The Princess Who Marry The Crown Prince - Chapter 2

She didn’t know how long she had been asleep when a woman’s muffled, sorrowful sobbing drifted into her ears. The moment wasn’t the first time—it had been days, and Su Qiuqiu had heard this very sound before. But she’d been too exhausted to respond, her head aching so badly that it felt like her brain was being pounded. Now, the moment she heard it again, she felt annoyed. She opened her eyes groggily, and under the dim, hazy glow of the lanterns, she saw a woman in simple ancient attire, hair done up in a plain round bun, clutching an embroidered handkerchief to her face as she cried.

The woman’s hand was beautiful—slender and delicate, with her pinky and ring fingers gently raised. Just that one graceful motion carried a fragile, classical elegance.

“Don’t cry…” Su Qiuqiu felt her heart soften at the woman’s grief. Her still-weak hand reached out and rested lightly on the woman’s long, elegant fingers. Her voice was soft and low, slightly husky with the lazy languor of someone just waking up.

“Xiao Qi…” The woman heard her voice and quickly lowered her handkerchief, revealing a pale and puffy face. Her eyes were especially swollen, lids heavy with tears that had clearly been flowing for quite some time.

“Mother, I’m fine now… Please don’t cry anymore.” Su Qiuqiu recognized her right away—this was the Fourth Concubine, Madam Qin. It wasn’t that Su Qiuqiu had some amazing memory—no, it was just that in her inherited memories, Madam Qin had always looked like this: perpetually tearful, perpetually puffy. Maybe that’s why she had long fallen out of favor.

“My poor, poor child…” Qin’s eyes, which she had just wiped dry, welled up again.

Su Qiuqiu let out a silent sigh. This mother of hers really loved to cry. Those days she’d spent in a daze, the constant sobbing she’d heard—it had to be her. And yet, even after crying for days, did she still have tears left?

“Shh, don’t call me ‘Mother’… Someone might hear. Call me ‘Concubine Mother’…” Qin quickly pressed a hand to Su Qiuqiu’s lips and glanced around nervously.

“Alright… Concubine Mother, I feel much better now. The cold has mostly passed. I just need a few days of rest. Please don’t cry over me anymore.” Su Qiuqiu gave another inward sigh as she replied. Madam Qin was a concubine, her status only slightly higher than that of a maid. Even as a daughter born of a concubine, Su Qiuqiu still outranked her. She now held the status of a legitimate daughter, assuming the name of the main wife. In this household, not even a biological daughter could call a concubine “Mother.” Since she had transmigrated into this world, she might as well obey the rules.

“Xiao Qi, it’s all my fault for being useless, letting you suffer like this… I have no powerful family behind me, and your father has grown tired of me. I begged your father for your marriage, but he didn’t give in at all… The Eighth and Sixth Misses are his favorites. He’d never let them go in your place. So… Xiao Qi, I must ask you—would you be willing to marry your cousin, Xin Yunyi? He sent word that he wishes to take you as his wife. He has his ways, but it might tarnish your reputation. Still, he’s the son of my eldest sister, dependable and trustworthy. If he marries you, I know he’ll treat you well. Even though he’s only a scholar…” Madam Qin lowered her voice, speaking quickly, her words trembling with emotion.

“Concubine Mother, there’s no need for that. I’ve thought it through. I’ll marry the heir of the Prince of Zhen’nan. You don’t have to worry anymore,” Su Qiuqiu interrupted her. That was her genuine thought. As a woman who only liked women, being transmigrated into a patriarchal society and being promised to a sickly, impotent man was practically a godsend. Otherwise, she would have struggled to find a comfortable way to live without the presence of men.

And now Madam Qin wanted her to marry some cousin? Never mind the whole close-relative thing—Su Qiuqiu didn’t care if he were royalty. She wasn’t interested.

