The Villainess Always Wants to Cuddle With Me [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 4

Back in her Changyang Palace, Ling Jun lay listlessly on the table, pondering how to navigate her next steps.

Taking stock of her assets, she realized she possessed only two taels of silver. It was truly pitiful that a princess like her had her allowance so drastically reduced by the Imperial Household Department.

However, when she slipped out of the palace with Guan Qigui that evening, she would need to dress plainly, projecting an image of weakness, vulnerability, and helplessness.

Come to think of it, since arriving here, she had never truly seen her own face. Ling Jun sat before the redwood vanity table, leaning in to examine her features closely: delicate arched eyebrows, phoenix eyes with long, narrow peach-blossom pupils that seemed to shimmer with longing, moist vermilion lips like they had been rouged, and a cascade of soft, thick, lustrous hair. What a moon-like face and flower-like beauty! No wonder her imperial sisters had poisoned her with a cup of hemlock…

While waiting, Ling Jun didn’t remain idle. She familiarized herself with every inch of Changyang Palace, cataloging the types of trees and the varieties of flowers and herbs in her courtyard. The palace even had a study, which she found rather amusing. What use was a study in Changyang Palace, given that its blind princess resided here? To outsiders, it would seem like a cruel joke. How ironic that in the vast expanse of the Rin Kingdom, there was no place for her to truly belong.

Changyang Palace had few maids. Besides Xiao Mei, Ling Jun’s personal attendant, there was only one other woman and one man. Could it be that wherever three gather, there must be a teacher among them? As Ling Jun approached, the pair continued their conversation without acknowledging her presence.

“I heard from the imperial kitchen that we won’t be allowed out for Qiqiao today. They’ll just add a few extra side dishes.”

“Really? That’s good news, I guess. But… you know how the other palaces get chicken and duck meat? We only get side dishes here.”

Ling Jun, growing impatient, furrowed her delicate brows and tapped her Mystic Staff twice against the floor. “You two have suffered much hardship under Lian Chen’s rule. Now, even the food in Changyang Palace is inferior to that of other palaces. You should seek your fortunes elsewhere.”

Upon hearing Lian Chen’s words, the pair exchanged glances for a long moment. The young eunuch finally mustered his courage, knelt, and kowtowed repeatedly. “Thank you, Princess Lianchen, for your consideration. This servant has no way to repay your kindness. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, Princess, just say the word. I will serve you like a loyal dog or horse, working tirelessly for you!”

“Princess Xie Lianchen, I am grateful for your consideration. I will serve you with unwavering loyalty, even if it means facing fire and water!”

The words sounded sincere, but Ling Jun felt no warmth in her heart. If human nature was so fickle, and even familial bonds were so shallow, how could she trust anyone who offered a helping hand?

While the sycophants continued their flattery, Ling Jun endured a few more compliments before turning to leave. Changyang Palace would be much quieter from now on.

By late evening, Ling Jun was growing weary of waiting. She couldn’t simply sit and await her fate; she needed to carve out her own path to survival. It seemed she would have to visit the Imperial Preceptor, but… she still had much to consider. She couldn’t put all her eggs in one basket.

Guan Qigui slipped through the window just as Ling Jun was deep in thought. She approached several steps before Ling Jun noticed her. Guan Qigui sat across from Ling Jun, her scholar’s fan pressed against her chin, watching with amusement as Ling Jun’s delicate brows furrowed and relaxed in turn. Seeing her brows remain furrowed for an extended period, Guan Qigui felt a pang in her heart, like a walnut being cracked open. She interrupted Ling Jun’s thoughts, “What has the Princess so engrossed? I’ve been here for quite some time, yet you didn’t even notice.”

“Young Master Guan, it is Lian Chen’s fault for being so impolite,” Ling Jun said, quickly rising and bowing.

Guan Qigui raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t expect the Princess to be so meticulous with etiquette.”

Ling Jun frowned, pondering inwardly. Even perfect etiquette displeases her?

Noticing her furrowed brow again, Guan Qigui gently tapped Ling Jun’s head with her scholar’s fan. “You’re always wrinkling that little face. Where does the Princess find so many worries? Let’s go.” With that, she scooped Ling Jun into her arms and vanished into the night.

