Mistakenly Marked the Madly Beautiful Princess - Chapter 19

Cold sweat trickled down as Ling Yue’s mind raced through terrifying possibilities. People said the emperor’s heart was inscrutable, but the heart of the Grand Princess was even more unfathomable.

The Grand Princess simply watched her without moving or changing expression.

Based on the patterns of her past life, although the Grand Princess had considered deposing the emperor, she had never held much regard for Lu Weiying. Lu Weiying’s eventual ascension to the throne had been entirely due to Ling Yue’s efforts.

A sudden flash of insight struck Ling Yue, and she cleverly thought of another possibility.

But before stating her answer, she needed to display humility.

She clasped her hands and bowed, feigning flattery: “Your humble servant is dull-witted. How could I dare to recklessly discuss state affairs?”

Lu He tapped the table, seemingly impatient: “I dislike liars. Surely you haven’t forgotten?”

“Your father may indulge in such hypocritical courtesies, but you cannot. Understood?”

The emphasis on “understood” made Ling Yue feel the pressure intensify.

She glanced at the Grand Princess’s expression and noticed a hint of displeasure flickering between her brows.

Seeing this, Ling Yue decided to abandon pretense and reveal her true thoughts. She straightened her posture, adopting a serious demeanor: “Forgive my bluntness, but Lu Weiying is inferior to the current emperor.”

In response, the Grand Princess merely uttered a meaningful “Oh.”

After a moment, she laughed: “What makes you say that? Clearly, you are not well-acquainted with either of them.”

Ling Yue was startled, realizing her expression had betrayed her, and quickly lowered her head.

Most of her insights stemmed from her past life, whereas in this life, her encounters with the emperor and Lu Weiying had been fleeting.

It seemed the Grand Princess was deliberately testing her.

Unconsciously, she had broken into a sweat, her back drenched, the inner layer of her clothing clinging uncomfortably to her skin.

How should she answer? She couldn’t lie, nor could she reveal her secret. The absurd notion of rebirth would sound even more like a fabrication.

Lu He was also waiting for this answer. She had always felt there was something unusual between Ling Yue and Lu Weiying, yet they had indeed had very few interactions.

She had previously considered deposing the emperor, as the current situation was too chaotic. Although the emperor had committed no faults, his character was too weak.

If her health had held up, there would have been no urgency, but at the time, she had no confidence in her own condition.

Now, however, things were different. By a twist of fate, her health might be restored, so deposing the emperor was no longer necessary. The main reason for bringing it up now was Lu Weiying’s apparent intention to win Ling Yue over.

The thought stirred waves of displeasure in Lu He’s heart.

She fixed her gaze on Ling Yue, awaiting her response.

Qing Niao, sensing the tense atmosphere, tried to mediate: “How would she know such things? She was just speaking thoughtlessly. Don’t overthink it.”

Lu He shot her a sidelong glance, and Qing Niao chuckled awkwardly, not daring to say more.

Turning back, Lu He pressed: “Can you not answer?”

Ling Yue sighed quietly. When she raised her head, there was no trace of fear in her eyes: “Your Highness, it is true that I am not familiar with the emperor or the princess, but I am familiar with you. As long as you are here, it matters not who sits on the throne.”

“It is only because you are more accustomed to the current emperor that I answered as I did.”

Lu He scoffed upon hearing this: “Do you not think of me as a calamitous seductress who brings ruin to the nation?”

Ling Yue wondered if it was her imagination, but the Grand Princess’s voice seemed tinged with loneliness.

She had heard those rumors before. When the Grand Princess first assumed regency, the court and the public alike labeled her a calamitous seductress, accusing her of causing the death of the virtuous crown prince.

Although such voices had gradually faded, they still surfaced from time to time.

Looking at Lu He’s haggard appearance, Ling Yue suddenly felt she had it rough. “Since childhood, I’ve grown up listening to stories of the Grand Princess. Your Highness is definitely not a witch.”

Ling Yue’s expression was so earnest as she spoke that Lu He couldn’t tell if she was lying.

So she stood up and leaned in, pinching Ling Yue’s chin, her smile blooming richly, making the faint plum blossom scent on her even more noticeable.

Ling Yue grew a bit nervous, thinking she had misspoken again. But showing fear now would make her earlier words seem like lies, so instead of avoiding it as usual, she met Lu He’s gaze fearlessly.

Qing Niao, standing to the side, covered her mouth, then realized she had covered the wrong spot and quickly moved her hands to shield her eyes.

This version of Ling Yue felt fresh to Lu He. She chuckled softly, seeming to relax.

If it wasn’t a lie, then Ling Yue was truly a soft-hearted child. Despite her earlier fearful demeanor, she still spoke words to comfort the very person who frightened her.

But Lu He was lying she didn’t care at all about the rumors outside.

In fact, she quite liked the title “witch.”

Releasing Ling Yue’s chin, Lu He returned to her seat and glanced coldly at Qing Niao, who was covering her eyes. “If you don’t need your eyes, I can help you with that.”

Qing Niao quickly lowered her hands, straightened up, and said seriously, “No need for the trouble. Let’s continue the earlier topic, we cannot depose the emperor. Even if we must replace him, it cannot be Lu Weiying.”

Lu He turned her empty teacup upside down. “Why?”

Qing Niao looked troubled. “Having traveled the martial world for so many years, I’ve met countless people. That girl gives me the first impression of being cunning and ruthless.”

