Transmigrating Before The Crazy Beauty Scum A Loses Control - Chapter 93

The Crazy Maid X The Tsundere Princess (1)

Year 5 of Tianbao, Dali Kingdom.

The kingdom was plagued by internal drought and external threats from both the Northern Gao and Southern Gao kingdoms, leaving the people in dire straits.

In an attempt to quell the conflict, the Emperor of Dali sent envoys to the Northern Gao kingdom, proposing a ceasefire and a marriage alliance.

Upon hearing this news, the people were filled with sorrow.

Placing the fate of the entire nation on the shoulders of a princess was unprecedented since the founding of the Dali Kingdom.

Moreover, the Emperor, under the guise of his affection for the princess, promised lavish dowries upon her marriage.

What appeared to be a marriage alliance was, in reality, a form of tribute, signaling the submission and decline of the Dali Kingdom.

The Emperor, indulgent and extravagant, surrounded himself with sycophants and eunuchs who held the real power, while the people groaned under heavy taxes.

Outside the imperial city, discontent was rampant, but within the walls, a facade of peace and prosperity was maintained. The citizens, caught in this self-deceptive atmosphere, truly believed that sending the princess away would bring an end to the war.

“The Northern Gao prince is coming in person. Such sincerity surely means there won’t be any issues.”

“But why? The Northern Gao kingdom is even stronger than the Southern Gao. Why would they form an alliance with us just for the princess?”

“You must be from out of town, clueless as you are. It’s all because Princess Penglai is stunningly beautiful!”

“Exactly! I heard that when the princess was born, auspicious signs appeared in the sky. As she grew, her beauty rivaled that of a celestial being from Penglai, earning her the title ‘Penglai.’ I wonder if we’ll be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of her on her wedding day.”

“Dream on! I’d love to get close to her too, but do you really think someone like us could ever see her? Let’s just get drunk instead. Come on, bottoms up! After we’ve had enough, we’ll head to the Yun Chun brothel for the night.”

A tall woman in black attire passed by the alley behind the tavern, overhearing the drunken chatter.

A flash of killing intent flickered in her sharp eyes. She glanced at the sky, closed her eyes, and pondered for a moment. She had no time to waste here and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

…

Despite the Dali Kingdom’s empty treasury, the palace remained as opulent as ever, both inside and out.

Even though Princess Penglai was not particularly favored, the Emperor made a grand show of it, naming the palace where her mother had lived “Penglai Palace.” with countless maids and even a dedicated team to tend to the palace gardens.

The woman who had been in black attire earlier now wore an elegant and refined court lady’s uniform, strolling through the blooming gardens, the scent of flowers masking her aura of menace.

“Lady Luan.” a young maid greeted her with a curtsy.

The woman nodded slightly and continued walking deeper into the garden.

The young maids couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

“Lady Luan’s presence is so intimidating; I can’t even look her in the eye.”

“She’s always so serious.”

“Does she ever smile in front of the princess?”

“She spends a lot of time alone with the princess. Who knows?”

“Hmph, that Luan Yenan was just injured during a hunt and happened to be saved by the princess. I heard her entire family was killed by bandits, leaving her all alone. The late Empress took pity on her and gave her a position as a maid. Now, she’s just riding on the princess’s favor, acting so high and mighty. Truly, a lowly outsider.” an elderly woman muttered with disdain.

Behind her, several maids carried trays laden with bright red garments and various ornaments.

The young maids trembled at the sound of her voice and quickly bowed in greeting: “Matron Hui.”

They all knew that Matron Hui and Lady Luan were both long-time figures in the palace and had always been at odds.

Although these maids were selected from noble families, they were mostly from less favored branches or were illegitimate daughters. Facing powerful court ladies, they dared not offend.

Matron Hui, seeing the young maids’ respectful demeanor, was somewhat satisfied and coldly asked, “How has the princess been these past few days? Is she still throwing tantrums?”

As soon as she finished speaking, a loud crash echoed from the depths of the garden.

The maids all shrank their necks.

That was the princess’s chamber.

The princess had always loved flowers and had chosen to live in a garden pavilion, calling it her “flower chamber.” Even after her mother’s passing, she had refused to move out.

Matron Hui narrowed her eyes, her wrinkled face resembling a mountain range, her expression grim.

One of the maids, from a slightly more prominent family and having bribed her way into her position, mustered the courage to speak: “Matron Hui, it seems another antique vase has been shattered. The princess went on a hunger strike a few days ago, but thanks to Lady Luan’s persuasion, she’s started eating again. However, only Lady Luan dares to enter the princess’s chambers now.”

Matron Hui clicked her tongue, her eyes darting around.

“The princess is so grown now, yet still so willful. But the Emperor has decreed that the princess must try on her wedding attire these days. Fine, fine. You all hand the wedding garments to Lady Luan and have her persuade the princess to try them on. Let’s not anger the Emperor for no reason, and it will be worth the princess’s favoritism toward her. I’ll return tomorrow.”

