Accidentally Married the Princess [Time Travel] - Chapter 28.1

Gong Yu hesitated before replying, “That dancer was sent away from the estate this morning.”

“Is that so?” Dai Ru Yan murmured softly, then turned her head to look elsewhere and said, “This is a temple. It’s improper for you to hold me like this.”

“I just got you a protective talisman.” Gong Yu pressed the talisman pouch she was holding into Dai Ru Yan’s hand, somewhat confused by the earlier remark—was Dai Ru Yan suspecting something?

The distance between them was neither too close nor too far, as if deliberately leaving space for one person.

The mountain trees were blanketed in white snow, and with the misty haze, everything in sight was a vast expanse of white. Gong Yu’s shallow breaths formed puffs of white vapor that quickly dissipated.

Occasionally, birds darted through the fog, swift and unafraid of colliding with the trees, as if intimately familiar with the forest.

Gong Yu glanced at the talisman pouch held in Dai Ru Yan’s hand, still unaccustomed to this version of her—cold and devoid of warmth.

“Did… I do something wrong?” Gong Yu stepped closer to ask.

Dai Ru Yan shifted slightly away and replied, “No.”

“Then why are you unhappy?”

“I’m not.”

Summoning her courage, Gong Yu moved closer and looked directly into Dai Ru Yan’s eyes. “But you clearly are. Ayan, you were ignoring me just now.”

Before she could finish speaking, Dai Ru Yan suddenly resisted, pushing Gong Yu away. To the side was a steep slope with dozens of steps.

Caught off guard, Gong Yu tilted sideways, the sudden sensation of weightlessness making her heart nearly stop.

If she fell, it would mean another long period of recovery from injuries.

Just as Gong Yu realized what was happening, her arm was abruptly grabbed tightly. Pressed against that familiar embrace, she could clearly hear Dai Ru Yan’s heartbeat.

Thump, thump—it raced as fast as her own.

The dizzying spin made Gong Yu feel nauseous. By the time she regained her senses, they had already tumbled down the slope. The maids and servants above panicked and shouted, “Oh no! Miss Dai has fallen!”

Escaping the feeling of weightlessness, Gong Yu gasped for air. Dai Ru Yan looked at her worriedly and asked, “Are you hurt anywhere?”

Gong Yu quickly replied, “I’m fine.”

“Really?”

“Really, I’m okay.”

As if relieved, Dai Ru Yan held Gong Yu close. Pressing against Dai Ru Yan’s heartbeat, Gong Yu smiled and said, “Luckily, it’s just grass. Otherwise, this would have been like a lovers’ suicide.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Dai Ru Yan’s palm gently stroked Gong Yu’s cheek. “You scared me half to death.”

“Yeah, I was scared too.”

It was the first time Gong Yu had seen such resistance in Dai Ru Yan’s expression. For a moment, she feared Dai Ru Yan had discovered her feelings and grown disgusted.

If that were the case, Gong Yu’s heart would have turned to ashes.

“Then why were you so cold to me just now?” Gong Yu asked, gazing into Dai Ru Yan’s eyes.

Dai Ru Yan didn’t avoid her gaze, her eyes filled with remorse as she replied, “I don’t know either.”

Don’t know?

Gong Yu looked bewildered at the Dai Ru Yan before her. Her eyes were clear and pure, entirely different from the distant, icy gaze from moments ago.

The sound of maids hurriedly approaching echoed from not far away. Dai Ru Yan discreetly created some distance and helped Gong Yu up from the grass.

Only then did Gong Yu notice the scratches on the back of Dai Ru Yan’s hand. Crimson marks against her fair skin, looking somewhat startling.

The maids hurried forward to support Dai Ru Yan, while Gong Yu followed closely by her side. The Dowager of the Dai family sternly reprimanded the servants.

Even Gong Yu, standing nearby, dared not speak, especially since the Dowager held a tiger-headed cane that looked quite weighty.

Dai Ru Yan tilted her head slightly and said, “Don’t be afraid.”

“I’m not afraid.” Gong Yu nodded and whispered, “Does your wound hurt?”

“It’s fine. Applying the ointment for a few days will heal it.”

As night fell, Dai Ru Yan left with the Dowager in a sedan chair, while Gong Yu followed on horseback.

