Mistakenly Marked the Madly Beautiful Princess - Chapter 28

After only a short while, the princess casually sat down. She looked up at Ling Yue, noticing the other still gazing intently at the night sky, unable to hide the amusement in her eyes.

“Aren’t you going to make a wish? Even if the shooting stars have passed, it doesn’t matter.”

Ling Yue realized the princess had already settled down. She did have wishes more than one, in fact. Ultimately, she just didn’t want to repeat the mistakes of her past life.

Her mood grew heavy again as she thought of her sister. With a serious expression, she made a request: “Your subject has a wish and hopes Your Highness can fulfill it.”

Lu He disliked hearing her refer to herself as “your subject.” It made her feel as though they were close yet worlds apart.

Gently patting the spot beside her, she carefully brushed away the dust for Ling Yue. “Sit.”

Ling Yue hesitated briefly, but seeing the princess’s expression darken under the moonlight, she dared not delay and obediently sat beside her.

Only then did Lu He nod in satisfaction. Gazing at the night sky, she said, “Speak.”

The two were so close that Ling Yue could catch the faint scent of plum blossoms from the other. That fragrance always reminded her of several intimate moments.

Recalling them in a calm state felt utterly absurd, and Ling Yue even softened her breathing.

She mimicked the princess, tilting her head to look at the stars, her voice barely a whisper. “I wish to ask Your Highness to look after my sister. The Ling family has encountered sudden changes, and she cannot withstand the coming storms alone. Since I will be accompanying you to battle, I won’t be able to care for her.”

Ling Yue felt uneasy, thinking she might be overstepping. The term “spoiled” didn’t quite fit their relationship was merely an exchange of interests. There was no such thing as favoritism; it was more like pushing her luck.

But the night was too quiet, and in the silence, Ling Yue could even hear her own heartbeat quickening.

Finally, she turned to look at the person beside her, but as the sky darkened, she could no longer make out the other’s face.

A sudden panic washed over her. She wasn’t afraid of the dark, but this gradual loss of sight terrified her, it felt like the day she had lost her vision.

That day, she had strained to see, but she couldn’t stop her vision from blurring further. Eventually, all she could discern were vague outlines, and then even those faded into complete darkness.

She had wandered alone in that darkness for a long time, until a great fire burned all her regrets and resentment to ashes.

Ling Yue couldn’t help but tremble. In this life, she had lived too peacefully, almost forgetting that she was a vengeful spirit clawing her way out of the flames.

“Are you afraid of the dark?”

A flame ignited in the night, illuminating Ling Yue’s face. The gentle voice pulled her out of her chaotic thoughts, and the warm, flickering candlelight seemed to dance joyfully.

Ling Yue stared at the lantern that had suddenly appeared before her. Its glow enveloped the two of them, creating a unique scene in the vast darkness.

As the lantern shifted, she saw the princess’s smiling face. “How about now? Still afraid?”

“Not afraid.”

In that moment, the princess shone brighter than the candlelight and the stars.

Lu He held the lantern, her expression unreadable perhaps pleased, perhaps displeased. “Again, you’re asking for someone else. What about yourself?”

She had never been part of Ling Yue’s considerations. It seemed Ling Yue always lived within the wishes of others.

What did she herself want?

Ling Yue found herself facing a difficult question. She wished for stability in Rong Dynasty, for Ling Ya, Wang Lan, Wen Yuanyuan, and others not to repeat their past mistakes, and for.

She looked at the person beside her, and that person looked back at her. In the eyes of the Eldest Princess, only her reflection remained.

Could this be considered a secret rendezvous?

Ling Yue felt her thoughts were too audacious and dared not show them.

Lu He’s actions weren’t meant to force an answer from her, only to remind her, to make Ling Yue aware of the question.

She gently swayed the lantern in her hand. “I have my own plans regarding what you mentioned. Just follow me south with peace of mind.”

Seeing her agreement, Ling Yue’s inner joy temporarily dispelled her confusion. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

But where had this lantern come from?

In this desolate wilderness, where could a lantern appear from? Had the other person hidden it here from the start?

“This lantern?”

Lu He lifted the lantern slightly, as if displaying it. “Are you curious?”

