Free Web NovelChapter 27: The Bargain
There was something warm on her lips...and soft. It felt like feathers, with the scent of jasmine lingering somewhere in the background.
If this was the afterlife, then it might not be as bad as she’d imagined it to be. She smiled when she felt something tighten around her waist.
"Are you pretending to still be unconscious?" an amused voice asked.
Wait—
Was that an angel?
"Usually, people refer to me as a wolf but being an angel does not sound all that bad," the voice responded. "I mean I did save you, maybe that counts for something."
Ru Yi’s eyes sprang open, the image of Shen Yexue bending over her with their lips almost touching was the first thing she saw.
In panic she pulled her hand back and threw a punch at her.
It’d been so sudden that Shen Yexue hadn’t been able to dodge the blow on time. She was hit from the impact on her left eye.
"What was that for?" she yelled, glaring at Ru Yi. "This is what I get for trying to be nice and helpful for once."
Ru Yi sat up on the bed, fingers on her lips. "That’s for kissing someone that was unconscious, you creep!"
Shen Yexue scoffed, standing straight beside the bed. "I wouldn’t even kiss you if you went down on your knees and begged me for it." She wiped furiously at her mouth.
"Looks like I didn’t have to beg for it," Ru Yi responded, scrunching her nose in disgust. "You’re really as perverted as everyone says."
Shen Yexue was overly offended. "If anything your ungrateful ass should be thanking me. I was merely transferring energy to you. I should’ve just let you die."
Ru Yi had no chance to feel mortified because the door opened and Shen Qingyue walked in with Lieyin.
"You’re awake." Shen Qingyue moved to the bed, pushing Shen Yexue away. "I brought some balms for you. The wound has been healed internally, but the balm could keep it from scarring."
There was a calm air of authority around the first triplet that made Ru Yi relax around the bed. "Thank you." freewebnovёl.ƈom
Shen Yexue frowned. "I’m the one that saved you and showed me no gratitude." There was a small pout in her lips that gave her a childlike demeanor that would’ve made Ru Yi laugh if the situation was different.
"Stop sulking," Shen Lieyin finally spoke, then froze when she saw the darkening rings around Shen Yexue’s eye.
All three of them were strong and capable of defending themselves, but it didn’t stop the first two from worrying about Shen Yexue. She was the last and had a habit of getting herself in trouble.
Whether it was drinking with the locals and causing a ruckus or going to the whorehouse while pretending to be a man. Her levels of mischief knew no bounds.
Surprisingly Shen Yexue pointed at Ru Yi. "Punched me immediately she woke up."
Shen Qingyue was fast to hold Lieyin back when she lunged for Ru Yi. "She must’ve been scared when she woke up, I’m sure it wasn’t her intention to cause harm."
Ru Yi shrunk into the bed in fear.
While the other sisters had their vices, Shen Lieyin was the worst in the three. Known to think with her sword first before her head.
Since the day she stomped down on Ru Yi’s fingers with her boots, Ru Yi already knew she was the triplet she needed to be weary of the most.
"It better not happen again," Shen Lieyin said through gritted teeth, her rage barely contained.
Ru Yi gulped, she wasn’t about to find out what lengths she’d go for any of her sisters. Plus, she liked her finger unbroken and working perfectly.
Shen Yexue who was watching the scene unfold with a sly smile felt herself freeze when Shen Qingyue started to push Ru Yi’s robe to the side so she could apply the balm.
"Wait!" She swatted Shen Qingyue’s hand away, "I’ll handle it. I’m sure you have questions you’re dying to ask her."
The two sisters looked at her in confusion but Shen Qingyue was the first to snap out of it.
"About the murder, I don’t think—"
Ru Yi cut Shen Qingyue off. "Why did you save me? Didn’t you all believe that I was the killer and deserved to be executed?" Then proceeded to slam her hand over her mouth. Who was she to question the wolves?
Shen Qingyue shook her head. "It’s clear now that you’re not the killer, but you know more than you’re letting on. It’s the only explanation for why there was an attempt on your life."
Ru Yi knew better than to believe that they’d kept her alive out of the goodness of their hearts. "What’s it to you? What’s the real reason I’m here?"
"Because we need to find out who the real killer is," Shen Qingyue sat on the bed. "And it’s in your best interest to help us if you want to keep being alive."
Ru Yi was smart enough to know when she was being threatened, and the last thing she needed was getting on the triplet’s bad side.
If telling them everything she knew would keep her safe, then she wouldn’t hold anything back. Maybe if she got lucky she’d be able to get them to help her leave the palace. All she had to do was play her cards right.
"Okay," Ru Yi agreed, "But..." she looked down, unable to maintain eye contact, "how can I be sure you won’t kill me after getting all the information you need?"
"I guess you should find other ways to remain useful to us if you want to keep your life." Shen Qingyue’s tone was stern and lacked the warmth it previously had. "Tell us everything you know and you have our protection."
For now...
It was unspoken, but Ru Yi heard it loud and clear. But it was alright, she’ll give them information in bits and pieces. There was no need to reveal all her cards. freewebnovel.cσ๓
All she had to do was find out what the triplet’s motives were. After all, everyone wanted something. Hers was her life and freedom.
"Let’s start from your relationship with the princess," Shen Yexue piped up, "a little birdy told me you were seen frequenting her inner chambers."
Ru Yi narrowed her eyes, something about the youngest triplet irked her. "Why else would I be in her inner chamber?"
Shen Yexue narrowed her eyes. "Don’t tell me..." she grabbed the collar of Ru Yi’s robes when it clicked in her head. "You were having an affair?"
Ru Yi did not answer. She liked the flames that were coming out of Shen Yexue’s ears, all the anger that had reddened her cheeks. Combined with the black eye she looked truly comical.
"Yexue..." Shen Qingyue made her release her hold before scolding Ru Yi, "stop provoking her."
Shen Lieyin, who had been watching Ru Yi in the corner, finally stood up.
Ru Yi watched in fear as she pulled out her sword, then taking threatening steps towards her. "Are you going to speak now or do I have to cut you up first?"
She didn’t need to be asked twice. "I was spying on the Empress for the late princess!"
The silence that followed after unnerved Ru Yi but she remained quiet, waiting for her words to sink in.
It was She Lieyin that spoke first. "I thought you were stupid at first..." then she looked at Ru Yi with an expression she couldn’t decipher, "turns out you’re even more stupid."
That stung, but Ru Yi couldn’t say anything. She hated Shen Lieyin, with every fiber of her being. She had no plans to point that out though.
Shen Qingyue gave her sister a stern look, "let her finish."
Ru Yi did exactly that. "Princess Lin Yuexin suspected that the Empress was up to no good, so she wanted me to find out what it was."
"And what did you find out?" Shen Qingyue asked, brows pinched in concentration. "Surely, it was something worth risking your life for."
"Poison," Ru Yi whispered, "the Empress has been poisoning the Emperor."
