Chapter 5: 第五章：看我不剥了你的皮

Su Jin stood alone in the room, listening to the rustling of bamboo leaves outside. A sense of desolation spread through her heart; she somewhat wanted to return to the twenty-first century. Suddenly, Su Jin noticed a serious problem!

If she had traveled through time, then what about her self in the twenty-first century? Boom! An unbelievable thought flashed through Su Jin's mind!

No! How is that possible! Su Jin clutched her head and kept retreating. Her foot stumbled, and she fell back, sitting heavily on the ground. Large tears fell from her eyes, splashing onto the floor and spreading into circles.

If her modern self was dead, what would happen to her parents? Su Jin still remembered that before her afternoon nap, her mother had said she would make her favorite sweet and sour fish for dinner tonight. But now!

Su Jin slowly curled her body up, hugging her legs and sobbing softly. She knew not how long she had been crying when she heard a knock at the door through her haze. Su Jin snapped her eyes open, thinking for a moment that her transmigration had been a dream. A surge of joy rose in her heart, but once she saw the surrounding furnishings clearly, her heart sank into an ice cellar, chilled to the core.

Outside, Yuzhu, hearing no movement from within, grew increasingly anxious. Her knocking became more frantic. "Miss Su Jin? Miss Su Jin?"

"Miss Su Jin? Miss Su Jin!"

Hearing Yuzhu's anxious voice, Su Jin hurriedly wiped her tears. Just as she was about to stand up, she realized that because she had been crouching for too long, her legs had gone numb. She stumbled, her body lunging straight forward as she fell to the ground. "Ouch!"

Hearing the commotion inside, Yuzhu quickly set the food down and rushed to push the door open. Upon opening it, she saw Su Jin sprawled on the floor. Just as Su Jin was trying to get up, Yuzhu hurried forward to help her up and seat her on a stool to the side.

Seeing Su Jin's appearance, Yuzhu asked with a face full of worry, "Miss Su Jin, are you alright?"

Su Jin waved her hand. "I'm fine."

"I fell asleep just now, I'm really sorry."

Seeing Su Jin's reddened eyes, Yuzhu knew she had been crying, but since Su Jin didn't say it, as a maid, it wasn't her place to pry. "It's fine."

Thinking of the food still outside, Yuzhu immediately turned around, went out, and brought the meal back in, saying with a smile, "Miss Su Jin, you must be hungry. Come, eat first."

Su Jin forced out a smile that looked more like a cry than a grin. "Thank you, Yuzhu."

Just as Su Jin was about to pick up her chopsticks, she realized her hands were dirty. She looked at Yuzhu awkwardly and asked, "Um, is there any water?"

Hearing this, Yuzhu realized she had forgotten to fetch water. She immediately said, "Miss Su Jin, please wait a moment."

Yuzhu quickly brought water for Su Jin. After washing her hands, Su Jin picked up her chopsticks and began to eat, but because she was in a bad mood, her appetite was poor. After only a few bites, she put her chopsticks down. She wouldn't eat anymore!

Seeing Su Jin's state, a flicker of heartache passed through Yuzhu's mind. Yuzhu didn't know why Su Jin had been so happy when she first arrived, only to become so listless in such a short time. But Yuzhu was just a maid; she couldn't ask too much. She would wait for the Young Master to arrive and tell him.

After Yuzhu had tidied everything up, Su Jin prepared to go to bed. Yuzhu turned back to look at Su Jin and asked, "Miss, shall I extinguish the candle?"

Su Jin shook her head. "No need. I'm a bit afraid of the dark. Yuzhu, you should go rest as well."

"Alright then, Miss Su Jin, goodnight." After saying this, Yuzhu withdrew and gently closed the door.

Su Jin stared with wide eyes at the bed curtains, her hand accidentally touching something cool and ethereal. Su Jin froze, then slowly pulled back the quilt, only to find that this cool object was the clothes of the man from that afternoon. Su Jin took them out and sniffed them at the tip of her nose; the scent of ambergris lingered there.

