The Villainess Always Wants to Cuddle With Me [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 19

“Beware of fire, the weather is dry,” the night watchman called out, striking his bronze gong. A figure darted swiftly across the tiled roofs beside him.

The person arrived at Guanglan Palace and had just settled into meditation when they overheard two voices at the gate.

“Is your young master ready yet?”

“My young master is changing and preparing. It won’t be long. Besides, your master didn’t inform us beforehand about this night journey. Young sir, why don’t you return first?”

Hearing Dong Ying’s words, Zhang He’s face clouded with difficulty. After a moment’s thought, he shook his head. “If I return, I must bring someone back to report. Otherwise, my head…”

A night journey? What new trick is Yu Chi Lan playing now? Why must so many people travel at night? Guan Qigui frowned and interrupted, “Dong Ying, open the gate.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Guan Qigui retrieved a pre-packed bundle from the cabinet and tossed it to Dong Ying. Turning to Zhang He, she asked, “Did Prince Lan say anything else to you?”

Zhang He glanced at the bundle. “What do you mean, Young Master?”

“Did Prince Lan not explain the reason for traveling at night in detail?” Guan Qigui’s narrow phoenix eyes fixed intently on Zhang He. If he dared utter a single lie, she would leave Yu Chi Lan to rot in the northern wilderness, a feast for wild dogs.

“Well… His Highness said…” Zhang He licked his slightly dry lips and sniffled twice. “He said we should make good progress while it’s dark to prevent treacherous individuals from sending word ahead. It’ll also ensure a safer journey.”

His indigo eyes, tinged with murky black, betrayed his lie. Guan Qigui chuckled meaningfully and patted Zhang He’s shoulder. “Let’s go. Time to set out.”

Winter was settling in, and the air in Changyang Palace had grown noticeably colder.

As dawn broke, Ling Jun jolted awake on the red pine bed in her chamber. She glanced at the empty space beside her and closed her eyes again.

Was it all just a dream? She distinctly remembered Qi Gui coming to her last night. She remembered them talking together, leaning close, until she drifted off to sleep. And then… she vividly recalled embracing someone in her sleep, yet now…

Ling Jun exhaled a stale breath and sat up, reaching for something beside her pillow. Her fingers brushed against a warm piece of jade. She picked it up and examined it closely.

“Qi… Gui…”

She blinked, momentarily stunned. Tilting her head in confusion, she murmured, “How did her jade pendant end up here?”

A hazy memory surfaced—last night…

“My lady, Zhang He, Prince Lan’s attendant, has arrived,” Black Hawk announced through the window, tapping lightly.

“Understood. You may withdraw.”

Guan Qigui watched Ling Jun sleeping soundly beside her, reluctant to disturb her. She carefully lifted Ling Jun’s hand from her waist and gently placed it back on Ling Jun’s own side. Just as she was about to rise, Ling Jun pulled her into a tight embrace.

Ling Jun’s voice was languid, still half-asleep. “Where are you going?”

Guan Qigui chuckled, stroking Ling Jun’s back casually. “To meet your love rival’s lapdog.”

Love rival? Ling Jun snorted twice and playfully bit down on Guan Qigui’s collarbone.

Guan Qigui groaned softly, raising her eyebrows and blocking Ling Jun’s restless teeth with her lips.

The kiss jolted Ling Jun fully awake. She whimpered twice in mock surrender, her voice soft and utterly disarming. Guan Qigui’s cheeks flushed crimson, like plum blossoms in winter. She had no choice but to release her.

Having been defeated here, she would have her revenge elsewhere. Ling Jun was not one to be trifled with. She reached into Guan Qigui’s robes, but just as she was about to pull something out, she felt a hard object. She withdrew it without looking. In the dim light, she couldn’t make out what it was. “What’s this?” she asked.

Tap, tap, tap.

An urgent knock sounded at the window again. Guan Qigui glanced at the half-open window and replied, “My jade pendant.”

“Then it’s my jade pendant now,” Ling Jun declared, clutching the pendant possessively.

“We don’t have time for this. Stop playing around and give it back,” Guan Qigui said, reaching for the pendant. Ling Jun quickly tucked it back into her robes.

“I’m all yours. Why can’t I have your jade pendant?” Ling Jun argued, her voice ringing with conviction. She reached under the bed and pulled out a jade pendant, pressing it into Guan Qigui’s hand. “Do you know what it means to see an object and think of its owner? Let’s exchange.”

Guan Qigui was speechless. She never imagined the timid princess who had been so flustered at the Wind and Moon Pavilion just days ago could now speak such flirtatious words without batting an eye.

Guan Qigui rose and stood before the bed. She gently kissed the jade pendant in her hand, which bore the inscription “Lian Chen,” and tucked it into her robes. Then, she brushed a fleeting kiss across Ling Jun’s forehead. Gazing at her beloved on the bed with lingering affection, she murmured, “Take care, my princess.”

