Chapter 69: The Lively Prince Ji (Part 2)

Chapter 69: The Lively Prince Ji (Part 2)

'The Chronicles of the Five Emperors of Great Qin.'

The books on this shelf were all from the imperial library of the Great Qin Palace.

Since she was three years old, she would often spend half her days in the Great Qin Palace's library because she wanted to understand the era she had come to, and the library was the most comprehensive place for records.

Before she was three, she was too young, and her mother would not let her run around the Eastern Palace easily. After she turned three, her body became stronger and more lively, capable of running and jumping. She was particularly curious about what kind of era she had arrived in, so she pretended to be especially fond of reading. Seeing this, her father allowed her to go to the library.

Picking up 'The Chronicles of the Emperors' from the top of the bookshelf, familiar fonts and pages brought a sudden surge of suppressed hatred from the depths of Su Rao's heart.

The raging fire at the Eastern Palace, her father's severed body, the heads of her relatives hanging high on the city walls, the ground stained with blood, vividly red.

"RaoRao, live well, don't seek revenge, don't let hatred destroy you."

Those words echoed in her ears again. Su Rao suddenly closed her eyes, hiding the layers of crimson that welled up in her eyes. The sudden redness at the corners of her eyes and eyebrows faded, and her ragged breaths calmed down.

Holding 'The Chronicles of the Emperors' tightly, the pale pink color that had appeared at the tips of her fingers disappeared as her grip relaxed, and her jade-like fingers returned to their slender whiteness.

Father...

Mother...

Taking a deep breath, Su Rao composed herself, looking at the volume of 'The Chronicles of the Emperors' in her hand. In a moment, she flipped to the first page, to the familiar records.

Great Qin ruled its territory for over two hundred years, spanning five generations of emperors...

Page by page, every word was so familiar, as if she had read them yesterday.

Su Rao flipped through the pages quickly, for these words were already etched in her mind.

Engraved into her bones.

The four emperors of the Great Qin dynasty, when it came to the fifth emperor, Emperor Xuanye, the latter part of the records vanished.

It stopped twenty years after Emperor Xuanye ascended the throne, on the eve of Great Qin's downfall.

Great Qin was destroyed, Emperor Xuanye died, leaving nothing behind.

Even if something was left, it was only what the phrase "clearing the palace" implied.

Foolish and decadent, indulging in pleasures that led to the country's decline, building the extravagant and luxurious Songbird Terrace for his favorite concubine.

Su Rao was engrossed in reading, unaware of when the moonlit figure had entered the study until a faint breath revealed itself, a faint scent of medicine lingering in her nostrils as the moonlit figure approached her.

Her peach-blossom eyes suddenly narrowed, but within the span of a breath, Su Rao's gaze fell, and she turned around as if nothing had happened.

The moonlit figure was three steps away from her.

"Yun Ji, I didn't expect your study to have such books."

Swinging 'The Chronicles of the Emperors' casually in her hand, Su Rao wore an expression of admiration.

Books from the former Great Qin dynasty were just placed in the study like this.

So conspicuous, so bold.

Although Su Rao did not specify what kind of book it was, Yun Ji understood clearly, smiling slightly at the corner of his mouth. He took another step closer and said gently, "They are just some books. Uncle Emperor saw my interest and had them moved here."

"So that's how it is. Prince Yu treats you better than his own son. I've only heard of it before, but today I've seen it for myself."

Su Rao pursed her lips, placing 'The Chronicles of the Emperors' back on the shelf casually.

She walked past Yun Ji to look for other books.

"If you weren't the heir of the Yun王府, I'd suspect you were one of Prince Yu's illegitimate children."

This remark was made offhandedly.

Yun Ji paused slightly, then shook his head with a smile, walking towards the bamboo couch under the moonlight.

"You really speak without thinking. If one day I get into trouble, it's probably got something to do with you. You really need to watch your tongue."

Su Rao turned her head and rolled her eyes.

"You're quite dedicated as a tutor."

Seeing Yun Ji sit down on the bamboo couch, she didn't leave, and Su Rao's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Did you come here for something?"

Yun Ji nodded, uttering a soft affirmative sound.

Su Rao walked over.

"What is it?"

Yun Ji picked up the cup on the table, and this time, Su Rao did not take the initiative.

Two cups of tea, the water just overflowing the edges, Yun Ji stopped pouring accurately.

