Chapter 20: Kiss Me And I Will Tell You (Three Chapters In One)
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
New names
林老将军 - Old General Lin
林兴阳 - Lin Xingyang (Young General Lin)
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When Li Qiubai mentioned the Empress, Li Ruiyuan's face darkened on the spot on the Dragon throne.
He forcefully suppressed his anger from erupting in public, enduring for a while. Eventually, he only coldly scolded in a low voice, "This child is really fooling around."
His voice wasn't loud, and apart from Qiu Sheng, who served him closely, only the Grand Prince and the Empress on both sides heard it.
Evidently, no matter how unhappy he was, he didn't intend to verbally stop the Princess.
Having not seen the Princess get angry for many years, and now with this rare opportunity, the Empress was delighted to watch. It seemed as if she hadn't quite heard what the Emperor said, watching the Princess' figure with relish on the mostly ruined stage.
Unfortunately, what disappointed the Empress was that Shen Chi never dared to lay hands on the Princess.
He said he didn't dare, and indeed, he truly didn't dare to take any action against her.
No matter how the Princess swung her sword, he just awkwardly dodged around.
Despite several evasive maneuvers, even a skilled expert like Shen Chi couldn't endure the relentless and aggressive attacks from the Princess.
Without hearing the Emperor intervene, Shen Chi, with his hair knocked loose, was ultimately forced to act. He wielded his blade to block the Princess' sword once again aimed at his heart.
"Your Highness, please calm down!"
This time, Li Qiubai chuckled in anger, "Calm down? When Commander Shen just sparred with the Prince Consort, every move was filled with murderous intent. Why should I endure when my Prince Consort has been wronged? If I cannot stand up for her* even at such times, how can I deserve to be her wife?!"
"Having said that, Li Qiubai had already drawn another sword flower and attacked once again.
"If you are willing to draw your blade, it will save me from being ungracious in victory!"
Seeing the Princess take action for the first time, witnessing her graceful and fluttering figure, Young Master Meng even forgot to blink.
The Young Master's heart stirred slightly, and at this moment, the words the Princess had just spoken echoed repeatedly in her ears.
‘Why should I endure when my Prince Consort has been wronged?’
She had never imagined that one day the Princess would defy the Emperor's intentions just to stand up for her.
Experiencing such treatment from someone other than her closest kin for the first time, the Young Master felt countless emotions stirring within.
Intense feelings of being moved overwhelmed Young Master Meng's heart so much that she even ignored the pain in her chest, just staring blankly at the Princess on the stage.
Unlike the earlier fight with Young Master Meng, Shen Chi was now constrained due to his different status. He hesitated to retaliate everywhere, even though he had raised his blade to defend, he dared not strike too heavily, fearing to harm the Princess in any way.
So, in this fight, no matter how skilled he was, he couldn't surpass the Princess’ third-rate swordsmanship and had to let the Princess chase and vent her anger.
The ruler is the ruler, the subject is the subject.
Shen Chi isn't foolish; he clearly understands what it means to be a loyal subject.
Being able to make the Princess disregard the Emperor's dignity and publicly confront someone who is the Emperor's confidant obviously means that his harsh treatment of the Prince Consort has touched upon something sensitive for the Princess.
You can escape the first day of the lunar month, but you cannot escape the fifteenth*. In that case, how could he really avoid the Princess’ "sword"?
*you can escape problems for a while but not forever. Just as the full moon is inevitable in the lunar cycle.
Instead of that, he might as well be smarter, quickly allowing the Princess to vent her anger, to avoid the Princess harboring grudges in her heart.
Not long after, the disciplined and well-dressed commander of imperial guards had already fallen to the extent of disheveled hair and numerous injuries.
In this way, the Emperor on the dragon throne slowly spoke up.
"That is enough, it is almost done."
Li Qiubai was momentarily stunned.
