After Transmigrating Into A Love-Brained Scumbag Villain - Chapter 25

Wang Yaoshuang usually did not nap for long. She was the first to wake.

At this moment, Zhao Shangrong had already changed from lying on her side to lying flat on her back with all four limbs spread out. Wang Yaoshuang’s gaze traced over her brow ridge, nose bridge, and lips, then finally followed the curve of her chin and landed on that long, slender neck.

Without the restraint of the belt, His Highness’s black robe collar was slightly open. From Wang Yaoshuang’s angle, she just happened to be able to see those exquisite collarbones.

Below the collarbones… Wang Yaoshuang withdrew her gaze, then rose elegantly and calmly, getting down from the other side of the bed. Her movements were very light and did not wake His Highness.

She walked around the screen and went outside.

When Jiumo saw her come out, she had the maidservants dress and comb her hair.

Once she was almost fully dressed, Jiumo handed over an item and said in a low voice, “Princess Consort, Lady Zhaozhao sent someone to deliver a visiting card.”

“Zhaozhao” was Wang Xiaoshuang’s courtesy name.

In the past, whenever Wang Yaoshuang heard that her younger sister was coming to visit, she would be happiest. But now, she hesitated.

However, after learning about the rules of “dragon boat racing,” he suddenly could not figure out Old Seven’s intentions.

Although the Prince of Yiyang usually relied on the emperor’s tolerance and indulgence to act recklessly, he still did not want to be associated with “rebellion.” So after not considering it for very long, he immediately entered the palace to see the emperor.

The Prince of Yiyang enthusiastically said that the rules had been changed to “dragon boat racing,” and that the idea had come from Zhao Shangrong.

“Princess Consort?” Jiumo seemed somewhat puzzled. Had the princess consort not heard?

Wang Yaoshuang came back to herself and said, “Send a reply inviting her to meet tomorrow.”

Luckily, because the three imperial princes in Jiankang had not yet come into contact with real power, Xie Mian and the others had not dared go too far, and they had been able to survive safely.

That was why, when the emperor had been supported by Xie Mian and the others and brought back to the capital to inherit the throne, he had his doubts.

On one hand, the Prince of Yiyang believed that as his imperial elder brother, the emperor had always indulged him. Even if the emperor knew about this matter, as long as he explained it, the emperor definitely would not think they were planning to rebel.

In reality, the emperor had long known that he and Xu Zhan’s group of noble clan youths had agreed to participate in the flying-boat regatta, but he had considered it only the play-fighting of youths and did not feel there was any need to take it to heart.

On the other hand, after the method was changed to “dragon boat racing,” the two sides no longer needed to fight or make contact. They only needed the people on the dragon boats to row in perfect unison, making the boats quickly reach the finish line and seize the colored marker.

“Flying-boat regatta” was a custom that had continued for nearly a thousand years, carrying on the water-army training methods of Chu and Yue. If any imperial prince or noble clan youth suddenly deployed dozens of people and more than ten light flying-duck boats, it would be easy for people to misunderstand and think they were using the name of flying-boat regatta to build boats and train a navy.

He had not expected the Prince of Yiyang to run over and report it to him.

But on the other hand, he also felt that his “Seventh Brother” made sense…

As expected, was she coming?

After the Prince of Yiyang left Zhao Shangrong’s place, he kept hesitating over whether he should enter the palace as instructed and report to the emperor.

The emperor asked him, “How does a flying-boat regatta require fifty people? Doesn’t one light boat only carry four people?”

Moreover, even if something happened, he could pretend not to know. Afterward, he could punish both sides equally, and that would be enough.

This fellow had always liked acting first and reporting later. Why had he suddenly become so clever and learned to submit reports first?

Back then, Fourth Brother, the Prince of Jiangxia, had the best relationship with Eldest Brother, Emperor Huang. Moreover, the Prince of Jiangxia had more than ten thousand soldiers. After Xie Mian and the others deposed Emperor Huang, they feared the Prince of Jiangxia would avenge Emperor Huang, so they slandered and framed the Prince of Jiangxia for rebellion, first demoting him to commoner status, then arresting him and bringing him back to Jiankang. After Xie Mian and the others killed Emperor Huang, they killed him as well.

The emperor: “…”

No wonder Fan Ye always advised him to guard against Old Seven. He had not expected Old Seven to behave for only a few days before truly coming out to cause trouble.

Could this still be considered training a navy?

