Shoutout to Tachibanaswife for the commission!
After entering the courtyard, an inner servant came to report that Qi Sheng was in the study.
I thought it over and didn’t let Luli and the others follow. I went by myself with the servant.
There are some matters that really shouldn’t be known by women; generally, they can’t keep secrets, no matter how devoted they are to you.
The study was brightly lit, and Qi Sheng was reading again.
I actually felt relieved. I guessed Qi Sheng reading all the time served about the same purpose as bodyguards wearing sunglasses.
First, he didn’t want me to see his eyes, that is, he didn’t want to expose his emotions.
Second, the guy was pretending to be calm.
Sure enough, Qi Sheng didn’t take his eyes off the book and only asked lightly, “How was it?”
“Not bad,” I replied.
Qi Sheng glanced up at me.
I immediately reflected on myself, my tone had been too cheerful; I must correct that in the future.
Qi Sheng said nothing, returning to his book with apparent concentration, occasionally turning pages. But judging from the frequency of the page turning, he was clearly distracted.
So I relaxed too, found a chair, sat down, and silently watched Qi Sheng read.
Under my calm gaze, Qi Sheng finally couldn’t remain calm and suddenly asked, “Do you have anything to say?”
I thought for a moment and asked tentatively, “Which aspect would you like to hear about?”
Qi Sheng looked at me. “Why do you not even recognize your own family?”
I countered, “Then why did you prepare the Zhang family character records?”
Qi Sheng slightly lifted the corner of his lips and answered without directly responding: “In Shishuo Qitan, there is a story recorded. In the Qiao family of Nanhang, there was once a daughter who changed overnight, she no longer recognized relatives or friends, nor even her parents; her words and behavior were entirely different from before, all explained as memory loss. A sorcerer claimed that her body had not changed, but her heart had been replaced, that an evil spirit had entered her body, and that only by taking a life could it stop; only burning her could resolve it.”
I was startled. “I’m a living person, I’d be burned to death.”
Qi Sheng continued, “But the Qiao girl’s parents could not bear to lose their beloved daughter and drove the sorcerer away. After that, the Qiao family remained safe, but people feared that the Qiao girl brought misfortune to men. No one dared marry her, and she remained unmarried even at twenty.”
A wave of sadness rose in my heart. If only I had transmigrated a few years earlier, being an old maid would still be better than marrying a man!
I asked Qi Sheng, “But I’m already married, what should be done? Can I still… divorce?”
Qi Sheng said unhurriedly, “A Crown Prince does not divorce…” He paused, then continued, “Later, for some reason, she met Han Huaicheng, Duke Jing. Duke Jing feared neither ghosts nor gods and married her with full formal rites. After marriage, the couple lived in exceptional harmony. Just when the world was saying that only someone as fierce as Duke Jing could suppress her, he suddenly died of a violent illness.”
I was surprised. “So she really did bring misfortune to her husband?”
Qi Sheng gave a light scoff. “Misfortune to the husband, such talk is nothing but the views of rustic villagers. Everyone saw Duke Jing’s glorious achievements, but who knew how much assistance the Qiao woman gave him behind the scenes?”
I argued, “But in the end, didn’t she still bring about his death?”
Qi Sheng looked at me and said calmly, “Duke Jing did not die of illness, he merely staged his death.”
Staged death, staged death, sigh, I truly cannot understand such a thing. In my previous life, people might at most fake a bathroom escape; staging death requires far too much technical skill for ordinary people.
I looked at Qi Sheng, wondering what he meant by telling me all this.
Qi Sheng looked at me as well, saying nothing.
We stared at each other silently for a moment. Perhaps both feeling it somewhat strange, we simultaneously looked away.
Qi Sheng gently asked again, “Do you have anything to say?”
I thought for a moment and still asked, “Which aspect would you like to hear about?”
Qi Sheng’s expression remained calm. He said nothing.
I raised my hand and yawned, stood up, and said, “I’m truly tired today. If Your Highness has nothing else, I’ll go back first.”
Qi Sheng’s expression finally changed.
I turned even more decisively. Sure enough, before I reached the door, Qi Sheng’s voice came from behind: “Are you and the Qiao girl from the same place?”
My steps paused. I turned back to look at Qi Sheng and smiled. “Your Highness must be tired and confused. The Qiao girl was from Nanhang, while my maternal family is in Shengdu, how could we be from the same place?”
