After Spending a Passionate Night with the Eldest Princess - Chapter 29

Xin Yuan also knew that if she wanted to muddle through, she had to make the emperor and the State Preceptor believe she truly was Prince Chang Guo’s illegitimate daughter, not that girl from Dingzhou who had descended from the heavens.

So she listened extremely carefully and immediately did as Qin Muqiu instructed.

Before long, the palace maid leading the way came looking for them. “Your Highness, Your Highness…”

The Eldest Princess had ordered her to wait in place for a short while, so she had truly thought it would be only a short while. She had not expected that after quite some time, no one would return.

She asked around along the way and finally found this place, but she did not even see a shadow.

Just as she was becoming increasingly alarmed, a clear, faint, and indifferent voice came from behind her. “Lead the way.”

The palace maid hurriedly lowered her head and walked quickly. She did not dare look back, nor did she dare ask more. She only wondered inwardly where the Eldest Princess had appeared from.

When they arrived outside the imperial study, the palace maid stopped. A guard entered to report, and then Eunuch Zhuo’s sharp, thin voice sounded from inside, allowing them and the State Preceptor to enter together.

Qin Muqiu glanced at State Preceptor Yun, steadied herself, and walked into the imperial study.

Remembering the palace etiquette she had just learned beneath the palace wall, as well as the words Qin Muqiu had quietly reminded her of, Xin Yuan’s legs immediately trembled slightly. She followed with reverence and fear.

Because Qin Muqiu had said, “If you do not know what to do, act more timid and long-winded.”

Behind her, ever since State Preceptor Yun saw them, his gaze had fallen on Xin Yuan.

He looked at the top of Xin Yuan’s head, which drew far too much attention, and thought to himself that the Eldest Princess was truly considerate. Knowing he wanted the person, she had even shaved her head in advance.

Unfortunately, a fake was still a fake.

With just one look, he confirmed that this woman was not the person he was looking for.

As he was thinking, the three of them had already knelt and completed their salutations.

Emperor Qin’an stared at the top of Xin Yuan’s head for a long while before returning to himself. “Rise. Bestow seats.”

For a split second, he even thought his eyes had blurred. Why had a member of the religious order come?

Qin Muqiu and State Preceptor Yun calmly rose and each took a seat. Only Xin Yuan remained kneeling where she was.

Emperor Qin’an could not help frowning.

Seeing this, Eunuch Zhuo immediately understood his meaning and scolded as usual, “How bold! His Majesty told you to rise. Why are you still kneeling?”

Emperor Qin’an did not stop him. Mainly, Xin Yuan’s appearance had given him too much of an impact. The person bearing great merit was not only bald, but her looks were also plain. It was truly difficult for him to feel any interest.

Xin Yuan trembled and bowed her head. “This subject daughter does not dare. This subject daughter… begs Your Majesty to uphold justice for me.”

Doubt rose in Emperor Qin’an’s heart. “What do you mean?”

At this point, he also realized something. Subject daughter… That was generally how daughters of official families referred to themselves when meeting the emperor. Could it be that this woman’s elders held office in court?

Xin Yuan still did not dare raise her head. From the way she hunched her shoulders and trembled, one could see her unease and terror.

“Replying to Your Majesty, this subject daughter is an illegitimate daughter of the household. My father is Prince Chang Guo of Xiangzhou. Half a year ago, my father insisted on betrothing this subject daughter to the prefect of Dingzhou. But that Prefect Hu is over sixty, the same age as this subject daughter’s grandfather. This subject daughter truly was unwilling, so I fled the marriage. Along the way, I had no food or warm clothes and nearly got beaten to death by refugees…”

“Get to the point,” Emperor Qin’an said impatiently. He hated it most when others rambled.

Since she was Prince Chang Guo’s illegitimate daughter, he definitely could not take her into the palace, lest it increase Prince Chang Guo’s arrogance.

After finding a reason to convince himself, he began thinking about what pretext he should use to keep the person in the palace.

Xin Yuan’s body shook. She seemed terrified, and her forehead nearly touched the floor.

“Fortunately, I met Her Highness the Eldest Princess. It was Her Highness who saved this subject daughter’s life. This subject daughter does not want to marry the Dingzhou prefect. I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for me.”

Seeing how timid as a mouse she was, Emperor Qin’an disliked her even more.

