Mistakenly Marked the Madly Beautiful Princess - Chapter 5

As night fell, Ling Yue, a grown woman, seemed to have vanished into thin air. Only a few young palace maids reported seeing her heading toward the Cold Palace.

Ling Ya was deeply worried and joined the search party. The dilapidated palace gate creaked loudly as it was pushed open. Two young maids waiting at the entrance looked visibly troubled, but Ling Ya, after clearing her throat, noticed nothing unusual.

Once the gate opened, they saw a person lying on the ground, clad in thin clothing, with a glaring red stain on the snowy ground. The two maids at the door trembled uncontrollably, they had assaulted the person but hadn’t had time to dispose of the evidence. The Cold Palace was usually deserted, and they hadn’t expected the emperor’s head maid to show up that day.

The taller maid turned pale and, overwhelmed by fear, collapsed to the ground.

Ling Ya was also startled. Being kind-hearted, she hurried over to check for a pulse. Discovering the person was still breathing, she waved excitedly, “Quick, she’s alive!”

The maid who had escorted Ling Ya was Qiu Ling, the emperor’s trusted attendant. With one glance, she understood what had happened and cast a cold look at the trembling maids at the door.

To prevent royal scandals from spreading, Qiu Ling ordered those behind her, “Take her to the imperial hospital. The rest of you, search the Cold Palace with me.”

Ling Ya watched as the injured woman was carried away. Just as she was about to turn around, the woman opened her eyes and, upon seeing Ling Ya, became ecstatic, shouting, “Ya’er!”

Ling Ya was stunned. She had never entered the palace before and had never met this person.

Before she could ask for an explanation, the woman lost consciousness again. The wind grew stronger, and Ling Ya tightened her coat. Turning to Qiu Ling, who remained calm, she asked, “Who is that?”

Qiu Ling smiled apologetically. “That is the fifth princess of the late emperor. She suffers from madness and often injures herself. There’s no need for you to worry about her, miss.”

The late emperor referred to the current emperor’s sister, who had been deposed after losing a power struggle with the Grand Princess. Most of her offspring had been eliminated, but surprisingly, one remained. Ling Ya had no interest in delving into royal affairs her sister’s safety was far more important.

But the results disappointed her.

“We couldn’t find Miss Ling Yue. We even checked the dry well nothing.”

Qiu Ling looked up at the moon in the sky. “Miss Ling Ya, please return to the general’s residence with your escort. I assure you, your younger sister will be safe. Once we find her, we’ll send her back to your residence.”

Though anxious, Ling Ya knew the palace was not a place she could roam freely. Suppressing her worries, she replied, “Then I’ll trouble you with this, Auntie.”

Qiu Ling observed Ling Ya’s gentle and courteous demeanor and couldn’t help but feel fond of her. Yet, she sighed inwardly such beauty often met a tragic fate.

After escorting Ling Ya to the city gate and watching the general’s entourage depart, Qiu Ling’s smile faded.

She returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where the lights were still bright clearly, the emperor had not yet retired.

Having served the emperor since childhood, Qiu Ling shared a special bond with him and didn’t need an announcement to enter his chambers. Sure enough, she found him on the bed, looking exhausted.

The candlelight in the room had dimmed. Qiu Ling trimmed the overly long wick, brightening the chamber once more.

The emperor looked up at her, the worry in his eyes vanishing, replaced by a trace of dependence. “Sister Qiu.”

Hearing the address, Qiu Ling sighed helplessly. “Your Majesty, you shouldn’t call me that.”

The Emperor remained silent, simply staring blankly at the busy Qiu Ling. With her delicate features and gentle brows, Qiu Ling was not the kind of striking beauty that could command awe. Yet, having sat on the throne for so many years, the Emperor’s innate nobility could not be concealed, no matter how harmless she appeared.

Qiu Ling knew what was troubling her but chose not to voice it. Instead, she stood by with a smile and asked, “What does Your Majesty think of Miss Ling from earlier today?”

A fragile, delicate face surfaced in the Emperor’s mind. She frowned with annoyance. “Her looks are exquisite, but her health is far too poor.”

Qiu Ling sighed inwardly, knowing full well the Emperor’s resistance. When the late Emperor was overthrown by the Grand Princess, the current Emperor was already old enough to remember. The massacre had left too deep a scar on her young mind, leaving her uninterested in almost everything. Now at twenty, she still showed no intention of marrying.

But the Grand Princess clearly had her own plans. This banquet had been arranged precisely so the Emperor could meet the eldest daughter of the Ling family. If a marriage alliance could be formed, all the better. Though that was the intention, speaking it aloud would only provoke distaste.

Qiu Ling tried to persuade her, “The Grand Princess has ways to address her health issues. From what I observed, Miss Ling is graceful and well-mannered, a fine young lady.”

