Offered as a Lucky Bride to the Mad Princess to Ward Off Misfortune - Chapter 16

16: “I Fell in Love with Qingqing at First Sight…”

Xiao Qiling had been soaking in the bath for a long time and had no interest in entering the water again. She directly ordered the servants to change the water in the bath and threw Yu Nanqing into it.

Yu Nanqing floundered in the water for a while. After stabilizing herself and taking off her clothes, she thought she might escape unscathed.

But then the maidservants pushed the door open and carried in a chair padded with soft cushions.

Yu Nanqing watched helplessly as the chair was placed at the edge of the bath, and then as Xiao Qiling sat down on it.

It seemed like Xiao Qiling intended to personally supervise her bath, making sure she was clean enough to be slaughtered on the spot.

Yu Nanqing felt her vision darken. The strength to wash herself seemed to drain away, her thoughts grew sluggish, and her mind felt as if it had rusted, making every additional moment of thinking exceptionally difficult.

She turned her back to Xiao Qiling, her long hair covering most of her back above the water. In theory, Xiao Qiling shouldn’t be able to see much.

But even so, Yu Nanqing didn’t dare move, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

The maidservants seemed to have withdrawn, and the sounds behind her faded away.

But before long, there was a faint rustling of clothes. Yu Nanqing’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, pretending not to hear.

Xiao Qiling leisurely adjusted her sleeves and looked at Yu Nanqing, who was playing dead. Softly, she asked, “Princess Consort, why won’t you even look at me? Could it be that you’re thinking about how to serve me later?”

When she called her “Princess Consort,” it was in the same lazy tone she used all the time in the palace, as if the person who had killed a courtyard full of assassins with a sword during their first meeting was just a figment of Yu Nanqing’s imagination.

Yu Nanqing still didn’t speak, her heart coldly thinking that she’d rather stay in the water and drown than serve Xiao Qiling.

Xiao Qiling, as if able to read her mind, teased, “The Princess Consort is truly devoted to water. It’s a pity my hot spring can’t raise fish, or else I’d let you catch some to play with.”

Yu Nanqing: Oh.

It wasn’t that she didn’t remember wanting to jump into the lake at the Duke’s residence, but she simply didn’t want to recall it.

At that time, she must have looked like a madwoman—too ugly.

Yu Nanqing lowered her head, pursed her lips, and continued playing dead.

Xiao Qiling, seeing she still wouldn’t speak, said melancholically, “The Princess Consort is truly heartless. At the very least, we’ve bowed to heaven and earth together. In front of outsiders, you could still tremble and call me ‘husband.’ Why are you so cold once we’re back in the palace?”

The phrase “bowed to heaven and earth” struck Yu Nanqing’s heart like a hammer, instantly making her turn around. The red fabric that had brushed past her feet during the ceremony, which she had deliberately ignored, suddenly came back to her.

So that red hem had been Xiao Qiling’s?

Yu Nanqing’s cheeks gradually flushed—

From anger.

Anger at Xiao Qiling and at herself.

At that time, she had always thought Xiao Qiling was too ill to attend the ceremony and that, according to custom, a rooster would stand in for her.

That way, she and Xiao Qiling wouldn’t truly be husband and wife, just two people forcibly brought together by the emperor and living under the same roof.

Once Xiao Qiling’s time was up, she could use that as a reason to leave the Ning Palace.

But now she was being told that Xiao Qiling had already bowed with her? She hadn’t known Xiao Qiling was a woman, but Xiao Qiling had known and still bowed with her, binding them together for life?

Yu Nanqing stared at Xiao Qiling in disbelief.

Xiao Qiling noticed her gaze and raised an eyebrow. “Could it be that the Princess Consort never knew?”

Still talking, still going on about it!

So talkative now, but why did you die so early in your past life?

Yu Nanqing’s mind went blank for a moment. Then, fury surged from her heart, making her wade straight to the edge of the bath. Pointing at Xiao Qiling, she scolded, “Are you insane? You bowed with me? Did you think the Duke’s residence had a male heir disguised as a woman to match you?”

