Accidentally Married the Princess [Time Travel] - Chapter 34.1

“Um… Second Sister, please don’t be angry,” Gong Yu quickly said. “Sister Dai only spoke a few words on my behalf; she meant no harm.”

Princess Gong Ling’s eyes were filled with a fierce aura, completely unlike her usual calm and natural demeanor.

Gong Yu was taken aback by her gaze, feeling as if those eyes were sharp blades. If looks could kill, she would surely have perished under that piercing stare.

Yet, Dai Ru Yan, sitting nearby, sipped her tea without even furrowing her brow and said, “Who spread the rumors in the capital? Shouldn’t you, Second Princess, know better than anyone?”

“Ayan… are you investigating me?” Princess Gong Ling’s eyes flickered slightly as she asked.

Dai Ru Yan set down her teacup, her gaze fixed on Gong Ling as she said softly, “That night, Little Jiu was knocked unconscious by a person in black, yet she had no injuries and was not threatened. It was as if that person appeared out of nowhere and vanished just as mysteriously.”

“I kept thinking about it but couldn’t make sense of it. Then, after that night, rumors began spreading throughout the capital. I started to wonder if the person in black had risked hiding in the sedan chair not to harm Little Jiu but to search for something, which is why they had to knock her out.”

Princess Gong Ling avoided Dai Ru Yan’s gaze and hastily stood up. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Dai Ru Yan removed the jade pendant she always wore from her waist and placed it on the low table. “I think you’re looking for the other half of this jade pendant.”

The silent Princess Gong Ling suddenly laughed, her eyes reddening as she stared at the pendant, her face contorted with anger and resentment, as if she had gone mad. “Yes!” she exclaimed.

“I refused to believe that Ayan would choose Little Jiu. Even when I saw you holding her, I couldn’t accept it.”

Hearing this, Gong Yu’s face flushed red. So, the kiss in the pavilion that night had been witnessed by the Second Princess.

Dai Ru Yan held the jade pendant calmly, her gaze fixed on Princess Gong Ling. She turned to look at the lake nearby before turning back and saying:

“Since you don’t believe me, Second Princess, I won’t say more. But let this be the last time.”

“Choosing Little Jiu, who has no power or influence, will only make everyone target her. Ayan, you can’t protect her forever.” Princess Gong Ling stepped closer to Dai Ru Yan, her eyes filled with infatuation as she gazed at her.

“I have more advantages than Little Jiu, and I understand what you truly want better than she does.”

Dai Ru Yan frowned suddenly. “Second Princess, please restrain yourself.”

Princess Gong Ling smiled and turned to look at Gong Yu, who was still in a daze. “But you haven’t given the jade pendant to Little Jiu. That means I still have hope, right?”

“Attendants, the Second Princess is drunk. Escort her back to her residence.”

“Yes,” the maids outside rushed in.

Princess Gong Ling stood up, her long skirt trailing behind her. Her calm eyes swept over the courtyard before locking with Gong Yu’s. She approached slowly, smiling.

“Poor Little Jiu, you must be careful. Don’t be deceived by the cunning Ayan.”

“Second Sister, I don’t quite understand what you’re saying,” Gong Yu instinctively took a few steps back.

“You’ll understand sooner or later, just like I did.” Though Princess Gong Ling was smiling, there was no trace of joy in her eyes—only despair and suppressed rage.

With that, Princess Gong Ling left the courtyard, and the garden suddenly fell into silence.

The breeze gently rustled the hanging gauze curtains. Dai Ru Yan’s silence left Gong Yu unsure how to process the flood of information from Second Princess Gong Ling’s earlier words.

Second Princess Gong Ling was in love with Dai Ru Yan, which explained why she had sent those black-clothed men to search for Gong Yu for the jade pendant upon discovering their intimacy.

The jade pendant was something extremely important to Dai Ru Yan—it could even be considered a token of love—and this was something Second Princess Gong Ling was well aware of.

Yet despite being married for several years, Second Princess Gong Ling had never been involved in any rumors with Dai Ru Yan. During banquets, they would merely exchange words and nothing more.

After pondering for a moment, Gong Yu asked, “Second Imperial Sister likes Ayan, doesn’t she?”

Dai Ru Yan, holding her teacup, replied, “Perhaps so.”

“When did Ayan find out?”

“Shortly before the Second Princess got married.”

