Offered As A Lucky Bride To The Mad Princess To Ward Off Misfortune - Chapter 35

35: A Fire Burns Away the Past of the Duke’s Mansion

The weather cleared briefly in the afternoon, and Emperor Wenjing returned to the capital.

After leaving Xiao Qiling’s place the previous night, Yu Nanqing had stayed up embroidering mandarin ducks until late. As soon as she boarded the carriage, she couldn’t hold back her exhaustion and closed her eyes.

Just as they were about to enter the city, the carriage jolted violently and came to a stop.

Yu Nanqing’s head nearly collided with the carriage wall, but Xiao Qiling swiftly protected her. Pushing open the window, Xiao Qiling looked at Yin San, who was guarding the carriage. “What happened?”

Yin San, hand resting on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw at any moment, replied, “It seems someone is blocking the carriages ahead. Please wait, Your Highness. Yin Er has gone to investigate.”

During the hunting expedition, many court officials and their families had been injured, so their carriages were arranged to travel slowly at the rear. Prince Ning’s carriage was among them.

Ahead, a group of people knelt beside several blocked carriages, kowtowing and pleading for food. Yin Er observed for a moment before returning to report to Xiao Qiling.

“Your Highness, Princess, it’s a group of refugees. They likely didn’t dare offend the imperial entourage, so they targeted the officials’ carriages at the rear for help.”

Still groggy, Yu Nanqing instinctively pulled a pouch from her waist and handed it to Yin Er. “Take this and distribute it to them.”

Yin Er accepted the order, but when he went to distribute the contents, he realized the pouch contained only gold fragments. A sharp-eyed refugee spotted it and immediately lunged forward, shouting, “There’s gold here! Look! Gold!”

“Kind noble, please show mercy!”

“Give us more gold, please!”

The shout drew a swarm of refugees, who rushed toward Yin Er and the surrounding carriages like starving wolves. In the chaos, several people shoved against the carriages, and one even pushed open the window of Yu Nanqing’s carriage, grabbing her arm.

Xiao Qiling acted quickly but was a moment too late. Yu Nanqing was pulled halfway out, her body slamming against the carriage wall. The refugee was yanked away by someone outside.

Dizzy from the impact, Yu Nanqing’s foggy mind finally cleared. Xiao Qiling pushed open the window. “Can’t you handle a few refugees?”

“Forgive us, Your Highness,” the guards of Prince Ning’s Mansion said, drawing their swords.

The refugees, initially bold in their desperation, faltered at the sight of drawn blades. Realizing the situation had escalated, they knelt and begged for mercy.

Xiao Qiling carefully inspected Yu Nanqing from head to toe, even reaching to roll up her sleeve to check for injuries. Yu Nanqing finally spoke, “Your Highness, I’m fine.”

“You were so scared your soul nearly left your body.” Xiao Qiling said.

Yu Nanqing: …

She was just tired from lack of sleep the previous night and lacked energy.

“I wasn’t scared.”

“Seeing so many refugees and still daring to give out gold? You need to learn a lesson.”

Yu Nanqing rubbed her slightly numb shoulder, feeling guilty. “…I forgot what was in the pouch.”

Xiao Qiling saw through her excuse. “When have you ever carried copper coins or small silver pieces when you go out?”

Yu Nanqing mumbled, “Chenxiang carries them.”

At that moment, a louder commotion came from ahead.

Yu Nanqing instinctively leaned toward the window to look, but Xiao Qiling’s glare made her shrink back. Pretending nothing had happened, she sat upright. “Your Highness, aren’t you going to see what’s going on?”

Xiao Qiling knew it was something related to the Duke’s Mansion but didn’t want Yu Nanqing to overthink. “Don’t be so curious.”

“Oh.” Yu Nanqing relented.

The commotion outside lasted as long as Yu Nanqing waited inside the carriage. When the noise finally subsided, Xiao Qiling lifted a corner of the curtain and said lightly, “The Imperial Guards have arrived.”