If all the rites had been completed, didn’t that mean she was bound to the Ning Palace forever?

If Emperor Wenjing still wanted to play the loving father, he might even order her to be buried alive with Xiao Qiling.

Yu Nanqing’s finger trembled from the force of her anger. A drop of water fell from her reddened fingertip, landing right on the tip of Xiao Qiling’s shoe.

Xiao Qiling glanced down, perfectly calm. She had known Yu Nanqing was unaware of this.

Yu Nanqing had never taken their marriage seriously, which was why she had been so shameless, daring to tease Xiao Qiling in every possible way.

Xiao Qiling grabbed Yu Nanqing’s hand. “We’ve already bowed. Does the Princess Consort not want to take responsibility?”

“Me? Take responsibility?” Yu Nanqing looked at Xiao Qiling in horror, quickly pulling her hand back. “You’re a royal… princess. What responsibility do I need to take?”

“So the Princess Consort wants to abandon me after having her way.” Xiao Qiling said quietly, like a ruined maiden.

“Years ago, on Chang’an Street, I fell in love with Qingqing at first sight. I’ve yearned for her for years. Of course, even if I were sick and dying, I’d crawl out of bed to bow to heaven and earth with her.”

Yu Nanqing: …

Whenever Xiao Qiling called her “Qingqing” in that tone, nothing good ever followed.

“Who’s abandoning whom? Wasn’t this my first time bowing too?” Yu Nanqing was so angry she could die. Besides, she was the one who had married into the palace, living under someone else’s roof. Shouldn’t she be the one worried about being thrown out at any moment?

“Hmm.” A glint of amusement flashed in Xiao Qiling’s eyes. “Then I’ll take responsibility for you.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Xiao Qiling leaned over, reached into the water, and pulled Yu Nanqing out. An outer robe was thrown over her head, wrapping her up tightly in a few swift motions. “You’re weak. You shouldn’t soak for too long.”

Yu Nanqing was dumbfounded. The anger in her heart hadn’t even dissipated before it was replaced by embarrassment.

Xiao Qiling, as if oblivious to the change in Yu Nanqing’s expression, pinched her cheek. Satisfied with the texture under her fingers, she said in a gentle voice the most horrifying words:

“A proper marriage, witnessed by heaven and earth. From now on, the Princess Consort must remember her status. Otherwise, when my poison flares up, I’ll leave a will ordering you to be buried with me. We’ll continue being husband and wife in the afterlife.”

Yu Nanqing was like a defeated cat. Just moments ago, she had been full of bluster, but now she was a puddle of dead water.

Yu Nanqing silently met Xiao Qiling’s gaze.

She understood now. Xiao Qiling was retaliating for her calling her “husband.” She was blaming her for not knowing her place.

After a long silence, Yu Nanqing suddenly relaxed her tense body and softly said, “My previous actions were inappropriate and offended Your Highness. From now on, I will stay quietly in the Qinfang Pavilion and not cause you any trouble.”

But with every word Yu Nanqing spoke, the warmth in Xiao Qiling’s eyes faded.

“So the Princess Consort admits that her previous closeness to me was based on the fact that we hadn’t bowed to heaven and earth, and now you want to abandon me?”

Yu Nanqing slowly nodded, then quickly shook her head.

She felt even more like the one abandoning the other.

When this thought surfaced, Yu Nanqing was horrified and quickly suppressed it.

How could she dare abandon Xiao Qiling, who could kill with a single sword stroke?

Besides, this woman was full of schemes. Who knew what trap she was laying for her next?

Yu Nanqing tried her best to explain to Xiao Qiling: “Previously, I took advantage of Your Highness’s generosity. Now that I know the truth, I naturally can’t continue to be disrespectful.”

Xiao Qiling: “Have you adjusted to this identity now?”

Yu Nanqing took a deep breath, trying to keep her tone steady. “I will try my best to adjust.”

