Chapter 57 ROTNDOAHRF

FlamingoBees

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

Rebirth of the Noble Daughter of a High Family

Chapter 57:

Prince Qin is Not Easy to Deal With

"Ouyang Nuan grabbed Hongyu's hand, her eyes showing urgency. 'What happened?'

'Hongyu, hesitantly, responded, 'The young master... the young master's servant just came to report that the young master accidentally intruded into the hunting ground after releasing the hunting prey of the Prince Qin, it angered him greatly, and he immediately tied him up on the spot!"

Ouyang Nuan's expression changed drastically. Fang Mama, who was beside her, upon hearing this, tears almost welled up in her eyes. "Miss, what should we do?"

Ouyang Nuan clenched her fists tightly, her mind racing ceaselessly. She said in a low voice, "Hongyu, go in and report this matter to grandmother. Tell her that I have already rushed over ahead, and ask her to think of a solution."

"Miss, there have long been rumors in the capital that the Prince Qin is notoriously cruel and ruthless. You absolutely must not go alone. It's better to seek help from the Grand Princess!" Hongyu urgently suggested.

Ouyang Nuan glanced at the hall where the Grand Princess was listening to Master Huian's sermon with closed eyes. She quickly turned back, grabbed Fang Mama's hand, and whispered, "Fang Mama, you go and apologize to the Grand Princess's attendant Tao Mama for me. Tell her there's an urgent matter at home, and I've already returned ahead of time!"

'We cannot seek help from the Grand Princess! The Grand Princess and the Ouyang family are merely acquaintances. The likelihood of her extending a helping hand is slim. Moreover, she is known for her strong and confrontational demeanor, and she has always been at odds with the Qin family. If we were to ask her to intervene on behalf of my brother, it would only lead to enmity between the Ouyang family and the Qin family from now on! Most importantly, we still don't know the full details of Jue'er's situation. If we rashly seek assistance from the Grand Princess and end up provoking the wrath of the Prince Qin, Jue'er's life could be at risk. Furthermore, this journey is perilous, and neither Hongyu nor Fang Mama can accompany me. It must be me who goes alone.' Ouyang Nuan stopped thinking further and hurriedly walked away.

© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

"Hurry! To the hunting ground!" Ouyang Nuan swiftly boarded the carriage. Despite her noble demeanor as a young lady from a prestigious family, her inner anxiety was evident and couldn't be concealed, startling the coachman. He had never seen the young miss speak with such urgency and severity before. Instinctively, he sharply whipped the reins, and the carriage raced forward.

The hunting ground where Prince Qin was shooting was located northwest of Ningguo Temple, covering a vast area of approximately ten to twenty square miles. About half of it was dense forest, with towering trees casting thick shadows. Various wild animals roamed within the woods. Members of the royal family often came here to relax, away from the festivities of the capital.

Ouyang Nuan was aware of this, but today was the day of the Prince Ming's expedition, and she had assumed that all members of the royal family would be at court. She hadn't expected Prince Qin to choose such a sensitive time to leave the capital. As the carriage sped forward, before the soldiers could even stop and question them, the coachman urged the horses on with a swift whip crack, leaving only a cloud of dust in their wake.

When the exquisite, colorful iron bow of the Prince Qin was aimed at Ouyang Jue, suddenly a horse carriage rushed in, and a young girl stumbled out of it. In the blink of an eye, the girl was standing in front of Ouyang Jue.

A nearby soldier shouted loudly, "Who goes there!?"

The thunderous roar contained boundless anger.

Ouyang Nuan lifted her head. Due to the haste of her arrival, her hair bun had come undone and fallen to the ground. She paid no heed to the demeanor expected of a noble lady, allowing the fierce wind to tousle her dark locks and rustle her clothes. Across the distance of a hundred paces, her eyes met the furious gaze of the most distinguished figure in the crowd—the Prince Qin, Xiao Tianye.

Their eyes locked in a stare!

At that moment, Ouyang Nuan knew she couldn't show the slightest hint of cowardice. She smiled brightly. It was a beautiful smile, yet it couldn't conceal the tears welling up in her eyes, nor could it hide the tears streaming down her cheeks.

Through tear-filled eyes, she gazed unwaveringly at Xiao Tianye across the hundred paces, in front of hundreds of people. Without blinking, she smiled radiantly at him. While tears rolled down her lips, she spoke again, loudly proclaiming, "I beg the forgiveness of the Prince for my brother!"

With each word, she spoke slowly and loudly. As the last word left her lips, tears streamed from her wide-open eyes, trickling down her porcelain-like cheeks, moistening her chin, and slowly seeping into her clothing. Some drops even mingled with the swirling dust, disappearing in an instant.

