Accidentally Married the Princess [Time Travel] - Chapter 24

“Do you know Sister Dai, sir?” Gong Yu stood up and asked.

Qin Hua paused slightly before turning to respond, “Naturally, I’ve heard of Miss Dai’s elegance. Does Your Highness have other matters to attend to?”

Gong Yu stepped closer, meeting Qin Hua’s gaze with a smile. “No, nothing else. If you have matters to attend to, please go ahead.”

As Qin Hua turned to leave again, Gong Yu recalled how his right hand had subconsciously brushed against the thumb ring he wore. The gesture was intriguing.

Hurrying to the waterside pavilion, Gong Yu found Dai Ru Yan seated at a chessboard, seemingly engaged in a battle against herself, playing with great focus.

Bamboo curtains hung around the pavilion to block the wind. Gong Yu lifted one and stepped inside. Before she could speak, Dai Ru Yan turned slightly and said, “Were you playing chess with that Mr. Qin again just now?”

“Mm.” Once caught, Gong Yu stopped tiptoeing and simply sat down beside Dai Ru Yan.

The chessboard before them was locked in a fierce stalemate. Gong Yu studied it and asked, “How do you determine a winner when playing against yourself?”

“By seeing which side reveals a flaw first, then pressing the advantage. Naturally, a winner will emerge.”

Gong Yu found the explanation confusing. She reached for a walnut placed nearby and said, “I don’t understand such things.”

“By the way, do you know Qin Hua, Ah-Yan?”

Dai Ru Yan set down the chess piece in her hand. “I’ve met him a few times at the First Prince’s residence. I’ve heard he’s a strategist skilled in schemes.”

“The First Prince’s year of confinement has ended. Recently, he’s begun attending court again. The incident involving the Third and Fourth Princes last time caused quite a stir in the capital. Now, only the First, Sixth, and Ninth Princes remain in court.”

Gong Yu sat cross-legged, her gaze lingering on Dai Ru Yan’s apricot-yellow dress, which accentuated her fair skin. Most of Dai Ru Yan’s clothes were loose-fitting, making her slender wrists appear even more delicate.

Perhaps because the autumn mornings were chilly, Dai Ru Yan had draped a thicker outer robe over herself, though it now lay beside her.

“Have you heard, Ah-Yan? This morning, Qing Shui’er was found dead in the ancestral hall of the Qing family’s old residence.”

“Yes. I heard the method was particularly brutal.” Dai Ru Yan showed no hesitation as she continued gathering the scattered chess pieces.

Gong Yu pulled a broken arrow from her sleeve and placed it before Dai Ru Yan. “Mr. Qin suspects it’s connected to the person who injured Qingyun last time.”

Dai Ru Yan didn’t glance at the arrow. “Since this happened under the Emperor’s nose, the Dali Temple will investigate. Why are you so concerned about this, Little Ninth?”

“Because I saw a similar insignia when the Fourth Prince was assassinated. I suspect this might be related to internal strife within the royal family.”

“Do you know which faction this insignia represents, Little Ninth?” Dai Ru Yan turned her head, her eyes clear as a mirror.

Gong Yu hesitated, lost in thought, when Dai Ru Yan reached over and took the walnut from her hand. With a gentle twist of the nutcracker, she cracked it open.

Dai Ru Yan picked out the walnut meat and placed it in Gong Yu’s palm. “This matter can’t be rushed. Besides, I’ve had people look into that insignia before. It seems this sect emerged out of nowhere in the martial world, leaving no trace of its existence except for this insignia.”

“Nothing else could be found.”

“I suspect whoever is raising such a group of ruthless, highly skilled assassins must have ties to the royal family,” Gong Yu mused as she slowly ate the walnut.

“Perhaps.”

Dai Ru Yan didn’t seem particularly interested. After tidying up the chessboard, she chose to crack walnuts instead. The quiet pavilion was intermittently filled with the crisp sound of shells breaking.

Gong Yu’s gaze never left Dai Ru Yan, but her reaction was too calm—almost indifferent.

“Don’t crack them all. I won’t be able to finish them,” Gong Yu said before taking a sip of tea.

“Really? No more?” Dai Ru Yan stopped, her clear eyes brimming with warm amusement. “I noticed you kept holding onto the walnuts but never asked me to help.”

Occasionally, a breeze outside the pavilion rustled the bamboo blinds, causing the delicate green gauze curtains inside to sway slightly. The purity in Dai Ru Yan’s smile made Gong Yu stare in a daze.

For a moment, Gong Yu stopped wondering why Qing Shui’er had died in such agony. Surely someone as kind as Dai Ru Yan wouldn’t be capable of such a thing.

But who would go to such lengths to torment the daughter of a condemned criminal and ensure she died in the Qing family ancestral hall?

Winter arrived in the blink of an eye, and the capital was often shrouded in thick fog. Though the wound on Gong Yu’s left shoulder had scabbed over, her left hand remained stiff from prolonged inactivity.

In the resplendent great hall, the ministers filed in as usual. Gong Quan stood at the forefront, while the Third and Fourth Princes, though present to observe court affairs, were far more subdued than their previously bold selves. The Sixth Prince, standing closest, remained unchanged from his usual demeanor.

“Your Majesty, appointing a Crown Prince is the foundation of the state. It should be done without delay,” the Grand Tutor urged, as he did every day.

Even his political rival, Prime Minister Dai, echoed the sentiment. The Emperor above them grew visibly impatient. “We will discuss this matter another day.”

After deflecting the issue with practiced ease, the court finally moved on to the year-end tax reports and other tedious affairs.

