Chapter 73: This Young Master Is Not Like Ordinary Women Who Can Be Easily Deceived And Won Over With Mere Sweet Words

There was no time to think about how much the Princess might have overheard. Meng Chang'an immediately let go of the hand that had been covering Lin Xingyang's mouth. After quickly putting some distance between herself and the brat, she cleared her throat and awkwardly laughed, "It is nothing, it is nothing. So, have you already finished discussing matters this quickly?"  

Unfortunately, the Princess did not let the Young Master get away with changing the topic. Instead, she looked directly at Lin Xingyang, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Young General Lin, why do you not explain instead?"  

Being called out by the Princess made Lin Xingyang feel his scalp tingle.  

Just as the Young Master had mentioned earlier, some words were fine to say in front of her. After all, they were used to bickering and teasing each other. It was just a few harmless jokes, and nothing serious.

But if those words were really brought before the Princess...  

Thinking of this, Lin Xingyang was already secretly lamenting in his heart.

Although he did not think the Princess would be more embarrassed than the Young Master after hearing those words, even if he had the heart to ask, he did not have the guts to actually do it!  

Subconsciously touching his neck, Lin Xingyang quickly forced a smile and said, "Your Highness, this subject was just joking with Chang'an earlier. I hope Your Highness will not take it to heart!"  

Li Qiubai smiled without responding. Before she could say anything, the Young Master Meng had already spoken first to shoo him away.  

"You brat, do you have something to do or not? If not, then hurry up and get lost!"  

Her urgency made it seem as if she was afraid Lin Xingyang might yield under the Princess' "intimidation" and confess, so much so that she desperately wanted him to vanish from the Princess' sight immediately.  

Faced with the Young Master's heartless disdain, Lin Xingyang could only protest pitifully, "Do not rush me, sister! I have not even finished my report yet..."

The childish bickering, though noisy, was indeed quite amusing.  

Seeing the Princess unconsciously reveal such a gentle warmth, and thinking back to the cold and stern expression she had worn moments ago at the desk, Yu Jin, who had followed the Princess out from the study, felt a sense of relief. He quickly stepped forward and patted Lin Xingyang on the shoulder. "Alright, Her Highness has already reviewed your report. If there is anything, she will summon you. For now, stop being a nuisance here."  

Before Lin Xingyang could protest, Yu Jin had already taken the initiative to drag him toward the courtyard gate, leaving only a brief, "This subject takes his leave," for Li Qiubai.  

Even as he was being dragged away, Lin Xingyang did not forget to struggle once more. "But Brother Yu, I have not even..."  

Before Lin Xingyang could finish his sentence, Yu Jin had already covered his mouth, forcibly pulling him outside.  

"Alright, alright, stop talking and let us go, brother!"

With fewer people around to cause trouble, Li Qiubai was more than happy about it.  

However, before she could say a word, Young Master Meng had already spoken up. "By the way, Yuechu has already tidied up your room. You are still injured, so do not overexert yourself. You should go back and rest."  

Seeing the Young Master’s stern expression that seemed to allow no refusal, the Princess could not help but curve her lips and softly reply, "Mm, I will listen to our Young Master."  

What is with “our”… Those words…  

A trace of sweetness rose in the Young Master’s heart, dissipating the seriousness on her face. However, she still gave the Princess a shy yet annoyed glare.  

"Glib-tongued!"

The Princess did not refute. Before the Young Master could glare at her again, she stepped forward and gently held the Young Master's hand, curling her fingers around hers with a soft smile. "Let us go back to the room first."  

At this moment, the courtyard was still bustling with guards from the Princess' residence patrolling back and forth. Meng Chang'an, worried about gossip, instinctively tried to pull her hand away. However, the person beside her held her hand tightly, refusing to let go.  

The wide sleeves concealed their intertwined hands. Unless someone looked closely, it would be hard to notice what was hidden beneath the sleeves, right?  

Thinking of this, Meng Chang'an did not dwell on it too much. She compromised and let the Princess lead her by the hand, walking from the study to the sleeping chamber.

At present, Li Qiubai and He Changping are still a loving couple in the eyes of others. Thus, after moving into the Qingyang Clan, He Ziyi's newly married second wife directly arranged for the Princess to stay in the courtyard where He Changping resided. The courtyard was decorated vibrantly and festively, filled with joyous red everywhere.  

