Accidentally Married the Princess [Time Travel] - Chapter 35.1

The hem of her pants dripped with water as Dai Ru Yan pulled her into the cabin. Gong Yu could faintly hear the sounds of bells, drums, and zither music drifting from the second princess’s cabin. She turned and asked, “What kind of person do you think Second Royal Sister is, Ayan?”

Dai Ru Yan was applying medicine to Gong Yu’s hand. The cabin was very quiet, without even a maid in sight.

“Extremely intelligent and highly skilled in her methods,” Dai Ru Yan replied, her fingertips gently spreading the ointment over the fair skin of Gong Yu’s injured wrist.

“So, did you already know that Second Royal Sister was involved in this?”

“I only had my suspicions.”

“Then have you seen this jade pendant before?” Gong Yu took out the pendant she carried with her.

Dai Ru Yan didn’t look at it but sighed deeply, her voice soft. “Little Jiu, do you really think that even if we uncover the truth about the capital case, the culprit will be brought to justice?”

Gong Yu shook her head. “I know it’s impossible, but I want to know how many factions are entangled in the court. I want to know to what extent they’ll go to secure their power.”

“What good will knowing do?” Dai Ru Yan tied the bandage and snipped off the excess gauze with scissors. “The imperial family has always been like this for generations. And what about the ministers who willingly serve as their pawns?”

“Little Jiu, you must understand one thing: in such a complex world, you and I are already at the mercy of circumstances. Unless…”

“Unless what?” Gong Yu pressed urgently.

Dai Ru Yan’s fingertips gently brushed Gong Yu’s slightly cool cheek. “Unless Little Jiu ascends the throne and holds the power of life and death. Then, I can assist you step by step in eliminating the poisonous insects hidden deep within the court.”

“When you say ‘eliminate,’ do you mean killing them in batches?”

“How else can we intimidate the officials? To become an emperor, one must be ruthless and decisive. Hesitation will only lead to more severe consequences.”

Gong Yu shook her head. “I’m not suited to be an emperor, and I don’t want to solve problems through slaughter.”

Dai Ru Yan smiled faintly. “I know. Since you’re aware it’s impossible, you should remain calm now. Investigate the tangled web of factions from the shadows, rather than foolishly boarding a pirate ship alone.”

“Alright, quickly change out of these wet clothes, or you’ll surely fall ill.”

“Okay.” Gong Yu gathered her clothes and walked behind the screen. Outside, Dai Ru Yan sat sipping tea, idly rubbing the jade pendant Gong Yu had shown earlier.

When Gong Yu emerged after changing, Dai Ru Yan set down the pendant and turned to look at her. “Does this outfit fit well?”

“It’s good. I like the color too.” Gong Yu lifted her arm to examine the sleeve, finding it exquisitely crafted.

More importantly, the light blue robe closely resembled the pale blue gauze dress Dai Ru Yan was wearing today, giving off an inexplicable couple-outfit vibe.

Gong Yu approached and, spotting the pastries nearby, reached for one.

Dai Ru Yan reached out to adjust the fastener at Gong Yu’s collar, smiling. “How old are you now, and you still can’t fasten this properly?”

“I probably didn’t pay attention,” Gong Yu said, her face flushing inexplicably as she looked at Dai Ru Yan. She quickly stuffed the pastry into her mouth and added, “Should I do it myself?”

“Don’t move. I’ve almost finished tying it for you.”

“Well… alright.” Gong Yu straightened her back, standing as still as a statue.

Dai Ru Yan’s expression was filled with seriousness, yet the faint fragrance emanating from her made Gong Yu’s heart race wildly.

To avoid letting her thoughts wander, Gong Yu shifted her focus to what Zhao Anyue had said on the boat earlier and said to herself, “I’ve made some progress regarding the case of the Minister of Justice. Would you like to hear my thoughts, Ayan?”

Dai Ru Yan gently smoothed the wrinkles on Gong Yu’s robe with her fingertips before releasing her hand and saying, “Feel free to share, Xiao Jiu.”

Gong Yu pulled Dai Ru Yan to sit by the window and said, “I suspect it was the Eldest Prince who sent someone to kill the Minister of Justice.”

“But the Minister of Justice was also the Eldest Prince’s father-in-law. Why would the Eldest Prince want him dead?”

“At first, I was puzzled by this too. However, the jade pendant found on the assassins sent by the Eldest Prince shifted the suspicion toward the Second Princess.”

