The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 45
Mr. Zhang had taught many students over the years, but most of them cut off contact with him after quietly leaving his home and the academy.
Sometimes, his disappointment stemmed from his own son, but more often, it was the attitude of his former students that left him disheartened. Some even spoke ill of him behind his back, slandering and mocking the teacher who had once poured his heart and soul into their education. After dedicating a lifetime to nurturing others, he was left with nothing but scorn and blame—how could he not be bitter?
Zhang Dingqing asked gently, “Sir, are you all right?”
Mr. Zhang gave a bitter laugh and let out a long, heavy sigh.
The two exchanged a look. The answer was clear even without words.
“Qingqian, Aqing,” Mr. Zhang said softly, “whether your teacher lives well or enjoys a good reputation no longer matters. You two are my only hope now. I only wish for you to take what I’ve taught and serve the nation with loyalty, bring prosperity to the people. If you can do that, I’ll have no regrets, even in death.”
Song Qingqian spoke warmly, “Sir, please don’t lose heart…”
“It’s not that I’ve given up,” Mr. Zhang said with a wry smile, shaking his head, “but after spending half my life educating others, how can I not feel disillusioned seeing things end like this? I say I’ve stayed true to my original intent—but who would believe me? I couldn’t even teach my own son properly. Who would still trust me with their children?”
…
They sat in Mr. Zhang’s home for a long time before leaving, weighed down with heavy hearts.
Zhang Dingqing walked beside Song Qingqian at a leisurely pace down the street and sighed, “The world is unpredictable.”
“We did what we could to help him,” Song Qingqian replied quietly, “but we still couldn’t change the outcome.”
“Speaking of gambling,” Zhang Dingqing said suddenly, with a note of veiled sarcasm, “I heard Her Highness frequents the gambling dens as well?”
Her tone carried a hint of probing, as though she were subtly reminding Song Qingqian of something.
Song Qingqian quickly added, “You and I only went to those places to help our teacher—and later, to assist the families of gamblers. It was all for the people. But Her Highness…”
“Her Highness knows where to draw the line,” Song Qingqian replied calmly. “She only goes for amusement—she’s not truly addicted.”
She was defending Xiao Beitang. Zhang Dingqing noticed, but said no more.
After a pause, Song Qingqian added, “Aqing, I know you’re worried she might not be able to bear the weight of responsibility, but she’s only sixteen. Even if she’s lacking, we should give her some time.”
It sounded as if she were trying to justify her own loyalty.
Zhang Dingqing pressed her lips together but said nothing.
As they approached the palace gates, they suddenly saw Xiao Beitang running ahead with a young woman in tow. Behind them, a group of black-clad men gave chase.
Song Qingqian’s heart skipped a beat.
Without hesitation, Zhang Dingqing leapt forward and began fighting the assailants. She was a seasoned warrior with excellent skills, but she was outnumbered and unarmed. Amid the chaos, she snatched a blade from one of the attackers and swiftly slit his throat.
Then she took down several more.
Finally, Xiao Beitang’s personal guards arrived and together they overpowered the attackers.
Xiao San tried to take one alive, but the man bit his own tongue and died.
“Your Highness, are you all right?” Song Qingqian asked anxiously, still shaken, rushing over to examine her.
“I’m fine,” Xiao Beitang replied, managing a smile. She glanced at Zhang Dingqing.
Zhang Dingqing bowed solemnly. “Your servant Zhang Dingqing arrived late to your rescue. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”
Zhang Dingqing? Wasn’t that Song Qingqian’s close friend?
“We deserve punishment. Your Highness, please pass judgment!” the guards all knelt low to the ground, guilt-ridden for nearly failing in their duty.
“I’m unharmed. All of you, rise,” Xiao Beitang said firmly. “And not a word of this to the Empress Dowager or my mother.”
She was shielding them. If the Emperor found out, there would surely be consequences.