Matron Hui instructed the maids to leave the wedding attire and ornaments behind, then turned and left without another word.

The maids of Penglai Palace dared not speak, only accepting the garments and ornaments with a bow, watching her depart.

They knew full well that the old woman had dumped this hot potato on them. Though they wanted to cry, they had no choice but to brace themselves and head toward the flower chamber.

Crash—

“I said I won’t marry! Don’t force me!” The princess’s voice accompanied the sound of another vase shattering.

The newly arrived maids trembled in fear.

Although Princess Penglai had fallen out of favor since the death of her mother and the decline of her maternal family’s power, she was still a member of the imperial family. Now, with the fate of the Dali Kingdom resting on her shoulders, no one dared to offend her.

Finally, one of the maids was pushed forward by the others to knock on the door.

From inside came Luan Yenan’s voice: “What is it?”

The maid breathed a sigh of relief and softly replied, “Lady Luan, Matron Hui has sent the wedding attire. She insists the princess try it on and said she’ll return tomorrow to check if any adjustments are needed.”

Creak.

The wooden door of the flower chamber opened.

The maid stepped back in fright, but the wedding attire and ornaments on her tray were taken.

Looking up, the maid saw a strange, fleeting smile on Luan Yenan’s face, which disappeared in an instant.

The maid quickly shook her head, flustered, and bowed: “Thank you, Lady Luan.”

Luan Yenan nodded and said calmly, “Go prepare some food. I’ll call for you when it’s time to bring it in. I’ll try to persuade the princess.”

“Yes.” the maids replied hastily, eager to leave as quickly as possible.

Luan Yenan closed the door to the flower chamber with an impassive expression, only to hear another crash behind her.

Turning around, she shook her head with a faint smile: “They’re gone, Princess.”

Seated on the soft couch across the room, the beautifully dressed princess leaned on one arm, facing a row of vases on the couch. Dissatisfied, she plucked a flower from one of the vases and tossed the vase into the air.

The vase soared upward, then fell.

Crash—

“You called me ‘Princess’ again. When it’s just the two of us, you should call me Xuan’er, or Xuanxuan, or Little Xuan. Take your pick.” the princess said, playing with the flowers on the couch.

“Princess Xuan.” Luan Yenan compromised.

The princess’s given name was Zuo Baixuan. Luan Yenan had heard the little princess introduce herself when she was rescued and brought to the palace at the age of ten. She had silently memorized it but had never used it.

Zuo Baixuan pouted, her head lowered as she plucked the petals from the flower, scattering them all.

“Even you, Sister Nan, are bullying me.”

“The flowers are innocent.”

Luan Yenan placed the heavy wedding attire on the redwood table in the center of the room with one hand and picked up a broom that had been prepared earlier with the other, sweeping the shattered vase pieces aside.

“We can use these petals for your bath later.” Zuo Baixuan said, sitting up straight and sighing as she looked at the thick wedding garments on the table. “Sister Nan, I may be a princess envied by all, but I’ve never had any freedom. When my mother was alive, things were a bit better. After she passed, my grandfather lost his power. Now, my father wants me to use my beauty to serve others. I really don’t want to marry that Northern Gao prince.”

Luan Yenan looked up at Zuo Baixuan.

The princess, with her peerless beauty and celestial grace, had turned her gaze to the window. She watched the birds taking flight from the branches, her eyes red with envy and sorrow. For the past half month, since learning of the Emperor’s marriage arrangement, she had been in this state.

Luan Yenan asked her, “Princess Xuan, this is the Emperor’s decree. Not only is it difficult to defy, but even if you don’t marry the Northern Gao prince, there will be a Northern Short kingdom, a Northern Crooked kingdom, or even the son of some sycophant. Who could you possibly be happy to marry?”

The princess, skilled in the arts and knowledgeable about state affairs, had never been taken seriously by the Emperor. To him, a beautiful princess was best kept as a caged bird, a valuable resource.

Zuo Baixuan’s eyes were a mix of despair and hope as she turned back to Luan Yenan: “Sister Nan, I want to marry someone I love.”

Luan Yenan didn’t shy away, meeting Zuo Baixuan’s gaze directly, a faint smile on her lips: “Princess, have you been reading too many romance novels? You’ve been raised within these palace walls. Who could you possibly have fallen in love with?”

Zuo Baixuan, unable to hold Luan Yenan’s slightly mischievous gaze, looked away, her ears turning red.

After a moment of silence, she turned back to Luan Yenan: “Sister Nan, why don’t you take me away? I’ve always covered for you when you sneak out of the palace. This time, take me with you! Let’s run far away, like those two birds just now.”

Luan Yenan looked at Zuo Baixuan, a flicker of emotion in her eyes.

