After Spending a Passionate Night with the Eldest Princess - Chapter 28

Seeing Xin Yuan so furious, Qin Muqiu could not help curving her lips. “Actually, this matter is not impossible to avoid. Have you heard the phrase ‘darkness under the lamp’?”

This was why she wanted to take the risk and try.

If she handed the person over too readily, State Preceptor Yun would certainly not believe it.

At present, State Preceptor Yun could neither openly search the princess residence, nor could he possibly take someone away from layers of guards.

It was easy to imagine that State Preceptor Yun had only one choice, and that was to borrow the emperor’s hand.

In all the world, the only person who could force the princess residence to yield was the emperor.

That meant State Preceptor Yun would expose to the emperor that Xin Yuan was not the person he was looking for.

In that way, her goal would be achieved.

A person suspected by both State Preceptor Yun and the emperor—even confirmed to be an impostor—who would think that she had been the real one all along?

Xin Yuan was confused. “What do you mean?”

Meeting Xin Yuan’s puzzled gaze, Qin Muqiu’s smile deepened. “From this moment on, you are Guo Qingwu, the illegitimate daughter of Prince Chang Guo, using the alias Guo Xiaowu. You must also wear a veil when appearing before others.”

Xin Yuan blinked. “Keep going.” She vaguely understood a little, but not completely.

Was Qin Muqiu telling her to put on Guo Xiaowu’s identity and impersonate herself?

Qin Muqiu looked deeply at Xin Yuan. “When meeting others, you must cover your face. But if you meet the emperor and the State Preceptor, there will be no need for that unnecessary step.”

That imperial younger brother of hers might be mediocre in ability, but with the officials managing the court, he would not commit any truly muddleheaded acts.

There was only one thing. Emperor Qin’an greatly loved beauty, and he loved bright, seductive appearances most of all. The new women in the palace changed batch after batch, and very few could maintain his favor.

So with Xin Yuan’s appearance, which had enough delicacy but lacked allure, she was unlikely to catch Emperor Qin’an’s eye.

If Xin Yuan truly was the person bearing great merit, then Emperor Qin’an might make do.

But if she were only an impostor, Emperor Qin’an would definitely not force himself.

After all, Emperor Qin’an regarded himself as the ruler of a country and always considered himself very precious.

Xin Yuan narrowed her eyes slightly. “Don’t tell me you’re saying the emperor won’t take a liking to me!”

Qin Muqiu’s smile was faint and knowing, her gaze flowing. “This palace means that the emperor would not take an impostor as a consort.”

Xin Yuan curled her lips. That woman clearly meant exactly that.

“What if your ‘darkness under the lamp’ trick doesn’t work and the emperor insists on taking me as a consort? I don’t want to sacrifice myself like that.”

“Sacrifice?” Qin Muqiu’s gaze paused. “In your eyes, entering the palace as a consort is the same as dying?”

Xin Yuan instinctively replied, “What else? Being trapped inside palace walls for a lifetime, only able to live by fighting with a group of women over one man—isn’t that worse than death?”

She would rather starve to death like the original owner than live like a caged bird.

Qin Muqiu quietly looked at Xin Yuan. It was the first time she had heard such a way of putting it, and yet deep in her heart, she agreed with it completely.

After thinking for a moment, she straightened her expression and said, “This palace found your parents. If you can return smoothly from the palace this time, do you want to see them?”

After speaking, she discreetly observed Xin Yuan’s expression. Was this person truly the tenant farmer’s daughter named Xin Laidi?

One had to know, even though Guo Xiaowu was the illegitimate daughter of Prince Chang Guo and had an extraordinary background, she still trembled with fear before Qin Muqiu, the Eldest Princess, afraid that one wrong word would cost her life.

But this person before her…

From her words, it was already clear that she knew Qin Muqiu’s identity, yet she had not shown the slightest fear.

Would a poor tenant farmer’s daughter who was unloved by her parents truly have no fear at all toward imperial power and nobility?

It did not make sense.

Xin Yuan hesitated for a moment. “I’ll meet them.”

Her expression was calm, and even her tone carried a trace of perfunctoriness. There was no joy at the thought of reuniting with close family.

