She Was Written to Die, So She Seized the Throne Instead

The blizzard had abruptly stopped today, and the sun had even come out, allowing them to travel a bit faster than before.

They had covered nearly half the distance when Yang Jun reported from outside the carriage, "Princess, there’s a broken-down carriage up ahead. Judging by its lanterns, it appears to belong to the Feng Family."

If it had been anyone else, Yang Jun wouldn’t have bothered mentioning it. But his own princess had teased Young Master Feng on more than one occasion, so he felt it was worth bringing to her attention.

Sure enough, after a moment of silence, the Princess’s voice came from inside the carriage. "Go see who it is."

Yang Jun had already sent someone to investigate, and the man had just returned. "Princess, it’s Madam Feng and Young Master Feng. The shaft of their carriage has snapped."

Xiao Li lay inside her carriage. Though it was exceptionally luxurious and well-built, the jostling still left her feeling unwell. Her head was splitting, and she felt drowsy but was unable to sleep.

At his words, she lazily opened her eyes.

’Young Master Feng.’

She felt sick, her hand hurt, and her heart was weary. Right now, Xiao Li was like a man who couldn’t get it up—utterly devoid of any worldly desires. No matter how adorable Young Master Feng might be, she didn’t feel like dealing with him at the moment.

Without an order from the Princess, the carriage didn’t slow down, continuing to roll slowly past the other vehicle.

Suddenly, a hesitant voice called out from beside them. "Is Princess Xuanyang in the carriage?"

Receiving no answer, he tried again. "Feng Yin requests an audience with the Princess."

Xiao Li raised her hand slightly, and the carriage came to a halt.

The carriage curtain was pulled aside, revealing a handsome young man standing in the snow.

A red and white cape was wrapped around him, its collar of white fur nestled against his face. He looked like a piece of snow-dusted red bean mochi—sweet to the eye, but not cloying.

Seeing Xiao Li show her face, Feng Yin restrained his excitement and took two steps forward. "Greetings, Princess."

"Princess, my mother and I were on our way back from lighting a lamp for my father at the temple when our carriage shaft snapped. A servant has already gone back for help, but my mother just injured her leg. It isn’t wise for her to wait in the snow for long. I must ask, would it be possible for the Princess to give my mother a ride back to the city? I, Feng Yin, would be eternally grateful."

’People are such strange creatures,’ Xiao Li thought. A moment ago, she’d felt utterly apathetic and had no desire to see him. But now that she was actually looking at him and hearing him speak, her mood suddenly improved.

’My entourage is so large, forget taking one person, I could take all seven of them—masters and servants included.’

Xiao Li gestured to Yang Jun, who immediately went to the rear carriage to summon Cen An. "The Princess requests Doctor Cen to examine Madam Feng’s injury."

Cen An’s face soured. ’I knew it!’ he thought.

Though he was reluctant to be overworked, he had to obey the Princess’s command. Yet he had barely moved when someone suddenly pulled him back.

Cen An stared in astonishment at the person holding him. "Jun Zhan, what are you doing?"

Song Junzhan’s usually calm and placid face was now laced with frost, his eyes filled with a startling chill.

"You’re not going."

With that, he got down from the carriage himself.

Cen An was dumbfounded. ’Wait, what does he mean? He doesn’t want me to treat her? What use is a sickly fellow like him going to be?’

"COUGH, COUGH... Princess..."

Song Junzhan walked to the front of the carriage, his gaze sweeping calmly over Feng Yin without any particular emotion. He then looked up toward the carriage, his eyes meeting Xiao Li’s as she looked down.

"Princess, I stopped Cen An from coming over. I await your punishment."

He slowly backed away and bowed deeply.

Xiao Li raised an eyebrow, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "Go on back."

Song Junzhan knew she had consented. "Thank you, Princess."