“Can I look?” Yu Nanqing had learned her lesson and asked for permission first.

Xiao Qiling let go of the curtain. “Go ahead.”

As the carriage resumed moving, Yu Nanqing lifted the curtain and saw ragged refugees surrounded by tall Imperial Guards. One carriage had overturned, its horse still struggling to stand.

The earlier commotion must have come from that carriage.

She wondered which unfortunate official’s carriage had been swarmed by the refugees.

The Imperial Guards had the situation tightly controlled, and Yu Nanqing couldn’t see much, so she gave up.

Over the next two days, Yu Nanqing and Xiao Qiling stayed in the Prince’s Mansion.

The trip to Xishan had lasted about a week in total. Yu Nanqing reviewed the account books sent by the shopkeepers in the capital. With the new tea and snacks she had introduced, they had attracted many new customers, and profits were noticeably higher.

In particular, the storytellers, who had previously worked under the Duke’s Mansion’s orders, were now under her command as Princess Ning. They didn’t dare slack off, sending their scripts for the next few days for her review, fearful of saying anything inappropriate that might offend the Prince’s Mansion.

In the garden, Yu Nanqing sat with a brush, editing the scripts. Given Xiao Qiling’s current situation, overt praise wasn’t suitable, but subtle mentions of the Prince’s Mansion’s past good deeds were harmless. Woven into the storytellers’ narratives, these references wouldn’t seem out of place but could gradually shape public perception.

She even considered turning Xiao Qiling’s assassination attempts into stories to clear her notorious reputation and showcase her abilities. However, she needed to carefully balance how much to reveal.

She wrote until mealtime. Setting down her brush, Yu Nanqing decided to join Xiao Qiling for lunch.

At that moment, Chenxiang rushed in from outside the garden. “Miss, Lady Li from the Duke’s Mansion has brought soldiers and stormed the Prince’s Mansion. She must be here to demand justice for the Second Young Master!”

Yu Nanqing was momentarily confused. “What?”

Chenxiang wiped the sweat from her forehead. “It’s Lady Li from Duke Yu’s Mansion.”

Yu Nanqing still didn’t understand. “You’re saying Lady Li brought soldiers to storm the Prince’s Mansion?”

Was she out of her mind?

Court regulations strictly limited the number of private soldiers officials could maintain. When Xiao Qiling was still the Crown Prince, she could keep five thousand soldiers. Now, as a prince, she was allowed only three thousand on the surface.

Even if Lady Li had brought soldiers, their numbers couldn’t match the Prince’s Mansion’s forces, and they’d likely be no match in a fight.

“You said she’s seeking justice for Yu Nanbo over the Xishan bear incident?” Yu Nanqing followed Chenxiang toward the front courtyard, even more puzzled. “I haven’t even confronted them about stealing my undergarments.”

“No, it’s about the day we returned to the city. The Second Young Master’s carriage was attacked by refugees. They say when the refugees saw it was him, they got even more agitated.” Chenxiang lowered her voice. “His injured leg is likely beyond saving.”

Yu Nanqing stopped in her tracks, stunned. “Beyond saving?”

A ruined leg would end Yu Nanbo’s career prospects. No wonder Lady Li was causing a scene at the Prince’s Mansion.

Chenxiang explained further, “The refugees who came begging that day weren’t real disaster victims. There’s been talk in the city that some people outside the capital didn’t sow their fields properly in spring, leaving vast tracts of land barren, expecting the Second Young Master to continue distributing porridge. But after you took back the shops and dowry, the porridge distribution stopped. Those lazy refugees swarmed his carriage…”

When Yu Nanqing had reclaimed her shops, she had anticipated this outcome. She hadn’t expected Yu Nanbo’s retribution to come so quickly.

“Let’s go take a look.”

In the front courtyard, Yin San approached, sheathing his sword with a flourish. “Princess, are you going to meet the people from the Duke’s Mansion?”

