Offered As A Lucky Bride To The Mad Princess To Ward Off Misfortune - Chapter 48

48: Good Sister, Good Sister

When Xiao Qiling finished speaking, her voice still carried a trace of amusement. Her deep, ink-black eyes gazed at Yu Nanqing, the flickering candlelight from the street stalls dancing in the depths of her gaze.

Yu Nanqing felt a flutter of unease under her stare and turned her eyes away. Her hands curled tightly, then relaxed as if nothing had happened. “That’s perfect, then. I won’t have to go out.”

“Did I just play into your hands?” Xiao Qiling chuckled. “Lazy little fox, you wouldn’t even know if someone sold you off.”

The teasing words carried a deeper implication.

Yu Nanqing swatted at Xiao Qiling’s hand and walked forward without looking up. “Who would dare sell your princess consort?”

Xiao Qiling’s smile widened with delight. She followed closely, and as a breeze swept through, their black and white sashes tangled together, drawing curious glances from passersby.

It wasn’t clear what occasion it was today, but the long street was bustling with people. More and more sky lanterns rose into the air, illuminating the night sky over the capital.

The capital had once seen a fire caused by sky lanterns, and since then, their use had been strictly regulated. Yu Nanqing stopped a young woman carrying a lantern and asked, “Isn’t releasing sky lanterns forbidden in the capital? Why are there so many today?”

The young woman, holding her skirt in one hand and a lantern in the other, seemed eager to find a good spot to release it. She spoke quickly, “You don’t know? Princess Rongxi personally requested permission from His Majesty, saying it’s to celebrate with the people before His Majesty’s Thousand Autumn Festival! It’s a rare chance, so everyone’s out tonight.”

Yu Nanqing asked, “With so many lanterns, what if a few fall and start a fire?”

“Pah, pah, pah, don’t jinx it!” The young woman pointed to a group of imperial guards stationed nearby, her expression visibly relaxing. “Since it was Princess Rongxi’s idea, the Si family is fully cooperating. Look, with so many guards around, even if a fire starts, they’ll handle it. No need to worry.”

Yu Nanqing followed her gesture and saw a disciplined unit of imperial guards standing ready. She thanked the young woman and leaned closer to Xiao Qiling, lowering her voice. “So many guards… Could there be another motive?”

Xiao Qiling looked at her quietly for a moment without responding.

Yu Nanqing hesitated. “…Is there really something?”

Xiao Qiling replied, “No.”

“Then why didn’t you say anything?”

A faint smile glimmered in Xiao Qiling’s eyes, tinged with a deeper undercurrent. “I was wondering just how much grievance you must have suffered in the Duke’s residence to be so wary of everything.”

She lowered her voice. “Was breaking Yu Nanbo’s leg and burning down one of the Duke’s courtyards too light a punishment?”

Yu Nanqing’s attention shifted to Yu Nanbo’s leg. “Wasn’t his leg crushed by a black bear? What does that have to do with you?”

Xiao Qiling’s gaze flickered slightly, realizing Yu Nanqing didn’t know the full story.

When she didn’t respond, Yu Nanqing stopped walking, waiting expectantly. Xiao Qiling looked at Yu Nanqing’s curious, furrowed-brow expression and smiled, taking her hand. “It was indeed a black bear that injured him, but the imperial physicians treated it in time. The lasting damage came from the rioters on the way back to the city.”

“So those rioters were your doing.” Yu Nanqing said, suddenly understanding. It wasn’t heaven’s justice at work—it was Xiao Qiling’s deliberate plan.

“Mm, after all, he’s the only male heir of the Yu family on the surface. If Duke Yu doesn’t take another concubine, the Duke’s residence is doomed to decline.” Xiao Qiling said in her usual calm, gentle tone, with a hint of pride as if seeking credit.

Yu Nanqing’s palm was lightly scratched twice, and she shot Xiao Qiling an exasperated glance, entirely unmoved. “That’s only because I cut off Yu Nanbo’s income first, which provoked the rioters he’d spoiled.”

Xiao Qiling sighed with mock regret. “Fine, then.”

They walked a little farther, but Yu Nanqing couldn’t stand Xiao Qiling’s occasional glances any longer. She said expressionlessly, “Does Your Highness always have to let your advisors know every time you accomplish something?”

Wouldn’t they get annoyed to death by her?

“Only with you, Qingqing.” Xiao Qiling said, her tone tinged with playful disappointment. “It seems the novels were wrong after all.”