In that moment, Ouyang Nuan was breathtaking. Standing firmly in front of Ouyang Jue, her disheveled hair fluttered in the cold wind, her robes billowing and rustling loudly. Despite tears continuously flowing, she forced herself to smile, as if gathering all the beauty into a single moment, blooming like a transient flower.

"This is my chance," Ouyang Nuan told herself firmly, determined to seize it. Her tears had to flow with vulnerability, her pleading voice had to be gentle, and the smile on her face had to be heartrending.

"Sister!" Ouyang Jue's voice trembled. He hadn't expected his rash actions to result in his sister shielding him from harm. He tried to push Ouyang Nuan away, "Sister, this is my affair, you must leave!"

"Shut up! If you still regard me as your sister, then you mustn't say another word!" Ouyang Nuan didn't even glance back, deliberately lowering her voice, yet devoid of any panic or weakness. If the hundreds of soldiers facing her heard the tone in which she spoke now, they would perceive her as an entirely different person from the delicate girl standing before them.

"Begging the Prince for forgiveness!" Ouyang Nuan repeated loudly.

The hands of the soldiers, who had been poised for action, all paused. Despite her overwhelming fear and tears streaming down her face, she firmly shielded her younger brother behind her body. This delicate and breathtakingly beautiful young woman, with such a heart-wrenching display, moved these soldiers who loved nothing more than riding horses, hunting on the plains, listening to the cries of wounded beasts, and witnessing bloody battles. They couldn't help but turn their gaze to the expressionless Xiao Tianye, waiting for his decision.

Xiao Tianye appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen years old, with a slightly pale complexion and very faint lip color. There was a hint of light sorrow between his eyebrows, and his eyes seemed to carry a shallow mist. His facial expression exuded a kind of icy coldness that kept others at a distance, truly ethereal and elegant. Ouyang Nuan had never seen a man with such beauty in her entire life. However, she knew how cold and ruthless this handsome Prince Qin could be. Rumors abound in the capital about his cruel and tyrannical nature, but she had no choice but to take a gamble. Time seemed to stand still at this moment, and everyone held their breath.

Xiao Tianye's lips twitched slightly, as if in a cold smirk. His eyes gleamed with a chilling light, and a faint curve formed at the corner of his lips. A strand of hair brushed past his refined eyebrows and cheeks, giving the illusion of being extremely passionate yet ruthlessly indifferent. He raised his voice to the chief guard, Xuan Jing, beside him and said, "Another cunning little girl has come!"

His eyes held a shallow mist reminiscent of a child's innocence, beautiful enough to drown cities. However, the words he spoke were icy cold, devoid of any human warmth. Ouyang Nuan knew that her actions had not touched this man, but it didn't matter. At least she had bought herself some time.

She straightened her back and declared loudly, "Ouyang Nuan, on behalf of the residence of the Marquis of Zhenguo and Ouyang, pays respects to His Highness, the Prince Qin. Your Highness, my younger brother is ignorant and unaware of Your Highness's hunting here. Please forgive his inadvertent offense!"

Xuan Jing was momentarily stunned, involuntarily glancing at Ouyang Nuan. Seeing her gentle and beautiful eyes, this chief guard, who was accustomed to killing, felt his heart soften for the first time, his eyes warming. He could only whisper, "Your Highness, it is said that there is a renowned young lady in the residence of Ouyang, named Ouyang Nuan, who is the legitimate granddaughter of Old Madam Ning, the Marquise of Zhen Guo. It seems she is the one. Would you..." Before he could finish uttering the phrase "Please show mercy," Xiao Tianye cast a faint glance at him. Xuan Jing dared not say another word and lowered his head.

"Slap yourself!"

Xuan Jing's head buzzed, feeling a sense of inexplicable panic. Kneeling on the ground, he had been by the Prince's side since childhood. Although the Prince was cruel and ruthless, even to the extreme, this was the first time he had been publicly punished.

"What? Do I have to do it myself?" Xiao Tianye's tone was cold, yet commanding.

Xuan Jing hesitated, then raised his arm and began to slap himself repeatedly on the cheeks, the strikes becoming increasingly forceful and brutal. Soon, blood streaked from the corners of his mouth, and his face turned purple.

"Do you yield?" Xiao Tianye's voice remained cold.

"I deserve a thousand deaths. Yes, I yield!" Xuan Jing continued to slap himself until his face was covered in cuts and bruises.

Xiao Tianye's eyes remained unmoved as he uttered in a cold tone, "Get out."

