Chapter 5

The next day, the first thing Yun Pianpian did upon waking was carefully inspect her body.
Although Xiao Changyuan was indifferent to women, it was her first time sharing a bed with a man, and she couldn't help but feel somewhat uneasy.
She only wanted to ignite Xiao Changyuan's love.
Not sacrifice her own body.
Fortunately, there were no abnormalities with her body, and Yun Pianpian finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Excellent.
It seemed Xiao Changyuan truly was ascetic and indifferent to women.
She was safe.
Yun Pianpian quickly finished washing up and hurried to Jiang Cuicui's house, where she expressed her wish to continue staying in Jiangjia Village to Grandpa Jiang. Grandpa Jiang was delighted that they could stay and warmly offered them Dalang's house to live in once again.
Although Grandpa Jiang was a living bodhisattva, Yun Pianpian felt too embarrassed to live and eat for free. After breakfast, she shouldered a bamboo basket, intending to go up the mountain to gather some wild goods to sell at the market, using the earnings to pay rent to Grandpa Jiang.
When Xiao Changyuan learned that Yun Pianpian was heading up the mountain, he stopped her.
“Wife, I'll go with you.”
Yun Pianpian refused, “Husband, your injuries haven't healed yet. You should stay home and rest properly. I can go alone.”
Xiao Changyuan replied with a cold expression, “No, the mountain is dangerous. You cannot go alone.”
Yun Pianpian worriedly said, “But your wounds haven't recovered. What if they get worse?”
Xiao Changyuan responded, “It's just a minor injury, not worth mentioning.”
Seeing how resolute Xiao Changyuan was, Yun Pianpian began to hesitate.
After all, this guy had the halo of a villain. Even after soaking in the stream for several days, his wounds hadn't gotten infected or worsened. With such great fortune, bringing him along might even help them find something valuable on the mountain.
Thinking this, Yun Pianpian agreed, “Alright then, we'll go up the mountain together. But don't strain your wounds, understand?”
Xiao Changyuan's gaze remained indifferent. “Understood.”
Carrying their bamboo baskets, the two set off together toward the mountain.
Jiangjia Village lay at the foot of an endless stretch of forested mountains, surrounded by hills on three sides and nestled beside water. Located in a remote area, the scenery was picturesque, like a hidden paradise. As the saying goes, “rely on the mountains for food and the waters for drink”, as long as they went up the mountain, they wouldn't have to worry about finding something to eat.
Before even the time it takes for an incense stick to burn had passed, the two found a hawthorn tree in the forest.
They had arrived a bit late. The fruits on the lower branches of the hawthorn tree had already been picked clean by the villagers, leaving only a few bright red hawthorn berries swaying in the autumn breeze at the very top.
Yun Pianpian said cheerfully, “Great! There's a hawthorn tree here. We can make candied hawthorn sticks!”
Xiao Changyuan poured cold water on her excitement, “Too bad there are so few left.”
Hearing his discouraging words, Yun Pianpian wasn't disheartened in the slightest. Instead, she beamed with energy and said, “But there are still some left! Luckily, we came early in the morning. If we had been any later, we wouldn't have been able to pick even these few berries.”
Xiao Changyuan was taken aback, turning his face slightly to gaze quietly at Yun Pianpian.
In his deep, cold obsidian eyes, storms seemed to gather and shift, leaving one to wonder what thoughts lay hidden.
Yun Pianpian didn’t notice Xiao Changyuan’s gaze. In a few quick movements, she climbed the hawthorn tree, steadied herself on a branch, and plucked the pitifully few hawthorn fruits at the top into her bamboo basket. Once finished, she nimbly leaped down from the tree.
“All done, husband. We can go now…”
As Yun Pianpian took a step forward, Xiao Changyuan’s icy, low voice suddenly cut through the air from behind her.
“My wife is delicate and frail. How is it that you can climb trees?”
His cold and dangerous tone was like a blade gleaming with frost, aimed straight at her.
Yun Pianpian froze, a chill creeping down her spine.
She had carelessly spun that lie yesterday, never expecting him to remember it so clearly. Truly, one could never be too cautious.
Feeling the scorching intensity of his gaze on her back, Yun Pianpian’s heart raced as if she had fallen into an icy abyss, yet not a trace of emotion showed on her face.
Slowly, she turned around and met Xiao Changyuan’s cold, ruthless, and even somewhat fierce eyes.
Her heart tightened slightly.
She knew Xiao Changyuan had begun to suspect her. Panic surged within her, but her expression remained impassive.
“Although I may be delicate and frail, I am resilient and strong, willed. Is it so strange that someone of my fragile constitution could climb a tree?”
The young girl’s bright, clear almond, shaped eyes sparkled like a cloudless sky, pure and untainted.
There wasn’t a hint of deceit in them, so innocent they seemed almost naive.