Taking this opportunity, Shen Chi immediately took several steps back, leaped off the stage, and proactively knelt on the empty floor of the hall, pleading guilty, "This humble servant is guilty and should not have shown disrespect to the Prince Consort! I am willing to receive thirty military strikes as punishment; I hope Your Majesty will grant this request!"
Li Qiubai frowned and was about to speak when she saw that Li Ruiyuan had already said: "Okay, okay. Since you are willing to take the blame yourself, then let it be thirty military strikes. Let us consider this matter settled."
In that case, Qiu Sheng could only give orders to have someone take Shen Chi away on the spot.
The stage was already completely destroyed, and the seats near the stage in the hall had been covered in layers of dust due to the unchecked sword energy, blade energy, and internal force unleashed during Shen Chi and Young Master Meng's fight a moment ago.
Many dishes were no longer edible, and the Emperor had lost interest and left in his carriage. How could this banquet continue?
The person had been beaten, her anger had been vented, and the punishment had been given. What else could Li Qiubai possibly say?
She wasn't someone who didn't know when to advance or to retreat. Since the Emperor was willing to punish her beloved courtier for her sake, she naturally had to stop there and take a step back accordingly.
After casually thrusting her sword into the shaky and crumbling stage, Li Qiubai then returned to Young Master Meng's side, asking with concern, "Are you okay?"
In this way, Young Master Meng, who had been in a daze for quite some time, finally regained consciousness.
Recalling the Princess' earnest expression when she mentioned how unfortunate it would be if her clothes were stabbed, Meng Chang'an couldn't help but express regret, "I am actually fine, but my clothes are torn."
Just now, Shen Chi's strike landed directly on Young Master Meng's left shoulder. Despite the protection of the golden silk armor, her outer garment unavoidably suffered a large tear, appearing quite disheveled.
Coincidentally, at this moment, Yuechu had already found a cloak and placed it by the Princess' side.
"What are you thinking about? If your clothes are damaged, they can be newly tailored!"
Shaking out the cloak and personally tying it around Young Master Meng to cover the damaged area on her shoulder, the Princess promptly asked again, "Are you hurt anywhere else?"
Seeing her so caring, Young Master Meng couldn't help but overlook the pain in her body and grinned, "Seeing Your Highness protecting me like this, where could it still hurt?"
Seeing Young Master Meng was indeed fine, Li Qiubai then raised the corners of her mouth and lifted her hand to gently wipe the traces of blood from Young Master Meng's lips, scolding, "I think what you are spitting out is not blood anymore, but honey."
The Young Master smiled joyfully saying, "Blood is fishy, honey is sweet. Even if Your Highness wishes to praise my sweet words, you must change the comparison."
"Who said it is not?" After wiping away the bloodstains from Young Master Meng's lips, the Princess did not immediately retract her hand. Instead, she lightly licked her own thumb where she wiped, saying, "This blood is clearly sweet!"
Young Master Meng stiffened for a moment, standing there stunned, staring at the Princess licking her fingertip.
The Princess has such captivating eyes, carelessly and randomly enticing people despite the situation, unexpectedly catching the Young Master off guard.
Heat inexplicably surged onto the Young Master's cheeks, and she felt that the spot where the Princess had wiped just now seemed even hotter.
As a result, the Princess smiled happily.
On the side, Yuechu made a great effort to pretend as if she didn't exist at all.
"Ahem, ahem."
Without giving the Princess a chance to continue her flirtation, even though Yuechu was trying hard to hold back her laughter and not interfere, the Grand Prince, coming down from the high platform, walked up behind the Princess, interrupting the playful banter between the two. "People have not dispersed yet, and here you are being so disorderly. Are you not afraid of being laughed at if someone sees?"
The Emperor and Empress had already left, leaving the hall in disarray, and the banquet ended on this note of dissatisfaction.
At this moment, the people in the hall were slowly dispersing on their own, with few paying attention to the Princess and the Young Master near the ruins.
