Accidentally Married the Princess [Time Travel] - Chapter 38.2

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of a teacup shattering. Immediately after, Gong Yu heard a flustered maid scrambling to clean up the broken pieces.

Unexpectedly, a casual glance fell upon the woman in red. Gong Yu’s heart instinctively skipped a beat, wondering why he kept running into her.

As the zither music gradually faded, the Sixth Prince began the flower-viewing banquet with an impassioned speech. Gong Yu, feeling idle, thought about snacking on something.

Dai Ru Yan, surrounded by a crowd of admirers, was now someone Gong Yu could no longer observe as freely as before. He could only pretend to be an oblivious fool. To his surprise, the table was suddenly laden with an assortment of fruits.

Spotting the bright red hawthorn berries in the fruit platter, Gong Yu found them tempting and reached for one.

Unbeknownst to him, the woman in red quietly approached and softly chuckled, “Young sir, that scar on your head seems to have stolen your smile.”

Hearing her voice, Gong Yu immediately sensed trouble. Pretending not to hear, he tasted the hawthorn berry. It was decent, with a tolerable level of sourness, so he reached for another.

The woman in red, undeterred by his indifference, sat beside him and offered a plate of pastries. “I heard you have a sweet tooth, so why are you eating sour hawthorn berries now?”

Gong Yu ignored her. After eating a few berries, he sipped his tea.

As night fell, servants lit lanterns around the vast garden. The night-blooming cereus placed in the center was clearly preparing to quietly unfurl.

The more people gathered around the flower, the more isolated Gong Yu felt. He faintly overheard the Sixth Prince mentioning that the cereus was worth a fortune and bloomed only once a year, tonight…

No wonder, when Gong Yu had initially inquired, he learned that attendees of this flower-viewing banquet had paid a hefty sum to enter.

The woman in red poured tea while gazing in that direction and remarked, “The night-blooming cereus is a rare sight. Aren’t you going to take a look, young sir?”

Gong Yu took a few sips of tea, glanced at her sideways, and then picked up a pastry instead.

“Young sir, your current situation is precarious. I understand if you can’t speak freely, but are you really going to ignore this lucky charm too?” The woman in red teased, lifting the charm with her fingertip.

Gong Yu devoured the pastry, glanced at the charm, and said impatiently, “The tea is finished. Someone, bring a fresh pot.”

A maid came to replace the tea. The woman in red raised an eyebrow slightly but remained silent until the maid left, then sighed, “Young sir, you’re no fun anymore. I can’t even tease you with the lucky charm now.”

“But I know why you came here today.”

Gong Yu poured himself more tea, drank a large gulp, and stood up to leave. Suddenly, the woman in red grabbed his sleeve, leaning in intimately as she whispered:

“That Miss Dai is quite the master manipulator. She may appear pure and untainted, but in truth, she has every man wrapped around her finger. Someone as straightforward as you, young sir, really shouldn’t wade into these muddy waters.”

Gong Yu tried to shake off her grip, but to his surprise, her strength was extraordinary. Only then did he realize this woman in red must be skilled in martial arts.

“What do you want?” Gong Yu asked in a low voice.

The woman in red leaned closer and smiled. “It’s better if you behave, young sir. I’d hate to break your hand.”

Gong Yu frowned deeply and glared at her. “Let go now, or I’ll draw my sword!”

“Alright.” The woman in red gently stroked Gong Yu’s cheek, her charming makeup accentuating her allure as she replied, “This is the Sixth Prince’s flower-viewing banquet. Surely you don’t intend to ruin it, do you?”

“Then what exactly do you want?” Gong Yu, with no room to retreat, said helplessly, “How have I offended you that you keep coming to mock me?”

The woman in red, her eyes sparkling with amusement, kissed Gong Yu’s cheek and said delightedly, “It’s just that you’re so endearing. You haven’t left your residence for months, and I’ve missed you terribly.”

Hearing this, Gong Yu finally understood what it meant to be utterly disgusted by someone’s words.

Her scalp tingling, she ignored the sharp pain in her restrained arm and swiftly drew her sword.

The woman in red skillfully dodged, and Gong Yu’s raised sword drew the attention of many maids, their gazes instantly converging on the scene.

Clearly, Gong Yu had no choice but to feign madness to the end. She swung her sword at the woman in red, but the latter suddenly pretended to be fragile, sobbing and crying out, “Why is this young master suddenly going mad?”

The banquet had already descended into chaos. Gong Yu seized the moment, pretending to be enraged as she brandished her sword, aiming to strike the woman in red. The guards promptly intervened.

Gong Yu then sheathed her sword and fell silent, her demeanor frightening many of the maids present.

The Sixth Prince arrived just in time and quickly ordered the guards to escort Gong Yu to another garden to rest.

This allowed Gong Yu to escape the troublesome situation. Once outside the garden, she wandered aimlessly with her sword, the guards behind her not daring to offend her.

The night was deep, and Gong Yu could no longer return to the banquet. She wondered if Dai Ru Yan had witnessed her earlier actions.

At that moment, Gong Yu felt exhausted and sat alone on the steps of a stone pavilion.

