The Princess Who Married The Crown Prince(GL) - Chapter 30

Su Qiuqiu woke up the next morning to find every inch of her body aching. It wasn’t because she was injured—rather, it was due to the intense physical activity from the day before. She had rarely exercised before, and the game of cuju had been unusually strenuous for her. The lactic acid buildup left her whole body sore and weak.

When she tried to get up, her back, legs, and arms all felt as though they were cramping. The pain was so sharp that tears welled up in her eyes. This body of hers was just too delicate. Having just woken up, she didn’t even have the strength to sit up properly.

“Elder Sister… it hurts even more today…” Su Qiuqiu raised her eyes and murmured softly, her voice weak, eyes misted with tears, making her look pitiful beyond words.

“These next few days, there’s no need for you to go out. Just stay in the room and rest. I’ll play the qin for you to listen to,” Lu Fangting said as she looked into Su Qiuqiu’s eyes—those sorrowful, puppy-like eyes—and instinctively pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“But… the shop just opened. How could I not go?” Su Qiuqiu squinted and frowned slightly, clearly troubled.

“I’ve already asked Madam Mo to help out. You can rest easy. Have you forgotten you pretended to be seriously injured? How could such a grave wound heal so quickly?” Lu Fangting gently ran her fingers through Su Qiuqiu’s hair as she spoke.

“Oh, I nearly forgot… Sister is always so thoughtful… Then I suppose I’ll take it easy these few days…” Su Qiuqiu broke into a grin, wrapped her arms around Lu Fangting’s waist, and couldn’t hide the joy in her heart.

After taking a short rest, Su Qiuqiu got up to wash and dress. She and Lu Fangting had breakfast together.

“Your face hasn’t healed yet. Let me apply some more ointment,” Lu Fangting said as she examined Su Qiuqiu’s bruised cheeks and picked up the jar of salve.

Lu Fangting leaned back against the bed while Su Qiuqiu lay beside her, tilting her face up for the medicine.

As Lu Fangting’s fingers moved gently across her face, a cool sensation spread across Su Qiuqiu’s skin.

Lu Fangting’s hair was long, and a few strands had slipped forward, brushing against Su Qiuqiu’s neck and making her feel ticklish. As Su Qiuqiu reached up to move the stray strands aside, a thought suddenly struck her—their hair had once been tied together in a hair-binding ceremony.

“Sister, where is the sachet from when we bound our hair?” Su Qiuqiu asked. Back then, she hadn’t paid it much mind. But now that she remembered it, it felt deeply romantic—hairbinding, growing old together… Just thinking about it filled her with warmth.

“Why are you suddenly asking about that? Madam Mo put it away in a box. If you want it, I’ll have her find it for you later,” Lu Fangting replied casually.

“Mm, but that’ll have to wait till Madam Mo returns… Sister, you said Madam Mo was your wet nurse. Does she know who you really are?” Su Qiuqiu asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

“She doesn’t know,” Lu Fangting paused, then answered quietly.

“She watched you grow up and still doesn’t know? Then who took care of you when you were little?” Su Qiuqiu asked, surprised.

“I had a twin brother. We looked very much alike. Before the age of five… I was actually raised as a girl,” Lu Fangting said abruptly. However, after she spoke those words, Lu Fangting fell silent, and her expression became stiff as if she were frozen in place.

“…I’m sorry…” Su Qiuqiu didn’t know what to say. She felt as though her question had opened an old wound in Lu Fangting’s heart. Her eyes clouded with sorrow.

Su Qiuqiu imagined a painful story from Lu Fangting’s past and stood up quietly, stepping in front of her. She reached out and cradled Lu Fangting’s head, gently caressing it. From this angle, Su Qiuqiu was slightly taller—an almost protective stance.

Her soft, warm body leaned close. The faint scent of milk mingled with the fragrance of a young woman. As her hand stroked the back of Lu Fangting’s head, Lu Fangting’s heart was suddenly filled with a tenderness she hadn’t felt in a long time.

The events of the past had long faded for her. Yet Su Qiuqiu’s gentleness moved her deeply.