Qin Muqiu came to a conclusion in her heart. From her wide sleeve, she took out a medicine bottle, poured out a golden-yellow pill, and said coldly, “Eat it. Otherwise, this palace would rather kill you right now than allow you to step out of the princess residence alive.”

It seemed the Xin couple were of no use against this person.

Then she could only use another method, lest this person leave the princess residence and become another handle others could use to threaten her.

After all, that dream still existed, and in the dream, she remained passive.

Xin Yuan silently pressed her mouth shut, her resistance obvious.

The atmosphere abruptly fell still and oppressive.

Qin Muqiu bent slightly and reached out. “Open your mouth. As long as you do not betray this palace and do not act recklessly in the dream, this palace will naturally give you the antidote on time. Otherwise, not even immortals can save you.”

Xin Yuan opened her mouth a little, then forcefully turned her head away. “My mother said you can’t randomly eat things from strangers.”

Heavens above, earth below, this wasn’t some kind of poison, right? When it acted up, it wouldn’t rot her intestines and stomach, would it?

This woman was far too changeable. Just now, she had been wholeheartedly scheming to protect Xin Yuan. In the blink of an eye, she was feeding her poison.

Xin Yuan was panicking so much…

Qin Muqiu stared at her without blinking and said coldly, “This palace will count to three. Otherwise, Jiang Si will come in and pry your mouth open with a blade.”

“One.”

Xin Yuan pressed her lips together, struggling inwardly.

“Two.”

The corner of Xin Yuan’s mouth trembled, her heart like dead ash.

“Three.”

Xin Yuan bit her lip, opened her mouth slightly, then immediately closed it again.

Qin Muqiu frowned and stood. “Jiang Si.”

“This subordinate is here.” From beyond the door, Jiang Si answered in a strong voice.

Xin Yuan stared fixedly at Qin Muqiu’s face. The instant the other woman opened her mouth, she shut her eyes.

“I’ll eat it.”

Her eyes closed, her face deathly pale, she opened her mouth in despair, as if she were about to rush toward a mountain of blades or a sea of flames.

Qin Muqiu unconsciously curved her lips. She bent down again and fed that golden-yellow pill into Xin Yuan’s mouth, then personally watched Xin Yuan swallow it.

Afterward, she rose, picked up the teapot on the table, and poured a cup of tea.

“Drink some water. Don’t choke.”

Xin Yuan: “…”

Thank you and your whole family. How truly thoughtful of you.

After confirming that Xin Yuan had eaten the pill, Qin Muqiu’s lips lifted into a smile. “This medicine is colorless and tasteless. Only one bottle of antidote remains in the world, and it is in this palace’s hands. As long as you obediently follow this palace’s instructions, once you finish that bottle of antidote, the poison will naturally be cured.”

Her brows and eyes relaxed, and a gentle smile hung at the corner of her lips, like warm winter sunlight—brilliant and dazzling.

Yet Xin Yuan felt cold all over. Trembling, she said, “You’re lying. This medicine clearly has the scent of osmanthus.”

And it was yellow. It was not colorless and tasteless at all.

Qin Muqiu’s eyes flickered extremely quickly. “Is that so? It seems the poison-maker’s words were inaccurate. In this world, you are the only one who knows the taste of this medicine.”

Xin Yuan’s face turned alternately green and white. “Then I am truly honored.”

She and this woman would never live under the same sky!

Qin Muqiu no longer looked at her and turned toward the outside. “Jiang Si, summon Xiangzhu. Have her untie Miss Xin and take her to bathe and change clothes.”

After saying this, she walked out the door and returned to the study. She took out that medicine bottle and poured out a golden-yellow pill.

In the end, she actually placed it directly into her own mouth.

It really did taste of osmanthus. Qin Muqiu smiled silently. Imperial Physician Liu had truly gone to some effort.

Knowing that she disliked the taste of medicine, when he gave her this bottle last night, he had actually said these calming pills were colorless and tasteless.

Half an hour later, Xiangzhu led Xin Yuan into the study.

Qin Muqiu looked over and froze.

Her gaze was so direct that Xin Yuan felt uncomfortable being stared at.

“Isn’t it just shaving my head? Haven’t you seen a member of the religious order before?”

