The “Hehuan powder” lives up to its name and is a commonly used prop in ancient novels. It can appear in various forms, usually in the form of pills or powder. The Hehuan powder may be late, but it never misses an appointment.
Hearing the name, Xiao Jin, surrounded by the sweet and almost sticky fragrance in the hall, instantly understood everything. In the ancient world, what was supposed to happen would eventually happen.
It must be said that the Hehuan powder is indeed very effective, just as described in online novels. The system said it would trigger within five minutes, and it’s probably not a spice, but some kind of infectious disease. However, even virus transmission cannot be that fast.
After hearing Xiao Jin’s words, the Fourth Prince thought that her remark “You are asking for your own death” was a threat to him. He immediately laughed and said, “Brother, your words have left me completely puzzled. I just invited my sister-in-law for a chat, and you want to beat me up. I’m very aggrieved.”
Aggrieved? Do you still think of yourself as a child?
Xiao Jin watched as the smoke rose from the copper furnace, and her blood pressure instantly skyrocketed. Although the Third Prince was already a foolish male supporting character in online novels, whoever used such despicable means would make her blood boil. Moreover, her current surge of blood was probably physiological, not psychological.
As the Hehuan powder was indeed a staple prop in online novels, even if she tried to suppress it, she still felt a little feverish and dry-lipped. In theory, the best thing for Xiao Jin to do right now was to leave the Prince’s Mansion with Chu Shao as soon as possible. However, she endured the urge and slowly said to the Fourth Prince, “Come here.”
Chu Shao smiled at Xiao Jin. If her feeling was correct, Xiao Jin’s heartbeat seemed to be racing.
However, her words were still calm, as if nothing had happened.
Although the Fourth Prince did not understand why Xiao Jin wanted him to come over, he knew that the Hehuan powder was extremely powerful.
Even if Chu Shao was lucky enough to avoid it, Xiao Jin was seriously ill and could not escape this disaster. So the Fourth Prince stood up and walked to Xiao Jin’s side with a smile, “I don’t know why Third Brother has summoned me. What can I do for you?”
“Kneel down.” Even though she had been affected by the Hehuan powder, Xiao Jin’s breathing remained steady.
At this moment, the Fourth Prince was a little confused. Could it be that the old wang’s fragrance was fake?Â
But whether the Hehuan powder was real or fake, he could never kneel down in front of Xiao Jin.
The fourth prince snorted, “Third brother, we are both princes. If your subjects want to kneel, they should kneel to the emperor and the crown prince. Why should they kneel to you?”
Xiao Jin didn’t get angry and calmly said, “You don’t have to kneel, just bow your head and listen to what I have to say.”
Although Fourth Prince was a bit skeptical of Xiao Jin’s indifferent expression, he still slightly bowed his head to hear what Xiao Jin had to say.
But as soon as he lowered his head, he was puzzled by how Xiao Jin’s eyelashes were longer than a woman’s, and then she saw Xiao Jin slowly and deliberately take off the white jade finger guard on her hand.
Normally, Xiao Jin didn’t like wearing finger guards and such things because she felt they were too restrictive and inconvenient.
However, this finger guard was a gift from Xiao Shuang, and the little maid had specially found it in the storeroom for her to wear when she met with Princess Zhao Yang.
Thinking of this, Xiao Jin gently placed the jade finger guard on the armrest of her wheelchair.
The fourth prince was even more confused. Why did Xiao Jin take off the finger guard in front of him? Was she crazy?
He still had a smile on his face and said, “Third brother, what are you doing…”
Before he could finish the word “doing”, The fourth prince was caught off guard and suddenly slapped to the ground by a sudden force.
As he lay on the ground, he belatedly felt a burning pain on the left side of his face. He trembled as he reached up to touch it and felt a swollen palm print. He realized that he had just been slapped by Xiao Jin.
The fourth prince panicked and moved his fingers to his lips, only to find that his lips were bleeding.
The Stewart, Old Wang, was pale with fright as he watched the fourth prince fall to the ground. He shouted, “Your Highness!” and tried to help him up.
But before he could reach the fourth prince, he was pushed away by him, and he angrily said, “Get away! Don’t touch me!”
Seeing this scene, Chu Shao smiled.
If it weren’t for the fact that she could clearly see with her own eyes that the fourth prince was indeed a man, she would have thought that he was imitating a chaste woman.
The Stewart, who had been flattering Xiao Yi just a moment ago, was now trembling as he watched the increasingly swollen palm print on the fourth prince’s face, his mind buzzing.