Xuan Jing retreated, leaving everyone else puzzled as to why he had been punished. Only Ouyang Nuan, standing a hundred paces away, understood clearly. Suddenly, she realized what kind of person the Prince of Qin was: he could not tolerate anyone speaking out of turn, even his own trusted subordinates.

Xiao Tianye looked coldly at Ouyang Nuan, unaffected by her beauty. His voice was as icy as if spoken from a frozen cave. "Your beloved brother let my deer escape and accused me of cruelty and injustice. Tell me, should I not kill him?"

"Your Highness, my younger brother is only ten years old, lacking experience and prone to indiscretion. He may have spoken rashly. Please forgive him!"

Was she no longer pretending to be weak? A hint of interest flickered in Xiao Tianye's eyes. He said indifferently, "To speak so recklessly at such a young age, inviting ridicule, and tarnishing the royal dignity in front of nobles and royalty... Shouldn't such a person be killed?"

"Words spoken in haste should not be taken seriously," Ouyang Nuan gritted her teeth, unwavering.

"Speech should be weighed carefully, as the ancients have advised," Xiao Tianye raised his bow and arrow again, aiming at Ouyang Nuan.

"He is a human being; humans are prone to mistakes!" Ouyang Nuan met his gaze squarely, showing no sign of backing down. Ouyang Jue attempted to step forward but was pulled back by Ouyang Nuan.

"Human errors may cause loss of wealth and family, but the mistakes of rulers may lead to the downfall of nations. He is not worth sparing!" Xiao Tianye drew the bowstring taut, closing one eye slightly.

"It was merely a momentary lapse. Would Prince Qin execute the son of a high-ranking official of the court? At a time when His Highness, Prince Qin, is actively seeking talent, would the prince choose to be at odds with the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion and make enemies with the Ministry of Personnel?" Ouyang Nuan's eyes were sharp, her tone thought-provoking.

Xiao Tianye's finger paused momentarily, revealing a smile. "Who said I killed the children of the Ouyang family? I only killed the thieves who trespassed into the hunting grounds!"

As long as the person was dead, Xiao Tianye could easily claim that Ouyang Nuan and her brother intruded into the hunting grounds and were accidentally shot by soldiers. Even if they wanted to seek revenge, he had no fear!

"Even if my brother has made countless mistakes, the prince cannot kill him today," Ouyang Nuan's voice was clear and powerful, carrying an imposing aura that swept away any hint of weakness. There was no trace of weakness in her; it was all just a facade to deceive the other party. Since weakness was ineffective, she would adopt a different approach!

"Oh, why not?" Xiao Tianye raised an eyebrow, tilting his head with an innocence that seemed even more childish. However, the cruelty in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Today is the memorial day for Empress Xiaozhen, the consort of Emperor Taizu. It's already questionable for the prince to hunt on such a day. But do you really have the audacity to kill someone?"

Xiao Tianye's brows finally furrowed into a knot. He turned his head and asked, "Who is this girl talking about?"

Hezhou, the strategist who had been quietly observing the scene, immediately stepped forward and respectfully replied, "It's Empress Xiaozhen, the consort of Emperor Taizu."

Xiao Tianye appeared very surprised because such rituals and prayers for ancestors were usually handled by the officials of the Ancestral Temple. Empress Xiaozhen, the consort of Emperor Taizu, was only his first empress and was posthumously honored. Her memorial day was not considered a major event, so it was not surprising that Xiao Tianye was unaware of it.

"Are you sure about the date?" Xiao Tianye couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart.

Before Hezhou could answer, Ouyang Nuan raised her voice, "In the Buddha Hall of the Ningguo Ancestral Temple, there are statues of twenty emperors and empresses of the Great Li Dynasty. Ouyang Nuan remembers the dates very well. May I ask, Your Highness, would you really commit murder on such a day? Your status is esteemed. Whenever you wish to deal with us siblings, Ouyang Nuan will comply. But if someone were to question whether you are disrespecting Empress Xiaozhen or Emperor Taizu, how would you respond?"

Hezhou was an outstanding strategist by Prince Zou's side, always accompanying the prince. When he heard Ouyang Nuan's words, he immediately furrowed his brow and said, "Your Highness, these two individuals should not be killed."

"Oh?" Xiao Tianye raised an eyebrow.

"Your Highness, setting aside the matter of Empress Taizu's memorial day, she just mentioned the Ningguo Ancestral Temple. As far as I know, the Grand Princess is also visiting the Ningguo Ancestral Temple today, accompanied by many noblewomen. This Miss Ouyang is likely..." Hezhou paused, implying something.

However, Xiao Tianye's face revealed a faint smile. "What does that have to do with me?"

