Offered as a Lucky Bride to the Mad Princess to Ward Off Misfortune - Chapter 11

11: “Qing Qing spends every day eating and sleeping with me…”

After Xiao Qiling said she would accompany Yu Nanqing back to her family home, she sent someone to the Duke’s residence.

In less than half an hour, rumors began spreading through the streets and alleys that the infamous, ruthless Crown Prince had been revived by a marriage meant to ward off death.

Royal scandals had always been the most intriguing topic for the common people. On the day of Prince Ning’s wedding, the famous gambling houses in the city had already set up betting pools, with most people betting that Miss Yu wouldn’t survive more than a few days. The betting pool was later changed to how many days Miss Yu could last in Prince Ning’s residence.

Today, as Prince Ning’s carriage appeared on Changan Street, nearly half the city’s residents came out to watch the spectacle. Not daring to be too obvious, the street vendors’ business thrived more than usual.

Yu Nanqing, wrapped in a white crane-feather cloak identical to Xiao Qiling’s, leaned against the carriage, rubbing her stomach.

Before leaving, Xiao Qiling had specifically ordered three large bowls of medicinal decoction for her. She had no idea what was in it, but it was both sour and bitter.

Meanwhile, Xiao Qiling, poisoned to the point of being pricked like a porcupine with needles, hadn’t drunk nearly as much.

Yu Nanqing sighed softly.

Xiao Qiling turned around just then, meeting Yu Nanqing’s gaze. Yu Nanqing gave her a faint smile and casually suggested, “Your Highness rarely leaves the residence. Would you like to take a walk later?”

“The one who rarely leaves the residence is you,” Xiao Qiling replied, indifferent to Yu Nanqing’s realization.

Yu Nanqing was momentarily speechless and decided she didn’t want to talk to Xiao Qiling anymore.

She tugged at her cloak and turned away, ignoring her.

The carriage traveled a bit further before suddenly coming to a halt.

Yu Nanqing was caught off guard and lurched forward.

Xiao Qiling had changed into men’s clothing before leaving. The embroidery and accessories on her robe were much stiffer than her usual feminine attire, and Yu Nanqing’s head spun from the impact.

Xiao Qiling pulled her up, noticing the tip of Yu Nanqing’s nose had turned red, her light, beautiful eyes brimming with unshed tears, which gave her an odd feeling.

Yu Nanqing quickly extricated herself from Xiao Qiling’s arms, her pretty eyes fixed on the small table in the carriage, a faint red mark visible on her nose.

“Your Highness, there are children playing in the street,” the servant reported.

Xiao Qiling lifted a corner of the carriage curtain with slender fingers, glancing at the lanterns lining the street.

The fifteenth day of the first month—the Lantern Festival.

Xiao Qiling looked thoughtfully at Yu Nanqing before instructing the servant, “Ignore them.”

Duke’s Residence

After Xiao Qiling sent someone to notify them, the entire Duke’s household had been on edge, waiting anxiously since dawn. By noon, there was still no sign of them.

Traditionally, married women returned to their families in the morning, where the bride’s family would host a banquet for the new couple. After Yu Nanqing’s marriage, no one in the Duke’s household had expected her to return, so no preparations had been made for the customary third-day visit.

The entire household had been busy all morning. As the sun climbed higher, Yu Nanrou, clutching a handkerchief, grew impatient. “Father, we’ve been standing here for so long. Will Yu Nanqing really come back? And what about Prince Ning? Did the messenger definitely say he would come?”

Yu Bingru’s expression was equally grim. A few days prior, the Minister of Rites had retired, and the position seemed destined for Yu Bingru. Court officials had been congratulating him nonstop, and he had been in high spirits.

“They only said your third sister would return for the visit. Prince Ning might come as well.”

Even if the likelihood of “might” was slim, Yu Bingru had no choice but to wait respectfully.

“My lord, could this be the third girl’s idea? Now that she’s climbed to a higher branch and knows we can’t touch her, she dares to mock even you,” Lady Li said gently, adjusting Yu Bingru’s collar.

Yu Bingru remembered Yu Nanqing’s threat before her wedding, using Yu Nanrou against him, and his expression darkened further. “You haven’t provoked her, have you?”

Lady Li feigned innocence. “I’ve been in the residence these past few days. How could I have upset her? Besides, the third girl is in Prince Ning’s residence. Even if I wanted to do something, I couldn’t.”

“I overthought it.”

After comforting Lady Li, the Duke’s household saw Prince Ning’s carriage appear at the end of the street.

A servant rushed to report, “My lord, Prince Ning’s carriage has arrived.”

The Duke’s household hurried forward. Besides Yu Bingru’s immediate family, the residence housed many other relatives, crowding the entire entrance.

Once the carriage stopped, Yu Nanqing checked the dowry list hidden in her sleeve and was about to rise when a chilly voice sounded beside her. “You’re just going down like this?”

