Mistakenly Marked the Madly Beautiful Princess - Chapter 15

The uninvited guest had left, and Ling Yue lovingly stroked her newly acquired weapon.

Chun Tao had already gone to bed, and Ling Yue didn’t want to disturb her. She fetched water herself, washed up, and was about to change and sleep when the stillness of the night was broken by an unusual sound. Her ears perked up, and she moved quietly to the base of the wall to wait.

Before long, a figure appeared atop the wall, skillfully leaping down from the high barrier.

She had expected a graceful landing, but instead, she ended up face-planting right in front of Ling Yue.

“Ouch! Good thing no one saw that.”

By the moonlight, Ling Yue recognized the person, none other than Wang Lan.

She sighed and spoke up, “What brings you here so late at night, Miss Wang?”

Startled, Wang Lan flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger. She rolled over and tried to spring up like a carp leaping from water, only to aggravate her injuries, leaving her grimacing in pain.

Ling Yue sighed again. It seemed sleep was out of the question tonight. Reluctantly, she said, “If you don’t mind, come inside and sit for a while.”

Despite the pain that had her sweating, Wang Lan didn’t drop her habit of looking down her nose at others. She swaggered into the room and took a seat.

Once seated, she glanced around and blurted out, “You live in a place like this? How shabby.”

How many times had she been called poor now? Though it was true, hearing it repeatedly was starting to bother Ling Yue.

In her previous life, her illustrious military achievements had brought her wealth and honor, and she had become the backbone of the Ling family. However, she never cared for personal adornment, spending all her money on maintaining her weapons and armor, as well as providing for the families of fallen soldiers.

She didn’t have to pay for these things out of her own pocket, but for the soldiers who followed her, she felt it was only right to show her gratitude.

Her thoughts had wandered too far. Right now, the most important thing was to figure out why this girl had climbed the wall in the middle of the night.

So she repeated her question, “What is it, Miss Wang?”

After expressing her disdain, Wang Lan lifted her chin arrogantly and said, “Why are you hiding your true abilities? Revealing them would only benefit you.”

“During the day, your eyes were darting around. Now, under the cover of night with the wind howling, no one will notice.”

The candlelight in the room was dim. Ling Yue stood up to trim the wick, and as she put down the scissors and turned around, she noticed a fresh wound near Wang Lan’s ear.

Ling Yue was taken aback and quickly asked, “Your injury?”

Wang Lan raised a hand to cover it. “Don’t ask. If you must know, my mother hit me.”

Ling Yue sat back down. It was rare to see Wang Lan looking so flustered and aggrieved. She couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Why?”

At this, Wang Lan grew even more upset. She pursed her lips and said, “It’s all because of you. Everyone knows about your father’s situation. I asked my mother to recruit you, and she ended up beating me for it.”

Then, with a smug look, she added, “Hmph! She told me not to come find you, but who does she think I am?”

Ling Yue couldn’t resist adding, “The spoiled heir who gallops through the streets.”

Wang Lan’s eyes widened as if she wanted to devour Ling Yue. “What did you say? I got beaten because of you! Look at how poorly your father treats you. Why don’t you change your surname and come with me and my mother? Wouldn’t that be better?”

So she had come in the dead of night to poach her. That was exactly the kind of thing Wang Lan would do.

Ling Yue shook her head and refused. “I serve only one person.”

Wang Lan was a little disappointed. She had already guessed as much but had wanted to try anyway. During the competition earlier, the Eldest Princess hadn’t gone all out, and Wang Lan had been standing close enough to hear those words clearly:

“The one I’ve set my sights on, how could it be a fluke victory?”

It was already quite clear.

But that was the Grand Princess, a deranged woman who had slaughtered her own siblings, nephews, and nieces. Following such a person meant constantly guarding one’s own head.

The duel between the two also gave Wang Lan an odd feeling. The Grand Princess was nearly thirty and still unmarried, which inevitably invited some speculation.

Wang Lan studied Ling Yue’s face carefully. Under the warm yellow lamplight, her simple red attire pierced through the cold night. With willow-leaf eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes, she should have looked gentle, but her resolute gaze unconsciously conveyed pressure.

Wang Lan was envious. She finally stopped looking down her nose at others and said, somewhat sourly, “You’re so good-looking. Be careful.”

Ling Yue was puzzled. “Be careful of what?”

Wang Lan glanced around warily and lowered her voice. “Be careful the Grand Princess takes a fancy to you.”

Ling Yue reached out and covered Wang Lan’s mouth, utterly exasperated by her carelessness. How could she say such things recklessly?

“Watch your words.”

Ling Yue’s stern expression was genuinely intimidating. Wang Lan, momentarily cowed, nodded blankly.

Seeing that Wang Lan was behaving, Ling Yue withdrew her hand. In truth, she was still somewhat concerned. Nervously twisting the cuff of her sleeve, she cautiously asked, “Am I really good-looking?”

Wang Lan couldn’t believe her ears and retorted, “Are you kidding? If you’re not good-looking, then what am I? Watch it, or I’ll beat you up!”

“Don’t pretend to be humble! Tch! Even though you’re from the Ling family, don’t adopt their pretentious ways acting all modest when you’re actually proud as a peacock.”

Bombarded by this outburst, Ling Yue realized Wang Lan had misunderstood and quickly explained, “You’ve got it wrong.”

Wang Lan sneered, eager to see how Ling Yue would justify herself.

“Got it wrong? How so?”

Seeing Wang Lan wouldn’t let it go, Ling Yue grew somewhat despondent. “It’s just that someone once told me my looks are average.”

Wang Lan, hot-tempered as ever, immediately flared up. “Who said that? They must be blind!”