“Qiuqiu, there’s no need to apologize…” Lu Fangting took Su Qiuqiu’s hand in her own.

“Sister, from now on, you’ll still have me. We’ve bound our hair—we’ll grow old together,” Su Qiuqiu said resolutely.

“Silly girl… How could you grow old with me? If I could, I would find the best man in the world for you,” Lu Fangting said with a faint smile.

“…I don’t want that. I only want Sister,” Su Qiuqiu widened her eyes, looking stunned. Her beautiful “husband” wanted to find her a man?!

Even the most handsome man in the universe couldn’t compare to a single strand of Sister’s hair!

Su Qiuqiu looked at Lu Fangting’s soft, smiling expression and felt a tightness in her chest. She lowered her eyes and said nothing.

“I won’t be with you for much longer…” Lu Fangting said this while her eyes dimmed and a strange glint passed through them.

“Sister… don’t say that! I’ll find the best physician in the world to cure you!” Su Qiuqiu’s heart ached at those words, and she opened her mouth to say more, but just then, Lanxiu’s voice came from outside.

“My lord, my lady, word from the outer courtyard—the Emperor has sent a gift, along with an imperial physician. My lord is requested to give thanks… Should I come in to help you dress?” Lanxiu called respectfully.

“No need. The Princess Consort is here. I’ll be out shortly,” Lu Fangting replied. She had already instructed Lanxiu that no one was to enter the room without permission when she was alone with Su Qiuqiu.

“It seems yesterday’s cuju match reached the palace. You don’t need to go. Stay in bed and recover. I’ll go see what’s going on,” Lu Fangting said as she stood to leave.

“What about the imperial physician? If he comes to take my pulse, won’t my secret be exposed?” Su Qiuqiu frowned.

“It’s fine. Imperial physicians don’t see the patient directly; there will be a curtain set up… I’ll have Lanxiu come in shortly. Let her extend her hand in your place,” Lu Fangting replied calmly.

“Lanxiu? Is she injured?” Su Qiuqiu asked. Lanxiu had looked perfectly fine just moments ago.

“She happened to get hurt—just a little. Nothing serious, similar to what you had yesterday. She just needs some rest,” Lu Fangting said.

Su Qiuqiu found the situation a bit suspicious. How could it be such a coincidence? Still, she didn’t press the matter further. Instead, she helped Lu Fangting wrap her chest and dress her. Finally, she draped a cloak over her shoulders.

As Lu Fangting stepped out, Lanxiu came in. She didn’t look like someone who was injured.

“Lanxiu, are you alright? Is it serious?” Su Qiuqiu asked with concern.

“It’s nothing; something just fell on me while fetching supplies from the storeroom. Really unlucky… Your Ladyship needn’t worry. Forgive my impertinence, but I’ll need to lie down on your bed,” Lanxiu replied.

Su Qiuqiu didn’t question further. Lanxiu pulled the bed curtains down and climbed into the bed. Before long, the imperial physician arrived. As Su Qiuqiu spoke from behind the curtain, Lanxiu extended her arm, with a handkerchief draped over her wrist. The physician took her pulse without suspicion.

After the diagnosis, the imperial physician called Lu Fangting out to speak privately.

Su Qiuqiu quietly exhaled in relief. At the same time, she silently scolded herself—this whole act of deception came with real risks. If anything slipped, she’d be finished. She needed to be more careful from now on.

“Thank you. You don’t need to do night shifts these next few days—go and get some rest,” Su Qiuqiu told Lanxiu as she prepared to leave.

“It’s really nothing, Your Ladyship. I’m quite sturdy. This little injury won’t bother me,” Lanxiu replied lightly.

“I told you to go rest. Are you going to disobey me?” Su Qiuqiu’s expression turned stern. Only then did Lanxiu nod and agree.

“This morning, Father presented a memorial of self-reproach to the Emperor. His Majesty was furious. Princess Luoyun has been punished with three months of confinement,” Lu Fangting reported after coming back inside.