When they returned to the residence, the old steward who came out to greet them noticed Gong Yu’s disheveled robes and the stray grass clinging to them. He asked, “Your Highness, did you encounter bandits on the road?”

Only then did Gong Yu snap out of her daze and glance at the bits of grass on her clothes. She then realized her right leg was aching and replied, “I just took a little fall, that’s all.”

“Should we call a physician to take a look?”

“No need. It’s just a scrape on my leg. Please have some ointment sent to me, Steward.”

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

That night, Gong Yu sat cross-legged on her bed, rolling up her pant leg to reveal a patch of angry red skin. At first glance, it was indeed a bit alarming.

After hastily applying the ointment, Gong Yu lay down. The palace floors were heated, making the bed as warm as if it had underfloor heating.

The wound on her leg wasn’t serious, but Gong Yu couldn’t sleep.

Dai Ru Yan had been in a strange mood earlier and had mentioned the dancer. But the dancer had only appeared late last night—how had Dai Ru Yan’s spies managed to relay the information so accurately?

The dancer’s identity was still unclear, so why had Dai Ru Yan gotten so upset with her?

More importantly, Dai Ru Yan claimed she didn’t remember. Given her intelligence, how could she not recall something that had happened in the blink of an eye?

Gong Yu felt a throbbing headache and tossed and turned until she finally drifted into a fitful sleep in the early hours of the morning.

A few days passed, and the injury on her leg gradually improved. During the day, Gong Yu wanted to sleep in, but the firecrackers outside kept going off intermittently from early morning.

Reluctantly, she got up early. First, she dealt with the year-end account books for the shops, then attended to various trivial matters within the residence. To make matters worse, Master Qin Hua was constantly urging her not to neglect her equestrian and archery skills.

It wasn’t until the tenth day of the Lunar New Year that Gong Yu finally gave herself a day off. Early in the morning, she rode her horse to Dai Ru Yan’s courtyard.

The streets were piled high with thick snow, and the occasional sudden burst of firecrackers startled the horse, making it jumpy.

Afraid of falling, Gong Yu dismounted and led the horse on foot. Tucked in her embrace were freshly made pastries, still warm from the morning.

After walking for a while, even Gong Yu began to feel warm. When she arrived at Dai Ru Yan’s courtyard, the servant guarding the gate asked, “Your Highness, why are you here so early today?”

“No particular reason, I just came.” Gong Yu handed the horse over to the servant, already able to lie without blushing or her heart racing.

Clutching the warm pastries, Gong Yu entered the pavilion. As she walked along the corridor, she caught sight of the frozen lake and couldn’t help shivering.

Though she had visited this courtyard many times, this was the first time she had truly taken a good look at it.

In winter, Dai Ru Yan’s courtyard was exceptionally desolate. Most of the trees in the garden had shed their leaves, leaving only bare trunks. The buildings and pavilions were mostly painted in dark lacquered wood, giving off a lifeless aura.

The corridors crisscrossed intricately, making the courtyard seem small yet interconnected by dozens of paths leading to any room.

Approaching the hall, Gong Yu didn’t catch sight of Dai Ru Yan at first glance. Instead, she happened to encounter a maid carrying a water basin emerging from the chamber.

“Ninth Highness, why have you come so early this morning?” the maid added, “My lady is still freshening up at the moment. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a little longer.”

Gong Yu was genuinely somewhat intimidated by this sharp-tongued maid.

Just then, Dai Ru Yan’s voice came from inside: “Biyu, stop teasing. Let Xiao Jiu come in.”

Though the maid seemed reluctant, she still bowed and said, “Ninth Highness, please enter.”

“Alright!” Gong Yu replied with a smile, her eyes crinkling. She lifted the wind-blocking curtain and stepped into the hall.

The interior of the hall was unusually cold. Dai Ru Yan sat curled up on a low couch by the window, a book in hand. Incense burned nearby, and the brightness from outside the window made Dai Ru Yan’s complexion appear somewhat pale.

“Why hasn’t Ayan had someone set up a charcoal brazier?” Gong Yu asked as she sat down nearby.

Dai Ru Yan, her gaze still fixed on the book, inquired, “Does Xiao Jiu feel cold?”

“Not at all. I’ve been walking all the way here, so I’m quite warm now.” Gong Yu took out a packet of pastries wrapped in oiled paper and asked, “Would Ayan like to try these pastries?”