Qin Muqiu had difficulty shifting her gaze away and looked at Xiangzhu. “What happened?”

Previously, although this person’s hair looked as though it had been gnawed by a dog, at least she still had hair. How had her head become completely barren in the span of half an hour?

Xiangzhu tried hard to hold back her laughter and respectfully replied, “Replying to Your Highness, Miss Xin asked this servant to help shave it. She said this would be safer.”

Xin Yuan nodded along. Although she did not speak, the expression on her face seemed to echo: That’s right. Only this way is safe.

Qin Muqiu was speechless for a long while, momentarily unsure what to say.

She raised her hand and pressed the bridge of her nose, hiding the laughter she could not quite restrain. When she lowered her hand, her expression had returned to normal.

“Let’s go.”

Inside the carriage, Qin Muqiu could not help glancing at the top of Xin Yuan’s head a few more times, hesitating to speak.

Xin Yuan rolled her eyes and said irritably, “If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t hold it in until you hurt yourself.”

After eating poison, she felt fearless toward everyone. Maybe one day she would simply die. Early or late, everyone would become a handful of dirt, so what was there to fear?

She might as well go mad.

Qin Muqiu did not mind her rolling her eyes at her. On the contrary, she felt Xin Yuan was more vivid and alive than others.

“This palace feels you should not wear a ruqun. You would be better off changing into a monastic robe.”

That would look more pleasing to the eye, rather than being as neither one thing nor another as she was now.

Xin Yuan thought about it very seriously. “That makes sense. No matter how much that dog emperor wants to keep someone, he won’t forcefully marry a member of the religious order, right? Tell me, what if I directly pretend to be a nun?”

Qin Muqiu frowned, her tone cooling slightly. “After entering the palace, do not speak without restraint. Otherwise, this palace will not be able to protect you either.”

Dog emperor. This person probably thought she had nine heads, daring to say anything.

Xin Yuan sighed. “I’m not stupid. I know what should be said and what shouldn’t. Seriously, what do you think about me changing into a monastic robe?”

Qin Muqiu did not continue this topic. “It is not suitable to delay any further. This is just right.”

The timing of the delay was also just right. Any longer, and it would be difficult to explain.

Seeing that she did not agree, Xin Yuan thought of her current situation and could not help bargaining. “Will it always be you sleeping at night from now on? Can we take turns, one day each? Or two days each…”

“What you should be doing right now is quickly memorizing the life history of Guo Qingwu, the illegitimate daughter of Prince Chang Guo, not bargaining with this palace.” Qin Muqiu glanced at the booklet on Xin Yuan’s lap.

That was information she had ordered Jiang Si to ask Guo Xiaowu for while Xin Yuan was bathing and changing.

If one was acting, naturally, one had to perform the full set. Otherwise, how could they deceive people?

Xin Yuan immediately gave up that train of thought and seized the time to flip through the booklet. Whether she could escape the clutches of the emperor and State Preceptor Yun depended on this.

Before long, the carriage stopped.

Xin Yuan followed behind Qin Muqiu and walked through those towering palace gates, silently looking around.

Red walls, green tiles, carved beams, and painted walls carried a certain solemn grandeur.

Just then, Qin Muqiu’s steps paused.

“Do you know how to perform the proper salute when meeting His Majesty?”

“Isn’t it just kneeling?”

Qin Muqiu frowned. Ordinary commoners would not know the details of palace etiquette, but as Guo Xiaowu, the illegitimate daughter of Prince Chang Guo, she naturally should have learned it.

She had almost forgotten this part.

Qin Muqiu glanced around, took Xin Yuan’s hand, and said, “Come with me.”

She had grown up in the palace, and the late emperor had indulged her. So she was familiar with every place in the imperial palace and knew where one could avoid people.

They arrived beneath a palace wall. On one side, a high wall towered; on the other, shrubs grew lush and green.

Qin Muqiu released Xin Yuan’s hand and said in a low voice, “Watch my movements and learn from me.”

After kneeling properly, she immediately looked at Xin Yuan, then stood and held Xin Yuan’s wrist. “Move inward. Your hands should be level with your shoulders. Feet together…”