Chapter 2: The Notorious Thief Who Seduced Respectable Men

Old Meng and Nightshade never expected Xia Jiujiang to be so domineering, barking at them to get out as soon as she opened her mouth.

Nightshade gripped his sword, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

Xia Jiujiang cast him a contemptuous glance. “You can’t beat me, so what do you intend to do?”

“You… you… I only slipped up just now!” Nightshade’s face flushed red with anger.

Xia Jiujiang said, “I told you I can save your prince. I’ve just married into the Prince of Jin’s household and am looking forward to a life of riches and luxury. I have no wish to become a living widow. If your prince dies, do you think I’d have any way to survive?”

Truly shameless—speaking so openly of luxury and privilege. Yet what she said was not wrong; their fortunes were tied together, for better or worse. Old Meng was well aware of this fact.

Xia Jiujiang’s sharp gaze swept over Nightshade and Old Meng. “Instead of wasting time here, why not clear the way and let me save him? Or is it that your endless interference means you want the Prince of Jin to simply breathe his last?”

Her words left Old Meng fuming, his beard trembling with rage. It was as if if the prince died from the poison, the blame would rest not with Xia Jiujiang but with Old Meng for meddling and delaying.

With a furious wave of his sleeve, Old Meng barked, “Fine! I’ll see what tricks you’re up to. Men! Surround the Xuan Third Residence. If Her Highness cannot save the Ninth Prince today, the entire Prime Minister’s estate will accompany him in death.”

At Old Meng’s command, the Xuan Third Residence was cleared for Xia Jiujiang, and the air instantly grew calmer, more refreshing.

Xia Jiujiang climbed straight onto the bed, gazing at the unconscious Jun Buwen. She reached out and stroked his face.

She couldn’t help but marvel—such smooth, delicate skin, even softer than her own. Given the situation, she rather felt like a notorious rake harassing a virtuous young man.

After pondering for a moment, Xia Jiujiang said, “To cure your heat poison, a bit of intimate contact is necessary. It’s not as though you’ll lose your virtue, just a minor price—surely you won’t mind.”

Jun Buwen remained motionless, showing no reaction. In his delirium, he vaguely sensed someone whispering by his ear—something about intimate contact! What was she planning to do?

Xia Jiujiang continued talking to herself, “Since you’re not reacting, I’ll take it as consent. Odd, with a kiss, it should be me, a chaste maiden, suffering the loss. Why does it feel like I’m the one taking advantage here, heh heh heh.”

And wasn’t she just? With such a fair, handsome man lying before her at her mercy, Xia Jiujiang could hardly keep her mouth from watering.

She possessed the Mother of Five Poisons Gu. Even after being reborn into this body, she’d brought it along—Gu, poison, and medicine all in one. Her skills in medicine and Gu had finally found use, and what she’d longed to rid herself of had become her means of survival.

Stroking Jun Buwen’s face, she leaned down and pressed her cool, soft lips to his. In this way, she transmitted the Gu energy into his body.

Ordinary methods could not suppress heat poison, but the Gu energy of the Mother of Five Poisons could neutralize it—fighting poison with poison.

She could save Jun Buwen without compromising his virtue—a perfect solution. And yet, there was another benefit: Xia Jiujiang got to steal a taste of him.

She stayed in Jun Buwen’s residence through the night. Old Meng and Nightshade kept watch outside, not daring to barge in for fear of disrupting the treatment, though they heard nothing unusual from within.

Despite their anxious, sleepless vigil—imagining all manner of feverish remedies at play—Xia Jiujiang was inside, sleeping soundly.

Jun Buwen’s breath was steady, his pulse normal. For the first time, he’d slept so well. When he opened his eyes, he felt a rare clarity and vigor.

He turned his head, and suddenly saw Xia Jiujiang’s large face beside him, fast asleep—her bridal crown and robes discarded, her face free of powder or embellishment.

Jun Buwen’s eyes widened in shock. Why was Xia Jiujiang lying next to him? Worse still, her hand rested boldly on his bare chest.

He distinctly remembered being poisoned. The heat poison in his body, which he usually suppressed with inner strength, had flared up after being poisoned again.

Illness, a woman… Could it be that Xia Jiujiang had cured his heat poison by consummating their marriage?

Stunned, Jun Buwen sat up. Seeing his own robe loosened, his anger flared. “What did you do to me?!”

His furious shout brought Old Meng and Nightshade bursting through the door, only to be greeted by a scene of ambiguous intimacy.

Old Meng stared in disbelief. He had already prepared to bury Xia Jiujiang with Jun Buwen should the prince die, but now it seemed she had actually cured him.

Jun Buwen’s face was cold as he ordered, “Out.”

Without another word, Xia Jiujiang—still half asleep—was tossed into the outer hall. She’d assumed the order was meant for Old Meng and Nightshade, but it was addressed to her.

Behind the crane-embroidered screen, Jun Buwen changed his clothes, with Old Meng hastening to assist, while Nightshade kept a vigilant eye on Xia Jiujiang.

Grumbling, Xia Jiujiang muttered, “Fine, change if you must, but can’t you let me sleep a little longer? It’s not as if I haven’t seen it all before.”

Jun Buwen emerged from behind the screen, his expression frosty at her words. Everything about Xia Jiujiang—her actions, her speech—was unlike the ladies of Li Kingdom. She had none of the grace or gentleness expected; instead, her manner was brash and unrestrained, more befitting a woman of the southern lands.

Jun Buwen found himself growing ever more curious about Xia Jiujiang.