Hezhou hesitated for a moment. He knew that the prince had a bad temper and could act recklessly when provoked. He quickly advised, "Your Highness, as you are currently in need of capable individuals, these individuals are after all related to the Ministry of Personnel's attendant, and they have connections with the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion. If you were to act impulsively and kill them due to a momentary anger, it wouldn't look good if the Grand Princess caught wind of it. In my opinion, it would be better to release them as a gesture of goodwill. It will also make it easier to explain the situation to His Highness upon our return."

Xiao Tianye's smile became even more affable. Hezhou almost thought he had succeeded in persuading him. But then he heard his master say indifferently, "That's a good reminder. There are plenty of entertaining methods, not just killing."

Hezhou felt a pang of distress. He realized that Miss Ouyang was too clever for her own good, inadvertently arousing the prince's desire to conquer. This time, they had truly stirred up trouble!

Their conversation was not loud, yet in the surrounding silence, aside from the sound of the chilly wind, the hundreds of soldiers remained as quiet as death. Xiao Tianye's voice, to Ouyang Nuan's ears, sounded like thunder.

Ouyang Nuan clenched her fists and asked, "What does Your Highness intend to do?"

Xiao Tianye sighed and replied, "You'll never guess... never."

In his low and indifferent tone, there was an indescribable aura of intimidation.

Ouyang Nuan stared into his eyes. She had heard rumors of Xiao Tianye's cruelty and ruthlessness before. But now, she believed them. In this moment, she felt that those captivating eyes were nothing like human eyes. They lacked any semblance of normal human emotion.

They seemed more akin to a mixture of venomous snakes, wild beasts, and demons.

Xiao Tianye smiled, "I've always liked smart people, and you're quite clever. I must admit, this is quite unexpected."

Ouyang Nuan replied coldly, "Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness."

Xiao Tianye's tone turned colder, "Unfortunately, the actions you've taken are all foolish."

Ouyang Nuan raised an eyebrow as she looked at him, showing no signs of panic. She even managed to conceal the disgust rising within her. Xiao Tianye raised his voice, "Anyone who opposes me is either a lunatic or a fool. Because I detest people who think they're clever!"

Xiao Tianye's eyes stared relentlessly at Ouyang Nuan, marking the first time he had looked at a woman in such a manner. No, she wasn't quite a woman yet, just a girl.

Yet Ouyang Nuan's face showed no signs of fear, and her eyes reflected only mockery and determination.

She shouted loudly, "Since Your Highness dislikes clever people, then face me instead. Spare my brother! Ouyang Nuan would be forever grateful!"

Xiao Tianye burst into laughter, "Impressive indeed. To risk your life for your brother. The kid behind you is truly fortunate."

Ouyang Jue clenched his fists, his lips stained with blood from biting them. It was only now that he realized the magnitude of trouble he had brought upon himself and his sister. This Xiao Tianye, he was clearly insane! He disregarded powerful connections and was determined to kill him!

He couldn't help but shout loudly, "Xiao Tianye, if you have the guts, kill me and spare my sister!"

Xiao Tianye replied, "It's too late. She brought this upon herself. However, killing is also a game. If I were to kill you both like this, wouldn't it be extremely boring?"

Ouyang Nuan suddenly smiled and said, "If you truly kill us, you will regret it."

Xiao Tianye said, "Unfortunately, I never regret."

Ouyang Nuan chuckled coldly. With normal people, she could reason, she could assert her authority, but this Prince Qin was clearly insane. He disregarded all consequences, even killing the sons of court officials, and didn't care about his father's legacy!

There was nothing more she could say! Her paternal grandmother was selfish, the Marquis' mansion was in chaos, and the capital was out of reach. There was no hope. All she could do now was to delay. Hopefully, Tao Mama could understand the meaning behind her words!

Xiao Tianye continued in a leisurely manner, "I've thought about it. Actually, Miss Ouyang, you're not wrong. It's indeed not appropriate to kill on such a day. But if I let you go like this, I'll have trouble sleeping tonight."

"Whether you can sleep or not has nothing to do with us," Ouyang Nuan found it incredibly challenging to converse with a madman. "What are your conditions, Prince?"

"I'll give you an hour," Xiao Tianye replied. "You can run around this hunting ground as you please. After an hour, I'll lead my men to chase after you. If we catch you, you'll be shot with arrows. By then, I'll just say you trespassed the hunting ground and were shot in self-defense."

"Is the Prince joking with us?" Ouyang Nuan asked. "You have hundreds of men while we are just two. Unless there's a time limit, killing us here would be quicker for you!"

