After Spending a Passionate Night with the Eldest Princess - Chapter 27

When Emperor Qin’an heard this, he was delighted. “Imperial Sister really brought the person back. Quickly summon her into the palace for an audience.”

Qin Muqiu nodded. “Your Majesty, please wait a moment. This subject will return to the residence now and personally bring her into the palace to meet Your Majesty.”

“Good. Imperial Sister, go and return quickly. We will wait for you in the imperial study.” Emperor Qin’an was overjoyed. Whoever obtained her could obtain the realm. As expected, he was the Son of Heaven. Otherwise, how could a person bearing great merit appear during his reign?

Seeing Qin Muqiu turn and leave, State Preceptor Yun frowned. “Your Majesty, you are too anxious.”

The Eldest Princess had been arguing with him just now, yet now she had agreed so readily. There had to be some deception within it. But this young emperor was far too unable to keep his composure.

His joy and anger showed on his face, and he spoke without thinking. He was far inferior to the late emperor.

As for the Eldest Princess…

State Preceptor Yun watched that figure leave, sighing deeply in his heart.

Emperor Qin’an narrowed his eyes. “What does the State Preceptor mean by that?”

He knew his father had always relied heavily on State Preceptor Yun, and State Preceptor Yun did indeed have some ability. But each emperor had his own ministers.

While his father was alive, he had looked down on Qin’an. After Qin’an ascended the throne, the people he looked down on most were also the ministers his father had valued.

Now, hearing State Preceptor Yun say this, he felt somewhat displeased.

State Preceptor Yun saw through Emperor Qin’an’s thoughts at a glance. After all, this fool had written his displeasure all over his face.

He stroked his neatly trimmed beard, a benevolent smile appearing on his face again. “This poor Daoist merely feels Your Majesty should choose an auspicious day and prepare properly before summoning the woman who bears great merit. Only then can Your Majesty show that you honor the worthy and respect talent.”

Emperor Qin’an said disapprovingly, “We think today is quite auspicious.”

Since that person was connected to the realm, he could not wait even a single day. What if Imperial Sister developed rebellious thoughts because of this?

He had to sit firmly on this imperial throne.

State Preceptor Yun secretly gritted his teeth. Speaking with fools was truly troublesome. He would rather exchange moves with the Eldest Princess than waste words on this idiot.

But unfortunately, this idiot was the supreme ruler, so he had no choice but to flatter him.

“What does Your Majesty plan to do after seeing the person?” This was the issue he needed to care about next.

Without thinking, Emperor Qin’an said, “Naturally, We will take her as a consort.”

Once she became his woman, would that not mean he had obtained her?

How simple.

Even with State Preceptor Yun’s composure, when he heard this, the corners of his mouth could not help twitching twice.

He held it in for a moment, then sighed softly. “Your Majesty is narrowing your own path.” This fool only had a brain for lusting after beauty.

Confusion appeared in Emperor Qin’an’s eyes. “What does the State Preceptor mean by that?”

State Preceptor Yun calmed himself and said solemnly, “Your Majesty may not know this, but last night, this poor Daoist not only deduced that the Eldest Princess brought back a person bearing great merit, but also calculated that this person has a connection with the Daoist path. If she can be made to devote herself fully to cultivating the Dao, in the future, she will surely be able to protect Xidao and help Your Majesty accomplish great things.”

A strange look rose in Emperor Qin’an’s eyes. “Then, in the State Preceptor’s opinion?”

State Preceptor Yun’s expression did not change. “This poor Daoist believes she should be ordered to devote herself to seeking the Dao, follow the will of heaven, and become Xidao’s next State Preceptor.”

With his words made so clear, this fool should understand now. In short, he wanted to take the person away.

Emperor Qin’an did indeed understand. After understanding, he almost laughed from anger. “The State Preceptor means that We should not take her as a consort, but should let her follow you to cultivate the Dao?”

State Preceptor Yun nodded. That was indeed the meaning, but why did this fool’s tone sound strange? His expression also looked as if he wanted to laugh but was not laughing. It was somewhat ridiculous.

Emperor Qin’an’s gaze darkened. “Has the State Preceptor finished speaking?”

State Preceptor Yun paused slightly. “Replying to Your Majesty, this poor Daoist has finished.”

“If you’ve finished, then go wait outside. Little Zhuozi, escort the State Preceptor outside to wait.” Emperor Qin’an impatiently waved his hand, sneering inwardly.

Imperial Father, ah, Imperial Father. This is the minister you relied on most in the past. He clearly calculated that whoever obtained the person bearing great merit could obtain the realm, yet he still dares compete with Us for her.

Truly audacious. Truly laughable.

“State Preceptor, please.” Contempt flashed through Eunuch Zhuo’s eyes. Naturally, he would not give a good expression to someone the emperor disliked.

State Preceptor Yun was inexplicably invited out of the imperial study. Even after standing outside, he still could not quite recover.