“With so many matters to handle in and out of court, Your Highness should read fewer novels.” Yu Nanqing said, yanking her hand free and heading toward the crowd to avoid further contact.

Xiao Qiling effortlessly slipped through the crowd, showing no sign of her usual aversion to touching others, and took Yu Nanqing’s hand again.

Yu Nanqing was already numb to it and didn’t struggle much, just blinking slowly. “I don’t think I ever agreed to let you hold my hand like this.”

Xiao Qiling leaned closer, and Yu Nanqing raised her eyelids. “So many people are watching.”

“What does Qingqing think I’m going to do?” Xiao Qiling teased. “I’m just holding your hand to keep you from getting swept away by the crowd. You’re so nervous, it makes me think you’re expecting me to do something more outrageous.”

Yu Nanqing scoffed lightly. “Not at all. Not even a little.”

Xiao Qiling chuckled, mimicking her tone. “Alright, not at all. Not even a little.”

They continued forward, but the crowd grew denser. Yu Nanqing tugged at Xiao Qiling’s hand and suggested, “It’s too crowded here. Let’s go somewhere else.”

Xiao Qiling released her hand and instead pulled Yu Nanqing into her arms, shielding her from the jostling crowd.

Yu Nanqing wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but the path seemed to clear slightly. A smiling voice came from behind her. “Do you really want to go elsewhere? Your eyes are practically glued to those sky lanterns.”

Yu Nanqing: …

Xiao Qiling, as if regretting her words, added lightly, “It’s been a while since I’ve released a sky lantern. It’s not quite proper for me to buy one on normal days, so why don’t you join me, Qingqing?”

Despite Prince Ning’s fearsome reputation, Xiao Qiling was still a royal prince. Buying a sky lantern to light would indeed seem odd.

Yu Nanqing was successfully sidetracked. In her momentary distraction, Xiao Qiling kept her arm around her, guiding them through the crowd toward a stall selling sky lanterns by the river bridge.

Yu Nanqing was held tightly, and the hairpins dangling from her hair seemed to catch on something, causing a slight tug. Xiao Qiling’s fingers brushed through her hair, adjusting the hairpin, drawing even closer.

Yu Nanqing’s ears burned red as she was led, dazed, to the lantern vendor. In a haze, she took a sky lantern handed to her.

Other customers were writing wishes on their lanterns at a nearby stall. Yu Nanqing, avoiding Xiao Qiling’s gaze, shifted her eyes uncomfortably and muttered, “We don’t need to write anything, do we? It’s just sending a lantern into the sky. Wishes don’t really work—it’s all a scam.”

Xiao Qiling pulled her to the back of the line. “Since we’re here to release a lantern, and everyone else is writing on theirs, wouldn’t it look odd if ours is blank?”

Yu Nanqing glanced around, muttering, “You didn’t even bow at Huguo Temple before. Writing something here is even less useful.”

There were so many people in line—such a hassle.

Xiao Qiling said candidly, “I had nothing to wish for at Huguo Temple. Now I do, so I want to try.”

Matters of power and position depended on human effort. Only matters of the heart were born from feeling.

Yu Nanqing froze, instantly understanding what Xiao Qiling meant to wish for. She swallowed hard and forced out, “Stop bringing this up all the time. If you keep doing that, I won’t talk to you anymore.”

Xiao Qiling suddenly laughed.

She guided Yu Nanqing a few steps forward, her voice brimming with barely concealed amusement. “Alright, Qingqing’s shy. We won’t write anything, then.”

Still dazed, Yu Nanqing was pulled out of the crowd. Xiao Qiling unfolded the lantern they’d bought and beckoned to her. “Come, hold the edges. I’ll light it.”

Yu Nanqing hesitated, looking at Xiao Qiling with a mix of doubt and reluctance.

Xiao Qiling asked, “What do you want to say?”

Yu Nanqing held back for a moment. “I’ll say it, but don’t get mad.”

Xiao Qiling smiled. “Go ahead.”

She was curious to hear what Yu Nanqing could say to upset her.

Then, in a hushed, uncertain tone, Yu Nanqing asked, “Since I didn’t let Your Highness write your wish, are you going to sabotage the lantern by burning the paper so it catches fire as soon as it takes off?”

She didn’t want to push through the crowd again just to watch others release lanterns.

Xiao Qiling: …

With good humor, Xiao Qiling reached out to pat Yu Nanqing’s head, smoothing the hair tangled by her hairpin. She didn’t seem angry at all, saying gently, “Don’t worry, Qingqing. I won’t.”