“Oh no, Your Highness has been beaten up like this. How can we attend the birthday banquet of the Princess Zhao Yang? And how can I explain this to the Noble Consort?”
The fourth prince struggled to get up from the ground, not caring that his jade crown was still askew. He pointed at Xiao Jin and scolded, “Xiao Jin, you’re just a cripple. Who do you think you are to hit me?”
Before he could finish his sentence, the jade crown on his head fell to the ground and cracked open, revealing a fissure in the jade tiger pattern.
The reason why the fourth prince couldn’t say anything further was because he fell to the ground once again, this time not on his already injured left cheek but on his intact right cheek.
Xiao Jin sat in her wheelchair and slowly lowered her hand. Because of the backlight in the room, no one could see her expression clearly, but her voice was clear and reached the fourth prince’s ears.
“Why can’t I hit you? Just because you’re a prince and I’m the Prince Yan appointed by His Majesty? I only gave you two slaps. As a grown man, are you going to cry to His Majesty about it?”
“Moreover, as your older brother, when I hit you, you shouldn’t curse at me. You should kneel down and thank me for disciplining you. Otherwise, you might use that disgusting fragrance from the incense burner to harm others in the future.”
Xiao Jin didn’t look at the struggling fourth prince trying to get up. Instead, she frowned and took out a silk handkerchief, wiping her hand as if she had touched something dirty.Â
Then she picked up the jade hairpin on the armrest and put it back on her head.
The Fourth Prince covered his face, his eyes full of anger and killing intent. “You…”
Xiao Jin remained expressionless. “What about me? You should be grateful that I am a ‘cripple’ now. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have just given you a slap, but kicked you out directly.”
The Fourth Prince trembled with rage, pointing at Xiao Jin and cursing, “Xiao Jin, you…”
Xiao Jin interrupted him. “I warn you not to point your finger at me again. Firstly, it’s impolite, and it makes me doubt if the two slaps earlier were enough to teach you. Secondly, this gesture is like reminding me that your hand is still flexible, and I may need to help make it more twisted.”
“Don’t think that I have no temper just because I am a cripple. Even if my legs are useless, I am still your elder brother. I hit you today. Can you hit me back? Dare you?”
The steward stood on the side and held the Fourth Prince who was lying on the ground, almost fainting with anger. He knelt down shakily, grabbed the Fourth Prince’s sleeve, and said, “Your Highness… the Prince Yan is your elder brother. Don’t act impulsively.”
It was precisely because of the steward’s actions that the Fourth Prince’s finger pointing at Xiao Jin was inadvertently moved away, which could be considered a silent way out for him.
Xiao Jin glanced at Chu Shao on the side and found her smiling, staring at her intently.
She then averted her gaze and calmly said to the Fourth Prince lying on the ground, “Since Fourth Brother has already knelt down, I am grateful for his gratitude towards me. I have to attend a banquet later, so I won’t trouble you any further.”
Before Chu Shao pushed her wheelchair and stood up, Xiao Jin smiled and said to the Fourth Prince who couldn’t get up, “I have already felt your sincerity, Fourth Brother. You can stay here and rest. There’s no need to get up and see me off.”
…
Chu Shao pushed the purple bamboo wheelchair out of the hall slowly.
Snow was falling outside the palace.
Except for the maids who were kneeling and saluting to Xiao Jin, there was no one else.
It wasn’t until they had completely left the prince’s residence that Chu Shao finally smiled and asked, “Your highness, why didn’t we see Old Zhang?”
Since Xiao Jin was able to find this place, she must have been informed by Old Zhang.
Moreover, given Old Zhang’s personality, how could he feel at ease letting Xiao Jin go to the prince’s residence alone, especially after the assassination attempt on Xiao Jin a few days ago?
Chu Shao pushed the wheelchair and walked to a secluded street.
A row of pine trees was planted here, and the place was very sparsely populated.
But Xiao Jin remained silent and did not answer Chu Shao’s question.
Chu Shao furrowed her brows slightly and stopped the wheelchair under a snow-covered pine branch.
Then she turned around, smiled, and walked around the wheel of the chair to face Xiao Jin.
At this point, Chu Shao couldn’t help but be stunned.
Because Xiao Jin’s face seemed to be unnaturally red.
This face was not like a man’s, it was beautiful and often had a slightly sickly white complexion, but now it looked as if a pearl had been rolled in a layer of powder, with a light and thin crimson showing through.