Only then did Dai Ru Yan shift her gaze to Gong Yu. “You came early in the morning just to have me taste these pastries?”

“Mm, I have nothing to do all day today, so I made a special effort to come early.”

Her words subtly implied that Gong Yu intended to stay here the entire day.

Gong Yu sat upright as the maid entered from outside, placing tea and fruits on the table. Dai Ru Yan spoke up, “Biyu, it’s a bit cold in here.”

“Yes, my lady,” the maid replied before leaving.

Dai Ru Yan set down her book, picked up a pastry, and took a small bite. Gong Yu, feeling nervous, poured herself some tea and drank it casually, asking, “How does it taste?”

“Mm, soft and delicious, but a bit too sweet.”

Gong Yu had previously suspected that Dai Ru Yan might not care for sweet treats, but she hadn’t expected that even with just a hint of sweetness, Dai Ru Yan would still find it too sweet.

Doubting her own sense of taste, Gong Yu took a piece of pastry to try.

Mm, she confirmed that it was merely Dai Ru Yan’s personal opinion that it was too sweet.

Though the pastries were good, they had crumbled quite a bit from the journey, leaving them entirely lacking in presentability.

Dai Ru Yan glanced at them and remarked, “The flavor of these pastries is somewhat different from what I usually taste, and the texture is very soft.”

To Gong Yu, these words felt no different from receiving praise herself. She couldn’t suppress her smile and said with a look begging for more compliments, “I made these this morning.”

“You made them this morning?” Dai Ru Yan looked at Gong Yu with slight surprise and added, “No wonder you seem a bit tired. I thought you hadn’t slept well.”

“It’s fine. I just wanted Ayan to try them,” Gong Yu said, too embarrassed to admit she had been too excited to sleep.

“I’ve never heard that Xiao Jiu could make pastries. This is a first,” Dai Ru Yan said, graciously eating another piece.

“I can do a lot of things,” Gong Yu replied, taking a sip of tea. “I can even make dumplings. What filling does Ayan like?”

Dai Ru Yan clearly hadn’t expected Gong Yu to ask so seriously. She seemed to ponder for a moment before saying, “Aside from meat fillings, are there other types for dumplings?”

“Of course! You can even use vegetables and fruits. As long as you can imagine it, there’s nothing that can’t be used as a filling.”

“Xiao Jiu.”

“Hmm?”

“Where did you learn all this?” Dai Ru Yan asked, sounding somewhat surprised.

Gong Yu quickly explained, “I’ve been feeling bored in the mansion lately, so I thought I’d try learning something.”

Dai Ru Yan sipped her tea as if she hadn’t given it much thought, and only then did Gong Yu breathe a sigh of relief. Taking another sip of tea, she noticed the flavor seemed to have changed again—it was sweet, nothing like the bitter, life-draining tea from before.

Outside the window, the wind howled. The pastries she had brought were barely touched by Dai Ru Yan; instead, the rest ended up in Gong Yu’s stomach.

It was still early, and the fog outside was thick. With nothing else to do, Gong Yu asked, “Ayan, would you like some dumplings?”

“I just had pastries. I don’t plan on eating lunch,” Dai Ru Yan replied softly, her gaze fixed on her book as she immersed herself in its pages.

Gong Yu watched with a sense of melancholy, but Dai Ru Yan didn’t even glance back at her, as if the book held some precious treasure worth her undivided attention.

Feeling utterly neglected, Gong Yu slumped innocently onto the spacious low couch. Turning her head, she caught sight of the peach blossom sachet tied at Dai Ru Yan’s waist, and her mood instantly lifted.

Playfully stretching out her arm, Gong Yu reached under the low table and tugged lightly at the hem of Dai Ru Yan’s flowing skirt, calling out with a laugh, “Sister Dai, you’re so boring like this.”

But Dai Ru Yan seemed to know Gong Yu was just being mischievous and continued reading, ignoring her antics.

Undeterred, Gong Yu held onto Dai Ru Yan’s skirt and crawled under the low table until she emerged right in front of her. Just as her head popped up, Dai Ru Yan said, “If you keep moving, everything on this table is going to topple over.”

“What kind of book is so fascinating that you’re ignoring me?” Gong Yu asked, tilting her head.

Dai Ru Yan looked down at Gong Yu, who seemed trapped under the table, and gently pulled her out halfway. “Hurry up and come out. If the maids see you like this, they’ll surely laugh at you.”

