Chapter 48: Kidnapped, Disheveled and Helpless

Xia Jiujiang paid no mind to the business with the man in black. She simply lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep. After all, she had already given the address of the Halfway Pavilion to the Embroidered Uniform Guards, and the potion that would reveal the whereabouts of the man in black had also been smeared on his back. If he wanted to return to the Great Li Kingdom Temple, it was next to impossible.

Most likely, he would be relentlessly hunted by the Embroidered Uniform Guards. Even if he wasn’t caught, one night would be enough to torment him. By the time dawn broke, if he was lucky enough to escape, Xia Jiujiang would no longer be in Princess Yaan’s villa, nor would she be impersonating the princess.

The matter of the man in black would trouble only him. Unlike the commotion in the villa, when the hour of midnight arrived, all was quiet outside the Xia residence in the East Courtyard. Xia Jiujiang, resting in the villa, could not hear anything from there. Yet, at this very moment, a shadow slipped in through a broken window in the Xia residence, giving Princess Anya quite a fright.

She hid nervously in bed, watching through the curtain as a vague figure drew near, her heart pounding with excitement.

Since the emperor had not decreed her marriage to Prince Jin, this method might not be so bad after all. She cared little for idle gossip—she was, after all, Princess Anya. She wanted the outcome, not the process. Should anyone dare wag their tongues, she would simply cut them out.

As the bed curtain was lifted, Princess Anya’s face, full of joy, changed abruptly when she saw before her not Prince Jin, but a man of lecherous mien.

The man was burly, dressed in coarse linen, and his face was rough and bearded. She had expected to meet Prince Jin Junbuwen, but instead found herself facing a hulking oaf.

Princess Anya, oblivious to her danger, shouted angrily, “Who are you? Who let you in here? Get out at once!”

The man chuckled, “Princess, is it? The future Princess of Jin still wants to play at being a princess.”

“How dare you! Guards—” she began, but before she could finish, the man struck her with a swift chop, knocking her out, then slung her over his shoulder and left the Xia residence.

The guards outside saw a shadow slip by, but dared not act rashly at first. Princess Anya was infamous for her temper. As the time slipped by and neither Prince Jin appeared nor any signal came from the princess, they realized something was amiss.

They knocked on the door—no answer. When they pushed it open, the room was empty, the window broken open. Only then did they follow the footprints outside.

Xia Jiujiang slept soundly in Princess Anya’s bed until the faint blue light of dawn crept in. The hour of the dawn watch had arrived. Xia Yue’er was still deep in sleep, and only when her maid came to wake her did she stir.

Upon waking, Xia Yue’er realized it was already dawn. She felt a brief moment of confusion. She had spent the night listening for sounds from the neighboring room—how had she fallen asleep without even noticing?

Xia Yue’er stepped out and looked at the tightly closed door of the room next door. She restrained the urge to peek into Xia Jiujiang’s chamber and instead turned toward the temple in the inner courtyard. On the way, she ran into Xia Mingxuan, who was coming from the West Courtyard.

Eager to ask him something, Xia Yue’er was stopped by Xia Mingxuan, who coughed and signaled with his eyes—a reminder that the temple was crowded. Though it was early, many young monks were already sweeping and carrying water in the courtyard, and people passed by from time to time.

Xia Mingxuan smiled at her. “Sister, pray earnestly for Grandmother. If her health recovers, our lives will naturally be happier.”

Hearing this, Xia Yue’er’s eyes lit up. So the plan had succeeded.

She was overjoyed. The long-awaited event had finally come to pass. All she had to do was wait in the temple for Green Luo, Xia Jiujiang’s personal maid, to report that Xia Jiujiang was missing, and then everything would fall into place.

With a bright smile, Xia Yue’er headed into the temple. But the smile froze on her face when she saw the figure standing before the altar, shrouded in curling sandalwood smoke. Shocked, she stumbled back a step, her expression one of terror. “You… How are you here?!”

Xia Jiujiang, puzzled by Xia Yue’er’s reaction, replied, “Didn’t you say you’d be praying for Grandmother this morning? Where else would I be?”

“No… I… you…” Xia Yue’er tried to compose herself, but Xia Mingxuan had told her just this morning that the plan was a success!

She stared at Xia Jiujiang. If the plan had worked, Xia Jiujiang should have been kidnapped. Then all Xia Yue’er had to do was return to the capital and spread word that Xia Jiujiang had been taken by mountain bandits for a whole night at the Great Li Kingdom Temple, and then have Black Three dispose of her. A woman who’d lost her honor to bandits and then died—her story would simply fade away. So what was Xia Jiujiang doing here?

Not only Xia Yue’er, but even Xia Mingxuan was dumbfounded.

He recovered quickly, though, forcing a stiff smile. “When we saw the door still closed this morning, we thought Big Sister was still resting. How did you get here so quickly? We were just surprised.”

Xia Jiujiang replied calmly, “I slept in the villa last night.”

Xia Mingxuan was alarmed. “The villa? Weren’t you in the Xia residence?”

His face changed dramatically. “Why did you sleep in the villa? Isn’t that Princess Anya’s room?”

Xia Jiujiang smiled. “Princess Anya visited last night. She found her own room a bit stuffy, and since mine was cool and comfortable, she insisted on staying in it. She even told me to go stay in her place. I couldn’t refuse her wishes.”

Xia Yue’er and Xia Mingxuan’s faces slowly drained of color. The person who should have been in the Xia residence was Xia Jiujiang, but it turned out to be Princess Anya. If Xia Mingxuan’s plan had succeeded… then the person Black Three kidnapped wasn’t Xia Jiujiang but—disaster!

“The Xia residence… it was Princess Anya?” Xia Mingxuan’s face went deathly pale.

Xia Jiujiang replied apologetically, “Yes. It was the princess’s request; I could hardly refuse.”

Realizing things had gone terribly wrong, Xia Mingxuan turned to run for the door. But just as he did, he came face to face with Princess Anya, disheveled and dirty, her hair loose, her whole appearance a mess. Xia Mingxuan’s face darkened further.

He stammered, “Pr-Princess Anya…”

Xia Jiujiang turned to see the princess’s state and asked in mock surprise, “Princess, what happened to you? How did you end up like this?”

Seeing Princess Anya dressed in Xia Jiujiang’s clothes, Xia Mingxuan turned as pale as a sheet, forcing himself to remain calm. He bowed and asked, “May I ask why Princess Anya is wearing the consort’s clothing?”

Damn it, why did Princess Anya have to ruin everything? Yesterday, after confirming with Xia Jiujiang, Xia Mingxuan had even sent Black Three a pigeon letter describing Xia Jiujiang’s clothing, worried that the wrong person might be taken. Even if Black Three didn’t recognize the princess, surely he wouldn’t mistake the clothes.

Yet here was Princess Anya, wearing Xia Jiujiang’s attire.

Princess Anya shot Xia Mingxuan a furious glare. “Whose clothes I wear is none of your damn business.”