After a pause, Gong Yu sat down beside her, poured a cup of tea, and asked quietly, “Did Ayan reject Second Imperial Sister then?”

Dai Ru Yan turned to look at Gong Yu and said, “What rejection? From beginning to end, the Second Princess was the only one infatuated. I was merely an observer. Her words were straightforward and detached, much like Dai Ru Yan’s usual cold and indifferent demeanor. No wonder Second Princess Gong Ling had been so suspicious about why Dai Ru Yan had chosen Gong Yu.

To some extent, Gong Yu had also wondered why Dai Ru Yan had chosen her.

In terms of power, status, wealth, talent, or appearance, Gong Yu was only average—even somewhat mediocre among the imperial princes.

Gong Yu recalled Dai Ru Yan once bluntly stating that she was powerless and easy to control, making her the perfect puppet.

At the time, Gong Yu hadn’t taken it seriously, unable to understand why Dai Ru Yan would need a puppet.

But Zhao Anyue’s words occasionally resurfaced in her mind. The more Gong Yu thought about it, the more inexplicably afraid she became, clutching her teacup tightly until she even felt a pain in her abdomen.

Gong Yu took a deep breath, then wondered: if the Dai family truly intended to replace the Gong clan, and Dai Ru Yan was coaxing her like this, could it be that they planned to annihilate the Gong family?

No, that couldn’t be. Though Dai Ru Yan was somewhat aloof, she wasn’t ruthless enough for that.

At the very least, Gong Yu could feel that Dai Ru Yan treated her exceptionally well. It wasn’t some carefully calculated scheme.

Though not always gentle, Dai Ru Yan worried about her. Even when Gong Yu had fallen from the temple heights, Dai Ru Yan had been so concerned that she disregarded everything and fell with her.

How could all of that be fake?

Gong Yu tried hard to calm her thoughts, but the pain in her abdomen grew intense, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

Dai Ru Yan reached over, her palm gently pressing against Gong Yu’s cold cheek, and asked worriedly, “It’s still warm during the day—why are you breaking out in a cold sweat?”

“It’s nothing.” Gong Yu turned her head away from Dai Ru Yan’s touch, her gaze fixed intently on her. Hesitantly, she asked, “Ayan, aren’t you afraid Second Imperial Sister will spread word about us?”

Dai Ru Yan took a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from Gong Yu’s face, replying, “Don’t worry. It’s already spread throughout the capital. For now, let’s just ignore it.”

“Are you scared now?” Dai Ru Yan paused and laughed softly. “When you stole that kiss from me back then, why didn’t you think about the consequences?”

Gong Yu shook her head and said, “I’m not afraid. I’m just worried it might cause chaos, especially with the capital in such disarray right now.”

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here with you.” Dai Ru Yan cupped Gong Yu’s pale face in her hands, comforting her: “The exam leak scandal has thrown all the hidden factions in the court into disarray. They don’t have time to worry about us right now.”

After speaking, Dai Ru Yan leaned in and kissed Gong Yu’s furrowed brow, her thumb gently stroking Gong Yu’s tense face. With concern, she asked, “Xiao Jiu, why is your complexion so pale? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Gong Yu, holding her abdomen, leaned halfway into Dai Ru Yan’s embrace and whispered, “It’s nothing. I just don’t know why, but my stomach has started hurting badly.”

“Hurting badly?” Dai Ru Yan held Gong Yu gently and asked, “Did you eat something unclean?”

“Today, I only had a few pieces of pastry and a cup of tea. I haven’t eaten anything else.” Gong Yu frowned deeply, trying to steady her breathing.

When she vaguely sensed something unusual between her legs, Gong Yu suddenly realized—could this be her period arriving?

Her face instantly flushed crimson. Looking at the anxious Dai Ru Yan, she hesitated and said, “Ayan, I think my monthly visitor might have come.”

Dai Ru Yan stared blankly at Gong Yu for a moment, then pursed her lips as if feeling awkward and said, “Come with me to the inner chamber.”

“Okay.”

Gong Yu let Dai Ru Yan lead her by the hand into the inner chamber. She watched as Dai Ru Yan, unusually restless, paced back and forth before calling out, “Biyu, prepare hot water and clean clothes.”

“Yes, Miss.”

The two stood awkwardly in the somewhat enclosed inner chamber. At that moment, Gong Yu was so embarrassed she wished she could bury herself in a vase.