“Really?” Yu Nanqing asked.

Xiao Qiling nodded solemnly. “Really. I’m not like others who sweet-talk to deceive.”

Yu Nanqing, who had once used “only you will do” as a lifesaving charm: …

It wouldn’t do to keep stopping Xiao Qiling from lighting the lantern. They couldn’t just stand on the bridge all night, could they?

Yu Nanqing gave Xiao Qiling a skeptical look but held the lantern’s edges again. “Fine, light it.”

The flame sparked at the wick, and the warm air inside lifted the lantern, swaying as it rose. The glowing wick burned brighter, soaring toward the sky.

Yu Nanqing clasped her hands together and made a wish.

When she looked up, the sky was filled with lanterns twinkling like stars, and she could no longer tell which one was theirs.

Xiao Qiling’s cool voice sounded by her ear. “Miss Yu, you’d better keep track of the lantern you released, or you won’t even know if I shoot it down with a hidden weapon.”

Yu Nanqing: …Miss Yu?

It had been a long time since she’d heard Xiao Qiling use such a sharp, sarcastic tone, and this time it carried an unmasked edge.

It seemed she was truly upset by Yu Nanqing’s earlier words.

Ever adaptable, Yu Nanqing quickly grabbed Xiao Qiling’s hand, coaxing her earnestly. “Thank you, Your Highness, for releasing the lantern with me. I made a wish especially for you. Want to hear it?”

Xiao Qiling glanced back, uninterested.

Undeterred, Yu Nanqing pressed closer. “I wished for Your Highness’s health to recover soon!”

Xiao Qiling replied coolly, “Your Highness is in fine health and can precisely shoot down a lantern with a hidden weapon.”

Yu Nanqing: …

Xiao Qiling brushed her hand away and walked off.

Yu Nanqing, having given up her rare wish for Xiao Qiling’s sake, wasn’t about to let it go unrewarded. She hurried after her, insisting, “I sincerely prayed for Your Highness’s well-being.”

“No need,” Xiao Qiling said. “I’m perfectly fine.”

Sure, fine when the poison didn’t flare up. But when it did, she lost all clarity. In her past life, a dozen more poison attacks would have been the end of Xiao Qiling.

Yu Nanqing’s sympathy surged, making her even more indulgent. She scurried closer, grabbing Xiao Qiling’s hand again. “Your Highness…”

Xiao Qiling didn’t stop.

Yu Nanqing pursed her lips, hesitated, then shook Xiao Qiling’s hand and softly called, “Good sister, don’t ignore me.”

Xiao Qiling’s steps halted abruptly. She turned, staring intently at Yu Nanqing, her gaze deep and unreadable.

Yu Nanqing hadn’t thought much of the term. In the Duke’s residence, she had no sisters, but at the Ji family’s estate, she had plenty of cousins. Whenever she wanted something, she’d start with “good sister” to plead her case.

But Xiao Qiling’s look made her sense something off.

What was it?

Then it hit her.

In that novel passage she’d once asked Xiao Qiling about, regarding a kiss, it began: “Good sister, please cherish me.”

Yu Nanqing: …

She swore she absolutely, positively didn’t mean it that way.

But clearly, someone as sharp as Xiao Qiling remembered that line.

Yu Nanqing briefly considered jumping off the lantern bridge.

After what felt like an eternity, as Yu Nanqing nearly bit her lip white, Xiao Qiling finally raised her other hand, pinching Yu Nanqing’s cheek to loosen her teeth.

“Why so nervous?” Xiao Qiling’s voice was slightly strained, different from her usual tone.

Yu Nanqing swatted her hand away, refusing to admit it. “I’m not.”

Xiao Qiling nodded, saying nothing more.

Yu Nanqing exhaled in relief. One “good sister” had smoothed over the lantern incident—not a bad deal.

She wandered along the stalls, buying and nibbling on interesting pastries, handing them to Xiao Qiling when her hands were full.

Xiao Qiling followed closely until Yu Nanqing stopped at a sugar figurine stall. She paid a generous amount of silver, took a handful of wooden arrows, and aimed at a three-eared tossing pot.

Xiao Qiling frowned slightly at the pot but didn’t intervene.

Yu Nanqing had paid generously and looked delicate, the type of customer vendors loved. The vendor cheered her on, “Come on, miss, aim carefully!”

“So close! You’ll get it next time for sure.”

