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墨書 Inktalez
"Desiring to seduce, but unable to become the Consort of the Crown Prince, I can at least reserve a spot for you in the Thirty-Six Palaces!"
In the Northern Dynasty Ming City, under the One Emperor, One Empress System, the vast harem is equipped with the Thirty-Six Palaces, each housing young women aged fifteen to twenty-five. Each of the Thirty-Six Palaces has its own responsibilities and ranks, allowing for promotions. There is an unwritten rule that the women in the Thirty-Six Palaces may serve at night but cannot bear children.
In simple terms, they are merely unnamed and unacknowledged tools for companionship. Rarely would a prominent family engage in such practices unless absolutely necessary.
After all, my grandfather is a Three Dynasties Elder; how could he humiliate me like this? I glared at him and said, "The only way I would go to the Thirty-Six Palaces is if I were dead."
Seeing that I was angry, he suddenly laughed. "Young lady, what do you mean by dead or alive? Just a moment ago, you were joking around, and now you're turning your back on me."
"Let go of me!" I forcefully broke free from his embrace.
"You were the one who came close first," he said, sounding somewhat wronged.
"I was just afraid that if you let go, I would roll down like Li Jinxiu. I'm not some object; besides, this is three thousand steps high."
"Then why would I bother to catch you?"
"Exactly! You want me to be your scapegoat!"
Thinking of this, I grabbed a broom and charged forward.
Feeling my burning face, how embarrassing! It was even worse than during my coming-of-age ceremony.
Ashamed to face him, every time he stepped closer to me, I adjusted my pace to maintain distance. He seemed displeased and went down the mountain first.
By noon, I had swept to the bottom of the mountain and had not seen him again.
However, from the nearby woods came a rustling sound; looking over, I saw him building a fire and roasting meat.
The hot aroma of grilled meat wafted towards me. Although it had only been a day since I last ate meat, I couldn't help but approach eagerly.
"Your Highness, that master said Huazhi could replace you in sweeping the steps, but it seems he didn't mention anything about needing to fast for you?"
"Here." He surprisingly offered generously.
"Thank you!"
"The roasted meat from Your Highness isn't free."
"I'm working so hard; shouldn't I be rewarded?"
"I find you quite different from what I imagined." He raised his hand and gently pinched my chin, turning it left and right before extending a finger to wipe away the grease from the corner of my mouth.
As a mere fool, what could he possibly imagine? Was it because my earlier fabricated good reputation had caught his attention?
Finally, I endured until the third day. As soon as the rooster crowed, I got up. I started climbing the mountain early, sweeping the steps, thinking that if I completed the task quickly, I could return home early. For the first time, three days felt so long.
But I never expected that someone would dare to harm the Crown Prince.
At the foot of the three thousand steps, just as I was about to bid him farewell, a sharp arrow suddenly shot towards him from behind.
Of course, I had to protect him; after all, he was His Highness the Crown Prince. If he got hurt right under my nose, I wouldn't be able to live with myself.
I hurriedly pushed him aside but was too slow to dodge myself.
The arrow struck my left chest, and blood instantly soaked my clothes.
The commotion from the shadows grew more intense; I felt a bit dizzy as the blood in my body surged.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a dark cave, with only a flicker of firelight outlining his distinctly shaped face. The sparks reflected brightly in his eyes.
"You're awake? The way down the mountain is surrounded. Those desperate people are searching the mountain and dare not make a big noise. We’ll have to make do here for one night," he said, his brow furrowed, revealing a hint of warmth amidst his worried expression.
"You’re injured?" Noticing the cut on his arm, I exclaimed, but as soon as I moved, a tearing pain shot through my left chest.
"Don't move; I've just bandaged you." He sat beside me and carefully pulled me into his embrace, softly saying, "You’re so foolish. You knew to push me away but didn’t think to dodge yourself? Luckily it didn't hit a vital spot."
I turned my gaze and lightly touched the long cut on his arm with my fingertip. The scene of him desperately saving me flashed in my mind; with his skills, he could have easily left me behind and run away—the exit was not far from the three thousand steps.
Thinking about how he was trapped because of me made my heart tighten, and tears began to fall.
"Why are you crying? Are you scared?"
I nodded.
He rested his chin on my forehead and gently comforted me, "Don’t be afraid. With me here, you won’t die."
I choked out, "I'm not afraid of dying; I'm afraid you will die."
"You silly girl." He lowered his head and lightly kissed the corner of my eye. "You must live. If you live, I'll fulfill your wish."
I truly feared for his life; if he died, it would likely implicate the entire Qin Family because of me. But if I died, it would only mean failing to protect him.
Understanding this reasoning, I decided early the next morning that I would go out to attract those thieves' attention and feign surrender to lead them in another direction while he slipped out of the mountain entrance to seek help.
"You'll be walking straight into death!"
" Huazhi is just an insignificant person; this world won't change because of one less me. But Your Highness is the foundation of the country; you must live well. You have your grand ambitions."
"If I can't even protect you, how can I talk about ruling over others?" He held my hand tightly.
“At this critical moment of life and death, Your Highness has never taken the initiative to say that you would sacrifice Huazhi, which is enough to prove that you are a person with responsibility. Therefore, I believe that in the future, you will surely be a wise ruler.” I pried open his hand and stuffed the Amulet I had sought for my mother into his palm. “First wish for my parents' health, second wish for the Qin to endure. Just remember these.”
At the moment when blue fireworks flashed in the sky, my anxious heart finally settled down, and the group of assassins reacted as well.
My father quickly arrived with the Fuling Envoy, and the main force closed in. They took me hostage and forced me up the three thousand steps.
All were warriors, leaving no room for negotiation. At the leader's command, they jumped off the sheer cliff without any hesitation, immediately gripping my neck and leaning back.
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