Yu Nanqing nodded. “I heard they brought soldiers. Has there been any conflict?”

“No,” Yin San replied, recalling the thugs Lady Li brought and feeling exasperated. “They haven’t made a move, probably just here for show. After we intimidated them, they quieted down.”

Her “intimidated” was an understatement. Yu Nanqing chuckled softly. “Thank you for your trouble.”

As they entered the reception hall, Yu Nanqing stepped out from behind a screen and casually asked, “Is Yu Nanbo’s leg really broken?”

To her surprise, it wasn’t Xiao Qiling behind the screen but Lady Li and her group of guards. Lady Li’s eyes gleamed with venom as she stared at Yu Nanqing.

Yu Nanqing froze. Yin San swiftly drew his sword, its sharp edge resting on Lady Li’s shoulder. “How dare you!”

The Duke’s Mansion guards moved to protect her, but the Prince’s Mansion guards immediately drew their weapons, their blades glinting with killing intent.

Yu Nanqing instinctively stepped back. No matter how many times she saw it, the cold steel of drawn weapons still unnerved her. Noticing her discomfort, Yin San signaled his men to sheath their blades.

Supported by a maid, Lady Li barely stood upright. She addressed Yu Nanqing, “The refugees attacked your second brother for money because you suddenly took back your dowry. If not for that, they wouldn’t be starving. But I’m not here to hold you accountable. I’ve heard the Prince’s Mansion has a skilled physician. Have them treat your second brother’s leg.”

Yu Nanqing sat in the main seat, frowning, unwilling to entertain Lady Li’s haughty attitude.

Chenxiang, long resentful of Lady Li, seized the moment with the Prince’s Mansion guards present and scolded, “You see the Princess and don’t even kneel to pay respects!”

Lady Li clenched her fists, reluctantly offering a perfunctory bow before continuing, “I haven’t told your father about this. If you let the physician treat your second brother, he won’t find out.”

“Why would I care if he knows?” Yu Nanqing knew Lady Li revolved around Duke Yu Bingru and lacked her own initiative, making communication difficult. “Does my father know you came to the Prince’s Mansion?”

Lady Li hesitated. “He doesn’t.”

Yu Nanqing sighed, realizing Lady Li had come behind Duke Yu’s back. “Aunt, go back. If the imperial physicians can’t heal his injury, no one in the Prince’s Mansion can either.”

“No, the Prince’s Mansion physician saved Prince Ning. They can surely save my son.” Lady Li grew agitated, pausing as if she wanted to say more but was wary of the others present.

Finally, she pointed at Chenxiang. “Come here. I have something to tell the Princess.”

With so many guards around, Chenxiang wasn’t afraid and leaned in. Lady Li whispered, “Elder Li.”

Chenxiang relayed the message, and Yu Nanqing was surprised Lady Li was relying on this. How many times did the Duke’s Mansion need to be rejected before they believed she had no intention of leaving the Prince’s Mansion?

Yu Nanqing shook her head with a light laugh. “So, Aunt isn’t trying to pressure me with my father but with your father.”

Caught out, Lady Li averted her gaze, embarrassed.

Yu Nanqing teased, “If I were you, I’d advise Elder Li to do more for the people. That way, he wouldn’t have to resort to recruiting disciples at the Prince’s Mansion.”

It was a jest, of course. Elder Li had done many things to support the Empress and Prince Chen’s rise, alienating his disciples, though plenty of scholars still sought shortcuts through him. Trying to tie her to him was merely because Xiao Qiling hadn’t succumbed to poison and was regaining influence in court, which made them anxious.

Lady Li’s expression turned furious. “Don’t slander my father like that. Even as a princess, defaming a first-rank official will put you in the wrong if word gets out.”

Yu Nanqing’s smile faded.

