37 Both Can Be White & Red

She could not let her guard down for even a brief moment! Chu Yu sneered as she thought about her mistake.

Rong Zhi gave a subtle smile, then softly pulled a branch of apricot flowers from the side towards him. He drew the blooms nearer and lightly sniffed at the sweet-smelling fragrance. By doing so, two apricot blooms fell from the branch one after the other, buoyantly landing on the surface of the ground. Chu Yu could practically hear the scrape of the fallen flowers.

Rong Zhi then spoke in a low voice as if he was reminiscing, "Princess, do you still remember the words you said to me four years ago when you first brought me back to the Princess's Imperial Residence? I'll never forget those words for the rest of my life and neither will you."

Chu Yu's heart quickly lifted. With a blank expression on her face, she stared at Rong Zhi for a while before slowly responding, "Are you questioning me about those words?"

However, she was not Princess Shanyin, so it was impossible for her to answer Rong Zhi's question, and she could not evade the question or claim a loss of memory.

Chu Yu pondered for a moment and thought of using an ambiguous statement along the lines of, "That's already in the past. Why do you still bring them up?". However, out of nowhere, she felt a chill in her heart, so she remarked indifferently, "Who do you think I am? Who are you to question me in this kind of manner?"

No answer was the best answer, but it did not mean keeping silent.

However, It did occur to her that perhaps she had never said anything all those years ago and those words never existed. Perhaps, it was just a lie, a bait for her to be hooked onto. It was a fatal mistake no matter how she answered.

Nevertheless, Rong Zhi's next words left her feeling relieved. "Naturally, it's only appropriate that you won't deign to answer given that at that point in time, you, in fact, didn't say any word to me." 

Sure enough, it was as expected.

Nevertheless, Chu Yu did not reveal an ounce of arrogance. Instead, she continued to look at Rong Zhi with a mocking smile because it was still possible that the words from afore could also be a trap to lure her and she could not take the bait so rashly.

When facing this person, every step and move needed to be analyzed thoroughly. One may even say that every step was like a roller-coaster ride.

Chu Yu rejoiced that she did not choose to feign amnesia. However, doing so would have been easier for her. If she were to expose such a huge weakness, she could not begin to imagine how he would fixate on her vulnerability, and this would leave her confused and going around in circles. 

Nonetheless, there was a sense of relief in the fact that Princess Shanyin's past reputation meant that not many dared to play tricks or come up with any fanciful ideas. 

The glance that Rong Zhi bestowed upon Chu Yu was one that contained gentleness, yet the words that left his mouth nearly caused her heart to stop entirely. "Princess, please kindly undress."

Chu Yu tried to hold herself together although, on the surface, she gave a derisive laugh and continued to play it cool. "Today, I don't…" Her words trailed off. She had yet to finish when she saw that Rong Zhi had stretched out his slender and fair hand towards her. His index finger slid like a seal across her lips as he silenced her.

This move instantly made Chu Yu's eyes widen, and she was just about to move away to avoid it, but he drew nearer with a step forward. His smiling face appeared so gentle and sincere, yet the movement of his hand was very firm. His other hand swiftly captured both of her wrists and lifted them over her head. She fell backward onto the ground, and he cleverly twisted his body so that she was pinned underneath him.

Let me go!

Rong Zhi's thumb, index, and middle fingers gripped onto Chu Yu's lower jaw while his mouth fastened onto her slightly parted lips. His strength could not be considered forceful, but his method was ingeniously shocking. No matter how much she struggled or how much strength she used, she could only manage to emit a weak muffled sound. 

Her mouth was sealed while her hands and feet were firmly held down, but it was rather strange that even though Rong Zhi was not using that much force. Rather, it felt like her strength had totally left her. It was beyond comprehension.

She expected that Rong Zhi had a hidden agenda, but she never expected him to be so bold as to dare to lay a hand on her in such a manner. Chu Yu soon realized that her efforts were futile, so her only hope was that Yue Jiefei could hear the unusual sounds coming from within the forest.

Rong Zhi laughed, then cast a look downwards at her. His expression was unfathomable, calm, and elegant as he remarked, "Princess, please don't be so impatient and hasty. I'm hurting."

What kind of lies was he making up? 

Chu Yu only realized a short while later that his words were not meant for her ears. Instead, they were meant for Yue Jiefei who was waiting in the outer forest. 

Yue Jiefei heard the sounds of something heavy falling within the forest. He subconsciously stood up and wanted to enter the forest to check on the situation. However, shortly after that, he was relieved when Rong Zhi's calm and unhurried voice immediately stopped him in his tracks. Yue Jiefei had the same strange expression as before because he believed that the Princess was playing some kind of peculiar game again. 

Not only did he refrain from entering the forest, but he was unusually tactful at ignoring the sounds and moving a few steps in the opposite direction.

After waiting a while, Chu Yu had yet to see Yue Jiefei come crashing in. She knew it was likely that Rong Zhi's words had their desired effect. Her heart instantly turned cold, but she was unperturbed. She stared fearlessly at Rong Zhi face to face.

He gave her a subtle smile and looked down towards the lower half of his body. Then, he brought his lips near her ear and whispered in a light voice, "Fear not. I know that you aren't the Princess. Since you aren't her, then tell me where has the real Princess gone?" 

How is he so certain?

She was aware that her behavior at present was somewhat questionable. An observant and attentive person would have detected something unusual. However, they would only speculate that the Princess had a shift in temperament. No one would behave in such a way as Rong Zhi, audaciously making such an inconceivable accusation, one that was, in fact, very close to the truth.

"I discovered the engravings of orthographic strokes by your bedside. When I calculated the number of strokes engraved, it added up to the number of days since you drove me and the other male companions out of your bedchamber."

A shudder passed through Chu Yu's heart. He's even found out about this?

Initially, she made these strokes subconsciously and they acted as a way to calm her state of mind when she was at a loss. Eventually, carving a stroke a day became something of a habit. She never thought that Rong Zhi would realize this, and if he did, she expected him to overlook it. 

Chu Yu gazed at him without saying anything. Her gaze was sharp and filled with derision, which conveyed the message of arrogance.

Yes, she had been caught. But so what? It was her own bed. If she were happy to amuse herself by engraving on it, what was the problem? Who could interfere? 

Rong Zhi breathed near her ear again. This time, his voice was enticing. "Don't be afraid. I won't do anything to you as long as you tell me who are you? And where is the princess now? I will guarantee your freedom. You have to know I'm also staying here involuntarily."

Chu Yu could not help but release her breath that she had been holding in.