“Father did it on purpose, didn’t he? Luoyun spoke recklessly, even threatening to exterminate my entire family—never realizing I’m now a Lu. Still, she’s just a child; such words could be serious or trivial… Either way, three months of silence is welcome. Sister, do you think the imperial physician will come again?” Su Qiuqiu asked.

“He’s prescribed some medicine to be taken for a few days. He shouldn’t return. Don’t worry,” Lu Fangting reassured her.

In the following days, Su Qiuqiu remained indoors, resting in her room with Lu Fangting. They played music, read books, and chatted together.

Later, Su Qiuqiu received the hair-binding pouch from their symbolic union, and she cherished it like a treasure, carrying it with her at all times.

Although Lu Fangting had once said she would find a good man for Su Qiuqiu and that she couldn’t stay by her side forever—words that had left Su Qiuqiu quite sorrowful—she didn’t dwell on it for long. Her fighting spirit returned quickly.

Sharing a room with Lu Fangting, Su Qiuqiu shamelessly seized opportunities to “collect benefits,” sneaking in little acts of intimacy. Even when Qingzhi returned, Su Qiuqiu didn’t give up the task of helping Lu Fangting bathe.

Soon, the entire Zhen’nan Prince’s Manor was abuzz with rumors of the affectionate bond between the Heir and his consort.

A few days later, news came from Tianbao Pavilion: they had agreed to collaborate with Su Qiuqiu. Naturally, she was delighted—she could now sit back and wait for the profits to roll in.

Another source of joy was that her handmade soap was finally ready. It was a primitive version—rough in appearance—but a start nonetheless. She still had plans to keep experimenting until she could make crystal-clear soaps in various colors and to design unique molds for them.

Su Qiuqiu had no intention of limiting production to just a few maids. That wouldn’t yield enough, especially considering how profitable the soaps would be. After some thought, she decided to share her soap formula with Tianbao Pavilion and set up a shop and factory to produce them. Naturally, all of this was done in secret.

The Madam Li who had come with her as part of her dowry had been sidelined for a few days. She eventually handed over all the keys and inventory lists and even started reporting on the main wife back at the marquis’ residence. But Su Qiuqiu didn’t trust someone like her. She simply assigned her trivial tasks to keep her busy.

Since growing close to Lu Fangting, Su Qiuqiu had placed more trust in the people Lu had assigned to her. The household staff from the Lu family took over managing the shop and other important responsibilities.

Su Qiuqiu’s little store, co-run with Mo Shulan, became a great success. Even though it opened while Su Qiuqiu was supposedly “recovering,” many customers came—some because they had received sample products and were satisfied, others simply drawn by its growing reputation. A complete skincare set—toner, lotion, and a spread-on mask—sold for two taels of silver. Later, they added the crystal facial soap “imported” from Tianbao Pavilion for another five hundred coins, and customers were still willing to pay.

With production costs under five hundred coins and sales at two taels, the profit margin was immense. Within a month of opening, the little shop brought in over a thousand taels of silver.

Naturally, this drew envy. Some wanted in on the profits. After discussion, Su Qiuqiu and Mo Shulan allowed only the prime minister’s wife to invest. Anyone else would now have to think twice before asking for a share.

This little shop alone brought Su Qiuqiu more than three hundred taels of silver in monthly earnings—already more than enough for an average person. But for Su Qiuqiu, it was just the beginning. The real profits would come from the printing press and soap factory jointly opened with Tianbao Pavilion.

Every day, as she tallied the accounts and watched the silver numbers climb, Su Qiuqiu brimmed with hope for the future.

As spring arrived in March, one day a message came from the marquis’ residence. It was from the Fourth Concubine, who said she missed Su Qiuqiu and asked her to come visit.

Madam Qin was a concubine, so her movements were strictly limited—she couldn’t leave the residence easily. Su Qiuqiu naturally made preparations to go see her.

As for Lu Fangting, the so-called “divine doctor” had prescribed her medicine that would supposedly make her better while actually depleting her strength. Zhongli Yao had seen through it long ago. Lu Fangting used the situation to her advantage, and her health appeared to improve steadily. When Su Qiuqiu visited the marquis’ residence, Lu Fangting accompanied her as well.