Accidentally Married the Princess [Time Travel] - Chapter 21

Although Gong Yu had lived in modern society for nearly nineteen years, she was nothing more than a lazy fish. Going through the motions of studying, finally stepping into the campus of romance, yet spending all her time holed up in her dorm. Where was the opportunity to fall in love?

But if she really did like girls, then why hadn’t she ever felt this flustered, heart-pounding sensation around all the girls she’d seen in modern society?

Gong Yu stared at Dai Ru Yan, lost in tangled thoughts, wondering if perhaps it was simply because Dai Ru Yan was too beautiful, which was why her heart was racing so fiercely.

After all, if she really did like girls or something like that, Dai Ru Yan would surely be frightened, wouldn’t she?

Gong Yu steadied her breathing and sat up, brushing the sand off her clothes. “It’s so late—why did you come to see me, Ah-Yan?”

Dai Ru Yan reached out to straighten Gong Yu’s robes, but when her gaze fell on the bare feet, she sighed helplessly. “Put your shoes on first, then we’ll talk.”

“Alright.”

The two entered the courtyard. Gong Yu obediently put on her shoes and socks and curled up by the low table.

Servants set out tea before quietly withdrawing. A lantern in the corner cast a faint glow, while the distant sky darkened bit by bit, swallowing the last remnants of the sunset.

Gong Yu sat like this, gazing at Dai Ru Yan, occasionally taking small sips of tea before looking back at her.

“I had the servants prepare dinner. Why don’t you stay and eat with me?” Gong Yu’s heart still fluttered nervously.

“Alright.”

Once the meal was served, Dai Ru Yan ate delicately, while Gong Yu felt as though she harbored a little secret—sometimes anxious, sometimes giddy, and occasionally suddenly lost in confusion.

After dinner, the two strolled along the path beside the pond. Gong Yu walked slowly, holding a lantern, and turned to look at Dai Ru Yan. “Ah-Yan, you still haven’t told me what this is about.”

“The Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon. Make sure the servants hang bronze mirrors to ward off evil spirits and prepare some mugwort and calamus. Though your tolerance is low, you should still drink some realgar wine,” Dai Ru Yan said matter-of-factly.

Gong Yu tilted her head, studying Dai Ru Yan before leaning in slightly. “Are you going on a long trip?”

Dai Ru Yan glanced at her, then looked away. “My grandmother is getting old and wants to return to Changzhou. My father is busy with official duties, so I’ll accompany her.”

“Then this trip will probably take a few months.”

Changzhou was at least a month’s journey from the capital, and the round trip alone would take two months not to mention the time they might spend there.

Night had fallen quietly, and the air had grown cooler. Normally, Gong Yu would have simply reached out to hold Dai Ru Yan’s hand without a second thought.

But now, she had to stand properly by her side, holding the lantern slightly closer to light Dai Ru Yan’s way.

The pond water looked like an inky black expanse in the darkness. Gong Yu tried to lighten the mood. “You should go. I’ll be fine here on my own.”

“With the Third and Fourth Princes stirring unrest in the court, His Majesty is in a foul temper. Don’t act recklessly just because you’re young, understand?”

“Don’t worry.” Gong Yu smiled. “I’m always so well-behaved—when have I ever acted recklessly?”

After Dai Ru Yan left, Gong Yu stared blankly at the lantern in front of her, pressing a hand to her still-pounding heart. She couldn’t help but grumble, “She’s already gone. Why are you still beating so fast?”

Gong Yu felt like she was deceiving herself. If she liked Dai Ru Yan, there was no harm in admitting it.

At worst, she just wouldn’t let anyone else know.

Even as she thought this, Gong Yu couldn’t help but sigh. She lay sideways on the soft couch, picturing Dai Ru Yan’s serene face, recalling those tender yet scorching gazes that warmed her heart.

Her cheeks burned, and she buried herself under the blankets, muttering, “Oh no, this feels like I’m heading straight for unrequited love.”

The summer wind carried a faint scorched scent as Gong Yu sat in the courtyard, watching the performers showcase their talents for recruitment.

“Your Highness, my strength is unmatched in my village!” The burly man spun in circles while carrying a massive rock.

The crowd cheered, and Gong Yu sipped her tea, noticing how the man’s face had already turned pale. Yet he still boasted, “This rock is nothing—my real specialty is breaking stones with my chest!”

Bro, there’s no need to go this hard, okay?

Gong Yu quickly called out, “Stop! That’s enough.”

“Your Highness, please witness my true skill!”

With one hammer strike, the man immediately spat blood. Gong Yu nearly dropped her teacup in shock and shouted, “Quick—get him a physician!”

Fortunately, the man survived, but Gong Yu was thoroughly shaken.

Weapons like swords and spears required genuine skill to pass the test, so there was little room for fraud, making it easy to find capable individuals.

