Accidentally Married the Princess [Time Travel] - Chapter 10

I heard that during the Ghost Festival, people release lanterns to convey their longing to family members. Why don’t we make some these days?” Gong Yu hesitantly suggested.

Dai Ru Yan held her teacup and shook her head in response. “Tomorrow, I must accompany my grandmother to the Dai family ancestral temple. I’ll likely be there for several days.”

Gong Yu didn’t press further and instead changed the subject, touching the charm pouch. “This pouch feels stiff. What’s inside?”

“Peach branches.” Dai Ru Yan reached out and held Gong Yu’s hand. “These branches are from an ancient tree at the temple. They ward off evil spirits and bring peace.”

“If they were truly that effective, wouldn’t the ancient temple’s tree be completely bare by now?” Gong Yu teased.

Dai Ru Yan looked at her helplessly, gently smoothing Gong Yu’s loose hair. “Why is your mind always filled with such whimsical thoughts?”

“Since it’s an ancient tree, it naturally deserves careful protection. It wouldn’t end up as bare as you imagine.”

Gong Yu tilted her head slightly to look at Dai Ru Yan and smiled. “Since it’s so precious, I’ll definitely take good care of it.”

After Dai Ru Yan left that night, Gong Yu sent someone to inquire about Dai Ru Yan’s sister. The steward reported carefully:

“I’ve heard that in the Dai family, Lady Dai is the only daughter of her generation. There’s never been any mention of another sister.”

Gong Yu was immediately puzzled, yet Dai Ru Yan’s sorrowful expression remained vivid in her mind.

The summer heat was oppressive. The emperor returned with his troops, and the oblivious citizens of the capital cheered enthusiastically, shouting “Long live the emperor!” But Gong Yu felt this jubilation was nothing more than a facade.

The sacrificial ceremony was of utmost importance. Due to the emperor’s injuries, the crown prince presided over the grand event. A majestic procession set out from the imperial palace.

As a prince, Gong Yu had to adhere to a series of rituals—purification baths, incense offerings, and days of plain food and water.

On the final day, they paid homage to the ancestors of the Gong kingdom. Gong Yu stood among the princes, performing the blessing ceremony.

On the return journey, news arrived that the empress had suddenly fallen ill and lost consciousness. The emperor was furious.

Within days, the capital was shrouded in gloom. The empress had lost her unborn child, and the emperor, enraged, ordered a thorough investigation. Yet after several days with no results, a large number of imperial physicians were executed.

The emperor’s health also suffered a blow, leaving him much weaker than before.

Gong Yu’s status prevented her from getting too close to the inner palace, so she had no way of knowing how the empress had lost the child.

She could only speculate that someone had acted out of impatience but who would harm an unborn child?

Only someone who saw the child as a threat to the future throne. The most likely suspects were among the princes.

This suspicion wasn’t limited to commoners; even the officials largely shared this view, let alone the inherently suspicious emperor.

In less than half a month, Crown Prince Gong Quan was deposed and placed under the custody of the Dali Temple, charged with failing in his duties as regent.

Of course, this was merely an excuse.

When Gong Yu received the news, she had just finished her medicinal bath. Dressed in thin robes and barefoot, she lay in the waterside pavilion.

As Dai Ru Yan approached, Gong Yu was sprawled on the cool couch, feeling slightly dizzy. She turned her head and saw Dai Ru Yan standing quietly nearby in a gauzy dress.

“Ah-Yan, it’s been so long since you last came here.” Gong Yu propped herself up and scooted over to make room.

Dai Ru Yan sat beside her, flipping through the books Gong Yu had casually left aside. “The crown prince has been deposed.”

“Yes. Ah-Yan, are you thinking of something mischievous?” Gong Yu grinned, picking up a folding fan to cool herself.

“You,” Dai Ru Yan ignored Gong Yu’s teasing, flipping through her book as she murmured softly, “This is a good opportunity.”

Gong Yu nodded slightly in agreement. “Indeed, it is a good opportunity. After all, the ‘bitter flesh’ strategy always works.”

“If you already have a plan, why haven’t you acted on it yet?”