No, what exactly did that fool mean? Everything had been perfectly fine, so why had he suddenly driven him out?

At this moment, in the Eldest Princess’s residence.

After Qin Muqiu returned to the residence, she instructed Xiangzhu, “Bring Guo Xiaowu to the study to see this palace.”

After saying this, she walked directly toward the study.

Xiangzhu answered, “Yes,” and hurried to the front courtyard to find Jiang Si and have him bring the person over quickly.

Jiang Si had only just pushed open the door when he heard a burst of miserable cries.

“Your Highness, spare my life! This commoner truly isn’t familiar with Xin Yuan at all. This commoner really doesn’t know anything. This commoner is about to starve to death…” The moment Guo Xiaowu heard the door, she opened her mouth and began begging for mercy.

When she saw that the person who had come was Jiang Si, her voice paused, and she shut her mouth.

What a waste of her acting skills. The person who could make decisions had not come at all.

Xin Yuan was startled awake by her wailing and looked at Jiang Si in confusion. How much time had passed? Why had that woman not come to settle accounts with her yet?

Without saying a word, Jiang Si walked toward Guo Xiaowu, grabbed the back of her clothes, and pulled her up.

Guo Xiaowu instinctively struggled. “What are you doing? Hurry and let this young lady go…”

Her hands and feet flailed wildly, but Jiang Si held her steadily, and no matter what, she could not touch the ground.

Outside the door, Xiangzhu could not help laughing when she saw this. “Jiang Si, hand her to me.”

Seeing Xiangzhu smiling brightly, Guo Xiaowu immediately became obedient. “This beautiful sister, did you come to let me go? You’re truly a wonderful person.”

Just as she thought she would finally be able to land on the ground and straighten up, she had not expected that this maid, who looked soft and delicate, would be even stronger than Jiang Si. Xiangzhu directly lifted her even higher.

Guo Xiaowu: “…”

Actually, she could walk by herself.

“This beautiful sister, I have feet. Hurry and put me down. Don’t tire yourself out.”

Xiangzhu kept walking and smiled. “I’m not tired. I haven’t practiced martial arts in a long time either. This is just right for training my arm strength.”

As they spoke, they had already arrived at the study.

The moment Guo Xiaowu saw Qin Muqiu sitting behind the desk, she skillfully brought out a sobbing tone. “Your Highness, spare my life. This commoner…”

“Put her down and guard outside,” Qin Muqiu said before she could finish.

“Yes.” Xiangzhu obeyed neatly and immediately let go.

Before Guo Xiaowu could react, she fell to the ground and nearly knocked out her teeth.

But looking at Qin Muqiu, whose face was as still and dark as water, she did not even dare cry out in pain. She could only lie on the ground, aggrieved.

Once Xiangzhu left, Qin Muqiu asked, “Are you willing to enter the palace and serve His Majesty?”

There was not a trace of surprise on Guo Xiaowu’s face. As expected, she had not guessed wrong. The Eldest Princess had seen that she was a national beauty and wanted to send her to serve the little emperor.

For a moment, her feelings were indescribably complicated. There was the pride of having guessed the Eldest Princess’s intention correctly, but even more than that, there was the helplessness of being unable to decide her own fate.

She wanted to refuse but did not dare. She could only say vaguely, “This commoner… this subject daughter will listen to Your Highness.” At a time like this, there was clearly no need to keep hiding her identity.

Qin Muqiu’s eyelids moved slightly as she looked at her. “Stay temporarily in the princess residence for a few days. After this matter passes, this palace will have someone escort you back to Xiangzhou.”

It seemed she was unwilling to enter the palace. That was also within expectations. Perhaps another person could be used instead…

Guo Xiaowu was slightly surprised. The Eldest Princess truly planned to let her go? She was not bluffing, right?

But people always held onto a bit of hope. What if?

What if she could go back—uh, when she thought of how she would have to marry that old man old enough to be her grandfather if she went back, that trace of hope instantly flew away.

Guo Xiaowu hesitated for a moment, then whispered, “There’s no need to trouble Your Highness. This subject daughter can go back by herself.”

Qin Muqiu saw through her thoughts and did not answer. Then she raised her voice slightly. “Xiangzhu.”

“This servant is here. What are Your Highness’s orders?” Hearing this, Xiangzhu walked in.

“Untie Miss Guo and take her to the side courtyard to rest. Treat her well.”

“This servant obeys.” Xiangzhu lowered her head and replied.

After arranging Guo Xiaowu’s matter, Qin Muqiu rose and walked toward the front courtyard.

If it were Xin Yuan instead, perhaps it would actually be more reliable.

Thinking of State Preceptor Yun watching like a tiger eyeing its prey, and then of the emperor’s way of doing things, she felt this could be worth the risk.

When she arrived outside the west wing, Qin Muqiu signaled for Jiang Si to open the door.