But Gong Yu wanted to recruit people with unique talents, which proved far more difficult. From dawn till dusk, she had lost count of how many jugglers and cricket trainers she had seen.

“Next!”

The old steward cleared his throat and announced.

“I’m a storyteller, but I also possess a secret skill—ventriloquism. From small creatures like cats, dogs, snakes, and insects, to mighty beasts like tigers in the mountains.”

The man was slender, wearing a round hat and sporting a thin mustache that gave him the air of a fortune teller.

Gong Yu set down her tea, intrigued. “Please, demonstrate.”

The man lightly covered his mouth and mimicked the chirping of cicadas—so lifelike it was uncanny.

Soon, he switched to bird calls, not just one but an entire flock, as if they were right before them.

The peaceful chorus of birdsong abruptly ceased. The man straightened and exaggeratedly imitated the movements of a wild beast, suddenly letting out a roar that startled everyone.

Gong Yu jumped in surprise before clapping in admiration. “Excellent! Reward him with ten gold pieces and invite him into the estate.”

Days passed, and as fewer people tried to slip through with fake skills, Gong Yu, the examiner, found herself with more free time.

Thinking that Dai Ru Yan should be nearing Changzhou soon, she picked up a brush to write a letter better than idly waiting out these months.

But before she could write more than a few lines, she crumpled the paper in frustration and muttered, “Sending a letter out of the blue with nothing to say would just make me look like a fool.”

When the old steward entered the pavilion with soup, he noticed the scattered paper balls and asked, “Your Highness, are you composing poetry?”

“No.” Gong Yu hastily gathered the discarded drafts and asked, “How do you find the newly hired scholars in handling affairs?”

“Their talents are naturally outstanding. Though they’ve never served in court, they are all scholars—top-notch at managing accounts and overseeing the estate’s finances.”

Gong Yu tossed the paper ball into a homemade wastebasket, then reached out to take the sour plum juice handed to her by the old butler. Sipping it slowly, she said, “I want to select a few people to handle the business matters from earlier. You can observe them these next few days to see who might be suitable.”

“This old servant will certainly do my best.”

“If you keep being so formal, I’ll really get upset,” Gong Yu said with genuine seriousness.

The old butler smiled but said nothing more.

Sitting nearby, Gong Yu stared at the blank letter paper before her, looking troubled. “Butler, if I suddenly want to write a letter to someone, what should I say so it doesn’t seem strange?”

“Is Your Highness writing to Miss Dai?”

“Yes. She’s in Changzhou, and I realized it’s been a while since we last spoke.”

“If you truly don’t know what to talk about, perhaps Your Highness could share some amusing things from your daily life to entertain Miss Dai.”

Gong Yu thought for a moment and nodded. “Alright.”

With that in mind, she set down her bowl, picked up a brush, and began writing “To Ah-Yan” at the top of the letter. She recounted some amusing incidents from her recent efforts to recruit talented individuals, chuckling as she described a street performer juggling balls who accidentally hit himself in the nose.

By the time she had filled two full pages, Gong Yu hesitated before adding one last line: All is well, no need to worry.

Even with a fast horse, it would take four or five days for the letter to reach Changzhou. Gong Yu sent it off with a flutter of nervousness, hoping that if Dai Ru Yan had the time, she might write back.

Changzhou was an ancient city, situated at the confluence of rivers, a bustling hub where the Dai family had first established their roots.

That afternoon, a gathering of close friends from the Dai family was held in the garden. Dai Ru Yan was watering a delicate potted plant when a maid suddenly announced, “Miss Dai, a letter has arrived from the capital.”

The young ladies nearby giggled, covering their mouths with handkerchiefs as they whispered among themselves. Madam Zhou teased, “Old Ancestor, your granddaughter has barely left the capital, and this is already—how many letters is it now?”

“Indeed! It seems the noble princes of the capital have had their hearts follow Miss Dai all the way here.”

Dai Ru Yan did not respond, only smiling faintly as she continued watering with a small porcelain sprinkler. “Who sent it?” she asked.

“It’s from the Ninth Highness.”

The water abruptly stopped. Dai Ru Yan turned slightly toward the maid and said, “Leave it in my room. I’ll read it later.”

The garden was lush with flowers, butterflies flitting tirelessly around the vibrant blooms. Light laughter occasionally rose from the gathering, but after exchanging a few pleasantries, Dai Ru Yan excused herself and returned to her chambers.

Behind her, the ladies continued their gossip. “After the scandals involving the Third and Fourth Highnesses, the royal family’s reputation is in tatters, and even commoners are laughing at them.”

“Wasn’t it just the other day that the Sixth Highness was sending letters nonstop? Now this new Ninth Highness is making his move.”

“Madam Zhou, you might not know, but the Ninth Highness was injured saving our Miss Dai a while back—he was bedridden for months!”

“So that’s how it is.”

