Chapter 18: Devoured Whole
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The first time Yin Jiaojiao called Xiao Yuanchi by his full name was two years ago, when she fell in love at first sight and met him for the second time.
In the early spring of March, the people of the Eastern Capital all went out for outings. The countryside was awash with blooming flowers and green willows. Having learned that Xiao Yuanchi would be there, Yin Jiaojiao dressed up and arrived early, but she still underestimated the difficulty. Various young ladies vied to catch a glimpse of the gallant and spirited general of the Great Yong, and she couldn’t squeeze through. After much struggle, she hadn’t even seen a strand of Xiao Yuanchi’s hair.
Finally, she grew impatient, disregarded her image, lifted her skirt, and climbed a tree. Surpassing the crowd of girls, she waved her arms wildly and called out loudly, “Xiao Yuanchi! Look this way!”
After seeing him twice, this was the first time Xiao Yuanchi had turned to look at her.
Enchanting, like a love poem.
Later, when she became a princess consort, she adopted propriety and mostly called him “Prince,” no longer using Xiao Yuanchi’s name.
Xiao Yuanchi flicked the hem of his garment and followed her into the carriage.
“Such gnashing of teeth—are you mad that I ruined your little scheme?”
Yin Jiaojiao had just settled on the seat. Hearing this, she snapped, “Xiao Yuanchi, you’re the culprit crying ‘thief’! It was you who blamed me and my elder brother for stumbling upon your jealousy with Prince Lu!”
“Elder brother?” Xiao Yuanchi planted both arms beside her, leaning sharply against the carriage wall, “You don’t even call me ‘Your Highness’ anymore. Seems like you all enjoyed this meal quite well.”
“You!”
In the past, Yin Jiaojiao had despised even the shadows of him and never called Xiao Yuanxi “elder brother.” This was the first time she had mustered the courage. “What’s wrong with calling him elder brother? I could even call him brother-in-law! You’re just guilty and picking fights with me. As for the meal—what meal? I only ate two pieces of that Kung Pao shrimp before you tore down the door!”
“I, with all dignity, am here to defend the Gu family. Where’s the guilt in that? But you, Yin Jiaojiao, entangled with Xiao Yuanxi, show no awareness of being a married woman!”
“You’re the one who’s got eyes only for someone else while scheming for that other woman. You’d rather broadcast your affair with Gu Xuezhi across the entire Eastern Capital. Do you have any sense of being a husband?”
Their eyes locked, igniting sparks ready to explode. Outside, the coachman and Su Zhengqing listened intermittently, catching the scent of conflict. Neither dared to intervene, and with Xiao Yuanchi silent, the carriage remained still. Qiu Ming, anxious, paced nervously and finally persuaded, “Prince, Princess Consort, there seems to be a misunderstanding. Perhaps it would be better to discuss it more thoroughly back at the manor. There are too many people outside; it’s not proper.”
Her intention was to let them cool off, but instead, she unwittingly gave Yin Jiaojiao more fuel to flare.
“I heard perfectly well that there’s no misunderstanding. Yes, Prince Lu is a wastrel with a lawful wife; how could he covet the county princess?” Her eyes reddened. “You’re different—you have glorious achievements and merit, the best match for her. You’re just waiting for me to die so you can happily bring her home. How could you let the ship capsize halfway and have someone else marry her?”
At these words, Qiu Ming was speechless. Su Zhengqing gasped sharply. Xiao Yuanchi gritted his teeth, waves of emotion surging in his eyes.
“…You’ve planned it well.”
Yin Jiaojiao’s chest rose and fell. “Right in the prince’s heart, isn’t it?”
Suddenly, Xiao Yuanchi grasped her chin with fierce eyes, as if ready to devour her. Enraged, Yin Jiaojiao ignored everything else, only wishing to anger him to death.
“Too bad, this princess consort plans to live well, live to seventy or eighty, and become an old immortal. Prince, you can wait patiently!”
She sniffled, tears glistening, her nose red, eyes even redder, her round face puckered like a dumpling—resentful yet proud, like a little leopard ready to scratch, with teeth not yet fully grown, threatening wildly.
No murderous intent, only endearing clumsiness.
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Xiao Yuanchi stared deeply; his anger suddenly turned into restless energy. He held back, then kissed her.
