The woman wearing a veiled hat giggled, "Lu Ye, the first time we met, I remembered you. I still haven't forgotten, do you know that? I’ve been looking for you for so long."
"It's you? Fifth Princess?" Lu Ye asked, slightly startled.
"It's this Palace Consort—me, you… you still recognize my voice?" The Fifth Princess's voice was filled with the unique joy and shyness of a young girl.
A wave of nausea surged through Lu Ye. He said coldly, "What do you want with me?"
The Fifth Princess in the veiled hat hesitated for a moment, twisting the handkerchief in her hand with her fingers. "It's like this, Lu Ye, ever since I first saw you, I fell in love with you at first sight. I… I like you very much and think about you day and night, so—"
"What exactly do you want?" Lu Ye impatiently interrupted the Fifth Princess, feeling that listening to this woman speak another word would dirty his ears, and looking at her another glance would make him want to vomit.
When did he ever provoke such a pest? And bring such big trouble upon himself?
Alas, if his dear wife didn't like handsome men, he would have loved to disfigure this face. These female pests were truly pervasive and impossible to guard against.
Xin Yao keenly detected Lu Ye's impatience in his voice and said with disappointment, "Lu Ye… you, you won't even talk to me for a while? After I've been looking for you for so long, thinking about you every day."
Lu Ye said coldly, "Fifth Princess, this commoner is a prisoner, currently serving time in jail.
Did you summon this commoner just to tell me that you fell in love with me at first sight? If that is indeed the case, then this commoner is in the wrong. This commoner is already married, my wife is Bai Sheng, and I will never take a concubine in this lifetime. Fifth Princess, please do not waste your time on this commoner.
There are countless noble sons in the capital who are well-matched with the Fifth Princess. If the Fifth Princess has nothing else, please do not delay this commoner's imprisonment. This commoner bids farewell!"
With that, Lu Ye turned and walked away.
"Lu Ye, stop!" The Fifth Princess suddenly stood up. "Your wife is just a lowly slave girl, she is not worthy of you at all!"
Lu Ye turned, a strong sarcasm on his lips. "Even if she is what you call a slave girl, it doesn't prevent me from loving her, loving her to death. In my heart, she is incomparably noble, and always the most suitable person for me. In this life and the next, I only love her."
"You—" Xin Yao was furious and yelled hysterically, "Lu Ye! You caused my brother to be imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court for six months, caused my grandfather's family to be exiled to the northern territories, and caused my face to be disfigured! I can overlook all of this and even humble myself to seek you out, yet you are so indifferent and heartless to me!"
Lu Ye laughed indignantly. "Fifth Princess, I, Lu Ye, have always believed that I don't offend others unless they offend me, and if they offend me, I will repay them in kind. Therefore, please do not misunderstand. It was not us who harmed your brother and maternal grandfather; they harmed themselves and brought it upon themselves.
Furthermore, your face was also not harmed by us. Those two women, Zhou and Dong, are the culprits. Please use your brain and think carefully.
Also, I have no relationship with you, so why should I be affectionate and righteous towards you? You cannot impose your one-sided affection on me and force me to reciprocate in the same manner!"
Xin Yao's tears fell, and her face beneath the veil became even more contorted with anger. "It's my one-sided affection, and I'm forcing you, so what? This princess is the daughter of the Empress, the biological sister of the Crown Prince. This princess can have whatever she wants!"
Lu Ye shrugged. "I'm sorry, the Fifth Princess will absolutely not get this commoner. Even if my wife does nothing, this life of mine belongs to her."
"Lu Ye, tell me! In what way am I inferior to her? I am a princess, my status and position are thousands of times nobler than hers. I am richer than her, I am more beautiful than her, my face will be cured, and I love you more than she does!" The Fifth Princess's knuckles, gripping the handkerchief, turned increasingly pale, trembling uncontrollably.
Lu Ye said with a mocking smile, "I'm sorry, Fifth Princess, this commoner is being rude. Actually, you are not as noble as my wife, nor as rich as her. Even if your face were not disfigured, you are not as beautiful as her, nor do you love me as much as she does. Therefore, do not provoke me or pester me anymore, otherwise, I will not be polite!"
"Otherwise you won't be polite?" Xin Yao stepped closer a few paces and suddenly burst into a sinister laugh. "What a bold statement! Lu Ye, you are still a prisoner at this moment, how can you forget that? Moreover, as a mere lowly commoner, by what right do you dare to be impolite to this princess?"
Lu Ye snorted, his eyes as sharp as ice blades.
Xin Yao continued, "However, since you love your slave so much, perhaps we can strike a deal. Maybe we can get her out of prison."
Lu Ye sneered, "What condition?"
"Divorce your slave wife and become this princess's personal bodyguard. I will grant you glory and wealth. I will release your slave wife and those girls. How about it?"
Lu Ye chuckled. "Thank you for the Fifth Princess's kind offer, but I, Lu Ye, would rather die than divorce my wife. Moreover, my wife and I do not need your salvation. Goodbye!"
"Lu Ye, you… don't regret this!" Xin Yao stamped her foot behind him, gritting her teeth in hatred.
The previous jailer, seeing Lu Ye emerge from the room, immediately stepped forward and escorted him back to the cell.
"Husband!" Bai Sheng rushed into Lu Ye's arms with surprise.
Lu Hua and the other two also breathed a sigh of relief, then consciously retreated to a corner, giving the couple some private space.
Lu Ye chided her with doting eyes, "Silly girl, I told you not to worry, but you insisted on worrying. Look at you, your brows are so furrowed. Didn't I return safely? Besides, with my martial arts, who can harm me?"
Bai Sheng pouted, "Yes, someone can harm you. Didn't the rats get the news from the Empress? The Empress and the Crown Prince have a peerless expert named Black-Faced Fox under them. I investigated, and Black-Faced Fox is infamous in the martial arts world, known as the Fierce Yama."
Lu Ye nodded, he had long heard of Black-Faced Fox's dominance in the martial world.
Black-Faced Fox was also a martial arts prodigy, gaining fame at a young age. Wielding a Blood-Guiding Sword, he challenged all the martial arts masters, and none were his match.
He was bloodthirsty and had killed countless people, making him a feared Fierce Yama in the martial arts world.
However, in his twentieth year, he suddenly disappeared from the martial arts world without a trace. It turned out he had become a subordinate of the Empress and the Crown Prince.
It was just that Lu Ye was very curious: what method had the Empress used to subdue such a bloodthirsty living Yama, making him willingly fold his wings and submit to her banner?
Although the Empress held a high position, her schemes were indeed deep, and she was adept at subtle manipulations, but her vision and perspective were too narrow and short-sighted. How could she control a ferocious beast like Black-Faced Fox?