She even respectfully bowed.

Xiao Qiling gave a soft “Oh” and said, “Then start by accompanying me to sleep.”

Yu Nanqing: ???

As Xiao Qiling pulled her into the warm inner chamber, Yu Nanqing grabbed the doorframe with her other hand. “Y-Y-Your Highness, have you misunderstood me?”

“I meant that from now on, in public and private, I will respect you and never offend you.”

Xiao Qiling: “Change ‘you’ to ‘Your Highness.’”

Yu Nanqing corrected herself: “I will never offend Your Highness.”

“Offense is unnecessary.” Xiao Qiling said, “But the primary duty of a princess consort is to serve me in bed and bear children, isn’t it?”

Yu Nanqing: ???

Perhaps it was because the warm chamber was too hot, but Yu Nanqing felt dizzy. She finally realized that Xiao Qiling had steered the conversation back to the matter of serving in bed.

Xiao Qiling applied a bit of force, and Yu Nanqing collapsed onto the bed like a kite with its string cut. Yu Nanqing quickly grabbed a quilt to place between them.

Xiao Qiling chuckled softly at the sight, then got up to draw the bed curtains. “If you take all the blankets, what will I cover myself with?”

Yu Nanqing frowned and reluctantly threw a corner of the quilt at her.

Xiao Qiling, having trained in martial arts, easily pulled the entire quilt over with just one corner.

Yu Nanqing, out of options, knelt on the bed and tentatively asked, “Could Your Highness share a bit with me?”

Xiao Qiling glanced at the empty space beside her. Half the quilt wasn’t covering anyone—Yu Nanqing simply refused to come closer.

Was she that afraid?

Xiao Qiling coldly refused: “No.”

Yu Nanqing cautiously moved over, careful not to crush Xiao Qiling’s long hair. “Then can I have Chenxiang bring another quilt?”

Xiao Qiling refused again: “No.”

Yu Nanqing waited nervously, but instead of being forced to “serve,” she eventually heard Xiao Qiling’s breathing even out. After a moment’s thought, she quickly grabbed Xiao Qiling’s quilt and wrapped herself in it.

Xiao Qiling, ever vigilant, sensed Yu Nanqing’s movement and instantly flipped her over, pinning her down.

Yu Nanqing’s wrists were pinned. She struggled but couldn’t break free. Trembling, she stammered, “Your Highness, dear Your Highness, I’m cold.”

Her eyes, gradually filling with tears, looked as if she had suffered a great injustice. As she met Xiao Qiling’s gaze, a scalding tear rolled down from the corner of her eye.

Xiao Qiling, who had originally intended to scare her, was momentarily stunned. Her gaze followed the tear down to Yu Nanqing’s slender neck, where faint blue veins showed through her fair skin—beautiful and fragile.

Even though she had only been pinned by the wrists, even though her clothes were still mostly intact, Xiao Qiling inexplicably found Yu Nanqing’s current state indecent.

Taking advantage of Xiao Qiling’s distraction, Yu Nanqing’s tear-filled eyes suddenly narrowed. With all her strength, she threw Xiao Qiling off and tried to grab the quilt.

Just as she was about to succeed, a hand wrapped around her taut waist from behind and pulled. The pain made Yu Nanqing gasp, and she fell straight into Xiao Qiling’s arms.

Yu Nanqing was stunned.

“The Princess Consort still has so much energy?”

Warm breath brushed against her ear, making Yu Nanqing shiver violently.

Xiao Qiling still held Yu Nanqing’s struggling waist, completely restraining her. Her long hair cascaded down, blocking the faint candlelight from outside the bed, creating an oppressive aura that made one’s heart race.

Yu Nanqing’s ears turned red from Xiao Qiling’s breath. She slowly turned her head and smiled ingratiatingly. “Y-Your Highness.”

Xiao Qiling didn’t speak, her gaze lingering on Yu Nanqing’s red ear tips. From her current angle, she could see the fragile neck rising and falling with each breath, full of vitality.

