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Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: The Tigress

Since Murong Jin's return, few in Jindu didn't know her name. But hearing of her and seeing her were two different things. Even fewer could recognize her out of armor.

Little Dingzi was one of the lucky few. The madam of the Yichun Courtyard was not. And so, hiding by the stairs, Little Dingzi broke into a cold sweat.

The madam stood in the main hall, hands on her hips, sizing up the young woman. Not bad. With the right training, she could be better than that Die Man girl.

At the thought of Die Man, the madam's mood soured. The girl had come to her, insisting on performing but never selling her body. Fine. Her dancing alone was a gold mine. But then, she'd used the Fifth Prince's backing to cut her performances from daily to once a year. The Fifth Prince was a known philanderer, but this was the first time he'd been so loyal.

"Can you dance, girl?" the madam asked. If she could get this one, she'd kick that arrogant Die Man out.

Murong Jin had seen the greedy look in the madam's eyes. "No," she said with a cold smile.

"Ah. No? Well, no matter." The madam's powdered face loomed closer. "Tsk. A true beauty."

"I'm here to find someone. Dancing is irrelevant." Her gaze swept the hall and paused on the staircase. A small smile touched her lips. "Now, if you know what's good for you, let me pass."

"Pass? Do you know what this place is? You think some woman can just waltz in here?" The madam's face changed.

"My lady is here to see the… Fifth Prince. Step aside. If you delay her, you won't be able to bear the consequences."

"Your lady? Hah! And who is she?" The mention of her regular, Xue Liulan, only emboldened her.

Murong Jin frowned, her patience wearing thin. She had wanted to avoid using her title. But it seemed announcing herself was the only way.

"Little Dingzi, I see you!" she called out to the eunuch, who was trying to melt into the floor. "You know my lady's temper. I have orders to bring the master back within the hour. If I fail, the next person she sends won't be so polite."

At his name, Little Dingzi jumped. His own master was powerless against this woman. The only safe strategy was to stay away.

He practically flew to the back courtyard.

"Murong Jin is here?" Xue Liulan asked, opening the door.

"Yes, Your Highness! The Princess Consort!"

"What is she doing here?" he snorted. From behind him, Die Man emerged, her hand on his waist.

"Isn't it obvious?" she purred. "She's come for you."

"I'm not seeing her." He moved to close the door, but Little Dingzi grabbed his robe.

"No, my lord, please! You have to! From the looks of it, if she doesn't find you, she'll tear this place apart!"

"Let… let go… Ai-yo! Murder! Murder!"

The madam's shrieks grew louder, drawing courtesans from their rooms. A moment later, the source of the squeals appeared at the gate.

Murong Jin had the madam's arm twisted behind her back.

"Let go of her!" Die Man rushed to the madam's side.

"Mercy, young lady, mercy!" Murong Jin gave a small twist, and the cries grew shriller.

"You've found him. Let her go," Xue Liulan said, his tone bored, but laughter danced in his eyes.

Murong Jin released her. "Now that I've found him, you can go."

The madam, furious but terrified, could only glare. Die Man rubbed her arm. "How could you be so rough? Like master, like maid."

"Oh? You want to defend her?" Murong Jin raised an eyebrow. Right now, she was just a servant. She could get away with anything.

"You…" Die Man was speechless. "Liulan."

Xue Liulan, who had been enjoying the show, walked to her side. "A frown on your face," he said with a smile, "makes you look even more beautiful."

"Stop teasing! I'm being bullied." Die Man leaned against him, her eyes fixed on Murong Jin, a look of pure provocation on her face.

Murong Jin clenched her fists behind her back. "I am here on the Princess Consort's orders to ask the Fifth Prince to return."

"Why didn't she come herself?" Xue Liulan asked, his arm around Die Man.

"My lady is the Fifth Princess Consort. It is unseemly for her to enter such a place. To do so would break the promise she made to you." Murong Jin paused, a smile touching her lips. "My lady said you may treat your promises as if they were never made, but she will not stoop so low."

Xue Liulan coughed, swallowing a laugh. He had never known she could be so sharp-tongued.

Seeing him silent, Die Man's expression faltered. "Your lady knew his heart belonged to another, yet she still used her family's power to marry him. Is that not petty?"

The smile on Murong Jin's face froze. "His heart belonged to another? Are you referring to yourself?"

Die Man stepped closer. "Surely you've heard. For my sake, he once risked his life in a brawl."

Murong Jin's gaze flickered to Xue Liulan, then away. The past couldn't be erased. A story the whole world knew.

"I have heard of such… exploits," she said calmly. "But now, the Fifth Prince is my lady's husband. What he did in the past is not her concern. What he does in the future, she will not ignore." Her gaze was steady. "Even if she can't control his heart, she will, at the very least, control his person."

The sheer force of her will made Die Man freeze. The air around her hands rippled faintly—an omen of violence. This woman… she was a threat.

Xue Liulan saw it. His eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on Die Man's hand. Murong Jin was a general, but in a fight of internal energy, she was no match for Die Man.

His body moved before his mind could think. He grabbed Die Man's arm and pulled her toward him.

She stumbled into his embrace. She looked up, a storm of emotions in her eyes.

"I was afraid she would hurt you," he said with a smile, but his eyes were on Murong Jin.

She looked down, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"It was a marriage decreed by my father. If I don't go back, she'll report it, and I'll be the one to suffer," he said, letting Die Man go. "I'll go see what she wants. If it's nothing, I'll be back."

"I won't allow it," Die Man pouted, grabbing his hand.

Xue Liulan's eyebrow shot up. They had discussed this. Why was she acting now?

"Whether you allow it or not is not up to you," Murong Jin said, grabbing Die Man's wrist and pulling her away. In the next instant, she had Xue Liulan by the arm. "Forgive the intrusion, Your Highness. Little Dingzi—let's go."

She dragged him from the courtyard. He looked back once—long enough for regret to flicker, then vanish.

"Tsk. Seems the one at home is the stronger one," the madam said, gloating.

Die Man shot her a cold look and walked back into her room. Murong Jin, she thought, this is far from over.

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