When her own brother pointed it out so bluntly, the Princess didn't feel embarrassed. She raised an eyebrow and asked in return, "This is my Prince Consort, whom I have paid respects to under the heavens. If I am close to her*, what is there for others to mock me about?"
"You."
The Grand Prince shook his head helplessly without further elaboration. Instead, he took out a bottle of medicine from his sleeve and handed it to Li Qiubai, saying, "Shen Chi's attacks have always been ruthless. I reckon she* must have been seriously injured. This is the best military Guqi Pill**, suitable for treating internal injuries. Hurry and feed it to your Prince Consort."
*also written as 她 (ta) ‘she/her’ meaning the Grand Prince also knows
**Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat spleen and stomach deficiencies in children. Composed of a pinch of nutmeg and a drop of frankincense.
After receiving the bottle of Guqi Pill, Li Qiubai didn't directly feed it to Meng Chang'an. Instead, she poured out one pill and placed it in the hand of Young Master Meng, the hand that hadn't held the sword, saying gently, "Take a whiff first. If it seems fine, then take it. If it is not suitable, we will leave the palace and go back home to find another remedy."
Young Master Meng was momentarily stunned.
How could the Princess know that she was knowledgeable about medicines?
The aunt who raised her since childhood was a feared poison doctor in the martial world. Being around her aunt for so long, identifying smells and judging medicines was something she naturally picked up effortlessly.
However, Young Master Meng didn't say much, silently concealing that sense of doubt deep within. Merely taking a gentle sniff, she then swallowed the medicine.
A slight coolness trickled down her throat, dispersing some of the heat that had accumulated in Young Master Meng's chest.
Not wanting to worry the Princess, immediately after taking the medicine, Young Master Meng smiled and replied, “Mm, the medicine is good."
With that, Li Qiubai turned around and thanked the Grand Prince, saying, "Thank you, Elder Brother."
"Enough, what is the point of being polite between brothers and sisters, let us leave the palace together."
The Emperor doesn't like courtiers getting too close to the Princes and doesn't want to see the Princes forming factions or engaging in private activities. So, within this palace, there are very few courtiers who dare openly align themselves with any of the Princes.
The courtiers had already formed their own groups and left one after another, leaving only a few Princes standing alone, ignored by everyone.
The Ninth Prince and the others were still young, so they had to continue living in the palace. Therefore, they left early along with the Empress. Apart from those little Princes, the Grand Prince, Fourth, Sixth, and Seventh Princes who attended today's banquet were all going back to their residences.
The Sixth Prince was always carefree and unconcerned about details and paid no mind to whether the Fourth and Seventh Princes were on good terms with the Grand Prince and the Second Princess. He directly grabbed the two and caught up with the group ahead, saying, "Imperial sister, Imperial brother, wait! Let us leave the palace together for some company!"
Regardless of whether the Grand Prince likes it or not, he still needs to maintain a facade.
He gave a slight glance at the Fourth Prince, whose expression had turned somber. The Grand Prince didn't say much, just gave a faint smile and said, "Alright, that is good. Let us go together."
As several people left the hall together, Shen Chi had just received treatment for his military strikes. He was being supported down the steps by two Imperial Guards, one on each side.
At the sight of Shen Chi, Young Master Meng suddenly felt a faint ache in her injuries.
"The Highnesses have arrived at the perfect time. His Majesty has sent me to wait here and invite you all for a conversation in the imperial study."
Having been waiting outside the hall for a while, Qiu Sheng hurried up to meet them after they descended the numerous steps. He kindly said, "Please come with me for a moment."
The Young Master initially thought that the crisis had been resolved tonight and that the matter was settled as the Emperor had previously indicated.
However, upon hearing Qiu Sheng's words, the relief she had finally managed to feel washed away, and once again, her heart rose into her throat.
Each person had their own thoughts, but no one wanted to be the first to speak. Only the Sixth Prince directly asked what was on his mind: "Eunuch Qiu, do you know why the Emperor summoned us?"