In the end, all thirty arrows missed the three-eared pot with uncanny precision.

The vendor, rubbing the silver in his hand, consoled her. “No worries if you didn’t hit it, miss. How about I make you a rabbit figurine as a gift?”

Yu Nanqing glanced at the palm-sized, solid, and artless rabbit on display, shaking her head in disdain. She pointed to an intricate dragon-and-phoenix lantern made of layered sugar art. “I want that one.”

The vendor smiled apologetically. “That dragon-and-phoenix lantern is complex. You’d need to hit all ten shots, with arrows in each of the three ears. I’ve been in business a long time and never seen anyone win it. If you really want it, I can sell it to you.”

Sugar figurines were made of sticky syrup, and after hanging out so long, Yu Nanqing could see dust on it. She’d only want a freshly made one.

Her eyes darted around, and she pulled over Xiao Qiling, who’d been watching the spectacle. “You try. You’ll definitely hit it.”

“Just ten out of ten, and we’ll get that dragon-and-phoenix sugar figurine.”

Xiao Qiling glanced at the noticeably smaller pot openings and said flatly, “The openings are too narrow. It’s difficult.”

Yu Nanqing tugged at Xiao Qiling’s sleeve, pleading, “Can’t you do it?”

Xiao Qiling didn’t respond.

Yu Nanqing, well-versed in her tactics, let go. “Fine, I’ll get Yin San. She’s skilled, unlike some people who’ve gotten rusty after a month without touching arrows.”

Xiao Qiling laughed, grabbing Yu Nanqing’s retreating hand. “You’re just trying to rile me up.”

Yu Nanqing grinned, handed Xiao Qiling her snacks, and boldly ordered thirty more arrows. “Practice first. If you miss, just keep trying. When I tried, the left ear was smaller, so start with the other two. Also, the wind’s coming from the west, so aim slightly—”

Before she could finish, Xiao Qiling casually took three arrows and tossed them with a relaxed motion.

Each landed perfectly in an ear.

Yu Nanqing froze, staring at the three arrows in the pot, blinking in shock, speechless.

Then she let out a long, “Wow!”

Xiao Qiling was quite pleased with Yu Nanqing’s reaction.

She tilted her head, drawling, “That’s how you do it, right? Qingqing’s advice was spot-on.”

Yu Nanqing stared at the arrows, giving a dry laugh. “Y-Yeah, I explained, and… you got it.”

Unconvinced, she threw an arrow herself.

Clatter.

It hit the ground.

It wasn’t the arrows. It was her.

The vendor snapped out of his daze, barely containing his excitement as he reminded Yu Nanqing, “Miss, the fourth arrow missed, so we start over. Want to pick another sugar figurine?”

Yu Nanqing was fixated on the dragon-and-phoenix lantern, insisting, “No, I want that one.”

She turned, tugging Xiao Qiling’s sleeve and whispering, “Good Highness, I want that one.”

Xiao Qiling: “Change the address.”

Yu Nanqing complied instantly. “Good sister, I want that one.”

The vendor’s face paled. He’d seen countless people play this game and could tell at a glance who could hit the mark. The other sugar figurines took him moments to make, but a dragon-and-phoenix lantern would take a full hour. And these two looked wealthy—hard to just walk away.

He could only pray for a stronger, fiercer wind…

His prayers went unanswered. Xiao Qiling’s tenth arrow landed firmly in the narrow opening, filling the last sliver of space.

Resigned, the vendor began crafting the dragon-and-phoenix sugar lantern for Yu Nanqing.

As he worked, Yu Nanqing watched curiously. The base was made first, and when the vendor started shaping the dragon and phoenix, Yu Nanqing, caught up in the moment, leaned in and whispered something to him.

The vendor’s brows furrowed at her request, which was twice as complex as the original. “Are you sure, miss? I’ve never made one like this. My skills might not—”

Yu Nanqing discreetly pulled a gold ingot from her pouch. “Can’t do it?”

With gold in play, he’d make it for ten days and nights if needed. The vendor immediately smiled. “Of course, of course. Don’t worry, miss, it’ll be perfect.”

When the lantern was complete, the vendor carefully attached it to a handle and handed it to Yu Nanqing.

Yu Nanqing reached for it eagerly, but another hand intercepted it.

Xiao Qiling held the lantern, turning it to inspect. Up close, she saw it wasn’t a dragon and phoenix but two phoenixes.