The imperial palace’s security was at its tightest after dark. Yet Guan Qigui, carrying Ling Jun, moved through the shadows undetected, a testament to her extraordinary lightness of foot.

The evening breeze rushed past their ears as they arrived in the bustling marketplace. The moment they landed, Ling Jun gripped Guan Qigui’s wrist tightly, terrified she might vanish and leave her alone in the crowd.

Amused by her fierce grip, Guan Qigui chuckled. “Why are you holding on so tight? This young master isn’t going to sell you.”

Sell her?! The thought alone made Ling Jun release Guan Qigui’s wrist and quickly loop her arm around Guan Qigui’s, clinging tightly.

It would have been better left unsaid. Now, her stubbornness had only intensified. Guan Qigui watched her with amusement.

Guan Qigui disliked visiting this bustling market. The streets were crowded, noisy, and chaotic, rendering her ability to perceive colors useless in such a chaotic environment. She couldn’t discern anything amidst the chaotic jumble. She led Ling Jun to a jewelry vendor’s stall and selected a pair of jade-green pendants.

“This gentleman has excellent taste! Jade-green is the most flattering color. The agate is top-grade green chalcedony, imported from the Western Regions. Your wife will look absolutely radiant wearing these!” the vendor praised with practiced familiarity, using the standard sales tactics of the marketplace.

Hearing the vendor address them as “husband and wife,” Ling Jun immediately released her grip on Guan Qigui’s arm, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. At eighteen, she had never even been in a relationship, yet here she was, mistaken for a married woman. Feeling awkward, she stared at the tips of her arched shoes. This outing had been too sudden; she hadn’t even had time to grab her Mystic Staff.

“My wife is a bit shy,” Guan Qigui quickly interjected with a playful bow. “Please don’t mind her.”

“No offense taken, no offense taken! Hahaha…” The vendor waved his hand, chuckling.

Guan Qigui held the jade-green earrings up to Ling Jun’s earlobes. The moment her jade-like fingers brushed against Ling Jun’s skin, Ling Jun flinched back, visibly uncomfortable. Guan Qigui chuckled softly and removed Ling Jun’s slightly tarnished earrings, replacing them with the new pair. She stroked Ling Jun’s soft earlobes, marveling at their smooth texture.

Ling Jun slapped her hand away and retreated two steps, her earlobes flushed from Guan Qigui’s touch.

Undeterred, Guan Qigui tossed two taels of silver to the shopkeeper. “I’ll take this pair of green agate earrings.”

“Excellent! Farewell, sir!”

Noticing Ling Jun still standing frozen in place, Guan Qigui stepped forward and tugged her small hand, pulling her along with the crowd. “Your old earrings were plain. These suit you better.”

“I don’t want them!” Ling Jun retorted, immediately trying to remove them.

Seeing this, Guan Qigui slapped her hand away and leaned close to her ear, whispering menacingly, “If you refuse them, I’ll kill you right here. No one would notice if a discarded, unloved concubine disappeared.”

How dare she! Two taels of silver—that was all the money Ling Jun had in the world! And now she wasn’t even allowed to refuse? This was extortion! Ling Jun stomped along reluctantly, her cheeks puffed with anger. Accepting Guan Qigui’s gift meant she’d have to repay her somehow. But with what? She was doomed…

Guan Qigui didn’t release Ling Jun until they reached a quiet grove of trees. Frowning, he asked, “Why are you so reluctant? Or is it that you don’t want to accept this gift from a tributary prince?”

Ling Jun knew that if her answer displeased him, this secluded spot would be the perfect place to silence her. Fine, I’ll just tell the truth, she thought. “It’s not that I don’t like it…”

“Then what is it?”

“This is the first time I’ve ever received a gift from someone else. I don’t know how to reciprocate… All my possessions combined are worth only two taels of silver, and you’re giving me two taels in one go. I…” Her voice trailed off, growing softer as she spoke. Outside the palace, they could dispense with the usual formalities.

Guan Qigui chuckled, amused by her reaction. He had assumed she was worried about getting involved with him, but it turned out to be this? After all, she had been the one to approach him first. Now that she was on the pirate ship, there was no getting off. He draped an arm over her shoulder, his expression enigmatic. “Short on silver?”