Yu Nanqing protectively tucked the dowry list further into her sleeve, ensuring Xiao Qiling couldn’t snatch it, then glanced at her several times before suddenly understanding. “Your Highness thinks we didn’t bring gifts and that it’s impolite?”

Xiao Qiling didn’t respond, her gaze growing colder.

Yu Nanqing had seen the gifts her aunts brought when they returned home. Lavish presents always earned respect. As Prince Ning, Xiao Qiling naturally had to outdo others in this regard.

They hadn’t brought anything, and now Xiao Qiling remembered?

Yu Nanqing, her mind preoccupied with the dowry Lady Li had embezzled, offered a half-hearted consolation. “Your Highness’s presence today is already an honor for the Duke’s residence. There’s no need for formalities.”

Xiao Qiling continued staring at her silently.

Yu Nanqing reflexively tensed. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No.” Xiao Qiling chuckled softly, the sunlight filtering in and casting a glow on her black prince’s robe. Her voice was low and amused.

“Clearly, it’s this prince who’s being presumptuous, forgetting to prepare gifts for his consort’s return. I should have brought the rarest treasures from the residence, kowtowing three times and bowing nine times to my in-laws to thank them for marrying their daughter to me.”

Yu Nanqing: “…”

Finally, Yu Nanqing understood.

Xiao Qiling thought she was being too eager, embarrassing the Prince’s household.

This was Yu Nanqing’s first time being a princess consort. In the residence, she hadn’t felt the title was particularly useful—just ordering servants around, not much different from her life in the Duke’s residence.

But now, reminded by Xiao Qiling, she recalled her status and quickly withdrew her foot, moving to the innermost part of the carriage. Her bright eyes sparkled as she looked at Xiao Qiling.

Xiao Qiling pretended not to notice. “What is the consort waiting for? Shouldn’t you help this prince down to pay respects?”

“Your Highness must be exhausted from the journey. Rest in the carriage a while longer before alighting.” Yu Nanqing smiled sweetly. “Naturally, I must attend to Your Highness inside the carriage.”

A hint of satisfaction finally appeared in Xiao Qiling’s eyes. “Then I’ll trouble the consort.”

Outside the carriage, the Duke’s household had eagerly awaited Prince Ning’s arrival, only to be left waiting endlessly. The entire household knelt outside, looking as if they were being punished for some crime.

Some of the weaker women couldn’t hold the position for long. Just then, a voice rang out beside the carriage. “Imperial Brother, is that you?”

Everyone looked up to see Xiao Qijun riding a tall horse, appearing like a savior beside Prince Ning’s carriage.

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing a pale, almost translucent hand. Yu Nanqing’s gaze swept over the kneeling crowd before she turned away, standing quietly by the carriage. Even when meeting Xiao Qijun’s probing look, she merely nodded faintly.

Seeing Yu Nanqing again, Xiao Qijun was stunned. Her snow-white cloak, adorned with cloud patterns in pale purple silk, exuded nobility and grace, devoid of any submissive softness. She was no longer the Third Miss of the Duke’s residence who had to bow to him.

“Does your sister-in-law look beautiful?” Xiao Qiling stepped out, her cold, narrow eyes suddenly fixed on Xiao Qijun.

Xiao Qijun hadn’t expected Xiao Qiling to actually come. Suppressing his shock, he clasped his hands in greeting. “I heard Imperial Brother was accompanying Sister-in-law on her return visit. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, so I came to pay my respects.”

Xiao Qiling responded indifferently, then glanced at the kneeling crowd, adjusting her golden-furred robe. “Rise. If anyone falls ill from kneeling, this prince can’t be accused of bullying the weak.”

“Your Highness exaggerates.” Yu Bingru, ever the seasoned courtier, smoothly defused the tension. “Your Highness’s health isn’t fully recovered. Your presence alone brings honor to our humble residence.”

He attributed the long wait to Xiao Qiling’s illness. Xiao Qiling smirked and ordered, “Then I’ll trouble the Duke to lead the way.”

Relieved that Xiao Qiling was willing to enter, the crowd, their legs numb from kneeling, sighed in relief. They silently remarked that the deposed Crown Prince was as unpredictable as the rumors said. If it weren’t nighttime, kneeling wouldn’t have been enough—he might have demanded a few heads.

With this thought, the Duke’s household grew even more tense, no one daring to provoke the wrath of this ominous figure.

Inside, Xiao Qiling was seated at the head of the banquet table, with Yu Nanqing quietly beside her. Xiao Qijun and Yu Bingru sat to either side.

The atmosphere was eerily silent, more like a funeral than a celebratory feast.

