Chapter Sixty-Nine: Encircled

As soon as Zhou Yi heard the voices outside the door, he could no longer care about keeping a distance. He quickly moved to Princess Fu’s side, once more holding the flaming blade to her throat and whispering a threat. “You know what to say.”

“Your Highness, are you all right? I’m coming in.” This time it was a palace maid speaking, already reaching to push the door open.

“Oh—wait a moment, I’m getting dressed, just wait before you come in,” Princess Fu replied in a panic.

“Your Highness, what’s wrong with your voice? Should I fetch a doctor?” The Qing dynasty had fallen seven years ago, and the palace had switched from the old title of imperial physician to simply “doctor.”

“Cui’er, it’s nothing. Tell the soldiers outside to leave. I’m bathing, how improper for them to be standing guard at the door,” Princess Fu replied, her voice returning to normal—a touch of brashness that was clearly her usual manner.

“All right, I understand,” Cui’er answered from outside, then turned to dismiss the soldiers at the entrance.

“Whatever you want, I can give it to you. Just don’t do anything reckless. Take what you want and leave quickly,” Princess Fu regained her composure, her tone once more lofty and imperious.

Had Princess Fu been a shrewd and scheming woman, she might have given herself away while speaking with her maid—by now, soldiers would be lying in wait outside the door. Seeing her straightforward character, Zhou Yi felt somewhat relieved.

Princess Fu was the type of willful and impulsive girl who couldn’t conceal her thoughts. Such girls acted openly and were not prone to sending secret signals or coded messages. Zhou Yi listened carefully—there was indeed no ambush outside. He even felt a touch of gratitude toward Princess Fu for extricating him from danger, though that was the extent of his goodwill.

“I don’t want anything from you. As soon as it’s safe outside, I’ll leave,” Zhou Yi said, releasing her. Glancing at the clothing rack beside him, he saw a thin undergarment belonging to Princess Fu and tore it into several strips.

Just as he was about to remove his shirt to dress his wound, Princess Fu shrank back into the water. “What are you doing? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t touch me?” She was frightened—a strange man had barged into her bath, and now he was undressing. How could she not be afraid?

“I won’t hurt you. You can put on your clothes first; I promise I won’t look,” Zhou Yi reassured her, stepping aside.

Princess Fu, hearing this, quickly reached for her clothes on the rack and dressed herself in the bath.

“All right, I’m dressed. You can turn around now.”

When Zhou Yi turned, he was momentarily stunned; a rush of heat surged to his head. He hastily circulated his energy to suppress his reaction, or else he would have suffered a nosebleed.

It was summer, and the garments were already thin. On top of that, Princess Fu’s undergarment had been torn into strips. She had dressed herself while still in the bath, and as she stepped out, her damp clothing clung tightly to her body—making her even more alluring than if she wore nothing at all.

Seeing Zhou Yi’s flushed face, Princess Fu looked puzzled. “What’s wrong with you?”

Zhou Yi shook his head. “Don’t move, and don’t speak. I won’t harm you.”

Seeing her obedient nod, Zhou Yi finally removed his shirt to inspect the gunshot wound on his shoulder. The bullet had not lodged deep, but it was stuck between the bones, making it excruciatingly painful to move his arm. Still, he had no choice but to move while undressing, and he couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.

“Use this to help me remove the bullet,” Zhou Yi said, producing a dagger from his trouser leg. Ever since his old dagger was broken by Zhang Zuozheng’s pistol, he’d made a habit of carrying a new one.

When Princess Fu saw the wound, she grimaced. At his request to remove the bullet, she instinctively retreated two steps, shaking her head as she did so.

“It’s all right, just dig out the bullet along the wound,” Zhou Yi smiled, holding the dagger out to her again.

“Will it hurt a lot?” Princess Fu asked quietly, her voice timid.

Zhou Yi smiled at her and nodded. “Go ahead.”

True to her nature, Princess Fu was never one to feign delicacy. Seeing Zhou Yi turn around, she braced herself and jabbed the dagger into his shoulder.

Zhou Yi’s neck veins bulged instantly, and in a flash he slapped her to the ground. At that moment, the sound of metal clattering to the floor rang out—it was the dagger and the bullet.

Princess Fu was stunned. He had asked her to remove the bullet, but the next moment, he had struck her. Wronged, she picked up the dagger and stabbed at him.

Zhou Yi quickly caught her wrist, careful not to hurt her, and pried away the dagger. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it. I thought you were going to kill me.”

“If you don’t trust me, why ask me to take out the bullet?”

Zhou Yi didn’t answer. He swiftly wrapped his wound with the fabric strips and was about to leave when a Buddhist chant sounded outside the door. “Amitabha, Master Zhou, come out.”

“That wretched monk just won’t let go, damn it,” Zhou Yi cursed inwardly. But to go out and fight Xu Hua now would be futile.

“Who’s outside?” Princess Fu asked quietly.

“A troublesome monk from Wutai Mountain,” Zhou Yi replied tersely. At this point, his animosity extended not only to Xu Hua but to the entire Wutai Mountain.

“Hide in the bath. I’ll get rid of him for you,” Princess Fu said, already moving to open the door.

Zhou Yi frowned. How could Xu Hua be so easily dismissed? Besides, their voices inside surely hadn’t escaped his ears.

“Amitabha, humble monk Xu Hua pays his respects to Princess Fu.” Once outside, Xu Hua put his palms together in greeting.

“Master, what brings you here?”

“I seek a Daoist who is said to be in your quarters.”

“How dare you! Are you trying to sully my reputation?” Princess Fu snapped.

“Amitabha, I would not dare. Since the Daoist is not here, I shall take my leave.” Xu Hua turned and left.

Once Xu Hua was gone, Princess Fu made a face behind his back, then returned inside. “That monk has been sent away.”

Zhou Yi stepped out from behind the curtain, smiling. “Thank you, Your Highness, for your help. I’ll take my leave now.”

He turned to leave, but Princess Fu hesitated, twisting her silk handkerchief into a knot, her expression conflicted. As Zhou Yi reached the door, she couldn’t help but ask, “What is your name?”

Zhou Yi glanced back at her and smiled but did not answer. He turned and left.

Once outside, Zhou Yi dared not linger. He leaped onto the rooftop, intent on escaping the Forbidden City as quickly as possible. With Xu Hua in the city, it was unwise to search for the three keys now. He would shake off Xu Hua first and return later.

But fate was not on his side. As soon as Zhou Yi landed on the rooftop, he saw Xu Hua sitting cross-legged on the ridge of another building. Looking down, he saw hundreds of armed soldiers already lying in ambush around the building.

“Seize him!”

Wishing everyone a happy Lantern Festival and a happy Valentine’s Day.