The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 48

“Do you understand how important this matter is, Your Highness?” Song Qingqian asked on the way back.

She answered carelessly, “I do.”

Song Qingqian looked at her deeply.

But seeing her indifferent demeanor, she restrained her sternness. After all, she had never been involved in state affairs before—how could one expect her to mature overnight?

Softening her expression slightly, Song Qingqian said thoughtfully, “Your Highness, Yuwen Yue surely has a purpose in coming to the capital. She stirs up trouble at the border and now presents herself here, feigning goodwill. Her intentions are suspect—she is by no means a harmless person.”

Whenever it came to matters of state, Song Qingqian transformed entirely. In her eyes, she was responsible for the Crown Princess and couldn’t afford a single mistake.

Over a month later, the capital welcomed its first heavy snowfall. The Imperial Academy suspended classes, and Yuwen Yue, leading the Beiliang envoy, was already on her way.

“Xiao San just reported that the Sun family case has been closed,” Xiao Beitang said, her tone somewhat downcast.

“But you don’t look pleased, Your Highness.”

Xiao Beitang frowned. “I don’t believe this is just a simple revenge killing…”

Song Qingqian nodded. “It’s indeed suspicious.”

She chuckled and asked, “Did you come up with their names?”

“Hmm?” Xiao Beitang raised an eyebrow.

“I mean the names of the shadow guards,” Song Qingqian clarified.

“Yes.”

“Why are they called Xiao Yi, Xiao Er? I bet there’s a Xiao San, Si, Wu, Liu, up to Ba, right?” Song Qingqian was confused. Weren’t shadow guards usually named something fierce or emotionless? Like Tiangang,

Dishā, Iron Hand, or Merciless?

“No particular reason. They’re easier to remember,” Xiao Beitang replied. “Originally, One and Two had names like Qiansha and Kunsha, along with a bunch of weird ones—impossible to keep track of. They all wore identical black uniforms and kept a straight face. I couldn’t tell who was who. So, the names were just for identification.”

“I once called them all out. They stood in three neat rows—and only then did I realize how many of them there were, following me around. I thought, could that roof even hide them all?” Xiao Beitang scoffed disdainfully.

Song Qingqian returned to her usual calm and said earnestly, “Your Highness often leaves the palace. His Majesty is merely worried for your safety.”

“I know. I didn’t complain.” Xiao Beitang thought she was upset again and muttered under her breath.

Song Qingqian smiled. “I imagine even when they follow you, Your Highness probably can’t recognize them, right?”

Xiao Beitang nodded vigorously. “Once I saw a fortune-telling stand in the market and thought I’d give it a try. I looked up and saw a familiar face. She awkwardly said, ‘Master, I’m Xiao Liu.’”

Just recalling it made Xiao Beitang laugh—it was truly ridiculous. The girl had even stuck a pea-sized mole on her chin—who knows where she learned that trick.

Song Qingqian laughed along with her.

“Your Highness, would you accompany me to the Prime Minister’s manor tomorrow?” she asked.

“Tomorrow? To the Prime Minister’s?” Her tone was unusually surprised—and a bit anxious.

Song Qingqian hesitated. “If Your Highness is unwilling…”

“I didn’t say that,” Xiao Beitang quickly explained. “You just should’ve told me earlier, so I could prepare.”

Her words were a bit odd—shouldn’t it be the Prime Minister’s household doing the preparing? A visit from the Crown Princess would naturally demand thorough arrangements.

Song Qingqian smiled. “Then perhaps the day after?”

“Did you inform the Prime Minister?”

“No, not yet.”

“Then do you have urgent matters to attend to tomorrow?”

“My mother is ill. I wish to visit her. But…”

“But what?”

But the truth was, she didn’t necessarily need Xiao Beitang to come along. She only needed her permission—to return home openly and honorably.

By palace rules, with her current identity, she needed the Crown Princess’s approval to return to her family home in a dignified manner. Otherwise, she could only go in disguise, sneaking out.

It wasn’t about putting on airs—she simply didn’t want her mother to worry. She wanted to go home openly, without people whispering or speculating about her and Xiao Beitang.

“It’s nothing. If Your Highness is unavailable tomorrow, the day after will do.”

“No—tomorrow it is,” Xiao Beitang said decisively. “The Prime Minister’s wife is ill—how could I possibly delay?”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Xiao Beitang suddenly grew anxious. “Then let’s hurry back.”

She picked up her pace.

Back at the palace, Xiao Beitang rushed to the treasury, rummaging through items but finding nothing satisfactory. She then made her way to the Internal Affairs Storage Hall.

This place held items reserved exclusively for the Emperor—extremely valuable, inventoried and maintained by the Internal Affairs Bureau. Without an imperial edict, none of it could be touched.

“Greetings, Your Highness,” the steward, Deng Fu’an, greeted her nervously.

Xiao Beitang was in a hurry and waved off formalities. “No need for that. Open the door.”

Deng Fu’an hesitated, clearly distressed. “Your Highness, without the Emperor’s decree…”

“I don’t have time to fetch the edict now. I’ll make it up to you later,” Xiao Beitang said impatiently.

“But…” Deng Fu’an still didn’t dare disobey.

Xiao Beitang snatched the key from his waist and strode directly toward the storeroom.

“Your Highness—please! This is improper…” Deng Fu’an trailed behind her helplessly.

Xiao Beitang ignored him and unlocked the door. Inside, shelves were lined with dazzling rare treasures—jade, emeralds, rare coral, exotic herbs, and thousand-year-old ginseng.

She didn’t even recognize most of the items—if not for the tags beneath each one, she’d only know they were valuable, not what they were for.

She casually selected a few from each category and handed them to Xiao Liu, who followed her like a servant at the market buying cabbage.

Deng Fu’an was frantic behind her. “Your Highness, this one mustn’t be dropped! And this one—be careful! That one can’t be handled like that…”

Xiao Liu, hearing this, looked like he was holding live explosives—completely at a loss.

Xiao Beitang summoned attendants to wrap everything properly.

“Your Highness, even His Majesty has never taken so much at once… This—this is absolutely not allowed!” Deng Fu’an looked heartbroken as she carried everything away.

Satisfied, Xiao Beitang had the treasures delivered to Zichen Palace. Then she went to bathe thoroughly and ordered Xing’er to bring several outfits for her to choose from tomorrow. Only then did she feel at ease.

Xiaotao, hearing the commotion outside, asked, “What’s Her Highness so busy with, moving things in and out?”

Song Qingqian didn’t pay much mind. “Did you prepare what I asked?”

“All ready. We’re finally going home tomorrow. So happy!” Xing’er beamed.

“Alright, make the final arrangements early.” But Song Qingqian’s heart remained uneasy—she couldn’t stop worrying about Yuwen Yue.

“Yes, ma’am.” Xiaotao extinguished several lamps before withdrawing.