Yin Jiaojiao was stunned, her mouth blocked. This wretch kissed fiercely, devouring her breath with overwhelming force. She retreated an inch; he advanced a foot, leaving her unable to speak or breathe. Opening her eyes, she saw that annoying face; closing them, that infuriating scent.
His domineering intrusion was everywhere.
With no room to retreat, Yin Jiaojiao’s back pressed against the carriage wall. Her hair bun was tousled roughly, two of the three hairpins fell, strands of hair brushed her cheek and collar—both itchy and smooth.
Xiao Yuanchi’s hand circled her waist while the other brushed away the troublesome hair strands. His rough knuckles traced her soft, tofu-like face, sending shivers through the already overwhelmed Yin Jiaojiao, instantly sobering her.
She pushed against his chest with both hands, struggling to break free.
“No… Don’t…” she panted. “Get lost…”
Her strength was weak; not only could she not move him, but her push only fueled his passion further. The hand around her waist even began to creep inward. Yin Jiaojiao felt her scalp tingling.
The sun was still overhead! There were people outside! Was he mad?
She fought back harder, but the more she resisted, the more reckless Xiao Yuanchi became. Desperate, she bit his warm lips, though she didn’t control the strength well. The metallic taste filled her mouth instantly.
“Ah!”
Xiao Yuanchi gasped sharply, startling Yin Jiaojiao into stillness.
“You…”
Before she could ask if he was okay, the man pressed down again.
This time, he kissed harder, as if punishing her, teasing and fondling her. Yin Jiaojiao was forced to taste his blood—bitter and astringent, difficult to swallow, more torturous than any punishment. Tears she had held back finally spilled, one or two falling onto Xiao Yuanchi’s face.
He closed his eyes, then after a moment, opened them.
“After a meal with His Highness the Crown Prince, even a husband and wife can’t handle intimacy.”
Yin Jiaojiao caught her breath, gasping deeply. After a long while, she glared fiercely at him.
“Intimacy… intimacy isn’t supposed to be so sudden! We were clearly arguing just now!”
Xiao Yuanchi looked satisfied, and upon hearing this, raised an eyebrow. “Arguing? Wasn’t it you who spoke recklessly?”
“Zhengqing!”
Su Zhengqing, who had been squatting nearby teasing a passing stray cat, hurried over at the call.
“Prince!”
“Return to the manor.”
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“All right!”
Outside, chaos erupted. The carriage swiftly took off.
Yin Jiaojiao hastily adjusted her clothes, shrinking into a corner to keep distance from Xiao Yuanchi. Only then did she mutter plaintively.
“The prince is always quick to blame me.”
“You pin crimes on me with your wild imaginings. Yin Jiaojiao, don’t you think you’re unfair?”
“My wild imaginings have reasons and evidence.”
“Reasons and evidence?” Xiao Yuanchi sneered lightly. “If I followed your wild imaginings, I’d say you’re secretly hoping I die so you can become a carefree widow and openly flirt with your brother-in-law.”
He looked at her sideways, teasing.
“Am I right?”
Yin Jiaojiao swallowed nervously, feeling guilty. She had to admit, this man was sharp; he hit the mark with just a casual guess.
She cleared her throat. “Prince, please don’t joke. Heaven is my witness, I am wholeheartedly devoted to you, hoping to grow old together, live as one, and be together in the next life and the life after that!”
She blinked earnestly, as if the harsh words she had just spat out weren’t hers.
“Eating from the bowl in your hand while eyeing the pot—that’s not something you overlook?”
She did care, wanted to kill him on the spot!
Yin Jiaojiao tried hard to restrain herself. “I care… I do. But what you said… makes sense. Madame Sun is your sworn sister; her life has been hard. You don’t want to see her marry the wrong man. It’s normal to worry about her. Maybe… maybe I misunderstood.”
“Truth?”
“Truth!”
Xiao Yuanchi looked at her coldly, clearly reluctant, with a forced tone. His eyes betrayed his true feelings, yet he still managed to act gentle and virtuous.
He turned his gaze to the window. “No matter what you think, you’d better think this way. Yin Jiaojiao, you’re not like Xuezhi. You must recognize your status.”
Yin Jiaojiao’s heart sank.
Having lived two lifetimes, how could she not see clearly?
Xuezhi was like the moon reflected in water, a flower in the mirror—Xiao Yuanchi’s beloved. And she was the loud, intrusive clown who barged in, only fit to quietly shrink away and not cause trouble.