Accidentally Married the Princess [Time Travel] - Chapter 3

“Why don’t you dare to walk with Sister Dai anymore?” Dai Ru Yan tilted her head to look at Gong Yu, who was still sitting.

Gong Yu stood up and replied, “Who said I don’t dare?”

After all, this body belonged to royalty. She probably wouldn’t be that ruthless, right?

The once-bright moonlight was now obscured by clouds, darkening the surroundings. Gong Yu, feeling a little nervous, tugged at Dai Ru Yan’s sleeve and said, “Hey, I heard this mountain villa has a history of several hundred years.”

“Yes, since the founding of the dynasty centuries ago, generations of emperors have stayed here, and twelve ancestors passed away within these walls.”

Uh…

Was she doing this on purpose?

Dai Ru Yan’s lips curled slightly as she strolled through the corridor. Gong Yu watched as the buildings ahead grew increasingly familiar, recognizing her own residence.

“They say this villa often echoes with weeping at night. Don’t wander out alone in the future.”

Gong Yu obediently stood to the side, noticing how effortlessly Dai Ru Yan navigated the villa. “It’s so dark here. How do you know your way so well?”

“Because I’ve been coming here since I was a child.”

Oh… right.

Gong Yu had forgotten Dai Ru Yan’s family was wealthy and powerful, with multiple marital ties to the imperial family, making her royalty as well. If she could come and go freely from the palace, a mere mountain villa was naturally no trouble at all.

Though the mountains were cool, it was still the height of summer. Gong Yu loved chilled treats, and while the icehouse was always stocked with refreshing fruits and sweet yogurt, her constitution couldn’t handle the cold, so she couldn’t indulge.

At dusk during midsummer, when the breeze gently swept through, the riverside of the capital became the liveliest place.

Noble young masters and ladies would gather for parties, their boats crisscrossing the water in a lively scene.

Of course, the imperial family never missed out on the fun, and Gong Yu was no exception, heading out as invited.

Inside the cabin, lingering melodies painted a picture of the capital’s beauty, though the lyrics were unclear, and Gong Yu couldn’t make them out entirely.

As she drew closer, laughter and chatter filled the air. Gong Yu performed the proper greetings with a bright smile. Fortunately, her young age spared her from suspicion or teasing.

The chilled lychees inside were the most delicious, and with the steward nowhere in sight, no one was there to stop her. She nibbled on them happily.

Just as she was peeling her third lychee, the bowl in front of her suddenly disappeared. Dai Ru Yan, who had somehow taken a seat beside her, held a lychee between her fingers and turned to look at Gong Yu with an amused glint in her eyes. “These are too cold, don’t overindulge.”

Gong Yu blinked at her in confusion, sipping her sour plum juice. “Why aren’t you over there playing with the others?”

“Didn’t the estate’s silver allowance already come through?” Dai Ru Yan asked, puzzled.

“It did.”

“Then why are you still eyeing these lychees? Your estate should have some too.”

Dai Ru Yan peeled another lychee, eating it leisurely while Gong Yu could only sip her sour plum soup and watch the others chatting and laughing.

“I’m not supposed to eat too many, but with the steward gone today, having a couple extra won’t worry him.”

“If you truly didn’t want to worry him, you shouldn’t eat any at all,” Dai Ru Yan remarked, slowly finishing her second lychee.

The breeze rustled the gauzy curtains, revealing the boats on the lake. The nearest ones belonged to the imperial princes, their cabins ringing with even louder laughter. But Gong Yu preferred quieter company, so she had joined the ladies’ gathering.

“Little Ninth, come here.” The speaker was Second Princess Gong Ling, whose beauty was unmatched though she had a habit of pinching Gong Yu’s cheeks with painful enthusiasm.

Every time she saw her, Gong Yu felt like a mouse spotting a cat. Unfortunately, Gong Ling had already wrapped an arm around Gong Yu, smiling warmly as she said, “Little Jiu, you haven’t been playing with your sisters much lately. Always clinging to Sister Dai. That’s not good, you know.”

Which eye did you see me clinging to Dai Ru Yan with?

Gong Yu silently grumbled in her heart, barely managing to escape the clutches before replying, “That’s not true at all. I just happened to be sitting next to Sister Dai.”

“Are you that afraid of me?” Gong Ling walked innocently toward Dai Ru Yan, raising an eyebrow as she asked, “Little sister, my Little Jiu here is several years younger than you. What spell did you cast to make her stick to you like this?”

Huh?

Why does this conversation suddenly feel a bit inappropriate?

Yet Dai Ru Yan didn’t even blink. She simply picked up the glass of fruit wine in front of her and downed it in one go.

“She’s not that young anymore. In another two years, Little Jiu will be old enough to take concubines.”

In an instant, the previously noisy and lively gathering of women all turned their gazes toward them, as if Dai Ru Yan’s words had drawn every eye in the room.

Gong Ling looked genuinely shocked. “You can’t just say things like that.”

Dai Ru Yan tilted her head slightly, gazing out at the river as she chuckled lightly. “I was just joking with Second Sister. Did you take it seriously?”

There was something unsettling about that smile. Even though it was the height of summer, the hottest and most unbearable time of the year, Gong Yu felt a chill run down her spine at Dai Ru Yan’s expression.

Not only Gong Ling but the entire group of women seemed to relax, as if the lively atmosphere had been nothing more than a fragile illusion, easily shattered.

The sour plum juice was nearly gone. Gong Yu quietly sucked on the remaining plum, squinting in satisfaction, when Dai Ru Yan suddenly spoke beside her. “Do you find this commotion amusing?”

Gong Yu spat out the plum pit and replied, “Don’t you like it, Sister Dai?”

“No.”

“Me neither.”

“Then why were you eating so happily just now?” Dai Ru Yan asked with a smile.