Walking through the living quarters adorned with hanging red silk, Meng Chang'an reached the inner chamber. When she saw the striking red wedding quilt on the bed, she felt a moment of daze, as if she had returned to that day in the capital when she and the Princess were married. A wave of emotion surged within her.  

The wedding chambers of commoners, no matter how meticulously arranged, could never match the grandeur of the palace or the splendor of the Princess' residence.  

Yet, regardless of how these two wedding chambers differed, there was one thing that remained the same: neither of these chambers was prepared for her and the Princess.  

From the very beginning, she had always been nothing more than a stand-in, occupying a position that rightfully belonged to her elder brother.

Before Meng Chang'an could snap out of her daze, Li Qiubai had already spoken with a sigh.  

“This arrangement is too festive, do you not think?”  

Hearing the Princess' helpless tone, Meng Chang'an returned to her senses and turned back with a faint smile.  

“Indeed. It seems my stepmother probably wanted to decorate this place as a wedding chamber, so you and my elder brother could relive the experience of a wedding night.”  

Her sarcastic tone made the Princess chuckle softly.  

“Your elder brother has long since packed his belongings and moved to a guest room. Even if this is a wedding chamber, it is just me left to guard an empty room.”  

When Meng Chang'an turned back and met the Princess' gaze, she unexpectedly detected a rare hint of grievance in her eyes.

Before she could figure out whether it was her imagination or not, the Princess once again hugged her arm and pressed closer.  

“Then tell me, would you be willing to let me stay in this empty room alone?”  

This time, the Princess' words carried an even more obvious tone of coquettishness and paired with the heat in her eyes, it made Meng Chang'an's bones feel weak. She completely forgot the fleeting moment of disappointment she had just felt.  

Was there even a need to ask? Of course, she wouldn't be willing to let her stay alone...  

Meng Chang'an’s face flushed slightly. For a moment, she couldn’t bring herself to say such direct words of affection. She quickly pretended not to catch the meaning behind the Princess’ words, pulling her arm out from the Princess' soft embrace and clearing her throat before speaking.

"Ahem, ahem, we are discussing serious matters, do not make trouble." After a brief pause, without giving the Princess a chance to speak, Meng Chang'an continued, "By the way, I heard from my father that he is hosting a family banquet tonight to welcome you and the soldiers who accompanied you. Although you look like you are fine now and your injuries do not seem severe, they still have not fully healed... Can you go?"

Noticing the Young Master's attempt to avoid further closeness, Li Qiubai did not force intimacy. She generously released the Young Master's arm and walked over to sit by the bed. She then said, "Have you forgotten? Right now, in front of others, I am pretending to be severely injured and unconscious. I certainly cannot go tonight."

Seeing the Young Master still standing awkwardly by the side, Li Qiubai had no choice but to once again cover her hand, pulling her closer to the bed.

Not seeing the Young Master struggle or resist again, and simply allowing herself to be guided, Li Qiubai finally looked up at her, gently shaking her hand as she continued, "Moreover, the family banquet he arranged was for He Changping's wife, not for Meng Chang'an's wife. Why should I go and join in this occasion, putting on a forced smile and pretending to enjoy myself while they ask nonsense?"

Source: https://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=3614052
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too. 

The Princess' words were clearly implying that the banquet was not for Meng Chang'an's wife, and she simply did not want to go.

This time, the Princess, though still proper, did not try to flirt recklessly as before. She simply held hands in an orderly manner. However, sometimes, it was precisely this straightforwardness that sounded more heartfelt than loving words.

After seeing the Princess' serious expression tinged with a hint of grievance, the Young Master found herself unable to look away, unsure of how to respond to her words.

"However, according to the seniority, I, as your wife, should indeed call him 'father'. Do not worry, it is only because of my 'injury' that I cannot attend. The others who are supposed to attend will naturally go. I will have Yuechu deliver the appropriate gifts at the right time, and will not embarrass our father."

No matter how slow the Young Master was, this time, she could still detect the hint of an expectation for praise in the Princess' words.