She remembered the late Empress calling her to her bedside before her passing.

At that time, Zuo Baixuan had been kneeling by the bed, crying so hard her peach-blossom eyes were red and swollen.

The late Empress, however, was calm and solemn as she entrusted Luan Yenan: “Nan’er, I leave Xuan’er in your care.”

Luan Yenan had replied: “Your Majesty, rest assured. From the moment I first saw the princess at the age of ten, I vowed to protect her with my life.”

Whether Zuo Baixuan remembered this or not, Luan Yenan would never forget.

…

Zuo Baixuan didn’t know what had flickered in Luan Yenan’s eyes, but it wasn’t the first time she’d seen it. Yet, she could never grasp its meaning.

She quickly stood and walked over to Luan Yenan.

Luan Yenan, standing by the table, saw Zuo Baixuan approaching barefoot and took two steps forward, scooping her up: “Be careful of your feet.”

Zuo Baixuan, suddenly lifted off the ground, gasped and clutched at Luan Yenan’s collar.

The smooth silk of the court lady’s uniform slipped through her fingers, and she accidentally grabbed the rougher fabric of Luan Yenan’s undergarments, pulling it askew.

As the fabric shifted, Zuo Baixuan caught a glimpse of a small mole on Luan Yenan’s collarbone.

Her heart raced, and she froze in Luan Yenan’s arms, though her eyes continued to wander.

For some reason, even though they were both women, Sister Nan’s scent was entirely different from her own, and she couldn’t get enough of it.

Luan Yenan, looking down at the startled little rabbit in her arms, suppressed a smile and said calmly, “Princess, if you don’t follow the Emperor’s decree and marry, it’s unlikely you’ll leave the imperial city alive.”

“I’d rather die.” Zuo Baixuan murmured into Luan Yenan’s chest, breathing in her scent.

But Luan Yenan’s response was cold: “In that case, everyone in Penglai Palace will have to die with you.”

Zuo Baixuan’s breath hitched.

That would mean Sister Nan too…

Her eyes welled up with tears. Why did she have to be a princess? If only she weren’t…

But if she weren’t a princess, she wouldn’t have been able to save Sister Nan at the age of five, and they might never have met.

Zuo Baixuan looked up, her gaze tracing Luan Yenan’s swan-like neck, her lips parting like they held honey, her nose straight and proud, her eyebrows not the delicate willows of other women but sharp and heroic.

Everyone spoke of Princess Penglai’s unparalleled beauty, but in Zuo Baixuan’s eyes, Sister Nan was the true embodiment of grace and allure.

Especially those captivating, fox-like eyes.

Now, those fox eyes were fixed on the little rabbit in her arms, a soft laugh escaping her.

The little rabbit, startled, averted her gaze.

Luan Yenan remembered the first time she had seen Zuo Baixuan at the age of ten, a sweet, milky little bun.

After being rescued and recovering for several days, Luan Yenan had stepped out to see a little rabbit skipping toward her, holding a bouquet of flowers, calling out in a soft, milky voice: “Sister, you’re awake!”

Like a wisp of cloud, she had landed on Luan Yenan’s stony heart.

Luan Yenan carried Zuo Baixuan back to the couch, fetched a towel, and knelt to wipe her feet.

Zuo Baixuan, ticklish, giggled and tried to pull her feet away.

But Luan Yenan held her ankles firmly, gently cleaning them.

The cool touch on her skin, combined with the tickling sensation, sent shivers through Zuo Baixuan.

She watched Luan Yenan’s focused expression, her toes curling.

Luan Yenan even caught her toes, preventing her from pulling away.

The little rabbit turned pink, silently cursing the fox for surely doing this on purpose. She yanked her foot back and tried to push Luan Yenan away.

But the fox caught the little rabbit’s hand, pulling her into an embrace, her fingers reaching for her waist: “Are you really that ticklish?”

The little rabbit, not wanting her laughter to be heard outside, squirmed and twisted but couldn’t break free, finally pleading: “Sister Nan, let me go. I won’t fuss anymore.”

But the fox wasn’t done, whispering temptingly in the little rabbit’s ear: “Xuan’er, you still need to try on the wedding attire. Let me help you.”

Zuo Baixuan instantly grabbed Luan Yenan’s collar, her lips pressed together, her heart racing with an indescribable emotion. Her other hand clutched at her own clothes, crumpling them.

Sister Nan, really!

Why did she have to call me by my childhood name now!

But Luan Yenan continued to gaze at Zuo Baixuan unabashedly, as if the seductive tone in her whisper had been an illusion. She remained the dutiful court lady, merely persuading the princess to try on her wedding attire before the marriage alliance.

Author’s Note:

The side story begins!

This is a completely fictional setting, with references to the Wei, Jin, Southern, and Northern Dynasties, as well as the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Please forgive any historical inaccuracies!