"Does the prince think I'll trust what you say?" Huang Li Yun didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
It was incredulous! Everyone in Huo Ai witnessed just how much Xinyan Emperor doted on his fifth son. Anyone who offended the prince would be punished one way or another. Nuan Lin Che acted like a tyrant all these years relying on this favor.
His mother, the Imperial Consort Chen's words held weight in the palace even though she only had one son. Up to now, her relationship with the Xinyan Emperor was praised by bards and their love story was reenacted in opera houses.
Who would believe that Xinyan Emperor would try to kill his most beloved son?
The fifth prince laughed without an ounce of humor. "Of course not, Father Emperor is such a great actor after all. You will soon know the truth of my words. For now, I'll be your prisoner who has his uses. If you're still not sure, have someone guard the Marquise at all times."
He turned to Qiaoli. "That's right, the Marquise can come to me when you have questions. I will definitely prioritize you."
The way he said this was so strange because it didn't have the usual teasing or perverted tone. Huang Li Yun didn't know if he should be more afraid because of this.
However, he had no choice but to keep the prince since it was for his sister. For the time being, he would probably take the prince wherever he went to observe him.
Just as the Duke was planning an ideal setup in his mind, the prince spoke again. "Oh, it's better to dispose of the Censor. If it's sending Imperial Father the fake reports about you, I can do it too."
"How can I be sure you'll do as I say?" Huang Li Yun couldn't let go of his careful nature.
Nuan Lin Che knew they were getting nowhere. "Oh Goddess! Marquise, can you talk to this brother of yours? It's difficult to converse with him. This might be the reason why he doesn't have a good love life! I'm already willing to work with him so get him to work with me!"
Huang Qiaoli didn't know anything about her brother's love life and it certainly looked like he had none. But she was also curious why the prince would cooperate with her brother.
Thinking that she should help her brother a bit, she narrowed her eyes at the prince. "You have the chance to strike a full cooperation with da ge all these years but why do you only choose to act now?"
To the siblings' astonishment, the prince gave what looked to be a genuine smile. "Dear Marquise, if this prince didn't meet you today, I won't ever aid the Duke. The only reason I showed my capability is because of you. For some reason, my blood can't ignore your presence."
These words opened another bomb and Qiaoli was getting tired.
So she chose this time to suggest doing something perfectly mundane. "Can we talk this over tea?"
---
There was a set of stone table and chairs outside the Duke's current chambers. Two people sat face to face and it was an unusual scene to behold.
The degenerate prince wasn't ogling the red-haired lady in front of him and the atmosphere was tranquil.
Somewhere in the background several meters away, a brooding Duke was observing the two from his window.
"My Lord, this is a risky move." Yemin stood behind him and voiced out his thoughts.
Huang Li Yun just reunited with his sister earlier today and he let her handle someone as troublesome as the fifth prince.
The Duke smiled gently. "Of course, I know this. If it's up to me, I'll take her back to Huo Ai right now and I won't allow anyone to see her."
Even as he was talking, he didn't take his eyes away from the prince. "But... my sister grew up without me. She has her own thoughts and I can see she grew up to be intelligent. I fear that she's even smarter than me. All I know is to fight people after all."
Yemin understood his master very well. "However, the prince is full of deceit."
"I agree. That's why we're here, right? If his Highness tries to do anything funny, I don't believe he can win against the two of us."
Seeing the confident Duke, Yemin couldn't help but agree so he proceeded to talk about other pressing matters.
"As for the investigation, what we have so far..."
Meanwhile, over at Qiaoli's side.
"Cut the crap. What did you see that made you change your mind?" Qiaoli was laid-back as she picked the less sugary of the snacks, different from the pleasant attitude she unknowingly displayed when Huang Li Yun was around. "When you were lying on the floor earlier, you were probably planning to escape tonight but something changed."
Her pair of amber eyes pierced through the fifth prince to the point that it made him uneasy but he kept a straight face.
"What made you think that I was planning to escape?"
"If all the things you said were true, you'll make it appear as though your father rescued you. You can untie your ropes anytime when you were left alone inside the study. If I didn't visit you, you probably won't show my brother that you can free yourself."
The prince took a sip from his cup. "Your mind is sharper than your brother. He's known me for years but he never figured me out."
"You're wrong, I won't care about your secret if not for the fact that I've seen it with my own eyes so stop wasting time and tell me about this bloodline stuff. What's it gotta do with me?"
Nuan Lin Che had to give it to this lady. His attempt to be long-winded was thwarted and she didn't even show respect to him one bit.
"Alright... Earlier in the palace, I wasn't sure of it but when you went close to me, I became certain. Someone from my bloodline gave you a promise. How lucky can you get?" The prince sulked.
"What promise?" She had no idea what he was blabbering about.
"You may not know this but clans in Huo Ai are sacred because certain lineages can dictate our actions. For example, my blood is telling me to do everything to ensure your safety. It's like an irrevocable command. That's why I got so scared when you approached me. I can't even protect myself, how am I supposed to include you? Your existence is problematic!"
Qiaoli's brow twitched as the prince lamented without poise but she had to ask. "Is it from your father's side or mother's side?"
Lin Che found it unbelievable. "You not knowing which clan is protecting you means you don't even know who your benefactor is?! What an ungrateful thing you are!"
"Just answer the damn question!" The woman was irked.
"This prince shouldn't let you meet my consort mother. She'll be overjoyed to know that her fallen clan is still alive."
Now, Qiaoli understood that the prince loved prolonging his sentences. It was taxing to talk to him.
She stood up as she already have the answers to the important questions. Nuan Lin Che tried to stop her because it should have been his turn to ask but she didn't turn back.
Once she entered her brother's chambers, she told him that the prince wouldn't betray them and to not interrogate him further. She also mentioned that if ever his Highness refused to cooperate, Li Yun should remind the prince of her precious existence. That should do the trick.
Only Qiaoli understood everything that was happening.
It was that person named Qin Yu again. He was the sole person who offered her eternal protection. His serene manner of talking was still fresh in her mind.
"Huang Qiaoli, from now on, you'll receive Qin Yu's eternal protection."
At that time, she brushed it off as nonsense. It turned out it was a promise that ran in the blood of everyone related to him and its effect was instantaneous! But she thought Qin Yu wasn't human. How could he be related to the fifth prince?
She sighed. It was better not to think about it too much. Since it was beneficial and she couldn't interrogate the person himself, she should accept this favor with open arms.
She was aware how disadvantageous her situation was.
Qiaoli had a vague understanding that in Huo Ai, non-cultivators had no say. And just like what the prince said, she was a person without spirit roots. It was impossible for her to cultivate so she would become her brother's liability.
Her AI features wouldn't help her if it would be seen as a strange ability. It would only add to the invisible bounty on her head so she should hide it well. Huang Qiaoli couldn't have predicted that there would come a day when she would feel daunted for her weakness.
When she was Quiet Plum, she was used to obliterating her enemies to nothing. It turned out that kind of scene where she smashed people to bits wouldn't happen here.
Maybe she should consider taking up the prince's offer of teaching her the alternative to cultivation? But she didn't like martial arts... having guns and explosives was still the best. She sighed at this world's lack of weaponry.
---
A/N: Since in this world, god is a woman (insert Ariana's voice), certain expressions will be adjusted.
Oh my god/Dear god and the likes will be converted, if you haven't noticed it yet