Caught off guard by the question, Gong Yu lowered her voice sheepishly. “Do I look like I’m just here to freeload food and drinks?”

The amusement in Dai Ru Yan’s eyes deepened, as if she were considering the question. “Most people would probably just think you’re a child with a sweet tooth.”

Uh…

Wasn’t that just a roundabout way of calling her greedy?

Gong Yu set down her cup and said very seriously, “But if I don’t eat here, there’s really nothing else to do.”

“Hmm, that does sound reasonable,” Dai Ru Yan replied, barely suppressing a laugh.

The banquet continued. Suddenly, a cool breeze swept through, refreshing but causing the boat to sway slightly. Startled, Gong Yu instinctively reached out to grab something only to find herself clutching Dai Ru Yan’s hand. It was cool to the touch, and surprisingly comfortable.

“Scared?” Dai Ru Yan turned her head to ask.

Gong Yu quickly let go, leaning over the low table instead. Spotting the fruit wine on Dai Ru Yan’s table, she asked, “Is that wine good?”

“Do you want to try it?”

“No, I was just asking.”

A flicker of amusement passed through Dai Ru Yan’s eyes. She rolled up her sleeve slightly, revealing her fair wrist, and poured herself another cup of the fragrant wine.

“This fruit wine tastes wonderful, but it’s not suitable for children. Don’t even think about it,” she said before taking another sip.

Almost as if she were teasing her on purpose. Gong Yu turned her head away, looking out the window instead. Towers and pavilions stretched endlessly into the distance, the sound of music and strings filling the air. The overwhelming reality of it all kept reminding Gong Yu that she was truly in another world now.

This wasn’t a dream. It hurt. She got hungry. Everything here was real.

“What are you thinking about?” A light tap on the forehead startled her. Dai Ru Yan, holding a lychee in her hand, turned her head to look at her. Her ink-black eyes made her appear even more lively.

It had to be said Dai Ru Yan was truly breathtakingly beautiful.

Gong Yu snapped out of her daze and replied, “Nothing.”

Suddenly, two lychees dropped into her palm. Dai Ru Yan said, “These lychees aren’t cold anymore. You should eat them.”

With that, Dai Ru Yan stood up and left. Gong Yu stared blankly at the two lychees, thinking, Well, if I don’t eat them, it’d be a waste. She decided to eat them first and worry about the rest later.

By nightfall, when they disembarked from the boat, Gong Yu was still feeling a bit dizzy. The brightly lit capital was, as always, bustling with activity all night long.

Riding in the carriage through Dongzheng Street, Gong Yu swayed drowsily, her eyelids growing heavy.

Just as she was about to drift off, the carriage suddenly came to a halt. Chaos erupted outside, the clashing of swords and the screams of men.

This was the first time Gong Yu had encountered such a situation. Panicked, she sat frozen in place until an assassin barged in.

She hastily jumped out through the window, but not before a blade grazed her arm. Ignoring the pain, she ran desperately to the side.

The streets were crowded, but Gong Yu, clutching her bleeding arm, could see the relentless assassins closing in. Her heart pounded with terror. Who would dare to openly attempt an assassination on a prince right under the Emperor’s nose?

After crossing a high bridge, several assassins caught up. The crowd scattered at the sight of their drawn blades.

Rescue seemed unlikely, so Gong Yu took matters into her own hands and plunged into the river. Darkness swallowed her vision, and she struggled to breathe.

Drifting downstream, half-conscious, she felt only the biting cold of the water and the paralysis of her limbs.

When she awoke again, her head throbbed painfully. Seeing that her clothes had been changed, her heart skipped a beat in alarm.

A maid pushed the door open, carrying a bowl of medicinal soup. “You’re finally awake,” she said. “My young mistress kept watch over you all night.”

Gong Yu lay weakly on the bed, about to ask questions when the door opened again. Dai Ru Yan stepped in gracefully, and the maid quietly withdrew.

Gong Yu’s heart sank. Dai Ru Yan must know now.

“Don’t be afraid,” Dai Ru Yan said softly, sitting beside her. “No one else knows your identity.”

Gong Yu’s voice was hoarse as she replied, “But you know.”

“You should be glad it’s me who found out.” Dai Ru Yan gazed at her, helping her sit up and adjusting the pillow with care. “If it had been anyone else, you’d be in grave danger.”

“What’s the situation now?”

Dai Ru Yan picked up the bowl of medicine and said quietly, “The Emperor is furious and hunting down the mastermind.”

“I don’t even know who I’ve offended.” Gong Yu sighed in frustration, her arm wound throbbing sharply.

“Drink the medicine. Your wound was soaked in water for too long, so the flesh has rotted. The decayed tissue must be cut away. It will hurt, but you’ll have to endure it.”

Gong Yu listened helplessly as Dai Ru Yan spoke so calmly, feeling utterly unlucky. She frowned and forced down the bitter concoction.

But before she could finish, she nearly gagged. The herbal taste was unbearable.

Dai Ru Yan patted her back gently and asked, “Did you see who was trying to kill you?”

“No, it was too dark.”

Gong Yu lay on the bed and whispered, “I suppose my existence must be blocking someone’s path.”

“Little Jiu, don’t overthink it. You’re perfectly safe here,” Dai Ru Yan suddenly said with great seriousness.

“But now you’ve caught me with my little secret,” Gong Yu muttered helplessly.

Dai Ru Yan smiled and reached out to stroke the back of Gong Yu’s neck. “No wonder I always felt there was something odd about you. Thinking back, your temper, personality, even your food preferences lean more toward what girls like.”

Seeing that smile on Dai Ru Yan’s face, Gong Yu inexplicably felt a surge of danger, as if being eyed by a beautiful yet cunning wolf.