She only caught that one sentence:
"One copper coin? That can't even buy a single bread crumb."
The words kept rolling around in her ears. After reaching the peak of rage, only icy calm remained.
Despite her still-unhealed injuries leaving her face pale, Mo Xihan leaned lazily against the soft couch in the most comfortable position. One hand rested casually on her slightly bent knee, while the other slowly rubbed the copper coin between her fingers.
The carriage curtain was lifted. Golden sunlight slanted in like scattered grains of gold.
The woman wore a flowing purple brocade robe embroidered with intricate, hidden dark patterns on the sleeves and hem. With every movement, the patterns flickered in and out of sight, adding an air of mysterious nobility.
Her father, the current Empress Dowager, was from the grasslands, and she had inherited his exotic features. A pair of amber eyes, deep as starlit lakes, carried a captivating, otherworldly charm.
Her slightly curly black hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders like fine silk or an untamed wild horse—elegant yet full of rebellious wild beauty.
Even with a pale face and no color in her cheeks, her lazy, carefree posture and slightly raised, unrestrained gaze showed no trace of embarrassment. She still carried the full aura of a king, making her stunning appearance even more striking.
Two cold "heh"s escaped her.
Du Xi, who had just flashed a big white-toothed smile, instantly froze and quickly pulled it back the moment she felt that indifferent, chilling gaze land on her.
She secretly swallowed. Did I say something wrong?
"Heh——"
"One copper coin?"
There it was again. The master had started laughing in that sarcastic, eerie way.
Besides, what was wrong with one copper coin? Even a mosquito's leg is still meat! If the master didn't want it, she could just give it to her subordinate. Saving bit by bit, right? Hehe!
Du Xi didn't dare reply out loud and could only grumble inwardly, her thoughts quite beautiful.
Little did she know that in Mo Xihan's heart, this was not a copper coin.
This was not bread crumbs.
This was her chastity!
Something even less valuable than bread crumbs—her chastity!
Very good. Du Xi had spoken extremely well.
Mo Xihan raised an eyebrow and said in a soft, eerie voice, "You're right. You've really hit this prince's heart."
"Ah!" Du Xi's eyes widened in disbelief. "R-Really, Master?"
Mo Xihan gave a heavy "Mm," then spoke leisurely, "Since you're so eloquent and talented, this prince is thinking… what reward should I give you?"
Du Xi's eyes sparkled. A brilliant smile bloomed on her face. She scratched her head sheepishly, grinning from ear to ear with a silly, honest look. Yet her voice turned shy: "Master is overpraising me. This subordinate doesn't deserve…"
"How about… rewarding you with one copper coin?"
"This subordinate thanks Master for the… huh?" Du Xi was still flashing her big teeth in gratitude when the words hit her. Her smile froze solid.
She thought for a moment, wondering if she had misheard. In a small, puzzled voice she repeated, "Master said… one copper coin?"
"Mhm. One copper coin." Mo Xihan's tone was extremely firm.
"..."
Great. She had really thought too beautifully.
From the master's tone, she hadn't misheard. The master was truly angry.
Accepting a "reward" from an angry master? Du Xi didn't dare take it at all.
She still didn't know what she had said wrong to make the master vent on her. Sighing inwardly, Du Xi was utterly confused.
It was just one copper coin… Normally the master's rewards were extremely generous anyway. She didn't care at all!
Unfortunately, with her back to the driver, she didn't see the wicked smile on her master's face behind her.
"Not just one copper coin, you know? Since you said one coin is so important, then——"
"This copper coin will be your entire salary for this month. Nothing else."
Crack. It felt like thunder had struck her brain. Du Xi's face went blank, eyes wide with shock. Once she processed it, her whole face collapsed. She sat there like a fool, eyes vacant and motionless.
Wuwuwu...
Once the master said something, there was no taking it back. Du Xi wanted to cry. She suddenly tilted her head back at a 45-degree angle, staring at the sky.
She looked like she was one second away from howling "No——!"
Now she had lost her reward and angered the master. When they got back, that bastard Xiao Du would definitely laugh at her!
...
Pah pah pah! Du Xi slapped her own mouth. It was all this damned mouth's fault.
She swore that next time she would figure out the situation before opening her mouth.
Sigh—— Sigh——
Mm, not bad, not bad! Seeing others suffer made her happy. Mo Xihan's anger from the whole day finally eased a little.
However...
The hand rubbing the copper coin paused. Recalling the assassination ambush this time, Mo Xihan narrowed her eyes in thought. The hand on her knee tapped lightly as deep, cold light surged in her amber pupils.
Perhaps...
"Du Xi, turn the carriage around." The corner of her lips curved up as she spoke leisurely.
Du Xi dared not disobey. Without asking why, she immediately turned the horse. She only asked curiously, "Master, what about His Majesty…"
Speaking of her imperial sister, Mo Xihan rubbed her forehead and sighed. "It's fine. This prince will send a letter. She will understand once she sees it."
"Yes."
"Oh, right. Remember to have someone deliver the things this prince prepared to the palace for Imperial Sister and Father-Consort."
"Yes, Master."
...
Dark clouds covered the sky like thick ink. The world was dim, and a light, continuous rain fell.
The wind rolled up fallen leaves, bringing a touch of coolness to the hot season.
Su Yu, who had just returned from the mountain, secretly rejoiced that he hadn't gotten wet. He was in an excellent mood—today's luck had been truly good.
Not only had he caught two rabbits with simple traps, he had also picked many edible wild fruits. His stomach temple could now enjoy itself for another three to five days.
He put down the tattered basket on his back, took out the two rabbits tied with vines, then stood up to look for the kitchen knife.
Killing the rabbits and draining their blood—he did it cleanly and efficiently.
Yu Jia, who was tightly bound and gagged with a smelly cloth, watched his decisive movements. When he had glanced at her earlier, those pitch-black eyes carried a chilling intent, as if he wasn't killing rabbits… but people.
Her heart thumped hard. She swallowed nervously.
Right now she was tied up and couldn't move. If he wanted revenge, wouldn't she be a lamb waiting to be slaughtered?
As the saying goes: the soft fear the hard, the hard fear the fierce, and the fierce fear the reckless.
She was fierce, but even the fiercest person feared a crazy, suicidal madman!
He used to be a timid, weak man. Yet both times she tried to teach him a lesson, he had dodged everything and knocked her unconscious instead.
The first time could be explained by the dark night and her being drunk, but yesterday she had been completely sober—and he still smashed her head and knocked her out cold.