Chapter 16

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

The emperor laughed out loud and said to Yin Chujin, “Jin’er, perform for everyone.”

Yin Chujin glared at the culprit and cursed him in her heart. Did he think she was a dancer? Was she proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and dancing? She didn’t know any of this at all. Sheng Yiming just wanted to watch her embarrass herself.

From the moment the emperor opened his mouth, Yin Chuyan, who was sitting opposite, looked displeased. When she saw that Yin Chujin did not get up after a long time, she could not help but mock, “Sister Jin, stop being reserved. In the past, when Father held banquets, you fought to show everyone your dance skills. What’s wrong today? Why are you so shy?!”

Yin Chujin recognized Yin Chuyan. The last time she entered the palace, she was the one who called away the palace maids who led the way for her. She sighed. It could only be said that Yin Chujin was too unpopular in the palace. At the same time, she was speechless. There was a villain drawing circles in her heart. The previous Princess Jin was actually fighting to dance at such tacky banquets. She wanted to slap her a few times.

“Imperial Father, Jin’er was insensible in the past. Now that I’m married, I naturally have to behave myself. Moreover, I sprained my ankle in the Xiao Manor yesterday. It’s really not suitable for me to perform.”

“You sprained your ankle? Is it serious?”

“It’s not serious. Thank you for your concern, Father!”

“That’s good. Then… the rest of you continue dancing and playing the zither!” The emperor quickly diverted his attention and waved at the dancers kneeling in the middle of the hall.

There was another round of singing and dancing.

Yin Chujin was no longer as calm as before…

Yin Chujin brought Zhu’er back to Wuyuan. As soon as they entered the courtyard, Zhu’er patted her chest and exclaimed, “Princess, you scared me to death in the palace tonight. You used to be proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and dancing. Everyone in the palace knows about it. Now that you’ve forgotten about it, you’ll be exposed sooner or later.”

Yin Chujin glanced at Zhu’er and walked into the house. “You cowardly girl. If I expose myself, so be it. It’s not your fault. Are you afraid… Why are you here?”

Halfway through her sentence, she pushed open the door and saw a woman in black sitting in front of the table with a long sword in her hand. She was shocked. When she took a closer look, she realized that it was her.

“Ah… there’s a assas…” Zhu’er followed behind her. When she saw the woman in black, she screamed at the top of her lungs. Fortunately, Yin Chujin reacted quickly and covered her mouth in time.

“Zhu’er, stop shouting. Do you want to call the Prince over?”

Zhu’er struggled, her eyes fearfully looking in the direction of the woman in black.

“I know her. She’s not an assassin!” Yin Chujin gave Zhu’er a warning look and let go of her. She walked to the woman in black and repeated her words. “Why are you here?”

The woman in black stared at her for a while before taking out a letter from her sleeve and handing it over.

Yin Chujin opened it and saw that there was a piece of paper inside. There were a few large words written on it. She stared at the words for a long time and finally understood…

“It was Princess Consort Xiao of the Xiao Manor who saved you!”

There was actually a map of Xiao Manor attached to the envelope, specifically surrounding Wuyuan where she was.

“Who gave this to you?” Yin Chujin raised the envelope in her hand and asked the woman in black weakly. Had her identity been exposed when she left the mansion that night? She had never seen anyone other than the old man and the little boy from Benevolence Hall, and she did not think that those two knew her identity, let alone know her background so clearly. They even knew where she lived in the Xiao Manor.

The woman in black shook her head, indicating that she did not know.

“Someone from Benevolence Hall gave it to you?”

The woman in black still shook her head.

“Who are you? What’s your name?”

A shake of the head.

Yin Chujin touched her forehead weakly, but Zhu’er stuck her head out and asked curiously, “Princess, is she mute?”

“No, I’ve heard her speak.” She had pulled her leg for help that night, and she had spoken.

Yin Chujin didn’t give up and continued asking, “Then why are you looking for me? If you shake your head again, get lost!”

As expected, the woman in black did not shake her head for a long time, but she also kept a straight face and did not say a word.

Yin Chujin shrugged. She couldn’t be bothered to waste time with her. She turned around and walked to the bed, planning to visit the land of dreams. Unexpectedly, the moment she took a step, the woman in black followed. When she stopped, the woman in black also stopped.

“What are you doing?”

The woman in black hesitated for a while before taking out a jade pendant from her sleeve. The word “Leng” was engraved on it.

“I don’t know who I am.”

Zhu’er stuck out her tongue. “Princess, she’s lost her memory, too.”

Yin Chujin rolled her eyes and said patiently, “Miss Leng, I think you should leave. The Xiao Manor is a dangerous place. I can’t even protect myself, let alone take you in.”

“I can protect you!” The woman in black replied matter-of-factly. “I have nowhere to go…”

Yin Chujin was about to refuse when Zhu’er interrupted…

“Princess, she’s quite pitiful too. She can’t remember who she is and has nowhere to go.”

After interacting with her for so many days, Zhu’er’s reverence for Yin Chujin had mostly disappeared. She knew that although Yin Chujin was a little cold, she had almost no temper, and her words were getting more and more direct.

Yin Chujin glared at Zhu’er. “Hmph, I thought you were as timid as a mouse, but it seems like that’s not the case. You want to take her in? Go convince Xiao Yelei!”

With that, Zhu’er retracted her head and lowered her head silently.

Yin Chujin examined the woman in black from head to toe. “Who poisoned you that night?”

A shake of the head.

“Do you have many enemies?”

A shake of the head.

“You know kung fu?”

A nod.

“You can read?”

A nod.

“Alright, stay. But if your enemies come looking for you in the future, you’d better leave on your own accord.”

A nod.

Zhu’er asked weakly, “Princess, what do we say to the Prince?”

“Zhu’er, from now on, she’s your distant cousin… Leng’er. Find her clothes that are the same as yours and put away the sword. We’ll talk about the rest tomorrow.”
RECENTLY UPDATES