Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 193 Everyone Hopes I Die

Chapter 193: Chapter 193 Everyone Hopes I Die

Qi Yu recalled the women she had encountered in the capital city.

This reflection was disastrous; she realized that few of them had been good people.

Except for the Virtuous Princess, who was consistent and virtuously modest, who among the others didn’t want her dead?

Thinking of this, Qi Yu became withdrawn—why was her luck so bad?

She had come across so few people, and by some misfortune, not one wished her well.

Her eyebrows furrowed deeply, reluctant to discuss this topic.

Seeing her silent for so long, Shi Zhou stared at her curiously.

Was this question that difficult to answer?

Could it be that every woman in the capital city was truly like those from the tales, divine fairies descended from heaven?

She was pondering with her head bowed.

Suddenly, hearing Qi Yu clearing her throat, she hurriedly looked up. Qi Yu moved her lips and after a long while, with a pained expression, said, "Not good at all, especially those in the Imperial Palace. Everyone was hoping for my death!"

"What?" Shi Zhou was stunned, not expecting such an answer.

Thereafter, Qi Yu spent an afternoon lamenting about how treacherous her days in the capital city had been.

The Empress and the concubines in the harem disliked her, scheming daily to harm her.

Her legendary origin was also worth mentioning, from an idiotic and ugly woman to suddenly becoming the Prince’s Princess—just hearing it felt inspiring.

There was also a rival princess from an enemy state who had actually used a Poisonous Insect on her.

Qi Yu mixed the original owner’s life story with her own experiences. Though not all was true, no doubt, she was that miserable.

Her days were almost more pitiful than a small cabbage in the field.

When she spoke about the dangerous parts, Shi Zhou couldn’t help but widen her eyes and asked in astonishment, "She truly dared to do that?"

Qi Yu slammed the table, indignantly saying, "Indeed! If it weren’t for my cleverness and wit, I would’ve been killed long ago!"

Then she continued talking about how she managed to detect those people’s malice and turned danger into safety.

Listened by Shi Zhou who kept praising her, looking at her as if she was some kind of god.

Of course, there was no lack of exaggeration, but that’s how stories are, half-truths and half-fables. It’s enough to just listen.

But she thumped her chest and assured Shi Zhou, "If I speak half a lie, let the heavens strike me with lightning!"

Shi Zhou, who was always straightforward, didn’t understand the complexities.

Just as she was about to nod in agreement, they heard a light voice from behind them, "Don’t get struck by lightning then!"

Both turned their heads and saw Shen Xiheng, who was leisurely waving his folding fan.

Qi Yu touched her nose sheepishly, unsure how much of her bragging had just been overheard.

She decided to take the offensive first and gestured a number with her hand, "At least eighty percent of what I said was true."

Shen Xiheng gave her a look, his tone rising slightly, "Oh? Is that so?"

Qi Yu silently turned her finger in another direction, "Okay, let’s say seventy percent was true."

Shen Xiheng put away his fan, tapped on the stone table, and asked, "Since when did you save your Prince amid thousands of troops?"

Knowing she was at fault, Qi Yu hung her head in silence.

Shen Xiheng continued to mock her, "Breaking formations, facing thousands alone—why don’t you ascend to heaven then?"

Dissatisfied, Qi Yu retorted, "How do you know I’m not a fairy who descended from heaven?"

Just as the two were about to start arguing again, Shi Zhou quickly interrupted them.

Qi Yu promptly took Shi Zhou away, saying, "Let’s go out and have fun, seek out some pleasures, and just ignore her."

Shi Zhou hurriedly glanced back and saw Shen Xiheng gesturing with a wave of his hand, so he followed without any burden.

The two still dressed as men, with Shen Nanxing following secretly.

They wandered around Gusu City for a good while, almost covering the busiest streets before finally choosing a tea house to rest their feet.

Qi Yu ordered a pot of tea and a few plates of snacks, beckoning Shi Zhou to sit down.

It was the busiest time in the tea house, and everyone crowded in, waiting for the storyteller on the stage to start.

"Wonder what story it will be today?"

"Could it still be about that Su Family’s young lady who escaped her marriage last time?"

"I heard that this Miss Su still hasn’t been found!"

"You think, with all this commotion, why would Miss Su be dissatisfied with a perfectly good marriage?"

"..."

The tea house was buzzing with noise, but the discussions were all about one matter.

Qi Yu and Shi Zhou sat in a corner by the window, hidden yet capable of observing everyone’s expressions—an extremely safe spot.

Hearing these words, Qi Yu grew curious; she had been too busy recently and hadn’t been out for a long time.

Unexpectedly, she heard something intriguing the moment she went out today.

Qi Yu pricked up her ears and continued listening for a while, slowly piecing together a splendid story.

The Miss Su referred to was the eldest daughter of the Suxiuji family in Gusu, first of the wealthy merchants; she had been engaged since childhood to the eldest son of the Lin Family, who owned a pastry shop.

The pair were supposed to marry on the fifteenth of last month, but on the day of the wedding, Miss Su left behind a handkerchief stating she did not wish to marry and then ran away with her belongings. She has not been found to this day.

Because of this incident, the Su and Lin families were very upset with each other, each blaming the other for the fault.

Good in-laws had thus become enemies, which, when spoken of, cannot help but provoke sighs of regret.

However, most people were just watching the excitement, otherwise this sensational runaway bride wouldn’t become the talk of the town; even the storyteller in the tea house took this opportunity to make it into a story.

When everyone had a good laugh and scold, the owner of the tea house made money, the storyteller was applauded, and the guests were happy, truly hitting three birds with one arrow.

It was only pitiful for that Miss Su, who had no idea she was being spoken about in such a way.

Qi Yu grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, listening with interest, and said to Shi Zhou, "I guess Miss Su must have encountered something, otherwise she wouldn’t flee the marriage for no reason."

Shi Zhou looked at her and speculated, "She doesn’t like that young master from the Lin Family?"

While the reason made sense, Qi Yu still laughed and shook her head, "The matter surely isn’t that simple."

Shi Zhou was taken aback and asked further, "Is there some hidden secret?"

Qi Yu smiled and said nothing, but a trace of darkness flashed in her eyes.

If she was dissatisfied with the marriage, there was room to negotiate; no parent could truly push their daughter into the fire pit while watching.

But running away from the wedding was indeed too rash and too dangerous.

Miss Su was just an unmarried girl; where did she get such courage?

Thus, fleeing a marriage is just hearsay; no one knows the true facts except for the Su and Lin families.

In moments, countless thoughts had flown through her mind.

On the stage, the storyteller had gracefully arrived, struck the gavel, and all chatter ceased.