Nonsense! She’s Not a Bad Woman! - Chapter 86

“Your Highness!”

Qiao Yihuan gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief at the scene before her.

He Zhiyu’s face was cold, brows tightly knitted. An arrow feather had struck squarely against his chest, yet the searing pain he expected never came—only the sharp sound of a jade pendant shattering at his breast.

Without pausing to think, he snatched the bow from a nearby guard, nocked an arrow, and with a swift pull sent it piercing through the leg of the last assassin.

“Leave one alive.”

The guards immediately bowed and complied.

Qiao Yihuan hurried over in a panic. He Zhiyu pulled out the shattered jade pendant from his chest.

This was the keepsake Yan had given him back in Yongzhou.

It was this jade pendant that had shielded him from a fatal strike.

“Your Highness, are you alright?” Qiao Yihuan’s forehead was drenched with cold sweat as she anxiously touched his chest, only to find no trace of blood seeping through.

“I’m fine, don’t worry.” He Zhiyu carefully tucked away the broken halves of the pendant.

He Baozhu, meanwhile, was still in shock. She was the kind of girl who didn’t dare kill a chicken, who could only watch sweet fluffy dramas on TV. How could she possibly withstand such pressure?

And now, she had inexplicably landed in some nameless ancient era, opening her eyes only to face a life-or-death slaughter. One assassin after another fell dead before her eyes, blood spurting from sliced throats. Her whole body went numb.

Too terrifying!

To actually witness someone being killed—she felt she needed a therapist right now.

A therapist who was extremely handsome, preferably, to heal her fragile little heart.

“Baozhu, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be in Yunxi City?” He Zhiyu asked.

Suddenly questioned, He Baozhu froze for a moment. From the moment she opened her eyes, she had been thrown into a real-life battle royale. Now that the danger had passed and her panic subsided, fragments of the original host’s memories began to surface in her mind.

This body she was wearing was no ordinary person. She was the Tenth Princess of the dynasty.

He Baozhu’s eyes lit up instantly. A princess?

Damn, that’s worth it!

As for the assassins chasing her—it wasn’t anyone else but her own husband, the Prince Consort, who had sent them.

Although the original owner was a princess, she had been timid and weak from a young age due to being unloved.

When she came of marriageable age, the emperor bestowed a marriage decree, and she was wed off to a distant fief.

Over time, her husband, seeing her meek temperament, revealed his true face.

Not only did he brazenly take concubines, but he also indulged them in humiliating the princess. Worse, he developed a twisted sense of vanity, reveling in the pleasure of trampling on the princess despite being nothing more than a prince consort.

The original owner, pitifully cowardly, never dared resist. She had no authority in her own household.

Until this time—when she became pregnant, only for the concubines to cause her miscarriage. Pushed to the edge, she finally resolved to be brave for once and secretly set out for the capital to seek justice from the emperor.

But the prince consort decided to end things once and for all, sending assassins to silence her.

If not for meeting good people—and the timely arrival of her elder brother, the Crown Prince—she would have died the moment she transmigrated.

Qiao Yihuan said gently, “Your Highness, the princess has just been greatly frightened. Why not let her rest first? You can ask more once we return to the capital.”

He Baozhu looked at Qiao Yihuan, warmth rising in her chest.

Such a gentle person. Not only had she been saved, but he was even helping her out of an awkward situation.

He Zhiyu gave a slight nod. “Yihuan is thoughtful. I was inconsiderate. Get on the carriage—we’ll return to the capital.”

Naturally, He Baozhu climbed into the same carriage as Qiao Yihuan. She was still shaken, far too afraid to ride alone in the one the original host had come in.

“Princess, don’t be afraid. Now that His Highness is here, he will surely protect us.”

He Baozhu nodded lightly but didn’t speak.

She was a transmigrator—saying too much would only risk mistakes. Besides, the original host had always been timid and weak. It was better to keep her head down and observe quietly.

Qiao Yihuan introduced herself with a gentle smile. “My father is the Minister of Revenue. My name is Qiao Yihuan. This is my friend, Liu Yanran.”

Liu Yanran, on the other hand, secretly studied the suddenly-appearing princess.

In the novel, this person had barely any presence—she shouldn’t have even crossed paths with Yihuan at this time.

If she remembered correctly, this unloved princess was supposed to die suddenly, the news reaching the capital only in early spring.

He Baozhu murmured softly, “Thank you for saving me.”

Qiao Yihuan’s smile was warm and gentle. “Princess, you’re too polite. It is my honor to be of help. As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters. My carriage doesn’t have much charcoal burning inside—please don’t mind the cold.”

He Baozhu shook her head, remaining silent, as though still too frightened to speak.

Qiao Yihuan poured her a cup of hot tea and passed it over. “If only my younger sister were here as well. Her carriage is always kept warm—then Your Highness wouldn’t have to suffer the chill.”

The original host had grown up in the palace and knew little about the affairs of the capital or the prominent families of the previous dynasty. She didn’t know much about this Qiao Yihuan either.

Yet after a short interaction, He Baozhu found Yihuan to be exceedingly kind and gentle. Her manner was approachable, putting others at ease—nothing like the arrogant, willful young ladies one would imagine from such powerful households.

Closing her eyes, He Baozhu quietly sifted through the original host’s memories. The more she recalled, the more stifled she felt.

A princess reduced to such a cowardly state—it was truly unheard of.

The carriage didn’t enter the city directly but instead stopped outside at a countryside estate.

Qiao Wanyan chose not to go inside. She had the coachman send Hudiecao and Xu Shujian home first, while she herself waited in the carriage for the Crown Prince’s party to arrive.

Hearing Ziyuan’s voice, she immediately alighted, hurrying toward the prince with unconcealed worry in her eyes.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

He Zhiyu shook his head. “Thanks to you, I am unharmed.”

Qiao Wanyan blinked in confusion. What did this have to do with her?

“Wanyan?” A familiar voice called from behind.

She turned to see her elder sister, Qiao Yihuan, standing with a stranger at her side. After a glance, she guessed this must be the neglected Tenth Princess—He Baozhu.

“Wanyan greets the Princess.”

She dipped into a graceful curtsey, every movement refined and elegant. Her celestial beauty lifted with a faint, gentle smile, and under the hazy glow of the winter sun breaking through the clouds, she appeared almost divine—so stunning it took one’s breath away.

He Baozhu froze on the spot.

The impact of that sight made her heart pound wildly, her mind buzzing blank.

No way… How can someone look like this?

She’s even prettier than my female celebrity crushes!

Qiao Wanyan, puzzled by He Baozhu’s fixed stare, walked closer and offered her a hand-warmer.

“Your Highness, the tip of your nose is red. Did you catch a chill?”

He Baozhu accepted it stiffly. The moment their fingers brushed, she suddenly felt like something warm was rushing from her nose—