Accidentally Married the Princess [Time Travel] - Chapter 13

But when she truly woke up, Gong Yu found herself with a mouthful of warm porridge, staring at Dai Ru Yan before her without daring to blink.

Yet Dai Ru Yan didn’t say a word. Though her expression seemed no different from usual, Gong Yu could tell she was angry.

Obediently and meekly sipping the porridge, Gong Yu just wanted to be a good girl right now, lest Dai Ru Yan’s anger truly flared up that wouldn’t be good at all.

Suddenly, a soft voice came from outside the door: “Miss Dai, that doctor has fainted.”

Curious, Gong Yu whispered, “Doctor? What happened to that old man?”

“You still have the heart to worry about others?”

“I… was just asking.” Gong Yu drank the porridge guiltily, feeling as though Dai Ru Yan had turned into a tiger right before her eyes.

When she had nearly finished eating, Gong Yu held a cup of warm tea and, seeing that Dai Ru Yan still hadn’t left, mustered the courage to ask, “Are the poisoned refugees all right now?”

“Yes.”

“The dam must have collapsed because someone embezzled the funds meant for its construction. Has the Grand Tutor identified those responsible?”

“The Grand Tutor has ordered the arrest of a group of corrupt officials. They are to be executed in five days.” Dai Ru Yan’s fingers lightly traced the rim of the white porcelain teacup as she spoke softly, “Is there anything else you’d like to ask?”

“N-no, nothing else.” Gong Yu answered timidly, not daring to meet Dai Ru Yan’s gaze.

Then she heard a sigh beside her, followed by Dai Ru Yan’s voice: “You usually seem so timid and cautious. How is it that the moment you’re let loose, you act so recklessly?”

Her words carried both reproach and deep concern. Gong Yu leaned closer, playing innocent:

“Is Sister Dai angry?”

“Being angry isn’t good. But I have great luck. I always manage to escape danger.”

Dai Ru Yan pinched Gong Yu’s earlobe, her tone serious. “That was poison. How could you just drink it on the word of a stranger?”

“At the time, if we hadn’t quickly developed an antidote, no one in the city would have survived.” Gong Yu said with lingering fear, “That doctor told me the refugees weren’t suffering from a plague they’d been poisoned.”

“Ah-Yan, someone was trying to silence them.” Gong Yu’s eyes filled with panic, her heart pounding wildly.

Suddenly, Dai Ru Yan’s palm gently covered her lips. Dai Ru Yan blinked slowly, as if to soothe her, then leaned in and embraced Gong Yu, whispering in her ear, “Little Jiu, don’t overthink it. The matter ends here.”

“But the poisoner hasn’t been caught yet.”

“Leave that to me. Little Jiu, keep this matter in your heart and act as if you know nothing, all right?” Dai Ru Yan’s hand gently smoothed the frown from Gong Yu’s brow.

The incident seemed to have been erased without a trace. Gong Yu could find no further information about the poisoner.

When winter arrived, snow began to fall outside without warning. Gong Yu had mostly recovered.

Eunuch Li arrived with an imperial decree and dozens of chests of treasures. Gong Yu, holding a warming brazier, received the decree.

“Congratulations, Ninth Highness. His Majesty has bestowed upon you endless gold, jewels, and even three grand mansions in the capital.”

Gong Yu stared at the piles of treasure chests filling the courtyard, stunned. “Eunuch Li, could there be a mistake?”

She hadn’t done anything that merited such rewards.

“Ninth Highness, you are too modest. The Grand Tutor praised you for personally testing the antidote for the refugees, laboring tirelessly to resolve the plague and save them from disaster.”

Dazed by Eunuch Li’s continuous stream of praises, Gong Yu took a while to regain her composure. Meanwhile, the old steward beside her quickly took out the reward silver to thank the entourage Eunuch Li had brought along.

Gong Yu sat curled up in the courtyard, listening to the steward tally the list of jewelry and porcelain, her gaze fixed on the chessboard before her. Its scattered pieces made it impossible to discern the winner.

Those officials had already been executed, and the disaster victims had all been pacified. It seemed as though everything had been buried under this heavy snowfall.

At the morning court assembly, Gong Yu still stood at the very end among the princes. The Third and Fourth Princes were gradually forming new factions within the court.

On New Year’s Eve, the heavy snow continued unabated. The palace banquet was much simpler than in previous years, and the empress, gravely ill, did not attend.

Gong Yu stole a small sip of wine, and her cheeks immediately burned as if on fire, growing unbearably hot. Claiming drunkenness, she excused herself early and slowly walked along the palace path, a palace maid holding a lantern beside her at a leisurely pace.

Passing by the imperial garden, she saw all the flowers withered, devoid of the vibrant competition of spring.

Feeling as though she were in a dream, Gong Yu dismissed the palace maid and stepped alone into this deserted place.

The vermilion palace walls appeared pitch black under the night sky, while the pure white snow crunched softly and crisply underfoot.

Gong Yu tightened her collar and faintly heard voices speaking. She paused, hesitating whether to avoid them, when she recognized Dai Ru Yan’s voice.

“Are you truly set on this?”

“One must always pick the softest persimmon to squeeze. My dear sister, don’t forget that as a child of the Dai family, you are bound to bear its shackles for eternity.”

“And what of it?”

“You… you cannot choose that sickly one. Father has already made his selection.”

“What if I refuse?”

The man standing beside Dai Ru Yan, clad in a bright red official robe, bore a striking resemblance to her. This was her elder brother, Dai Lang.

In court, Dai Lang had not been particularly conspicuous, even more restrained than his father.

Hearing the term “sickly one,” Gong Yu instinctively touched her nose, thinking to herself that she appeared quite healthy now. How could this reputation still cling to her?