"Your Highnesses will know once you arrive," Qiu Sheng paused briefly, then continued, "However, His Majesty did not summon the Sixth Prince. Please leave the palace on your own."
Such differential treatment?
The Sixth Prince, feeling aggrieved, said, "...They are all going? And I am the only one left? That is so unfair! Maybe I should just go with them; it is too boring to go back alone."
"It might not necessarily be a good thing to go, Sixth Prince. Please return."
Unable to refuse as the Imperial Guards who came along with Qiu Sheng immediately stepped forward a few paces, ready to forcibly escort the Sixth Prince away.
There was no choice; even as a prince, under the Emperor's authority, he had no option but to be obedient.
The Sixth Prince helplessly shrugged his shoulders. No matter how much he regretted missing a chance to watch the excitement, he still had to choose to voluntarily take the first step and leave. Before leaving, he didn't forget to say one more thing, "Brothers, seek blessings for yourselves!"
With such words from the Sixth Prince, the Seventh Prince became even more uneasy. He had initially thought that the Emperor's summoning was merely to settle accounts with the false Prince Consort, yet he couldn't fathom why the Emperor called them all but excluded the Sixth Prince.
Apart from him, the one most worried among them was Young Master Meng.
Unlike the others who had grown accustomed to the unpredictability of the Emperor, facing a situation where someone else held control over her fate for the first time, the Young Master felt utterly powerless.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
At her moment of despair, the Princess beside her slipped her hand under Young Master Meng's cloak, tightly holding her hand.
As Young Master Meng turned her head slightly, she happened to meet the gaze of the Princess.
“I am here, do not be afraid.”
The gentle and soothing tone unexpectedly brought a sense of comfort.
Young Master Meng finally relaxed a bit and held onto the Princess’ hand, hand in hand with her.
"Okay, I trust Your Highness."
The Princess is willing to trust her, so she naturally is willing to believe in the Princess too.
As the group followed Qiu Sheng, gradually moving further away, an old general who hadn't descended the steps outside the hall finally said to his grandson beside him, “People have gone far, what are you still looking at?”
Upon hearing this, the young general who was accompanying him stopped his intention to approach Young Master Meng and said, “Nothing, Grandfather! Let us also go back soon!”
Over a decade ago, General Lin from Shu territory has now become the esteemed and influential Old General Lin within the capital. Even though most of his hair has turned white, he still appears quite similar to his vibrant and energetic self from years past.
The Old General Lin didn't take his grandson's evasion lightly and continued asking, "So, do you know that Prince Consort?"
Aware that he couldn't deceive his grandfather, the young general could only vaguely respond, "We probably know each other..."
"Probably? I found it odd earlier in the hall; why were you always staring at the Prince Consort? Be honest, how do you know him? I have never heard about any connection between you and the Qingyang Clan. Tell me the truth."
The Young General Lin didn't dare to say too much, yet he also couldn't say nothing. He could only speak softly, "I probably met him when I went to visit my aunt in the past..."
Upon hearing this, Old General Lin became even more cautious. "Your third aunt? Let me warn you, do not follow your aunt's example. If you dare to have the habit of cutting sleeves* like her, I will be the first one to break your legs!"
*断袖之癖 (duàn xiù zhī pǐ) refers to men's homosexual tendencies, equivalent to grinding mirrors for lesbians. It is from a historical anecdote related to Emperor Ai of Han China and his male lover Dong Xian. When Dong Xian fell asleep in Emperor Ai's sleeve, rather than disturbing his lover's sleep, the emperor chose to cut off his sleeve, allowing Dong Xian to continue resting undisturbed.
Unexpectedly, his grandfather thought of this aspect first, and the young general couldn't help but feel amused and exasperated.