Dai Ru Yan asked in confusion, setting the book aside. Her gaze fell on Gong Yu’s slightly open collar, revealing fair skin beneath. She reached out and tugged at the loose fabric, sighing helplessly. “Thankfully, there’s no one else here. If you don’t restrain yourself, won’t others get a free show?”

“Would you really let others see me like this?” Gong Yu reclined lazily, her eyes curving into crescents.

“Did the medicinal bath help?”

“It was alright, just left me drenched in sweat quite uncomfortable.”

Dai Ru Yan chuckled and withdrew her hand, turning to tidy up the books. Gong Yu tilted her head to watch her, recalling the expression Dai Ru Yan had worn when she mentioned her younger sister earlier.

She wanted to speak but held back. Propping herself up, Gong Yu handed Dai Ru Yan a bowl of sour plum soup from the side and said, “After you finish this, I’ll be off.”

“So soon?” Dai Ru Yan blinked in surprise.

Gong Yu poured herself a bowl as well and replied, “The weather is just right for it.”

By noon, Gong Yu had taken a carriage into the palace. Under the scorching sun, she knelt silently outside the grand hall.

“Oh dear, Ninth Highness, what are you doing kneeling here?” The emperor’s eunuch, Li, emerged from the hall and asked.

With an innocent expression, Gong Yu replied, “Imperial Brother is innocent. I beg Father to spare him.”

Eunuch Li sighed. “His Majesty is furious right now. This is no time for games, Ninth Highness.”

After several failed attempts to persuade her, Eunuch Li retreated back into the hall.

Truthfully, Gong Yu wasn’t entirely confident either. The emperor had deposed Crown Prince Gong Quan, was it out of anger over the unborn child in the empress’s womb, or was it because the incident had challenged the emperor’s authority, making the crown prince merely a warning?

If it was just a warning, then Gong Quan would likely be reinstated soon. So, all Gong Yu needed to do now was play the role of the dutiful child appropriately.

After all, as she grew older, if she didn’t make an impression on the emperor now, she might be forgotten in a corner once more children were born.

But playing the good child was truly exhausting labor. Night fell, the warm breeze carrying no relief, and Gong Yu hadn’t had a single sip of water all evening.

Suddenly, the sound of weeping reached her ears. It was the crown prince’s mother, her eyes red, kneeling nearby, followed by a crowd of palace maids.

Around midnight, the grand hall doors abruptly swung open. The emperor, his brow furrowed, glared down at the gathered crowd and scolded, “This is absurd! As members of the imperial family, how can you carry on like this, weeping and wailing?”

“Father, please spare Imperial Brother,” Gong Yu pleaded, bowing her head fearfully.

Silence fell instantly. Gong Yu felt her heart pounding so loudly it might leap out of her chest.

“Little Nine, do you know what crime your imperial brother has committed?” the emperor asked, his voice low.

Gong Yu kept her head bowed. “Replying to Father, Imperial Brother has always been diligent in his duties and fair to his siblings. He would never commit a grave offense.”

“What fairness indeed!”

The emperor said nothing more and returned to the hall.

Gong Yu remained kneeling, unsure how much time had passed. The night breeze grew cooler, and without warning, a downpour began. The clamor of rain soon drowned out all other sounds.

At dawn, the heavy rain finally ceased. Gong Yu propped herself up with her hands on the ground, struggling to stay awake.

The grand hall doors swung open, and Eunuch Li stepped forward with an imperial edict, proclaiming, “Considering the young age of the eldest prince, Gong Quan, he is hereby confined to the Crown Prince’s residence for one year to reflect upon his misdeeds.”

As if deliberately pausing for effect, Eunuch Li halted briefly before continuing, “The ninth prince, Gong Yu, disregarded warnings and privately pleaded for leniency. Though motivated by fraternal duty, palace regulations cannot be overlooked. Thus, she is punished to transcribe the laws of the Gong Kingdom three hundred times. Henceforth, the Grand Tutor shall instruct her in etiquette and legal codes to ensure strict adherence to palace rules.”

Gong Yu kowtowed and replied, “This daughter obeys the decree.”