Thinking she was intimidated, Lady Li softened her tone. “We’re family, after all. The imperial physicians are helpless, but the Prince’s Mansion physician saved Prince Ning. They can surely save your second brother. If he rises in his career and brings honor to the family, it benefits you too.”

Yu Nanqing lowered her eyes, seemingly considering, then shook her head. “But I don’t want to.”

She suddenly smiled brightly. “When Aunt harmed my elder brother back then, did you think about how he could have brought honor to the family? Since you’ve come to my door today, as a married daughter of the Yu family, it’d be too heartless to let you leave empty-handed.”

Yu Nanbo was the second son because there had been an elder brother who died young. Lady Ji died of a broken heart, partly due to her lost son and partly due to Duke Yu’s neglect.

“Chenxiang, summon the physician.” Yu Nanqing ordered, meeting Lady Li’s hopeful gaze with a smile. “But skilled physicians have peculiar methods. His Highness was unconscious before our wedding and only recovered after I married in. Do you know why?”

“It’s because the physician used my bl00d in the medicine. To save Yu Nanbo, you’ll likely need the bl00d of a close relative.”

Yu Nanqing beamed at Lady Li. “If Aunt is willing, I’ll send for the physician.”

Lady Li’s face paled with anger, her chest heaving. “You’re clearly taking revenge!”

“You said the imperial physicians were helpless. Doesn’t that call for unconventional methods?” Yu Nanqing’s smile was mocking. “I thought Aunt stormed the Prince’s Mansion out of deep concern for her son. It seems I was wrong. He’s your only son, and you’re not even willing?”

At that moment, Yin San, standing before the group, sensed something and saluted behind Yu Nanqing. “Greetings, Your Highness.”

The bead curtain was lifted.

Dressed in a blue robe with auspicious cloud patterns, Xiao Qiling leaned against the doorframe, glancing over. “Quite lively.”

Lady Li had assumed Xiao Qiling was at the Ministry of Works and not in the mansion. She could still muster some authority from the Duke’s Mansion against Yu Nanqing, but she didn’t dare act recklessly before Xiao Qiling.

“Greetings, Your Highness Prince Ning.”

The Duke’s Mansion entourage followed her in bowing. Xiao Qiling acknowledged them lightly and walked to Yu Nanqing. “You want to lend out the physician?”

Yu Nanqing looked up at Xiao Qiling. “Is that alright?”

Xiao Qiling met her pleading eyes, clicked her tongue softly, and flicked Yu Nanqing’s forehead. “If you want to lend them, just do it. Stop acting coy.”

Yu Nanqing wondered when she’d been coy, feeling baffled. But her focus was on the physician, and with Xiao Qiling’s approval, she turned to Lady Li. “What I just said— are you willing?”

Lady Li gritted her teeth. “I’m willing.”

“Good, then I’ll go with you to the Duke’s Mansion.” Yu Nanqing tilted her head toward Xiao Qiling. “Will Your Highness come along?”

Xiao Qiling considered for a moment. “I don’t need to go to the Ministry this afternoon.”

Yu Nanqing clapped her hands happily. “Then we can go together.”

Yu Nanqing spoke confidently in front of Lady Li, but once in the carriage with only Xiao Qiling, she grew uneasy.

She glanced at Xiao Qiling several times until Xiao Qiling, annoyed, pinched her chin. “What do you want to say?”

Yu Nanqing’s head stopped moving. “Your Highness, aren’t you going to ask why I’m taking the physician to help Yu Nanbo?”

“You have your reasons.” Xiao Qiling wasn’t interested. Seeing Yu Nanqing still deep in thought, she teased, “Don’t worry. Even if you’re foolish enough to repay evil with kindness and heal Yu Nanbo’s leg, I won’t think you’re stupid.”

After all, Yu Nanbo’s leg was beyond saving.

Yu Nanqing swatted Xiao Qiling’s hand away. “I’m not.”

Xiao Qiling raised her tone. “Oh?”