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
Still shaken, Song Qingqian asked, “What on earth happened? In the capital, under the Emperor’s very nose—someone dared attempt an assassination? Were they after you?”
Xiao Beitang saw the worry in her eyes and replied, “I’ll explain everything once we return. Xiao Yi, Xiao Er—take Sun Yun back and see she’s safely settled.”
She glanced subtly at Zhang Dingqing. Her skills were exceptional, and with her sharp eyes and striking features, she was certainly impressive.
“Lady Zhang, I owe you today.”
Zhang Dingqing bowed. “It was my duty.”
“Aqing, thank you. You may return for now.”
Aqing? Song Qingqian calls her Aqing? Xiao Beitang looked at Song Qingqian, eyes filled with subtle surprise.
Back at Zichen Palace, Xiao Beitang appeared unfazed, but Song Qingqian’s face remained stormy.
Her brows furrowed. “Your Highness, how did you end up in such danger today?”
“I’ve been investigating the matter of Sun Cheng,” Xiao Beitang began. “Today, I wanted to visit the Sun residence again. But when we got there, we discovered the old caretaker had been murdered. Sun Yun had been hidden in a cabinet and barely escaped.
We took her with us, but we hadn’t gone far before those black-clad men attacked. Xiao Lin and Xiao Wanqi split off to draw them away, so I sent Xiao Yi and the others to protect them. But another group came after us. You saw the rest.”
Song Qingqian was bewildered. “Sun Yun? Xiao Yi?”
“She’s Sun Cheng’s younger sister—the only surviving member of the Sun family. According to her, she snuck out that night after refusing dinner in a huff. Not long after, the fire started. She sensed something was wrong and hid. She contacted the old caretaker and returned, but was discovered and chased.”
“I told you not to investigate this—why didn’t you listen?” Song Qingqian’s heart ached. How could she be so reckless?
Xiao Beitang knew she’d taken too big a risk. She looked aggrieved. “You were ignoring me… Is it because you think I’m guilty? That’s why you hate me? I just wanted to prove I’m innocent.”
“I… I wasn’t ignoring you!” Song Qingqian regretted it deeply. She had let her anger over Liu Li cloud her judgment. If not for that, Xiao Beitang wouldn’t have risked herself like this.
“You were—you smiled at Lu Wuyou, but ignored me…”
“I ignored you because… I thought you kept Linglong outside the palace… I…” Song Qingqian didn’t know how to explain. Even she couldn’t believe she’d been jealous.
“It wasn’t because of Sun Cheng? It was because of Linglong? Because of Liu Li?” Xiao Beitang’s eyes lit up with barely hidden joy, all the fear from earlier forgotten.
Song Qingqian flushed and cleared her throat. “Enough. Now you know. I suspected you, but when you said you didn’t do it, I chose to believe you. And now, it’s clear this case is far more complicated.”
Xiao Beitang grew serious again. “It likely has something to do with the Tongji Society. I don’t know how the Sun family provoked them, but they’re clearly ruthless.”
Song Qingqian frowned. “The Tongji Society?”
Xiao Beitang sat beside her, gently leaning her head on her shoulder. “Let’s not talk about that now. You said earlier you were mad because of Linglong—were you… jealous?”
She had missed Song Qingqian so much. These past few days without her had been agonizing.
Looking into her eyes, so bright and sincere, Xiao Beitang said, “I only ransomed her because of old ties. I didn’t keep her anywhere—I didn’t take her in. She’s at the Jiaofang bureau now. She plays the pipa beautifully. I just wanted to give her a way to survive. I’ve never had feelings for her—not in the past, not now, not ever.”
As she finished, she rubbed her head against Song Qingqian’s shoulder again.
It tickled. Song Qingqian shifted awkwardly. “Enough, that’s enough. Today was exhausting. Go bathe and rest. Whatever it is, we’ll talk tomorrow, all right?”
Xiao Beitang jumped up eagerly. “All right!”
She was beaming.