The base had been altered too. The display lantern used simple butterflies, but this one featured adorable little phoenixes, transforming it into a “Hundred Phoenixes Facing the Sun” lantern.

It seemed like a Hundred Phoenixes Facing the Sun, but the two intricate phoenixes at the top made the true intention clear.

This wasn’t about the sun—it was still a dragon-and-phoenix lantern in essence.

When Xiao Qiling’s gaze shifted to her, Yu Nanqing blinked proudly, waiting for Xiao Qiling to return the lantern and maybe praise her.

Her expectant eyes met Xiao Qiling’s leisurely tone. “This lantern does look auspicious. The study at Lanshi Garden is a bit dull—it’d be perfect on the desk.”

She praised it but had no intention of giving it back.

Yu Nanqing followed Xiao Qiling away from the stall, now trailing behind. “It’s hot now. Sugar figurines will melt in the study and ruin your manuscripts. Let me keep it for you. If it messes up my room, it’s no big deal.”

Xiao Qiling’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “If I give it to you, will you really hang it up? Or will you eat it?”

Yu Nanqing caught the teasing in her words and forced her gaze away from the lantern. “You’ve been holding it this whole time. It’s filthy. I wouldn’t eat it.”

Xiao Qiling’s smile deepened. “Right, you wouldn’t eat it.”

Yu Nanqing pulled out a rabbit-shaped pastry with its ears bitten off and chomped down on its head.

She didn’t care about that sugar lantern.

Not one bit.

The candlelight from the stalls reflected off the phoenix lantern, casting a shimmering golden glow. Xiao Qiling deliberately dangled it in front of Yu Nanqing, saying slowly, “Look at these phoenixes—so intricate. All the kids along the street are eyeing this lantern. How about I do a good deed and give each of them a phoenix? What do you think, Qingqing?”

Not good at all.

Yu Nanqing pressed her lips together, refusing to give in, and marched toward Prince Ning’s residence.

Xiao Qiling kept chattering, verbally giving away her sugar lantern to everyone.

Yu Nanqing ignored her completely until they reached the residence. In the quiet, she hesitated before speaking. “Haven’t you decided who to give the lantern to?”

Xiao Qiling’s gaze fell on her, amusement in her eyes. “Qingqing went to such trouble to get a double-phoenix lantern. How could I be so tactless as to give it away?”

Yu Nanqing: …

She’d known all along and still teased her the whole way.

Unhappy, Yu Nanqing couldn’t stand Xiao Qiling’s smug demeanor. She beckoned her closer.

Xiao Qiling’s eyes narrowed, moving the lantern aside as she leaned in. “What do you want to say?”

Yu Nanqing grabbed Xiao Qiling’s collar, pulling her close, staring into her face. Her gaze locked on, fierce. “I’m mad.”

Xiao Qiling remained unfazed, letting Yu Nanqing pull her closer while still protecting the lantern. Her peach-blossom eyes looked at her lazily. “Really mad?”

She smiled. “Shall I coax you, then?”

Yu Nanqing’s prepared retort vanished the moment their eyes met.

“You…”

Their breaths mingled, and Yu Nanqing’s fingers tightened, then slowly loosened. For once, she stood her ground. “No way. Who cares about your coaxing?”

Xiao Qiling, used to teasing and ready for Yu Nanqing to ignore her, enjoyed the coaxing part too. She softened her voice. “Then teach me how to make you not mad.”

Yu Nanqing feigned indifference. “Didn’t you read those novels? You still don’t know how to coax?”

If she went back now and bought ten different sugar lanterns, Yu Nanqing might forgive her.

Xiao Qiling clearly didn’t get it. She placed the lantern handle in Yu Nanqing’s hand, closing her fingers around it. “I was teasing you earlier. Here’s the lantern. Don’t be mad at me, alright?”

Yu Nanqing, uncooperative, let go again.

She looked at Xiao Qiling with disdain.

After a few rounds of this, Xiao Qiling sighed helplessly. “Should I beg you, then?”

Still no offer to buy more lanterns.

Yu Nanqing huffed, lifting her chin, ready to hear what nonsense Xiao Qiling would spout before deciding whether to send her to buy more.

“Beg, then.”

Xiao Qiling glanced around, and the nearby hidden guards vanished instantly.

Yu Nanqing, seeing her expression, felt a surge of triumph, as if she’d won this round.

Then she watched as Xiao Qiling leaned down, resting her chin on Yu Nanqing’s left shoulder, her voice soft and pliant. “Good sister, please take pity on me.”