The Entire Harem has Transmigrated - Chapter 19

After a night of frantic activity and a rollercoaster of emotions, Ruan Qingqing rested at the Qian Family Old Residence for a long time. It wasn’t until the afternoon of the following day that she finally returned to Yu Yunfei’s residence with Li Qianxuan.

The alluring beauty immediately embraced Ruan Qingqing, planting a kiss on her cheek and exclaiming joyfully, “Bai Qiaoying’s work has all been suspended! The production team has officially announced she won’t continue playing the lead role in The Legend of the Great Qian’s Consort Shu. Your Majesty, this must be all thanks to you, right? How are you so amazing?”

Ruan Qingqing didn’t respond to the praise or react to the kiss. Her expression was listless, a stark contrast to her usual lively demeanor, her eyes sparkling with laughter.

Yu Yunfei couldn’t help but worry. Just as she was about to ask Ruan Qingqing what was wrong, Li Qianxuan grabbed her by the collar and pinned her against the wall.

“What are you doing?” Yu Yunfei snapped, annoyed.

But Li Qianxuan was even more furious, her eyes blazing with rage. “Why did you kiss Qingqing? Did I give you permission to touch her?”

Yu Yunfei’s beautiful fox-like eyes curved into a sly smile as she shot Li Qianxuan a provocative look. Her voice, however, remained soft and aggrieved. “What does my closeness with Your Majesty have to do with you, Noble Consort? Even Your Majesty hasn’t said anything. Aren’t you overstepping your bounds and meddling too much?”

Li Qianxuan was furious, practically itching to slap someone, but she restrained herself, noticing Ruan Qingqing nearby.

With a cold smile, Li Qianxuan released her grip and strode over to Ruan Qingqing, mimicking Yu Yunfei’s feigned aggrievedness.

However, she couldn’t replicate Yu Yunfei’s subtle, tea-like tone, so she bluntly stated, “Qingqing, I want one too.”

Still somewhat dazed, Ruan Qingqing blinked and asked, “Want what?”

Li Qianxuan: “I want to kiss you.”

“No,” Ruan Qingqing cupped her face with her hands and retreated, firmly refusing. “I won’t let you kiss me.”

Li Qianxuan now wore genuine hurt. “Why does Yu Yunfei get to kiss you, but I don’t?”

Ruan Qingqing replied, “Because I wasn’t paying attention earlier.”

Li Qianxuan: “Is that even allowed?”

Ruan Qingqing nodded, too dispirited to argue further, and retreated to Yu Yunfei’s bedroom to hide.

She was still a little sad, thinking about Jiang Li.

Back in the Qian Dynasty, Jiang Li had treated her with genuine kindness.

Ruan Qingqing had never fully understood matters of state or governance, but Jiang Li had always been patient, not only teaching her step-by-step but also helping her manage countless complex affairs.

Without Jiang Li, she would never have been able to secure the throne, let alone govern the war-torn, chaotic dynasty into a semblance of order. Her peaceful and healthy survival to the age of nineteen was entirely due to Jiang Li’s extraordinary talent and devoted care.

Yet Ruan Qingqing felt she had never repaid Jiang Li for any of this.

Jiang Li had no need for gold, silver, or jewels, and she cared nothing for the position of Imperial Preceptor. While Ruan Qingqing had made some amends for her past neglect of the Imperial Harem, she could ultimately claim to have a clear conscience in that regard.

But toward Jiang Li, she owed far too much—a debt she could never repay.

“I shouldn’t be angry with the Imperial Preceptor,” Ruan Qingqing murmured to herself, sitting on the bed with her arms wrapped around her legs, chin resting on her knees. “Even if she doesn’t remember me, I have no reason to be angry.”

No matter how close or dependent they had been in the past, in this life, they were strangers to each other. To Jiang Li, she was merely an unfamiliar face.

Jiang Li was right to ignore her.

Right to push her away.

Any degree of coldness toward her was perfectly justified.

Yet there are some things in this world that can be understood rationally but remain emotionally unacceptable. Jiang Li’s forgetting her was one such thing.

As she pondered, Ruan Qingqing began to cry again.

Through her tear-blurred vision, memories of the past resurfaced.

