The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 12

The ceremonial official’s voice fell silent. The two stood at the center of the grand hall, receiving the congratulations of the gathered ministers.

“We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Your Highness and the Crown Princess Consort,” the ministers chorused after the ceremonial master’s high-pitched declaration that the rites were complete.

Afterward, Song Qingqian was escorted to Fuhua Courtyard.

Xiao Beitang, meanwhile, followed the Emperor and Empress to the banquet. She lingered there for a short while but soon grew restless. The noise, the flattery, the clinking of wine cups—all of it grated on her nerves. She had no interest in exchanging pleasantries or listening to the ministers’ hollow words of praise. Using the excuse of needing to change clothes, she slipped away from the banquet—and never returned.

Before leaving, she made sure to sneak a jug of wine with her.

Claiming she needed the latrine, she ordered Liuzi not to follow her and headed alone to an octagonal pavilion in the imperial garden. The palace was brightly lit, the festive lanterns casting a glow nearly as bright as day, and even the little pavilion was decorated with red banners and traditional wedding symbols.

At least it was quiet here, far from the noisy crowd. Xiao Beitang drank alone under the moonlight, as if the grand celebrations had nothing to do with her. Though she was the central figure of this splendid feast, she lay back on a long bench, gazing up at the moon and savoring the rare solitude.

The full moon hung high in the sky, its reflection shimmering across the lake’s surface. After finishing the jug of wine, Xiao Beitang gradually dozed off. A sudden burst of noise later stirred her from her slumber.

Groggy, she stumbled off the bench and staggered toward the gates of Zichen Palace, clutching the empty wine jug.

Seeing the bright red wedding cloth hanging from the plaque above the palace gate, her hazy mind finally recalled—it was her wedding day. She shook her head, trying to clear it. A misstep nearly sent her tumbling.

Steadying herself against the wall, she wandered off again.

When she still hadn’t returned, Liuzi and Xing’er panicked and began searching the palace grounds for her in a flurry.

Voices called out to her again and again. But drunk and disoriented, she instinctively hid. In the end, relying purely on instinct, she stumbled into the Imperial Library and pushed the door open.

At that hour, the library was unattended.

She spent the night sleeping there, while the palace turned itself inside out looking for her.

Custom dictated that after the wedding, there were still rituals to complete—such as the newlyweds sharing nuptial wine—but none of it took place.

After midnight, the Emperor ordered everyone to disperse. The Empress offered Song Qingqian a few kind words before returning to Kunning Palace.

Once the Emperor and Empress had departed, Xiaotao and Baixue exchanged uneasy glances and turned to look at Song Qingqian, who remained silent.

“Let’s get you ready for bed,” Song Qingqian said calmly.

“Her Highness was far too outrageous. Leaving you alone on your wedding night—how could she?” Xiaotao murmured while helping her out of her robes.

“Xiaotao, mind your tongue. This is no longer the Prime Minister’s residence,” Song Qingqian said gently.

Chastened, Xiaotao lowered her head and said no more.

Song Qingqian had hidden a sleeping drug on her person, intending to slip it into the tea. Now that Xiao Beitang hadn’t returned, it suited her just fine—at least she didn’t have to pretend.

She lay down on a bed twice the size of her old one, pulled the white wedding handkerchief from beneath her body, and set it aside. The wedding rituals were elaborate, and her bridal robes heavy—she was exhausted.

Earlier, the Emperor and Empress had stayed with her, fearing she’d feel heartbroken, so even though she longed to rest, she’d had to keep up appearances, feigning sorrow and unease. It was emotionally draining.

Now that she was finally alone, she quickly fell asleep.

The next morning, the palace steward assigned to the library entered to clean and was stunned to find Xiao Beitang lying on a bench.

“Your Highness! Wh-what are you doing here?”

Just moments before, he’d been joking with some friends about the Crown Princess disappearing. He’d heard the whole palace had been in chaos, with the Imperial Guards scouring every corner. He’d laughed it off as gossip—but now here she was.

The sunlight from the doorway stung Xiao Beitang’s eyes. She winced, rubbed her eyes, sat up with a yawn, and looked around groggily.