"Alright, Grandfather, please stop asking. Let us go back quickly! Otherwise, Father will be worried waiting outside! I will find an opportunity another day to visit her*, and then I will find out whether I know her or not. I will explain it to you later..."
*everybody knows she's a girl…how long are they planning to keep it a secret?
The young general didn't dare to explain further, hastily pulling his grandfather towards the direction outside the palace, muttering, "Besides, it has been so many years, you might not actually be willing to break Aunt's legs!"
"What nonsense are you muttering, young man!"
Since his grandfather had already asked, the young general made up his mind and took the opportunity to say a little more for his aunt, "I mean, Grandfather, you seem to care a lot about Aunt, but you always pretend to be indifferent and unwilling to see her. I really do not understand why, at your age, you are still holding onto something. What is the point of acting cold-hearted and saying one thing but meaning another, like women do?”
This time, the Old General Lin finally heard clearly. In his extreme anger, he immediately slapped Lin Xingyang hard on the back of his head, "I see you are feeling really itchy, you brat!"
However, at this moment, Young Master Meng was unaware that she had already been recognized by someone. She also had no idea how badly that person had been beaten for the sake of her godmother.
She was anxiously waiting with several royals outside the imperial study room. Only when the Emperor summoned them inside were they allowed to enter the hall.
"I implore Your Majesty to discern the truth! I swear there is not a shred of falsehood in what this humble subject says! I only intended to play a small joke with Brother He and Her Highness in the bridal chamber; I am not an assassin!"
Upon entering the hall, Meng Chang'an was infuriated upon hearing that familiar voice.
This person was none other than Ye Qianxuan, who publicly exposed her false identity as the Prince Consort last night.
If it weren't for the Highness beside her who promptly pinched her hand, the Young Master would have almost fallen into a trap right then and there.
Forcing composure, Meng Chang'an walked into the depths of the study room alongside the Highness. It was only then that she could clearly see the assassin kneeling there, tied up.
Upon hearing the commotion, even before the Emperor above could speak, Ye Qianxuan strained to turn and look back at the newcomers, calling out, "Brother He! Princess Sister-in-law! Please, help me explain! I was just joking with you! I have no connection with the assassins!"
Among the five who entered the hall, except for the Grand Prince, the other four felt varying degrees of guilt upon seeing Ye Qianxuan and hearing his words.
Before Young Master Meng could decide how to respond, the Emperor immediately interjected, "Is that so? Just because the son-in-law did not send you a wedding invitation? As for why you have wronged him so wrongly? Why do I become less and less convinced the more I hear it?"
Meng Chang'an's heart sank suddenly.
The Emperor's words, devoid of any discernible emotion, made it difficult to interpret his true intentions at that moment.
Without hearing anyone willing to intervene, Ye Qianxuan had to rely on himself, continuing to persist under pressure. He bravely continued to speak, "Your Majesty, you misunderstood! I did not intend to wrong her*. I just wanted to tease and provoke her. I never imagined those words would reach your ears! After all, when we became sworn brothers, we agreed to treat each other like real siblings. But when that guy got married, he did not even send me an invitation. It was really frustrating! I was upset, so I did something wrong. I hope Your Majesty can show mercy! If I had known there were other assassins on the roof, I would never have played around with the Princess' Consort at that time!"
The Princess lowered her eyebrows slightly, surprised that the foolish and clumsy assassin, who seemed eager to expose the Young Master's true identity last night, was now defending her in front of the Emperor. It was quite unexpected.
"If Your Majesty doubts my words, you can summon Ye Chi, the senior disciple of the Qingyang Clan. He is my cousin and can surely testify to this humble subject’s innocence!"
With that said, Meng Chang'an finally understood how this person's attitude had suddenly changed.
It turned out that when she asked Senior Brother Ye to go to the dungeon to deal with people, it had an effect.
"Look at how much you are sweating. I am not here to take your life; I just want you to confess truthfully. What are you afraid of?"
