Chapter 50

"Kghh."

My head is heavy, and it feels like I'm walking underwater. Whoa.

Easy.

"Ack."

I squint as I open my eyes, trying to ease the stinging sensation caused by the bright sun.

After a moment of hesitation, I opened my eyes again, taking in my surroundings.

"Ah, better...?"

Where?

And my clothes...

"I'm pretty sure this tattered linen ain't mine."

It's oversize too.

Let's see.

I'm in a small student-sized bed, a worn-out blanket, and a neatly and poorly sized room.

How kind of them.

In this way, they are peasants who must have been in a not-so-good condition but still took me in and treated me. They even took care of my body, removing my soaked dress and leaving me with nothing, not even my doudou.

"Oh, dear."

So, they saw me naked.

Come to think of it. It was a masculine voice.

Oh, snap.

If the ML becomes aware of this, it could have negative consequences. It would be best if I talked to them and advised them to keep it a secret.

"The fever hasn't died down yet."

My head still feels like it's waging WWWIII.

I'll sleep again.

Regarding that husband of mine…

Who cares about him? I'm sick now. I need to rest first. Besides, just a slight thought of him had me in pain all over again.

***

Third Person's POV

"Y-Your Highness..."

"You still didn't find her?"

On the contrary, the King of Yi's estate looks lively on the outside; however, in the inner room, the further you go toward Jin Hai's study, there's thunder everywhere mixed with gloom and silent anger as the whole surrounding slowly turns into an ice cellar.

Jin Hai has always been smiling whenever Li Jia Ying is with him, as if the smile on his face can never fade. As he wrote at the table, his fine lips remained unmoved by any hint of a smile.

The room was so silent that the only audible sound was the light pattering of the rain, which was slowly coming to an end.

Even though Jin Hai's body doesn't exude coldness, the servant does not dare to go near him trembling as they kowtowed in the distance, as if threading a thin thread ready to be sentenced to death once riven apart.

"Report."

"T-The thief was caught; however, according to the commoners near the Gui area, there was indeed a woman they saw walking around aimlessly and asking where is the way to the King of Yi's estate."

The servants swallowed.

"It's... it's just.... They thought she was jesting, wanting to warm t-the King's bed."

Despite the silence from the King of Yi, the servant felt a sudden chill run down their spine.

Just now, the King stopped writing, holding a strange thing unfamiliar to the usually used brushes.

This...

Indeed, this is not a good sign.

"What did you say?"

The servant banged his head, "Please forgive me, Master, this servant didn't do as you ordered properly! Please punish me."

"Again."

"Master?"

The wheels in his head turned quickly desperate to save his neck, and he elaborated so that the anger of the Jin Hai would not fall upon him, "Some people saw her sitting as if waiting for someone, drifting from one place to another, asking where the King's estate is. The people thought she was using her body and beauty to attract the Master, saying she is the personal maid of the Master's wife, others saying she wants to work in the estate and needs direction."

"They did not believe it and just ignored or walked away from her, fearing it may offend the Master if they told the direction to your estate."

Jin Hai exhaled. "Should I just kill them?"

The servant continued meekly. As long as it is not, him it's fine, "One of the people living at Dunhai Street saw her running from a narrow road near the east of Shi before disappearing with the heavy rain pouring down."

"That, Master, we lost trace of where the madam had gone through. No one saw her after that."

"It's already been three days."

Jin Hai whispered, staring at his pen.

Three days since he had not been in her presence. Despite his warnings, that ruthless woman goes her own way while outside. Whenever he looks away briefly, she disappears from his side. It annoys him intensely.

"Have you taken that petty thief's sister?"

"Y-Yes, Master."

Jin Hai stood up.

"Advise the child to be faster than the King, or he will have to dig a hole for his sister outside the border."

The more time Li Jia Ying is outside, the more she'll likely want to leave. It's the fastest way for her mind to brew another set of plans, which he himself might find hard to follow if that happens.

He cannot underestimate his dear wife, even though she acts childish and muddle-headed as well as showing her blatant motive to separate from him. Just by her eyes alone, there's a sea of thoughts in it that she wouldn't tell. Her scheme can just suddenly appear without him knowing.

"Understood; this servant will tell him now."

The servant made a bow and scudded.

The King of Yi hasn't changed a bit and is still as heartless as ever. His temperament towards his subjects remained unchanged, except for his wife. His cruelty knows no age or boundary. The servant wiped away the sweat on his forehead, moving towards the deepest side of the cell, away from the prying eyes and well hidden from the King of Yi's wife, who liked to stroll around every time.

