Chapter 111: How Deep Must This Obsession Be, To Remain Unforgotten For Nearly Ten Years, From Childhood Until Now?

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. 

However, what Meng Chang'an was worrying about in her heart, thinking that the Princess was suffering all kinds of humiliation, was actually safe and sound at this moment, sitting in the main hall, getting along harmoniously with Zhong Shujin and Gu Qingyin.

Li Qiubai did not sit at the high seat that Zhong Shujin had specially kept for her, but she consciously sat at the junior's seat below Zhong Shujin.

That obedient and well-behaved appearance looked completely different, compared to the fierce attitude when she had threatened the Prince of Yu with the lives of fifty thousand private soldiers for the antidote without changing her face in the Prince of Yu's Manor that day.

Zhong Shujin picked up the teacup by her hand and took a sip, then she took the chance to glance at her own wife’s direction, but she saw that Gu Qingyin was still lowering her head on her own, flipping through and checking the account books, not showing any intention to pay attention to them at all.

Helpless, Zhong Shujin had no choice but to open her mouth herself and cautiously probed this Princess.

"I do not know for what reason Your Highness especially came today?"

Seeing Sect Master Zhong's face tightly stretched with a serious expression, Li Qiubai could not help but lightly sigh.

"I have rashly disturbed today, mainly because I wanted to see how Chang'an's injuries are. I wonder if the two of you could kindly allow it?"

Seeing that this Princess actually said her purpose so directly, Zhong Shujin could not help but feel a little surprised.

But her face did not change. She just heavily put down the teacup in her hand and let out a cold snort. “But right now Changping is still being punished to kneel in the backyard by his mother. I think you should already know that. You are his wife, so should you not come to see him first? Why do you only care about Chang’an?”

The relationship between the two of them was something everyone knew clearly, but at this moment no one said it out loud. They pretended to be confused while knowing the truth.

Li Qiubai of course saw that Sect Master Zhong was testing her.

This kind of questioning was really too rude for a Princess of a whole dynasty. If it were someone else, if she did not want to answer, she had thousands and thousands of ways to brush it off.

But the person in front of her was not only Chang’an’s most respected master but also the one who had once saved her life.

Even though it was just a saving-in-passing, she still never forgot that kindness.

So, facing this bright and clear sharpness from Sect Master Zhong, the Princess was not angry. She only looked straight into her eyes and explained seriously.

“Senior, I will not hide it from you. Marrying Changping was something I had no choice about. Even though we have the title of husband and wife, we do not have the reality of husband and wife. From beginning to end, the only one my heart wants is Chang’an.”

These past three days, Zhong Shujin had also checked many things about this Princess. She knew that she was clever, good at planning, and full of schemes. She was not someone easy to deal with. She had thought that talking with this kind of person would mean going around in circles, and maybe still not getting a clear answer.

But she did not expect this person to be so straightforward, just openly admitting her feelings for Chang’an.

Because of that, it now made her look like a cruel master who beats the mandarin ducks with a stick*.

*breaking up a couple

Zhong Shujin frowned, and she did not beat around the bush with her. She scolded directly, “Your Highness speaks so lightly. Girls falling in love is something that goes against the morals of the whole world, and even more, you and her still have the identity of sisters-in-law. This is a crime that makes people want to break your backbone with curses! People of our Demonic Sect are not afraid of gossip from the world. But what about you? Do you dare? You are a person from the imperial family. What you do represents that so-called imperial face of yours. If the matter between you and her reaches your father's ears, can you protect Chang'an, and can you protect yourself?”

Thinking of this, Zhong Shujin could not help but truly get angry.

“Besides, this has not even reached the palace yet. It is only the Prince of Yu’s Manor, and you already almost made her lose her life. And now you still have the face to stand here and talk to us about your feelings for her? Even if you are deeply in love with her, so what? Have you even thought about how capable you really are? And what do you rely on that would make your father and all the officials of the court agree to the matter between you and Chang'an?!”

Thinking of how the Young Master looked like she was dying three days ago, and how there had been no news at all these past three days, Li Qiubai could not help but lower her eyes. She hid that bit of pain in her eyes and said sadly, “Senior, your lesson is right. It was my careless thinking. I have troubled you all.”