Meanwhile, Dai Ru Yan lifted the curtain and entered her room. The maid had placed the letter on the desk before quietly withdrawing.

Dai Ru Yan wiped her hands, then sat at the desk and picked up the envelope.

Inside, along with the letter, was a sachet. The craftsmanship of the sachet was far from refined. In fact, it was rather clumsy, not even properly sealed, allowing a few petals to peek out.

Upon unfolding the letter, she was met with densely packed handwriting. Dai Ru Yan read swiftly, and when she finished, she was still somewhat dazed. She then started reading from the beginning again until her eyes landed on the signature—Xiao Jiu—and a spark of joy lit up her gaze. Her fingertips gently traced the words on the paper.

“Little cousin!” A soft, childish voice suddenly rang out as a young girl came giggling into Dai Ru Yan’s chamber.

A maid followed closely behind, flustered and apologetic. “The young miss insisted on coming, and I couldn’t stop her.”

Dai Ru Yan carefully refolded the letter and placed it back into its envelope. “It’s fine.”

“Cousin, it smells so nice here!” The little girl reached out to grab the sachet.

“No.” Dai Ru Yan swiftly moved it out of reach and explained, “This was a gift from someone else. You can’t just play with it.”

The girl stared blankly, still not understanding, and stubbornly reached for it again. Outside, the faint voice of a woman could be heard: “Are you sure you saw Lian’er run into Miss Dai’s courtyard?”

“That’s terrible! That place is rumored to be haunted!”

Soon after, the curtain was lifted, and the woman hurried in, visibly anxious. “I was so worried! I thought Lian’er had gone missing.” She scooped the little girl into her arms and smiled apologetically. “I’m so sorry for disturbing your peace, Miss Dai.”

Dai Ru Yan held the sachet and replied politely, “No need for apologies, madam.”

Without further conversation, the woman quickly left the courtyard with the child in tow, and the maid quietly retreated outside as well.

The only sound left was the delicate tinkling of the beaded curtain settling. Dai Ru Yan held the sachet to her nose and inhaled lightly, as if catching a faint whiff of peach blossom fragrance.

“Biyu.”

“Here.”

“Prepare the writing set.”

“Yes, miss.”

After the Dragon Boat Festival, intermittent drizzles had brought a comfortable coolness to the weather.

But before long, the Minor Heat arrived, bringing sweltering temperatures that even made the impatient Gong Yu, waiting for a reply, restless.

“Your Highness, are you sure about this move?”

Gong Yu snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Qin Hua, who had recently entered her residence, then back at the chessboard before her—already a complete mess.

“It seems I won’t be able to win a single game against you today,” Gong Yu admitted, setting down her piece and beginning to tidy the scattered chessmen.

Qin Hua placed his piece down and smiled knowingly. “Your Highness seems preoccupied.”

“Not at all.”

“Oh, but you are.”

Avoiding Qin Hua’s direct gaze, Gong Yu replied, “I was just thinking about the affairs of the Third and Fourth Princes.”

“The matter has caused quite a stir in the capital. Both have been confined to their residences, and the court is rife with suspicion. Factional struggles have only grown fiercer.”

“Next year marks another imperial examination. Your Highness might consider using your influence to pave the way for a few candidates. If they enter the court as officials, it could be a useful strategy.”

“No.” Gong Yu set down her piece firmly. “The imperial examination is the only path for commoners to rise. We must not interfere with power.”

Qin Hua placed his piece down, his expression unchanging but his voice low. “Then why do you think I chose to serve as an advisor instead of taking the exams?”

“Are you saying someone is already manipulating the exams to place their own people?”

“Naturally.” Qin Hua nodded. “My elder brother was immensely talented but repeatedly failed the exams. In the end, he died in despair.”

“I no longer believe the lie that the imperial exams are fair for commoners.”

Gong Yu straightened her back and looked at Qin Hua, saying, “I believe you. My father is also eager to recruit talented individuals. If the imperial examinations are being manipulated by those in power, why don’t we expose them? What do you think, sir?”

Qin Hua’s eyes flashed with surprise before he calmly replied, “If Your Highness has such resolve, Qin Hua will not hesitate to assist.”

Suddenly, a servant announced from outside the courtyard, “Your Highness, a letter has arrived from Lady Dai.”

Gong Yu sprang to her feet, then quickly composed herself, realizing her reaction was too eager. She turned to Qin Hua and said, “I must take my leave now due to urgent matters. But rest assured, what we discussed today is no jest. Please trust me on this.”

After exchanging a few brief words, Gong Yu approached the servant, took the letter, and anxiously walked alone toward the waterside pavilion.

Her mind was filled with endless possibilities about Dai Ru Yan’s reply, and her steps quickened unconsciously.

Inside the sachet were peach blossoms she had personally dried. She wondered if someone as perceptive as Dai Ru Yan would notice anything.