More accurately, this might be more like her acting coquettishly?

A deep smile spread across the Young Master's face. She did not hold back her praise, immediately complimenting and coaxing, "Your Highness still think things through thoroughly. Then, as you wish, we will do just that. This will also prevent you from accidentally revealing any information should you appear in public tonight. If those outsiders learn that you are not as seriously injured and unconscious as the rumors say, it would not be good if that princess causes trouble for you."

Upon hearing this, Li Qiubai gave a meaningful smile, "Do not worry. As far as I am concerned, Li Xinyi is nothing to be afraid of. Even if she wants to cause trouble for me in the future, it is not certain that her family will allow her to make a fuss."

At this moment, the sarcasm in the Princess' eyes was more evident than the smile.

Meng Chang'an did not know what had caused the sarcasm in the Princess' eyes, nor did she understand where the Princess' confidence came from. Just as she was about to ask, she heard the Princess change her tone and say, "Chang'an, I am not afraid of her. I am just afraid that if I attend tonight's family banquet, everyone will mistake me and your elder brother as a couple, and you will feel upset and unhappy."

That light, airy voice caused Meng Chang'an's heart to sink heavily.

If it were really like that, how could she only be upset and unhappy? She might even want to kill someone, wouldn't she?

She had not expected the Princess to have considered even such details.

Clearly, the Princess was a dignified royal, high and mighty. Yet, why was it that she always seemed so capable of taking care of her emotions in such a meticulous way, paying attention to every little detail?

Meng Chang'an's thoughts stirred. She was so distracted, counting the thoughtful things the Princess had done for her in the past, that she did not even notice when the hand that had been resting on her hand moved to her waist.

By the time she came to her senses, the Princess' hands were already tightly wrapped around her waist.

And without realizing it, she had unconsciously moved even closer to the Princess. All it took was a slight lowering of her head to see the Princess pressing against her abdomen and lightly sniffing it.

That posture, in Meng Chang'an's eyes, always carried an indescribable hint of intimacy.

A flush gradually spread across the Young Master's cheeks. After clearing her throat to interrupt the Princess' suggestive movements, she raised her hand to gently touch the back of the Princess' head, cupping her face and lowered her head to look into her eyes with a helpless smile. "Your Highness, do not think that just a few sweet words can take advantage of me. This Young Master is not like ordinary women who can be easily deceived and won over with mere sweet words."

The Young Master always said such things, but the softness in her eyes was impossible to escape the Princess' gaze.

The Princess merely smiled gently, saying nothing, and did not miss this "opportunity to take advantage." She continued to hold the Young Master's waist, resting her chin against her abdomen, and looked up at her with a smile. "By the way, what did Lin Xingyang ask you earlier? You looked so flushed when he spoke to you."

Recalling Lin Xingyang's question when he had waited outside the study earlier, Meng Chang'an felt the warmth on her face intensify even more.

Looking down at the Princess' clingy posture, the Young Master felt a dryness in her throat and could not help but lick her lips before speaking in a hoarse voice. "He asked me if we had been honest with each other, who made the first move, and who was above and who was below..."

The few simple words, though they were subtly phrased, still made it clear enough for the Princess to catch the underlying meaning.

The Princess' gaze had already taken on a hint of intensity, closely examining the Young Master's face, not missing any of her expressions.

"Then, how did you answer?"

Meng Chang'an could not help but smile and honestly replied, "I said, it never happened."

The repeated denials from outside the study were heard by the Princess, and this answer was expected by her.

She was not angry, only curling her lips into a smile. "I did not know when our Young Master could lie so convincingly without changing her expression."

After saying this, without giving the Young Master a chance to argue, the Princess pulled her in with a firm tug, drawing her closer.

The two of them tumbled onto the bedding.

Before the Young Master could regain her footing, the Princess had already flipped over, pinning her down, tightly binding her hands, and grinning as she said, "I will give you another chance to answer."

Author's Note:

The young lady saw everyone's comments and asked me to tell you that she actually urged me to update every day, countless times every day, but it didn't work...

(Although I think the update frequency has increased a lot, it’s still worth praising, right? I’ll wish all the little cuties a Merry Christmas in advance, come leave a comment and I’ll send you red envelopes!)