The Villainess Always Wants to Cuddle With Me [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 15

The October breeze should have been refreshing, yet it felt bone-chillingly cold against her skin.

The wind whipped up Ling Jun’s skirt, carrying away her falling tears. Helpless, she bit down hard on her lower lip, tearing open the newly formed scab. A metallic, bitter taste spread through her mouth, seeping down her throat.

Her heart ached fiercely. Was this what love felt like? Was this the “passion” people spoke of? As the crows fade into dusk, who bears the blame for this lingering sorrow? Like snowflakes swirling around the fragrant pavilion, plum blossoms scent the air, yet the heart’s words have burned to ash…

But…

Qi Gui’s heart would race at her touch, her ear tips flushing crimson, as adorable as a bashful mimosa, its leaves folding inward at the slightest touch. Why, then, did she never reciprocate Ling Jun’s burning affection? Why did her indifference reduce Ling Jun’s passion to… the heart’s fragrant words burned to ash, sinking into the unfathomable depths of an icy pool…

Xiao Mei, having learned of Ling Jun’s return from Sister Anxin, rushed forward anxiously to confirm her safety. Only when she saw no injuries on Ling Jun’s body did she finally exhale in relief. “Where did you go, Princess? I’ve been searching everywhere for you.”

Seeing the deep sorrow on Ling Jun’s face, her body trembling slightly, tears streamed down her jade-like cheeks and into her heart. She pressed her lips together, silent. Xiao Mei, fearing the Princess had suffered some injustice or hardship, gently patted Ling Jun’s shoulder and asked cautiously, “Princess? Are you… are you alright?”

Snapping out of her reverie, Ling Jun wiped away the tears and nodded faintly. She walked slowly toward her bedroom, her solitary figure resembling a lone goose flying south, utterly alone and struggling in isolation.

Xiao Mei followed behind Ling Jun, refusing to believe the Princess was truly unharmed. How could anyone pretend nothing had happened when she looked like that? Yet she had never seen Ling Jun endure such pain in silence. The sight of her retreating figure broke Xiao Mei’s heart.

Eager to attend to Ling Jun, Xiao Mei stayed close behind her. But as soon as Ling Jun entered her room, she slammed the door shut, locking Xiao Mei out.

Ling Jun slid down the door, eventually crouching behind it, hugging her knees to her chest. Her eyes were vacant, tears streaming down her cheeks, soaking her sleeves and collar. She wept for a long time, her heart pounding so hard it seemed to echo in her ears, throbbing against her temples.

Xiao Mei knocked on the door several times, calling out anxiously for the Princess. But Ling Jun, inside, seemed deafened by her grief, hearing nothing at all.

Xiao Mei listened intently at the door, but for a full incense stick’s worth of time, there was no sound. Then, faint whimpers began to emerge from within, like a helpless puppy sobbing, tugging at the heartstrings. Xiao Mei could only fret helplessly outside the door.

Inside the room, several jars of clear wine were hidden in a chest. Ling Jun pried open the red clay stoppers, her eyes flickering with conflicted thoughts. What did Guan Qigui truly feel for her? Was her heart really moved by her? Was the blush on her ear tips genuine? Her eyes darkened as she frantically grabbed a jar and drained it in one gulp.

The wine burned down her throat like the scorching sun, its fiery heat ravaging her throat and chest.

In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, several empty jars lay scattered around her. Her body felt as if it were on fire, the dizzying heat in her head driving away all sorrow, all memory of this life. Her expression grew hazy as she repeated, “Qi Gui… Qi Gui… what do you mean? I’m really going to die… You were the one who provoked me first…”

Ling Jun gasped for breath, her body temperature rising steadily, burning away her sanity. She clutched at her scalp and wailed in anguish.

Xiao Mei heard everything clearly from outside the door. Her heart leaped in alarm. What’s happening to the Princess? She frantically pounded on the nanmu-patterned wooden door, calling out, “Princess, don’t scare me! What’s wrong? Princess…?”

“Lian Chen… I’m fine…” Ling Jun rasped, her voice weak and barely audible. The clinking of colliding objects echoed through the room.