Dai Ru Yan poured tea and took a small sip before saying, “A jade pendant alone isn’t enough to prove anything.”

Gong Yu nodded. “It’s just speculation, after all. There’s no way to verify it now since the assassins are dead.”

“Perhaps the Second Princess was seeking revenge for the Third Prince,” Gong Yu said, holding her teacup. “The Minister of Justice was investigating the assassination attempt on the Fourth Prince and had accused the Third Prince of hiring assassins.”

“But why would the Eldest Prince agree to send assassins to kill the Minister of Justice just because the Second Princess sought revenge?”

Dai Ru Yan set down her teacup and asked, “After all, the Minister of Justice held a high position and was a valuable pawn.”

Gong Yu paused before replying, “I suspect the Second Princess might have promised the Eldest Prince some benefit in return.”

“Or perhaps the Minister of Justice wasn’t truly the Eldest Prince’s pawn. Maybe he only pretended to pledge allegiance while secretly serving someone else. If that were the case, the Eldest Prince would have nothing to lose by killing him. In any case, the Minister of Justice’s death only benefits the Eldest Prince.”

“Did you come to all these conclusions based solely on speculation?” Dai Ru Yan asked with slight surprise.

“Yes,” Gong Yu replied as she shelled peanuts. “Although I visited the Minister of Justice’s residence, I’m not an official from the Court of Judicial Review, so I couldn’t conduct a thorough investigation.”

“However, I heard that the Minister of Justice had a private residence outside where he kept a concubine. Later, I sent someone to inquire and found out there was no concubine at all. Instead, there was a secret passage in that residence.”

Dai Ru Yan lightly tapped the low table with her fingertip and said, “I suspect the passage leads directly to the imperial examination venue.”

“Exactly. So when the exam leak case surfaced, the Minister of Justice had to be the first to die.”

Gong Yu handed the shelled peanuts to Dai Ru Yan’s palm and whispered, “Whether the motive was to cover up the truth or to silence a witness.”

“You must not speak of this to anyone, Xiao Jiu.”

Gong Yu nodded with a smile. “I know. That’s why I’m only telling you, Ayan.”

Dai Ru Yan gently grasped Gong Yu’s hand and said helplessly, “The more secrets you know about the court, the more dangerous it becomes. Aren’t you usually quite timid, Xiao Jiu?”

“I am afraid, but I also don’t want to let others be wronged for no reason.” Gong Yu met Dai Ru Yan’s gaze and said, “From what we know, when the exam leak case came to light, the Minister of Justice suddenly took sick leave. He probably knew he was in danger.”

“What are you implying, Xiao Jiu?”

“According to the servants at the Minister of Justice’s residence, on the day he recovered and went to court, he was holding a small box in the morning. But when he died, the box was nowhere to be found.”

Gong Yu sighed softly and said, “Perhaps that small box contained the list of people involved in the leak of the examination questions, or evidence of the Crown Prince’s faction’s dealings with the Minister of Justice. It’s a pity it’s gone.”

Dai Ru Yan gently pressed her fingertip against Gong Yu’s palm and replied, “Maybe the murderer took it.”

“I suspect the murderer didn’t get it either,” Gong Yu clasped Dai Ru Yan’s hand in return, picking up peanuts one by one and placing them in a small dish nearby. “Because the murderer was hiding near the Minister’s usual morning court sedan chair. But that day, it was still dark, even before the mao hour (5-7 a.m.), and the Minister left in an unfamiliar sedan chair.”

Dai Ru Yan held out a peanut to Gong Yu’s lips and asked, “How did you find out about this, Xiao Jiu?”

Gong Yu opened her mouth to eat the peanut and responded, “I sent someone to question the night watchman. Coincidentally, he happened to witness an unfamiliar sedan chair emerging from the alley behind the Minister’s residence.”

“What a remarkable coincidence.”

“Indeed. So, I suspect the Minister handed that small box to someone he trusted for safekeeping, intending to protect himself, but he was still killed in the end.”

The sound of water outside the boat grew louder, and both fell silent. Gong Yu noticed a small plate of plums nearby and reached for one.

Unexpectedly, the plum was extremely sour. Gong Yu frowned deeply, taking a long moment to recover. Dai Ru Yan, sipping her tea beside her, remarked, “Those plums are thoroughly sour. Did it refresh you, Xiao Jiu?”

Gong Yu looked at Dai Ru Yan in disbelief, noticing her somewhat gleeful expression, and said innocently, “Since the plums were right in front of me, why didn’t you warn me before I ate one, Ayan?”

