Mistakenly Marked the Madly Beautiful Princess - Chapter 18

This was probably the best night’s sleep she had ever had, no uninvited visitors and no nightmares.

In the bronze mirror, Ling Yue noticed Chun Tao’s hesitant expression and asked, “Why do you seem so unsettled?”

Chun Tao blushed and quickly shook her head in denial. “It’s nothing.”

Though she claimed it was nothing, her hands tugged harder at Ling Yue’s hair, pulling painfully at her scalp. Ling Yue hissed softly, and Chun Tao immediately froze in fright.

“My apologies, Miss!”

Ling Yue turned around, her expression growing slightly stern. “You’re hiding something from me. What exactly is going on?”

Chun Tao knelt down in a panic, pleading, “I swear I have no ill intentions.”

Seeing how frightened she was, Ling Yue softened her expression. “Chun Tao, we grew up together like sisters. If something is troubling you, you can tell me without hesitation.”

Chun Tao was both moved and conflicted. She glanced up at Ling Yue’s face, then lowered her head, her cheeks slowly reddening.

Ling Yue observed Chun Tao’s shy demeanor and began to suspect something perhaps she had fallen for someone?

That wouldn’t be a big issue, but since Chun Tao hadn’t yet undergone differentiation, falling in love too early carried risks. She would need to guide her carefully.

Setting aside her remaining seriousness, Ling Yue chuckled lightly and teased, “Do you have a sweetheart? Who is it?”

Seeing Ling Yue misunderstand, Chun Tao shook her head vigorously like a rattle-drum. “That’s not what I meant.”

Now Ling Yue was confused. She asked, puzzled, “Then what do you mean?”

She didn’t usually press so hard, but Chun Tao’s inner turmoil was too obvious completely unlike her usual carefree self. This girl couldn’t hide anything, so whatever she was concealing must be significant.

Unexpectedly, after Ling Yue’s question, Chun Tao’s expression grew even more conflicted, her eyebrows nearly knitting together.

Chun Tao stole another glance at Ling Yue, and with that look, her eyebrows finally met. She asked cautiously, “Can I really say it?”

Seeing her willingness to speak, Ling Yue had no intention of stopping her. Worried she might not comfort Chun Tao properly, she softened her voice further. “Of course, you can tell me anything.”

Encouraged by Ling Yue’s gentleness, Chun Tao hesitated for a long moment before mustering her courage. “Miss, do you… like the Princess?”

Ling Yue, who had been patiently listening, never expected the topic to turn to herself. Her eyes widened in shock. “Why would you think that?”

Startled by Ling Yue’s sudden intensity, Chun Tao leaned back and stammered, “Last night, you mumbled in your sleep all night. I listened for a long time and only made out the words ‘Princess.'”

Ling Yue’s face flushed rapidly as she realized the gossip was about her. She had thought it was Chun Tao’s springtime romance, but it turned out her own had been overheard.

Covering her burning cheeks, Ling Yue didn’t want to face this embarrassing truth. But some things had to be clarified. Suppressing the urge to flee and steadying her trembling voice, she feigned calm and asked, “What exactly did you hear?”

The question only made Chun Tao blush deeper. Biting her lip until the blood drained from it, she spoke in a voice so soft it was barely audible, though it was clear she was imitating.

“Princess, does it hurt?”

“Your Highness!”

Before she could say more, Ling Yue quickly raised a hand to stop her. “I understand. That’s enough.”

The house was so dilapidated, yet there was no crack in the ground for her to slip into. Ling Yue took a deep breath and said, “My feelings for His Highness are solely those of a subject’s admiration, with no trace of romantic affection.”

Speaking such words was still perilous. If the Grand Princess were to find out, she would surely go mad.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Ling Yue solemnly instructed Chun Tao, “Let this matter remain between us. It must not be spoken of outside.”

Chun Tao covered her mouth and nodded frantically, about to raise her hand to swear an oath, but Ling Yue stopped her. “No need. I trust you. It’s getting late, I must head to the palace now.”

“Take care on your way, Miss.”

Only after Ling Yue’s figure had vanished from sight did Chun Tao notice the comb still in her hand. She froze for a moment before remembering that she hadn’t finished styling her mistress’s hair. Panic set in, but it was too late to catch up with her now.

Chun Tao fretted for a while on her own before deciding it wasn’t such a big deal after all. The real issue was something else entirely.

She sat alone on the doorstep, lost in thought for a long time, muttering to herself, “What if someone overhears me having such dreams again?”

The more she worried, the more she tried to reassure herself. “It’s fine. Miss is such a composed person she couldn’t possibly have dreams like that every day. I’m overthinking it.”

Meanwhile, Ling Yue, who had ridden off on horseback, also noticed the problem with her hair. She reined in her horse, removed all the hair accessories, and took out a red hair ribbon to tie all her hair together. Feeling much lighter on her head, she calmed herself and spurred her horse toward the palace.

Upon arriving at the palace gates, she dismounted and was about to tie up her horse when a young palace maid rushed over and snatched the reins from her hand. “Your Excellency, please go ahead. The Grand Princess is waiting for you.”

Ling Yue’s expression stiffened slightly. As an imperial guard, she seemed quite different from the others didn’t she need to patrol or stand duty?

There was no need to guess this was undoubtedly the Grand Princess’s doing.

Feeling guilty, Ling Yue couldn’t help but shudder. Still, having survived the battlefield, she thought.

…she was still terrified!

The walk felt excruciatingly difficult. With every step closer, her heart tightened, and the more nervous she became, the slower she moved.

Lu He sat in her palace, occasionally glancing outside before nonchalantly looking away.

Qing Niao sat nearby reading a book, occasionally clicking her tongue in admiration at the exciting parts.