The imperial garden was eerily quiet, with no sound except the biting cold wind.

Their conversation was far from pleasant. Dai Lang flicked his sleeve and left with only these words: “If Father finds out, whether that sickly one lives or dies will be the least of your concerns.”

Dai Ru Yan remained in the garden, her gaze suddenly shifting toward Gong Yu’s hiding spot, her alertness suggesting she had already noticed something.

Gong Yu broke out in a cold sweat.

“Little Ninth?” Dai Ru Yan called hesitantly. “You come out?”

Slipping away now seemed impossible. Gong Yu could only emerge, brushing the snow off her shoulders as she replied, “I’m coming out now.”

Only when Gong Yu drew near did Dai Ru Yan’s expression relax. She looked at Gong Yu quietly and asked, “Eavesdropping?”

“I was just passing by and overheard by accident.” Gong Yu felt like a mischievous child caught by a parent, clutching her hand warmer tightly as she slowly approached. “Did you argue with your brother?”

“Does this seem like an argument?”

“Well, I saw your brother’s face turn red.” Gong Yu reached out to carefully brush the snowflakes off Dai Ru Yan’s clothes, speaking earnestly.

Before Gong Yu could withdraw her hand, Dai Ru Yan grasped her warm fingers, as if deflecting the topic. “We were merely debating, that’s all.”

“Did you sneak out from the banquet?”

Gong Yu looked somewhat surprised at the hand tightly held by Dai Ru Yan. It was really quite cold.

She returned the grip, tilting her head to glance at the withered branches trembling wildly in the wind, following Dai Ru Yan’s diversion of the topic: “The banquet is the same every year. It’s honestly a bit too dull.”

Unexpectedly, Dai Ru Yan seemed to consider this seriously before replying, “Indeed, it is rather tedious.”

“But you mustn’t say such things in front of outsiders.” Dai Ru Yan’s rare playful tone surfaced.

Gong Yu hadn’t expected Dai Ru Yan to tease like this and couldn’t help but smile, her eyes crinkling. “I heard that recently, many noble young masters from the capital have come to propose marriage to you, Ah-Yan.”

“Little Jiu seems quite happy about it.” Dai Ru Yan lightly tapped Gong Yu’s palm with her fingertip, her expression unreadable.

“Thinking about it, after this New Year’s Eve, you’ll already be seventeen. It really is time to start worrying.” Gong Yu caught Dai Ru Yan’s mischievous hand and held it firmly.

Dai Ru Yan walked slowly, her gaze profound, her lips parting slightly as she said, “My marriage will signify which prince the Dai family supports. I imagine Father already has someone in mind.”

“Then should I also go and propose?” Gong Yu tilted her head, watching the slight frown on Dai Ru Yan’s brow.

“Propose?”

“You treat it as some amusing game. The marriages of the imperial family are not in their own hands either they’re decided by His Majesty.” Dai Ru Yan replied with a hint of resignation.

Gong Yu stepped on the soft snow beneath her feet. Though the night had darkened considerably, she could still faintly sense the presence of the snow.

“My mother is no longer here. If I don’t bring up the matter of marriage, even Father might not necessarily remember it.” Gong Yu turned to look at Dai Ru Yan, her expression earnest. “Don’t worry, Ah-Yan. Didn’t we say we’d leave the capital together?”

Dai Ru Yan froze for a moment before averting her gaze with a sigh. “Leaving the capital isn’t so easy.”

“That’s not necessarily true.” Gong Yu’s eyes sparkled, her lips curling mischievously. “With your beauty and my wit, we’ll surely overcome all obstacles and emerge victorious.”

“Nonsense.” Dai Ru Yan reached out and lightly flicked Gong Yu’s forehead, though her eyes also softened with amusement, warm enough to make the frigid snowy night feel less harsh.

Suddenly, the sound of firecrackers burst forth, and fireworks bloomed in the night sky. Cheers rose one after another, as if in this moment, whether prince or commoner, everyone was captivated by the spectacle.

The colorful fireworks illuminated the silent imperial garden, the endless white snow lending a unique charm to the scene.

Gong Yu stole a glance at Dai Ru Yan beside her, thinking how her eyes sometimes burned like fire, sometimes chilled like ice—ever-changing, yet impossible to resist drawing closer to. She leaned in slightly and whispered, “Ah- Yan…”

“Hmm?” Dai Ru Yan turned naturally, the brilliant fireworks illuminating her youthful face, her clear eyes reflecting in Gong Yu’s gaze.

In this world, there was a beauty whose smile could topple cities, whose second smile could topple kingdoms.

Gong Yu had always known Dai Ru Yan was beautiful, but beauty didn’t mean one wouldn’t grow tired of it. Yet with Dai Ru Yan, every day seemed to bring something new—an endless fascination that never waned.

The jet-black cascading hair accentuated Dai Ru Yan’s jade-like, translucent skin, and those delicate lips were right before her eyes. Gong Yu stared blankly, feeling like a big bad wolf, gazing longingly at Dai Ru Yan’s lips.

Gong Yu took a moment to compose herself, inwardly scolding herself for not being some lecherous person, before finally speaking softly, “Wishing you a prosperous New Year, Ah-Yan, and that all your endeavors go smoothly.”

“I’m the first to offer you New Year’s greetings, you know. If you don’t give me a lucky pouch, I won’t let this go,” Gong Yu said with a laugh.

Dai Ru Yan tilted her head, her eyes brimming with amusement as she replied, “You seem so well-behaved, but in truth, you’re quite mischievous.”

That smile was undoubtedly more dazzling than any firework. Gong Yu felt dazed, thinking that she must have been out in the cold wind for too long tonight because Dai Ru Yan this evening was making her heart race unbearably.