Forced to Love (GL) - Chapter 30

The next day, when Zhao Qingsui opened her eyes again, the room was already bright with sunlight streaming in from the window.

She rarely woke up this late. Even though she did not have to attend the morning court sessions like regular officials, she usually got up early.

Since Zhao Qingsui learned to read and understand the world, waking up early had become one of her habits. The other was dedicating every day to the revival of DatTai.

When she was still young, Zhao Cong used to say to her, “You are my most beloved princess. There is no need for you to worry about these matters. The heavy burdens are mine to bear.”

However, as the rebellion in DatTai unfolded, Zhao Qingsui gradually demonstrated a decisiveness and courage that surpassed even some men.

She devised strategies, won over people’s hearts, commanded troops, and engaged in tactical battles. She even used herself as bait, leading only her personal guards and city defenders against an enemy force of twenty thousand, delaying them long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

On the eve of battle, dawn was about to break. A faint light split the sky and illuminated the city walls. Zhao Qingsui showed no hesitation or retreat.

During the fight, the shouts of soldiers echoed, smoke filled the air, and bl00d stained the walls. Yet, she charged forward without fear.

The war lasted three years before peace was finally restored. Zhao Qingsui had endured the bone-chilling cold of winter snow and the dizzying heat of summer under the scorching sun.

At last, DatTai was reunited, with every city and fortress reclaimed from the rebels.

Standing on the city walls, Zhao Qingsui looked down at the scene below. All she saw were ruins, rising black smoke, wounded soldiers, and civilians in tattered clothes. At that moment, her brows furrowed and did not relax for a long time.

Three years of war had not strengthened her body. Instead, her already weak constitution became even frailer.

Throughout the four seasons, only at the height of summer under the midday sun would the temperature of her palms feel warm.

Upon returning to the capital, she did not take a single day of rest. The moment she arrived, she presented twelve words to Zhao Cong:

“Abolish taxes, promote agriculture, build canals, ensure harvests.”

Food was the foundation of life. Zhao Cong managed affairs within the court, but beyond it, she had to secure the kingdom’s food supply.

After that, Zhao Qingsui devoted herself to agricultural development. Now, in the fifth year of DatTai, the results had finally begun to show.

Not long after Zhao Qingsui returned from inspecting her fief, a case of illegal weapon stockpiling emerged in the capital. This immediately made her tense again. Neither DatTai nor its people could afford another war so soon.

That would destroy all her efforts, reducing everything to the black smoke she once saw from the city walls.

Zhao Qingsui’s gaze sharpened. She sat up, her long hair cascading over her shoulders.

“Su Rui.”

“Your Highness, you are awake.”

A figure stepped in from outside the door.

“Come in.”

“Yes.”

The door slowly opened. Su Rui entered with a few maids to assist Zhao Qingsui with her morning routine.

“Has the consort left?”

As Zhao Qingsui raised her arms slightly, Su Rui lowered her head to arrange her sleeves.

“Your Highness, the consort is still in the courtyard practicing swordsmanship.”

“Oh? He woke up early?”

“Yes, it seems the consort was worried about your exhaustion yesterday. He has already asked several times whether you had woken up.”

Zhao Qingsui raised an eyebrow. As she stepped out of the room, she said, “Hmm, let’s go take a look.”

From a distance, Zhao Qingsui saw a figure moving fluidly in the courtyard, the gleam of the sword reflecting off the beams of the house and flashing before her eyes.

As the figure spun, the wind lifted stray strands of hair at the temples and swept along the loose sleeves of the robe.

Zhao Qingsui narrowed her eyes slightly and dismissed the extra servants, leaving only Su Rui by her side.

The consort twisted his wrist, creating a flourish with the sword, then suddenly crouched low and swept his leg around in a powerful arc. In the next instant, the sword thrust forward in a swift motion.

Zhao Qingsui’s gaze followed him closely, moving up and down with his movements, finally settling on his chest.

For some reason, despite the wide robes, something felt off.

Lingxi leaped and landed gracefully. As she turned, her eyes met Zhao Qingsui’s gaze. Yet, for some reason, Lingxi felt that Zhao Qingsui’s eyes had slightly shifted away.

Lingxi immediately sheathed her sword, gripped the hilt with both hands, and bowed. “Your Highness.”

Zhao Qingsui withdrew her gaze and stepped closer. “Hmm, has the consort had breakfast?”

“Not yet.”

“Then let’s eat together.”

“Yes.”

Zhao Qingsui signaled to Su Rui, who bowed and left. But just then, Lingxi suddenly knelt down. “Your Highness, please forgive me.”

“What crime has the consort committed?”

“Last night, without Your Highness’s permission, I…”

Lingxi paused, struggling to find the right words to describe how she had carried Zhao Qingsui back.

“Hmm, I am already aware. But if you had not done so, would you have preferred to leave me sleeping stiffly in the carriage all night?”

“Rise.”

“Yes, thank you, Your Highness.”

As Lingxi stood up, the heat from her sword practice slowly surfaced, a fine layer of sweat covering her forehead. Even her pale neck was tinged with red, and her ears flushed slightly.