When she suddenly saw her looking so sad and heartbroken, Zhong Shujin swallowed back all the scolding words she had wanted to say.

And that Princess only lost focus for a moment. Right after, she lifted her head again and said seriously, “But senior, please do not worry. From now on, I will never let Chang’an be in danger again. Even if it reaches the palace, I will definitely be the one standing in front of her.”

If this person kept talking back like she used to with Chang’an in the past, Master Zhong would have kept scolding her. But this person just admitted her fault so obediently. It made her feel bad to keep scolding.

Zhong Shujin simply said no more. She only shook her head helplessly and waved away the guest.

“Forget it. Words alone are always useless and do not count for anything. Your Highness, please go back. From now on, do not think about her anymore. Anyway, you have not known her for long, so I think it will not be hard for you to forget her. This way, it will be good for both of you. In the future, you can still peacefully be the Princess, enjoying your glory, riches, and imperial power. And she will still be our Demonic Sect’s Young Master, roaming the jianghu with her sword, free and carefree.”

Zhong Shujin’s meaning of disagreement was already very clear.

They were not the same kind of people.

The Young Master had always been used to being free and could not become a caged bird in that deep palace.

Li Qiubai also understood this truth.

She pulled the corner of her lips with difficulty and said, “I am afraid I will disappoint you, senior. If I could forget, I would not have fallen for her at first sight and still be thinking of her until now.”

Zhong Shujin was stunned for a moment.

She had been humiliated to this extent. If it were an ordinary imperial family member or noble, they would have been furious and left long ago, right? How could this person still be so humble, thick-skinned, and unwilling to leave?

Now, Master Zhong did not know how to continue sending them away. She could only turn her gaze to her own wife, asking for help.

At this, Gu Qingyin, who had been silent for a long time, finally put down the book she had been holding. She stood up and walked toward them.

“Your Highness’ words do not seem to match what I heard.”

After sitting down again across from Li Qiubai, Gu Qingyin squinted her eyes and smiled slightly. “I heard from Changping that when Your Highness first offered to help and promised to join forces with him, you only made one request, and that was Chang'an. It seems, Your Highness, that you have been planning for her from the start, right? How can you now shamelessly talk about deep feelings in front of us? What you call ‘falling in love at first sight’ is probably just a pretense to deceive us, is it not?”

Li Qiubai’s heart tightened immediately upon hearing this.

Indeed, from the very beginning, she had other intentions toward the Young Master. She had set up layer upon layer of gentle traps, just waiting for the Young Master to jump right in.

That was exactly the dark thought in her heart that she could not speak of to the Young Master. Her methods had indeed not been honorable, which was why she never dared to confess to the Young Master all this time.

Now that it was suddenly brought up, the Princess could not help but feel a little guilty.

The Sect Madam had a smile that was not quite a smile, making it hard to tell if she was pleased or angry.

Li Qiubai could not guess what she was thinking. After hesitating for a moment, she finally chose to speak out the memories she had buried deep in her heart for many years.

“Actually, three days ago was not the first time I met the two of you.”

Li Qiubai stood up. She clasped her hands and bent low to give the two of them a deep bow. Only then did she say seriously, “Nine years ago, I had been trapped with Chang'an in the desert by a den of bandits. That year, it was thanks to the two of you saving us that we were able to escape. After that, it was again thanks to the two of you protecting us all the way that I was able to return home safely. Unfortunately, for many years I had never found the chance to visit the Blood Flame Sect to repay your great kindness. I hope the two of you can forgive me.”

Hearing this, Zhong Shujin could not help but pause and press her fingers to her forehead, trying hard to recall that year’s events.

But Gu Qingyin only froze for a second before she already remembered what the Princess was talking about.

She stared at the child in front of her, carefully looking at the features on her face for a long time. She faintly saw a bit of familiar bone structure, then lightly sighed and murmured with a dazed feeling, “So it was you.”

Back in those years, they had also taken Chang’an through many places.

