess of Jin.