Five Big Bosses are Too Clingy After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Zhou Buyan Steps Forward and Gently Undoes Her Sash

Xie Ziqing soaked in ice water to suppress the drug’s effect and protect his purity, but while his purity was preserved, he was now critically ill.

Zhu Mo, who was beaten, was also running a high fever and barely alive. Miaobi, with his face covered in slap marks, knelt before Chu Xingchen, looking utterly defeated.

“Your Highness, please save Attendant Xie. No matter what, he is still your Side Consort! Please grant permission for the Imperial Physicians to examine him!”

Miaobi kowtowed repeatedly, his eyes filled with fierce resentment. In the past, the Imperial Physicians would rush to attend to Xie Ziqing at the slightest sign of trouble. Yet this time, they refused to move, despite repeated requests. He had never been treated with such disrespect and vowed to make the dilatory Imperial Physicians pay a bloody price, subtly filing a strong complaint against them.

Chu Xingchen, however, completely missed his deeper machinations. Hearing that Xie Ziqing was gravely ill, her heart uncontrollably ached. She had inherited all the original Crown Princess’s feelings; the mere thought of Xie Ziqing triggered a mix of love and hatred that was hard to control.

The Crown Princess didn’t know why she loved him so much. Seeing him made her heart race; she loved him enough to give him everything, even her life.

This was clearly a ‘love-struck fool’ mentality, but Chu Xingchen was not that. The residual feelings remained, as did the despair and pain, but she was completely in control.

Chu Xingchen’s expression was momentarily distracted, but quickly settled into cold indifference. She ordered Miaobi to be dragged out immediately. “If he dies, he deserves it.”

It was impossible for her to save Xie Ziqing; she’d rather kill him.

Wan Dong didn’t miss the instant burst of killing intent from Chu Xingchen and was startled. “Your Highness, if Attendant Xie dies in the palace, it will not benefit your precarious situation at all.”

“I know.” Chu Xingchen nodded. If Xie Ziqing died now, it would only damage her already shaky reputation. Xie Ziqing was not worth the risk, and dying so easily would be too good for him.

Even if he were to die, she needed to expose his true nature, ruin his reputation, and let him die burdened by the infamy he deserved—just as he had done to the original Crown Princess.

Seeing that Chu Xingchen was finally willing to listen, Wan Dong added a few more points. “Attendant Xie is exceptionally talented, renowned for his reputation. His writings are very popular among scholars, and he comes from a distinguished literary family. His grandfather is a great Confucian scholar with students across the land, and his father is also a renowned academic.”

Chu Xingchen understood Wan Dong’s meaning. “I know their influence. I also know that ever since the former Empress ascended the throne, they felt that ‘a hen was crowing the morning’ [female ruling], resigned their official posts, and refused to serve, earning themselves much prestige.”

“Unfortunately, they didn’t expect that after one Empress, there would be another, and the Crown Princess is also a woman.” Chu Xingchen smiled. “So the Xie family couldn’t sit still and sent Xie Ziqing, their second legitimate grandson, out to gain experience and ensure people didn’t forget the Xie family.”

“My Imperial Mother agreed to let Xie Ziqing enter the Eastern Palace and gave him the Side Consort position, hoping to persuade his grandfather to return to office and encourage the scholars of the land to accept the Empress.”

Normally, Chu Xingchen would never discuss these matters, but today she understood everything. Wan Dong was pleasantly surprised. “That is indeed Her Majesty’s intention, but it seems ineffective now.”

Chu Xingchen spread her hands. “Because Xie Ziqing feels he was forced into the palace, the Xie family, on the contrary, harbors resentment toward the Imperial family.”

At Chu Xingchen’s words, Wan Dong was shocked and blurted out, “Your Highness, you actually know that? You previously refused to admit it!”

Wan Dong’s expression—Your Highness is finally self-aware!—made Chu Xingchen choke.