“Yes!” Ling Jun nodded earnestly. She was desperately short on both money and manpower. With enough silver, she could buy loyal followers!

“I can lend you some, Princess,” Guan Qigui said, pulling a ten-thousand-tael silver note from her chest and waving it before Ling Jun’s eyes. “But remember, when I need your help in the future, you must know what you should and shouldn’t do.”

Ling Jun considered this carefully, realizing Guan Qigui was trying to lure her onto her pirate ship. If Guan Qigui ordered her to assassinate Yuchi Gong at the Midwinter Grand Ceremony, even ten thousand heads wouldn’t be enough to pay the price. “I won’t commit murder or robbery.”

Guan Qigui’s phoenix eyes narrowed, her voice like a wolf lurking in the undergrowth. “How do you know I’d ask a blind, frail woman like you to commit such acts?”

“Poisoning is out of the question too,” Ling Jun said, turning her face away, her voice hardening.

“As a mere tributary prince, how dare I suggest such things? You jest, Princess,” Guan Qigui replied, her fingers tightening slightly on the handle of her scholar’s fan.

“You yourself said Lian Chen is weak and blind. What use could she possibly be to you? I may need the money, but I have to consider whether Lian Chen can handle the task,” Ling Jun said. Her keen hearing picked up the faint tremor of the fan handle being slightly withdrawn, sending a cold sweat down her back. Guan Qigui’s murderous intent had resurfaced.

In this secluded corner of the small forest, the bustling city lay just beyond, while within, a battlefield raged.

They remained locked in this tense stalemate. Ling Jun dared not move, while Guan Qigui rubbed her thumb against the fan handle, deep in thought. Just as she was about to draw the fan a fraction of an inch, a faint, sweet fragrance wafted from Ling Jun, gradually dispelling the chill in the air. Perhaps she was once in a similar situation, Guan Qigui thought. Enough.

“Consider this Guan’s act of charity. Take it,” Guan Qigui said with a cold snort, stuffing the ten thousand taels of silver notes into Ling Jun’s arms. This isn’t some useless pity.

Ling Jun held the notes up to examine them closely. Ten thousand taels! So much! She quickly pressed them back into Guan Qigui’s arms. “This is too much. Can you exchange them for smaller denominations I can carry?”

Guan Qigui’s face darkened. She actually touched me! She removed her own money pouch and hung it at Ling Jun’s waist, then strode away with her hands clasped behind her back.

Ling Jun stood there, bewildered, watching Guan Qigui disappear into the distance. She hurried forward and grabbed Guan Qigui’s arm, terrified that the woman would abandon her outside the palace in a fit of anger.

As they approached a pouch stall, Ling Jun poked Guan Qigui’s side. Guan Qigui stiffened instantly, grabbing Ling Jun’s finger and glaring at her. Ling Jun raised an eyebrow, thinking, Oh—so that’s her weak spot. She pointed to an embroidered pouch nearby and whispered in Guan Qigui’s ear, “I’ll buy you a new one.”

This time, Guan Qigui remained silent, as if tacitly agreeing. Ling Jun picked out several pouches and held them up against Guan Qigui, scrutinizing the patterns for a long time. None seemed quite right, and she frowned, torn between which one to choose.

Guan Qigui didn’t say a word, letting Ling Jun struggle with her decision. She stood by the entrance, keeping an eye on Fragrant Full House restaurant nearby. A man stood at the second-floor window, a gourd of wine in hand, taking occasional sips.

The two women exchanged nods through the window. The man raised his wine gourd and began singing a mournful Yangzhou folk tune, his voice filled with sorrow. Another man shouted from across the street, “It’s a cold night—time to pack up your stalls!”

Ling Jun finally settled on a dark ink-colored pouch embroidered with green bamboo patterns and edged with two golden silk borders, perfectly suited to Guan Qigui’s refined air. She held it up against Guan Qigui’s body—a perfect fit.

“Wait here for me,” Guan Qigui said, drawing a sharp dagger hidden in her fan handle. Without waiting for Ling Jun’s reaction, she dashed toward Fragrant Full House.