Chapter 90: Now... Please Bestow Your Reward, Princess
In her spare time, Xiao Li had watched a few over-the-top transmigration dramas. She’d only watched them to kill time and hadn’t remembered a thing, but now that it was her turn, she truly admired those transmigrating heroines who could just take things as they came.
’I’m a Princess. My status is prestigious enough, right? My home is luxurious enough, right?’
But she still found this life unbearable.
The clothes were cumbersome—layer after layer, outfit after outfit. And if she wanted to look good when she went out, she had to wear all kinds of accessories.
You have to understand, the old Xiao Li was a cool, aloof, and reserved woman who wore her hair short and favored suits.
Needless to say, these outfits were torture for her to wear.
To get around, she had sedan chairs, carriages, palanquins, and horses. These were fine for a bit of fun, but none could ever compare to her beloved luxury car.
No air conditioning in the summer—it was sweltering! They put out blocks of ice, but the cooling was uneven.
No central heating in the winter—it was freezing! They’d bring in charcoal braziers, but those only heated one spot and made the air terribly dry.
Most importantly, even the best of them offered a bumpy ride. Not only could they not travel long distances, but there was also horse manure and urine to deal with... It was enough to drive her mad.
The only things she wasn’t picky about were the food and accommodations, but bathing was another ordeal.
To take a bath, servants had to haul in water bucket by bucket, then haul it all out again.
If you didn’t want to soak in the tub, the only other option was to pour water over yourself with a ladle.
No cars, no internet, no electronics, not even a shower...
Her resentment was bone-deep, her grievances monumental. The longer she lived this life, the more suffocated she felt.
The bath only made her more irritated, chasing away any hint of drowsiness. She threw on her clothes and headed for her secret base—the highest attic in the residence.
On the table was a pile of wood and paper, leftovers from when Xiao Li had been building a sniper rifle.
The two "Hidden Weapons" that were now the stuff of legend were hidden in a secret compartment right beside her.
A shotgun and a sniper rifle. As far as weapons went, they were far, far too advanced for this era.
Xiao Li had no idea what else she could even begin to create. Electronics depended on satellites and chips. She couldn’t very well start researching how to launch a satellite, could she? She certainly didn’t have that kind of skill.
’Invent a few little gadgets to improve my life?’ That was hilarious. It wasn’t like she actually wanted to spend the rest of her days in this world.
’So frustrating!’
’I have to find a way to meet that so-called world consciousness again.’
In a daze, Xiao Li picked up her carving knife and held it to her neck, then to her heart, contemplating which spot would offer a quicker death.
Suddenly, a figure darted in through the window, grabbed her wrist in a tight grip, and swiftly snatched the knife away.
"What do you think you’re doing?"
The voice, thick with suppressed anger, snapped Xiao Li back to her senses. She realized who it was and was just about to look up when she heard footsteps racing up from downstairs.
"Princess!"
It was Rong Qing. He had clearly sensed Lou Yan’s presence.
Xiao Li quickly stopped him. "It’s all right. It’s someone I know."
Rong Qing’s footsteps halted, and he slowly retreated a few steps. "I will stand guard on the floor below. Please call if you need anything, Princess."
"Understood."
After answering Rong Qing, Xiao Li turned to look at Lou Yan, only to find him hiding in a corner beyond the lamplight. All she could see was his slender waist and the hem of his robes.
"What are you doing hiding over there?"
Even though the light didn’t reach him, his gaze was so intense it felt tangible. "The Princess has yet to answer this servant’s question."
Xiao Li thought for a moment, then glanced at the sharp knife he had tossed far away and couldn’t help but chuckle. "You didn’t actually think I was going to kill myself, did you? I was just spacing out, fiddling with it."
Lou Yan stared at her without blinking, trying to find any crack in her facade.
"Does the Princess regret killing Lu Yanzhi?"
’Regret?’
"I’m only afraid I *didn’t* kill him."