Inside the room, Xin Yuan had not been able to sleep again after being startled awake. She was pondering how she should deal with that woman when she saw her when the door opened.

Sunlight spilled in, brightening the entire room.

The woman at the doorway wore a crimson palace dress. She walked in against the light, her face half-bright and half-shadowed, making her difficult to see clearly.

Qin Muqiu looked down at the person on the floor from above. Her gaze could not help landing on Xin Yuan’s head.

This person’s hair… had it been gnawed by a dog?

Xin Yuan noticed her gaze. An idea flashed through her mind, and she raised her head with a confused look.

Qin Muqiu returned to herself and turned to glance at the door. Jiang Si understood and quickly closed it.

Only then did Qin Muqiu approach and stand beside Xin Yuan, coldly asking, “Why did you leave without saying goodbye?”

That day, the reason she had let down her guard so much was largely because of the seriousness in Xin Yuan’s eyes when she said she wanted to take responsibility for her.

Qin Muqiu had even truly intended to turn the mistake into reality, take the other party as a concubine, and keep her in the princess residence.

But what was the result? This person had deceived her!

The confusion on Xin Yuan’s face grew even stronger. Then she suddenly raised her brows and smiled. “Sorry, and you are?”

Since she had already changed her hairstyle, pretending to be stupid should be fine, right? Perhaps she could joke around and muddle through without getting slapped again.

Qin Muqiu sneered, her voice lowering. “Since you have gone stupid, there is no need for you to live.”

The moment Xin Yuan heard this, she immediately withdrew her smile. “I was just joking. Your Highness, spare my life.”

A person truly should not hold onto foolish hopes.

Seeing that she no longer pretended to be stupid, Qin Muqiu repeated that question. “Why did you leave without saying goodbye?”

Xin Yuan hesitated. “I don’t really want to become a concubine.”

She really did not want to!

Even if the other party was a noble and precious imperial princess.

Qin Muqiu looked at Xin Yuan and slowly spat out a few words. “Since you do not want to become a concubine, then enter the palace and become a consort.”

Xin Yuan froze and nearly failed to understand what these words meant.

“You want me to enter the palace and become empress?”

If she was not to be a concubine, then the emperor’s principal wife was the empress, was she not?

Qin Muqiu lowered her brows and looked at her as if looking at a fool. “You want to become empress?”

This person truly dared to dream.

Xin Yuan tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Weren’t you the one who said that?”

Qin Muqiu understood that Xin Yuan had misunderstood her meaning, but she did not explain. Instead, she said with some interest, “If you truly want to become mother of the realm, this palace might be able to help you.”

Xin Yuan quickly shook her head. “I don’t want that.”

Whether it was sharing one woman with others or sharing one husband with others, she had no interest.

Qin Muqiu studied her for a moment, then spoke of the proper matter. “The person who schemed against us is State Preceptor Yun. That dream is also his work. He came to the princess residence and could not see you, so he has already turned to the emperor. He said you are a person bearing great merit. Based on this palace’s understanding of the emperor…”

Her voice paused. She shifted her gaze away, her eyes fixed on the ground, and no one knew what she was thinking.

“What will the emperor do?” Xin Yuan’s curiosity was hooked. Could it be that he would take her as a consort?

Unexpectedly, she had actually guessed correctly.

Qin Muqiu’s voice had no fluctuation. “The emperor will most likely keep you in the palace.”

In the eyes of the world, bearing great merit was an extremely auspicious sign. And the emperor most liked doing those grand-sounding yet useless things, as though by doing so, he could obtain heaven’s protection.

“Then?” Xin Yuan asked along the flow of the conversation. Why did the more she listened, the more confused she became? What exactly was this woman trying to say? First the State Preceptor, now the emperor—what did any of this have to do with her?

Qin Muqiu rubbed her fingers together and said calmly, “The emperor wants to see you. This palace cannot refuse. Later, I will inevitably have to bring you into the palace to meet His Majesty.”

Xin Yuan froze. “You mean… send me into the palace to become a consort!”

No way. Had this woman gone mad? Since taking her as a concubine had failed, she was going to hand her over to her own younger brother as a concubine?

To hell with that &&##**. Xin Yuan cursed in her heart. If she were not tied up, she would even want to pounce over and kick this woman a few times.

Qin Muqiu was silent for an instant. “Correct. That is exactly what this palace intends.”

“I won’t go. Entering the palace to serve the emperor is worse than becoming your concubine.” Anger surged to Xin Yuan’s head, and she blurted the words out.

Qin Muqiu’s expression froze slightly. Very quickly, it became expressionless again. Word by word, she said, “This matter is not up to you, nor is it up to this palace.”

Fuck—a kind of plant! Xin Yuan gritted her teeth, so angry she nearly sprang up.

She could not live under the same sky as this woman. She could not live under the same sky as that dog emperor. She could not live under the same sky as that damned State Preceptor either.