She didn’t appear to be lying.
Xiao Changyuan studied Yun Pianpian for a moment and ultimately believed her.
The frost and ice in his eyes gradually melted, flowing quietly before settling back into their usual cold calm.
“Very well.”
Now, this is what you call acting!
Yun Pianpian inwardly gloated, though outwardly she wore the pitiful expression of a wronged young wife.
“Husband, were you doubting me just now?”
Xiao Changyuan pressed his thin lips together, his dark eyes cold and silent.
Yun Pianpian sighed mournfully. “Husband, you’ve never spoken to me in such a cold tone before…”
Suddenly, Xiao Changyuan asked, “If you’re so delicate and frail, why are there calluses on your fingertips?”
Yun Pianpian was taken aback.
Calluses?
She lowered her head to look at her palms.
These were unmistakably the hands of a laborer.
It seemed the little palace maid had endured much hardship and toil in the past.
At that moment, Yun Pianpian felt immensely grateful she hadn’t lied to Xiao Changyuan by claiming they were master and servant.
After all, these hands were far from those of a pampered young lady.
It seemed fate had its own designs.
Had she deceived him into believing she was his mistress, he would surely have grown suspicious and distant…
Perhaps even sought to harm her.
But now, as husband and wife, she could argue her case, even act unreasonably or throw a tantrum if needed.
Yun Pianpian lifted her clear eyes and met Xiao Changyuan’s gaze with unwavering confidence.
“Who says a delicate person can’t have calluses on their fingertips? After my father married my stepmother, they always bullied and mistreated me, forcing me to do all the dirty, exhausting chores. Over time, is it so strange that calluses formed?”
Whether Xiao Changyuan believed her lie or not, she certainly did.
Thinking of the pitiful and tragic version of herself in the lie, akin to Cinderella, Yun Pianpian couldn't help but feel a surge of sorrow.
A misty haze clouded her clear, sparkling eyes.
Her eyes reddened as if the sky had fallen, and she lamented with heart, wrenching grief, “Husband, you used to cherish me so much, often sneaking into my home to help with the hard labor. But now that you've lost your memory, not only do you no longer care for me, but you even doubt me. Husband, you're truly too cruel.”
To deceive others, one must first deceive oneself.
Unconsciously, Yun Pianpian had grasped the most profound secret of the art of deception.
Blurring the lines between truth and falsehood, she deceived both others and herself.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Changyuan immediately furrowed his brow.
From start to finish, he had only doubted her actions, not her identity.
He never expected her reaction to be so intense, as if he had committed some unforgivable sin.
Xiao Changyuan even began to regret it.
Indeed, he shouldn't have rashly doubted her today.
His wife's background was so pitiable, and yet he had rubbed salt into her wounds.
He truly was a scoundrel.
He had wronged her.
Seeing the glistening tears in Yun Pianpian's eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible flicker of panic flashed in Xiao Changyuan's deep, cold, ink, black eyes.
It was as if a crack had suddenly appeared in a thousand, year, frozen abyss.
“Wife, please don't cry.”
“Apologize to me!”
Seeing Xiao Changyuan show weakness, Yun Pianpian only grew bolder.
“My husband would never have treated me like this before!”
She looked at Xiao Changyuan with heartbroken despair, “If you doubt me, it means you don't love me! If you don't love me, it means you don't want me! Since you no longer want me, then go find another woman to be your wife!”
With that, Yun Pianpian turned her head away, presenting her back to him as if determined to give him the cold shoulder.
In her heart, she began counting down.
Five, four, three.
Suddenly, a pair of fair, slender hands tugged at Yun Pianpian's sleeve.
A slight smile curled at the corner of Yun Pianpian's lips.
She heard Xiao Changyuan's voice, cold yet tinged with panic.
“Wife, I was wrong.”
Upon hearing this, Yun Pianpian's heart instantly burst with fireworks.
She was absolutely overjoyed.
How dare this brat doubt me?
Did you think I spent three extra years eating rice for nothing?!
Ever since Yun Pianpian realized that Xiao Changyuan was a virgin and easily deceived, she suddenly forgot just how cruel, bloodthirsty, and ruthless he was in the original story. Yes, she was that shallow and simple, minded, quick to forget the pain once the wound had healed.
Yun Pianpian desperately suppressed the corners of her lips that were itching to curl upward.
Turning her back to him, she used her coldest tone and said mercilessly:
“You have to say sorry.”
Xiao Changyuan frowned and remained silent for a long while.
The autumn wind rose, and fallen leaves danced in the air.
A withered leaf landed on Yun Pianpian's shoulder.
Yun Pianpian didn’t move, determined to express her resolve to continue the cold war.
After a long pause, Yun Pianpian finally heard his low, hoarse voice.
“Sorry, my lady, I was wrong.”