He instinctively glanced at State Preceptor Yun. Why was this demon Daoist acting so calm? Wasn’t he supposed to fight him for the person?

State Preceptor Yun stared straight ahead, his expression showing no emotion.

Qin Muqiu was also calm-faced, as though this had nothing to do with her.

Emperor Qin’an frowned and looked at State Preceptor Yun. “What does the State Preceptor think?”

State Preceptor Yun glanced at Xin Yuan and said unhurriedly, “The command of parents and the words of a matchmaker are proper. This poor Daoist believes Miss Guo’s act of fleeing marriage is truly unfilial. She should be sent back to complete the marriage.”

Tang Er had also said after returning that on the Eldest Princess’s journey back to the capital, she had not only encountered the person who descended from heaven, but also met Prince Chang Guo’s illegitimate daughter disguised as a man.

This woman should be Prince Chang Guo’s illegitimate daughter. No wonder she had disguised herself as a man. It turned out she was bald.

But none of that mattered.

Emperor Qin’an froze. Send her back to complete the marriage? Not keep her?

Suddenly, his heart stirred. Could it be that this woman was not the person bearing great merit?

State Preceptor Yun seemed to see what he was thinking and nodded slightly. That was right. This person was an impostor.

Emperor Qin’an’s eyelids twitched, and countless thoughts immediately rose in his heart. The person Imperial Sister had brought was an impostor. Then where was the real one?

Could it be Imperial Sister…

He unconsciously looked at Qin Muqiu, suspicion appearing in his eyes.

Qin Muqiu’s expression was faint and unruffled, as though she had not seen what his gaze meant.

Emperor Qin’an felt his chest clog. His whole person was on the verge of anger. How dared Imperial Sister!

This realm was his!

But since Imperial Sister dared do such a thing, she must have already thought of a way out and would not obediently admit it.

Emperor Qin’an took a deep breath and said heavily, “The State Preceptor’s words are reasonable. Someone, send her back to complete the marriage.”

Thinking that this girl, who looked only in her teens, would marry an old man in his twilight years, the anger in his heart strangely dispersed a little.

“Improper.” Qin Muqiu raised her eyes and looked at Emperor Qin’an. “Prince Chang Guo already commands troops in Xiangzhou and acts with great autonomy. If he is allowed to win over the prefect of Dingzhou as well, the northern lands will become his one-man domain.”

Her tone was calm as she clearly explained the stakes.

Emperor Qin’an choked, suddenly feeling even more stifled. As the dignified ruler of a country, he had nowhere even to vent his anger. This was simply too much.

He forcibly suppressed his anger. “What does Imperial Sister think would be appropriate?”

Qin Muqiu said very casually, “Just keep her in the palace. If this woman is a secret pawn deliberately released by Prince Chang Guo, it will be easier to deal with her.”

Emperor Qin’an clenched his fists. Listen to this. Was that something a person would say?

Because she might be a secret pawn, she should be kept in the palace.

Would he, the emperor, not have to worry every day in case someone plotted against him? Who knew whether Prince Chang Guo had other tricks prepared?

He could not help supporting himself against the table and said in a tone that brooked no refusal, “We think it is still more appropriate to keep her in the princess residence. With Imperial Sister watching her, We will feel at ease.”

Qin Muqiu’s expression stiffened, showing some unwillingness. Yet she still said helplessly, “This subject obeys.”

At the side, the corner of State Preceptor Yun’s mouth twitched. This fool was truly a genuine fool, completely played in the palm of the Eldest Princess’s hand. With just a few words, he had failed to even keep an impostor.

However, it was only an impostor, so there was no need to care.

Hearing this, Emperor Qin’an felt a little more relaxed. In the end, no matter how bold Imperial Sister was, she could not be bolder than him, the ruler of a country. No matter how unwilling she was, she still had to obediently listen.

So he waved his hand. “Imperial Sister, take the person and withdraw. State Preceptor, stay.”

Qin Muqiu said nothing more. After leaving the imperial study, she looked back at State Preceptor Yun, who had remained calm from beginning to end.

This matter had gone too smoothly, so smoothly that it seemed suspicious.

Especially State Preceptor Yun. In truth, she had not taken Emperor Qin’an seriously at all. What she worried about most was whether she could deceive State Preceptor Yun.