“I didn’t tell you to eat it. Besides, you reached for it and ate it without even asking me.”

Well… that was hard to argue with.

Dai Ru Yan chuckled softly and reached out to gently pinch Gong Yu’s cheek. Feeling like she had bitten off more than she could chew, Gong Yu took a sip of tea and changed the subject: “The leak of the examination questions has triggered various factions in the court to either protect themselves or eliminate their rivals’ influence. But this is akin to self-destruction. Nurturing an official only to destroy them is a painstaking effort. So, who stands to gain the most from all this?”

“You’re so clever, Xiao Jiu. You can figure it out slowly,” Dai Ru Yan said with a laugh, releasing her hand.

Gong Yu took another sip of tea and shook her head. “I don’t know. I haven’t even noticed anything unusual among the newly appointed officials. It’s as if everyone is lying low, as if facing a great enemy.”

Dai Ru Yan held the jade pendant and said, “Court affairs aren’t something you can grasp in an instant. You need to calm your mind and carefully observe them. But perhaps the Second Princess might have some clues.”

“I don’t dare go there,” Gong Yu shook her head, sensing that Dai Ru Yan was up to something again.

“Why?” Dai Ru Yan smiled. “Didn’t you recently praise the Second Princess for her exceptional talent and beauty, her generosity, and how she’s widely admired?”

So Dai Ru Yan was deliberately bringing this up.

Gong Yu drank her tea and said, “Ayan, don’t tease me. If I go again, I’m afraid I might not make it back.”

“Are you worried the Second Princess might devour you?”

“I am,” Gong Yu admitted sheepishly, nodding. “Today, I felt like I was nearly swallowed alive by those young ladies on the pleasure boat.”

Dai Ru Yan laughed and said, “Who told you to have such fair skin? Among the young gentlemen, aside from…”

The words abruptly stopped as Dai Ru Yan’s gaze leisurely settled on Gong Yu, seemingly holding back a laugh as she said, “Little Nine eats so much every day, yet you only grow taller while nothing else seems to change at all.”

Gong Yu could hardly believe that Dai Ru Yan would say such teasing words. Blushing, she retorted, “Ayan, how have you become so shameless?”

Though it was indeed a bit small, what could Gong Yu do about it?

Dai Ru Yan chuckled lightly and said, “Where am I being shameless? I was just genuinely curious.”

“Usually, Little Nine eats more than others, but aside from having a bit of flesh on your face, I never realized you were this thin.”

Her words made it sound as though Dai Ru Yan had seen everything. Gong Yu glanced sideways at the screen and realized it hadn’t concealed much at all.

Though the view was hazy, the important parts were still clearly visible.

Gong Yu turned her head, her face flushed, and stared at Dai Ru Yan. Dai Ru Yan’s expression remained unchanged, with only a hint of amusement in her eyes and nothing more.

“Ayan, peeking at someone changing clothes isn’t proper.”

“I only took a quick glance. How can you call that peeking?”

“Then why didn’t you warn me?” Gong Yu felt like today was just her unlucky day. She stood up and pushed open the window nearby to get some fresh air.

Dai Ru Yan set down her teacup and walked over, speaking softly, “Are you angry?”

“I’m very angry,” Gong Yu replied, her gaze fixed on the lake outside.

Not only had she been seen, but she had also been criticized by Dai Ru Yan for being small. Gong Yu felt so disheartened that she could seriously consider jumping into the river. It was just too discouraging.

As Dai Ru Yan gently took her hand, Gong Yu hadn’t even fully registered it when Dai Ru Yan wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. “If I had warned you earlier, wouldn’t you have foolishly kept wearing those soaked robes?”

“Besides, I’ve seen what I’ve seen. It’s not like I’m a stranger. Are you treating me as an outsider now, Little Nine?”

Unable to escape, Gong Yu felt that Dai Ru Yan’s gentle words were like those of a bewitching enchantress. She turned her head and met Dai Ru Yan’s gaze, saying, “I’m not.”

“Then why are you still angry?” Dai Ru Yan blinked lightly, her fingers gently stroking Gong Yu’s palm, her eyes clear and innocent.

Yet, Gong Yu was most vulnerable to this side of Dai Ru Yan—a blend of purity and deadly charm that was simply impossible to resist.

Even as Dai Ru Yan’s other hand held her firmly in place, their posture was extremely intimate, yet Dai Ru Yan showed no sign of discomfort.