Since her only doctor was unwilling to act, Xiao Li didn’t press the issue. She turned to Feng Yin and said, "Have Madam Feng come to my carriage. We’ll travel together."

Song Junzhan’s back stiffened for a moment before he casually returned to his carriage.

Feng Yin finally broke into a faint smile. "Thank you, Princess."

Feng Yin quickly instructed a maid to help Madam Feng out. Madam Feng’s leg was so injured she couldn’t stand on it, but she endured the pain to give Xiao Li a proper curtsy before getting into the carriage. "Thank you for your assistance, Princess."

Xiao Li gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

Xiao Li’s carriage was so spacious that Madam Feng could stretch her leg out straight without disturbing the princess in the slightest.

Madam Feng’s maid had to sit outside, but at a signal from Xiao Li, Hong Yue and Lan Yue covered Madam Feng with a blanket and handed her some hot tea.

Madam Feng could tell that Xiao Li wasn’t angry about the disturbance, but her silence was still a bit odd. The Princess hadn’t been this quiet during their previous meetings. Upon closer inspection, she noticed Xiao Li’s bandaged hand.

Looking at Xiao Li’s face, she saw that it was indeed quite pale; it had been hidden by the curtain’s shadow before, so she hadn’t gotten a clear look.

’The Princess is injured, no wonder.’

She glanced back and met Hong Yue’s gaze, giving a slight nod to indicate that she understood.

She said no more, not wanting to disturb the Princess’s rest.

However, not even a moment later, Feng Yin’s voice came from outside. "Did you leave the city for pleasure, Princess?"

Madam Feng was speechless. For the first time, she found her own son’s voice to be a bit irritating.

She glanced cautiously at Xiao Li, who had her eyes closed and seemed to be asleep. Believing she hadn’t heard Feng Yin, Madam Feng breathed a sigh of relief. ’It’s good she wasn’t disturbed.’

’I know my son,’ she thought. ’He’s not one for idle chatter. If the Princess doesn’t answer, he surely won’t speak up again on his own.’

"Are you angry with me, Princess?" Feng Yin’s apprehensive voice drifted in from outside.

Madam Feng was speechless.

’Wait a second, why would the Princess be angry with him? What did that little rascal do?’

Just as Madam Feng was about to lift the curtain and tell Feng Yin to be quiet, she heard Xiao Li’s slightly hoarse voice ask, "Why would I be angry with you?"

Madam Feng looked up. Xiao Li’s eyes were open, and her clear, serene gaze rested on her, making Madam Feng’s heart tremble.

Princess Xuanyang was just a young woman, but from the first moment Madam Feng had laid eyes on her, she could sense her powerful aura, one that no ordinary noble lady could hope to match.

Thinking about how it was her own son making a fuss outside, Madam Feng offered an apologetic smile.

Outside, Feng Yin felt incredibly awkward, unsure of how to answer for a moment.

The Princess always teased him whenever she saw him, but today, when he had been the one to initiate contact and ask for her help, she had said very little, and her expression was colder than he had ever seen it.

This inevitably brought to mind the reason he hadn’t slept well for a solid month.

Last time, he had been drunk and pestered her, offending the Princess with his nonsense. And he seemed to recall that she had even touched his face.

He had been genuinely drunk that day. Afterward, he’d had dreams where the Princess not only touched his face but his ear as well, and even said she would tease him until he cried.

He had only found the courage to ask the Princess for help just now because he was worried about his mother.

Now, the thought that he had desecrated the Princess in those absurd dreams made him feel terribly guilty.

He wanted to know if the Princess was angry, but now that she had turned the question back on him, he had no idea how to respond—especially with his own mother right there inside the carriage.

’How could I possibly let my mother know about any of this?’

Madam Feng lifted the curtain and shot her son a look. "The Princess is weary from her travels and needs to rest. You are not to disturb her."

Feng Yin obediently nodded, but the all-knowing look in Madam Feng’s eyes made his heart race with panic.

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