Ouyang Nuan remained calm as she looked at him. Xiao Tianye also gazed at her with great interest. "Let's set the time limit to the duration of one incense stick. If I don't find you within that time, I'll let you go, and I won't go back on my word. How about it?"

Ouyang Nuan spoke in a low voice, "I hope the Prince keeps his word."

Hezhou was extremely anxious. Did this girl not realize the gravity of the situation? The Prince had brought cunning and formidable men from the Qin Palace, each capable of taking on a hundred opponents. No matter how vast the hunting ground was, with so many men and horses, they could overturn every corner within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Moreover, how could two people hide from them? Did this Miss Ouyang have a broken brain?

Ouyang Nuan was well aware of this. Her only goal was to buy time. If she didn't agree, the Prince might kill them on the spot, and her brother and she would have no chance of survival. There was no reasoning with someone so inherently ruthless.

"Miss Ouyang, let's begin," Hezhou shouted loudly.

Ouyang Jue pulled Ouyang Nuan and desperately ran into the woods.

Just as Ouyang Nuan disappeared from Xiao Tianye's sight, she shouted loudly, "Stop, there's no need to run!"

Ouyang Jue was startled and exclaimed, "Sister, we only have an hour! What if they start chasing us after an hour? We should run as far as possible!"

Ouyang Nuan spoke in a solemn tone, "You and I are not in good physical condition. The faster we run, the harder it will be to sustain our strength. If we run too fast, we won't be able to go far. We might collapse immediately, falling into their trap."

Ouyang Jue's eyes were almost red with regret, deeply blaming himself for his reckless actions that led them into this situation. He couldn't help but say, "Sister, it's all my fault..."

Seeing her noble and dignified brother feeling guilty and realizing the predicament she was in because of him, Ouyang Nuan gave him a glance and said, "Silly child, what's the use of blaming ourselves now? We just need to make good use of the time we have, even if it's just an hour."

Ouyang Jue asked, "So, what should we do now?"

At that moment, Ouyang Nuan heard a rumble from Ouyang Jue's stomach and couldn't help but smile, "We don't have any food now, so you'll have to endure. But we can look for a water source; drinking more water can help ease hunger."

Ouyang Jue widened his eyes in surprise. Was there time to look for water now? But he was already accustomed to obeying Ouyang Nuan's decisions, so he nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Xiao Tianye held a delicate wine glass in his hand, lost in thought.

A soldier hurried over and knelt down, saying, "Reporting to the prince, we have found them."

Hezhou was momentarily stunned, looking towards Xiao Tianye, who, however, revealed a cruel smile and said, "I never said we wouldn't send someone to monitor them."

Hezhou didn't know what to say at this point. The idea of a delicate high-born maiden like Ouyang Nuan being driven to exhaustion by their own prince was truly astonishing. It would be an incredible tale if it got out—such absurdity!

Just then, a soldier reported, "Following the prince's orders, we have already laid in wait. When we spotted them, they don't seem to have gone quite far, yet they appeared spirited, showing no signs of distress."

Xiao Tianye asked, "They didn't run in panic?"

The soldier hesitated for a moment before replying, "No, they were walking slowly, as if sightseeing. They didn't seem rushed at all."

Xiao Tianye's expression turned sour, and Hezhou sighed, "I didn't expect this Miss Ouyang to have such insight. With their current stamina, if they were to sprint at full speed, they probably wouldn't need an hour before collapsing."

Xiao Tianye casually remarked, "You seem to admire her quite a bit?"

Hezhou's face turned pale, and he bowed his head, saying, "I dare not... Even if she's formidable, how could she compare to the prince's ingenious strategies?"

Xiao Tianye fell silent for a moment before asking, "Where did she go?" His words completely disregarded Ouyang Jue, focusing solely on Ouyang Nuan.

The soldier pondered for a moment before replying, "It seems she went to find water to drink."

A faint smile appeared on Xiao Tianye's face as he said, "Then, send her a generous gift on my behalf."

The soldier lowered his head, while Hezhou sighed inwardly. The prince was exceptionally clever, and ordinarily, he wouldn't trouble himself with a mere girl like this. However, today was different, coinciding with the Prince Ming's departure for battle. Perhaps the prince was in a bad mood... It's also that Ouyang family's fault, especially that young master Ouyang... He's truly troublesome...

On the other side, Ouyang Jue asked with concern, "Sister, what if they are just waiting by the water to catch the turtles in the jar?"

Ouyang Nuan smiled warmly. Her face was very calm, her eyes shining brightly. She said, "After all, he is the Prince Qin. He wouldn't change his mind in front of everyone. But it's possible he's secretly keeping an eye on us. Besides, he wants to demonstrate his skills through this, to make me acknowledge his superiority. Acknowledge."