Lu He glanced sideways at her. “If I recall correctly, your first impression of me was also cunning and ruthless.”

Qing Niao didn’t expect to have old scores brought up and felt unusually awkward, explaining sheepishly, “That was so long ago.”

Righting the overturned teacup, Lu He said casually, “I have a good memory.”

Then she added meaningfully, “I even remember clearly the child who mistakenly trespassed in my youth.”

Ling Yue noticed the Grand Princess was looking at her, as if those words were directed at her.

Seeing Ling Yue’s stunned expression, disappointment flickered in Lu He’s eyes before turning into resignation.

She finally set down the teacup and said offhandedly, “Then let it be so.”

Ling Yue’s cold sweat finally began to subside. These two were discussing such weighty matters in front of a minor figure like her she was terrified her head wouldn’t stay on her shoulders.

She’d had enough excitement for one day. Could it be over now?

She didn’t want to be an imperial guard for even one more day!

Just as her thoughts ran wild, the Grand Princess called her name again.

“Ling Yue, you’ll eat with us.”

Even as an imperial guard, it was generally impossible to dine with the royal family. Ling Yue’s heart, which had just settled, leaped back into her throat.

“Eat without speaking, sleep without words” she prayed no questions would be asked during the meal.

Perhaps the gods truly heard her plea, for the meal passed with unusual peace.

In her past life, she was often on the battlefield and never got to eat such delicacies. In this life, she had been mistreated and hadn’t yet received her first salary after turning her fortunes around.

Ling Yue wasn’t picky she found everything delicious. As she ate, she thought of Chun Tao back home. That girl had suffered alongside her and never tasted such fine food.

But she still didn’t dare to bring it up, only stealing a few more glances at the braised pork.

After eating her fill, she secretly glanced toward the princess, only to find the other woman smiling at her, her bowl and chopsticks placed neatly in front of her.

Ling Yue felt a bit embarrassed. Amid her shyness, she noticed something: the princess seemed to enjoy watching her.

The dishes on the table were cleared away, and Ling Yue felt a twinge of guilt. Was she too comfortable in her role as an imperial guard?

Who ever heard of someone feeling more at ease on duty than at home?

After the meal, the princess began reviewing memorials. Of course, she wouldn’t handle state affairs directly these had already been read and annotated by the emperor. She was merely going over them again.

Ling Yue intended to stand guard by the door, after all, she was an imperial guard, not a personal maid.

But as soon as she lifted her foot, the princess looked up from the pile of memorials.

Lu He called out to Ling Yue, who was trying to slip away: “Stand behind me.”

Ling Yue froze instantly. She lowered her head and took her place behind the princess.

From this position, she could clearly see the memorials the princess was reading. Ling Yue felt her life was in even greater danger. Just as she was about to lower her head, she spotted a familiar name on one of the memorials.

Song Xuanze!

In her past life, Song Xuanze had been Rong Dynasty’s greatest enemy. He was the deposed crown prince of the Southern Xin Dynasty, his maternal clan in decline and his father having abandoned him. No one had held high hopes for him.

Ling Yue couldn’t tear her eyes away. Her hands trembled slightly, she was furious.

His rise to fame had begun with the battle where Wang Lan lost her life.

Ling Yue forgot her fear entirely. She wanted to read more, but the memorial was abruptly closed.

Lu He had been observing Ling Yue all along. Seeing her shift from panic to anger, she felt she still hadn’t fully understood this person.

She had investigated Ling Yue’s background her life had been simple, her world confined to the Ling estate, and she had interacted with very few people.

That made many things all the more puzzling.

Lu He had always been deeply intrigued by things she couldn’t figure out.

But Ling Yue’s expression wanting to speak but holding back was also quite amusing. So this time, she decided not to take the initiative.

Ling Yue was indeed struggling. She desperately wanted to tell the princess, “This man! It’s him! Execute him!”

But what reason could she give? Song Xuanze only rose to prominence later on, in the early stages, he seemed like a nobody!

Yet if she said nothing, the Rong Dynasty would pay no further attention to this deposed crown prince.

What should she do? What should she do?

Ling Yue pondered this question all the way until she left the palace, but still hadn’t found a solution. With a troubled expression, she walked out of the palace gates and paced back and forth in front of her horse.

“Hey! You, surnamed Ling!”

The disrespectful address could only come from one person. Ling Yue turned her lifeless eyes toward Wang Lan. “Miss Wang.”

Wang Lan was startled. “I heard you’re serving by the princess’s side. If it’s too much, just run away!”

Ling Yue shook her head, her gaze toward Wang Lan complex. She then looked at Wen Yuanyuan beside her.

Her resentment eased slightly. Seeing the two getting along well, she felt a bit puzzled. “What’s this about?”

Wang Lan looked equally confused. “She’s been following me ever since she found out we were heading the same way. I don’t get it either.”

Wen Yuanyuan didn’t say anything, her face flushed with embarrassment.

She mouthed to Ling Yue, “Don’t say anything.”

Though a bit exasperated, Ling Yue wouldn’t embarrass her. But then Wang Lan leaned in mysteriously and whispered, “Do you think, she likes me?”

Ling Yue: “…”

Wang Lan’s confidence never failed to show up. After stroking his chin, he reaffirmed his answer: “You don’t have to say it. She definitely likes me.”

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