After a light chuckle, the Emperor then turned his head towards Meng Chang'an, continuing, "However, since he is your sworn brother, why did you imprison him in the dungeon?"
After all, now both of them were like crickets on the same string. Regardless of the Young Master's dislike, she still had to help Ye Qianxuan out of trouble.
"It was an unexpected disturbance on a rare wedding night, disrupted by this annoying fellow, even startling Her Highness. It was infuriating. I just locked him up for a few days in the dungeon. He is tough-skinned and will not be affected."
Unlike the somber demeanor he displayed earlier when the late Empress was mentioned in the Qining Hall, the current Emperor appeared quite amiable. It was as if he wasn't the one who troubled Young Master Meng earlier. After the Young Master finished speaking, he openly replied, “Mm, you make sense. Enough, since he is your friend, handle it yourself.”
So, the guards in the study room finally stepped forward to untie Ye Qianxuan.
The Fourth Prince, who had hoped to stay out of the affair and witness a good show tonight, suddenly felt disappointed.
Meng Chang'an was even more surprised and felt flattered. She never expected that the Emperor, who had previously made things difficult for her in various ways, would be so accommodating this time.
“Lao Si.”*
*Fourth child
After addressing Meng Chang'an, the Emperor then shifted his gaze onto the Fourth Prince. "I have recently heard about the Governor of Yuzhou seemingly massacring a family of 108 people. Complaints have reached your Elder Sister's ears. Do you know the details?"
Hearing this, Li Chengyin broke into a cold sweat and immediately knelt, and apologized on his own, "This child is guilty. I am willing to take responsibility, investigate this case thoroughly, and provide Father the truth!"
"The explanation is not for me, it is for the people!" Li Ruiyuan immediately hurled the wooden boards* on the case toward the Fourth Prince in a fit of rage, exclaiming, "Take a good look at these reports and see how you are accused! You need not handle this matter anymore; I will personally send people to Yuzhou to investigate. This is absolutely outrageous! Do you think I am blind?"
*used for keeping official documents or records, often associated with legal or administrative documents in ancient China similar to scrolls
With the Emperor's sudden action, Li Chengyin became even more fearful and unsettled.
The underlying meaning in the Emperor's words is, who does he think is making him blind?
Upon hearing this, Young Master Meng felt a sense of unease despite the words not explicitly aimed at her. She grasped a certain implication behind them. Even though the most direct criticism was directed at the Fourth Prince, she refrained from finding solace in his misfortune, choosing to remain silent instead, and bowing her head low.
At that moment, the imperial study hall fell unusually silent.
Even Ye Qianxun, who had just barely escaped unscathed and had nothing to do with this matter, couldn't help but feel a bit flustered. He dared not even breathe, fearing the Emperor might direct his anger towards him and have him executed.
Fortunately, unlike the tyrant he had imagined, after the Emperor vented his anger, he didn't erupt again. He just resumed his seat and silently scanned the expressions of everyone present.
Once he calmed down, he turned to Li Qiubai and said, “And you, since you knew about this matter, why did you not come to inform me earlier?”
The Princess has long been accustomed to Li Ruiyuan's unpredictable moods. This time, she remained composed and replied calmly, “This child did not dare to say anything for fear of worrying father.”
In this way, Li Ruiyuan softened his expression and said warmly: "You should be more considerate as a daughter. If anything happens in the future, remember to tell your father directly. Do not always worry about your stupid brothers."
"After saying this, he then glared at the Seventh Prince and continued, “Especially you, Lao Qi. How many times have I told you? Siblings should get along. Do not always follow your sixth brother, always seeking trouble. If I see you causing trouble for your Imperial sister again, and if you disappoint my expectations once more, you will be immediately banished from the capital!”
Li Chenghuan was momentarily stunned. Wasn't this opportunity to cause trouble tonight given by the Emperor himself?
Though feeling extremely wronged, the Seventh Prince dared not speak much and silently accepted this accusation, quietly replying, “This child will remember father's teachings.”