Yu Nanqing, receiving no response, glanced back and met Xiao Qiling’s unusually deep gaze. Her smile faded.

She suddenly felt she might not survive the night.

When Yu Nanqing was emotional, she could jump into a river without hesitation. But now that she was truly being targeted, she regretted grabbing the quilt.

Especially since Xiao Qiling kept staring at her neck, making Yu Nanqing recall the rumors of Xiao Qiling killing and drinking bl00d during her poison episodes.

Yu Nanqing’s mind raced with wild thoughts. Her vulnerable neck trembled even more, afraid Xiao Qiling might actually bite down. She ran through all the sweet nothings she could remember, ready to beg for mercy.

Xiao Qiling suddenly let go.

Yu Nanqing immediately scrambled away, abandoning the quilt entirely.

“Why run?” Xiao Qiling, seeing the fear in Yu Nanqing’s tear-filled eyes, closed her eyes and turned over, as if thoroughly annoyed. “Sleep.”

Yu Nanqing, worried this was another trap, sat curled up in the corner for a long time until sleepiness overtook her, and she drifted off pitifully.

At midnight, the deeply asleep Yu Nanqing flopped onto Xiao Qiling’s legs with a soft thud.

Xiao Qiling’s eyes opened, cold and gloomy.

Yu Nanqing, oblivious, rubbed against Xiao Qiling’s legs in her sleep, using them as a pillow, and fell back into deep slumber.

She was having a sweet dream.

She dreamed she had returned to the days when she stayed with the Ji family to prepare for the imperial exams. Once, when her cousins sneaked her out of the estate, they encountered a circus troupe and spent a fortune to buy a baby panda.

Yu Nanqing carried it with her every day, even taking the little ball to bed. In her haze, the round panda pressed against her chest, its furry head nuzzling her neck, making her feel stifled and itchy.

Yu Nanqing hugged the panda, trying to lift it by the scruff as usual, but after fumbling for a while, she couldn’t find the right spot. Something felt off.

She let out a puzzled sound: “Little one?”

The panda whimpered softly but refused to get off.

Yu Nanqing, indulgent with the panda, simply hugged it and slept.

But soon, the little creature became even more demanding, its paws pressing against her neck, holding her tighter.

Yu Nanqing couldn’t take it and finally grabbed the panda’s scruff, lifting it up to look.

The panda’s round, furry head suddenly transformed into Xiao Qiling’s face. Xiao Qiling’s curved lips were stained with fresh bl00d as she politely said, “Princess Consort, your bl00d is so sweet. The poison in this prince’s body has indeed been suppressed.”

Yu Nanqing woke up in terror.

The dream’s images lingered vividly. Yu Nanqing’s back was drenched in cold sweat. She sat up, but the other side of the bed was already empty. Relieved at Xiao Qiling’s absence, her rapid breathing gradually calmed.

Chenxiang, hearing the noise, pushed the door open and lifted the bed curtains. “Miss, are you getting up?”

Yu Nanqing leaned against the pillow, looking listless. “When did the Prince leave?”

“At the fifth watch,” Chenxiang recalled the last time Yu Nanqing had shared a bed with Xiao Qiling. “The Prince seems to rise early every day. According to the gatekeepers, she practices swordplay first and then goes to the study at dawn.”

Yu Nanqing had thought her own diligence during her past life’s imperial exams was impressive, but Xiao Qiling was even more relentless.

Sleeping only two or three hours a night, still training despite being poisoned—if Xiao Qiling didn’t die young, who would?

Yu Nanqing suddenly felt a pang of sorrow for Xiao Qiling’s royal fate.

But she felt even sorrier for herself.

They had already bowed to heaven and earth, with so many of Xiao Qiling’s subordinates watching. Would she really have to sing mourning songs at Xiao Qiling’s grave for the rest of her life?

Even the fright from her dream faded.

After that night, Yu Nanqing stayed in the rear courtyard, avoiding the warm chamber and seemingly deliberately steering clear of Xiao Qiling, who made no effort to seek her out.