Dai Ru Yan, still holding Gong Yu’s hand tightly, seemed equally unprepared for this sudden situation. After a moment of stunned silence, she calmly said, “First, wash yourself with hot water and change into clean clothes. As for the menstrual belt, I’ll explain how to use it.”

“N-No need, I know how to use it,” Gong Yu replied, her face still flushed.

“That’s good.” Dai Ru Yan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

After the maid had set up the hot water bath and placed the screen, Dai Ru Yan finally released Gong Yu’s hand and said:

“If there’s anything you don’t understand, remember to call me.”

“Mm, I know.” Gong Yu hung her head like an ostrich, only relaxing after Dai Ru Yan retreated behind the screen. She quickly changed out of her clothes, washed with the warm water, tidied up, and only emerged after confirming everything was in order.

Dai Ru Yan, standing outside the screen, seemed lost in thought. As Gong Yu approached, Dai Ru Yan turned her head and said, “This is brown sugar water. Drink it while it’s hot.”

“Okay.” Gong Yu sat down and took small sips. Noticing that the windows were closed, she asked, “The windows are all shut. Aren’t you hot, Ayan?”

Dai Ru Yan gently stroked Gong Yu’s slightly flushed cheeks, warmed by the hot water, and replied:

“During your period, even in the scorching summer, you can’t have anything cold. You’ve always loved eating chilled things, and that’s why you’re in so much pain now. From now on, I won’t allow you to be so reckless.”

Gong Yu thought she had misheard. She took another sip of the brown sugar water, tilted her head, and looked at the serious-faced Dai Ru Yan. “So I can’t even drink sour plum soup anymore?”

“No, you can’t.”

Ugh…

In this era without fans or air conditioning, even her one cold drink was now forbidden. Gong Yu felt like it was the end of the world.

Yet Dai Ru Yan paid no mind to Gong Yu’s pitiful, pleading gaze. She gently tapped Gong Yu’s nose with her fingertip and said, “You can’t ride a horse later either. I’ll have a sedan chair prepared for you.”

“Alright.”

Gong Yu lifted her slightly loose sleeve and asked, “But I can’t go back wearing women’s clothes, can I?”

Dai Ru Yan tidied Gong Yu’s clothes with her fingertips and replied, “I’ve already had the maid from your residence bring your clothes.”

“That deaf-mute maid can’t read, and she usually stays in the residence without going out. How does she communicate with you?”

“I naturally have my ways of contacting her. Why are you so curious about these things, Xiao Jiu?” Dai Ru Yan responded as she re-tied Gong Yu’s clothes.

Gong Yu finished the last sip of brown sugar water, set down the bowl, and said, “I’m just curious. It feels like you have so many little secrets, Ayan.”

Dai Ru Yan paused her hands briefly and said, “The reason secrets are called secrets is precisely because they are hidden and not discovered. That’s why they’re called secrets.”

“Being too curious is not a good thing, Xiao Jiu. Remember that.”

“Is it dangerous?” Gong Yu asked, gazing into Dai Ru Yan’s calm eyes.

“Of course,” Dai Ru Yan smiled faintly. “Otherwise, why would people raise swords to kill one another? Isn’t it to protect their secrets?”

Gong Yu shook her head and said, “Not entirely. People also raise swords to protect those they love.”

“Love? What is that?” Dai Ru Yan looked at Gong Yu with a puzzled expression and murmured softly, “Is it even better than liking someone?”

“There’s not much difference, but love is deeper than liking, or perhaps it encompasses more.”

“But I’ve never heard you mention this word before, Xiao Jiu.”

Seeing Dai Ru Yan lost in thought, Gong Yu grew concerned and called out softly, “Ayan?”

Dai Ru Yan snapped out of it, her previously complex and confused eyes returning to their usual calm. “What is it?”

“N-nothing.”

Outside the window, the sun remained fervent. Gong Yu, draped in Dai Ru Yan’s outer robe, sat upright nearby. Between them lay a chessboard.

Dai Ru Yan, holding the black pieces, quietly placed one on the board. Gong Yu followed closely with a white piece. They played slowly, as if the only sound in the hall was the soft clatter of the chess pieces.

Gong Yu held a cool white piece in her palm and turned her head to look at a painting on the wall. “This painting is truly beautiful.”

