So he waved his right hand in front of the Fifth Prince’s face.
“Get your filthy hand away.” Ying Xiaowu moved his gaze from the silver hairpin to Ying Wutu’s broken finger, his tone shifting from irritation to suspicion, “Are you trying to trick me? Does my motherland still have people? Did Sister Jiang send you to test me?”
“Your Highness!” Ying Wutu’s voice trembled with urgency. He took out the note from his sleeve and showed it to the Fifth Prince. “These are your mother’s two personal guards! They hid when the palace was raided! Your Highness, don’t you even trust your mother? What good is it to curry favor with the enemy for temporary benefits? Don’t you want revenge? Jiang Shouzhu killed so many of our people! Your Highness, you were worshipped by the people. Don’t you think you should avenge them?”
“But…” Ying Xiaowu thought, even his mother surrendered, and he was just a prince. Besides, Sister Jiang had not treated him too harshly, apart from being a bit cold. Although she beat Ying Wutu nearly to death, it was because he was disobedient and rebellious. As long as he behaved well, like himself, he’d be treated better.
“What ‘but’ do you have, Your Highness?” Ying Wutu, unable to hold back, grabbed the Fifth Prince’s shoulders and shook him.
“Don’t touch me!” Ying Xiaowu easily broke free. “Even if we manage to blow up Sister Jiang, we won’t escape. There are so many soldiers outside; we’ll die just the same. Besides, my country has fallen, my sisters are dead, and I, the only prince left, can’t restore it. What’s the point of resistance? My fate is sealed either way. But you, why is my silver hairpin with you?”
Ying Xiaowu changed the subject, picking up the silver hairpin from the carriage floor.
“How can you be so blind, Your Highness!” Ying Wutu was so angry he felt like spitting blood.
“Don’t change the subject. I’m asking you a question!” Ying Xiaowu was equally furious. He had searched for two days and finally found the hairpin he had painstakingly obtained.
“Your Highness, you are truly… hopeless. But can you at least promise me that if you won’t help, you won’t betray me? I’ll keep trying to find a way.”
Even though Ying Wutu felt desperate, he wouldn’t give up resisting.
He actually had a murderous intent towards the Fifth Prince. Despite his injuries, the Fifth Prince was frail and weak, easily overpowered if he acted immediately…
Killing him would be easy, but dealing with the body was impossible—he had no strength to carry a corpse.
Originally, he refused to kill him for her amusement, preferring to return and be tortured. Now, he had regrets.
“You’re delusional. You won’t succeed. You fought Jiang for six months and lost. You can’t beat a woman. But…” Ying Xiaowu took out a pill from his bosom, “If you take this and never compete for her favor again, I promise not to betray you.”
Ying Wutu felt deeply humiliated, more than when Jiang Shouzhu stripped him for inspection.
He never intended to compete for her favor!
All he wanted was revenge, though Jiang Shouzhu was a special woman… she was still the enemy!
“Fine.” Ying Wutu didn’t hesitate, taking the black pill and swallowing it.
“Really? Now Sister Jiang will never favor you. This is my special concoction; you’ll never be able to get aroused again. You deserve it!” Ying Xiaowu put away his hairpin, disdainfully glancing at Ying Wutu, and turned to leave the carriage…
“Wait!” Ying Wutu grabbed him, “One more thing, I have my period. Can you…”
Ying Xiaowu’s harsh expression softened slightly, annoyed, “I know. Wait here, I’ll get something. What a bother.”
Ying Xiaowu was reluctant to help this delusional wretch, but considering his miserable condition and that he’d never compete for favor again, he decided to be benevolent for once.
Returning to his carriage, Ying Xiaowu searched his chest, feeling a pang of bitterness.
Sister Jiang’s carriage was better, warm and cozy. He wished to stay there.
Grabbing what he needed, he passed by the carriage in which Jiang sat. The wind lifted a corner of the curtain, revealing her drinking tea and playing chess.
He averted his gaze, looking down at the crumpled items in his hand.
Which man didn’t want to get married?
If Sister Jiang hadn’t attacked, his mother would have married him off to a remote small country, whose king was a sixty-year-old lady.
When he heard that Sister Jiang had swept through that small country last year, he was overjoyed.
So clinging to her was the best lifeline in this wave of an uncontrollable fate.
Ying Xiaowu threw the items at Ying Wutu’s feet, ready to leave, when he saw Sister Jiang approaching. His worries vanished, and he ran to her, smiling up at her, “Sister Jiang, I finished your task. Your carriage is so lively, can I join too?”
“Send the Fifth Prince back,” Jiang Shouzhu refused.
Ying Xiaowu pouted and walked away, turning back with each step.
Despite feeling down, he said nothing more.
Not until Sister Jiang entered the carriage did he stop looking back, reassuring himself, “Soon, Sister Jiang will see my worth.”
As for that wretch…
Ying Xiaowu didn’t intend to betray him; the wretch would soon be abandoned anyway.