The quack doctor had shed her shabby clothes today, donning a green palace gown instead. Her hair had also been styled by attendants sent by Lu He. Yet, no matter how luxurious the items, they looked odd on her. She sat sloppily, stood carelessly, and giggled foolishly while reading romance novels.

Seeing her so at ease irritated Lu He, who snatched the book from her hands. After a quick glance, she remarked disdainfully, “Disgusting,” and tossed it aside.

“Hey! My book! You have no appreciation for it!”

Lu He frowned, contemplating a palace-wide cleanup to rid the place of such useless books.

Watching Qing Niao scamper off to retrieve her book, Lu He grew even more perplexed. As Qing Niao sat back down with the book, Lu He studied her for a long moment before asking, “I recall you never used to read such books. It’s only been a month, yet you seem to have changed quite a bit.”

Qing Niao closed the book she had just opened and set it aside. Instead of answering immediately, she poured out the cold tea on the table and refilled the cup with hot tea.

The fragrance of tea wafted gently, and the person before her showed no signs of madness, instead exuding a sense of serene tranquility. Yet, Qingniao knew it was all temporary.

She was rarely this earnest, but this was the version of her that Lu He knew best.

“Is this version of me not good?”

“It’s fine. Better than moping all day, but you’re a bit too lively, tone it down.”

After saying this, Lu He scrutinized Qingniao from head to toe. “You haven’t gone mad too, have you?”

Suddenly, Lu He felt the person before her seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

Qingniao could only offer a bitter smile. She drained the tea from her cup, though it felt more like she was drinking wine.

“I’m not mad. I’ve just come to understand many things. Let’s not talk about me for now. You keep glancing at the door are you waiting for Lingyue?”

Her thoughts had been seen through, but Lu He was adept at acting. She scoffed, “Why would I be thinking of her? Have you been reading too many useless books? Your mind must be addled, always coming up with these strange fantasies.”

Qingniao ignored her and poured herself another cup of tea. As she lowered her head, the white strands in her hair became noticeably visible.

Ultimately, concern won out. Lu He abandoned the teasing remarks she had prepared and instead frowned at the top of Qingniao’s head. “I remember the last time I saw you, there were no white hairs. What happened in the past month?”

Qingniao finished another cup and smiled. “Don’t worry. It’s all over now.”

Seeing her reluctance to elaborate, Lu He didn’t press further. Qingniao wasn’t the type to feign strength unnecessarily.

Still, one thing puzzled Lu He: Qingniao seemed unusually supportive of her relationship with Lingyue.

Outside, it began to snow again, and in no time, a thin layer blanketed the ground.

This year’s heavy snowfall had persisted for too long. Those in the north and south were likely growing restless. Such weather was hardly suitable for holding martial examinations, but there was no other choice, the court was still short on talent.

Or perhaps it was her own lack of trust.

She had considered leading the troops herself, but her emotions were becoming increasingly difficult to control.

How could a madwoman lead an army against the enemy?

Yet fate had a peculiar sense of humor, unexpectedly sending Lingyue her way. Miraculously, her illness had subsided. Though intrusive thoughts still surfaced occasionally, she could manage them now.

Noticing Lu He gazing at the snow, Qingniao couldn’t help but reminisce and sighed, “I remember the first time we met was during a snowfall like this. Unknowingly, over a decade has passed.”

Lu Hesnorted coldly. “Do you like the snow? I certainly don’t.”

The warm atmosphere suddenly turned as cold as the snow outside, leaving Qingniao speechless.

But she was used to it. At least Lu He was still sharp-tongued that was a good sign.

Shaking her head, Qingniao gazed at the snowy scene outside the window, her voice tinged with a barely perceptible melancholy. “You dislike the snow, but what I detest most are rainy days.”

Lu He had no interest in such sentiments. Seeing the snow fall incessantly, she clicked her tongue in annoyance and stood up to leave.

But after taking only a few steps, she spotted a vivid crimson figure against the snowy landscape. The red dot gradually grew larger, its features blurred by the wind and snow, yet Lu He recognized it instantly as Lingyue.

All her restlessness vanished in an instant, and she sat back down.

Qingniao observed her actions with hidden amusement and deliberately remarked, “Perfect timing. She’s not late, so you can’t give her a hard time.”

Lu He shot her a warning glance, to which Qingniao raised her hands in surrender.

Lingyue brushed the snow from her clothes and was about to kneel in greeting when she heard the princess’s voice from inside: “Come in.”

Lingyue stepped into the room. The warmth inside gradually restored sensation to her ears, which had nearly lost all feeling.

She looked up at the princess but secretly blushed.

Fortunately, the biting wind was so fierce that her face had already been flushed when she arrived.

Seeing her alertness, Qingniao couldn’t resist teasing: “How did you sleep last night?”

The quack’s voice dispelled the girl’s shyness. Though Ling Yue was well-mannered, she couldn’t help but reply sarcastically: “Thanks to you, I slept very well.”

Qingniao grinned, shamelessly taking credit: “You can trust my skills.”

Watching the grinning Qingniao, Ling Yue’s image of her as a benefactor shattered completely.

Lu He interrupted their banter: “Wait over there for now.”

Ling Yue obediently stood behind Lu He.

Then, Lu He and Qingniao began discussing political affairs.

Deposing the emperor and establishing a new one?

The more Ling Yue listened, the more alarmed she became was this something she should be hearing?

Upon learning of Lu He’s intention to depose the emperor, Qingniao responded firmly: “Impossible. How could Lu Weiying compare to the current emperor?”

Lu He didn’t argue. She closed her eyes, then suddenly turned to Ling Yue, who was trying to stay unnoticed: “What do you think?”

Ling Yue: “!?”

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