The scenes from last night replayed vividly in Ling Jun’s mind, as if a tiny ant were exploring her heart, leaving an unbearable itch. She buried her face in the quilt, her thoughts consumed by her own shameless declaration, “I am yours.”

After a moment of awkwardness, Ling Jun remembered that Guan Qigui was due to depart north today. She leaped out of bed and called out, “Xiao Mei, hurry and find Guan Qigui for me!”

Before she could reach Guanglan Palace, a figure suddenly appeared before her—Black Hawk, Guan Qigui’s trusted confidant.

He clasped his hands in a respectful bow. “Princess, my lord departed last night. By now, she should be nearing Liuzhou. Before leaving, she entrusted me with this for you.”

Black Hawk presented a sealed letter. Ling Jun accepted it, carefully tucked it into her robes, and raised her eyes to study him. “You’re Black Hawk?” she asked slowly.

“Indeed.”

Ling Jun gripped her Mystic Staff tightly, murmuring, “Why did she leave so abruptly…?”

Black Hawk cleared his throat. “Prince Lan sent his attendant Zhang He to Guanglan Palace last night. My lord left immediately after meeting with him.”

“Prince Lan’s men…” Ling Jun thought harder, growing increasingly suspicious. Guan Qigui had claimed last night that she was going to meet her love rival’s lackey. Even if Yu Chi Lan was eager to reach the north, what was the purpose of traveling at night? Rumors circulated that Prince Lan had a fondness for male companions, and the incident with the drugged pool… Could it be…? Ling Jun gazed northward, her eyes radiating an icy chill.

Twenty miles outside the capital, withered branches cast skeletal shadows. The last leaves clung to the boughs, their nutrients draining back into the earth as they fell, sinking deep into the mud.

“The Dense Forest Post is just a mile east,” Yu Chi Lan said, pointing. “We’ll rest there for the night. Once the elite troops catch up, we’ll press northeast at full speed.”

Guan Qigui nodded. Sensing Yu Chi Lan had more to say, she quickly interjected, “Your Highness, my stomach is empty. I’ll take my leave first. Forgive my rudeness.” With that, she tightened her reins and spurred her horse eastward. Dong Ying glanced at Yu Chi Lan and Zhang He, nodded to Yu Chi Lan, and followed Guan Qigui.

Yu Chi Lan watched Guan Qigui’s retreating figure with a sneer. He turned to Zhang He and asked cautiously, “Is everything prepared?”

Zhang He replied, “Your Highness, rest assured. The owner of the Dense Forest Post knows better than to cause trouble. Everything has been arranged.”

Yu Chi Lan nodded, tightened his grip on the reins, cracked his whip, and shouted, “Giddy up!”

Guan Qigui, who had ridden ahead, dismounted quickly and handed her horse to Dong Ying to stable before entering the inn. She glanced around the courtyard: two merchants sat outside the gate, while inside, only the manager and a waiter were present.

“Welcome, esteemed guest! Are you here for a meal or lodging?” Manager Zhang sized Guan Qigui up and down. Her clothes were understated, yet her bearing was extraordinary. He immediately knew she was no ordinary traveler.

Guan Qigui sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, and drank it slowly, her gaze fixed on Manager Zhang with an inscrutable expression. “I’ll have a meal and stay the night. Do you have any rooms available?”

Manager Zhang beamed. “Of course, esteemed guest! You’ve come at just the right time. We have one room left. What would you like to eat?”

“Just bring me two simple dishes,” Guan Qigui replied, lowering her gaze to the teacup in her hand, a silent sneer forming in her heart. One room left… Yu Chi Lan’s reach extends far indeed.

“Right away!”

In the Imperial Study, Ling Jun listened to Xiao Mei read the letter aloud, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Black Hawk,” she called out.

Black Hawk, standing behind the screen, responded immediately, “Your subordinate is present.”

Since Yu Chi Lan’s departure, Ling Jun’s heart had remained suspended in anxiety. A heavy weight pressed down on her chest, leaving her feeling stifled. Beyond missing him, she worried he might act rashly on his journey north. She waved her hand. “Send a letter to Qi Gui. We need to reconsider the matter of skinning the tiger. He must not let anger cloud his judgment. Also, write at the end of the letter, three times: ‘Stay safe. Remember, three times.'”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will attend to it immediately.”

After Black Hawk left, Xiao Mei closed the window tightly and approached Ling Jun. “Princess, I’ve uncovered the identity of the Wind and Moon Pavilion’s true owner.”

Ling Jun raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Who is it?”

Xiao Mei leaned in close and whispered, “Vice Minister of Revenue… Li Siyuan.”

Vice Minister of Revenue? Ling Jun’s brow furrowed, her expression darkening. “Is this information reliable?”

When the topic of information came up, Xiao Mei pursed her lips and muttered inwardly, “This information cost me a hundred taels at Fragrant Full House. It’s practically guaranteed to be accurate. Manager Zhang of Fragrant Full House said the nominal owner of Wind and Moon Pavilion is a woman who calls herself Li Xiao, but her real name is Basma Dohar, and she’s from the border regions. Manager Zhang investigated her and discovered she visits Vice Minister Li’s residence regularly, indicating a close relationship between them.”

