Nonsense! She’s Not a Bad Woman! - Chapter 74

“Yun Heng did indeed bind me here against my will, but all he wanted was to lure Yao Yao back home. I can understand that. Why then would anyone ask Your Highness to kill him?”

A faint dark light flickered in He Zhiyu’s eyes. “Have you considered—if word of your disappearance spreads, could you still survive in the capital?”

A noblewoman vanishing without reason—no one would care to investigate the details, only to spread rumors about the outcome.

Three years ago, the second daughter of the Ministry of War was abducted from the street. She returned home days later, only to die suddenly in her own residence the next day.

Everyone in the capital knew who had done it. Yet no one dared to speak the truth openly.

Joe Wanyan said calmly, “Zi Yuan mentioned that my parents have already suppressed the news. As long as Your Highness and my sister do not spread word, no rumors will circulate.”

He Zhiyu’s gaze turned icy. She had never realized she possessed such a sharp tongue.

Joe Wanyan averted her eyes; the oppressive aura he exuded made her scalp tingle.

“I understand that Your Highness is worried for me, but… Your Highness looking like this, it frightens me a little.”

Even He Zhiyu’s coldness softened slightly at the display of vulnerability.

Footsteps echoed behind them. Yun Heng appeared, tall and unyielding, carrying a plate of fresh grapes.

“Your Highness is here as well. Perhaps you should step aside. Winter is cold, and with the door open, the charcoal fire inside loses its effect. Miss Wanyan is frail; a cold caught now would be dangerous.”

He Zhiyu did not look at him. After a brief pause, he strode past and entered.

Yun Heng’s expression remained unchanged, that same calm, detached demeanor. He entered Liuguang Pavilion, closed the door, and placed the plate of grapes on the table.

“I brought the grapes you wanted.”

Joe Wanyan’s eyes glanced at He Zhiyu. “Thank you.”

Yun Heng continued, “What would you like for dinner tonight? You ate a lot of the Eight-Treasure Duck last night—would you like it again?”

Zi Yuan’s eyes darted nervously between them. Was it just her imagination, or was there an invisible pressure in the room suffocating her?

“I want it. I also want Dong’an Chicken.”

Yun Heng nodded slightly. “Very well. I’ll inform Aunt Zhang. You woke up early today; rest for a while. I’ll call you when dinner is ready.”

Joe Wanyan nodded.

After Yun Heng left, the room fell into a deathly silence.

Joe Wanyan stayed quiet, and He Zhiyu continued to stare at her. Zi Yuan, summoning courage to speak, was interrupted by the gentle sound of her mistress’s voice.

“Your Highness, I’m a little tired. I want to rest now.”

He Zhiyu had been waiting for her to speak, but instead received a polite dismissal.

He said nothing, turning to leave.

Zi Yuan clicked her tongue. “Miss, Your Highness was genuinely worried about you all along. This is entirely different from before. Why push him away now?”

“He’s angry,” Joe Wanyan said, sitting down and picking up a grape.

Zi Yuan frowned slightly. “I noticed—he wasn’t like that when he first arrived. Why was he so intimidating just now?”

Joe Wanyan’s voice was calm, almost teasing. “If he’s angry, it means he cares. If he cares, it means he’ll have to experience the consequences of his emotions later.”

Yet now, his heart still belonged to Joe Yihuan. When the last trace of her occupies his thoughts, he will feel the weight of every compromise and concession she has endured.

He will know what it means to be anxious, restless, and unsettled.

After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.

Joe Yihuan couldn’t understand why the Crown Prince hadn’t instructed Yun Heng on the purpose of their visit—why he hadn’t prepared an antidote to clear the lingering poison in her body.

The dinner had been tense and silent, leaving her without an appetite.

As night fell, Joe Yihuan decided to be brave. She sent Xiaoying back to rest and quietly slipped out, following the route she had memorized during the day toward Tingyu Pavilion.

A knock echoed through the pitch-black room. Candlelight flickered to life as Yun Heng opened the door.

“Do you need something?” he asked, standing firmly in the doorway, not stepping aside to let her in.

Joe Yihuan spoke softly, “Yun Gongzi, I’ve come because there’s a favor I hope you can grant me.”

Yun Heng remained silent for a moment, and Joe Yihuan’s heart fluttered nervously. Finally, he asked, “What is it?”

She exhaled, placing a delicate hand on her shoulder, cheeks flushing with a mixture of shyness and unease. “I was once injured here. Even with some medicine, the wounds could only scab over—they left scars.”

She paused. “I wish to ask you to prepare an ointment to remove them. If you are willing to help me, I will be forever grateful.”

With that, she slowly lifted her gaze, timidly looking at him, silently awaiting his answer.

In her heart, she already trusted Yun Heng would say yes. It was as if she could see the future—he would fulfill any request she made without hesitation.

That certainty was strange and undeniable, like a sixth sense.

“Why should I help you?” His cold, unfeeling words struck like ice. Joe Yihuan froze.

Had she misheard? She whispered, “What?”

Yun Heng, showing rare patience, repeated, “Why should I help you?”

Joe Yihuan was speechless. How should she respond? This was their first meeting, yet he treated her with such hostility—was he deliberately trying to embarrass her?

After a long pause, she finally said, “Gongzi… you are a healer. Healers are kind-hearted.”

“I heal based on mood,” he said flatly. “Outside of that, I do not save the insincere or the deceitful.”

Joe Yihuan frowned, confused. “Gongzi, you must have misunderstood me. I’ve never harmed anyone. I grew up enduring others’ cruelty—how could I be the kind of person you speak of?”

Yun Heng found her shameless. She was saying all the things Wanyan should be saying.

“The arrow wound on your shoulder is the consequence of your own actions. If you had never intentionally harmed another, you would not bear this result.”

Joe Yihuan stiffened, quickly asking, “Did Wanyan tell you something?!”

Yun Heng’s expression darkened. “Wanyan is a kind person. Even if you bully her, she will speak for you, and I have done my best to prepare your antidote. But… ask yourself—are you worthy?”

“I… I don’t understand what you mean,” she said, shaking her head.

Yun Heng’s voice dropped. “Do you want me to tell you how Wanyan got the arrow wound on her shoulder? Can you even deny it if you know the truth?”

Joe Yihuan froze, eyes wide in shock.

The door slammed shut. Her fingertips went icy—she had never expected to be turned away like this.

It shouldn’t be like this!

She was the protagonist of this world. Everyone should be clearing obstacles for her, protecting her at every turn!