The creek was quiet. The water flowed slowly. It shimmered in the sunlight, without any unusual signs. Ouyang Jue was extremely happy, he fell to the ground and scooped up the creek water to drink.

Suddenly, someone upstream of the creek chuckled, "Hurry up, the prince is waiting for us!"

In the distance, several young and beautiful maids were seen, wielding bamboo whips to drive a group of animals—pigs, horses, cows, and sheep—running in herds. They came to the creek to drink water and urinate.

Ouyang Jue jumped up in anger, splashing himself with water from the creek. He shouted, "What are you doing! This water is for people to drink! You're going too far!"

One of the round-faced maids burst into laughter and said, "Our young master ordered that if Miss Ouyang wants to drink water, she can drink the urine of these animals!"

Ouyang Jue gritted his teeth in hatred and stomped his feet, saying, "Such a big man, bullying a weak woman and a child! Shameless!"

Prince Zou was not only clever but also very malicious, coming up with such ideas. Ouyang Nuan shook her head, thinking little of such insults. They surely didn't know that for her, enduring those malicious words and countless bricks hitting her, being submerged under icy river water, and the moment when her sincere affection was crushed by ugly truths, any other kind of humiliation was child's play. Ouyang Nuan gracefully bent down, elegantly scooped up a handful of creek water, and drank it. She drank a lot.

All the maids were stunned. The leader among them exclaimed, "You... you dare to drink this kind of water? Don't you know there's urine in it?"

Ouyang Nuan smiled faintly and said, "This creek water flows directly into the lake downhill. If there is urine, then your young master drinks it every day."

"You—you dare to insult our young master like this!"

"There's nothing I dare not do. Please go back and tell your young master that Ouyang Nuan will never forget his great kindness! I will surely repay it in the future!" Ouyang Nuan's face was gentle, sweet with a solemn expression. The maids looked at each other for a while, then quickly picked up their skirts and ran away, even leaving their bamboo whips on the ground.

This kind of humiliation, if it were any other woman in the world, they would probably immediately hang themselves with a rope. Even if they didn't feel embarrassed, they definitely wouldn't actually drink it! The existence of a noble lady like Ouyang Nuan was beyond their imagination!

"Sister, how could you..."

Ouyang Nuan watched their fleeing figures with a hint of cold smile. Turning to her dumbfounded brother, she said, "Jue, knowing when to be ruthless and when to endure is the mark of a truly formidable individual. Sister has always protected you, loved you, never let you suffer any grievances. But now you should also understand, not everyone in this world will cherish you! If you want to achieve great things, but can't even endure such a slight grievance, then don't ever mention those four words to me again!"

Ouyang Jue looked at his sister as if he were seeing her for the first time. After a moment of silence, as if he suddenly made up his mind, he squatted down and drank water desperately, drinking until his belly bulged. Then he wiped his mouth and lifted his head, saying solemnly, "Sis, I will never let you down!"

Ouyang Nuan nodded, feeling no sadness in her heart, but instead filled with strength. She muttered to herself, "Xiao Tianye had his calculated it..."

"What have I gotten? Just a rabid dog. Let's wait and see!"

Upon hearing the maids' report, He Zhou was truly startled. He stammered, "How can there be such a woman in this world?"

Xiao Tianye sighed, "Ouyang Nuan's ability to make a name for herself in the capital is truly remarkable. He Zhou, if it were you, could you do the same?"

He Zhou blushed and shook his head vigorously, saying, "No, I couldn't. I'd rather die of thirst."

Xiao Tianye burst into laughter, "If it were me in that situation, I would drink too." Prince Zou was indeed a rare and handsome man, especially now with a smile on his face, he looked even more radiant. However, as he said this, his expression suddenly turned serious, as if lost in thought.

No one dared to speak anymore. The soldiers responsible for surveillance quickly came over and reported, "Your Highness, they drank the water and then continued forward."

Hezhou frowned and said, "One-third of the time has passed. Why aren't they in a hurry to escape?" This Miss Ouyang, although young, possessed courage and strength that surpassed ordinary people. What exactly was she planning at this moment?

Just then, the leading soldier received another carrier pigeon message. However, when he approached, his face was pale, and he hesitated to speak. Xiao Tianye frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Your Highness, they're gone!"

"What?" Xiao Tianye jumped up in anger. "How could so many of you be watching and let this happen? Are you all blind?"