Hmm! It smells quite good! But I wonder if that man is still in the river. Thinking of Zhongli Luo having to stay in the river, Su Jin couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Wait, that's not right, why am I thinking about that guy? He saw my body... Su Jin quickly shook her head, attempting to shake Zhongli Luo out of her mind and stop thinking about the man who had seen her naked.

Su Jin did not know that the man who had seen her body was currently wearing nothing but a pair of undergarments, flying rapidly toward the Prince of Luo's Mansion under the cover of night.

As Zhongli Luo thought about the afternoon's events, his dark, deep eyes were filled with ice, and his entire body radiated a terrifying aura. "That damn woman... if I encounter her again, I will surely skin you alive."

When the servants of the Prince of Luo's Mansion saw Zhongli Luo returning wearing only his undergarments, they began to whisper among themselves. "Why has the Prince returned wearing only his undergarments?"

"Could it be that he went to a brothel..."

"If you don't shut your mouths, you'd better watch your tongues." A voice full of hostility sliced through the air. The gossiping servants immediately shut their mouths and hurried away.

Hearing the servants' words, Zhongli Luo's hand suddenly clenched into a fist, the veins on his forehead bulging, and an uncontrollable rage flickered in his eyes! That damn woman! She actually dared to steal his clothes!

Just as the rage in Zhongli Luo's heart became uncontrollable, the door creaked open. A handsome man dressed in black walked in. He approached Zhongli Luo and said respectfully, "My Lord, what is the meaning of this?"

Before Zhongli Luo could answer, a teasing voice drifted in. "Han Mo, why are you so foolish? From the looks of it, the Prince went to a brothel, then the establishment was raided, and then our great Prince, fearing for his reputation, ran back without having time to dress."

As the words fell, another handsome man in black walked in with a casual, swaggering gait. Hearing Han Yue's words, Han Mo's expression darkened, and he said unpleasantly, "Han Yue, no one considers you a mute if you just stay silent."

Zhongli Luo gave the two of them a slight glance, then threw a drawn sketch in front of them. "Find this woman for me. Once you find her, bring her before me."

Han Yue caught the paper Zhongli Luo threw. Looking at it, he saw a drawing of a person with tattered clothes, messy hair, and a bright smile on her face, clutching the Prince's clothes in her arms. Could this person be the one who offended the Prince?

"My Lord, this is just a little beggar. Why look for her?"

A lewd smile appeared on Han Yue's face. "Could it be that the Prince has taken a liking to this little beggar?"

Zhongli Luo's expression turned cold, his icy tone seemingly capable of freezing the air. "Han Yue, do you wish to go to the Manchun Courtyard to relax again?"

Hearing the words "Manchun Courtyard," Han Yue shuddered all over! Those were the three words he least wanted to hear in his entire life! The people in the Manchun Courtyard were a pack of wild beasts!

"No need, My Lord. I have matters to attend to, I'll take my leave." Han Yue waved his hands repeatedly, tossed the paper to Han Mo, and quickly slipped away.

Han Mo caught the paper Han Yue threw. Taking a look, he saw it was just a little beggar. Why did the Prince suddenly decide to look for a beggar? "My Lord, what is the matter? Why do you suddenly want to find this little beggar?"

Zhongli Luo steadied his mind, forcibly suppressing the rage in his heart, and said calmly, "She took my clothes. There is a very important letter inside those clothes."

"Understood. I will arrange for people to investigate as soon as possible. My Lord, please rest early. Han Mo takes his leave." Han Mo exited the room and closed the door behind him.

Zhongli Luo gazed at the moon hanging high in the sky, but before his eyes, that flower-like smiling face gradually emerged. A cold light flashed in Zhongli Luo's eyes. "Woman, once I catch you this time, see if I don't skin you alive."