Looking at him, Su Rao suddenly felt that she had underestimated the person in front of her.

To be highly praised by Yun Wang as Yun Lang, the light of the vast sky, a single person worth a thousand soldiers, he could not be taken lightly.

Reining in her gaze imperceptibly, Su Rao sat opposite Yun Ji.

"What did you come here for?"

Repeating the question.

Yun Ji took a sip of tea before saying, "Prince Yi of Siam is investigating you. It seems your display outside the mansion yesterday raised his suspicions. He thinks that the daughter of the Grand General's王府isn't as rumored. You should be careful; Prince Yi isn't shallow-minded."

Su Rao, just lifting her cup, jolted, spilling a drop of scalding tea on her hand.

Siam's Prince Yi, Chi Shao, was investigating her?

"What's wrong?"

Yun Ji reached out.

"Nothing, I just got a little scalded."

Su Rao quickly shook off the water droplets, her index finger already reddened by the heat.

"Yunfeng, burn ointment."

His voice was cool but laced with a hint of urgency.

Su Rao's expression flickered slightly, but before she could think further, she heard another remark: "So careless. If Yu Mo finds out, he might blame me for not taking good care of his little sister and be upset with me."

Yunfeng brought over the burn ointment.

Yun Ji stood up and sat next to Su Rao. "Which hand is injured?"

Snapping back to reality, Su Rao noticed how close Yun Ji was, the faint scent of medicine lingering in the air—a scent unique to him.

Suddenly, the memory of the unexpected embrace at the back mountain of Wanglu Temple flashed through her mind. A flush crept onto her cheeks, making her feel suddenly uneasy.

"I can do it myself."

She tried to get up and move away, but Yun Ji grabbed her right hand, turning her face toward him.

Even without sight, he could feel her presence.

"I may not see, but I can apply the ointment for you. I just don't want to owe you any favors. Debts of gratitude are hard to repay; it's better to keep things even between us."

Su Rao understood the meaning behind his words—she had once tended to his wounds, and he didn't want to be indebted to her.

"If you don't tell me which hand is hurt, I'll have to apply ointment to both. Usually, it's the right hand, but I don't know your habits."

As he spoke, his slender fingers already touched her right hand.

Following the position of her cup-holding hand, Yun Ji accurately found her scalded index finger. The cool sensation reduced the burning pain instantly.

Yun Ji didn't need to look down, for the blind don't require sight.

After treating her right hand, Yun Ji reached for her left. Su Rao quickly rose and moved away.

"It was just my right hand, and it's fine now."

Her voice carried a faint trace of panic that she hadn't noticed.

The words came out hastily.

The right hand that had been held felt strangely hot, except for the coolness of the treated index finger. This sudden awareness left Su Rao feeling clear-headed, yet she hadn't noticed the unusual stirring in her heart.

Yun Ji turned his head, his right hand curled in his lap under the moonlit robes, then let out a light laugh. "Do I resemble a big scary tiger?"

For a moment, Su Rao didn't understand what he meant.

Yun Ji handed the burn ointment to Yunfeng, who had been watching the entire time, and walked away.

Yunfeng glanced at Su Rao, lowered his eyes, and followed Yun Ji out of the study.

Today's Prince seemed so vivid and alive.

He couldn't recall ever seeing the young prince like this before.

The study fell silent.

Su Rao also realized what he meant.

A big tiger, very intimidating.

"Miss..."

Yisu entered.

Suppressing a smile.

With a touch of astonishment.

At Yun Ji.

It was surprising that the legendary Prince of Tranquil Moon—who was said to be detached from worldly affairs—could descend into the mundane world like this.

Su Rao looked at Yisu, then lowered her head. The milky white ointment completely covered her index finger, its coolness reaching her heart.

For a moment, she shook her head.

"If Second Brother were a woman, how nice. Then I wouldn't have to endure this torment."

Muttering softly, Su Rao walked to the bookshelf.

Yisu was taken aback, then laughed again.

"Isn't it hilarious!"

Su RAO turned her head, her peach-blossom eyes shimmering with captivating mirth.

Yi Su nodded in agreement.

Indeed, it was quite amusing.

Due to the Second Master's influence, Prince Clear Moon treated Miss so leniently. If the Second Master were a woman, then Miss wouldn't have to bear this burden; instead, it would naturally be the Second Master who would enter into an imperial marriage alliance.