Shoutout to Tachibanaswife for the commission!
Lord Toilet reined in his horse and looked back. The smile on his face was gentle and refined, yet he first addressed me: “Third Sister-in-law.”
For some reason, I shivered.
The little beauty in front of me noticed and glanced back at me strangely.
I covered it up with a smile. “It’s a bit cold, huh?”
The little beauty’s expression stiffened slightly.
Yang Yan looked up at the sun in confusion. “Doesn’t feel cold. It’s quite hot today!”
Only Lord Toilet still wore a faint smile and explained for me, “Third Sister-in-law just came out of the carriage. Suddenly catching the wind might feel uncomfortable.”
The little beauty laughed. “Crown Prince sister-in-law has been kept in the palace too long, almost as delicate as Zhao Wangfei.”
I still didn’t speak, because I truly didn’t know what to say, and I was afraid one careless sentence might fall into a trap, so I simply kept quiet. The little beauty’s waist in front of me was still slender and soft, the typical water-snake waist, but no matter how I held it, it still wasn’t as comfortable as Luli’s.
I was just thinking about how to move my hands without leaving any trace when the little beauty suddenly leaned aside and giggled. “Oh my, Crown Prince sister-in-law, don’t move your hands around, you’re making me itchy!”
I froze instantly, speechless and sweating. This little beauty really spoke without restraint, could such words be said casually? Besides, I had only moved a thief’s intention, not a thief’s hand! Oh, my Lord of Fate, what an injustice!
Yet Yang Yan added fuel to the fire, laughing at me. “Chaoyang is most afraid of being tickled. Ticklish at her waist! At the waist!”
That one sentence was enough. Even though my hands had already left the little beauty’s waist, she burst into giggles anyway, pressed on the saddle, and leapt off the horse, landing behind Yang Yan. Grabbing his waist, she laughed and threatened, “You dare? I’ll let you taste it first!”
Yang Yan was clearly even more ticklish than the little beauty. After dodging left and right for a bit, he simply shook the reins and galloped forward.
Watching this entire spectacle left me dumbfounded. D*mn, this is ancient times, okay? Ancient times! Could the customs be any more open? Could the scandal come any stronger?
Beside me, Lord Toilet lightly shook his reins and rode alongside me. Smiling slightly, he explained, “Chaoyang and Yang Yan grew up together, their bond is different from others.”
“Mm.” I nodded. Childhood friends, naturally their affair wouldn’t be like others.
Lord Toilet glanced at me sideways, paused, then suddenly asked in a low voice, “Are your injuries better?”
I was startled, and without noticing, I blurted out what I had been thinking: “You and I didn’t grow up together, right?”
Lord Toilet froze, forced a slight smile, shook his head, and then pulled some distance between us.
The atmosphere became awkward. But a sister-in-law and a younger brother-in-law standing together should avoid suspicion, shouldn’t they? After all, I was now the Crown Princess, a future candidate for the nation’s mother, I should at least appear dignified.
Thinking this way, I couldn’t help feeling a bit proud.
Before that pride could even show on my face, I suddenly heard Lord Toilet say slowly and lightly, “Pengpeng, you’ve changed a lot. You’re nothing like you were as a child.”
I froze for a moment, feeling my jaw grow heavy.
What the h*ll, weren’t ancient people supposed to strictly observe propriety between men and women? Weren’t boys and girls separated after age seven? He’s a prince, and Lady Zhang is a sheltered noble daughter. Even if they attended kindergarten, they wouldn’t have been in the same campus. How could he be reminiscing about the past?
Then I saw the affectionate look in Lord Toilet’s handsome eyes, and several golden words flashed in my mind: Heaven’s justice is clear; karma never fails.
Qi Sheng, Qi Sheng, you keep flirting with your brothers’ wives! Keep trying to live happily ever after with them! Well? Now you’re getting your retribution, aren’t you? Even your own fence has been breached by your brother!
I sat upright on the horse, expressionless, but inwardly furious!
Why do all the men of the Qi family like flirting with their brothers’ wives? Even if you like chasing women, can’t you pick someone farther away? What about all those young, beautiful palace maids, what are they supposed to think?
Lord Toilet suddenly let out a soft chuckle for no apparent reason.
I felt inexplicably uneasy and started thinking it would be best to find an excuse to return to the carriage quickly.
Before I could even open my mouth, I suddenly heard the sound of hooves approaching from ahead. Looking up, I saw Crown Prince Qi Sheng galloping toward us from the distance. My scalp tightened instantly.
Oh no, Qi Sheng! Are you here to catch adultery, or to rescue the situation?
In the blink of an eye, horse and rider arrived before us.
Qi Sheng reined in his horse and first called to Lord Toilet, “Ninth Brother!” Only then did he turn to me and ask calmly, “Are your injuries better?”