It sounded infuriatingly smug.

Suppressing her annoyance, Yu Nanqing said, “After the bear incident, I planned to return to the Duke’s Mansion.”

Xiao Qiling raised an eyebrow. “So, you’re going to the Duke’s Mansion to take everything that’s yours?”

Yu Nanqing nodded. “Do you think it’s feasible?”

“You’re not planning to take everything, are you? Leaving anything behind would be bothersome. Better to burn it all.” Xiao Qiling leaned casually against the window, disregarding the capital’s strict no-arson laws.

Yu Nanqing cautiously asked, “What if it attracts the city magistrate or the Imperial Guards?”

Xiao Qiling chuckled at her timid expression. “Would they dare?”

Yu Nanqing realized that, aside from Emperor Wenjing’s explicit orders, few in the capital would dare provoke Xiao Qiling.

Her worries eased.

With Xiao Qiling’s words, Yu Nanqing stepped out of the carriage with newfound confidence. Lady Li led them to Yu Nanbo’s courtyard, where Yu Nanrou was crying by his bedside. Yu Nanbo lay unconscious, looking deathly pale.

Yu Nanqing’s gaze shifted between Yu Nanrou and Lady Li before she revisited the earlier topic. “So, who’s going to offer their bl00d to save him?”

Yu Nanrou, unaware of the context, stood abruptly. “What does that mean?”

“To heal Second Brother’s leg, a close relative’s bl00d is needed for the medicine. Aunt already agreed.” Yu Nanqing said leisurely. “So, will it be Third Sister or Aunt? Or shall we wait for Father to return and let him do it?”

A flicker of amusement passed through Xiao Qiling’s dark eyes. Others might not understand this logic, but she did. Using bl00d for medicine— wasn’t that the same trick she’d once used to scare Yu Nanqing?

Yu Nanqing had learned to wield it well.

“I… I…” Yu Nanrou stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.

Leaning slightly on Xiao Qiling, Yu Nanqing pressed her advantage. “Here’s the deal: I hold grudges. You both know about the Xishan bear incident, don’t you? Whoever took my undergarments from Bilan Pavilion, or sent someone to take them, should offer their bl00d. It’ll appease my anger, and I’ll let the Xishan matter go. Otherwise, if I keep dwelling on it and lose control someday, who knows what I might do? Right, Your Highness?”

Xiao Qiling squeezed Yu Nanqing’s hand. “Whatever the Princess says is right.”

Yu Nanrou stared at them in shock, not doubting that if Yu Nanqing ever mentioned this to Xiao Qiling, the entire Prince’s Mansion would retaliate. Was Yu Nanqing truly so favored?

But regarding the bear incident, even Emperor Wenjing hadn’t fully investigated who in the Duke’s Mansion was responsible. Who would dare admit it in front of Xiao Qiling?

Admit it, and their head might roll the next moment.

The room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.

“It wasn’t me.” Yu Nanrou said, stepping back repeatedly. Even Lady Li, who had been willing to offer bl00d for her son, stayed silent.

Yu Nanqing had her suspicions. With their limited intellect and vision, neither of these two could have orchestrated the bear incident.

The only ones capable were Duke Yu Bingru and Yu Nanbo.

“Think it over carefully. When you give me an answer, I’ll have the physician treat Second Brother.” Leaving those words, Yu Nanqing took Xiao Qiling to Bilan Pavilion.

When Yu Nanqing married, fearing that Nanny Ji, being elderly, couldn’t handle the dangers of the Prince’s Mansion, she had brought only Chenxiang. Now, she could take Nanny Ji with her.

Nanny Ji had already packed her things and was overjoyed to see Yu Nanqing, fussing over her with concern. After a few words, her eyes welled up.

Yu Nanqing wiped her tears with a handkerchief. “Nanny, I’m not missing any limbs. Why are you crying? Have you packed everything?”

