After Transmigrating into a Book, I Was Entangled by the Paranoid Eldest Princess - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

The Wen Manor, Capital City.

The servant who had traveled to the countryside villa hurried to Old Madam Wen’s courtyard to report back immediately upon his return.

After listening, Old Madam Wen set her teacup aside; the bottom of the cup met the table with a dull thud.

“Is this true? You truly saw a beautiful woman in that villa?”

“I saw her with my own eyes, I would not dare deceive you, Old Madam.”

The servant bowed and relayed the information he had pried from Madame Chen.

After dismissing the messenger, Old Madam Wen rubbed her temples and spoke to her longtime confidante: “Tell me, what exactly is Wen the Second trying to do?”

Keeping a junior who was so arrogant yet short-sighted, unable to see that the honor and disgrace of a noble family are bound as one, and to run wild in the capital was truly a disgrace to their lineage.

If they waited until she caused an even greater disaster to clean up the mess, it would be too late.

Therefore, Old Madam Wen had acted decisively, sending her far away, treating all previous years of cultivation as effort poured into a broken sieve.

The elderly attendant who had been by her side for most of her life said, “It sounds as though the Second Young Miss has had a sudden epiphany and knows to work hard now.”

Old Madam Wen’s voice was aged but forceful: “If she were truly focused on her studies, why would she take in a woman of unknown origin? She could have just given her some silver and sent her packing. Is she the type to be a ‘Great Philanthropist’? She likely has ulterior motives!”

How can a person’s character change overnight?

Likely, Wen the Second was putting on an act at the villa to deceive her family in the capital.

As for taking in a beautiful woman…

Old Madam Wen’s eyes grew thoughtful: “I have heard that some profligate children of the capital keep ‘favorably featured’ people in their service, regardless of whether they are men or women?”

“…It seems such things do occur,” the attendant replied with a complex expression.

Old Madam Wen gave a cold snort: “Utterly preposterous!”

The Dayong Dynasty had been established for two hundred and twenty years.

Over two hundred years ago, the emperor of the previous dynasty was incompetent, and the people lived in misery. The High Ancestor was the first to rise in rebellion. To recruit soldiers and expand his influence, he did not look at gender, only at strength.

Later, when the new dynasty was established and Gaozu ascended the throne, he named his eldest daughter who had followed him through every battle as the Crown Princess. Subsequently, rewards were granted based on merit, and female officials began to appear in the court.

The Imperial Examinations of Dayong, following the model of the previous dynasty, also broke the reins of gender. Anyone with ability could enter officialdom through the exams.

For the great noble families of the capital, this was actually a good thing.

Before Dayong, heirs were only chosen from the males of the family. If there were no males, hereditary titles would be reclaimed by the Emperor. If the men were incompetent or sickly, the vast family estate was easily coveted by collateral branches.

Now that daughters could also uphold the family lintel, patriarchs had an extra layer of security for the family’s continued prosperity.

Consequently, the traditions of marriage and dowry had also shifted.

If a man headed the household, those with power could still have multiple wives and concubines. If a woman headed the household, she could naturally take in men to continue the family line.

And since the social atmosphere was much more open than two or three hundred years ago, those profligates were even less picky, indulging in pleasures regardless of gender.

Old Madam Wen truly could not stand such undisciplined behavior. She rubbed her head, displeased: “Wen the Second is far from the capital, yet she still hasn’t corrected those foul habits.”

The attendant serving her said, “Old Madam, the Second Young Miss is at the villa now. Even if she keeps a pitiful woman by her side, she cannot stir up much trouble.”

“You are right.” Old Madam Wen pivoted the conversation: “How is Yuan’er today?”

“After the Eldest Young Miss learned of her ranking, although she was joyful, she remained modest and calm. She has been even more diligent in her studies today.”

Old Madam Wen revealed a satisfied smile.

Although Wen the Second had also passed, her rank was far below Yuan’er, who was among the top. The future of the Wen family, in the end, still rested on the legitimate line. Fortunately, Yuan’er was a credit to them.

The Countryside Villa.

Wen Chenqing had no idea she was being gossiped about; she was diligently re-drafting her plans.

While waiting for her results, her study plan had focused on review. Though she had the original’s memories, she needed to read through everything personally to truly anchor the knowledge.

Now that the Xiucai exams were over, she had to prepare for the Provincial Exams (Xiangshi).

The Provincial Exams would consist of three sessions: the first testing the Four Books and Five Classics, the second testing poetry and prose or rites and music theory, and the third testing classics, history, and policy essays.

Assessing her own level, Wen Chenqing felt that of the three, the second session required the most effort.

Memorization and policy essays could be mastered with enough “grinding.”

But writing poetry… this truly stumped Wen Chenqing, who knew nothing of the craft.

She decided that where talent was lacking, technique would have to suffice. By reading and practicing more between now and the exam, she hoped she could at least reach the passing line… hopefully?

Wiping her face, Wen Chenqing sighed, feeling that the road to academic success was truly long and arduous.

Knock, knock, knock—

The sound of knocking startled Wen Chenqing out of her academic lament. Looking up as she set down her brush, she saw Ajin walking in with a bright smile.

“Does A-Qing not read at night anymore?”

To protect her eyes—knowing that once she became nearsighted, she couldn’t rely on glasses to regain a clear world—Wen Chenqing never studied at night.

Rubbing her aching wrist, she saw Ajin approach curiously and moved over to explain: “This is just a plan I’ve laid out to prepare for the Provincial Exams.”

The candlelight flickered, reflecting off the clearly organized Xuan paper. Si Jinghua looked at it, entranced.