A bright moon hung in the night sky. Clutching her sword, Gong Yu suddenly regretted drawing it. Otherwise, she might have been able to sneak a glance at what Dai Ru Yan was doing now.

Sighing, Gong Yu stood up, and the guards followed closely as the group left the estate.

Back in her own residence, after bathing, Gong Yu lay alone in the courtyard. Remembering the lucky charm, she thought of the woman in red again and couldn’t help but speculate that the woman’s background must be anything but simple.

After all, even Dai Ru Yan hadn’t been able to uncover the woman in red’s origins. Gong Yu wondered if the woman might not be affiliated with the court.

Dai Ru Yan knew the court inside and out, yet the woman in red had been in the capital for years. If her influence didn’t stem from the court, could it be from the martial world? Or perhaps some other faction or organization?

But what kind of faction or organization would need to infiltrate the capital of Gong Kingdom? Moreover, the woman in red had connections with the Third Prince, the Second Princess, and even the currently influential Sixth Prince.

Pondering this, Gong Yu concluded that the woman in red likely wasn’t aligned with the court, yet her close ties to the royal family suggested she had ulterior motives.

For now, Gong Yu only hoped the woman in red wouldn’t set her sights on her. After all, she was already having a streak of bad luck.

Gong Yu sighed unconsciously, thinking of the banquet again. Most likely, Dai Ru Yan wouldn’t come tonight.

As drowsiness set in, Gong Yu faintly heard someone sigh and abruptly woke up.

Dai Ru Yan was sitting quietly beside her. Gong Yu blinked, her vision blurry, and rubbed her eyes. Realizing it was indeed Dai Ru Yan, she quickly responded, “Ayan, you’re here.”

When Dai Ru Yan didn’t respond, Gong Yu sat up and leaned closer to ask, “What’s wrong?”

“I just saw Xiao Jiu at the Sixth Prince’s flower-viewing banquet.”

Gong Yu said dejectedly, “I only wanted to secretly catch a glimpse of Ayan, but unexpectedly got entangled by that woman in red.”

“Why was that woman in red so persistent in pursuing Xiao Jiu?”

“I don’t know either.”

Dai Ru Yan seemed to furrow her brows tightly, then suddenly raised her hand—but it held a blood-stained dagger that abruptly stabbed into Gong Yu’s abdomen.

The sharp pain shocked Gong Yu. Blood quickly soaked through her clothes. Unable to believe it, Gong Yu stared at Dai Ru Yan and cried out in agony, “Why?”

“Ayan… why is this happening?”

Dai Ru Yan coldly watched the blood flow and softly said, “I’ve already killed the woman in red.”

“No one will ever bother Xiao Jiu again.” Dai Ru Yan’s gaze remained as calm as ever. Her blood-stained fingertips gently caressed Gong Yu’s cheek as she whispered:

“Except for me, no one is allowed to touch Xiao Jiu. How could Xiao Jiu forget that?”

The stabbing pain was excruciating, making even the sight of Dai Ru Yan before her gradually blur.

Suddenly, when she opened her eyes again, it was still night. Gong Yu gasped in lingering fear, reached down to touch her abdomen—thankfully, there was no blood.

The empty pavilion seemed eerie to Gong Yu. She lay back down, puzzled about why such a strange dream had suddenly occurred.

Unexpectedly, faint footsteps suddenly sounded in the pavilion. Gong Yu held her breath, waiting, and soon felt someone sit beside her.

Too afraid to come out, Gong Yu hid under the covers, but the person quietly lay down next to her.

After a while, Gong Yu peeked out and saw that it was Dai Ru Yan lying beside her. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Quickly, she reached out and spread the thin blanket over Dai Ru Yan, then carefully moved closer to gently hold her.

To her surprise, Dai Ru Yan reached out and embraced Gong Yu in return, startling her. Gong Yu looked down at Dai Ru Yan, whose eyes were closed, and softly called, “Ayan?”

“Hmm.” Dai Ru Yan buried herself in Gong Yu’s embrace and responded quietly.

Gong Yu steadied her breathing and didn’t speak further, simply holding Dai Ru Yan gently. She carried a faint scent of wine.

Dai Ru Yan seemed exhausted as she nestled in Gong Yu’s arms, but her hand slowly moved up to caress Gong Yu’s face.

“Why did Xiao Jiu go to the flower-viewing banquet today?” Dai Ru Yan suddenly asked.

Gong Yu was taken aback and replied, “The Sixth Prince sent an invitation. I thought Ayan would be there too, so I went.”

Dai Ru Yan let out what seemed like a sigh and said, “But since you went, why did you attract that woman in red?”

“I don’t know. She came straight over. I ignored her at first, but she kept pestering me.”

“Did I ruin the flower-viewing banquet?”

“No.” Dai Ru Yan gently pinched Gong Yu’s earlobe and whispered, “But I saw her kiss Xiao Jiu.”

Gong Yu’s heart skipped a beat. Would Dai Ru Yan pull out a dagger the next second?

“I pushed her away immediately,” Gong Yu hurriedly explained to Dai Ru Yan.