Her lips were slightly open, and even the light hum that overflowed from between her lips and teeth was slow and heavy, with a hint of restraint.
It was winter now, and the snow on the pine trees bent the branches.
However, Xiao Jin’s posture as she fell back against the back of the wheelchair inexplicably made the whole tree sprout with the feeling of spring.
To put it simply, the rhythm of Chu Shao’s heartbeat made her feel a little confused.
Chu Shao was sure that she had contracted a strange disease.
But this disease was actually extremely pleasurable, allowing her to feel her blood boiling in the midst of the ice and snow.
It was a wonderful experience, worthy of careful study and relish.
However, Xiao Jin’s experience at the moment was not very good.
The Hehuan powder had an amazing effect, and it was triggered in just five minutes, without any ambiguity.
Just now, if it wasn’t for Xiao Jin’s conviction to beat the fourth prince, the medicine would have taken effect before she could leave the prince’s residence.
Now that she’s outside, Xiao Jin can no longer suppress the surging effect of the medicine, and her vision has begun to blur.
She can only vaguely feel Chu Shao gently picking her up and placing her under a pine tree.
The original owner’s body temperature was usually very cold, but Xiao Jin now feels feverish and wants to find something cold to rub against.
She raised her hand and barely held onto the tree trunk, but it felt too rough.
When she reached out again and grabbed a piece of cloth at random, the feeling within reach was very cold and smooth.
Xiao Jin pulled the sleeve closer and could even smell the refreshing fragrance, like that of a frosty pine tree.
Her voice was soft and hoarse as she unconsciously said, “Come here.”
As Chu Shao listened to that weak voice, her smile deepened, and she leaned in closer.
Xiao Jin tugged at Chu Shao’s sleeve and said, “Come closer…to me.”
She was indeed a bit confused and even forgot to pretend to be the Prince Yan. She even said “I” instead of “this one.”
Chu Shao was very obedient and leaned closer as Xiao Jin instructed.
Until she could see Xiao Jin’s thick and long eyelashes, gently drooping like raven feathers, trying to cover up the desire and confusion in her eyes.
The crimson blush on her cheeks did not match her cold and stern face. It was like a naive songstress holding a zither and kissing Xiao Jin’s face, leaving a few vermilion lip marks.
Chu Shao looked at Xiao Jin’s fingers holding onto her sleeve and felt like she was a girl tasting forbidden fruit for the first time. Not only was her breath in disarray, but her entire hand was trembling.
Her lips still carried a calm smile, but her heart was pounding wildly as Xiao Jin’s lips approached.
Their breaths intertwined, releasing hot air that covered the cold of the snow. Their lips were almost touching.
At this moment, Chu Shao suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Xiao Jin, who had stopped at this moment.
Because they were too close, she couldn’t see the expression on Xiao Jin’s face clearly, but she could see her movements.
“Princess, may I borrow your dagger?”
Chu Shao lowered her eyes and noticed that because she was half-kneeling in front of Xiao Jin, the dagger at her waist was partially exposed.
Although Xiao Jin was completely confused, she tried to maintain a clear gaze. She smiled again.Â
 It had to be said that Chu Shao was indeed very curious.Â
 What did Xiao Jin want to do with her dagger in this state?Â
Was she so ashamed that she wanted to cut her throat and commit suicide?Â
 Chu Shao still had a smile on her face and was about to take off the dagger at her waist and hand it to Xiao Jin, but unexpectedly, the latter reached out and took the dagger directly by bypassing her waist.Â
 “Clang -“Â
 The sound of the blade leaving the sheath was very crisp.Â
 Chu Shao widened her eyes and looked incredulously at Xiao Jin, who was holding the dagger.Â
 Xiao Jin breathed lightly and used her other hand to roll up her sleeve, then aimed the dagger at her own arm – and mercilessly slashed it.Â
 In an instant, cold sweat broke out on her forehead.The tearing sensation of the blade cutting into her flesh was very clear, and the pain completely overwhelmed the effect of the Hehuan powder, making her sober up.Â
 Afterwards, Xiao Jin slowly loosened her fingers.Â
 The dagger fell, splashing a patch of blood on the snow.Â
 Xiao Jin pressed her hot body against the tree trunk, her voice soft and weak as she said to Chu Shao, “Thank you.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Author’s note: Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated me with nutrient solution between 23:58:46 and 23:58:57 on February 23, 2022.
Translator’s note: hmm… I thought, they will kiss🤦.
TO BE CONTINUE…
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