Ling Yue nodded, then shook her head. If the Eldest Princess had intended to enjoy the night scenery from the beginning, then this preparation wasn’t strange at all.

It seemed to be getting colder. Seeing the Eldest Princess dressed so lightly, Ling Yue couldn’t help but glance at her own clothes.

As she hesitated, the Eldest Princess chuckled softly and began to tell a story, her voice tinged with faint melancholy. “This was left to me by my mother. She said if I missed her, I should light this lantern.”

Ling Yue’s scalp prickled. She hadn’t expected to stir up painful memories for the other, but the lantern’s design was so ordinary, hardly resembling something from the palace.

Still, the Eldest Princess’s background was no secret. But she stood so high now that people only saw her achievements, no longer remembering her difficult past.

It was time to offer comfort again, and Ling Yue felt deeply awkward. After careful consideration, she uttered four words: “Your Highness, please accept my condolences.”

Her foolish demeanor actually amused Lu He, though she only smiled briefly before falling silent again.

The candlelight seemed to sense its owner’s mood, its flame growing calmer.

Silence, damned silence. Ling Yue felt she ought to do something.

She often called Wang Lan a fool, but now it seemed she was the true fool, not knowing what to say.

Ling Yue truly wanted to slap herself hard and scold her useless mouth.

Her thoughts drifted far away. Lu He seldom recalled those no longer present after all, most of them had been killed by her.

She rarely thought of her mother, either.

That woman had been very gentle, always smiling softly at everyone, and she played the flute beautifully.

Growing up under her influence, Lu He also became skilled at playing the flute, though it had been a long time since she last played.

But the deep palace had no need for such gentleness. One couldn’t afford to be truly gentle, when danger struck, there wouldn’t even be time to react.

Lu He sighed. “For some reason, I always feel like saying a little more when I’m with you.”

Ling Yue’s heart suddenly stilled. Those words seemed to say: You are special to me.

A flicker of joy passed through her, too fleeting to grasp.

She became entranced by the Eldest Princess’s profile, only snapping out of it when she realized her impropriety. Lowering her gaze, she murmured, “If Your Highness does not mind, this subject can be your listener.”

Lu He laughed, teasing her, “Now you’re not afraid anymore?”

As they say, when you owe too much, the pressure lessens. After all, no matter how many debts she accumulated, she only had one life to repay them. In short, Ling Yue began to resign herself to it.

Even so, having her thoughts seen through was still embarrassing. She smiled awkwardly. “Your Highness, you jest.”

Lu He had no intention of teasing anyone here. With a sigh, her thoughts drifted back to the past.

The late emperor had many children sometimes she couldn’t even recognize them when they stood before her. Lu He was one of them.

Back then, the imperial palace wasn’t as empty as it was now. There were countless consorts, princes, and princesses.

Lu He couldn’t recognize all her siblings either; the eldest among them had already married and had children of their own.

But none of that mattered.

Even as a child, Lu He was different from others. She loved climbing trees, showing none of the grace expected of a princess. She would often climb onto rooftops, terrifying her mother and the palace maids who served her.

She loved sitting on the roof to gaze at the sky. From up there, the sky seemed vast, unobstructed by walls.

Her mother, at a loss for what to do, had a ladder brought over and climbed up herself.

For a consort, this was highly improper, but since her mother was not favored, no one paid it any mind.

Her mother sat beside her, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze. “He’er, why do you like it up here?”

Lu He pointed upward, just as a wisp of white cloud drifted to where her finger was aimed.

Even as a child, she seldom smiled. Yet, no matter how solemn she tried to appear on her youthful face, it only made her look endearing.

But her mother misunderstood. Smiling, she patted Lu He’s small head. “He’er, do you like the clouds?”

Lu He shook her head. Her gaze swept over the towering walls, a hint of confusion in her eyes. “Mother, when can I leave the palace?”

The hand on her head stilled, and Lu He was pulled into an embrace.

“When you grow up, everything will be fine. Mother will be watching over you.”

Though precocious, Lu He was still just a child. She nestled deeper into her mother’s arms and softly closed her eyes.