That evening, as the moon hung low in the twilight sky, she had grown unbearable from the chest-binding cloth. Seizing a moment when no one was watching, she loosened the restraints and climbed onto the gilded rooftop to weep in secret.

Jiang Li found her there, wiping away her tears and pulling her into an embrace, gently massaging the aching spots. When Ruan Qingqing finally calmed down, she glanced back, tugging on Jiang Li’s long hair as she asked, “The Imperial Preceptor has been so kind to me. How can I repay you?”

Jiang Li’s voice remained as detached as ever. “Your Majesty cannot repay me, nor is there any need to.”

“But if I don’t repay you, I’ll feel indebted,” Ruan Qingqing protested.

“You owe me nothing.” Jiang Li’s eyes were covered by a white silk blindfold, preventing Ruan Qingqing from seeing her expression. She only heard her say, “Having accompanied Your Majesty for so many years, there have been gains and losses, but I harbor no regrets, nor do I feel any lingering regrets.”

Jiang Li rarely spoke so openly. Ruan Qingqing clutched her smooth, dark hair, refusing to let go until she explained herself properly.

Jiang Li offered no further explanation. Pressed relentlessly, she merely added, “Perhaps this is our fate, one we cannot escape.”

“What’s with you, Imperial Preceptor? You seem so reluctant,” Ruan Qingqing pouted. “Tell me honestly, Jiang Li, wouldn’t you rather we’d never met? Just like Master said, if I hadn’t been such a burden, you might have already attained the Great Dao?”

Jiang Li paused before replying, “It’s unknowable.”

Unknowable.

The tears welled up again as Ruan Qingqing pondered those words.

In her previous life, Jiang Li had already lost so much because of her. Perhaps the best way to repay her in this life was to simply leave Jiang Li alone.

After all, Jiang Li was no longer the same.

Her long hair had been cut short, and her once-gray eyes had regained their normal color. Perhaps she deserved a fresh start—a new life free from Ruan Qingqing’s influence.

When Ruan Qingqing had cried enough and finally understood, she emerged from her room, her eyes still red and swollen. Yu Yunfei and Li Qianxuan were waiting at the door, and they startled at her appearance, immediately asking what was wrong.

Ruan Qingqing, having regained her composure, smiled brightly and said, “It’s nothing now. I’ve figured things out.”

Li Qianxuan pressed, “Figured what out?”

Ruan Qingqing said softly, “A-Yun’s troubles here are mostly resolved. Next, I plan to visit the Empress, and then set up a fortune-telling stall under the Tianqiao Bridge!”

Yu Yunfei: “!!!”

Li Qianxuan blurted out, “Who told you the Empress is here? Was it Yu Yunfei?”

Ruan Qingqing walked to the drawer, retrieved the magazine she had placed there earlier, and waved it. “I found out from this magazine.”

Yu Yunfei: “……”

They had been so careful to guard against every possibility, yet they had forgotten that Fu Yeqiu was also a prominent and influential figure.

Yu Yunfei felt a little deflated, but she immediately wrapped her arm around Ruan Qingqing’s, her smile sweet and charming. “Your Majesty, I support whatever you do! Why don’t you tell me more about setting up a fortune-telling stall under the Tianqiao Bridge?”

Ruan Qingqing eagerly shared her future plans with her.

Li Qianxuan wanted to say something, but Yu Yunfei shot her a warning glance and secretly sent a message when Ruan Qingqing wasn’t looking:

Fu Yeqiu is such a busy person—who knows where she is right now? If Qingqing wants to find her, we’ll just say we’ve never had any connection with her in this lifetime. It’s impossible to find her, and even if we could, it wouldn’t be appropriate. Let’s stall as long as we can. Noble Consort, do you understand?

I don’t need you to tell me what to do.

Despite her retort, the two ultimately agreed on a unified story.

“Qingqing,” Yu Yunfei sighed dramatically, “we’d love to help you contact the Empress, but we’ve never crossed paths with her in our lives. We don’t have her contact information and have no idea where she is.”

This was technically true, not a complete lie, and Li Qianxuan echoed her words.

“Oh, okay,” Ruan Qingqing replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice, but she nodded obediently.