At this moment, I fully grasped the leader’s intention and immediately put on a sickly expression, answering in a weak tone, “Not much better. County Princess Chaoyang pulled me out for some fresh air, but after sitting on the horse for just a short while, I already feel exhausted.”
Dear audience, look, this is the art of speaking. In just one sentence, I explained everything that needed explaining to the boss.
First, Chaoyang was the one who dragged me out, not me acting on my own!
Second, I only sat on the horse briefly, so absolutely nothing improper happened between me and Lord Toilet!
Third, I very much want to return to the carriage now!
Qi Sheng frowned slightly, looking displeased. “If your body can’t handle it, then why not return to the carriage? Ninth Brother isn’t an outsider.”
I softly acknowledged him and stole a glance at Lord Toilet. He still wore that half-smiling expression and said, “Better that Third Brother personally escort Third Sister-in-law back. The attendants below are clumsy, it’s hard to feel at ease.”
Qi Sheng nodded slightly and actually escorted me back himself.
When we reached my carriage, Luli saw Qi Sheng returning with me and immediately beamed with joy. She quickly ordered the carriage stopped and helped me inside.
Then, Qi Sheng also stepped into my carriage!
Luli withdrew with a spring-like smile, but my heart turned ice-cold.
At this moment, I couldn’t care less about male dignity or marital pride, nothing mattered more than saving my life first!
No sooner had the carriage curtain fallen than I immediately pounced toward Qi Sheng, imitating Luli’s usual crying tone and wailed, “Your Highness~”
Qi Sheng instantly covered my mouth with his hand! Yet he himself said lazily, “I’ve been on horseback half the day, I’m exhausted. Pengpeng, come knead my shoulders.”
Huh? What does that have to do with anything?
Qi Sheng released his hand and leaned back against the soft cushions.
I hesitated, wondering what he meant. Could it be he feared people outside might overhear?
Gritting my teeth secretly, I stepped forward and knelt behind him, placing Lady Zhang’s delicate hands on his shoulders. While kneading, I leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Was Lady Zhang close with the Ninth Prince when she was young?”
Qi Sheng turned his head slightly and answered softly, “Lady Zhang was a sheltered maiden.”
His answer was too subtle. After thinking for a moment, I finally understood, and immediately broke into a cold sweat.
D*mn it, the Ninth Prince really had been testing me!
Looking again at Qi Sheng, he was still glancing sideways at me. I swallowed nervously, thinking about how to report what just happened, without lying, yet pushing all responsibility away.
Qi Sheng narrowed his eyes and suddenly asked, “Has Ninth Brother seen through your identity?”
My heart jolted, but my face remained dignified and serious. Kneeling upright, I answered firmly, “No. Absolutely not! He was trying to flirt with me…” Seeing his eyes narrow further, I quickly declared my loyalty, “But I rejected him righteously!”
Qi Sheng turned his head back and said nothing for a long time.
I knelt behind him, unable to see his expression, and had no idea what he was thinking.
The carriage fell into a suffocating silence.
I thought to myself that Qi Sheng must have realized that Lord Toilet had already suspected this “Lady Zhang” of being fake, meaning I, the fake one, was in great danger…
At this point, it was better to lay everything out!
“Your Highness Crown Prince!” I moved in front of him and said solemnly in a low voice, “I absolutely cannot die right now!”
Qi Sheng raised a brow. “Oh?”
I stared directly at him. “If I die, it will look like you felt guilty and killed me to silence me.”
“……”
“If I die, the Zhang family won’t marry their second daughter to you as a replacement. It’s not that easy to marry your sister-in-law!”
“……”
“If I die, the Zhang family will switch allegiance to Old Nine. The second daughter marrying him, a talented man, a beautiful woman, everyone happy!”
“……”
Qi Sheng remained expressionless. Good heavens, I was getting anxious to death.
“If I die, the next Crown Princess you marry definitely won’t be as curvy and charming as me!”
At last, a crack appeared in Qi Sheng’s calm expression.
Delighted, I prepared to continue, but Qi Sheng suddenly raised a finger to my lips and barked softly, “Enough!”
He paused, then sat up and leaned closer to me. “You are my Crown Princess. You’re perfectly fine, why do you keep talking about death?”
I finally let out a huge breath of relief. After all those parallel arguments, I had finally moved him.
But before I could fully exhale, Qi Sheng suddenly leaned close to my ear and said in a sinister tone: “So, you’ve finally admitted you’re a fake?”
My entire body froze.
Qi Sheng gave a low chuckle and reclined again against the cushions, saying casually, “Speak. Who exactly are you?”
Instinctively, I rolled my eyes, thinking that the matter of possessing a borrowed body probably had to be explained, but should I tell Qi Sheng that I am actually… a man?