"What's even so good about that foolish princess beside her face? They were right; even if the King of Yi's treatment of his subjects does not change but regarding the princess, he doted on it's possible to lose his reason."

This kind of rumor has been circulating the estate for a long time; now, even he believes it to be true.

"Should I just change sides?"

He muttered, entering the cell where the King of Yi threw the child coldly.

"This is a bit too much…"

Before, he would not deal with beggars and others who had done misconduct. Those that are not of a higher power, he is indifferent. Now, this…

"The baron's daughter, Bai Ying Yue, greets the King of Yi."

Jin Hai was about to open his door, ready to find Li Jia Ying again by himself, but was not in the mood for pleasantry as a frown painted his brows. "You can leave. This King will tell my wife you've encountered some important things."

Bai Ying Yue smiled gently, "We, on behalf of the prince—"

"Hold."

Jin Hai immediately stopped her, pinching the bridge of his nose and exchanging a direct glance with Prince Yu Shan.

"You must be mistaken."

"What do you mean?"

She, Bai Ying Yue, hasn't said a word yet.

"Prince," Jin Hai's intent was not on Bai Ying Yue, disregarding her presence like a speck of dust in the air. "Although our emperors agreed and kept the alliance, the matters you are concerned with have nothing to do with me."

"It has all to do with you."

Prince Yu Shan uttered and looked at Bai Ying Yue, "And it has all to do with her too."

"On this occasion, it won't be possible."

Ji Han muttered and just smiled formally at the both of them. The only reason they are still here is that Li Jia Ying seems to have some thoughts about them; he does not know whether it's senseless in his eyes. He opted to accompany the situation and observe what his wife was up to. There were always request letters received by him from Bai Ying Yue, but he burnt it all down, not replying even now.

"Better keep it more hidden and genuine if you want to meet other people of interest in the future."

Jin Hai warned. There is a scheme; he's not interested in it. Do they think he wouldn't know every small little detail about it?

"Sadly, my wife is yet to be found. This was the sole reason I brought you here."

So his wife won't have any wondrous thoughts if they speak so closely, excluding him. Li Jia Ying's brow will crease again as she contemplates something, her guarded expression revealing little about what's on her mind.

Bai Ying Yue coughed.

She doesn't feel good about where this is leading to.

"Wouldn't this help your land? Your people? This will benefit you, and you can even contribute to your empire, including the commoners."

Heh. People?

He suddenly remembered the servant's report a while ago.

Those kinds of people? Although it could be viewed as expressing concern for their King, what happened? Didn't it take the opposite effect on Li Jia Ying?

Seeing the King was unperturbed, Bai Ying Yue carefully added, "What about the Prime Minister? Won't he reach his hands to your peerless wife?"

"Regardless of your worries, it is not of your concern."

Jin Hai coldly uttered, narrowing his eyes at her.

This woman is too confident. Although it can succeed alas, how unfavorable that she just hit two nails that shouldn't bend.

"Or does the Prince's 'friend' think I'm incompetent and now she dares warn this King about his wife?"

The air surrounding them was heavy with tension, making it almost suffocating for them.

Yu Shan sighed, glancing at the dazed Bai Ying Yue. "The blame for not reprimanding my companion rests solely with me. Please don't blame her."

"Then kindly leave. Your invitation I politely decline."

It was already such a feat they entered her premise, just like Princess Shangnie, when this place has never accepted visitors ever since he became the King of Yi.

On the other hand, Bai Ying Yue was in deep thought. "I don't understand."

"Yueyue…"

Ji Han frowned even more. He felt this conversation took longer than he should have. "What must you want to understand?"

Has he not said so ever clearly?

Bai Ying Yue didn't pursue it anymore and shook her head, bowing her head, "Indeed, Bai Ying Yue has gone overboard. Forgive me. Then we would leave first and never bother you again."

Ji Han nodded, smiling, "No trouble. Forgive me for not seeing you off. This King needs to find his wife as soon as possible."

Bai Ying Yue lifted her head and stiffened, quickly reciprocating his smile, "Then Bai Ying Yue hopes you'll find her soon."

"Definitely."

Seeing Jin Hai pass by them as if it bothered him that another conversation will happen again. Bai Ying Yue's heart was once again thrown into turmoil.

"Really, Bai Ying Yue doesn't understand it."

She didn't make mistakes in every step she took. Everything was in order and as it is to be expected.

Why?

Is this the bottleneck of her already reachable plan?