“Xiao Qi… The heir to the Prince of Zhen’nan is weak and sickly. He’s nearly of age, yet he still has no one in his bed. The imperial physicians say he won’t live past the spring, and he has a hidden ailment! If you marry him, there’ll be no children, no future—your whole life will be ruined! I heard your cousin say the Prince’s household is nothing but an empty shell now. Even items granted by the emperor are being pawned off… Don’t worry, even if I have to sacrifice my life, I’ll protect you…” Madam Qin’s eyes shone with a rare intensity.  Her timidity was gone and was replaced with desperate resolve. It was as if Su Qiuqiu had been sentenced to death, and Qin was ready to fight the world to save her.

Su Qiuqiu was still pale, her voice soft and powerless. Qin didn’t observe any changes in her and assumed she had simply accepted her fate.

“A woman’s marriage isn’t something I can decide for myself. But I won’t do anything foolish, either. Reputation is everything. Concubine Mother, you mustn’t worry. If you dare do something reckless, I’ll defend my innocence with my life! ” Su Qiuqiu said firmly. She didn’t want to explain the real reason, so she put on a stern front. The last thing she needed was for Qin to start plotting again—she was not marrying that cousin.

As for the Prince of Zhen’nan’s estate, she had no intention of relying on it. She could earn money herself. With a proper dowry and some effort, she didn’t believe she’d starve.

Su Qiuqiu could tell that Madam Qin, for all her weakness and tears, truly cared for her. Unlike the maids and matrons who went through the motions, some wishing her well and others secretly hoping she’d die—each with their own agenda.

It was precisely this sincere affection that made Qin’s noble intentions so dangerous.

“…Alright. I’ll listen to you. Are you feeling well enough to sit up? I brought porridge, some light side dishes, and a few snacks…” Madam Qin gripped her handkerchief tightly, her earlier gentleness replaced with something like fear. After a brief pause, Qin looked up at Su Qiuqiu and asked her question carefully.

“I’m actually starving. I haven’t eaten properly in days. My stomach is nearly empty.

The maids and Matron Zhang weren’t around. Madam Qin helped her wash up, then opened the food box.

Seeing the delicate dishes, Su Qiuqiu was a little moved. The sky wasn’t even light yet, and Madam Qin had already prepared all this. Without a private kitchen, she must have gone to the main one—given her status, who knew how much ridicule and scolding she had to endure to get it done…

The food she made herself was far more appetizing than the bland porridge from yesterday. Su Qiuqiu ended up eating quite a bit and even invited Madam Qin to eat with her.

“Concubine Mother, bring me a hot towel, will you?” Su Qiuqiu said afterward. Honestly, she couldn’t stand looking at Qin’s swollen face and puffy eyes anymore.

Madam Qin obeyed instantly, bringing over the towel. Su Qiuqiu guided her through a simple facial massage.

“Concubine Mother, follow my steps every day. Avoid drinking water at night, cut down on cold foods, and eat more things that help reduce water retention—like red beans and coix seeds…” she instructed. These were all basic methods she had researched herself back when she used to deal with edema.

“Do it every day. If you don’t, it’ll bring me misfortune. I dreamed it these past few nights…” she added. She pretended to dream about it. It was the only way to get Madam Qin to take it seriously. She was timid and wouldn’t act for herself, but when it came to her daughter, she suddenly found courage.

Madam Qin didn’t stay much longer. She left shortly after Lingxiang came in with the medicine.

“Seventh Miss, the Sixth Miss is here to visit you,” Yunxiang announced just as Su Qiuqiu was finishing a bowl of bitter herbal medicine.

Before Su Qiuqiu could say, “Let her in,” the door was already pushed open, and a gust of cold wind swept in, carrying with it the sweet scent of perfume.

Su Qiuqiu hastily pulled the blanket tighter. She had only gotten out of bed briefly to freshen up—she was still lying down.

“I heard Seventh Sister had woken, so I came to pay respects to Mother and then hurried straight over. You really do look better today. Good thing I copied scripture several times to pray for your recovery…” The woman who entered spoke with a warm smile, her voice sweet and melodious, filled with an affectionate tone that made people feel instantly comfortable.

Su Qiuqiu got a good look at her and couldn’t help sighing inwardly.

What a beauty.