Also, according to the Prince of Yiyang’s description of dragon boats, they were not suitable for water warfare either. No matter how one looked at this “dragon boat racing” competition, it seemed more like entertainment for others.

“Do none of you have anything to do? Must you insist on competing?” the emperor asked the Prince of Yiyang.

The Prince of Yiyang shrank his neck and did not dare tell the truth. He could only say, “Dragon Boat Festival only comes once a year. It’s just for liveliness! Besides, when the time comes, Your Majesty can bring the court ministers to the riverbank to watch and enjoy the festivities with the people!”

The emperor was somewhat tempted.

Enjoying festivities with the people could build an image of him being close to the commoners, thereby earning their respect. His prestige in Jiankang would rise even further.

But since it was to be a long-distance rowing competition, the venue would inevitably have to be chosen on the Qinhuai River south of Jiankang City.

The widest stretch of the Qinhuai River would only allow ten dragon boats to sail at the same time. If several more dragon boats came, the oars would probably start fighting one another.

Therefore, the emperor limited the number of people and dragon boats.

The Prince of Yiyang was just rejoicing when the emperor said further:

When the late emperor passed away, the princes were still young. When Emperor Huang was on the throne, he neglected and idled away government affairs and paid no attention to the literary education and upbringing of his younger brothers. The emperor himself had previously been busy stabilizing the interior and repelling external enemies, so he had also neglected disciplining his younger brothers. Because of this, he always felt he had failed the late emperor and their ancestors.

Fortunately, it was not too late to mend the fold after losing the sheep. He had decided to arrange literary aides and study attendants for the princes, responsible for instructing the imperial princes, lecturing on the classics, explaining the great Dao, and allowing the princes to learn the morals and scholarship of literati.

Prince of Yiyang: “???”

“Your Highness, Your Highness!”

Early in the morning, Chief Clerk Chen ran over in a panic. Zhao Shangrong almost thought his backside was on fire.

Looking at him running over with his clothes and hat in disarray, Zhao Shangrong found it funny inwardly and asked slowly, “What is the matter with Chief Clerk Chen? We have only not seen each other for a few days, yet you missed me this much?”

Chief Clerk Chen: “…”

As soon as His Highness had closed the manor to recuperate, even he had been chased back home.

If he had not known that the Prince of Yiyang had been coming here frequently these past two days, he would not even have known that His Highness had already “recovered.”

But none of that was important now.

He said, “What exactly did Your Highness and the Prince of Yiyang do? His Majesty suddenly said he wants to arrange literary aides and study attendants for the princes. At present, the candidates have not yet been chosen, but he has already ordered the Court of Ceremonies to inspect and recommend candidates.”

Zhao Shangrong was stunned.

What was going on?

She had studied for more than ten years. Had she transmigrated only to still be unable to escape the fate of studying?

No way. Could the emperor not just let her be an ignorant, incompetent, idle imperial prince?

She looked at Chief Clerk Chen, who at times showed a happy expression and at times furrowed his brows, then asked him, “Does Chief Clerk Chen think this is a good thing or a bad thing?”

Chief Clerk Chen said, “It may be a good thing, but it may also be a bad thing. If those literary aides and study attendants are candidates chosen by His Majesty, then it will be very difficult for them to be used by Your Highness.”

“How would it be a good thing?”

“Since they are selecting instructors for Your Highness, Your Highness can absolutely recommend your own people. This subordinate’s elder clan brother, Chen Huaizhi, is a famous scholar of Yingchuan. He can serve as Your Highness’s literary aide.”

Zhao Shangrong had never heard of him. Even searching through the Prince of Yingchuan’s memories, she could not find such a person among Great Luo’s famous scholars.

However, she understood Chief Clerk Chen’s feelings. “Literary aide” was a proper court-appointed official, with an official rank of sixth rank and a salary of one thousand shi, the same treatment as a Chief Clerk.

And this official position could also serve as a springboard. In the future, one could enter the central government and hold real power.

This was a very good opportunity to expand the Yingchuan Chen clan’s influence. No wonder Chief Clerk Chen had come rushing over in such a hurry.

Zhao Shangrong said, “Aren’t literary aides all personally appointed by His Majesty or recruited by the court?”

“That is true, but if Your Highness personally recommends someone, His Majesty will most likely agree.”

Zhao Shangrong said, “I heard Jiankang has a famous scholar named Liu Su. He is currently an Erudite of the Imperial Academy, which shows his learning is extremely profound. What does Chief Clerk Chen think of him?”