Once everyone present had been questioned, when it was the turn of the Grand Prince, the Emperor's expression had improved considerably. He simply said to him, "For this return to the capital, there is no need for you to go back to the border for now. Just stay in the capital and keep me company."
The Grand Prince furrowed his brow slightly. Even though he didn't think the Emperor would genuinely treat him this well, he calmly replied, "This child obeys."
"Alright, if there is nothing urgent, you all can go back."
Having received the pardon, Meng Chang'an felt an instant relief.
The three Princes, all potential contenders for the Eastern Palace, found the Emperor's alternating scolding and soothing completely perplexing.
Even Meng Chang'an and Ye Qianxun, individuals unfamiliar with court affairs from the martial arts world, could discern that regardless of the Emperor's intentions, after today's events, the three Princes present would be even more unsettled.
Siblings in harmony?
Li Qiubai couldn't help but sneer in her heart.
In this royal household, how many siblings could truly live in harmony?
Outside the palace gates, Ye Chi had long been waiting with a carriage.
During the day, when Young Master Meng asked him to see how Ye Qianxun was being handled, he didn't realize the trouble his own younger cousin had caused for the Young Master. But when he saw Ye Qianxun and combined it with what he had heard about the events from the previous night, Ye Chi almost couldn't contain himself, nearly ending up hitting Ye Qianxun on the spot, rendering him half-disabled.
Unfortunately, before he had the chance to disable the person, the Emperor had already sent the Imperial Guards to take him away.
As a result, Ye Chi could only repeatedly warn Ye Qianxun not to speak nonsense again, hastily explaining the pros and cons of the situation before reluctantly handing him over to the Imperial Guards.
It was incredibly challenging to relay messages from outside the palace to inside; any leak in information would only exacerbate the Emperor's suspicions. Ye Chi dared not do much, unable to convey a message to the palace for the Princess. All he could do was hastily drive a carriage and wait outside the palace gates, fervently hoping that the Young Master could return alive.
It wasn't until he saw the Young Master and Ye Qianxun coming out safe and sound that he breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly greeted them.
"Are you okay?"
Ye Qianxun called with a sad face: "Cousin, I..."
Without waiting for Ye Qianxun to say much, Li Qiubai, raised her hand to stop and said, "Whatever you have to say, say it after returning home."
Although there weren't many people at the palace gate, the Emperor's ears were always there, and the palace gate was really not a place to talk.
Ye Chi nodded in agreement and directly pulled Ye Qianxun into his carriage.
At the same time, the Princess directly took Meng Chang'an and brought her onto the carriage left outside the palace by the Princess' residence.
With this, Meng Chang'an finally breathed out heavily, slumping and leaning against the soft cushion. Rubbing her forehead, she sighed deeply and exclaimed, "Your Highness, you know, surviving and growing this big in this palace, it's really not easy."
The Young Master originally thought that the treacherous hearts of the people in the martial world were already difficult enough to survive. Yet unexpectedly, surviving in this palace turned out to be even more challenging. Not only does one need to constantly worry about whether their head might be relocated but also about the possibility of implicating their entire family.
With such glory and wealth, the young master felt truly undeserving.
Merely spending half a day in this palace, the young master was already exhausted both physically and mentally.
The carriage was slowly departing from the palace road, heading towards the Princess’ residence.
Afraid that the Young Master would feel uncomfortable while sitting like this, the Princess took the initiative to sit next to her. Mimicking how the Young Master sat when entering the palace during the day, she actively pulled the person onto her lap, gently stroking the Young Master's head, and replied, "Yes, I also feel it's truly not easy."
However, after a slight pause, the Princess immediately followed up with a question, "Are you feeling sorry for me?"
Is she feeling sorry for the Princess?
It should be considered so.
But why would she feel sorry for the Princess? Other people's matters have always been unrelated to her, haven't they?