Ling Jun nodded and pressed further, “So the information seems reliable. But Manager Zhang never explicitly named Li Siyuan. How can you be so certain he’s the mastermind behind this?”

“Manager Zhang left me with a final remark before I left,” Xiao Mei replied.

“What did he say?”

“Vice Minister Li’s residence is filled with goods from the border regions, even the gifts he gives are from there.”

The implication was clear: Li Siyuan had extensive dealings with the border regions, and Basma Dohar was also from there. Fragrant Full House doesn’t deal in baseless rumors. If they implicated Li Siyuan, there must be a connection between him and Wind and Moon Pavilion.

Li Siyuan… Ling Jun seemed to recall something, her expression turning grave. “Which Imperial Prince does Li Siyuan associate with closely? Is it Yu Chi Lan?”

Xiao Mei shook her head, murmuring, “This servant doesn’t know…”

Ling Jun said gravely, “On the day of the palace coup, I immediately suspected that Yuchi Yang, despite his impulsiveness, would never resort to poisoning. It would be like shooting himself in the foot. As for Yuchi Heng… I can’t figure him out. There’s something very strange about his relationship with Prince Lan. At the time, nearly the entire court was part of the Crown Prince faction. Given Prince Lan’s deep cunning, he must have had a backup plan. Perhaps he was the one pulling the strings behind all these events.” The more she pondered, the more confused she became. Ling Jun rubbed her temples. “I don’t know anymore. Perhaps I should seek clues from my Imperial Father.”

“Then… should we still investigate Vice Minister Li and Prince Lan?” Xiao Mei asked.

“Investigate!”

At the Dense Forest Post, a waiter carried two steaming dishes, calling out, “Guests, your food is here!”

The waiter set the bowls and chopsticks neatly on the table and stood before it, nervously kneading the apron tied around his waist.

Guan Qigui picked up her chopsticks and poked at the stir-fried holly berries before her. Noticing the waiter’s fidgeting hands, she glanced up and asked with a smile, “You didn’t add anything you shouldn’t have to this dish, did you?”

Guan Qigui’s words drew the attention of Manager Zhang behind the counter.

The waiter shook his head vigorously. “No, no, no! Sir, what are you implying? I wouldn’t dare! Besides, this isn’t some shady inn. If you don’t believe me, I’ll gladly take a bite of the food myself to prove it’s safe.”

With that, the waiter grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the utensil holder on a nearby empty table. Seeing this, Guan Qigui interrupted, “There’s no need. I was simply being overly cautious.”

The waiter and Manager Zhang’s reactions couldn’t be faked. Something was definitely amiss here, though it didn’t seem to be in the food itself. As Guan Qigui poured herself a cup of tea and was about to take a sip, she sensed a sudden surge of tension from the waiter and Manager Zhang. The tea smelled refreshingly green, like green tea at first whiff, but upon closer inspection, a subtle sweetness lingered beneath the crisp aroma.

It was… the scent of Nine Fragrance Soul-Bewitching Powder!

Guan Qigui immediately understood. Pretending to drink, she lifted the bowl and chopsticks, discreetly spitting the tea into her rice. Setting down the utensils, she tossed a silver coin onto the table. “I’m rather tired. Which room is the guest room? Please show me the way.”

“Ah, this way, please.”

Guan Qigui followed their lead to her room and lay down on the bed, feigning sleep.

Before half an incense stick’s time had passed, someone pushed open the door and entered.

The man entered cautiously, closing the door with painstaking care. He crept forward, paused at the bedside to observe her for a moment, then whispered, “Guan Qigui, are you asleep? Guan Qigui?”

Guan Qigui scoffed inwardly. Yu Chi Lan is truly mad, she thought. Even with Yanbei on high alert, he’s still causing trouble. She gripped the square cloth in her hand, sensing Yu Chi Lan drawing closer. Her eyes snapped open, and she whirled around, clamping her hand over his mouth and nose.

“Mmm… huh? Mmm!”

Yu Chi Lan struggled briefly before collapsing unconscious to the floor. Guan Qigui rose and kicked him, leaving him sprawled on the ground. She washed the cloth clean and tossed the basin of water out the window.

Having finished, she sat cross-legged on the bed, her eyes as dark and predatory as a wolf’s. She closed her eyes to rest, marveling at the swiftness of the soul-entangling drug’s effects while sneering at Yu Chi Lan’s pathetic, clownish antics.

Most of their journey had been spent camping in the wilderness. The few nights they stayed at inns were always like this, and Guan Qigui’s mood grew increasingly somber. Only when she received a letter from Ling Jun did her spirits lift briefly. But the sight of Yu Chi Lan soon plunged her back into turmoil.

Finally, they reached Wild Goose Pass. Yu Chi Lan, clad in full battle armor, winked at her. Guan Qigui managed a smile, feeling slightly better.

The moment had arrived.