She nearly forgot that Wan Dong’s unpopularity stemmed from her clear perception and her habit of speaking the truth. Everything she said hit the nail on the head, shattering the Crown Princess’s fantasies and trying to make her realize the truth that Xie Ziqing did not love her, which is why she was never favored by the original host.

Wan Dong regretted speaking out and quickly knelt to beg for forgiveness. Zaochun, who had been secretly listening, was also startled and quickly spoke up for Xie Ziqing.

“Your Highness, you misunderstand. Attendant Xie doesn’t think that way, and the Xie family certainly doesn’t mean it.” Zaochun shot a fierce glare at Wan Dong. “Your Highness, please don’t listen to the slanders of petty individuals. Attendant Xie is still sick, and you…”

Looking at the two kneeling figures, Chu Xingchen told Wan Dong to get up and addressed Zaochun coolly. “You understand Xie Ziqing and the Xie family so well? Xie Ziqing is sick, and your face is white with worry, more anxious than I am. Anyone would think he’s your Attendant.”

Chu Xingchen’s face hardened. “You clearly harbor designs on my man.”

Zaochun’s face became completely pale. With this accusation, how could she survive? “Your Highness, this servant did not! You misunderstand…”

“Misunderstand what? I’m not blind. Do you think I can’t see through you?” Chu Xingchen didn’t bother with pleasantries. “Guards, drag Zaochun out. Tomorrow, send her to Lord Xiao and have him deal with her according to palace rules.”

Chu Xingchen genuinely lacked the patience for palace schemes with a maid and didn’t want to constantly guard against Zaochun trying to harm her. She decided to simply get rid of her.

Zaochun’s face went white as she tried to plead, but her mouth was quickly blocked and she was dragged out. Once she left, she would never return to the palace, or even the capital.

Because girls were precious, the palace rules wouldn’t take her life, but while the death penalty was waived, the living punishment was inescapable. Without mishap, she would be permanently silenced (rendered mute) and exiled to the frontier, to be granted to those soldiers who had earned merit, to bear them bloodline until she could no longer conceive.

Wan Dong watched Zaochun being dragged out, lowered her head, and quietly said to Chu Xingchen, “This servant will ensure that no word leaks from the Jade Splendor Hall, preventing them from contacting the Xie family.”

Chu Xingchen was pleased with Wan Dong, thinking her mind was excellent. She absolutely needed to stop Xie Ziqing from contacting the Xie family to defame or control public opinion.

In the novel, after the Crown Princess’s death, Xie Ziqing used the Xie family’s influence to slander the original host. The pens of scholars were sharper than knives; every bad deed and bad reputation was attributed to her. Any disaster or calamity was blamed on her. The Crown Princess not only died miserably but died carrying a burden of infamy. Even after death, her monument was spat upon, destroyed, and her corpse was symbolically flogged. This was utterly humiliating, yet everyone cheered. Everyone seemed to forget that she was merely a Crown Princess who had not yet gained power, and those faults could hardly be placed upon her.

She would not follow the Crown Princess’s path, but she had to prevent them from fabricating evidence and manipulating public opinion.

Chu Xingchen was about to praise Wan Dong when the maid said, “This servant can guarantee that, without your permission, not a single word will leave the Jade Splendor Hall. I only hope that you can stand firm in your position and not be tempted by beauty again.”

The Crown Princess had a bad track record, and Wan Dong was extremely vigilant.

Chu Xingchen: “…I promise.”

Facing Wan Dong, Chu Xingchen’s mindset was: One second: ‘Wow, how competent.’ The next second: ‘Ugh, my head hurts.’

Tired and emotionally drained, Chu Xingchen went to sleep.

As she slept, the Eastern Palace and indeed the entire Imperial Palace were far from peaceful. There was a lingering feeling that things were about to change drastically in the Eastern Palace.

Deep in the night, as Chu Xingchen slept, the Golden Splendor Hall was silent. Zhou Buyan quietly drifted down.

He stood by the bed, watching Chu Xingchen for a few moments, finding nothing unusual. Finally, he stepped forward, leaned closer, and gently undid her sash.