"Crown Prince's Consort..."
I turned around and barely managed to stop myself from rolling my eyes.
Well, well, if it isn't the "ice-faced" head guard, Xiao Jingming!
What's this? Did he come to wish me a Happy New Year?
Or is he here to pick a fight?
He walked over, completely expressionless, radiating a "keep away" aura from head to toe. His face was as cold as an Arctic iceberg, as if someone owed him eight million bucks and refused to pay.
"Does Commander Xiao need something?" I raised an eyebrow, deciding to hold my ground for a moment and see what tricks he had up his sleeve.
"The Crown Prince's Consort would do well to be careful lately." His tone was stiff, as if every single word was being squeezed out from between his teeth. It made me want to clean my ears out.
"Oh? What do you mean by that?" I chuckled inwardly. This guy really hated wasting words—he was about as communicative as a block of wood.
"Things have been unsettled within the estate recently. The Crown Prince's Consort had best keep to herself and not stir up trouble." He shot me a cold glance, looking at me as if I were a walking disaster.
When I heard that, I instantly lost my temper.
What is that supposed to mean—"keep to myself and not stir up trouble"?
Do I look like the kind of person who goes around looking for trouble?
I am a peace-loving, law-abiding good citizen!
Even if I am stuck in ancient times right now...
"Commander Xiao is joking. I've always been kind to others. How could I ever stir up trouble?" I replied with a fake smile, thinking to myself that this guy really had a low opinion of people.
"Hmph!" He let out a cold snort, clearly dismissing my words entirely.
"See that you do!" With that, he turned on his heel and walked away without looking back. His retreating figure was simply too cool for school.
I stood right there, watching him walk away, absolutely fuming!
What was his problem?
Did he really think I was going to cause him trouble?
I am a brilliant modern medical expert, yet here I was, treated like dead weight. This was simply intolerable!
Just as I was so angry I wanted to stamp my feet, a flash of cold light suddenly cut through the air!
Before I could even react, a chill ran down my spine, and a sharp, stinging pain instantly spread across my back.
What the hell?!
What is going on here?
Did I fail to check the fortune calendar today? Was I cursed by the zodiac gods?
I spun around abruptly and saw a man dressed in black, brandishing a sharp blade, lunging right at me.
Oh gosh!
He was actually playing for keeps!
Terrified out of my wits, I instinctively ducked to the side, barely managing to dodge a fatal blow.
Even so, the blade still slashed a gash across my arm, and blood instantly stained my sleeve.
"Assassin!" I shrieked, adrenaline surging. Ignoring the pain in my arm, I scrambled backward as fast as I could.
That man in black was clearly well-trained and agile, pressing forward step by step and giving me no chance to catch my breath.
Seeing him raise his sword to strike again, I despairingly closed my eyes.
Right at that critical, split-second moment, a dark shadow flashed past, followed by a crisp "clang!" The blade was knocked right out of the assassin's hand.
I opened my eyes and saw Xiao Jingming standing right in front of me, his sword gleaming coldly as he squared off against the assassin.
"Commander Xiao?" I froze, never expecting that he would be the one to save me at the crucial moment.
"Watch yourself, Crown Prince's Consort!" he said without looking back, immediately engaging the assassin in fierce combat.
Recovering my senses, I hurried back to the side, clutching my injured arm and anxiously watching the fight.
As expected of Xiao Jingming, his martial arts were extraordinary. His swordsmanship was fierce, every move meant to kill, and before long, he had struck the assassin down to the ground.
Realizing things were looking grim, the assassin immediately swallowed poison and ended his own life—so swiftly that it caught everyone completely off guard.
Xiao Jingming frowned and walked over to me, his tone still ice-cold. "Is the Crown Prince's Consort alright?"
"I'm fine... Thank you, Commander Xiao, for saving my life!" I said sincerely, my perception of him shifting a little.
"Just doing my duty," he replied indifferently, before turning around to order his subordinates to dispose of the body.
Right at that moment, Shen Li came running over, breathless. The sight of my injury instantly drained the color from her face.
"My lady! Are you alright?!" She rushed to my side in a panic, carefully inspecting my wound.
"I'm fine, just a minor scratch," I reassured her, feeling a warmth in my chest.
"My lady, this servant told you so! The estate isn't safe, you must be careful!" Shen Li's eyes grew red, looking as if she were about to burst into tears.
"Alright, alright, see? I'm completely fine!" I patted her hand to let her know she didn't need to worry.
"My lady, let this servant help you back to your room!" Shen Li carefully supported me as we walked toward the chamber.
"Wait!" I suddenly remembered something and looked back at Xiao Jingming.
"Commander Xiao, thank you so much for your help today. I—"
"There is no need for such formalities, Crown Prince's Consort," he interrupted, his tone remaining distant.
"Lady Shen Li, take good care of the Crown Prince's Consort." With that, he left with his subordinates.
Watching him leave, I felt a twinge of confusion.
If his attitude toward me was so cold, why on earth would he save me at the critical moment?
Could it be...
"My lady, what are you looking at?" Shen Li asked, noticing that I kept staring at Xiao Jingming's retreating figure.
"Nothing," I shook my head and followed Shen Li back to the room.
"My lady, this servant will tend to your wound." Shen Li brought the medicine box, gently cleaned my injury, and applied the ointment.
"Shen Li, do you know why Xiao Jingming came to my rescue?" I couldn't help asking.
Shen Li paused for a moment before answering, "My lady, this servant heard that His Highness the Heir instructed Commander Xiao to protect you in secret."