Yet State Preceptor Yun seemed to have no doubts at all. He had even wanted to send Xin Yuan back to Xiangzhou.

Could it be…

Impossible. The person who shared the dream with her was Xin Yuan, and Xin Yuan had indeed descended from the heavens.

But why was State Preceptor Yun so certain that Xin Yuan was an impostor? No matter how confident he was, he should still have harbored some suspicion.

Inside the imperial study, Emperor Qin’an looked at State Preceptor Yun with lowered brows and an inscrutable expression. “We feel this woman is an impostor. What does the State Preceptor think?”

“Your Majesty is wise. How could the Eldest Princess’s little trick escape Your Majesty’s penetrating gaze? This poor Daoist calculated just now and found that this woman has neither fortune nor rank, and even carries the aspect of a short life. She is absolutely not the person bearing great merit.”

Emperor Qin’an smiled. “Was Our arrangement appropriate?”

A person with no fortune or rank should go stay by Imperial Sister’s side.

State Preceptor Yun looked at his self-satisfied appearance and had only one thought. Putting everything else aside, this fool’s life was truly good. With a brain like this, how had the late emperor chosen him? When the late emperor was dying, had his eyes gone blind?

He took a light breath. “Your Majesty is so wise that your arrangement naturally has nothing improper about it. But the Eldest Princess refuses to hand over the person bearing great merit. Has Your Majesty thought about what should be done next?”

Emperor Qin’an’s expression collapsed, and he could no longer smile. “What brilliant suggestion does the State Preceptor have?”

State Preceptor Yun: “…”

Now he knew to ask him. What had he been doing earlier?

“This poor Daoist believes there is no solid evidence in this matter. As long as the Eldest Princess intends to hide that person, no one can do anything. For now, the only plan is to send people to the princess residence. As long as the person is found, she will have no choice but to admit it.”

“But without reason, it would not be proper for Us to send people to the princess residence to search.”

“Your Majesty, please listen to this subject’s words…”

Inside the imperial study, ruler and minister appeared perfectly harmonious.

Outside the palace, in the carriage of the princess residence, Qin Muqiu’s expression was grave.

She kept feeling that something was wrong.

Xin Yuan, on the other hand, did not think too deeply. At this moment, she only felt relieved. They had finally muddled through.

In her relief, she asked curiously, “Why does the emperor hate timid and long-winded people?”

It was understandable to hate long-winded people, but timid people? Who would not be timid before the emperor?

Qin Muqiu’s eyes were deep. “When he was young and mischievous, he once caused the death of a prince by an unintentional mistake. That prince was timid as a mouse. As for long-windedness, Imperial Father put great effort into us, so when teaching us, he inevitably spoke more. The emperor hates Imperial Father.”

Only she knew these things. And Imperial Mother.

Xin Yuan tugged at the corner of her mouth and did not speak. An unintentional mistake? More like deliberate murder, then guilt making him fear the victim’s ghost would come looking for him.

A prince causing another prince’s death—how could that be an accident?

After watching so many palace dramas in the modern world, she was the first not to believe it.

As if seeing through her thoughts, Qin Muqiu said faintly, “No matter the reason, only he was left as the sole prince. Imperial Father had no choice.”

Imperial Father had two sons and two daughters. She and Emperor Qin’an were both of the legitimate line, born to the current Empress Dowager Lu, who had then been Empress Lu.

The other two were a pair of dragon-phoenix twins, born to the imperial noble consort of that time.

Unfortunately, after that incident, the noble consort soon became bedridden with illness. Even after becoming the imperial consort dowager, she relied on medicine every day to stay alive.

The princess who survived was titled Huijia.

Princess Huijia had always served by the imperial consort dowager’s sickbed and was not close to the empress’s line. She also had no pleasant expression for Qin Muqiu, her imperial elder sister.

Thinking of this, Qin Muqiu sighed softly. The world said the imperial family was without affection, and that was not wrong at all.

Returning to herself, she looked at Xin Yuan. “When you looked at State Preceptor Yun, did he seem familiar?”

Xin Yuan shook her head. “No impression at all.”

Qin Muqiu frowned. “State Preceptor Yun did not find the person, so he certainly will not let this go. Next, you had best not leave the princess residence, nor think about escaping. Otherwise, this palace will feed all the antidote to the dogs.”