Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Figure on the Bed

Chu Bing had truly never imagined that Ren Changfeng could be so shameless.

She snatched up the basin from the stool beside the wooden tub and hurled it straight at him.

Ren Changfeng dodged it. Seeing the anger on Chu Bing’s face, he curved his lips with helpless amusement. “What are you so angry about? Isn’t the title of secondary consort enough for you? If you want to be the principal consort... that is not impossible.”

He stepped up to her and seized both her wrists tightly, leaving her no chance to break free. His voice grew even more insinuating. “Give me a few sons, and I’ll petition the Emperor to make you my principal consort.”

His gaze slid down from Chu Bing’s red lips, past the delicate line of her collarbone, and came to rest on the patch of pale skin above the water. His eyes burned with naked heat.

Unable to stop himself, he lifted a hand and pinched her earlobe. His voice turned hoarse. “Be good, Red Sleeve. Give me a son, hmm?”

Chu Bing was so frightened her heartbeat nearly stopped. They were both adults; who was fooling whom here? The moment Ren Changfeng so much as closed his eyes, she knew exactly what he was thinking.

Struggling with all her strength, she gritted her teeth and cursed, “Ren Changfeng! Let go of me this instant!”

Furious, she sank her teeth straight into his wrist.

Ren Changfeng hissed in pain and immediately released her.

Chu Bing stared at him warily, her tone both angry and frantic. “I’m telling you, I don’t care at all about being a secondary consort or a principal consort. I don’t like you in the slightest, and I’m not going anywhere with you!”

Under the water, her palm gathered inner force. If Ren Changfeng truly went mad and came at her again, she would fight him to the death, even if it meant revealing her true abilities.

Seeing that her expression did not seem feigned, a trace of confusion flickered in Ren Changfeng’s eyes. “Red Sleeve, why are you unwilling to come with me? Do you know how many young ladies dream of becoming my secondary consort?”

Chu Bing sneered coldly. “Don’t flatter yourself. I feel nothing for you. If you hadn’t poisoned me, I wouldn’t even deign to speak to you.”

She had finally understood. With someone like Ren Changfeng, if she was not ruthless enough, he would never realize the truth of her stance.

Ren Changfeng’s expression darkened. He looked at Chu Bing with a heavy, shadowed gaze. “Red Sleeve, no one has ever dared speak to me like that.”

He took a step forward, pressing her hands down with his own, then bent close enough to look directly into her eyes. “I, Ren Changfeng, am not like those fools. Don’t think you can act without restraint just because I like you.”

As he spoke, he lowered his face, intending to kiss her. Chu Bing could even feel his breath on her skin. She clenched her teeth and used all her strength to shove at him.

Bang!

A sudden crash rang out outside the tent.

The two of them inside froze at once. Ren Changfeng straightened abruptly, a chill rolling off him. “What happened?”

“Sir, it seems someone in the woods is still tracking us!” his subordinates outside reported.

Ren Changfeng turned to glance at Chu Bing and said in a low voice, “I’ll go out and take a look. You stay here.”

Seeing her still watching him with suspicion, he feared she might slip away again out of panic, so though unwillingly, he made her a promise. “Rest assured. Since you don’t want to, I won’t force you. This tent is yours for now. I’ll stay in the tent beside yours. Just remain inside and do not come out.”

After saying this, he hurried off.

With the court now beset from both sides, even he could not tell who had followed them.

Chu Bing watched his retreating figure. Only when she was certain he had truly gone did she finally let out a long breath.

She leaned against the tub and covered her face with both hands.

The cold moonlight spilled over her body, carrying a trace of solitude.

The system could not help comforting her. “Host, don’t be upset. Ren Changfeng can’t do anything to you.”

Chu Bing said nothing.

It took a long while before she calmed herself. Then she rose from the tub and silently dressed.

The system watched her and, thinking she had been crushed by this ordeal, asked cautiously, “Host, are... are you all right?”

Chu Bing walked to the side of the tent, lifted a narrow seam, and looked outside. Her expression was utterly calm. “Relax. I’m not going to die.”

She still had to gather enough strength to complete the mission and survive. What was one Ren Changfeng worth?

The guards outside the tent were heavily posted, and no one knew whether they were on guard against an ambush or against her escape.

Ren Changfeng held a sharp sword in his hand. With his subordinates beside him, he stared into the pitch-black forest. “A moment ago, someone there attacked one of our sentries. But the enemy was skilled; we couldn’t find them.”

Ren Changfeng snorted. “Useless.”

He led a small detachment into the forest.

Seeing him leave, Chu Bing’s heart stirred. If she ran now... perhaps Ren Changfeng would not be able to catch her.

But the ankle that throbbed with pain kept reminding her that even if she could run now, she would not get far.

How wretched.

Chu Bing turned in anger and went back to the bed, pulling the blanket over herself so that her entire body disappeared beneath it.

The system sighed helplessly. “Don’t be angry. Your injury isn’t serious. Rest for one night and you’ll be better. Tomorrow, you can find another chance to run. Besides, they seem to be heading toward the capital. You can follow them there, then look for an opportunity to leave and find Li Mohan. It would be the same.”

Chu Bing did not want to speak.

Ren Changfeng had made her realize that she was useless as she was now. Without solid skills, whenever danger came, all she could do was lower her head and submit.

She had thought she would never be able to sleep that night. Yet the moment she lay down, she no longer knew when her eyes had closed.

In the deep of night, when all was silent, the tent flap was lifted and a tall figure entered.

He stood by the bed for a while. Confirming that Chu Bing was already asleep, he pulled back the blanket and lay down beside her.

His arm went around her in a protective embrace.

Drowsy and half-awake, Chu Bing suddenly felt hot, as though a mountain were pressing down on her.

She jolted awake.

There was someone in her bed.

The darkness was too deep for her to make out who it was, but...

“Ren Changfeng, you shameless brute! You said you wouldn’t touch me, and now you’ve gone back on your word!”

Who else would dare climb into her bed besides Ren Changfeng?

Furious beyond reason, Chu Bing clenched her fists and swung at him.

The man on the bed said nothing. He dodged the first blow, but her next strike was already coming.

Chu Bing fought like a madwoman, regardless of the cost, pouring all her inner force into her fists. She was determined to make Ren Changfeng understand just how formidable she could be.

But this “Ren Changfeng” seemed far too skilled. After a few exchanges, Chu Bing realized the man’s martial arts were extraordinarily strong. He was not even using much of his true strength, as if he were merely teasing a cat or a dog.

Chu Bing flipped her wrist, and silver needles shot toward him. While he was dodging, she quickly struck a flint to light the fire starter.

In the dim flare of flame, the face that appeared before her was so stunning it could only be described as devastatingly handsome.

Li Yuxi.

Him?

How was he here, and why was he in her bed?

Chu Bing sprang upright and kicked at him.

Li Yuxi reached out and seized her ankle, a smile spreading across his face, alluring and dangerously intimate. “It’s been so long since we last met, and this is how you greet me?”

“You... let go!” Chu Bing tried to wrench her foot free, but Li Yuxi held her tightly and yanked her entire body into his arms.

Chu Bing gritted her teeth, her gaze sharp as a blade. “You pervert. Do you believe me if I shout once? Those people outside will rush in at once and take your life!”