The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

next morning

"No, no, ah~" Jing Anle suddenly sat up in bed, breathing rapidly, covered in sweat, and with fear still lingering in her eyes.

Afang quickly brought tea to Jing Anle and said worriedly, "The princess is having another nightmare. Should we invite a Taoist priest to the palace to take a look?"

"Just a nightmare," Jing Anle said casually, taking a sip of water.

Since her rebirth, she has been having nightmares from time to time, filled with terrifying scenes from her past life. Whenever she thinks of these, Jing Anle's determination to take revenge becomes even stronger.

At this moment, the palace maid Aqin came to report, "Princess, Abi has returned and is waiting at the door for your orders."

Jing Anle had almost forgotten about her. Although she was keeping her around for the time being, she couldn't let her have it easy. Jing Anle raised her eyes and said, "Let her be a low-ranking palace maid."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Afang and Aqin were stunned. Abi used to be a first-class palace maid by the princess's side, a real favorite, but now she had been reduced to sweeping and emptying chamber pots.

Aqin was surprised, but also a little gloating. When Abi was favored, she was always arrogant and domineering. Now that she had fallen to this state, the palace maids who used to order her around must have wanted to kick her while she was down. Abi was going to have a hard time.

Jing Anle then said, "Afang, help me wash up and get ready to leave the palace."

Yesterday, she asked Emperor Jing for permission to visit her maternal grandmother at the General's Mansion. Emperor Jing, doting on his daughter and considering her mother's early death, agreed. He only instructed that she bring more skilled guards to protect Jing Anle, but Jing Anle declined, saying she didn't want to be too conspicuous. Besides Afang, she only brought two highly skilled guards.

Sitting in front of the dressing table, she couldn't help but think of her uncle, Qin Xu, who had repeatedly quelled rebellions and was appointed General of the State. However, as the saying goes, the heart of the emperor is as deep as the sea and unfathomable. Her uncle was afraid that his achievements would overshadow the emperor and be criticized, so he claimed to be ill and rarely attended court. He even missed the last birthday banquet of Emperor Jing.

In her past life, Jing Anle was not close to her uncle's family and never cared about the things they sent her. However, her uncle eventually died at the hands of Murong Peifeng. In this life, she will cherish it.

Before heading to the general's residence, Jing Anle recalled his arrogant past life, during which he had never paid respects to his mother at the instigation of Consort Yu. So he changed his mind and went to Qian'an Temple to offer incense to his mother first.

Qian'an Temple was a major temple in the Jing Kingdom, dedicated to members of the royal family, so there were no other people around, but it was also somewhat desolate because of this.

Jing Anle had visited Qian'an Temple once when he was a child. It was similar to his memory. Because it was in the suburbs, it still had long blue stone steps. The abbot was waiting at the door early and took Jing Anle to pay respects to the Buddha first, and then to the Buddha Hall where his mother was enshrined.

Upon seeing her mother's memorial tablet, Jing Anle knelt down in sorrow, clasping her hands together. She felt that it must be her mother's blessing that gave her the chance to be reborn.

By the time she came out, it was already noon. She instructed Afang to prepare to go to the General's Mansion. Halfway there, she touched her head and found that the jade hairpin that her brother had given her was missing.

It was probably dropped in the Buddhist shrine where his mother was enshrined. The guards were quick and agile, so Jing Anle ordered them to go and search for it, leaving one guard behind for protection.

Jing Anle got off the carriage and saw fruit on a tree in the distance. She asked the remaining guard to pick a few to try.

Although the guard was somewhat uneasy, he went anyway because it wasn't far.

Breathing in the fresh air of the countryside, she sighed inwardly, realizing it was indeed more pleasant than being inside the palace. As Jing Anle closed her eyes to enjoy the moment, Afang suddenly cried out, "Ahhh~ Princess, you, look..."

Jing Anle was startled by Afang's sudden scream. When she opened her eyes, she saw that Afang was frightened. Following the direction Afang was pointing, Jing Anle was also surprised. She had been so focused on looking into the distance that she hadn't noticed that there was a person lying on the gentle slope at her feet.

The man was clutching his chest, surrounded by blood and covered in blood, seemingly injured. He was dressed in a dark brocade robe, clearly not an ordinary person. However, Jing Anle felt that the man in front of her looked somewhat familiar. Upon closer inspection, she realized that it was Xiao Heng.

Jing Anle knew that this matter was of great importance. If Xiao Heng died in Jing, the relationship between the two countries would be extremely precarious, and they might even go to war. She dared not let the guards traveling with her know, for fear that the matter would be leaked. Fortunately, neither of the guards returned.

