After Entering The Abusive Novel, I Became The Empress - chapter 18

The warm winter sun filtered through the carved window, falling across the woman lying lazily on the bed.

“Princess, Princess, wake up!” Chun Tao set the washbasin aside. “Princess, don’t you remember you have something to do today? If you keep sleeping, we’ll be late!”

“Just a little longer.” Qin Yuqing pulled the quilt over her head, ignoring Chun Tao’s fussing.

“Princess!” Chun Tao sighed helplessly, glanced at the sky outside, then tugged her mistress out of bed by force.

“Princess, we really don’t have time.” Her tone was all exasperation, though she ignored Qin Yuqing’s pitiful glare.

“The carriage is ready?” Qin Yuqing let out a sigh. All this fuss—it was someone else’s fault. She’d finally thought she could rest after the latest ordeal, but of course, no such luck.

The night before, she’d been reading. Even the imperial exams of this dynasty were unusual—held at the very start of spring, meant to symbolize new hope.

Beside the book on the table lay an exquisite envelope, three bold characters on its front:

“Invitation.” Qin Yuqing muttered under her breath, tapping the paper unconsciously. “Just what exactly is Qin Youran planning for tomorrow? She wasn’t even at the flower-viewing banquet at Mount Wen.”

As she brooded, she suddenly looked up and nearly jumped—there was a certain handsome young general dangling upside down from the rafters.

“Breaking into a princess’s bedchamber at midnight—have you no shame?” Qin Yuqing patted her chest, steadying her breath. “I am a princess. Aren’t you afraid I’ll report this to Father?”

Lu Jingchuan shook his head, flipping down with the ease of a cat. Though guiltless, he was oddly defiant: “This isn’t the first time.”

After a pause, perhaps realizing how improper it sounded, he added stiffly, “Our cooperation must remain secret. We can’t let others know.”

Qin Yuqing stared at him, speechless. His face was as expressionless as always, but she saw no guile in his words—only genuine intent to keep their dealings quiet. After a long silence, she finally said:

“Even so, that’s no excuse for barging into my bedchamber. Especially when I am a princess of the realm.”

“Mm.” Lu Jingchuan nodded obediently. “It won’t happen again.”

Why don’t I believe you?

She studied him suspiciously, then gave up. “Well? What is it you want in the middle of the night?”

“Missed you.”

The sound of her setting books on the shelf covered his voice, so Qin Yuqing didn’t catch it.

“What did you say?” She turned, poured tea for them both, and gestured for him to sit. “Speak properly.”

“No need.” For some reason, his mood seemed to dip suddenly.

Not that Qin Yuqing cared—as long as it didn’t affect their work together.

“This is a prescription from an old physician in Lucheng.” He placed the slip of paper on the table. “If you don’t have enough money, tell me.” He turned to leave by the window.

“Why?”

“What?”

“Why are you giving this to me?” Qin Yuqing tapped the slip. “Why?”

Lu Jingchuan pressed his lips together, as though wrestling with the answer. So long that she was nodding off when he finally spoke three clipped words:

“Don’t know.”

“?” Should she laugh or get angry? She rubbed her tired eyes and sighed. “I’ll pay you back.”

“No…”

“I don’t like owing people money.”

“…”

“Fine. Just… remember to take the medicine.”

Watching his departing back, she thought he looked oddly lonely. He’s in his twenties—not some moody boy. Why is he always so strange?

Shaking her head, she resolved to rest. Tomorrow’s banquet might very well be a Hongmen feast.

When Qin Yuqing came fully awake, the carriage was already waiting. She disliked making a show of herself, so she had Chun Tao hire a plain one.

“Princess, what’s so good about this broken-down cart?” Chun Tao grumbled, laying cushions on the bench.

“For ordinary families, this fare is already expensive,” Qin Yuqing said as she settled in.

“You are a princess. How can you compare yourself to commoners?” Chun Tao couldn’t understand. To her, royal bl00d naturally outranked peasants.

Qin Yuqing only shook her head. Such ingrained ideas wouldn’t change overnight—just like the belief that women couldn’t sit exams and were meant only for marriage and household duty.

Even if she defeated Guo Lin, even if a woman bested a man, people would still dismiss it as luck. They’d complain that the military officials outnumbered the civil officials in the first round, and sneer that “coarse warriors know nothing of literature.”

“Chun Tao, let me ask you—how are commoners different from me?” She sipped her tea. “Don’t rush to answer. First think: why do you believe what you do?”

Chun Tao froze. Her instinct was to say, Because you’re a princess—born different from commoners. But Qin Yuqing’s words made her pause, for the first time, to reflect.

