Bait for the Serpent King - Chapter 2

Elsewhere, my sister Sang Yun, likewise reborn, had paused beside a river to admire her restored beauty before hurrying to the serpent palace.

She knelt before the Serpent King, weeping prettily, and begged him for an antidote for her younger sister. In return, she offered herself to serve him for the rest of her life.

Dressed in red, Yao Yuan lounged against a couch, his crimson eyes half closed.

“Oh? Who did you say was bitten?”

“My younger sister, Your Majesty. Sang Niao.”

“Lead the way.”

By the time they reached the snake pit, I was long gone.

All that remained inside was a scrap of pale purple cloth, and the faintest trace of…

Sandalwood.

“Where is she?” His voice was as chilling as the King of Hell demanding a life.

Sang Yun dropped to her knees, trembling.

“She… she must have escaped!”

She remembered slipping into the serpent palace disguised as a midwife in their previous life. She had seen how extravagantly her sister was cherished: the rare delicacies, the silks and brocades, the unimaginable luxury. She had envied every bit of it.

She tried to ingratiate herself.

“I have admired you for a long time, Your Majesty. Even without the antidote, I would gladly remain by your side!”

He stared at the cloth at the bottom of the pit, frost settling over his peerless features.

“You would do anything?”

“Anything!” Sang Yun said eagerly.

As for me, my rescuer was Xuan Rong, the crown prince of the reigning dynasty.

He had slipped out of the palace to hunt, never expecting me to be his catch.

Once we arrived, he arranged for me to bathe in a secluded spring in the hills behind the palace.

There was indeed something special about the palace spring. Warmth enveloped my limbs, easing the tightness in my chest.

As I gradually relaxed, I recalled the little I knew of this human crown prince.

It came from my wedding banquet with the Serpent King in my previous life.

For his marriage, the king had invited guests from far and wide.

Among them was the human envoy, Crown Prince Xuan Rong.

He had arrived in splendid black robes, bearing a luminous pearl as his wedding gift.

Yao Yuan had been exceedingly rude to the human prince, refusing even to accept a cup of wine from him.

Untroubled, the prince ignored the insult and turned to offer me a toast instead.

I still remembered his gentle courtesy as he held the cup in both hands.

The prayer beads at his wrist swayed slightly. In my memory, his pale lips parted.

“My greetings, Sister-in-law.”

I came back to myself. I had no idea how long I had been soaking. My head felt heavy, my eyelids impossible to lift.

Suddenly, a tall figure appeared beside the spring.

Steam veiled his face.

All I could make out was black clothing, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist.

I sensed a dangerous gaze fixed on me through the mist.

My body’s memories from my previous life made me mistake him for Yao Yuan.

Once I collected myself, I immediately dismissed the possibility.

This was the human imperial palace, guarded on every side. How could that wretched snake possibly be here?

In that case, it must be the crown prince.

I knew perfectly well that, within this vast palace, he was my only protection.

So I made myself look fragile, moved to the edge, and tugged at his hanging robe.

“Thank you, my benefactor. I feel much better,” I said softly.

A low chuckle sounded above me.

The next moment, I was pushed into the spring.

Water splashed everywhere.

Hot water flooded my nose and mouth.

A large hand hauled me out again.

A familiar floral fragrance rushed toward me.

I trembled from head to toe.

How could it be him?

In our previous life, Yao Yuan had brewed a jar of osmanthus wine for me.

I had complained that he was icy all over and disliked his touch.

He laughed at my fussiness and said a little wine would keep out the cold.

I refused to drink.

So he drank the strong liquor himself, caught my chin, and forced it into my mouth from his.

That heady scent of osmanthus was exactly the same as this!

Before I could be certain, my back was shoved roughly against the rock, scraping my skin painfully.

My lips were crushed beneath his, my breath stolen away.

Something wound around my waist underwater and licked my wounds.

“Niaoniao, where exactly do you feel better?”