Chapter 22: The Cold Prince with a White Moon in His Heart, Part 2

In reality, Situ Che’s frailty and chronic illness were all a facade. Furthermore, he already had a woman in his heart, which was why he refused to accept any other woman.

However, the original owner of this body did not know that!

She adored Situ Che, and marrying him was the fulfillment of her greatest dream. She only wished to accompany him for the rest of her life. Consequently, she willingly became a test subject for his medicinal experiments, eventually dying in the Prince Jin estate, her body broken and exhausted, only half a year after she had entered the household.

During those six months, Situ Che’s attitude toward her had remained cold and distant, a tactic he used to force her to leave on her own. He had not expected her to be so stubborn, or perhaps he had underestimated the depth of her love for him.

After processing the memories, Jing Yunluo looked at the furnishings in the room and sighed.

"So, my mission this time is to woo Situ Che?"

"Yes, My Lady. The target of this mission is Prince Jin, Situ Che. Currently, the target's favorability toward you is at -30%. Please work hard, My Lady!"

"What? Negative? How can it be negative?"

Jing Yunluo did not understand. What on earth had the original owner done to make Situ Che hate her so much?

"My Lady, in Situ Che’s eyes, the original owner stole the position of Princess Jin that should have belonged to his beloved. That is why he harbors such resentment."

"Then why didn't the third young lady of the Prime Minister’s estate marry him? Weren't they supposed to be in love?"

Jin Yunlan, the third young lady of the Prime Minister’s estate, was Situ Che’s beloved, his "white moonlight."

"Those hidden plot points are for you to uncover, My Lady!"

Jing Yunluo had nothing more to say; she just had to buckle down and do the mission.

After washing up and tidying her clothes, Jing Yunluo pushed open the door and stepped out. Even though Situ Che disliked—or perhaps even hated—the original owner, the courtyard itself was quite nice.

However... the courtyard was filled with magnolia trees, which were Jin Yunlan's favorites. Jing Yunluo frowned. She didn't like them!

"Yue'er!"

"I am here, My Lady."

Mengyue emerged from a nearby room, holding a teapot; she must have been out to brew tea.

"Who planted these magnolia trees?"

"Replying to the Princess, His Highness ordered them to be planted three years ago."

"Find some people and have them all pulled out."

The more Jing Yunluo looked at them, the more they displeased her.

"Ah?"

Mengyue was stunned. But remembering that she was now in the service of the Princess, she knew she had to obey...

"My Lady, won't doing this make Situ Che even angrier?"

"Let him be. I want him to know that I won't be living in the Prince Jin estate as a timid, submissive wife!"

News of Jing Yunluo having the magnolia trees removed reached Situ Che’s ears quickly. But by the time he arrived, the last tree had just been pulled up.

"Jing Yunluo!"

Situ Che shouted, then immediately remembered he had to keep up his disguise and broke into a series of coughs, pretending his throat was irritated from the shout.

"Your Highness is here!"

Jing Yunluo lay on a chaise longue in the middle of the courtyard, not even intending to rise and offer a greeting.

Situ Che stumbled over, his face deathly pale, his lips devoid of any color.

"Jing Yunluo, *cough, cough, cough*... who, who gave you permission to uproot these magnolias?"

"My Lady, Situ Che’s favorability has dropped by 10%. It is now -40%. My Lady, please stop acting out; if it drops any further, it will truly be hopeless!"

Jing Yunluo sighed. Hearing the favorability drop, her heart pained slightly. She kept her eyes closed, not wanting to look at him.

"Your Highness, this is the Princess’s courtyard, and I am the Princess. I don't like these magnolias, so I had them removed. What, does the Princess of Prince Jin’s estate not even have the right to change the decor of her own residence?"

Her question left Situ Che speechless. After all, for a proper Princess, changing the furniture and decor of her own quarters was trivial. If he were to press the issue, it would only make him appear petty.

But these magnolia flowers were what Jin Yunlan loved most, and this courtyard had originally been prepared for her... Situ Che could not swallow his frustration.

"Jing Yunluo, I told you, *cough, cough, cough*... even if you married into this estate, you, *cough, cough, cough*... you will never get what you want!"

Jing Yunluo picked up a book from the small table beside her, opened it, and began to read, still refusing to look at him.

"Does Your Highness know what I want?"

Situ Che fell silent. He knew Jing Yunluo liked him, but he could not and would not accept her affection.

"Your Highness, since this is now my residence, I have the right to change everything in this courtyard. Don't forget, this marriage was decreed by His Majesty!"

"Jing Yunluo, don't go too far! These, *cough, cough*, these magnolia trees were not meant for you!"

Only then did Jing Yunluo put down her book, sit up straight, adjust her clothes, and slowly look up.

"I know this—"

The moment she saw Situ Che, Jing Yunluo froze.

"Darling?"

She whispered the word.

"What did you say?"

Situ Che’s voice reached her, and Jing Yunluo snapped back to reality. This was no longer her previous world; the person in front of her was Situ Che, not Fu Chen.

But...

"System, give me an explanation!"

"Well... My Lady, I don't know what is going on here either..."

"If you don't know, then who does? Just tell me, is Situ Che actually Fu Chen!"

"Oh my, the Divine Emperor is calling me! I must go check on that!"

"You get back here!"

However, the system had already vanished from Jing Yunluo’s consciousness. If the system hadn't fled, it would have been fine, but its flight only solidified her suspicions.

"Jing Yunluo, I am speaking to you! *Cough, cough, cough*..."

Jing Yunluo’s feelings were suddenly very complicated. If Situ Che really was Fu Chen... she might mistake other things, but those eyes—those phoenix eyes—she would never mistake them!

"Jing Yunluo! You..."

"Stop shouting! Your throat is already in bad shape, why are you yelling?"

Jing Yunluo stood up, pulled a porcelain bottle from her sleeve, shook out a pill, and walked up to Situ Che, popping it into his mouth before he could react.

"What did you feed His Highness?"

Zhaoyun, Situ Che’s personal guard, instantly drew his sword and held it to Jing Yunluo’s throat.

"Relax, it's just medicine to clear heat and stop the cough."

Jing Yunluo glanced sideways at the blade, showing no fear. After all, back in the Divine Realm, she hadn't feared the War God’s sword!

"Tell the truth!"

Zhaoyun pressed the blade closer to her neck, and a drop of blood immediately welled up.

"Sss... that hurts!"

Jing Yunluo flicked her hand, knocking Zhaoyun’s sword aside. "If I wanted him dead, why would I do it right in front of you?"

She reached up to touch her neck; sure enough, her fingertips came away with a smear of blood.

"Jing Yunluo!"

Zhaoyun didn't even consider how she had swatted his sword away; his mind was entirely focused on Situ Che’s safety.

"Zhaoyun!"

Situ Che reached out and held Zhaoyun back. "I... I do feel better."

Situ Che had been faking illness for years, taking medicine to manipulate his pulse and ensure he kept coughing so no one would grow suspicious.

Jing Yunluo had Mengyue bring a bronze mirror so she could inspect her wound. Suddenly, Zhaoyun knelt before her. "Princess, I defied you just now. Please punish me!"

As he spoke, Zhaoyun held out his sword with both hands in submission.