Seeing Lingxi up close, Zhao Qingsui suddenly found her features rather delicate. Her gaze fell on Lingxi’s neck, and at that moment, she understood why something had seemed off.

It wasn’t the chest or the face—it was the barely noticeable Adam’s apple.

Reaching out, Zhao Qingsui gently traced Lingxi’s jawline with her fingertips, letting her middle and ring fingers brush lightly over her throat.

Before she could make any conclusions, Lingxi swallowed nervously, causing her throat to bob slightly. Zhao Qingsui’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Instead of stepping back, Zhao Qingsui moved a little closer. “Why are you so nervous, Consort?”

“Your Highness, is this not improper?”

Lingxi could neither reject Zhao Qingsui’s touch nor her gaze, so she could only rely on etiquette to argue.

“What is improper?” Zhao Qingsui narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze deep and unreadable.

Lingxi remained silent, her grip on the sword hilt tightening.

“Your Highness, breakfast is ready.”

Su Rui’s voice suddenly broke the tense atmosphere.

Zhao Qingsui immediately withdrew her hand. “As husband and wife, there is no rule stating that I cannot act like this in our own home.”

Lingxi took half a step back, bowed, and said softly, “Your Highness.”

She was obedient in every way, willing to protect Zhao Qingsui even at great risk. Yet, she always maintained a certain distance.

Understanding this only made Zhao Qingsui more frustrated.

She turned and left with a flick of her sleeve.

Ling Xi stayed in the bowing position for a long time. The sword hilt in her palm felt as if it had become part of her body. When she finally sheathed her sword, she realized she had held it so tightly that there was a bluish bruise at the base of her thumb.

Ling Xi changed out of her practice clothes into her official uniform. When she returned, the main hall was already empty. Only the breakfast on the table was still steaming.

Ling Xi sighed and quietly ate her breakfast before heading to the Court of Judicial Review.

Li Cai and Ling Xi discussed their plan. They decided to split up. Li Cai would stay at the Court to continue questioning the captured thief, hoping to get something out of him. Ling Xi would follow the theater troupe lead.

This time was different from the last. Ling Xi only brought two people, all dressed in plain clothes, to go to the troupe to watch the show.

They pushed open the same big wooden door. Inside, just like before, the actors on the wooden stage were performing opera with their drawn-out sounds.

“Sir, you’re here to watch the opera again?”

The servant nearby clearly remembered her from last time and came over warmly as soon as he saw her.

“Mm.” Ling Xi’s eyes swept over the people sitting below the stage and then looked at the performers on the stage.

“Sir, didn’t our boss lady say it right? Once you watch our show, you’ll want to come back for more!”

The servant looked proud.

“Yes, it’s good. But why are there fewer people here today than last time?”

Ling Xi picked a spot to sit, and the servant quickly served her tea.

The servant lowered his voice and spoke close to Ling Xi’s ear. “Ah, sir, you don’t know. Last time we were hired to perform at the royal palace—it should’ve been a great gig, and we might’ve gotten some reward money too. But who knew, before we even got our turn, something went wrong with the group before us. The whole thing got canceled. I heard even the princess was furious.”

“Oh? Did the problem have anything to do with your troupe?”

Ling Xi looked at him.

“No, no, sir, we wouldn’t dare. It’s just that somehow the story spread, and now people say troupes like ours aren’t safe. Plus, the city guards have been patrolling more lately, so it feels a bit unsafe. That’s why fewer people come now.”

“I see. But your troupe only performs opera? Why not try something else? Maybe the audience will come back.”

Ling Xi lifted the lid from her tea cup. The aroma and steam rose in front of her eyes.

“Our troupe also does acrobatics. It’s fun to watch. Just a few days ago, we were doing acrobatics. But today, sir, you came at the wrong time. The acrobats were called to Chunye House.”

“Chunye House?”

Ling Xi’s hand holding the tea cup suddenly paused. She exchanged a look with her men over the servant’s head.

What a coincidence? This “Flower Moon Night” really included both the flower, the moon, and now even the night?

“Yes, but Chunye House is one of our regular customers. Sometimes they call us every three to five days, sometimes every two weeks. They always invite us to perform acrobatics. Sir, if you want to see, come again in a few days. We’ll surely perform again.”

Ling Xi tilted her head at him, not speaking.

The servant looked at her, then seemed to remember something. He looked at the other two and laughed, “Sir, don’t tell me you’ve never been to Chunye House?”

“What kind of place is it? Tell me.”

Ling Xi took out a silver reward and placed it by the tea cup.

Seeing the silver, the servant’s eyes narrowed in a happy smile. He lowered his voice even more and leaned in to explain to them in a voice only they could hear.

“……”

After leaving the big wooden door, Ling Xi and her two men walked down the noisy market street. Ling Xi frowned, her face dark.

“Master Lu, you really shouldn’t go to that place.”

“Yes, if the Princess finds out, she’ll misunderstand. How about we two go inside, and you stay outside to back us up?”