Gong Yu leaned lazily against Dai Ru Yan and said defiantly, “Let them laugh then.”

Although she had occasionally been held lightly by Dai Ru Yan in the past, back then Gong Yu’s heart was pure and innocent, so she dared to say anything without reservation, and their closeness felt natural.

But now, with her back pressed against Dai Ru Yan’s warm, soft form and the faint fragrance drifting to her nose, Gong Yu felt completely unsettled.

Noticing Dai Ru Yan’s hand, still bandaged, as she turned the pages, Gong Yu snapped out of her daze and asked, “Has your injury not healed yet?”

“It’s almost healed. I just applied some ointment, so I kept it wrapped,” Dai Ru Yan’s voice whispered softly beside her ear.

As Dai Ru Yan spoke, Gong Yu could faintly feel the softness against her back, and her face flushed crimson. She tried to put a little distance between them.

But Dai Ru Yan gently wrapped her arms around Gong Yu, drawing her closer, and held her in her embrace. “Don’t squirm. Didn’t you say you wanted to see what I was reading?”

Now completely enveloped in Dai Ru Yan’s arms, Gong Yu didn’t dare move a muscle, trembling like a captured little rabbit, her heart pounding wildly.

The soft rustle of turning pages filled the air. Gong Yu steadied her breathing and looked at the book in Dai Ru Yan’s hands. The ancient text was obscure and difficult to understand, with many characters Gong Yu couldn’t even recognize.

Her eyes grew dizzy from reading, but she diverted some of her attention, glancing sideways at Dai Ru Yan’s focused expression. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly turned to look out the window.

The snow outside the window had begun to fall again at some point, but the room had already grown warm, likely due to the underground heating ducts installed in the hall. Even the low couch felt noticeably cozier.

Occasionally, the sound of accumulated snow sliding off withered branches could be heard—a soft thump or two—but upon closer listening, it would fade away.

Through the half-open window, a few maids could be seen sweeping the snow in the courtyard. The faint rustling of brooms was audible, a testament to the tranquility of the garden.

Dai Ru Yan, who was beside her, suddenly spoke, “Why so quiet?”

Gong Yu withdrew her gaze and nestled into Dai Ru Yan’s embrace, looking up at her as she said, “I was just thinking how peaceful it is here with you, Ayan.”

“Do you not like the quiet?”

“No, I quite like it.” Gong Yu blinked and smiled. “I’m already noisy enough. If the surroundings weren’t peaceful, how would you ever hear me?”

Dai Ru Yan gave a faint smile but said nothing, merely reaching for a thin blanket to drape over Gong Yu. Her fingers lightly brushed the pale hair ribbon as she remarked, “It’s only Chen hour—of course it’s quiet.”

Gong Yu felt that Dai Ru Yan was most approachable at times like this, so she brought up the matter of the dancer.

“On New Year’s Eve, a foreign dancer deliberately collapsed outside my residence. I didn’t want any trouble, so I had no choice but to take her in and care for her. The next morning, I sent her away and had someone secretly follow her since then.”

“Do you know what happened afterward, Ayan?” Gong Yu asked deliberately, though she assumed Dai Ru Yan was already aware.

Dai Ru Yan paused her page-turning and replied softly, “What happened to that foreign dancer?”

Gong Yu was slightly surprised by her response and said, “A few days ago, that foreign dancer was killed.”

“Rumors in the capital say it was the work of an assassination sect, but there’s no solid evidence, so the authorities had to drop the matter.”

Dai Ru Yan kept her eyes on the book as she asked, “What did the guards you sent to investigate find out?”

“I didn’t get much information. The guards reported that after the dancer left the Fifth Prince’s residence, she was killed.”

“So, you suspect the Fifth Prince?”

Gong Yu shook her head, adjusting the thin blanket over herself. “No, I don’t think Fifth Brother is capable of such a ruthless act.”

Dai Ru Yan set down Gong Yu’s hair ribbon and looked at her intently. “Sometimes, the person who seems the least likely is the most likely culprit. Especially in the imperial family—everyone has blood on their hands. It’s unavoidable.”

“But why would Fifth Brother want to kill that foreign dancer?” Gong Yu couldn’t figure it out and frowned, feeling a pang of guilt for having sent the woman away.

“If you can’t figure it out, don’t dwell on it.”