“Princess, please drink less!” Xiao Mei pleaded, her anxiety burning like fire. This is clearly not “fine.” The Princess won’t tell me anything, and I can’t pry. But…

“Go to sleep, Xiao Mei.” The sound of liquid being swallowed came from within, followed by a clattering as something was carelessly tossed aside. Perhaps Xiao Mei had finally obeyed… Changyang Palace was indeed quiet. Ling Jun frowned, cursing herself inwardly. Why am I being so melodramatic? Just because there’s less activity, why does it feel so lonely and painful? I’m being ridiculous…

Xiao Mei couldn’t bear to watch the Princess suffer and drink herself into oblivion. Yet she felt powerless to stop her. Her brow furrowed in worry. Suddenly, she heard the Princess calling out for Qi Gui repeatedly. Understanding dawned in her heart. I’ll go find Guan Qigui! Maybe she’ll know what to do…

Xiao Mei dashed toward Guanglan Palace, her footsteps swift as the wind. She burst into the courtyard, shouting, “Guan Qigui! Hurry and save my princess!”

The palace was deserted. A servant strode out from an inner chamber, frowning at her words. “Please leave, girl. Our young master is not here.”

Hearing this, Xiao Mei paced anxiously, her eyes brimming with tears. Realizing that panic wouldn’t help, she turned to the servant, Dong Ying, and asked, “Do you have any way to contact your young master?”

Before Dong Ying could answer, a gust of wind swept through the courtyard. Black Hawk, clad in dark night attire and wearing a gray-black jade pendant at his waist, materialized before Xiao Mei. “I can contact my master.”

Xiao Mei’s face lit up with relief. “Thank you, young man! Please hurry and inform your master. Our princess has been drinking heavily, and her life may be in danger. She’s locked herself in her chambers. Tell her to come to the princess’s chambers immediately!”

Black Hawk nodded and vanished into the night, heading toward Fragrant Full House with the urgency of a shooting star.

When Guan Qigui received the news, she flew into a rage. She slammed her palm against the darkness, her brow blazing with fury, her expression fierce. “How could mere drinking endanger her life?! I ordered you to protect the princess! What use are you?!”

Black Hawk staggered from Guan Qigui’s palm strike, his internal organs trembling violently, bl00d trickling from the corner of his mouth. He dared not show the slightest hesitation. “The Princess has remained in her chambers. If she… if the Princess chooses to drink, this subordinate has no authority to intervene…”

Guan Qigui’s eyes darkened with a chilling intensity, her fingers clenched tightly at her side. Could she really harm herself in a drunken stupor?

With this thought, Guan Qigui raced toward Changyang Palace. Black Hawk followed, clutching his chest and abdomen, his internal injuries slowing him down. He couldn’t keep up with Guan Qigui’s swift movements and soon lost sight of her. Knowing her destination, he hurried toward Changyang Palace as well.

The night was dim and hazy, thick clouds obscuring the moon over Changyang Palace. Ling Jun had never been one to close her windows. Guan Qigui slipped through a side window of the bedchamber. As soon as she landed, she heard soft, muffled sobs. Frowning, Guan Qigui approached Ling Jun, only to find her leaning against the doorframe, her eyes clouded and unfocused. Several empty wine bottles lay scattered at her feet, while she cradled a jar of clear wine, taking deep swigs.

“What have you done to yourself?” Guan Qigui demanded, rooted to the spot, her heart pounding wildly. She couldn’t bring herself to approach Ling Jun.

“Qi Gui? My beloved has come?” Ling Jun couldn’t make out the figure before her, but the voice was unmistakable. Her beloved had come… but why would she visit her in the middle of the night? She had just confessed and been rejected. Shouldn’t she be staying in her own courtyard? Why was she standing before her now?

I must be hallucinating from the alcohol, she thought, closing her eyes. Her eyelids felt dry, swollen, and stinging. She scoffed softly at herself. Ha… I’ve really drunk myself stupid. Why would Qi Gui ever come to my dilapidated little hut? What a joke. I’m such a fool. You were the one who provoked me first, Qi Gui! You teased me when we first met, you held me when I couldn’t stop crying, and even…

Guan Qigui froze in place. The young princess’s drunken state only made her more captivating. But her words… Guan Qigui’s sword-like brows furrowed with a pang of heartache. The sheltered princess was now being dragged into the whirlpool of this bottomless abyss, all because of her… Yet… if she hadn’t fought and seized what she wanted, she would already be a pile of bones, without even a tombstone or anyone to remember her. They were destined to clash, their swords drawn against each other…

Guan Qigui stepped forward, kicking aside the unsightly wine bottles and porcelain jars. She knelt down, gently stroking Ling Jun’s smooth, delicate cheek and wiping away the tears at the corner of her eye. “I’m sorry…” she whispered.

