The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 47
Dawn was approaching.
The roosters at the temple crowed in succession, their calls echoing across the grounds. Song Qingqian, drowsy beyond endurance, finally succumbed to deep sleep.
As the eastern sky began to brighten, Xiao Beitang slowly opened her eyes. What she saw made her suck in a breath—right before her eyes was a beautiful, graceful curve. They were pressed tightly against each other. One of her legs was draped over Song Qingqian, her arm around her waist. The girl was nestled in her embrace, her face mere inches away from her soft chest.
Xiao Beitang dared not move. She held her breath and stayed perfectly still.
She knew she was being bad. She could have slipped away slowly and carefully… but Song Qingqian was so soft, so warm, and smelled so sweet. She couldn’t bear to let go—not just yet. Since she was already holding her, what harm was there in being greedy for a little while longer?
She quietly tilted her head to gaze at Song Qingqian’s sleeping face. So peaceful. Still just as beautiful. Xiao Beitang couldn’t resist the urge—she wanted to kiss her. And once she thought it, she summoned the courage and did just that.
A gentle kiss on her cheek.
Song Qingqian’s eyelids fluttered slightly.
Xiao Beitang immediately shut her eyes, pretending to be asleep.
Song Qingqian slowly opened hers, and inhaled sharply… She had been sleeping so deeply—surely she didn’t notice anything… right?
Her cheeks were burning hot.
She gently moved Xiao Beitang’s arm off her, and shifted her head from her shoulder.
Xiao Beitang stirred on her own, turning over onto her back and smacking her lips a few times, continuing her act of deep sleep.
Song Qingqian let out a quiet breath of relief, carefully got out of bed, and began washing up with light movements.
Xiao Beitang peeked at her with one eye, secretly amused.
Song Qingqian kept feeling like someone was watching her. But whenever she turned around, Xiao Beitang’s eyes were closed. Maybe I just didn’t sleep well… imagining things, she thought.
Once Song Qingqian had nearly finished getting ready, Xiao Beitang stretched lazily and yawned.
“Your Highness is awake?” Song Qingqian came over with a basin of hot water.
Xiao Beitang nodded and feigned ignorance, smiling sweetly. “Did you sleep well last night?”
Song Qingqian smiled back. “Well enough.”
Never again, she vowed silently.
Xiao Beitang took her answer at face value and smiled contentedly.
Song Qingqian steadied herself and handed her the warm water. After she washed, Song Qingqian helped her dress.
A simple vegetarian breakfast was brought from the temple. It was refreshing and wholesome. After the meal, they bid farewell to the abbot and followed a monk carrying water toward the Ling Mountain spring.
The mountain was thick with trees and lush foliage. Bamboo grew in abundance, so even in autumn, the landscape remained vibrant green. The mountain breeze was cool and pleasant, and in the distance, mist curled around the peaks like a scene from a fairyland. Earlier, they had come down from one of those very peaks.
Birdsong filled the woods. After walking for a while, the sound of water flowing became audible—sometimes rushing, sometimes gentle. The spring couldn’t be far.
They had arrived early and waited on a large stone. After a short while, they heard the others huffing and puffing as they finally made it up the path.
“I’m… exhausted…” Xiao Lin panted, leaning against a rock wall.
“Ms. Song, have you been waiting long?” Lu Wuyou, on the other hand, seemed full of energy.
“For all of you,” Song Qingqian replied, correcting her.
“So shameless…” Xiao Beitang muttered under her breath.
Lu Wuyou sighed dramatically, “I regret not hurrying up yesterday. If I had, I’d be the one sharing a room with Ms. Song on the mountain.”
“In your dreams!”
Song Qingqian sighed. “Enough, you two. No bickering.”
Standing slightly elevated, Song Qingqian addressed the group in a clear voice:
“Enjoy the view today. When we return, each of you will write a travel journal.”
“Aww, really?!” the group groaned in unison.
Song Qingqian looked at them and chuckled helplessly.
But in no time, the beauty of the mountain washed away their complaints.
Xiao Beitang stood by the spring. Lu Wuyou suddenly scooped up water and splashed her. Xiao Beitang retaliated immediately.
The weather was cold. Song Qingqian was about to remind them not to catch a chill, but the play quickly got out of hand—others joined in, laughter and shouts echoed through the mountains as water splashed in every direction.
Eventually, Song Qingqian gave up trying to stop them. When she was younger, hadn’t she been the same? If she weren’t their teacher, perhaps she too would have jumped in. But she had to stay composed.
By midday, the students split into small teams to go catch fish or wild chickens. They had food packed, but the students were enjoying their wilderness adventure too much to care. Whether they caught anything didn’t really matter—it was all about the fun.
But surprisingly, Xiao Beitang actually returned with several wild hares and pheasants.
Zhao Ziming had made a simple bow and some bamboo arrows. With just those, Xiao Beitang still managed to bring back game.
They built a fire and began roasting. Some gathered firewood, some lit the flames. Everyone worked together. It was far more tiring than life at the academy—but much more joyous.
Recalling the day she first arrived at the Imperial Academy, Song Qingqian couldn’t help but feel a twinge of emotion. Many students who once mocked or doubted her now treated her with respect, and everyone got along harmoniously.
After the Sun Cheng incident, Lu Wuyou and Xiao Beitang still bickered on the surface, but deep down they were quite friendly and often played together. It was only when Song Qingqian was around that they became unwilling to concede to each other.
The best example of their teamwork? The time they schemed together against the Headmaster.
The poor man was actually innocent—he had only given Sun Cheng a light punishment and had invited Song Qingqian for a discussion. But the two assumed he was bullying her again and, out of indignation, slipped a laxative into his tea. They gleefully watched him run to the latrine all day.
Lost in thought, Song Qingqian was jolted back when Xiao Beitang handed her a roasted rabbit leg.
“Try it,” she said with a bright, innocent grin.
Song Qingqian smiled, rinsed her hands in the spring, dried them thoroughly, and accepted it.
Lu Wuyou soon brought over some grilled fish. “Ms. Song, try this fish. Hers can’t possibly taste better than mine. I have real skills!”
“Ha! Shameless self-promotion,” Xiao Beitang scoffed.
After delivering the food, the two started bickering again as they walked off.
Song Qingqian, with a rabbit leg in one hand and a fish in the other, smiled faintly.
They stayed in the mountains the whole day, only leaving at sunset.
On the way back, their voices rang out in unison, singing freely, joyfully.
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Winter arrived in the blink of an eye.
The cold had deepened to the point that charcoal braziers were needed indoors. Heavy morning dew coated everything, and the frost-covered grass glistened in pale white—just the sight of it was enough to send a chill.
On this rest day, during her morning visit to Kunning Palace, Emperor Jing brought up a matter: Yuwen Yue of Beiliang was entering the capital. He seemed concerned. Yuwen Yue had repeatedly provoked incidents at the border and was known for being unruly.
The surrounding vassal states each harbored their own ambitions, eagerly waiting for Dayu to suffer internal strife. Though Yuwen Yue hadn’t officially been named Crown Princess, she was already acting in that capacity.
Emperor Jing studied Xiao Beitang closely.
He was weighing his thoughts. Yuwen Yue had a younger sister, Yuwen Yuan, who was accompanying her on this trip, supposedly to “relax”—but Emperor Jing had a keen sense that the purpose was far more calculated.
Xiao Beitang had become the focal point of the court and the people alike. Whether she could shoulder the great responsibility of ruling and whether Dayu had a wise successor—these were the pressing questions on everyone’s minds.
If it weren’t for her tendency to keep a low profile, the veteran ministers would have been watching her every step by now.