Hearing his submissive and softened tone, Yun Pianpian’s red lips immediately curled upward.
I, Yun Pianpian, an ordinary girl who transmigrated into a book.
At this moment, I have a feeling that I will become the greatest dragon tamer in the world!
Taming Xiao Changyuan, this vicious and cruel dragon.
Yun Pianpian reached out to brush the fallen leaf off her shoulder, turned around, and looked at Xiao Changyuan with an expression that said, “I’m magnanimous and won’t hold it against you.”
“Alright, since you’ve apologized sincerely, I’ll forgive you.”
Hearing that Yun Pianpian was willing to reconcile with him, Xiao Changyuan’s tense expression and tightly pressed lips finally relaxed slightly.
His relieved demeanor pleased Yun Pianpian.
Who would have thought that the tyrannical, bloodthirsty, and ruthless emperor from the original story would become so docile and easily deceived after losing his memory?
Seeing the great tyrant so meek, Yun Pianpian couldn’t help but stand on her tiptoes and affectionately pat his head.
“Don’t make me angry from now on, understand?”
Xiao Changyuan frowned and looked at Yun Pianpian reluctantly.
“Understood, wife.”
“And you’re not allowed to doubt me or suspect me.”
Yun Pianpian worked hard to brainwash Xiao Changyuan: “I’m your wife. How could you doubt your own wife?”
“Yes, wife.”
Yun Pianpian pretended to be angry and said, “If you treat me like this again in the future, I’ll run away from home and divorce you. After the divorce, you won’t have a wife anymore. Not having a wife is a very serious consequence. Do you understand.”
.How serious could it be?
Xiao Changyuan’s voice grew softer.
“Understood.”
Xiao Changyuan had wronged her today and felt guilty about it. So now, whatever she said, he would comply.
Hearing the great tyrant’s obedient and gentle voice, Yun Pianpian almost wanted to jump up and kiss his handsome head.
Fortunately, her remaining rationality stopped her.
Yun Pianpian calmly lowered her hand, curled her lips, and gave Xiao Changyuan a faint smile.
“Let’s go, husband.”
The two of them, carrying bamboo baskets on their backs, continued their way up the mountain.
After they left, two handsome young men suddenly emerged from the grass behind them.
One of them looked about fifteen years old, dressed in a green robe, with delicate features and a very handsome appearance.
The other appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen, wearing blue clothes, tall and straight, with an imposing and heroic aura.
The tall, straight young man stared blankly in the direction Yun Pianpian and the others had left.
It took him a while to snap out of it, and he turned to the delicate, looking young man in disbelief.
“Your Highness, wasn’t that Xiao Changyuan?”
The delicate, looking youth said with bitter hatred, “Xiao Changyuan killed my royal brother and destroyed our Liang Kingdom. This enmity is as deep as the heavens! Today, I will take his head to avenge my brother!”
As the saying goes, there are no coincidences in a well, told story.
This delicate, looking youth was none other than Xie Yu, the young prince of Liang Kingdom.
And the tall, handsome youth beside him was Xie Yu's personal guard, Mu Bai.
The royal brother Xie Yu spoke of was the crown prince of Liang Kingdom, Xie Zhui.
In the original story, Xie Zhui was the very person the male protagonist, Chu Yi, had always wanted to support.
Three years ago, Xiao Changyuan had destroyed Liang Kingdom. Xie Zhui died in battle, while Xie Yu and Mu Bai managed to escape in the chaos and took refuge in Jiangjia Village.
Upon hearing this, Mu Bai declared solemnly, “I will surely avenge Your Highness!”
Yun Pianpian and Xiao Changyuan walked up the mountain, gathering plenty of wild fruits, walnuts, and hazelnuts, and even managed to catch two plump wild rabbits.
“Bunnies are so adorable, they must be braised!”
Yun Pianpian joyfully hugged the two rabbits, gently stroking their little heads.
Her face was full of affection.
Just thinking about the braised rabbit meat they would have that evening made Yun Pianpian almost drool.
Hearing this, Xiao Changyuan turned around, his coldly handsome face showing a subtle expression.
Was it his imagination?
Why did he feel that the way his wife looked at the rabbits was exactly the same as the way she looked at him?
Yun Pianpian looked up and saw Xiao Changyuan watching her. Thinking he was also craving the rabbit meat, she comforted him, “Don’t worry, husband. Two wild rabbits are enough for two meals. I don’t eat much, so you’ll surely have your fill today!”
Xiao Changyuan paused. Though he had no particular desire for food, he still nodded silently.
He dared not defy Yun Pianpian.
Because he had just witnessed the consequences of defying his wife.
Yun Pianpian was still fantasizing about how to braise the little wild rabbits when a terrified scream suddenly came from the forest ahead.
“There’s a tiger in the mountains! Run for your lives!”