Qi Sheng looked at me silently for a moment, then suddenly smiled and nodded. “Indeed.”
I smiled as well. “I’m leaving, see you tomorrow.”
Trying to make me admit I’m a transmigrator? You’re still too inexperienced.
After leaving the study and walking only a few steps, I suddenly heard a pa sound from inside. I couldn’t help shaking my head, this habit of throwing books really isn’t good; it needs to change!
When I returned to the sleeping chamber, Luli wasn’t there. I was just about to ask another palace maid when Luli came back mysteriously.
Luli dismissed the others in the room, leaned close to my ear, and whispered, “Everything’s arranged. If the Crown Prince goes to see Lady Jiang these days, someone will report to us first.”
I was startled and looked at Luli, thinking how could this girl be so clueless, what kind of employee spends all day thinking about catching the boss in an affair? Wouldn’t that implicate me too?
Then Luli continued, “His Highness has already accompanied Niang Niang back to your maternal home, yet he still refuses to share a room with you. Isn’t he still thinking about that b*tch Lady Jiang? In the past they were far apart, so it didn’t matter, but now they’re this close, Niang Niang must be on guard.”
I felt speechless and asked, “Guard against what?”
Luli froze. “Naturally against Lady Jiang.”
I asked again, “Why guard against Lady Jiang?”
Luli answered as if it were obvious, “Niang Niang! Because she’s seducing His Highness!”
“Which woman in the Eastern Palace doesn’t want to seduce Qi Sheng?” I asked.
Luli was instantly stumped and stood there unable to speak.
“With so many concubines you don’t guard against, why guard against a Zhao Wangfei?” I asked.
Luli finally fell into deep thought.
I smiled, feeling relaxed. Women’s brains and mouths usually work one at a time, if you make their brains move, their mouths become obedient.
But before two minutes of satisfaction passed, someone outside softly called for Luli.
Luli glanced at me, excused herself, and went out. After a moment she returned, her expression worse than before, and hurried over to whisper in my ear, “The Crown Prince really has left his courtyard and entered that bamboo grove.”
I couldn’t help being surprised. Had everything said during the day been useless? At the critical moment, Qi Sheng was still being directed by the spear?
And Zhao Wang? What was directing him?
Just as I thought of Zhao Wang, I heard a palace maid outside softly report, “Niang Niang, Zhao Wang requests an audience.”
I laughed. Well then, late at night, the Crown Prince secretly meets Zhao Wangfei, and Zhao Wang comes to see the Crown Princess.
What a dramatic entanglement of emotions!
But why was Zhao Wang coming to see me?
To complain? Or to ask me to help catch them?
Since he had come, and was staying so close, it wouldn’t be appropriate not to meet him. I had to let Luli help me dress properly inside and out before going out.
Zhao Wang was sitting in the reception hall. When he saw me, he stood and greeted me with a smile. “Third Sister-in-law.”
Hmm, quite casual, he must have been familiar with Lady Zhang before.
I had originally been somewhat wary of Zhao Wang, afraid he might propose that we go catch the affair together. But seeing his smiling expression, I instead felt a bit of sympathy, no man wants to wear such a green hat.
Just as I was thinking how to comfort him, Zhao Wang suddenly said, “Third Sister-in-law, the day before yesterday I heard some interesting stories from the capital. Tonight I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d come tell you.”
I couldn’t read his intentions and could only respond, “Alright, Zhao Wang, please go ahead.”
I had assumed he was speaking with hidden meaning and kept my guard up, ready to catch something between the lines. But Zhao Wang truly began telling trivial gossip about various households in the capital: the third son of Censor Lin had just married the eldest daughter of Scholar Zhao, and within a month they were already fighting… a wealthy merchant had taken seven concubines at once, all entering the household together, and when they served tea to the principal wife, the line reached all the way to the doorway…
Zhao Wang’s tea kept being refilled.
I wanted to have Luli bring me some melon seeds…
Until I could no longer endure it, I called Luli over and whispered a few words. She hurried out, and I continued listening to Zhao Wang talk…
After a while, Luli returned and leaned close to my ear. “The Crown Prince has already returned.”
My spirits immediately lifted. I straightened up and said to Zhao Wang, “Your Highness, it’s not early. Let’s stop here for today, we should both go back, wash up, and sleep!”
