Chapter Seven: A Debt of Gratitude

"What bad things have you been saying about Xixi in front of the Empress Dowager?"

As soon as they left the palace, Gu Shijin began his interrogation.

Xixi was now in the palace; if the Empress Dowager wanted to harm her, it would be effortless. Su Zhinian, this woman, was so vicious that she would resort to such extreme measures just to keep her position, intending to use the Empress Dowager's hand to strike at Xixi!

The mere thought made his blood boil, and he wished he could reach out and throttle Su Zhinian right then and there.

Exhausted from the day's events, Su Zhinian lazily lifted her eyelids, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "If I truly intended to do something, why would I need you to see Ren Xixi? I could have simply told the Empress Dowager that she was a killer and had her executed in the palace."

"Who knows if you aren't just jealous that my heart belongs to Xixi, and you're deliberately trying to make me suffer?" Gu Shijin scoffed, casting a sideways glance at Su Zhinian.

After all, he had been ordered to the front lines on their wedding night and was later rumored to have died abroad, yet Su Zhinian had remained steadfast in her devotion to the General's manor. It was clear to him that she must be deeply in love with him.

Yushu was rendered speechless. Where did the General get the audacity to say such things? He had practically tortured their young mistress to death, yet he still expected her to be so hopelessly in love with him that she couldn't live without him. It was hard to tell who was truly out of their mind.

"General Gu, you are as shameless as ever!"

"What did you say, Su Zhinian?" Gu Shijin's eyes were filled with rage, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

"It seems General Gu is not only shameless but also deaf."

Su Zhinian forcibly suppressed her hatred, fearing that if she let it show, she would tear that face right in front of her to shreds.

"Su Zhinian, you are courting death!" This woman was becoming increasingly lawless, provoking him time and again. "Don't think that by doing this, you can catch my attention. It's nothing more than a game of playing hard to get!"

Gu Shijin’s face turned icy. He ordered the carriage to stop, his voice as cold as biting frost. "Stop the carriage!"

"Since you refuse to admit your mistake, you can reflect on it yourself. Su Zhinian, get out!" His tone allowed for no argument.

Yushu’s expression changed instantly, and she couldn't help but plead, "General, my young mistress is physically weak; she cannot withstand such treatment!"

There was still a long way to go to the General's manor, and Su Zhinian had previously been locked in the woodshed without food or water, then struck by Gu Shijin himself. Her body had not yet recovered; making her walk back was tantamount to killing her.

Gu Shijin stared fixedly at Su Zhinian’s face. Seeing that she didn't show the reaction he had expected, he let out a cold snort. "Isn't she very tough? What’s wrong with walking a mere ten-mile street? Get out, now!"

The ten-mile street, paved with bluestone.

Su Zhinian recalled the time when Gu Shijin came to ask for her hand in marriage. Her father had been strongly opposed to the union, but Gu Shijin had knelt for the entire ten miles, kowtowing every step of the way to beg for the marriage. At the time, the entire capital had praised the romantic gesture. Her parents had been moved, and Su Zhinian herself was touched, believing his proposal to be sincere, so she had agreed to marry him.

Thinking of it now, it was utterly ironic. Those memories had now become fodder for others to mock her.

Yushu wanted to say more, but Su Zhinian held her hand, her tone calm. "Yushu, let’s go."

As soon as Su Zhinian stepped out of the carriage, it sped away. Gu Shijin pounded the small table in a fit of rage, yet he felt a strange, sour unease in his heart. Even worse, he realized with dismay that he had subconsciously ignored Xixi, which was not a good sign.

Su Zhinian was truly a scheming, poisonous woman. Once Xixi returned, he would definitely divorce her!

Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, Yushu was filled with indignation. Supporting Su Zhinian, she couldn't help but scold, "The General is truly blind! He kept clamoring to find Ren Xixi, but when he finally saw her, he blamed you, Miss. He doesn't even stop to think—how could you possibly have the power to smuggle someone into the Imperial Palace, especially right beside the Emperor's favorite concubine? Why does he blame everything on you, Miss!"

Seeing Yushu’s chest heaving with anger, Su Zhinian felt no fluctuations in her heart. If she had any remaining desire regarding Gu Shijin, it was to see him meet a miserable end.