The desert bandits’ lair was the only place where they had ever lost Chang’an. Because of that, Gu Qingyin still remembered this matter clearly.

Even though many years had passed, she could still clearly remember how she felt back then.

She knew how panicked they had been when they found the child missing, and so, when they faced the bandits, they fought that fiercely.

Burning with anger, just the two of them had been able to wipe out the bandit lair in one night.

At that time, they had released the innocent elderly, women, and children who had been trapped inside the den. After taking those people out of the desert, most of them had gone on their own ways to return home.

Only one little girl had tightly held onto Chang’an’s hand and refused to let go.

Back then, she had seen that the girl had an extraordinary bearing. Even inside the bandit camp, she could still stay calm in the face of danger. At such a young age, she was clear-headed and sensible. And since the child had said her home was near the military post at the border, they had thought she was the daughter of a soldier. Feeling a bit of pity, they had allowed Chang’an to personally escort her all the way back.

But they never thought that child would turn out to be a princess of the current dynasty.

From the moment she escaped the tiger’s den to the journey back home, she had never seen that child show any fear or weakness. She did not expect that, at the moment of parting with Chang’an, that child would actually have red-rimmed eyes.

It had only been a few short days together. Back then, the little Imperial Princess was nothing more than a passerby to her.

She had thought that the child, too, was only briefly reluctant to part with a playmate. After some time, she would likely be just like them, no longer keeping it in mind.

But unexpectedly, that child had remembered that bond for nearly ten years.

She had even gone so far as to set up such a grand scheme, regardless of the cost.

Gu Qingyin’s planned test and confrontation, once she recalled the past and recognized an old acquaintance, eventually turned into nothing more than a sigh.

"Forget it. Do as you wish."

Although the Princess did not explicitly express her feelings, Gu Qingyin could still hear the affection and obsession hidden in her words.

A love at first sight, it turned out, referred to the moment they met as children, and that love had lasted until now.

How deep must this obsession be, to remain unforgotten for nearly ten years, from childhood until now?

Thinking of her own childhood experiences with the Sect Master Zhong, Gu Qingyin could not help but feel moved.

Such a fool.

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. 

Now, she had no intention of delving into the little schemes this person had used.

The children’s matters should be left for the children to resolve.

"Chang'an is in the backyard. You may go find her yourself."

Li Qiubai was overjoyed and was about to express her thanks when she heard Gu Qingyin’s tone change, and she continued speaking.

"However, with the war breaking out suddenly, I have heard that the court has ordered you to lead the army. Given Chang'an's current situation, it may not be convenient for her to go with you. This journey is dangerous, and we do not know if you will return safely. I hope the Imperial Princess will consider carefully the matters between you two."

The smile on Li Qiubai’s face slowly faded.

She understood what was being said: if she couldn’t return safely, then she should no longer disturb Chang'an.

The day they caused a commotion at the Prince of Yu’s manor was the very day the Kingdom of Qi began its invasion.

Beacons were lit, and the smoke of war rose.

The battle started suddenly, and now the court’s army was urgently heading to the border to support the battlefield. Yuzhou, to which she belonged, was the closest to the battlefield. From the information she had received, it seemed her father, had already issued this decree in the imperial court.

Unless something unexpected happened, when the court's army reached Yuzhou, she would have to lead the troops to battle.

"Senior, do not worry. I value my life now and will certainly return safely."

With a serious promise, Li Qiubai took her leave and turned to exit.

Just as the Princess stepped out of the hall, she bumped into her long-missed Young Master.

And her beloved was quietly standing by the pillar outside the door, supported by her mother. It seemed as if she had been standing there for quite some time, having overheard all the things she had long found difficult to speak of.

Upon seeing the Young Master’s face, the Princess’s heart suddenly tightened.

A bright red ribbon was tied in front of the  Young Master’s eyes, obscuring the once lively eyes that had always sparkled.

Author's Note:

To accompany a certain little friend in studying, I made a bold promise: from today onward, I will write as long as they study. If the updates are insufficient, it must be because this little friend isn’t studying hard enough! (Babies, you know who to urge now, right?)