"The Heir?" I grew even more puzzled. "Why would he do that?"
"This servant doesn't know either," Shen Li shook her head.
"However, this servant does feel that His Highness the Heir cares quite a bit about my lady."
I fell silent. Lu Zhao... What kind of person was he, really?
Back in my room, I sat at the table, replaying the events of the past few days in my mind.
Coming to this world as a Substitute Concubine, I had faced all sorts of crises and met various people.
Mammy Li's malice, Xiao Jingming's coldness, Shen Li's loyalty, and... Lu Zhao's mystery.
I realized I wasn't entirely helpless.
In this unfamiliar world, I still had people I could rely on.
Just then, I noticed a book resting on the table—it was Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold.
I picked it up and flipped through it, discovering detailed methods for treating all sorts of stubborn and complicated ailments, exactly what I needed most right now.
"Who left this here?" I asked.
"His Highness the Heir had someone bring it over," Shen Li replied.
"Lu Zhao?" I froze, a nameless emotion welling up inside me.
Why would he send me this book? Was he actually concerned about me?
I closed the book, my mind a mess. Lu Zhao was becoming harder and harder to figure out.
Night fell. Lying in bed, I found myself completely unable to sleep.
I dreamed of my modern life—my family, my friends, my colleagues.
When I woke from the dream, my face was covered in tears.
I missed home so much. I wanted nothing more than to return to my own world.
Yet, I had to survive and stay strong, to find a way out of here.
With that thought, I wiped away my tears and took a deep breath.
"My lady, what's wrong?" Hearing the movement, Shen Li hurried over to ask.
"I'm fine," I shook my head. "Shen Li, do you think I'll ever be able to leave this place?"
"My lady certainly can!" Shen Li said firmly. "This servant believes in my lady!"
Seeing the hopeful look in Shen Li's eyes, a surge of strength filled my heart.
"Yes, I definitely can!" I nodded, making a quiet resolution to myself.
I had to find a way out of here and return to the world that belonged to me.
The first ray of morning sunlight shone through the window into the room. As I slowly opened my eyes, a wave of unprecedented exhaustion washed over me.
Last night's dream felt so vivid, stirring up a deep longing for my modern life.
Still...
I got up, walked over to the window, and looked out at the bustling scene outside, my mind swirling with thoughts.
The events of the past few days replayed in my mind like a movie reel.
Mammy Li's malice, Xiao Jingming's coldness, Lu Zhao's mystery... and that assassin who had wanted me dead.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down.
I needed to adapt to life here as quickly as possible and find a way to protect myself.
And... I couldn't just let the matter of the substitute business rest either.
"Shen Li," I turned around, my voice firm, "prepare the water. I want to bathe and change."
"Yes, my lady," Shen Li hurriedly acknowledged and set to work.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror.
"Hah," I chuckled softly to myself in the glass, "since I'm already here, I might as well play along! I'd love to see who's really pulling the strings behind this substitute nonsense!"
"My lady, the bath is ready." Shen Li's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Alright, let's go." The corners of my lips curved upward into a knowing, subtle smile.
I stepped toward the bathhouse, having already made up my decision.
Warm water misted the air, filled with curling steam.
I leaned back comfortably against the edge of the wooden tub, feeling the pleasant water wrap around every inch of my skin as my fatigue slowly melted away.
Tsk, this ancient bathing experience wasn't half bad. It was a shame there were no smartphones; otherwise, I definitely would've taken a selfie and posted it on social media to show off.
"Shen Li," I closed my eyes, speaking lazily, "tell me, why are there so many bad people in this world? Are they all just stuffed with food and nothing better to do than stir up trouble?"
While gently massaging my shoulders, Shen Li sighed helplessly. "My lady, that's just how the world is. There are always people who can't stand seeing others do well. Now that you're the Crown Prince's Consort, naturally, there will be those who envy you."
"Envy me?" I let out a dry laugh. "What is there to envy about me? The title of Substitute Concubine? Or maybe they're jealous that I'm prettier than them?"
Shen Li let out a giggle. "My lady, you really know how to joke. Still, this servant thinks you should be careful. After all, open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." I opened my eyes, looking at the flower petals floating on the water's surface as my gaze turned profound.
"Since people want to play games, I'll gladly play along with them. But game or no game, if anyone dares to lay a hand on my people, I will never let them off!"
Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept past, and I felt a hint of a chill.
Right after, I heard a familiar voice ring right beside my ear: "The Crown Prince's Consort certainly has a big mouth."
I spun my head around abruptly to see Lu Zhao standing right at the doorway of the bathhouse, his arms crossed over his chest, looking at me with a half-smile.
His dark robe made him look even taller and straighter, and paired with his peerlessly handsome face, he was practically a walking embodiment of pure temptation.
"Your Highness?" I looked at him in surprise. "What brings you here?"
Lu Zhao raised an eyebrow, a hint of playful teasing in his tone. "What, is the Crown Prince's Consort not welcoming me?"
"Of course not," I quickly replied, while inwardly scoffing: Who knows what you're here for?
Could it be that you're here to inspect my bathing progress?
"Since that's the case, then I'm relieved." As he spoke, Lu Zhao actually took a step forward, walking right toward me.
Panic instantly seized me, and I quickly used my hands to shield my body. "Your Highness, what... what are you doing?!"
Lu Zhao stopped at the edge of the tub, looking down at me from above with a wicked, captivating smile at the corner of his lips. "What do you think?"