By the time the crowd dispersed, Gong Yu could no longer stand. Eunuch Li hurried over to help her up, sighing sympathetically, “Ninth Highness, your health has always been frail. Why couldn’t you wait until His Majesty’s anger subsided before coming?”

“Thank you for your concern, Eunuch Li,” Gong Yu replied with a grateful smile.

“Fortunately, Her Majesty the Empress intervened. Otherwise, Ninth Highness might have suffered even more.”

Inside the palanquin, Gong Yu dared not touch her legs. Before the curtains were even lifted upon arriving at her residence, she spotted Dai Ru Yan waiting outside.

Gong Yu smiled and grasped Dai Ru Yan’s hand, saying, “It wasn’t too long, right?”

Dai Ru Yan said nothing, only gently embracing Gong Yu with a soft sigh. “I brought a physician. Let her examine you.”

After soaking in hot water and drinking ginger soup, Gong Yu draped an outer robe over herself, clutching a soft pillow with a slight frown. “Luckily, I wrapped my knees with cotton padding otherwise, it wouldn’t have been nearly as bearable.”

“Do you understand the deeper implications of the emperor’s edict?”

“I don’t see any hidden meaning, but the thought of transcribing the kingdom’s laws three hundred times already gives me a headache,” Gong Yu muttered, frowning as she held the decree.

Dai Ru Yan dipped her fingertips in ointment and carefully rolled up Gong Yu’s pant leg, revealing slender, delicate legs with knees bruised a deep purple-red.

“Only candidates for the crown prince receive instruction from the Grand Tutor,” Dai Ru Yan said softly, her movements gentle yet deliberate.

Gong Yu blinked in surprise. “Then doesn’t that make me a target now?”

Dai Ru Yan glanced up, meeting Gong Yu’s bright, deer-like eyes. Her pitiful expression making Dai Ru Yan’s lips curl involuntarily. “The emperor wouldn’t make such an obvious target of you. Currently, the Grand Tutor also instructs the Third, Fourth, and Sixth Princes alongside you.”

“What about Fifth Brother?” Gong Yu set aside the edict and picked up a bowl of lotus seed soup, taking a large sip.

“The Fifth Prince has always been timid, and his maternal clan holds little influence. He once relied on Crown Prince Gong Quan, but now that Gong Quan is confined, he has retreated to his residence, citing poor health.”

Dai Ru Yan carefully wrapped gauze around Gong Yu’s knees, hesitating before asking, “Little Nine, do you regret it?”

“In the turmoil of power struggles, a single misstep could lead to ruin.”

Gong Yu shook her head. “I’m not afraid.”

“Besides, I still have a little leverage in your hands, Ah Yan.”

Dai Ru Yan paused momentarily before tightening Gong Yu’s robe. “If you were unwilling, I would never force you.”

“But I am willing,” Gong Yu leaned closer, her eyes crinkling with a smile. “I’d rather take a chance than spend my whole life trapped in this capital with nothing to do.”

“And also—”

“What?” Dai Ru Yan asked, puzzled.

Gong Yu rested her head against Dai Ru Yan’s shoulder, exhaustion creeping into her voice as she grinned. “Ah-Yan is so beautiful. What a shame it’d be if someone else married you.”

Dai Ru Yan helplessly gazed at Gong Yu, gently massaging her forehead with her fingertips as she softly said, “Now that the position of Crown Prince is vacant, someone will inevitably grow impatient and make the first move.”

“Ah Yan, do you know how the child in the Empress’s womb was lost?” Gong Yu held Dai Ru Yan’s hand and asked curiously.

“Do you want to know?”

“Of course. The Empress is surrounded by so many people. I’ve thought about it for a long time and still can’t figure it out.”

Dai Ru Yan picked up a thin blanket nearby and lightly draped it over Gong Yu, half-embracing her as she whispered, “What if it was the Dai family? Would Xiao Jiu be afraid?”

Meeting Dai Ru Yan’s calm eyes, Gong Yu felt for the first time that they were unfathomably deep. Despite the scorching summer heat, a sudden chill ran down her back.