She had seen Wen Chenqing’s self-made schedules before; they were entirely different from anything she had seen in the past.

Si Jinghua touched the paper, full but not cluttered, and said with smiling eyes, “A-Qing is truly impressive.” She might actually find a use for this method of recording things.

Wen Chenqing said, “I am merely picking up the wisdom of others.”

She hadn’t invented mind maps, so she truly didn’t feel she deserved the praise.

“But, did you come to find me for something?”

A light rain had fallen at noon, and the ground was still damp by evening, so Wen Chenqing hadn’t gone out. She stayed inside to work on her plans and mind maps, intending to go to bed early.

She looked at Ajin with doubt, wondering why she had come.

Ajin reached out hesitantly to tug at her sleeve, revealing her purpose: “A-Qing, I want to sleep with you again tonight. With you by my side, I feel at peace.”

Wen Chenqing’s first reaction was still to refuse: “The rain has stopped tonight, and there won’t be midnight thunder. Surely you won’t have nightmares.”

But Ajin said aggrievedly, “Did I disturb you last night?”

“No.” Wen Chenqing shook her head first, then, seeing the sudden light in Ajin’s phoenix eyes, added slowly, “It’s just—surely sleeping in one’s own bed is more comfortable? Ajin, you should head back.”

Ajin clutched her sleeve and wouldn’t let go, refusing to listen to reason.

Wen Chenqing truly didn’t understand why she was like this; sleeping alone was obviously very comfortable.

She tried to persuade her a bit more, and then, suddenly, she saw a crystalline tear slide from the corner of Ajin’s eye.

“?!”

Wen Chenqing was immediately at a loss, panicking slightly: “Hey, don’t cry! Why are you crying?”

As if her speaking made it worse, two more small streams flowed from Ajin’s eyes.

A beauty weeping is indeed beautiful, but please let those tears not be caused by her!

Wen Chenqing reached into her sleeve for a handkerchief but couldn’t find one. Seeing Ajin’s tears wouldn’t stop, she sighed and reached out to wipe them away with her thumb.

“Stop crying.” Wen Chenqing softened her voice, afraid of startling her. “I was just advising you, I wasn’t being mean to you.”

Ajin reached up to catch the hand she was trying to withdraw, rubbing her soft cheek against it. She said piteously, “But you never refused me before. A-Qing, have you grown tired of me?”

“…” Wen Chenqing felt like she had “lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot.”

She hadn’t refused Ajin before because Ajin had never made any inappropriate requests.

So what was going on now?

Because she hadn’t refused and sometimes seemed very proactive, had she spoiled Ajin into becoming “inch-taking” (demanding more)?

Or was it that, after only eight or nine days, Ajin—even with amnesia—couldn’t forget her true nature and was now slowly revealing it?

Wen Chenqing was inclined toward the latter.

Yet, as she looked at Ajin, even as she used tears to coerce her, the crying wasn’t irritating at all. Instead, it was so delicate that it made one want to abandon all principles just to satisfy her demands immediately.

The cheek under her palm felt as tender as a piece of fresh tofu, making her afraid to apply any pressure.

“I’m not tired of you, don’t think such things.”

Wen Chenqing struggled slightly, her ears turning bright red as she pulled her right hand free and hurriedly hid it behind her back. She didn’t dare look at Ajin’s soul-capturing eyes, her gaze shifting away.

“You… how can you just rub your face against my hand like that?”

This action was far too much for Wen Chenqing. Heaven knows, she had only ever seen couples express intimacy this way.

“I only want to be close to A-Qing,” Ajin said piteously.

Wen Chenqing forced herself to stay calm: “We are very close even if you don’t do that.”

Ajin stared at her. Her eyes, washed by tears, were even more beautiful, like translucent gems with a radiance that made one want to take them home and treasure them.

“Liar. A-Qing only ever treats me with polite courtesy.”

Her tone was mournful, hiding a small grievance.

Wen Chenqing felt as though a great beauty were acting spoiled with her (sajiao).

Especially regarding the content of Ajin’s accusation, the sense of déjà vu was even stronger.

If you don’t treat friends with polite courtesy, how are you supposed to treat them? Like what she just did?

At the thought of what just happened, Wen Chenqing’s hand behind her back began to feel as if it were spontaneously combusting, growing quite hot.

She stopped her mind from wandering and took a frustrated step back: “Since you feel at peace with me, then stay for the night.”

Fine, some people might just have nightmares for several days in a row.

And since they had already shared a bed last night, there was no need to keep refusing tonight.

The clouds on Ajin’s face immediately cleared, revealing a smile that nearly made Wen Chenqing daze off again.

She hurried to fetch Ajin’s bedding and laid it out once more.

After washing up, the two of them lay on the bed together. “The first time is awkward, the second is familiar.” This time, Wen Chenqing’s discomfort was halved, and she soon sank into a dream.

Once she was asleep, Si Jinghua reached out and gently touched the spot on Wen Chenqing’s neck where she had squeezed the night before.

Her lips moved, whispering a single word: “Idiot.”

The next day.

Sleeping until dawn, Wen Chenqing had just woken up when she saw Ajin’s soft, glowing face after a good night’s rest. She blanked for a moment.

Sharing a bed with someone of Ajin’s level of beauty, and seeing her face the moment you open your eyes in the morning… is this not actually a reward for me?

“A-Qing, we don’t need to take the bedding back anymore, right?”

Wen Chenqing snapped back to reality: “Why?”

Ajin took her hand, her eyes curving like crescents: “These have been the two nights I’ve slept most peacefully. From now on, I want to sleep with A-Qing all the time.”

“…All the time?”

Wen Chenqing was greatly shocked.