She thought such moments would be commonplace, yet she was also aware of the dangers within the palace.

At times, she couldn’t understand it. The late emperor was fickle; no matter how fiercely they competed, none could secure his lasting favor. Why bother scheming and harming one another for such fleeting affection?

She looked down on these people, yet it was these very people she despised who destroyed her mother.

“A mere moment of attention was enough to provoke jealousy. Someone poisoned the flute my mother often played, but I was the one who ended up poisoned. The imperial physicians, under someone’s orders, refused to treat me. That day, it snowed heavily. My mother held me and begged the late emperor.”

“She knelt in the snow for an entire day, and in the end, she never even got to see his face.”

“In the end, she resorted to a foolish method, she traded her life for mine.”

Lu He’s tone was calm, as if she were recounting someone else’s story.

All Ling Yue could do at that moment was listen.

How difficult this journey must have been Ling Yue didn’t dare to imagine. She thought of her own mother, but the woman had passed away early, leaving only blurred memories.

“I suppose I’ve been rambling,” Lu He said, her voice tinged with apology.

“Not at all!” Ling Yue quickly replied.

The memories were too painful. Lu He seldom dwelled on them, but now she felt weary and vulnerable. Looking at Ling Yue, her eyes seemed to hold a plea. “I’m tired. May I lean on you?”

Ling Yue froze. She couldn’t refuse a request from Her Highness, but wouldn’t her shoulder be too bony to lean on?

“If Your Highness is tired, you may rest your head on my lap.”

The moment the words left her mouth, Ling Yue stiffened. She had no idea why she’d said something like that.

Just as she was drowning in embarrassment and regret, a gentle weight settled on her legs.

Instantly, Ling Yue didn’t dare move a muscle. She didn’t dare look down, instead lifting her head to gaze at the stars. As she stared, she thought to herself: The stars are so beautiful and it’s rather warm.

Ling Yue felt her thoughts were in disarray. How could the stars feel warm when it was clearly her legs that were radiating heat?

Finally gathering the courage to look down, she discovered the other person had already fallen asleep.

Ling Yue didn’t dare move again. She carefully took the lantern from the Grand Princess’s hand, but after holding it for a while, she too grew drowsy.

In a daze, she extinguished the lantern. Ling Yue wanted to take the person back to the city, but sleepiness washed over her like a tidal wave, and she eventually closed her eyes.

Before drifting off, she struggled to remove her outer garment and draped it over the Grand Princess. Only then did she resign herself to sleep.

Not long after she fell into a deep slumber, Lu He opened her eyes. At this moment, there was no trace of sorrow or fragility about her.

She glanced at the garment covering her, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. Carefully rising, she looked at the soundly sleeping Ling Yue and chuckled, “No defenses at all, it seems she trusts me quite a bit.”

“Master, there’s been progress regarding Ling Fu.”

A voice came from the darkness, but Lu He showed no surprise. She reverted to her usual cold demeanor, all traces of her smile gone. “Speak.”

“Before setting out, Ling Fu met with the Fifth Princess.”

Lu Weiying?

Lu He had almost forgotten about that person. Indeed, neglect could lead to disaster.

The voice from the shadows continued, “The poison General Ling was afflicted with is the ‘Broken Heart Toxin’ from the previous dynasty, a poison frequently used by the late Consort Hui. There are signs of disturbance in the palace where Consort Hui once resided.”

Lu He had a fairly clear understanding now. “You may go.”

“Yes.”

After everything fell silent, Lu He let out a derisive laugh.

Seeing Ling Yue sleeping so soundly, she couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch the other’s cheek, her smile becoming more genuine. “Silly girl, why do you believe everything so easily?”

Noticing Ling Yue frown in her sleep, Lu He released her hand.

She sighed softly. “Never mind. It’s fine if she trusts me.”

Then, she lifted Ling Yue into her arms and began walking back.

Lu He found herself perplexed. There was an underground palace nearby that belonged to her, she could have come alone, yet for some reason, she had brought Ling Yue along.

But this place was of great importance, and her mind was filled with reservations, which was why she had resorted to drugging Ling Yue.

Only now, with the person in her arms, she could no longer distinguish her true intentions.

Support