“How did I end up here?” she mumbled.

Her head throbbed. She couldn’t recall. She rubbed her temple and let out a small groan.

Looking down at her wedding robes, it all came back—she’d gotten drunk, dodged the people searching for her, and wandered into the library.

“What time is it?”

“Your Highness, it’s a quarter past nine,” the servant replied.

“Don’t tell anyone where I hid,” she ordered, rising and holding her waist. After a night on the bench, her back was sore.

The servant quickly nodded in agreement.

Just as she reached the gates of Zichen Palace, Liuzi ran to greet her.

“My lady! Where on earth did you go? The Imperial Guards searched the entire palace for you last night!”

She ignored him, stepped over the threshold, and walked inside. “I’m starving. Prepare food.”

Liuzi hurried after her. “Your Highness, the Emperor has ordered that you go to Kunning Palace at once.”

“That can wait until after I eat,” she said carelessly.

Xing’er rushed to prepare the meal. Xiao Beitang ate and changed her clothes but had no intention of going to Kunning Palace.

Just as she stepped out the door, Zhao Yan appeared and nearly bumped into her.

He bowed. “Your Highness, are you on your way to Kunning Palace?”

“No,” she replied bluntly.

“Oh dear, that’s unfortunate,” Zhao Yan said with mock regret. Then he smiled. “I was ordered by His Majesty to escort you there personally. Please come with me now.”

She glanced at the two imperial guards behind him and asked, “What? If I refuse, are they here to drag me there?”

Zhao Yan bowed again. “I wouldn’t dare. It’s simply His Majesty’s order. Please don’t make things difficult for me.”

She sighed. “What are you waiting for, then? Let’s go.”

Upon entering the hall, she immediately saw Emperor Jing’s stormy expression and the Empress’s equally grim face. Seated to the side—was that Song Qingqian?

She was stunning. Xiao Beitang’s heart trembled slightly.

She stared for a moment, just as Song Qingqian turned her head and met her gaze. Xiao Beitang quickly looked away, pretending indifference.

“My d—”

“Xiao Beitang! Such audacity! You left your wife alone on your wedding night?” The Emperor’s roar cut her off just as she was about to kneel and greet them.

Instead, she straightened her knees and didn’t bow. With a faint smile, she looked at the Emperor.

It was pure defiance.

The Empress sighed softly and said, “Tang’er, you’re not a child anymore. How can you still be so reckless?”

Xiao Beitang’s smile faded. Her expression turned blank, revealing not the slightest trace of remorse.

Song Qingqian quietly observed her. Dressed in a dark robe embroidered with golden clouds, a golden crown atop her head, long hair tied high, its ends trailing behind her like the dawn’s first light—this was the true bearing of imperial nobility.

Song Qingqian couldn’t help but study her. With her sword-like brows, starry eyes, red lips, and pearly teeth, Xiao Beitang’s features bore a hint of feminine grace, a quality unique to women. She was nothing like the rumors of a dissolute playboy.

But over the past few days, Song Qingqian had realized everything she did was calculated. She visited gambling dens but never lost heavily. She frequented brothels but always sought the same girl. Perhaps she didn’t want to marry, but she had still gone through with it. The only boundary she hadn’t crossed was consummation.

Rebellious, but never truly unruly.

The Emperor stifled his fury. “Where were you last night? I’ve asked the gate guards. You never left the palace. The entire Imperial Guard turned the place upside down looking for you—and still, you eluded them?”

She replied calmly, “I had too much to drink and found a quiet place to rest.”

The Emperor frowned. “They searched every courtyard in the palace. You’re saying they simply missed you?”

She responded carelessly, “Maybe they’d already searched the spot before I got there.”

“Xiao Beitang, show some respect! That tone of yours—do you think this is acceptable behavior?” The Emperor seethed. But with Song Qingqian present, he softened his tone somewhat.

“Oh.”

“Qingqian, you suffered injustice last night. Don’t take it to heart,” the Emperor said.

Song Qingqian rose and gave a formal bow, saying not a single word in reply.