"I am guilty... It's because that lady suddenly mocked Your Highness loudly, saying you are untrustworthy for not pursuing them and even sent people to ambush. She also ridiculed the guards as incompetent, not even trusting them to watch over two weak individuals... I was infuriated and thought that I could catch up with them after an hour anyway, so I secretly withdrew most of the surveillance. I left only one person to watch from afar... but then... when I went back... they were gone."

The soldier, pale and trembling, kept bowing and apologizing. The note he handed over stated that the people disappeared inexplicably. How could this be possible?

Everyone hung their heads, afraid to even look at Prince Qin. "Take him away!" Xiao Tianye coldly ordered, and the soldier was quickly dragged away. He continued, "Good, very good! Even if she hides underground, I will dig her out. If she can survive until tomorrow, I will change my surname to hers! Guards!"

Hezhou watched as Xiao Tianye swiftly divided the 500 soldiers into ten teams, sending them in ten directions to thoroughly search every inch of the hunting ground, leaving no stone unturned.

"Your Highness, should we leave some people here?" Hezhou asked anxiously.

Xiao Tianye's face was cold as he replied, "No need. You all go and search. Even if we have to turn this place upside down, we must find Ouyang Nuan. Whoever finds her will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold. Failure to find her will result in execution!"

Hezhou's heart trembled, knowing that this prince was the most ruthless and cruel. He quickly nodded and left with his men, fearing the prince's wrath might extend to them.

As time passed, there was still no news. Xiao Tianye felt increasingly uneasy, sensing that something crucial was missing from his thoughts. Lost in his contemplation, he absentmindedly rode until he felt a sudden shortness of breath and heart palpitations, forcing him to stop at a palace where he often rested.

The area of this palace was smaller than usual, only used for resting during hunting trips. The main hall consisted of only three rooms, with very simple furnishings. As Xiao Tianye entered, he heard laughter. Realizing that there were only two guards left to watch, he furrowed his brow.

One of the guards chuckled, "It's quite rare, Your Highness, to see you sending a young lady to clean the house."

Another guard, with a gentle voice, laughed and said, "Yes, Your Highness said hunting is exhausting, so he asked me to come and prepare everything in advance! Speaking of which, Your Highness's archery skills are truly remarkable. We had a good day today."

The voice... That voice unmistakably belonged to that damn... Ouyang Nuan! But how could this be possible? With a large group of people frantically searching outside, she was hiding here? How could this be possible!

"You're so beautiful, miss. How come I've never seen you before?"

"I've only been in the palace for a short time, and this is my first time accompanying His Highness on a hunt. So of course you haven't seen me before. How long have you two been with His Highness?" The voice was polite, gentle, and deliberate, but it filled Xiao Tianye with boundless anger.

"Ah, it's been quite a while. I mentioned it to you because you're young and naive. Despite His Highness's refined and elegant appearance, he's quite a formidable figure. You should keep your distance from him,"

"Really? I've always seen His Highness as quite friendly!"

The other guard sighed, "Miss, how can you judge people at such a young age? His Highness doesn't hesitate to kill when necessary!"

The girl giggled, "Oh, you two are so scary! Just trying to scare me!"

Hearing that clear, melodious laughter, Xiao Tianye couldn't bear it anymore. He quickly rushed into the inner hall and exclaimed, "You're hiding here!"

Both guards were stunned, not understanding why His Highness suddenly burst in. Xiao Tianye didn't want to see these two fools anymore and shouted, "Get out!"

The two guards exchanged puzzled looks and hurriedly left, stumbling and crawling as they went.

Ouyang Nuan smiled as she looked at Xiao Tianye. Her radiant smile was dazzling, making him feel uncomfortable, but she smiled even brighter, "Your Highness, you're late. It's already... too late."

Xiao Tianye stared at her intently. Ouyang Nuan smiled, "Your Highness, even if you look again, you won't find a flower blooming on my face."

Xiao Tianye couldn't hold back any longer. Through gritted teeth, he asked, "How did you manage to escape?"

Ouyang Nuan clapped her hands, and Ouyang Jue climbed in through the window from behind, wearing a mischievous smile. He said, "If His Highness wants to know, I'll generously tell you. My sister scared off your men and then took me with her to jump into the creek."

Xiao Tianye couldn't help but ask, "Why run through the water when there was a perfectly good road?"

Ouyang Nuan smiled and asked, "Since Your Highness came out for a hunt, you must have brought hunting dogs, right?"

Wherever people walk, they inevitably leave behind their scent. While humans may not detect it, it's hard to escape the keen sense of smell of well-trained hunting dogs. Only by walking through water can one evade the tracking of hunting dogs. Once a person enters the water, even if there is a scent, it gets washed away by the flow of water.

Xiao Tianye remarked, "Truly, you've thought of everything."