The Young Master lowered her eyes, momentarily unsure how to respond.
Meanwhile, the Princess who didn't get an answer was somewhat annoyed with her own hastiness.
The Young Master's internal and external injuries from the recent fight with Shen Chi hadn't completely healed. Additionally, being interrogated face-to-face by the Emperor regarding Ye Qianxun had startled her. After leaving the study, the Young Master, who had been repeatedly stimulated by those alarming and perilous scenes, felt as if her chest was hurting even more.
Therefore, the Young Master now felt utterly weak, and upon lying down, she was even too lethargic to muster any strength.
Resting against the Princess’ legs, the Young Master began to feel slightly more comfortable. This gradually made her forget the oppression she had faced in the palace today. She took advantage of this, squinting her eyes and directly leaning on the Princess’ legs without moving.
As the carriage traveled halfway, the Young Master calmed down a bit after adjusting her breathing for a while.
During this time, the Princess remained silent, simply observing the half-closed-eyed Young Master resting.
When Young Master Meng finished calming and easing the pain in her chest, she opened her eyes, and she was met with the Princess' profound gaze.
For a moment, Young Master Meng’s face felt a bit flushed.
How long has the Princess been looking at her...
Fortunately, the sky is dark now, so only a faint palace lamp can't show the blush on Young Master Meng's cheeks, ensuring the Princess won't notice anything odd on her face.
However, in this cramped carriage, their half-embrace posture, combined with that warm yellow palace lamp, seems a bit ambiguous.
Young Master Meng felt a bit awkward and quickly lifted her head from the Princess' legs, no longer lying comfortably as before, but sitting properly next to the Princess.
Deliberately coughing once more attracted the attention of the Princess, prompting Young Master Meng to take the initiative to start the conversation, easing the faint awkwardness between them at the moment. "By the way, tonight, I overheard someone saying that Your Highness’ marriage was just a ploy to bring the Grand Prince back to the capital. I wonder is this true?”
When the Princess got angry and started cutting people down, Young Master Meng clearly heard some nearby discussions.
‘Did they not say Her Highness’ marriage was only to ensure the Grand Prince's smooth return to the capital? Then why would she openly attack Commander Shen, defying His Majesty's dignity for the sake of her husband?'
‘It does seem rather suspicious.’
That conversation remained particularly vivid in Young Master Meng's memory.
At that moment, she couldn't grasp her emotions but felt somewhat empty, yet upon reflection, a faint joy seemed present. Even now, recalling it remains melancholic and unsettling.
Since Young Master Meng was willing to inquire, the Princess was happy to provide clarification, "That statement is half true. Indeed, I did marry at this time to ensure my elder brother's smooth return to the capital."
Subconsciously assuming the Princess' acquiescence, Young Master Meng couldn't help but furrow her brow.
"And you, what are your intentions towards my elder brother? Do you like him? Otherwise, why would you marry him?"
Hearing this, the Princess smiled helplessly.
She didn't say much, she just looked into Young Master Meng's eyes quietly and said softly: "Kiss me and I will tell you."
Meng Chang'an: "?"
Confirming she didn't mishear the Princess’ words, Young Master Meng couldn't help but blush and turned her head away.
"If you do not want to say it, then you do not have to say it. I'm not forcing you, so why make such an excuse..."
Unable to discern the deep affection in the Princess’ eyes, Young Master Meng muttered and then felt a sense of dissatisfaction. So, she changed her approach, asking, "In that case, would it not be better for you to marry General Qi, who is deeply devoted to you? Why involve my elder brother?"
The Princess couldn't help but burst into laughter at the awkwardness in that tone.
This time, she didn't hold back, but instead, directly held Young Master Meng's shoulder, pressing her against the carriage wall.
Between them, their breaths became nearly audible.
When she met the Young Master's surprised gaze, the Princess raised her lips and smiled slyly.
"Two questions, kiss me twice and I will tell you everything."