’She just had this feeling that Lu Yanzhi was going to come back from the dead.’
She had already killed him once, so it wasn’t as if she still hated him that much. But thinking of the look on Lu Yanzhi’s face just before he died sent a cascade of goosebumps over her skin.
’A creature like an ex-husband is best when they’re thoroughly dead.’
As she thought about it, she casually grabbed a jar of wine from a nearby cabinet, filled two cups, and pushed one to an empty spot beside her.
"Since you’re here, you might as well have a drink with me."
Yet even after Xiao Li had finished her own cup, Lou Yan still hadn’t come over.
"This servant must return to the palace."
Xiao Li put down her cup. "Are you avoiding me?"
"Why?"
Seeing Lou Yan remain in the corner, Xiao Li grew suspicious. ’Is he hiding something he doesn’t want me to see?’
She rose and walked toward him. The closer she got, the more she could feel his body tense up.
’Heh.’
’This was getting interesting.’
She abruptly yanked aside the curtain that was obscuring the corner. All she saw was a blur of motion before he was standing behind her.
Xiao Li laughed in exasperation. "You’re the Lord Seal Master now. How did you get so timid?"
She twisted her arm back to grab his wrist, then spun around.
The sight that met her eyes made her lose all composure.
"Hahahaha..."
"Why are you wearing a mask? It’s hideous!"
She had wondered what Lou Yan was hiding. It turned out to be a terrifying demon mask.
It wasn’t actually scary, just incredibly ugly.
Lou Yan stood rigidly, but he still reached out a hand to steady her, afraid she might laugh herself into falling over.
"Dong Changrui’s martial arts are nothing special, but the Dark Scale Guards’ Commander is more skilled than I am. I was careless and he injured my face..."
Xiao Li understood. He wore the mask because his face was injured and he didn’t want her to see it.
"But this mask really is hideous."
She walked back to her seat, poured another cup of wine, and said, "Can’t you just take it off?"
Lou Yan finally came over and sat beside her. He looked at the cup she had poured for him, his voice low. "I was afraid of frightening the Princess."
Xiao Li was no block of wood; she could read the mood. This Lord Seal Master was clearly playing hard to get.
She gave him a long look, then raised her hand and crooked her finger. "Come here."
Lou Yan leaned in slightly, and Xiao Li’s palm rested easily on his mask. A gentle tug was all it would take to remove it.
Xiao Li was not one to hesitate. She took it.
It was the same familiar face, but now a scar ran along his cheek. It was about a finger’s length and had already healed completely, leaving only a faint pink line.
He had clearly been treated with the finest medicine. It wasn’t the least bit ghastly, so how could it be frightening?
It was just that on his already dark and wicked face, the scar made him look even more like a villain—a villain with a very particular sort of charm.
Lou Yan stared intently at Xiao Li’s face. He saw no trace of disgust; instead, her eyes seemed slightly captivated.
Clearly, she still very much liked his face.
Her cool fingertips landed on his cheek, the pad of her finger gently brushing across the scar. Every place she touched instantly began to burn, igniting the flames in his eyes.
Xiao Li smiled. "Mr. Lou, you’re being a little manipulative."
Lou Yan didn’t admit it. "When Lu Yanzhi’s face was injured, the Princess was disgusted by him."
Xiao Li’s original words had been: ’You want to seduce me with a face that ugly?’
’She hadn’t expected him to be hung up on that.’
Xiao Li’s smile deepened. "So, the reason you were avoiding me is because you want to seduce me?"
Lou Yan seized her mischievous hand. His gaze was scorching, flames leaping in their depths, filled with a dangerous aggression. It was as if he wanted nothing more than to tear apart and devour the prey before him, yet he forcefully restrained himself, leaving only an all-consuming desire in his eyes.
"The Princess said that once Dong Changrui was dead, this servant would receive a reward. Now... please grant your reward, Princess!"