“If you like it, I’ll give it to you, Xiao Jiu.”

“No need. I can see it whenever I come here.”

Dai Ru Yan smiled, picked up a cup of tea beside her, and took a small sip. “Your Second Imperial Sister said the same thing.”

“Have you known Second Imperial Sister for a long time?”

“Almost six years now.”

Gong Yu deduced that it must have been shortly after Dai Ru Yan turned twelve that she was sent to the capital and met her.

“What kind of person do you think your Second Imperial Sister is, Xiao Jiu?” Dai Ru Yan asked as she placed another piece.

Gong Yu watched as the white pieces were toyed with by the black ones. Resolutely, she blocked that path and shifted the battle to another area.

“Second Imperial Sister is talented, beautiful, and generous. She is highly respected by everyone.”

Dai Ru Yan paused her move and asked, “Even after what she just did, you still think so?”

“Second Imperial Sister likes you very much, Ayan,” Gong Yu glanced at Dai Ru Yan playfully and said, “You’re so outstanding, yet you chose me. It’s only natural for Second Imperial Sister to be angry.”

Before the words had fully left her mouth, Dai Ru Yan softly said, “Silly.”

Gong Yu looked at Dai Ru Yan in confusion and sighed, “I was telling the truth.”

“You’re hopelessly silly, Little Jiu.”

“What does Ayan mean by that?” Gong Yu asked, holding a chess piece.

Dai Ru Yan looked at Gong Yu with exasperation. “The Second Princess, Gong Ling, sent someone to attack you, which shows she has no regard for sibling bonds. Moreover, she just threatened you and tried to drive a wedge between us. Haven’t you thought deeply about any of this?”

Gong Yu replied, “Of course I’ve thought about it. But if one day Ayan suddenly hugged another girl, I’d be very angry too.”

“What would you do then, Little Jiu?”

“I’d first smash a teacup, then run out without looking back.”

Dai Ru Yan’s eyes held a hint of amusement as she whispered, “Just like that?”

“Yes. Wouldn’t Ayan come after me?”

“Why would I chase you?”

Ouch… that stung.

Gong Yu took a sip of tea and said, “So Ayan would just heartlessly let me run away?”

Dai Ru Yan reached over to add some herbs to the incense burner nearby and replied, “Where would you run to, Little Jiu?”

“Somewhere Ayan could never find me.”

“That might be difficult.” Dai Ru Yan poured another cup of tea and said, “The Dai family’s influence in the palace is unmatched. No matter where you hide, it would be as if you were right in front of me.”

Feeling a bit deflated by Dai Ru Yan’s calm reaction, Gong Yu carelessly placed a chess piece.

Dai Ru Yan methodically made her move and, noticing Gong Yu’s sullen expression, said, “Unlike your residence, which has a blooming peach tree, my courtyard only has a few loquat trees. They wouldn’t attract any other girls.”

“Besides, we were just discussing your Second Imperial Sister. How did the topic suddenly shift to this?”

“Is there anything else about Second Imperial Sister?” Gong Yu asked.

“Nothing else, except for one thing you must remember.” Dai Ru Yan looked seriously at Gong Yu and said, “Never believe a word your Second Imperial Sister says.”

Gong Yu nodded blankly. “Alright. If Second Imperial Sister says anything about Ayan, I definitely won’t believe it.”

Only then did Dai Ru Yan smile with satisfaction. She peeled a piece of candy and handed it to Gong Yu, saying, “Good Little Jiu, that’s being obedient.”

Obedient? Like a puppet.

The thought popped into her head unexpectedly. Gong Yu stared blankly at the faintly smiling Dai Ru Yan and asked, “What if one day I’m not obedient? What would Ayan do?”

“I would be very angry,” Dai Ru Yan replied gravely.

“Would Ayan ignore me if you were angry?”

“Of course not, but punishment would be unavoidable.”

As she spoke, Dai Ru Yan gently pinched Gong Yu’s earlobe and whispered, “Do you want to know what the punishment is, Little Jiu?”

Gong Yu hesitated, then nodded before shaking her head. “I suppose it’s probably just rules like not letting me eat this or that.”

“Not that lenient.” Dai Ru Yan’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she looked at Gong Yu, a slight smile playing on her lips. “But I won’t tell you now, Little Jiu.”

“Why not?”