"Miss, are we really going to walk back?" Yushu looked at the long, winding street with worry.

A familiar carriage approached slowly, with a familiar figure sitting atop it. Mu Dong wore a genuine smile. He pulled the reins to a stop and asked directly, "If Miss Su does not mind, our Prince says he can offer you a ride."

Prince Yu. It was him again. How could it be such a coincidence?

Su Zhinian hesitated slightly, but the dull ache in her knees and the pain in her shoulder made her frown, and she accepted without a second thought. "Then I shall trouble His Highness, Prince Yu!"

Stepping into the carriage, the space was slightly more comfortable, but the simple interior revealed one thing: this Prince Yu was somewhat poor, or at least not very wealthy. It made sense; the Prince had a leg injury, and she had heard he had spent years searching for the legendary 'Ghost Doctor' to treat it. Just the search alone had cost a fortune, not to mention the rare and expensive herbs needed for his therapy. It was likely the Prince's manor had long since run dry.

As Su Zhinian was lost in thought, the carriage suddenly braked sharply, and she nearly pitched forward. A hand, white as jade, steadied her. The scent of cold pine drifted into her nostrils—very pleasant—and Su Zhinian straightened herself, embarrassed. She had subconsciously braced herself against the Prince’s leg, and once stable, she quickly pulled her hand away.

"My apologies!" Su Zhinian apologized, feeling flustered.

"It is of no consequence."

She didn't know if it was her imagination, but she felt the man behind the mask spoke those words with a hint of a smile. Curious, she glanced over and met a pair of clear, dark eyes. Realizing her lack of decorum, she quickly looked away. She lifted the small curtain and peeked outside. "I was just checking to see how far we've come."

One always tries to look busy when feeling awkward.

Su Zhinian held her breath, feeling inexplicably stifled in the presence of Prince Yu. She didn't know if it was because his eyes were too bright, making one unconsciously want to peek at the face beneath his mask. However, after that one look, she didn't dare to look at his eyes again.

"I have heard that Miss Su’s skill at chess is exquisite. Would you care to play a game with me?"

After Helian Yu spoke, he lightly tapped the table in front of him. The table flipped over to reveal a chessboard. He then handed the black stones to Su Zhinian.

"Of course, please, Your Highness."

Su Zhinian loved chess; her skill was renowned, and she had heard that Prince Yu’s play was also formidable. Being able to test her skills against him filled her with a sense of anticipation. The texture of the chess pieces was warm and smooth—they were clearly made of the finest jade—and the coldness in her expression softened slightly.

Helian Yu placed a stone slowly. The carriage seemed to slow down as well.

Su Zhinian’s style of play appeared calm and effortless at first, with nothing particularly remarkable. But upon closer inspection, one would find her tactics eerie and unpredictable, filled with traps, and the precision of her details was breathtaking.

The further the game progressed, the more astonished Helian Yu became. The two fought a fierce battle, and the black and white stones quickly claimed their respective territories. The white pieces were being gradually swallowed by the black ones in a pincer movement. Seeing that he was about to lose, Helian Yu sighed and set down his stone.

"Miss Su’s chess skills are indeed superb." He smiled, his dark eyes fixed on Su Zhinian as if he were looking at a treasure.

"Your Highness is too kind. With a little more practice, your skills would likely be no less than mine."

Hearing this, Helian Yu chuckled; he rarely saw Su Zhinian looking so playful and self-assured. Su Zhinian, who had been smiling, suddenly felt that this was inappropriate and withdrew her grin.

Soon, they arrived at the General's manor.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for the ride," Su Zhinian said politely before leaving.

"Miss Su is too formal. The Su family has done me a favor; if there is ever anything you need my help with, do not hesitate to ask."

Prince Yu’s voice was clear and melodious, leaving one feeling refreshed.

A favor? What favor?

Su Zhinian was puzzled, but she nodded blankly and stepped out of the carriage. Watching the carriage disappear, she couldn't regain her composure for a long time. Prince Yu’s words echoed in her mind.

"Miss, let’s go inside!"

At Yushu’s reminder, Su Zhinian finally snapped out of it and nodded. However, when they reached the gate, they were blocked by the guards.

"Madam, the General has ordered that you are not to enter until you have knelt here and admitted your mistake!"