Ouyang Nuan modestly replied, "Not at all. It's also thanks to Your Highness for providing us with a means of transportation, sparing us the hardship of walking on foot. Oh, and your guards are very courteous. They even helped me dry my skirt hem." Luckily, she was dressed plainly and had deliberately removed the ruby brooch, or it would have been difficult to deceive others.

Xiao Tianye, being so clever, immediately grasped the key point. The cattle and horses he had sent might have become their mounts. When the hunting dogs reached the creek, the scent abruptly ended. The soldiers would naturally assume they had leaped into the water and would continue tracking on the opposite bank. Little did they know that they had ridden their cattle and horses to hide in his own resting palace. But in doing so, they had eluded further pursuit.

He couldn't help but sneer, "After hiding here later, weren't you afraid that I would come back and find you?"

Ouyang Nuan shook her head slightly. "His Highness detests subordinates acting on their own initiative, so he would naturally resent our sudden disappearance even more. He won't rest until he finds us. People say the most dangerous place is the safest place. I suppose Your Highness hasn't even heard of this saying?"

With each word, she seemed to have already figured out Xiao Tianye's character.

"No one dares to play tricks on me!" Xiao Tianye suddenly stepped forward, fiercely grabbing Ouyang Nuan's arm. His eyes were bloodshot. "Stop pretending... Let's see how long you can hold out!"

Ouyang Nuan stepped back, while Ouyang Jue, sensing the sudden frenzy, leaped up and rammed into Xiao Tianye's chest.

With a low grunt, Xiao Tianye's grip on Ouyang Nuan suddenly loosened. Ouyang Nuan looked up to see Xiao Tianye clutching his chest with one hand, his face contorted in unbearable pain. He glared at Ouyang Nuan hatefully, his face pale. Suddenly, his body trembled, and he coughed violently, blood spattering from his lips in a horrifying sight.

Ouyang Jue was horrified, grabbing Ouyang Nuan and attempting to run outside. They were about to reach the door when they heard a sorrowful groan behind them.

Ouyang Nuan instinctively turned to look back, only to see Xiao Tianye trembling as he clutched his chest, enduring immense pain. It seemed like he was struggling to take out a porcelain bottle from his pocket, but he couldn't get a grip on it, and the bottle rolled far away. His eyes were filled with despair as he curled up like a baby, emitting a low, hoarse moan. His face was as pale as translucent, as if he was about to breathe his last breath.

"Sister, don't mind this madman!" Ouyang Jue, seeing Ouyang Nuan hesitate, quickly urged her.

Ouyang Tianye looked at the siblings in despair. He had just been in complete control, holding the other's life firmly in his hands, but now he was teetering between life and death. The lamb that had been at the mercy of others had now completely turned the tables. Despicable!

Ouyang Nuan didn't have a shred of compassion. In fact, except for her grandmother and Ouyang Jue, she wouldn't be moved by anyone or anything. She was simply weighing the consequences of saving this person.

If he died here, would her little brother be implicated?

It's better to resolve enmity than to perpetuate it, especially when dealing with someone as powerful as Prince Qin. Indeed, she couldn't let him die.

With determination, Ouyang Nuan quickly walked over and picked up the porcelain bottle. Xiao Tianye had no strength left to raise his hand. Ouyang Nuan guessed that the bottle contained life-saving pills, so she brought it to his lips and poured the medicine into his mouth.

"Sister, what's wrong with him?" Ouyang Jue asked.

"Probably a heart condition," Ouyang Nuan replied in a low voice.

Xiao Tianye gasped for breath, still pale. He leaned against her, furrowing his brows and breathing heavily, but he just stared at her with an unfamiliar gaze.

Ouyang Nuan fearlessly held his gaze. Xiao Tianye's lips were already cracked, but he remained silent throughout. Ouyang Nuan sighed and said to Ouyang Jue, "Go fetch some water."

Ouyang Jue stood still, unmoving. Ouyang Nuan looked at him calmly, and he furrowed his brows. "Alright, alright, I'll do as you say." He then ran off to get some water.

Ouyang Nuan moistened a cloth with water and gently dabbed Xiao Tianye's lips, her movements delicate. "Prince, there has been no grudge between us in the past, no enmity in recent days. Yet you've resorted to such coercion. Now that we've saved you once, I implore you to spare my brother." She repeated her plea, her gaze unwavering.

However, Xiao Tianye's eyes suddenly turned cold, and he spoke in a chilling tone, "Get out now."

Ouyang Nuan smiled faintly. "Apologies, Your Highness. With so many people outside, it's difficult for us to leave. I'm afraid we'll have to trouble you to leave with us."

•••