Chief Clerk Chen nearly lost his breath. “Liu Su is a humble scholar, from a commoner clan. With his background, he is not worthy of serving as Your Highness’s ‘literary aide.’”

Zhao Shangrong did not care about background!

However, she knew that recommending a famous scholar from a noble clan was a very risky move. If represented by game stats, this action would increase the emperor’s suspicion value and also raise the ambition value of the NPC known as the Prince of Yingchuan.

Zhao Shangrong remembered that she had promised Wang Yaoshuang she would discuss things with her, so as not to make her worry.

She put off Chief Clerk Chen by saying, “I will consider it. If Chief Clerk Chen has nothing else, go back first. My illness has not fully recovered, so I should not overwork myself!”

Chief Clerk Chen: “…”

Why did he feel that after marriage, His Highness had become very… dispirited?

It was as if she had lost all fighting spirit and no longer mentioned going to her fief.

Could it be because of the princess consort?

Chief Clerk Chen suddenly realized that if things continued like this, hoping that His Highness would use her relationship with the princess consort to win over the Wang family would truly become an extravagant wish!

He had to do something.

Zhao Shangrong suddenly sneezed twice. Holding her mistaken understanding of “one sneeze means being scolded, two means being missed, three means catching a chill”—or rather, “one means longing, two means scolding, three means being talked about”—she thought sentimentally, Someone is thinking of me? Could it be the princess consort?

Whether Wang Yaoshuang was thinking of her or not, Zhao Shangrong did not know. But she suddenly thought of Wang Yaoshuang and asked the female attendant, “What is the princess consort doing?”

The female attendant said, “A young lady of the Wang family came today to visit the princess consort. The princess consort is currently receiving her in Yi Garden.”

“A young lady of the Wang family? She must be one of the princess consort’s sisters! She came back? I didn’t get to see her last time, so I’ll go meet her too!”

Inside Yi Garden, the garden of the Prince of Yingchuan’s manor, between the pines, cypresses, and bamboo forest, the late spring breeze blew, and the sea of bamboo rippled gently.

Wang Yaoshuang stopped walking, plucked a bamboo leaf, and casually folded it into a little boat.

Behind her stood a tall woman with a woman’s high bun, yet dressed in black robes.

“When did Elder Sister learn to fold bamboo leaves? In the past, whenever I said I would teach you, you always said this was not something a proper young lady of a great family should do.” The woman also plucked two bamboo leaves and casually folded them into other shapes.

“You must keep it a secret for Elder Sister!” Wang Yaoshuang smiled and placed the bamboo-leaf boat into the drainage channel beside the path, letting it float away with the current.

The woman’s bamboo-folding movements paused. She lowered her head to look at her elder sister, who was half-crouched on the ground, and suddenly asked in puzzlement, “Strange. Elder Sister, we are clearly twin sisters. Since childhood, we have always been able to easily know each other’s thoughts and feelings. But why is it that after you married into this prince’s manor, I can no longer feel them?”

Wang Yaoshuang froze.

Yes. She and Xiaoshuang were twin sisters, and since childhood, they had shared a kind of tacit understanding. Sometimes, they could even sense each other’s feelings…

No, it should be said that Xiaoshuang had one-sidedly sensed her pain. That was why Xiaoshuang had always worked so hard to help her walk out of that hell. But as the elder sister, Wang Yaoshuang had only focused on escaping. She had selfishly made her younger sister bear more pressure, yet had never understood her younger sister’s feelings.

At this moment, Jiumo, who had been trailing far behind, came a little closer, raised her voice, and said, “Princess Consort, Young Lady, word came from the Middle Study that His Highness is on her way here.”

The woman turned to Wang Yaoshuang and said, “Elder Sister, think carefully about my proposal again. I still cannot let him see me for now. I’ll leave first.”

The woman turned to go, but Wang Yaoshuang grabbed her wrist.

“Do not leave yet. Since you are here, let His Highness meet you too!”

The woman was stunned, then immediately said anxiously, “Elder Sister, if he sees me, then the plan—”

Wang Yaoshuang looked at her firmly. “There is no plan. Xiaoshuang, I am the Princess Consort of Yingchuan. From now on, the Princess Consort of Yingchuan will only be me.”

Author’s Note:

His Highness: Looking back at the replay, Princess Consort, you were actually coveting my collarbones?!

Princess Consort: …