The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 26
She was sulking—of that, Song Qingqian was now certain.
She had been out the entire day and hadn’t returned, and yet Song Qingqian hadn’t made a fuss like she had previously. That day at Baihua Pavillion, her only intention had been to show Xiao Beitang that she,
Song Qingqian, was not someone to be easily pushed around.
Xiao Beitang still returned to the palace before nightfall. Song Qingqian was reading in the courtyard and didn’t even lift her eyes when she saw her return.
Xiao Beitang swaggered through the courtyard and called out, “Xing’er, I’m hungry.”
She glanced toward the western wing. The door was tightly shut.
Xiao Beitang waited for a while, but Song Qingqian didn’t come out. She waited a bit longer, still no sign of movement from the western chamber.
Liuzi, sensing her impatience, asked, “Your Highness, shall I go and invite the Crown Princess to come for dinner?”
She replied haughtily, “If you want to go, then go.”
Liuzi returned shortly—alone.
Xiao Beitang craned her neck to look behind him. No one?
“Where is she?”
Liuzi stammered, “The Crown Princess said… she has no appetite tonight and won’t be joining the meal.”
“What?” Xiao Beitang frowned, her gaze landing on the table piled with dishes. “She can eat or not, as she pleases.”
She stabbed her chopsticks into the table, attempted to pick up some food, then slapped the chopsticks back down. Rising abruptly, she stormed out.
At the western wing’s door, Wu Sanqi stood guard. He bowed, “Your Highness.”
Her tone was sharp. “Where is the Crown Princess?”
“She’s feeling unwell and has already retired to rest.”
Xiao Beitang let out a cold laugh. “At this hour? You’re telling me she’s asleep already? Who do you think I am?”
“I wouldn’t dare, Your Highness. The Crown Princess is indeed unwell and has gone to bed.”
“Then let me in to see her.” She made to push her way inside.
Wu Sanqi spread his arms and blocked her path. “Forgive me, Your Highness.”
Xiao Beitang’s brows furrowed. “What, I can’t even visit my own wife now?”
“The Crown Princess gave strict orders—she’ll see no one.”
“Heh. ‘See no one,’ is it?” Xiao Beitang gave him a fierce look, then turned and went back to her quarters.
Inside the western chamber, though the air was cool, Song Qingqian’s body was covered in a sheen of sweat. Her eyes were bloodshot, her cheeks flushed with heat, her whole frame so fragile she seemed as if she might shatter at a touch.
Gripping the bedsheet tightly, she forced herself upright, murmuring, “Yize Pill…”
Xiaotao knelt by the bed, tears spilling uncontrollably. Her voice trembled, “You’ve already taken too many today… if this continues, I fear your body won’t be able to take it…”
With the last of her strength, Song Qingqian rasped, “Quickly… bring it…”
Sobbing, Xiaotao fetched a Yize Pill, hesitated, and handed it over.
Song Qingqian panted weakly. “Two… one is no longer enough…”
Xiaotao had no choice but to take out another, helping her swallow both with water. Only then did Song Qingqian’s breathing steady, and gradually, she drifted off to sleep.
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For the next three days, Xiao Beitang deliberately rose late each morning. Surely, if she wasted the days like this, Song Qingqian would have something to say about it. But from the western wing, there was still no movement.
Frustrated, she stormed out of the palace and threw herself into gambling halls and brothels, behaving even more recklessly than before. These escapades were bound to reach Song Qingqian’s ears—surely she wouldn’t tolerate such debauchery.
Yet three days passed, and still Song Qingqian did not leave her room.
Now truly anxious, Xiao Beitang leapt to her feet, striding urgently toward the Imperial Medical Bureau.
“Her Highness the Crown Princess Consort arrives,” Liuzi announced, following her in with a quick glance at the situation.
Inside, only a night-duty physician was present, copying medical records. Startled, he fumbled his brush and hurried outside to greet her.