Gong Yu stared at Dai Ru Yan’s face, her own cheeks flushing helplessly as she said, “But Ayan dislikes me for being small.””

Dai Ru Yan looked slightly surprised, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips. I didn’t dislike… it being small. In fact, it helps conceal your identity better, Little Nine.”

“You clearly did,” Gong Yu insisted, tightening her grip on Dai Ru Yan’s hand. “You hesitated when you said it, obviously just trying to comfort me.”

“But what I said is the truth,” Dai Ru Yan replied with a smile, gently kissing Gong Yu’s cheek to soothe her. “Perhaps when Little Nine is older, things might change.”

That blunt honesty was truly heart-wrenching.

Gong Yu blinked a few times, her gaze lingering on Dai Ru Yan’s fair complexion, before she leaned in and softly kissed those lips so close to her.

When she pulled back, Dai Ru Yan moved slightly away and looked at her curiously. “So, you’re not angry anymore?”

“I’m still angry.”

Gong Yu wanted to draw closer, but Dai Ru Yan gently cupped her face with her palm and said softly, “One more kiss, and Little Jiu won’t be angry anymore, okay?”

Before the words had fully faded, Dai Ru Yan leaned in and lightly pressed her lips to Gong Yu’s—just a gentle touch.

But Dai Ru Yan lingered for a moment, and Gong Yu’s heartbeat raced uncontrollably. The delicate, wonderful sensation made Gong Yu yield without a second thought.

“Be good, Little Jiu, don’t be angry anymore, alright?” Dai Ru Yan pulled back slightly, coaxing in a low voice.

Gong Yu felt that Dai Ru Yan always treated her like a child. Annoyed, she lightly nibbled on Dai Ru Yan’s cheek and whispered, “I’m the one who was being watched. Why does it seem like I’m the unreasonable, fussy child here?”

Dai Ru Yan was momentarily taken aback by Gong Yu’s little gesture. She gently massaged the back of Gong Yu’s neck with her palm, holding her affectionately as she replied, “You are a child, after all. And I can indulge this bit of whimsy from you.”

“If you keep calling me a child, I’ll really get angry,” Gong Yu grumbled, leaning her head against Dai Ru Yan’s shoulder.

“Alright, no more anger. I won’t say it again.”

Dai Ru Yan sighed softly and lightly pinched Gong Yu’s earlobe. “Little Jiu is all grown up now—a grown-up who still asks for kisses. Is that better?”

Gong Yu’s face flushed even redder at the remark. She reached out and took hold of Dai Ru Yan’s hand, which was still playing with her earlobe, then pulled back slightly to look at her.

Dai Ru Yan’s eyes were clear and beautiful. Someone like her couldn’t possibly be the kind of heartless scoundrel who toyed with affections.

Gong Yu didn’t believe Second Princess Gong Ling’s words, but the tear at the corner of Gong Ling’s eye had seemed so genuine.

At the very least, Gong Yu believed that Second Princess Gong Ling had feelings for Dai Ru Yan. But if her deliberate words were meant to provoke Gong Yu, they clearly hadn’t been forceful enough.

Gong Yu’s thoughts swirled in her mind until Dai Ru Yan gently pinched the soft flesh of her palm and whispered, “What has Little Jiu so lost in thought?”

“How did you know I was distracted?”

“Because…” Dai Ru Yan gazed intently at Gong Yu, her fingertips tracing the corner of Gong Yu’s eye. “I could tell that just now, your eyes weren’t really on me.”

“But I was looking right at you!” Gong Yu smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons as she held Dai Ru Yan’s hand and kissed the back of it.

Dai Ru Yan shook her head. “Perhaps you were looking at me, but your heart was elsewhere just then.”

“You can even tell that?”

“I can’t speak for others, but with Little Jiu, I can see it in an instant.”

Gong Yu laughed. “Then if I ever do anything bad, you’ll catch me right away.”

“Little Jiu isn’t the type to do bad things.” Dai Ru Yan’s fingertips gently traced Gong Yu’s brow. “Your eyes are too clear. There’s no greed or deceit in them.”

“Only when people are driven by desire will they stop at nothing to achieve their goals.”

“I can be plenty wicked,” Gong Yu murmured, tightening her grip on Dai Ru Yan’s hand. “I secretly had the manor stock up on a lot of ice behind your back, just so I could make chilled fruit treats.”

Dai Ru Yan chuckled and lightly pinched Gong Yu’s cheek. “That’s not wicked—it just means you’re a bit too fond of snacks.”

