TFSRITA Chapter 162

His heart raced uncontrollably because of those five simple words, thudding as though it might leap out of his chest. His previously calm face flushed a deep red, stark against his naturally pale complexion.

Ji Jiaxun stammered, his tongue tied: “S-speak properly!”

Yan Qing tilted her head slightly, blinking her bright eyes. Her stunningly beautiful face took on an unexpected hint of playfulness. Stepping closer as if about to touch him, she murmured, “Didn’t you say I should beg you?”

“You—you…” Ji Jiaxun quickly stepped back, looking as though life had suddenly returned to him.

After retreating for a moment, he realized he was still holding her hand. He stopped abruptly, straightened his face, and glared at her fiercely, trying to look intimidating. “Behave yourself! Just lead the way already!”

But even as he barked out his orders, his grip on her soft hand didn’t loosen.

Yan Qing chuckled and followed him obediently.

From a distance, Lan Hua and He Hua exchanged shocked glances. Could this be happening?

“Whoever said the little marquis was scary?” one of them muttered.

The notorious gang of rascals from the capital might have disagreed: “Not scary? He bullies us constantly, and there’s no one we can complain to!”

“This spot is nice and cool in the summer. Over there is the waterside pavilion, and that’s the tower.”

“This area is for entertaining guests occasionally. It’s a bit more spacious.”

“And here, there are lots of flowers…”

Ji Jiaxun’s voice, usually youthful and clear, now carried a forced steadiness as he introduced the princess’s estate.

Suddenly, Yan Qing’s soft voice interrupted him. “These flowers are beautiful. Can I take some for our courtyard?”

Our courtyard?

Ji Jiaxun swallowed hard. Ever since she had coaxed him earlier, his heart hadn’t stopped racing. His palm, still holding hers, felt clammy with sweat, yet he couldn’t bring himself to let go.

When he heard her words, his heart stirred even more. Struggling to maintain composure, he said awkwardly, “Fine. You… you can have them. After all, they belong to you too.”

Wasn’t she part of his family now?

Right?

Ji Jiaxun coughed lightly, rubbing his nose in embarrassment. “Come on, let’s keep going. This way leads to… to our courtyard.”

“Mm,” Yan Qing replied softly, her tone calm and measured, yet it made Ji Jiaxun’s lips curl into an involuntary smile.

The princess’s estate, having been bestowed during the late emperor’s reign, was vast and grand. Yan Qing followed Ji Jiaxun for what felt like half the day before they arrived at the entrance to his courtyard.

It was the finest part of the estate—spacious, with a large pond filled with lotus flowers and flanked by fruit trees on either side.

The courtyard was also festooned with festive red decorations, just like the Pingwu Marquis Estate.

The princess had spared no effort to maintain appearances.

Once inside, Yan Qing let go of Ji Jiaxun’s hand and began exploring the area.

Ji Jiaxun, however, paused, staring down at his palm, now damp with sweat. He rubbed it on his clothes before starting to follow her inside.

But the moment he moved, a sharp pain radiated from his backside.

It all came rushing back to him.

The moment Yan Qing had grabbed his hand, he’d forgotten all about the pain in his rear and had walked as if everything were normal. Now the pain was worse than ever.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he limped forward cautiously, afraid to aggravate the injury further.

Eventually, a few servants helped him into his room. Lying flat on his stomach, he allowed them to remove his shoes and clean his feet. Only then did he grumble, “Serves me right…”

Due to his injured backside, Ji Jiaxun spent the entire day lying on his bed. He alternated between reading, sipping on the wine Xiao Liuzi had brought him, and dozing off in a slightly drunken haze.

Meanwhile, Yan Qing was practicing martial arts in the courtyard.

Though her body was agile, it lacked strength. She needed rigorous training to improve.

As she practiced, her thoughts turned to the grim fates of the Pingwu Marquis and the princess.

This family was destined for ruin, implicated in a conspiracy that would see their entire clan executed. But Yan Qing hadn’t married into this household just to share the original owner’s tragic end.

The male lead of this world was likely the Third Prince, Xu Chengxiao. But aside from him, there were the First Prince, Xu Cheng’an, and the Fourth Prince, Xu Chengming. The remaining princes were too young to be of consequence.

Among them, only the Third Prince had no powerful maternal family to support him. His mother, beloved by the emperor, had passed away early due to his father’s infidelity, leaving the prince with a lingering grudge. Unlike other princes, he hadn’t been adopted by another consort.

The emperor, though only in his forties, was in poor health. Years of overindulgence and grief had taken their toll. According to the original plot, he already suspected he had only a few years left to live.

It was this looming deadline that prompted him to use the other princes as stepping stones to elevate the Third Prince to the throne.

The Ji family held significant military power, and their marriage to the Yan family only hastened the emperor’s plan to eliminate them.

Xu Chengxiao was a cold and calculating man. The original Yan Qing had loved him obsessively, but her brash and possessive nature had alienated everyone around her. Over time, her infatuation became a well-known joke in the capital.

But Xu Chengxiao had never cared. To him, no one could replace his late mother, Yan Yue. His heart had long since turned to stone.

A ruler like him could command respect and instill fear but struggled to inspire loyalty or affection. Ji Jiaxun might have been a local menace, but Xu Chengxiao was the kind of tyrant whose name struck terror in everyone.

Yan Qing pondered the original owner’s memories of the First and Fourth Princes. Which of them might make a better ally?