Ling Yue didn’t answer. That person was, of course, Lu Weiying.

The more power and influence someone had, the more admirers they attracted. In Rong Dynasty, there was no shortage of beautiful Tianqian.

Ling Yue spent most of her time on the battlefield, rarely returning home. Each time she came back, she would see the Tianqian in the imperial palace, while her own travel-worn appearance made her stand out awkwardly among them.

Desperate for an answer, she had sought out Lu Weiying, who smiled and comforted her, “No matter how beautiful they are, none can compare to the place you hold in my heart.”

Due to her background, Ling Yue was more sensitive than most.

That response dodged the question but indirectly provided an answer.

Inferiority was a bottomless pit. She exhausted herself trying to fill it, only to end up with nothing.

Ling Yue gave a bitter smile. “Never mind. Let’s not speak of the past.”

Wang Lan suddenly realized how pitiable this person was, yet her temperament was far too restrained. If she were in Ling Yue’s shoes, she’d make fate taste her fists.

Her initial intention to win Ling Yue over turned into pity, then frustration at her lack of assertiveness.

She sprang to her feet, planting one foot on the table, but her moment of bravado lasted less than two minutes before a sharp pain from her injury froze her in place.

Too proud to show it, she endured the pain and lectured Ling Yue, “You’re already so capable, why be upset? What does looks matter anyway? If someone tries to bully you just because they’re pretty, fight back! A few punches, and they’ll learn their place!”

“If words don’t work, you know a thing or two about fists, don’t you?”

Ling Yue wasn’t the least bit inspired by Wang Lan’s bold words. Her attention was entirely captured by the crack now visible on the table.

This was her only table, and now Wang Lan had stomped it until it cracked.

Unfortunately, Wang Lan was too worked up to notice Ling Yue’s displeasure, and with every word she spoke, she stomped again.

Crack! Smash! “Ouch!”

After the table met its glorious demise, the teapot and teacups followed suit. Wang Lan stepped into empty air and was about to tumble onto the pile of sharp shards.

At the critical moment, Ling Yue kicked her back onto the stool.

Wang Lan gasped sharply and angrily exclaimed, “Why did you kick so hard?!”

Ling Yue calmly retracted her leg, suppressing her sorrow. “I was too anxious and used too much force.”

Wang Lan rubbed her chest. She had stayed for quite a while, and if she didn’t leave soon, her mother would find out.

So she boldly declared, “Don’t be so timid. Learn from me. I’m off.”

With that, she limped away.

Just as she was about to step out the door, Ling Yue called out, “Wait.”

Wang Lan, preoccupied, snapped impatiently, “What?!”

A bottle of medicinal powder appeared before Wang Lan.

Ling Yue smiled. “It’s very effective for healing wounds.”

Wang Lan seemed a bit surprised. Her attitude toward Ling Yue had been hostile from the start, yet the other never seemed to mind.

After hesitating for a moment, she reached out and took the bottle but refused to admit she had come to accept Ling Yue. With a light humph, she vaulted over the wall and left.

Ling Yue clapped her hands, gazed at the moon in the sky, and sighed, “So beautiful.”

Drowsiness crept into her mind. Rubbing her eyes, Ling Yue prepared to close the door and get some sleep.

Then she heard footsteps again. Pushing the half-closed door open, she grew furious.

Was this ever going to end? Staying up late and disturbing others’ sleep too.

Ling Yue’s table and tea set were barely cold, and now she had to see which petty thief had come knocking!

Following the sound, she stormed over. Though it was still the courtyard wall, it was a different spot.

A figure landed gracefully on the wall, movements far more elegant than Wang Lan’s.

Just as the person was about to land, Ling Yue swept her leg out and tripped them.

“Ah!”

The flustered cry sounded somewhat familiar, so Ling Yue halted her next move.

The voice sounded like Wen Yuanyuan.

A closer look confirmed it was indeed Wen Yuanyuan.

What could she say? That they truly were a perfect match?

Ling Yue was speechless. She didn’t offer a hand, simply waiting for Wen Yuanyuan to stand up on her own.

“What are you doing here?”

Though annoyed, Wen Yuanyuan was different from Wang Lan, she was cunning, and her late-night visit surely had deeper motives.

When it came to important matters, a little lost sleep was trivial.

Wen Yuanyuan leaned against the wall as she stood up, blinking in confusion. “Miss Ling, why are you here?”

The anger Ling Yue had just suppressed flared up again. She struggled to contain her emotions. “This is my home, of course I’m here.”

Wen Yuanyuan grew even more puzzled. Rubbing her eyes, she looked around and frowned. “Your home?”

This dazed demeanor was nothing like that of a shrewd fox. Suddenly, Ling Yue remembered something.

Sure enough, after scanning the surroundings, Wen Yuanyuan realized the place was indeed unfamiliar and scratched her head awkwardly. “Sorry, I think I’m lost.”

Then, as if spotting a savior, her eyes sparkled brighter than the stars in the sky. “Good thing I ran into you, Miss Ling. How do I get to the Fortune Inn?”

Ling Yue’s face had darkened beyond recognition.

Fortune Inn was located at the other end of the street she had taken the wrong direction the moment she stepped out of the archery pavilion.

How long had she been wandering around. Ling Yue sighed deeply but softened her heart. “Go back the way you came, then head west until you reach the end.”

Wen Yuanyuan seemed only half-understanding. “Oh, oh, thank you! I’ll treat you to a feast another day, miss.”

She climbed over the wall.

Ling Yue, still uneasy, leaped onto the wall herself and shouted through gritted teeth, “That’s east!”

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