Then, the Minister of Justice, Chen Ming, stepped forward. “Your Majesty, recent investigations suggest that the murder of the fugitive Qing Shui’er and the assassination attempt on the Fourth Prince were orchestrated by the same group.”

“Evidence points to the distinctive markings of a notorious underworld assassination sect. It appears Qing Shui’er was likely targeted by hired killers seeking revenge.”

The hall fell into stunned silence. The Third Prince dropped to his knees in panic. “Father, I’ve been wronged! I’ve never even heard of this so-called assassination sect!”

“This matter is entrusted to Minister Chen Ming for full investigation. If it is indeed proven that a prince has colluded with such lowly underworld assassins to harm imperial blood, he shall be punished according to the laws of the palace,” the Emperor declared sternly, hurling a memorial at the Third Prince’s feet.

“Your servant obeys the decree,” Minister Chen kowtowed.

By the end of the morning court session, the Third Prince’s face had turned ashen.

As Gong Yu walked back through the palace corridors, she happened upon the Sixth Prince, and the two paused to speak.

“Ninth Sister, how is your left hand now?” the Sixth Prince asked with concern.

“Thank you for your concern, Sixth Brother. The injury has mostly healed.” The palace corridors were drafty, the cold wind slapping against her face. Gong Yu couldn’t even hunch her shoulders. She had to endure it stiffly.

The Sixth Prince stepped closer. “The court is fraught with complexity these days. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can always ask me.”

Gong Yu smiled. “Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Sixth Brother.”

After exchanging a few more words, they parted ways in their respective palanquins. Gong Yu held a hand warmer, puzzled as to why the Emperor had suddenly become so severe in court.

After all, wasn’t the matter concerning the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince already an open secret?

“Take me to Lady Dai’s residence,” Gong Yu said, lifting the curtain to speak to the servant outside.

When the sedan chair stopped, Gong Yu peeked out and noticed another sedan chair already there. Upon entering the residence, she asked the servant leading the way, “Who else has come to visit today?”

“Your Highness, it is the First Prince.”

As they walked along the corridor, Gong Yu caught sight of the lake’s surface, wrinkled by the cold wind, and felt an even deeper chill. She quickly tightened her collar.

Inside, she saw Dai Ru Yan and Gong Quan sitting together, seemingly engaged in conversation. Gong Yu hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to enter. Just then, she accidentally met Gong Quan’s gaze and had no choice but to proceed.

Entering the pavilion, a maid served tea before retreating outside. Gong Yu took a sip and said, “Eldest Brother, have you also come to Lady Dai’s for tea and pastries?”

Gong Quan smiled. “Not at all. I merely had some matters to discuss with Lady Dai.”

As Gong Yu nibbled on a pastry, her eyes fell upon a letter placed before Dai Ru Yan. Curious, she asked, “What is this?”

“It’s nothing, just—”

“It’s the letter the Fourth Prince received before his assassination attempt,” Gong Quan interjected.

“So, is this a challenge letter?” Gong Yu reached out to take it, but Dai Ru Yan refused, saying, “The contents are rather unpleasant. It’s better if you don’t read it.”

Unable to get her hands on it and with Gong Quan present, Gong Yu had to let it go. She asked instead, “Then, was Third Brother framed?”

“Judging by Third Brother’s reaction today, it’s likely he was indeed connected to that assassin faction.”

“Won’t Father be furious?”

Gong Quan poured himself some tea, took a sip, and frowned slightly. “Lady Dai’s tea is as bitter as ever.”

Bitter?

Gong Yu had also once found Dai Ru Yan’s tea exceptionally bitter, but over time, she no longer felt that way.

Had she simply grown accustomed to the bitterness?

Gong Yu took a small sip from her cup, puzzled, then drank another mouthful before confirming that the tea actually tasted slightly sweet.

Noticing Gong Yu’s little actions, Dai Ru Yan smiled faintly and said, “Bitter tea is naturally bitter. After all, good medicine tastes bitter.”

Gong Quan frowned as he finished his cup and set it down. “Third Brother was likely manipulated by someone with ulterior motives. Father despises fratricide the most, especially poisoning and hiring assassins—those are his greatest taboos.”

“This time, it was Chen Ming, the incorruptible Minister of Justice, who brought forth the case. With irrefutable evidence, Father was naturally furious.”

As Gong Yu listened, she poured herself another cup of tea, sniffed it, and detected a faint fragrance. Drinking it again, she still couldn’t taste any bitterness.

After repeated contemplation, Gong Yu concluded that the tea Dai Ru Yan had given her was different from what Gong Quan was drinking.

This proved that there were indeed differences between people.

As if savoring honey, Gong Yu drank cup after cup, feeling intoxicated not by the tea but by the moment itself.

After Gong Quan left, Gong Yu let out a small burp. Dai Ru Yan chuckled and said, “If you truly like this tea, I’ll have some sent to your residence.”

“Wonderful,” Gong Yu replied with a smile.

“You… Let’s go inside,” Dai Ru Yan said, standing and straightening her robes. “Your injuries have just healed, and it’s too cold out here.”

Gong Yu set down the teacup she was holding and followed closely beside Dai Ru Yan, her eyes curved with delight as she gazed at Dai Ru Yan, who was dressed in a milky-white outfit today. Though she hadn’t been drinking wine, her entire being seemed intoxicated nonetheless.

Summoning her courage, she lightly grasped Dai Ru Yan’s hand. Fortunately, Dai Ru Yan simply held hers in return. Gong Yu took deep breaths, trying to steady her racing heartbeat, yet she couldn’t suppress the upward curve of her lips.

Like a lovesick fool, her mind couldn’t help but dwell on the thought. Dai Ru Yan’s hand was so soft, so smooth!