“Your Highness.”
Xiao Beitang asked impatiently, “Who’s been treating So— the Crown Princess these past few days?”
The physician thought for a moment. “It should be Imperial Physician Zhang.”
“And where is she now?” Xiao Beitang’s tone was sharp.
The doctor, sensing something serious, stammered, “Physician Zhang is not on duty today… she’s returned home…”
Xiao Beitang felt a pang of disappointment. Still unwilling to give up, she asked, “Do you know what illness the Crown Princess is suffering from?”
That wasn’t something he could answer lightly! He hesitated, then said, “Your Highness, I’ll need to consult the records first.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” she snapped.
“Yes, of course.” He scrambled back inside.
The record from that day hadn’t yet been archived. The doctor found it quickly, scanned it from start to finish, mind racing. According to the chart, the Crown Princess seemed fine—just a minor cold. But judging by Her Highness’s urgency, something clearly wasn’t right.
“Well?” Xiao Beitang demanded.
“According to the pulse record, the Crown Princess seems to have caught a cold. A prescription has already been issued.”
“She’s shut herself in for three days straight—are you certain it’s just a cold?”
The doctor looked at her, deeply puzzled. After double-checking the chart, he said again, “There’s nothing seriously wrong on record, Your Highness…”
Though suspicious, Xiao Beitang accepted the explanation. Perhaps when Song Qingqian said she wouldn’t interfere, she truly meant it—complete withdrawal.
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Back in the western wing, Song Qingqian felt slightly better after taking the Yize Pills. She let out a long sigh.
“Crown Princess,” Xiaotao asked tearfully, “what’s really going on? You’ve never been like this before…”
Song Qingqian shook her head faintly. Imperial Physician Zhang had told her it was Xiao Beitang’s pheromones affecting her.
If that was the case, three years… she might not last that long. The realization pained her. So, this is what it feels like when passion strikes so fiercely—it gnaws at you. Lately, with Xiao Beitang’s pheromones constantly around her, she had become too easily affected. Not only had her heat arrived early, it was more intense than ever. The Yize Pills barely held it at bay.
Xiaotao asked, “But if you keep taking them, not only will they harm your health, their effect will weaken. Didn’t Physician Zhang suggest any better solution?”
Song Qingqian’s gaze drifted. A better solution? None. Zhang’s unspoken implication was clear: her and Xiao Beitang’s pheromones were highly compatible, which was why her body reacted so strongly. If she wanted the heat to be more bearable, there was only one way—consummation, and marking.
But Song Qingqian couldn’t accept that.
Then what was she to do going forward? After much thought, she decided—perhaps it was time to talk to her about it. A Qianyuan shouldn’t be releasing pheromones so freely in public.
She said firmly, “This matter must not spread.”
Xiaotao lowered her voice, “Don’t worry, Physician Zhang won’t speak of it. And someone’s been guarding the door the whole time.”
“Good.” Song Qingqian paused. “And Her Highness? What has she been doing lately?”
Xiaotao pouted. “Same as before… gambling halls, brothels, drinking, debauchery… she hasn’t shown the slightest concern for you.”
Xiaotao rattled off the words angrily. Her Highness had shown some care at the beginning—had even come to check on her—but after that, she hadn’t even asked. Who knows what mischief she’s gotten up to.
Baixue nudged her gently, adding in a softer voice, “She has been concerned… But since you wouldn’t let her see you, maybe she just felt it was pointless…”
Even Baixue found her explanation feeble and trailed off mid-sentence.
Song Qingqian said lightly, “Don’t worry. I won’t be disappointed because of this. You’ve all been tending to me for three days—you should rest.”
Had it not been for the sudden onset of heat, she wouldn’t have locked herself away without first explaining things to Xiao Beitang.
But three days of suffering had drained her completely. The medicine prescribed by Zhang also had a sedative effect. After giving her instructions, she drifted back into sleep.