The Ning Palace, once the Crown Prince’s residence, was built to the specifications of a prince’s estate, occupying an entire street. If the two wanted to avoid each other, there would be no awkward encounters.

Yu Nanqing had the stewardess inventory her dowry again. This time, Yu Bingru hadn’t played any tricks—the land deeds truly covered the value of the lost jewelry.

After the inventory, Yu Nanqing took Chenxiang out of the palace. At the Duke’s residence, women needed permission from Yu Bingru or Lady Li to leave, so Yu Nanqing had expected to be stopped.

But the gatekeepers respectfully asked if she needed a carriage, saying Xiao Qiling had ordered that she could come and go freely.

Yu Nanqing was surprised but didn’t dwell on it or ask Xiao Qiling directly. Being able to leave was good enough. If she said the wrong thing, she might not be allowed out again.

The shops from Lady Ji’s dowry could form a street if connected. In her past life, these shops had been controlled by Lady Li, with all profits going to the Duke’s residence.

Yu Nanqing wasn’t well-versed in business but had learned a thing or two from her time with the Ji family. Over the next few days, she visited many shops.

As the sun set, Yu Nanqing and Chenxiang entered a teahouse. On the central stage, an elderly storyteller regaled the audience with tales of spirits and immortals.

Yu Nanqing sat down just as the story turned to a celestial child reincarnated from beneath Guanyin’s lotus throne.

“Every hundred years, Guanyin sends a child to the mortal world to save suffering souls, relieving famine-stricken refugees and offering cool tea to travelers…”

“This child showed extraordinary talent at a young age. While other children played in the mud, he studied the classics, secretly taking the imperial exams behind his family’s back. And guess what?”

“What?”

The storyteller clapped his wooden block. “He passed on his first try!”

“Old man, who is this child you speak of? We’ve never heard of such a person in court.”

“Yeah, this must be another one of his tall tales.”

The storyteller stroked his beard, his cloudy eyes narrowing as he pretended to calculate. “The child is still young and not yet in court. But when the seven stars shift, and the purple star shines, his arrival will herald the Great Qi’s golden age!”

Chenxiang carefully rinsed the cups with hot water, discarding the first pot of tea and brewing a fresh one for Yu Nanqing.

“Miss, do you think this child is really that powerful? Does he remember his past life and came to bless the world?”

Others shared Chenxiang’s curiosity. Yu Nanqing took a sip of tea and smiled faintly.

“No.”

If the child were truly so capable, why would Great Qi face years of war later? As Guanyin’s disciple, he should have quelled the unrest before it began.

The real reason Yu Nanqing knew the child wasn’t so remarkable was that she recognized the storyteller’s subject.

The storyteller’s humorous style was popular among commoners. For a few coins, one could sit in the teahouse all day, hearing many anecdotes.

Just like the rumors of Xiao Qiling’s madness during her poison episodes, which spread like wildfire through the capital’s teahouses. With no effort from the palace to suppress the gossip, the tales grew wilder.

And this child, who hadn’t even taken the spring exams yet, was already trying to build a reputation among the people for future gains. Such an ambitious person could only be the Duke’s second young master.

“If I recall correctly, this teahouse is also my mother’s property, right?” Yu Nanqing listened to the storyteller’s exaggerated praise and turned to Chenxiang. “Check the deeds and summon the manager.”

Chenxiang, engrossed in the tale of the child’s suffering under his stepmother’s cruelty, wiped her tears and asked, “M-Miss, what did you say?”

Yu Nanqing closed her eyes, regretting bringing Chenxiang along.

Patiently, she repeated, “Check the deeds. Is this teahouse mine?”

“Oh!” Chenxiang pulled out a stack of deeds and flipped through them. “Miss, it is yours! Does that mean we can ask the storyteller who the child is?”

Yu Nanqing smirked. “No need. I can tell you.”

Chenxiang gasped. “Miss, you’re so smart! You even know this.”