Dai Ru Yan opened her eyes and looked at Gong Yu, her fingertips lightly pressing against Gong Yu’s cheek. She pursed her lips slightly and said, “I know.”

“But I’m still angry.”

Gong Yu held Dai Ru Yan’s hand, kissed the back of it, and whispered, “I’m sorry. I won’t go to such banquets again.”

“This isn’t Xiao Jiu’s fault. Why should Xiao Jiu apologize?” Dai Ru Yan clenched her fingertips as she asked.

“Isn’t Ayan angry?”

“I’m angry that the woman in red dared to kiss you.” Dai Ru Yan straightened up seriously, her dark eyes gazing at Gong Yu as she whispered, “In such a setting, I’ve never been that intimate with you before.”

Seeing Dai Ru Yan’s intensely jealous expression, Gong Yu couldn’t help but laugh happily. She quickly reached out to embrace Dai Ru Yan, gently kissing her earlobe as she whispered, “Ayan, are you jealous?”

“What?”

“Actually, I’m jealous too.” Gong Yu held Dai Ru Yan tightly, murmuring, “I also want to attend banquets with Ayan, hold Ayan’s hand, and keep holding Ayan like this whether anyone’s watching or not.”

Dai Ru Yan seemed to laugh softly in her embrace, her fingertips stroking Gong Yu’s cheek as she whispered, “I want that too.”

Her words were as concise as always. Gong Yu lowered her head to gently kiss Dai Ru Yan’s earlobe again, making Dai Ru Yan shrink back as if ticklish.

Gong Yu refused to let go, clinging to Dai Ru Yan until she had to gently push her away.

Dai Ru Yan looked tenderly at Gong Yu, her fingertips lightly tracing Gong Yu’s cheek as she whispered, “It will happen. When we get married in the future, everything will fall into place naturally.”

“Xiao Jiu…”

“Hmm?” Gong Yu responded softly.

“Did I look beautiful at the banquet tonight?” Dai Ru Yan asked, pulling back slightly.

Gong Yu nodded, “You looked beautiful.”

Dai Ru Yan said, “Liar.”

“I’m not lying to you.”

“But you didn’t look at me even once during the flower appreciation banquet tonight?” Dai Ru Yan’s fingertips traced the corner of Gong Yu’s eyes, almost plaintively saying, “I could feel you were there, but you just wouldn’t look at me.”

Lying flat, Gong Yu let Dai Ru Yan’s fingers wander over her face, speaking earnestly:

“But when I saw the amazed looks around us, I knew Ayan must have been exceptionally beautiful tonight.”

Dai Ru Yan acted like a drunken, unreasonable child: “But you still didn’t look at me even once.”

Gong Yu patiently replied, “I’m sorry. I was afraid if I looked once, I wouldn’t be able to look away.”

“That would make people suspicious.”

Dai Ru Yan blinked slowly, her movements seeming drunk yet her eyes clear – leaving Gong Yu somewhat puzzled.

Without any warning, Dai Ru Yan leaned down and gently kissed Gong Yu’s lips, her gentle gaze resting on Gong Yu’s face as she whispered:

“Xiao Jiu didn’t look at me, but I saw Xiao Jiu at first glance.”

“But later when that woman in red sat beside you, Xiao Jiu stopped looking in my direction altogether. At that moment I thought…”

“Thought what?” Gong Yu raised her hand, fingertips gently brushing…

Dai Ru Yan’s stray hairs brushed against her ear.

With a gaze flickering between reproach and grievance, Dai Ru Yan murmured, “I kept thinking perhaps tonight’s dress wasn’t charming enough, or my makeup wasn’t perfect. I even wondered if that woman in red had stolen all of Xiao Jiu’s attention.”

“These thoughts lingered in my mind even after Xiao Jiu left the banquet.”

Gong Yu gently stroked Dai Ru Yan’s eyebrows with her thumb and whispered, “No, Ayan is the most beautiful.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Gong Yu said with utmost seriousness, “I swear.”

A smile graced Dai Ru Yan’s lips as she leaned closer, her eyes hazy as if intoxicated. Her fingertips traced Gong Yu’s lips while she spoke earnestly:

“Good. Then Xiao Jiu must swear that even when I grow old and lose my beauty, you will never leave my side.”

Gong Yu softly embraced Dai Ru Yan, pulling a thin quilt over her, and whispered, “I swear that no matter what happens in the future, I will never take a single step away from Ayan.”

“Does Xiao Jiu keep promises?”

“I always keep my promises.”

Dai Ru Yan held Gong Yu tightly, her eyes sparkling with laughter as she murmured, “Good. I will remember Xiao Jiu’s words for a lifetime.”

“Ayan, you’re drunk.” Gong Yu held her gently, palm soothingly rubbing her slender back.

“Am I drunk?” Dai Ru Yan asked softly.

Gong Yu replied, “Yes, you are.”

Dai Ru Yan chuckled lightly and said, “Perhaps I am drunk.”

“It’s alright. I’m here with you.”

“Xiao Jiu…”

“I’m here.”

Dai Ru Yan pressed her lips against Gong Yu’s cheek, kissing her repeatedly before nestling close to her ear, her breathing gradually steadying.