Mu Ci was very curious about how a little fox that had lost its owner would fare.
As it turned out, a little fox that lost its owner would go mad.
Mu Ci fell ill.
She lay in bed, blinking weakly, forbidding the Prince of Yan from entering.
Her wet nurse stood guard before her sickbed, while the Prince of Yan remained steadfastly outside her door, even assigning his own men to watch, which put the wet nurse in a difficult position.
How could she spirit away little County Princess Mu Ci without anyone noticing?
Fortunately, not long after, an opportunity arose. The barbarians attacked again, and the Prince of Yan had to go and take charge of the situation.
He cast a worried glance at the tightly shut door.
The thick scent of medicine wafted out, and the young girl coughed softly. He felt as if his heart were being clenched into a ball by some force, but despite his immense worry, he had his responsibilities to fulfill.
The entire northern land.
Countless people depended on him for their lives.
If he retreated and allowed the barbarians to break through the defense line, it would be a human tragedy.
So he took a deep breath and finally turned to head towards the border!
He was gone for more than ten days, and when he rushed back, covered in the smell of blood, wanting to see his little county princess, his future Princess of Yan, he heard news that made him disbelieve.
"What did you say?"
His eyes crimson, he gripped the other person's arm, hearing the trembling end of their voice.
"The Princess... she... she has passed away!"
"The Princess was gravely ill, and in the end, she could not wait for Your Highness to return. We have already dispatched people to ride swiftly..."
"But the Princess's body has already been placed in a coffin and sent back to the capital for burial..."
And then, the clear-faced young man, the spirited Prince of Yan, trembled violently and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
He looked at the person before him in disbelief, his mind buzzing.
"What did you say?"
"Who has passed away?"
It was impossible—that little girl was so lively, so proud, she had told him to obey her, to be utterly compliant, to be his master. She absolutely couldn't just die like this!
Thinking this, the spirited Prince of Yan spat out another mouthful of blood. His breathing grew ragged, and the depths of his eyes surged with extreme pain.
It felt as if a knife had been plunged directly into his chest.
"Impossible, she would never die!"
She was so cunning—so intelligent, and so proud, so lovable, how could she die from a mere cold?
The person opposite glanced at the Prince of Yan fearfully.
"Your Highness Prince of Yan—it is absolutely true."
"She indeed..."
Before his words could fall, he saw the Prince of Yan sprint away. He leaped onto his horse, wanting to frantically search for Mu Ci, but the attendant tightly held the reins. He looked up at the Prince of Yan, his voice trembling severely.
"Your Highness Prince of Yan—"
"That..."
The attendant repeatedly forced a wry smile, attempting to stop him.
"I heard the Crown Prince has already issued a kill order for you, Your Highness Prince of Yan. You cannot go. If you go, it will be a road of no return—Your Highness Prince of Yan, for your own safety, and for the sake of so many people in the north, you absolutely cannot put your own life in such danger!"
The attendant took a deep breath and looked up.
At the Prince of Yan opposite him.
"The departed has already departed. Since the Princess has passed away—Your Highness, please accept my condolences..."
Before his words were finished, before his voice had even fallen, he saw the person opposite look at him coldly, then kick him directly in the chest. He staggered downwards, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"How could this be..."
Has the Prince of Yan gone mad?
This was a... a road of no return!
Was it worth it for a dead person?
He coughed as he watched the Prince of Yan's retreating back, his mind filled with the Prince of Yan's utterly crazed eyes. Those eyes made him tremble all over—that look of extreme madness...
He forced a wry smile.
The Prince of Yan must be mad!
But for just a county princess sent for a peace marriage, why would he go mad?
The Prince of Yan rode his prized thousand-mile steed, the horse jolting beneath him. His eyes were filled with bloodshot veins, the redness spreading across them. Beneath his cloak, the blood-colored fox ears that sprouted from his head gave him a look of utter, maddening frenzy.
On his face, a beauty bordering on the demonic, agonizing grief etched itself inch by inch. His fingers clenched the reins, almost drawing blood!
She wouldn't be hurt!
She absolutely, absolutely, wouldn't be hurt!
...
Lin Mu Ci was, of course, fine. She was currently sitting in a carriage that had already entered the capital, while the little system reminded her in her mind.
"Host, he already knows about the fake news of your passing."
Lin Mu Ci picked up a sweet osmanthus cake and ate it. The pastries sold in the capital's sweet shops suited her taste better. After taking two bites of the sweet osmanthus cake, she said nonchalantly.
"Oh? And how did he react?"
The little system gave a wry smile.
"How else could he react? Naturally, he's about to go mad. Host, shouldn't you stop tormenting him? He vomited blood three times on the road. He's just holding on by sheer will, determined to catch up to that coffin to see for himself before giving up. Host, do you really intend to torment him like this?"
Upon hearing the little system say this.
Lin Mu Ci's interest was piqued.
"Wow, he vomited blood?"
"A yandere beauty, tsk tsk, that scene must be beautiful."
The little system couldn't help but grumble.
"Host, do you have any conscience at all? He's vomited blood, how pitiful!"
Lin Mu Ci, however, curiously inquired more details from the little system.
"Did his ears and tail pop out due to excessive emotional agitation?"
The little system: "..."
At such a critical juncture, the host was still concerned with these irrelevant details. However, upon hearing Lin Mu Ci's question, the little system reluctantly mustered some energy and said dejectedly.
"His ears popped out, and he's such a pitiful half-demon, his ears have turned red... Host, if you play like this, you're going to mess up badly."
The little system hesitated, then continued.
"Moreover, he signed a contract with you. Right now, he's just too emotionally agitated to notice the problem. Once he calms down, he'll realize you've been deceiving him."
"When he breaks through the ambush array set up by the Crown Prince, fights his way out, and then forces his way to the capital to find you, Host, by then, I can guarantee that you'll be finished!"
The little system held no hope for Lin Mu Ci's future.
"Don't mess it up."
Lin Mu Ci stretched lazily.
"How could I mess it up?"
"I just want to teach a certain cute and pure little male fox what it means to experience unforgettable pain."
The corner of her lips curled slightly.
"And, I'm sure I'll succeed."
"There's still much for the little fox to learn."
"I will personally carve a deep wound onto his heart!"