Yu Nanqing beckoned her closer. When she whispered three words, Chenxiang’s face paled, her tears drying instantly. She grabbed a waiter. “Fetch your manager!”

The waiter, seeing Yu Nanqing’s noble attire, hurried to comply.

Yu Nanqing watched Chenxiang’s change with amusement. “No more pity?”

Chenxiang shook her head vigorously.

“Want to meet the child? Your miss is kind. I can take you to see him later.”

Chenxiang shook her head even faster.

The manager arrived, bowing. “How may I serve you?”

“I don’t like his story,” Yu Nanqing said bluntly, pointing at the storyteller. “From now on, this tale is forbidden.”

The manager and waiter froze, their smiles fading. “Miss, this tale was arranged by a noble patron. It cannot be removed so easily.”

“A noble patron? From the Duke’s residence?” Yu Nanqing turned, her smile cold. “Manager, have you grown too comfortable to remember the teahouse’s true owner?”

Hearing her mention the Duke’s residence and the owner, the manager guessed her identity and paled, about to kneel.

Yu Nanqing stopped him. “Do you want everyone to think I’m bullying you?”

“P-Princess Consort?”

“Hmm.” Seeing he’d guessed correctly, Yu Nanqing cut to the chase. “I don’t want to hear about Yu Nanbo here anymore. Understood?”

The manager hesitated. “But…”

“It seems my rank isn’t high enough to override your noble patron.” Yu Nanqing sighed and told Chenxiang, “Fetch the Prince. Tell her…”

She thought for a moment. “I’ve encountered an interesting story at the teahouse and would like her to hear it.”

The manager turned ashen. The Prince was the one who had made the entire Duke’s household kneel like criminals at their own gates. If even relatives were spared, a mere manager would lose his head on the spot.

The Prince’s name worked wonders. The manager hurriedly seated Chenxiang and ordered the storyteller to change tales, disappointing the enthralled audience.

“The Prince is busy. No need to trouble her. I guarantee the child’s tale won’t be told again. Are there any other orders, Princess Consort?”

“Bring me the teahouse’s ledgers,” Chenxiang said for Yu Nanqing. “And from now on, deliver the monthly accounts and profits to the Ning Palace on the first of each month.”

At this, the manager hesitated again, revealing something amiss.

“What’s wrong?”

The manager brought the ledger and stammered, “Princess Consort, it’s not that I refuse, but the second young master recently withdrew a large sum, nearly emptying the teahouse’s savings.”

“When? How much?”

“Two days ago. Eight… eight hundred taels.”

Yu Nanqing locked herself in the Qinfang Pavilion’s study upon returning.

Dark ink bled into the paper, and discarded drafts littered the floor. Chenxiang, worried, brought her bird’s nest soup, but Yu Nanqing ignored it, lost in thought.

Chenxiang hesitated but left to avoid disturbing her.

“Has Yu Nanbo been distributing porridge again?” Yu Nanqing asked as Chenxiang left.

“Yes. There aren’t many refugees lately, but the second young master goes often, even taking the fourth miss.” Chenxiang suggested, “If he can win the people’s favor, should we do the same?”

“No need.” If Yu Nanbo dared to withdraw money from her shops as usual, she would “repay” him by settling old scores.

Yu Nanbo’s years of porridge distribution had nurtured not just grateful refugees but also lazy freeloaders.

Once Yu Nanbo ran out of funds and stopped, would those accustomed to handouts still be grateful?

But revenge wouldn’t recoup her losses.

She needed a way to revitalize the shops.

In her past life, to promote border trade, Yu Nanqing had visited neighboring countries, adapting their innovations. Now, she had a head start.

Yu Nanqing wrote feverishly, recording popular recipes, then added notes on salt refinement and gunpowder.

She had planned to save these for the rebel leader years later, but now she didn’t want to wait.

After finishing, night had fallen. Yu Nanqing set down her brush and called Chenxiang.

“Light a lantern. Let’s visit the Prince.”