Dai Ru Yan gently smoothed Gong Yu’s furrowed brow and whispered, “Sooner or later, the truth will be forgotten anyway.”

“Why aren’t you curious, Ayan?”

“The capital is full of secrets, from the emperor down to the commoners. If I were curious about all of them, I’d never have a moment’s peace.”

Gong Yu softly held Dai Ru Yan’s hand, carefully avoiding the bandaged back, and asked quietly, “Do you have secrets too, Ayan?”

The hall was utterly silent. Dai Ru Yan did not answer immediately, her eyes reflecting Gong Yu’s puzzled, waiting face.

“Everyone has secrets, after all.” Dai Ru Yan’s eyes were as clear as spring water, yet her words concealed something that Gong Yu couldn’t grasp or pin down—something palpable yet indefinable, neither object nor person.

Gong Yu felt that beneath the clarity of Dai Ru Yan’s gaze might lie an abyss of darkness, hiding countless secrets, a forbidden realm no one but Dai Ru Yan herself could ever glimpse.

Blinking back to reality, Gong Yu reached for Dai Ru Yan’s hand and said, “You’re right. Actually, I have secrets too.”

“And not just one.”

Dai Ru Yan gently held Gong Yu’s hand while her other hand softly traced the curve of Gong Yu’s brow. Her fingertips delicately brushed over the upward tilt of Gong Yu’s lips as she asked, “What might Xiao Jiu’s secrets be?”

“I won’t tell you,” Gong Yu replied with a laugh.

“Why won’t you tell me?”

“Well, because Ayan hasn’t told me your secrets either.”

Dai Ru Yan’s fingertip paused on the dimple of Gong Yu’s cheek, her gaze tender as she whispered, “But my secrets aren’t as interesting as Xiao Jiu’s.”

“Even if Ayan flatters me like that, I still won’t say.” Gong Yu’s fingers traced patterns on Dai Ru Yan’s palm, catching a faint scent of ointment. Worried, she asked, “Will the wound on your hand leave a scar?”

“It shouldn’t. I’ve been applying ointment every day.”

Gong Yu nestled against Dai Ru Yan and said, “It’s alright. Even if Ayan’s skin were marred, I would never leave your side.”

Dai Ru Yan chuckled and lightly tapped Gong Yu’s nose. “Such smooth talk. Who have you been learning this from?”

“No one,” Gong Yu replied playfully, rubbing her nose. “These words come straight from my heart. Can’t you feel my sincerity?”

“Sincerity, I haven’t noticed. All I see is a little rascal.”

“I’m not little anymore.” Gong Yu counted on her fingers. “This year, I’m even old enough to take a concubine.”

“A concubine?”

Dai Ru Yan poked Gong Yu’s cheek, lost in thought. “Has it really been three years already?”

“Exactly. So, I’m hardly a child anymore, right?”

Gong Yu felt it necessary to emphasize that she was no longer a child, if only to stop Dai Ru Yan from treating her like a junior.

Unexpectedly, Dai Ru Yan said firmly, “No matter how old you get, in my eyes, you’ll always be a child.”

“Now and forever.”

Such sudden, domineering words inexplicably filled Gong Yu’s heart with sweetness.

Feeling her ears burn with embarrassment, Gong Yu could only listen as Dai Ru Yan gently held her hand and murmured, “But as for the matter of a concubine, I suppose it is about time.”

Huh?

“What’s about time?” Gong Yu stared blankly at Dai Ru Yan, thinking to herself that she had only been joking.

“Naturally, it’s time to find a beautiful concubine for Xiao Jiu.” Dai Ru Yan pinched the soft flesh of Gong Yu’s palm, speaking with utmost seriousness.

A sudden sense of crisis surged within Gong Yu, and she quickly grabbed Dai Ru Yan’s hand. “No, don’t! I was just saying nonsense!”

“I’ve heard there are many noble ladies in the capital who have reached marriageable age. Though a union with the royal family might be improper, a concubine would be acceptable.”

“Sister Dai, I was wrong…”

Dai Ru Yan looked at Gong Yu’s gentle tone and smiled slightly, saying, “If you don’t take a concubine now, sooner or later someone will force one upon you, and it will be even harder to guard against then.”

“Besides, Little Ninth often wanders around the capital. I’ve heard there are many young maidens in the city who admire him.”