Jing Anle looked around to make sure no one was there, then whispered to Afang, "Afang, keep your voice down, we have to save him."

Although Afang was trembling with fear, she knew from Jing Anle's reaction that this matter was not simple. Fortunately, the slope was not steep, so she followed Jing Anle down the slope to rescue the person.

Jing Anle checked Xiao Heng's breathing and said with relief, "He's alright, he just fainted."

Afang sighed heavily, for everyone is afraid of the dead.

But since both of them were women, Jing Anle was wondering how to get them up there when he saw Afang pull Xiao Heng up with one hand and climb up the tree branch with the other. Once they reached flat ground, she carried Xiao Heng up and put him into the carriage.

The series of movements startled Jing Anle, who stared wide-eyed and exclaimed, "Afang, you...you truly possess superhuman strength..."

Afang realized what was happening and smiled sheepishly. "Princess, this is something I was born with. My father was also born strong, but when I was little, all the children in the village laughed at me, so I didn't dare to show it." Afang lowered her head as she spoke.

No wonder I didn't know about this in my previous life; so that's how it is.

Seeing Afang like this, Jing Anle went over and took Afang's hand, comforting her, "Afang, you have no idea how capable you are. If it weren't for you, you would have been in a terrible predicament just now. If you don't want others to know, I won't say anything."

When Afang heard Jing Anle praise her, she looked up happily, "Really? Princess, this servant will protect you well from now on."

Just as the master and servant were talking, Xiao Heng, who was in the carriage, vaguely heard something. He struggled to open his eyes and realized that he was in a carriage. As soon as he moved, his chest hurt terribly.

Today he received a letter from his mentor, inviting him to a chat at the pavilion on Qingfeng Mountain. His mentor loved to travel around, and Xiao Heng knew that his master was in Jing Kingdom, so he did not suspect anything. Who knew that he would be ambushed?

After overhearing the conversation outside, he realized he had been rescued, but he didn't know who his benefactor was.

Just as he closed his eyes in deep thought, Jing Anle lifted the curtain and came in. Xiao Heng didn't know the specifics, so he pretended to faint.

Before Jing Anle could check his injuries, a guard's voice came from outside: "Princess, the jade hairpin has been found. Do you still have any fruit to use now?"

Jing Anle was startled, but calmly instructed Afang, "Afang, put away the hairpin and the fruit." He then instructed the guards, "Let's continue on our way to the General's Mansion."

Afang sat fearfully in the emperor's horse seat. She glanced back at the tightly closed carriage door, swallowed hard, and tried her best to appear calm. Fortunately, the guards did not suspect anything.

So the carriage began to sway and move.

Hearing their conversation and recognizing their familiar voices, Xiao Heng confirmed that the person in front of him was Jing Anle.

Looking at his bleeding wound, Jing Anle seemed to be deep in thought. If no solution was found, Xiao Heng would definitely bleed to death.

At this moment, she no longer cared about the proper distance between men and women. Jing Anle did not dare to disturb the guards outside. She bent down and gently opened Xiao Heng's collar. Xiao Heng could even feel her breath and felt a tingling sensation throughout his body, which made him feel hot all over.

Jing Anle didn't notice, but sure enough, he saw a scarlet wound bleeding from beneath the white skin.

Looking at the crimson blood before her, Jing Anle recalled the blood from her past life. Her vision blurred, and she almost collapsed. Xiao Heng quickly caught her, but the movement aggravated his wound, causing him to groan softly. The sound was not loud, but it startled Jing Anle.

The two stared at each other, neither daring to utter a sound. Jing Anle, who had already taken life and death lightly, showed no embarrassment. Instead, she calmly took out a wound medicine from under her seat and handed it to Xiao Heng.

Xiao Heng, sweating profusely from the pain, gestured to himself with his eyes that he was helpless. Only then did Jing Anle sprinkle the powder on the wound and then bandage it with her own handkerchief. As she bandaged it, she wondered why the wound, which wasn't deep, was bleeding so much.

After doing all this, Jing Anle leaned against the carriage to rest, while Xiao Heng, who was lying there, stared at Jing Anle without moving, a wanton smile on his lips, but his lips were pale, making him look like a sick scholar.

Jing Anle couldn't bear being stared at like that, and was also worried about Xiao Heng's injuries, so she opened the small window and asked the guard, "How much longer until we arrive?"

"Princess, there is still half an hour left," the guard replied.

Now the only option is to settle him in the General's Mansion, Jing Anle thought to himself.