Xiao Qijun broke the silence, raising his cup with a smile. “When I heard His Majesty sought someone whose birth chart matched Imperial Brother’s to ward off death, I thought it was old-fashioned. But it seems the ancients were right—it truly worked wonders.”

Xiao Qiling’s cold demeanor softened as she placed a hand over Yu Nanqing’s. “Marrying Qing Qing is indeed my good fortune.”

Yu Nanqing, hearing the term “Qing Qing,” dropped her chopsticks with a loud clatter, staring at Xiao Qiling in horror.

Unfazed, Xiao Qiling continued tenderly, “Perhaps it’s because Qing Qing spends every day eating and sleeping with me, unwilling to leave my side even for a moment, that moved the heavens to allow me to visit the Duke today.”

Xiao Qijun was stunned.

Yu Nanqing gritted her teeth and forced a lovesick smile under Xiao Qiling’s encouraging gaze. “Staying by Your Highness’s side is also my good fortune.”

Their intimate exchange didn’t sit well with everyone.

Yu Nanrou, who had lost face over the hairpin incident, had been struggling lately. Her former friends avoided her, and even those who had sought the Duke’s favor grew distant.

But she had consoled herself with the thought that Yu Nanqing wouldn’t survive long in the deposed Crown Prince’s residence. Seeing Yu Nanqing return today, she had expected a pitiful, embarrassed figure complaining to her family.

Instead, the supposedly dying deposed Crown Prince was not only alive and well but had brought Yu Nanqing back in grand style.

Yu Nanrou’s eyes burned with envy.

A hand suddenly gripped hers under the table. She turned to see Lady Li shaking her head subtly toward Xiao Qijun.

Yu Nanrou took a deep breath, steadied herself, and served Lady Li some fish. “Mother, this fish is fresh. Have some.”

“Has Your Highness seen the imperial physicians since waking?” Yu Bingru inquired about Xiao Qiling’s health.

Xiao Qiling answered dismissively, her gaze lingering on Yu Nanqing’s discarded chopsticks. “Not to your taste?”

The Duke’s banquet was more lavish than a festival spread, and Yu Nanqing couldn’t fault it. “It’s fine.”

But after three bowls of bitter medicine, who had an appetite?

Xiao Qiling frowned.

Now, Yu Bingru also looked her way.

Unsure what Xiao Qiling wanted to hear, Yu Nanqing hesitated. “I drank too much medicine before coming, so I’m not very hungry.”

Xiao Qiling said gently, “Have them prepare something light. You can’t go all day without eating.”

Yu Bingru signaled Lady Li, who immediately chimed in warmly, “I know exactly what the third girl likes. I’ll have some light dishes prepared.”

A maid behind her bowed and left.

Yu Bingru continued, concerned, “Is it the lingering effects of your cold? If you’re unwell, be careful not to pass it to His Highness.”

Yu Nanqing was about to nod when Xiao Qiling interjected, “No, Qing Qing’s illness is entirely because of me.”

At this, Xiao Qiling set down her chopsticks. Her black prince’s robe and ornate crown exuded regal authority.

She pulled a memorial from her sleeve and handed it to Xiao Qijun. “Since Fourth Brother is here today, please deliver this to His Majesty. It saves me a trip to the palace.”

Xiao Qijun took it, puzzled. “Imperial Brother, what is this?”

Xiao Qiling nodded, unconcerned if he read it. “Take a look.”

Xiao Qijun opened the memorial, scanning the familiar handwriting. His polite smile faded, and by the end, he snapped it shut, staring at Xiao Qiling as if she were a monster.

The silence was deafening.

Before coming to the Duke’s residence, Yu Nanqing had seen Xiao Qiling writing a memorial at her desk. She hadn’t been curious then.

Now, seeing Xiao Qijun’s rare tension, she pondered.

“On the wedding day, assassins appeared out of nowhere in the residence. The consort was injured protecting me and hasn’t fully recovered.”

Xiao Qiling’s expression was unreadable as she tapped the table, her gaze sweeping over Yu Bingru. “Has the Duke heard of this?”

Yu Bingru frowned. “What does Your Highness mean?”

“The residence was guarded. The assassins infiltrated by hiding in something.” Xiao Qiling’s earlier gentleness vanished, replaced by an intimidating aura.

“This prince initially didn’t know where to investigate until the consort checked her dowry yesterday and found discrepancies. That’s why I’m here today.”

Her words plunged the banquet into icy silence. From the Duke’s family to the servants, everyone tensed, a chill running down their spines.

Xiao Qijun tightened his grip on the memorial. “Imperial Brother, you received many gifts on your wedding day. The assassins might not have been hidden in the consort’s dowry. Could there be a misunderstanding?”

Xiao Qiling looked up, smiling. “The only items large enough to hide so many assassins were the dowry from the Duke’s residence and His Majesty’s rewards. Fourth Brother, are you implying the assassins were sent by His Majesty?”