Ling Xi was troubled. She couldn’t give up a lead she had worked so hard to find. But if she really had to go there… just thinking about it made cold sweat break out on her back.

After thinking it over, Ling Xi told her men to go first and wait for her outside. She turned back to the residence and asked Chai Gao to prepare hot water for her bath in the evening so she could wash and change first.

Later, when Ling Xi arrived, the sun was already setting. The sky was dark but not fully black.

The three of them tidied up a bit and made sure they wore nothing official before heading out.

Chunye House was on an island in the middle of a lake. From afar, a big sign hung high up. Ling Xi stopped to clearly read the three words. Before she could step onto the arched stone bridge, a brightly dressed woman came toward them.

Ling Xi ignored their words, and her two men carefully blocked them from getting close.

The three of them walked in. After the bridge was a long corridor built over water. The further they walked, the more they saw colorful lanterns and red ribbons floating in the wind, matching the red carpet underfoot.

The main building of Chunye House was a tall tower. As soon as Ling Xi stepped inside, a thick mix of wine and makeup smells rushed at her.

Around her were countless people playing games, blindfolded, laughing and joking. The noise pressed into Ling Xi’s mind.

The madam came over to introduce the place. Her men quickly sent her away. The three chose a quiet spot that still gave them a good view.

Before long, the acrobatics performance began. But few people in the hall paid attention.

After all, with beauties in their arms, who would care about a performance?

“Good!”

A sudden shout from afar caught Ling Xi’s attention.

In a private room on the second floor, diagonally across from them, sat two men. The chubby one was the one who shouted.

Ling Xi looked at him. He was clapping and looked very happy. Soon, the madam walked up to him smiling. They seemed to chat. The man was excited, and the other man with a white fan took out silver and gave it to the madam. She smiled and bowed deeply, then left the room.

Soon, she walked down and talked with a tall, thin man in plain clothes behind a screen. That man glanced around and handed an envelope to the madam, who went back upstairs smiling.

A moment later, the room only had the chubby man. Ling Xi, standing at a corner, saw the madam again, but her angle only allowed her to see the madam alone. As the madam handed the envelope over, Ling Xi saw a flash of a white fan.

Then, Ling Xi noticed a delicate mark on the fan’s handle. It reflected the light, casting a shadow on the screen as the fan moved, like a projection.

Looking at that enlarged shape, Ling Xi felt an odd sense of familiarity.

…

After leaving Chunye House and parting with her men, Ling Xi rushed back home. Chai Gao happened to greet her at the gate.

“Prince Consort.” As soon as Chai Gao called out, he looked shocked and lowered his voice. “You… you…”

Ling Xi glanced at him, rejecting what he was thinking. “It was for the case. Has Her Highness returned?”

“Not… not yet!”

“Good. Is the hot water ready?”

Ling Xi walked quickly, almost running.

“Yes, it’s ready.”

Ling Xi didn’t say more. She walked into the courtyard, then into her room and shut the door.

She took off her clothes right away. The steam from the hot water blurred her vision. Ling Xi held her breath and sank into the water. The warmth wrapped around her, washing away the unfamiliar smell on her body.

“Greetings, Your Highness!”

Chai Gao’s voice sounded in the yard just as Ling Xi was putting on her underclothes.

Her outer robe was still on the side. This time, she couldn’t say “Your Highness, please wait,” because the door was pushed open right then.

Ling Xi turned and made silent eye contact with Zhao Qingsui, who had just come in. Her dark eyes were like cold arrows, shooting straight through her.

“Your Highness, please let me explain!”

Zhao Qingsui sat in the main seat. Su Rui, who came with her, was left outside, and all servants were dismissed. No one was allowed to enter without the Princess’s order.

The coat left behind the screen hadn’t been dealt with. Once the door was shut, the mixed smells began to spread.

“Then you better explain well!” Zhao Qingsui’s voice was sharp and full of rare anger.

“Please don’t be angry, Your Highness. I went there only to investigate a case. I had no other thoughts.”

“Oh? Then tell me—what did you find?”

Zhao Qingsui’s tone was like a cold wind with snow, piercing and freezing.

“I…” Ling Xi frowned. “I only have suspicions. I don’t have any real evidence yet.”

She only felt that the mark on the fan looked familiar, but couldn’t remember where she had seen it. How could she explain that?

“So the Prince Consort means—you’re suspicious but have no proof, so you plan to go back and find some?”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

“How dare you!”

Zhao Qingsui shouted coldly. Ling Xi almost pressed her forehead to the floor. Her brow creased deeply. Then, like lightning, she remembered something—as if grabbing a lifeline.

With a dull thud, her forehead hit the ground. Then she said through gritted teeth, “Your Highness, I deserve to die for hiding this, but I am a woman. I have no improper thoughts about that place.”

The room fell into a strange silence. Ling Xi kept her head down. Sweat dripped from her temples.

“A woman…” Zhao Qingsui repeated Ling Xi’s words. Even her tone suddenly softened.

But a moment later, her voice turned cold again. “So that means you can go to such a place freely?”