“Besides, you don’t have official identification here. It’s manageable in South City, but going outside would be a real problem,” Yu Yunfei added with another sigh.

“It’s alright,” Ruan Qingqing reassured them, “I’m not in a rush to find Qiuqiu right now. You don’t need to feel guilty. A-Yun just reminded me that my top priority should be resolving my identity issues.”

“Exactly!” Li Qianxuan agreed. “I’ll figure something out.”

Despite these assurances, Ruan Qingqing still held the magazine and glanced through it. She also hadn’t contacted the bun-haired girl who had given her the magazine that day. Although the girl had insisted it was a gift and didn’t need to be repaid, Ruan Qingqing felt obligated to return the favor.

After all, one shouldn’t accept something without earning it.

The girl had written her contact information on a page of the magazine. Ruan Qingqing typed it in and sent a friend request, but after waiting for a long time, there was no response.

If that’s the case, I’ll just focus on something else for now.

Ruan Qingqing put down her phone, about to draw a talisman, when a series of frantic knocks echoed from the door.

“Who is it?”

Yu Yunfei peered through the peephole and saw her detested manager, Du Yun. Reluctantly, she opened the door.

“I’ve come with good news!” Du Yun’s eyes darted around the room as she entered. When she spotted Ruan Qingqing, she gasped, her eyes lighting up. Turning to Yu Yunfei, she asked, “Who’s this beautiful girl? Is she planning to debut? If not, she should join our company! I’ll package her myself…”

Li Qianxuan stepped protectively in front of Ruan Qingqing, her expression hardening. “Qingqing has no plans to debut.”

Qingqing.

So this was the person that powerful figure was looking for.

Du Yun’s eyes flickered with calculation, her smile widening into a radiant grin. Deliberately, she turned to Yu Yunfei, ignoring Ruan Qingqing. “Then let me tell you about the good news.”

“Isn’t it just that Bai Qiaoying’s been suspended, giving me another chance to compete for the lead role in The Legend of the Great Qian’s Consort Shu?” Yu Yunfei asked.

“That’s not all!” Du Yun exclaimed. “You know Fu Yeqiu, the president of the Fu Group, right? She’s planning to invest in the drama, and she’s even in South City today! I’ve arranged a meeting for you. Get dressed up and come with me!”

Yu Yunfei’s pupils dilated in shock. “Who did you say?”

Ruan Qingqing had already moved closer, asking excitedly, “Qiuqiu’s in South City? Then I can finally see her!”

Li Qianxuan hadn’t anticipated things would develop this way. She instinctively tried to dissuade them, “After all, this is a gathering organized by President Fu’s company. As outsiders, we shouldn’t intrude.”

Ruan Qingqing pouted, her dissatisfaction evident. “Don’t you want me to see Qiuqiu?” she challenged Li Qianxuan.

Li Qianxuan fell silent.

Du Yun seized the opportunity, feigning surprise. “So you know President Fu too, young lady? Then you should join us! You can put in a good word for Yunfei later and help her secure the lead role.”

Ruan Qingqing chirped, “Okay, okay!”

Yu Yunfei couldn’t help but feel defeated.

She also couldn’t understand why Du Yun was suddenly being so kind. Something felt off.

Then came something even more suspicious. Du Yun had several evening gowns brought over and, after sizing them up against Yu Yunfei, deliberately picked one out. “This dress is a bit small for you,” she remarked, “but it seems to fit Miss Ruan perfectly. Why don’t you wear it, Miss Ruan?”

Yu Yunfei: “……”

This is deliberate, isn’t it? This has to be deliberate!

Not far away, Fu Yeqiu stood by the fountain pool, her figure nearly perfect in a three-dimensionally tailored red evening gown. Her long hair cascaded down her back as she slowly swirled the wine in her glass.

“Did Qingqing wear it?” Her voice was deep and husky, tinged with an indescribable pleasure.

“Yes, yes, she did,” Du Yun fawned. “I even took photos. President Fu, would you like to see them?”

“No need,” Fu Yeqiu replied. “Just bring her here.”

Soon, she would see her again.

Her Little Majesty would be wearing the evening gown she had personally chosen, standing by her side once more.