“Your curiosity is too strong—it’s not a good thing.” Dai Ru Yan pulled back and glanced at the chessboard. “Besides, at this point in the game, you have no way out.”

Gong Yu was momentarily stunned, feeling that Dai Ru Yan’s words just now carried an inexplicable depth. When she snapped back to reality and looked at Dai Ru Yan’s expression again, it seemed there was nothing particularly unusual about it.

She then focused seriously on the chessboard. Although the white pieces were neatly arranged, they were completely surrounded by the black pieces, clearly with no way out.

“I’ve lost this round. Let’s play another game,” Gong Yu said, reaching out to gather the pieces. Dai Ru Yan gently held her hand and said softly:

“No matter how many games we play, it will be the same. Over these years, Little Jiu has never won a single game against me.”

“Don’t underestimate me, Ayan,” Gong Yu replied as she tidied the board. “Maybe one day I’ll be able to win a game against you.”

Dai Ru Yan took a sip of tea and smiled. “Alright, I’ll be waiting to see it.”

Gong Yu, holding a handful of white pieces, said, “When that day comes, Ayan, you’re not allowed to get angry if you lose.”

“In Little Jiu’s eyes, am I such an unreasonable person?”

“Yes,” Gong Yu said, holding the white pieces in her left hand while casually arranging Dai Ru Yan’s black pieces with her right. “Every time, you take me by surprise and corner me. Why don’t you face me directly?”

“Go is not like chess. Has Little Jiu lost her mind?”

Gong Yu hesitated and looked at Dai Ru Yan. “But Mr. Qin said that when you play against the Eldest Prince, your strategies are incredibly sharp. Without showing any emotion, you systematically cut off all his moves. Mr. Qin was full of praise.”

Dai Ru Yan reached out and took the black pieces that Gong Yu was struggling to hold with her right hand. “Different opponents require different strategies. I don’t need to use such methods against Little Jiu.”

“Ayan, that’s just an excuse.”

“If Little Jiu says it’s an excuse, then it’s an excuse.”

Just then, a maid entered to replace the tea. Dai Ru Yan glanced at the teacup in her hand and remarked, “This tea set is a treasure. Now that your Second Imperial Sister has smashed one of the pieces, missing even one renders it practically useless.”

“It’s just one piece missing. It can still be used for now,” Gong Yu said casually.

Dai Ru Yan set down her teacup and suddenly said, “True. We can keep it for the day when Little Jiu also feels like smashing a cup. I suppose it will still come in handy then.”

Uh…

Gong Yu suddenly felt that Dai Ru Yan had become increasingly mischievous lately.

How could she have ever mistaken Dai Ru Yan for a gentle and soft-hearted girl?

As time passed and summer arrived, coinciding with the Dragon Boat Festival, the third round of the imperial examinations, which had been postponed due to the exam leak scandal, was finally held today.

The death toll among court officials had reached six. In the following days, no new victims seemed to appear, and even on the day the exam results were announced, everything remained peaceful.

Early in the morning, Gong Yu ate a meat bun and drank a bowl of multigrain porridge before hurrying off to the morning court session.

After the session ended, Gong Yu happened to see the disheartened Zhou Wencai while riding her horse. Zhou Wencai, who had been imprisoned, was released because the investigation found no substantial evidence against him.

However, someone had to take the blame for the exam leak scandal, and Zhou Wencai became the sacrificial lamb in this power struggle. In contrast, the Sixth Prince remained relatively stable in the court, a classic case of sacrificing a pawn to save the king.

Qin Hua, waiting on horseback nearby, said, “The palace examination will be held in five days.”

“Yes,” Gong Yu replied. “Once the palace examination is over, this bloodshed will likely be swept under the rug.”

With that, she dismounted and approached a street vendor. “These decorations of yours are quite unique.”

“You have a good eye, young master. These are all imported goods from foreign lands.”

Gong Yu examined the object that resembled fish scales and asked, “Has a thin, frail-looking little beggar ever come to buy this?”

The shopkeeper’s expression turned somewhat displeased as he replied, “Our goods are worth every penny. How could someone like a little beggar afford them?”

Before Gong Yu could say more, the shopkeeper simply ignored him. As Gong Yu continued to study the object, a young assistant nearby spoke up, “Not many ordinary people buy this item. If you’re looking for someone, sir, you might want to try elsewhere.”