Qin Yuqing smiled with satisfaction. This girl was hot-tempered, but smart, willing to think—someone worth keeping.

Outside, the streets bustled. Vendors shouted, though most were men.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped. A girl’s crying reached them.

“I want my mother! Where’s my mother?”

Qin Yuqing’s heart clenched. “Chun Tao, see what’s happening.”

Just as they were about to step down, chaos broke out.

“Whose child is this? Oh no, oh no.”

“Can’t even watch your child properly. Unlucky to run into Young Master Song.”

“Such a pity, poor thing. What a sin.”

Dread filled Qin Yuqing. The child’s cries grew shriller.

“Let me go! I want my mother!”

“Little sister, your mother’s at my house. Come with me, I’ll take you to her.” The voice was greasy with false sweetness. A beat later it turned cruel:

“Whose carriage dares block Young Master Song’s way? Courting death?”

“Impudent! What audacity—does even the princess’s carriage mean nothing to you?” Chun Tao flung open the curtain, hands on hips, shouting back.

Song family’s young master? Qin Yuqing rifled through her memory of the book and finally found a footnote:

Song Yaozu, only son of the Chancellor’s household. A spoiled brat, rotten to the core.

“A princess? What kind of princess rides such a shabby cart? Let this young master take a look.”

Qin Yuqing lifted the curtain. “How very grand of you, Young Master Song.”

“It’s you!” His eyes lit up. He shoved the child aside and strode toward her.

“Chun Tao, take the child to her mother.” Qin Yuqing had spotted a desperate woman being held back by the crowd, tears streaming.

The woman nearly fell to her knees in thanks, but Chun Tao stopped her. “No need to bow. Just take better care of your child.”

Qin Yuqing felt a spark of pride. Chun Tao was quick-witted—worth keeping alive.

“Sixth Princess,” Song Yaozu leered, rubbing his fat hands together, “at Mount Wen I thought you were extraordinary. Today proves it.”

Qin Yuqing thought of a fly rubbing its legs together, and nausea surged.

“What do you want?” Her fox eyes went cold, a flicker of killing intent flashing. “If nothing, get lost.”

But she’d underestimated both his shamelessness and his depravity.

“Such temper! Just my type,” he slobbered, drool slipping down into his clothes.

“Sixth Princess, I hear you refused that heartless dog Lu Jingchuan. Wise of you.”

Heartless dog?

Oddly enough, anger flared in Qin Yuqing’s chest. Listening to him slander Lu Jingchuan as a butcher, a criminal, filth unfit for office—she snapped.

“Chun Tao, let’s go.”

But as she stepped down, a greasy paw clamped on her wrist, foul stench assaulting her nose.

“Outrageous!” Chun Tao lunged to shield her mistress—only for a scream to split the air. A massive figure flew, tumbling like a ball.

“Handkerchief.” Qin Yuqing wiped her hand fastidiously, disgust curling her lip. Good thing he’s so flabby—it made tossing him easier.

“You know who I am?!” Song Yaozu staggered up, pointing rudely. “So what if you’re a princess? You’re an unwanted one. You should be grateful I take interest!”

Disgusting.

She scrubbed harder, though her skin was already red from wiping. And one thought gnawed at her—why wasn’t he afraid of royalty? If anything, his eyes had gleamed with excitement when he recognized her.

“Sixth Princess, marry me and I’ll give you a life of luxury. Unlike that dog Lu Jingchuan—if I meet him again, I’ll brand his face with a slave’s—”

His words choked off. He collapsed in terror, legs trembling.

Qin Yuqing stood with a small bow in hand, arrow nocked. Her voice was ice. “Keep talking, and I’ll break your dog legs.” She drew, aiming squarely at his knees. “You think I’m joking? Leave. Now.”

“Get out.”

But Song Yaozu was too blind, too foul-mouthed.

“You—you just wait! One day I’ll bed—”

“Aaagh!”

“Worthless bit—aaagh!”

His screams rang out as he clutched his leg, writhing. His servants froze in shock.

“Well? Don’t just stand there—take your young master to the physician!” Chun Tao barked.

Qin Yuqing watched him hauled onto his carriage. She hadn’t crippled him; he’d be bedridden a few months at most.

“Remember,” she said coldly, meeting his hateful glare, “I struck you because you preyed on commoners, kidnapped women, and insulted a meritorious general.” With that, she lowered the curtain.

Song Yaozu’s carriage wisely moved aside this time.

Inside, Qin Yuqing scrubbed her arm with water again and again, until the skin stung.

Suddenly, a cool hand stilled hers, the faint scent of plum blossoms drifting close.

“No more. It isn’t dirty.”