Nanny Ji, Lady Ji’s dowry maid, hesitated. “Miss, if I leave, who will stay to burn incense for Madam?”

“I’ll take Mother’s memorial tablet with me.” Yu Nanqing said, turning to Xiao Qiling. “I won’t take up space in the Prince’s Mansion’s ancestral hall. I’ll keep it in my room. Is that alright?”

Xiao Qiling frowned at her mention of not taking up space in the ancestral hall. Yu Nanqing, thinking she disapproved since the Prince’s Mansion enshrined only royals, backtracked. “If I can’t bring it to the mansion, I have a few properties. I can find a place with good feng shui to—”

“Bring it to the mansion. Don’t leave it elsewhere.” Xiao Qiling interrupted.

Yu Nanqing paused, her eyes lighting up as she grabbed Xiao Qiling’s sleeve. “Really?”

Xiao Qiling, seeing her nervous expression, pretended to be stern. “If you wrinkle my sleeve, it’s not allowed.”

Yu Nanqing quickly let go, her smile infectious. “You’ve already agreed. No taking it back.”

“Agreed.” Xiao Qiling said with a hint of exasperation. She gestured to Yin San. “Burn this place down.”

Nanny Ji was horrified, looking to Yu Nanqing. “Miss, this won’t do!”

Yu Nanqing reassured her, “Don’t worry, Nanny. I asked His Highness to do this. They stole my undergarments once; who knows what they’ll scheme next? Better to burn it all.”

Tears streamed down Nanny Ji’s face. “Miss, you’ve suffered so much. It’s my fault for not protecting your things.”

Yu Nanqing shook her head. “I told you, it’s not your fault. Even if you watched them day and night, they’d have found a way to take what they wanted.”

The fire started quickly, fueled by the west wind, illuminating Bilan Pavilion as thick smoke rose.

Yu Nanqing stood before the pavilion, watching. Memories of her childhood with her mother in this courtyard surfaced, and with this fire, it felt like everything was being consumed.

After a long while, Yu Nanqing spoke, her voice hoarse from the smoke, barely audible. “Do you think… if I insisted they name the real culprit behind stealing my undergarments, would my father step forward to take the blame for Yu Nanbo?”

Xiao Qiling didn’t respond.

Yu Nanqing gave a self-deprecating laugh. “He’s the Duke’s Mansion’s only heir. He probably would.”

“But why would he treat me like that?” Her voice was soft, as if asking Xiao Qiling, or herself.

Or perhaps questioning the familial bond she’d sought for two lifetimes but never grasped.

She thought she didn’t care, but at this moment, Yu Nanqing realized she still longed for that unattainable affection.

A tear, provoked by the smoke, finally fell, landing on Xiao Qiling’s fingertip.

It felt like it landed on her heart.

“Forget the Duke’s Mansion.” Xiao Qiling said softly, her thumb brushing Yu Nanqing’s tear-stained cheek.

The sudden words made Yu Nanqing pause, her eyes filled with confusion. “Then… you won’t drive me out of the Prince’s Mansion, will you?”

“I was only teasing you before. Did you take it seriously?”

At that moment, Yu Nanqing felt an overwhelming lack of security. Xiao Qiling thought for a moment and took her hand. “Even if the Prince’s Mansion falls one day, I’ll take you with me. Alright?”

Yu Nanqing sensed something off, but the roaring flames and overpowering memories left her unable to dwell on details.

She nodded. “Alright.”

The Duke’s Mansion finally noticed the commotion, with shouts ringing out as people rushed to put out the fire, only to be blocked by the Prince’s Mansion guards.

Yu Nanqing heard Xiao Qiling’s low, gentle voice again. “What do you want to do next?”

Amid the crackling fire, her voice was like a clear spring, gradually calming Yu Nanqing’s thoughts.

Yu Nanqing’s lips pressed into a thin line. After a long pause, she asked, “Your Highness, can you accompany me to the ancestral hall one more time?”