“Of course! And I’m always thinking that no one else should lay a finger on you—not even other women.”

“What nonsense are you worrying about now?”

“I rarely go out on ordinary days, at most attending palace banquets or unavoidable social events. How could I attract anyone’s attention?” Dai Ru Yan paused mid-sentence, then added, “On the contrary, it’s Xiao Jiu who, whenever I’m not paying attention, ends up surrounded by admirers.”

Hearing Dai Ru Yan’s calm tone describing what sounded like jealousy, Gong Yu couldn’t suppress the upward curve of her lips as she whispered:

“Ayan, you’re wronging me. It’s not that I attract admirers. It’s that those admirers have become so persistent they nearly drove me to jump off the boat earlier.”

Dai Ru Yan’s lips curled slightly, listening to Gong Yu’s nonsense with apparent indulgence. She poked Gong Yu’s cheek with her fingertip and softly said:

“Who told Xiao Jiu to always be so memorable? Who knows how much trouble you might bring in the future?”

“Then should I cover my face all day, only letting Ayan look at me?” Gong Yu playfully responded.

“Alright,” Dai Ru Yan withdrew her hand and said, “But what man goes around with a covered face? I’m afraid Xiao Jiu would become the laughingstock of the capital.”

“Then let them talk. Maybe they’re just jealous deep down.”

The gentle breeze from the riverbank drifted in, carrying some warmth but still relieving much of the stuffiness in the cabin.

Gong Yu leaned against the side, gazing at the capital’s buildings. In the past, she had only seen prosperity, but now she felt that beneath this prosperity lay countless buried bones.

Yet this was the capital where Dai Ru Yan claimed to find interest and had decided not to leave.

“Does Ayan really plan to stay in this capital forever?” Gong Yu asked, still holding onto some hope.

As if sensing Gong Yu’s resistance, Dai Ru Yan comforted her: “The capital of Gong Kingdom is the most prosperous place under heaven. Isn’t it good to stay here?”

“It’s not that it’s not good,” Gong Yu hesitated before saying, “but it’s too complicated here. Human life is treated like worthless grass, arbitrarily destroyed, and the court is filled with muddy waters.”

“Does Xiao Jiu think that outside the capital, everywhere is peaceful?” Dai Ru Yan turned to look at Gong Yu and said, “Compared to the suffering outside, at least the capital’s illusion of prosperity can still make Xiao Jiu somewhat happy.”

Clearly, Dai Ru Yan had no intention of leaving the capital, so Gong Yu had to let the matter drop.

After Minor Heat passed, the weather grew increasingly hot. The Gong Kingdom suffered severe drought, and the court dispatched officials to investigate the details.

“Your Majesty, dozens of prefectures and counties have experienced complete crop failure due to the drought. The grain distributed by the court can only address immediate needs, but with tens of thousands of hectares of farmland dried to dust, I fear that countless citizens of Gong will starve or die of thirst long before winter arrives.”

This statement naturally plunged the court into dead silence.

“Your Majesty, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. The national treasury’s grain donations cannot support the disaster victims for several months either.”

Hearing this, Gong Yu understood that this minister was essentially telling the emperor that the national treasury had no silver, so he should stop thinking about drawing funds from it.

In the past, Gong Yu had naively believed that the emperor lived without worries about food and clothing, free to do as he pleased. Instead, he faced constraints everywhere, and even accessing the national treasury’s silver wasn’t that simple.

The emperor remained silent. Over the years, worn down by his ministers, his complexion had grown noticeably paler.

The Fourth Prince stood and proposed: “Father, since the national treasury is empty, why not issue an order for wealthy merchants in the capital to donate grain and silver? Only through the collective effort of the people can we overcome this crisis.”

This method is feasible, but the order is indeed too tyrannical and unreasonable, and it is highly likely to stir public resentment.

Yet, no one in the court opposed it, and the matter was hastily handed over to the Fourth Prince for implementation.

By the end of the morning court session, the Fourth Prince seemed to have regained his usual arrogance. His ample flesh trembled slightly with each step he took, and no matter how Gong Yu looked at him, he appeared to be someone who relied solely on brute force.

Forcing wealthy merchants to contribute to disaster relief isn’t entirely unworkable—if done cleverly, it could be managed without issue.

However, judging by the Fourth Prince’s usual way of handling affairs, it’s likely that lives could be lost. Instead of achieving merit, he might only bring about blame.