Ling Jun slapped away the hand on her face, glaring fiercely at the illusion before her. “Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me! Let’s pretend that night was just a dream. I’ve repaid your kindness.” As she spoke, two fresh tears streamed down her already dry cheeks. “Please, let me go. I don’t want to love you anymore. This unrequited love… it’s agonizing.”

Guan Qigui squeezed the palm Ling Jun had slapped away, her eyes filled with confusion and guilt. She truly couldn’t reciprocate Ling Jun’s feelings… at least not now. But if she were to seize the throne, the woman before her would likely hate her with every fiber of her being. She closed her eyes helplessly, longing to pull Ling Jun into her arms and confess, I love you, I love you so much… But she couldn’t.

The moonlit night grew colder. Guan Qigui clenched her fists, her crimson lips pressed into a tight line. She cast one last, deep look at the woman she loved, took a deep breath, and turned away without hesitation. This is for the best… We were merely cooperating for mutual benefit… Let no one develop feelings. This is the only way.

The next morning, Xiao Mei saw Ling Jun emerge from her chambers. The princess’s face was no longer serene and composed as before; her expression was grave, and an icy aura radiated from her.

Overnight… how could the princess have become a completely different person…?

After a brief wash, Ling Jun headed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The time had come…

Emperor Yuchi Gong was in a furious rage in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The cause: someone had poisoned his food the previous night. This grave matter demanded immediate investigation.

He had just finished the morning court session and come to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to oversee the inquiry when his personal eunuch informed him that the Crown Prince was responsible.

When Ling Jun arrived at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Emperor was smashing cups and saucers into dust. He picked up an antique vase from a display shelf, raised it into the air, his eyes burning with murderous intent, paused for a moment, then set it back down.

“Long live the Imperial Father! Your daughter, Lian Chen, has come to pay her respects,” Ling Jun said, straightening her posture and kneeling in a formal bow.

The personal eunuch leaned in to whisper to the Emperor, who waved his hand and declared loudly, “Summon her!”

Ling Jun entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation and bowed again. The Emperor gazed at his increasingly graceful daughter, who now bore a striking resemblance to Consort Yan. Yet… her spirit was entirely different. He frowned and asked, “What brings you here?”

“I heard Imperial Father has been feeling fatigued lately,” Lian Chen replied. “I came to see if he was well.”

Knowing the Emperor had been angered by his sons recently, Eunuch Chunxi quickly chimed in, “Your Majesty, the Princess is truly thoughtful.”

“Mind your tongue!” Yuchi Gong glared at him.

Eunuch Chunxi wisely fell silent.

“It’s kind of Lian Chen to think of me,” the Emperor said. “I haven’t seen her in years. Come closer, let me take a good look at you.” He beckoned Ling Jun forward, his usual irritable mood easing at the sight of her.

Ling Jun rose, grasped the Mystic Staff, and walked toward him, her lips pressed into a thin line. When Eunuch Liu noticed she was heading in the wrong direction, and the Emperor’s expression darkening, he hurried forward to guide her toward the throne.

The Emperor took Ling Jun’s hand and patted it, sighing, “So many years have passed… Lian Chen has grown so much. I’ve avoided seeing you to avoid any suspicion. How have you been?”

Ling Jun suppressed her disgust and calmly replied, “I’m well, thank you for your concern, Imperial Father.”

Perhaps the recent troubles with his rebellious sons had frayed the Emperor’s nerves. Seeing Ling Jun’s resemblance to Consort Yan in her youth, a flicker of warmth appeared in his eyes.

After a moment’s thought, Ling Jun spoke the words she had carefully prepared: “The Imperial Preceptor said Your Majesty has been troubled lately. He sent Lian Chen to help ease your burdens.”