Chapter 2: Thanking the Emperor for His Grace

"Ugh... ugh..." When consciousness returned once more, Xiao Zhiyan's throat let out whimpers of pain. She felt as if she were surrounded entirely by water and was unable to breathe at all, while someone was pressing down hard on her head to prevent her from rising. Xiao Zhiyan exerted all her strength to try and break free from this force, but it was in vain.

"You slut! Do you think you can seduce the Crown Prince just because you're pretty?! Look at your status!" A shrill, piercing female voice clamored in her ear.

"That's right! Drown this bitch! Let's see if she still dares to overstep her bounds and seduce the Crown Prince!" It turned out there was more than one woman pressing her down; no wonder she couldn't resist. Xiao Zhiyan felt her breathing becoming increasingly difficult. Just when she thought she was going to die like this without even saying a single word, the door was suddenly kicked open: "Stop!"

Heavenly music! Xiao Zhiyan felt this was the most beautiful sound she had ever heard in her entire life!

"Crown Prince..." The two women who had been pressing Xiao Zhiyan's face into the water were terrified by the command to "stop." They fell to their knees, attempting to defend themselves with incoherent words, "Crown Prince, this woman is truly detestable. She actually dared to speak ill of the Crown Prince behind his back... We... we were only trying to teach her a lesson on behalf of the Crown Prince..."

Xiao Zhiyan struggled to lift her head, falling to the ground along with the basin and the water. She breathed heavily, gasping for air while coughing violently. These two women were far too ruthless...

The man referred to as the Crown Prince cast a look of disgust at the wretched Xiao Zhiyan sprawled on the floor and said, "In the past, you could discipline this woman however you liked, but from today onwards, you cannot."

"Wh... why..." The two women who had nearly taken Xiao Zhiyan's life cried out in unison. Xiao Zhiyan struggled to open her eyes. Standing before her was a tall, thin, and somewhat elegant man who looked to be no more than twenty years old. He looked at Xiao Zhiyan with a hint of mockery and said, "What's the matter, Xiao Zhiyan? Are you very dissatisfied with living such a life as a Princess?"

What? Xiao Zhiyan? A Princess? Although Xiao Zhiyan felt physically unwell, she forced herself to quickly calm down and analyze the situation. It seemed she had transmigrated again, though her name in this life should still be Xiao Zhiyan. If the man before her called himself the Crown Prince and she was a Princess, then they should be siblings? But why were those two women calling themselves "concubines" and treating her, a "Princess," this way?

"What Princess? She's just a princess of a fallen kingdom, a mere prisoner." One of the women was the first to stand up, looking at Xiao Zhiyan with cold, mocking eyes. "Does she really think she's some kind of golden royalty? It's laughable."

"Indeed, her country is gone, so why is she still acting like a princess!" the other woman chimed in. "For a fallen princess like her, she should be thanking the heavens that she hasn't been sent away to be a military prostitute!"

Xiao Zhiyan began to understand her situation somewhat clearly. They kept calling her a "fallen princess"; it seemed she was trapped in the harem of an enemy nation as a prisoner of war and had been subjected to inhuman torture. The original owner of this body must have been tortured to death, right? That was why she had transmigrated into her body...

"Are you two jealous that Xiao Zhiyan is more beautiful than you?" The Crown Prince suddenly changed the subject. He walked up to Xiao Zhiyan, crouched down, and pinched her chin, looking at her with mocking brown eyes. "You really are beautiful. You look so much like Consort Ling. Otherwise, why would Imperial Father like Consort Ling so much? It's a pity Consort Ling is already dead. Without Consort Ling as your backing, I wonder what you'll do?"

"Your Highness..." The two women stepped forward ungraciously, leaning against the Crown Prince as if acting coquettishly, "How could we possibly be jealous of this woman..."

"Oh? Is that so?" The Crown Prince stroked one of the women's long hairs and said, "Whether you are or not, you can no longer torture her from now on. Because Imperial Father has just issued an edict: she is to go to the Han Kingdom as Princess He'an for a political marriage."

"What?!" Xiao Zhiyan spoke in shock. Why was she told she had to marry someone the moment she transmigrated? Just how twisted was her fate!

"Did you not hear me clearly? Then this Crown Prince will say it once more. In three days, you will go to the Han Kingdom for a political marriage." The Crown Prince seemed very satisfied with Xiao Zhiyan's shock. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and his eyes stared intently at Xiao Zhiyan, as if wanting to see her reaction.

"I heard you clearly." Xiao Zhiyan calmed down. She lifted her head and answered the Crown Prince calmly. Although she didn't know what grudge this guy had against her, being able to leave him was clearly a good thing. Even though she didn't want to marry, given the current situation, getting married was better than being tortured to death in this demon's den!

As if he hadn't expected Xiao Zhiyan to answer so calmly, the Crown Prince gave her a puzzled look and then asked, "Do you... have nothing to say?"

"It's wonderful to be able to leave this place." Xiao Zhiyan looked up at the Crown Prince and gave him a radiant smile. "I thank Your Highness for your great mercy."