A shadow slowly crept over the Emperor’s face. Her tone turned stiff, clearly suppressing anger. “Even you think so? But I refuse. Of the more than twenty children my father had, only I and Lu He remain. Of Second Elder Sister’s five children, only the one in the cold palace survives. Has that murderous star not had enough? Does she now want to kill my children too?”

In her agitation, the Emperor hurled a pillow across the room.

Qiu Ling watched the distraught Emperor, wanting to speak in the Grand Princess’s defense but knowing it would fall on deaf ears. She could only sigh silently in resignation before retrieving the discarded pillow.

But the Emperor’s resentment had not yet subsided. Still, a sliver of rationality returned, and fearing eavesdroppers, she lowered her voice to grumble, “If she wants to form ties with the Ling family, why doesn’t she do it herself? After all, she and I are both Earth Xuan.”

Qiu Ling grew anxious at once, quickly covering the Emperor’s mouth while glancing around nervously. “Your Majesty, please be careful with your words.”

The Emperor blinked to show she understood, and only then did Qiu Ling dare to release her. She began pleading earnestly again, “Your Majesty must be more cautious in the future. The Grand Princess will be displeased.”

The Emperor was clearly unconvinced but didn’t dare say more. Finally calming down, she didn’t dare mutter about Lu He, but she had no qualms disparaging Ling Ya, even adding exaggerations out of spite.

“Anyway, I have no desire to marry. That Ling Ya gasps for breath after every few steps her face is paler than snow. And today, the second Miss Ling wandered around the palace without permission, utterly lacking in propriety. It’s clear the Ling family has poor upbringing. How could a daughter of the Lings be worthy of the imperial family?”

Qiu Ling knew the Emperor was tarring the whole family with the same brush out of resentment and could only sigh at her childish temper.

Still, the Grand Princess was nowhere to be found. At such a late hour, Qiu Ling hoped nothing had gone wrong.

The Emperor grew drowsy and finally remembered the matter of Ling Yue, asking casually, “Has the second Miss Ling been found yet?”

Qiu Ling shook her head. Ling Yue had kept her head lowered throughout the banquet and hadn’t spoken a word, so Qiu Ling’s impression of her was rather vague.

“Not yet. Your Majesty, aren’t you worried about the Grand Princess?”

The Emperor’s eyes were already half-closed. She yawned. “Does she need anyone to worry about her? I’m going to sleep.”

Qiu Ling had no choice but to coax the emperor to sleep first. The emperor often had nightmares and could only fall into a peaceful slumber while holding Qiu Ling’s hand.

As consciousness faded, the emperor watched Qiu Ling’s face grow increasingly blurry before mumbling drowsily, “Sister Qiu, you’re the only one I can trust.”

Had she been more alert, she would have noticed Qiu Ling’s discomfort but perhaps that was for the best.

The night was silent. Qiu Ling withdrew her hand, carefully tucked the emperor in, and glanced out the window at the pitch-black darkness. An inexplicable restlessness stirred within her, and she murmured under her breath, “I wonder where the Grand Princess is. I hope nothing has happened to her.”

No sooner had she spoken than she scolded herself for jinxing it, slapping her own lips lightly. “Pah, pah, pah! The Grand Princess is blessed. May my words be void.”

Filled with unease, Qiu Ling waited through the night. Just before the first rays of dawn, the Grand Princess finally returned. Overjoyed, Qiu Ling rushed to greet her but immediately sensed something amiss. Upon closer observation, she realized the Grand Princess was smiling and it seemed genuine.

The Grand Princess waved aside her formal greeting, instead casting a cold glance at her younger sister sleeping soundly on the bed and snorting, “Pig.”

Qiu Ling’s heart leaped into her throat. She couldn’t help but lie, “Her Majesty was worried about you all night and has only just fallen asleep.”

Lu He gazed thoughtfully at the figure on the bed, who looked on the verge of drooling, and remarked indifferently, “Is that so?”

Qiu Ling’s legs nearly buckled. Just as she struggled to respond, the Grand Princess added, “Never mind, let her be. By the way, the Second Miss of the Ling family is in the side chamber near the Cold Palace. Escort her back.”

Relieved, Qiu Ling replied, “Yes.”

As she bowed and prepared to leave, the Grand Princess stopped her again, her tone still unreadable. “Don’t frighten her.”

Qiu Ling’s eyes widened in shock. She tried to sneak a glance at the Grand Princess’s expression, but the latter had turned away, revealing nothing. Swallowing her burning curiosity, Qiu Ling departed.

When she found Ling Yue, the girl’s dazed and disoriented appearance only deepened Qiu Ling’s curiosity. But she didn’t dare ask any questions and quietly escorted Ling Yue back to the Ling residence.

Ling Yue’s return went largely unnoticed by the household. Only Ling Ya came by to ask a few questions, but seeing her younger sister’s exhaustion, she tactfully withdrew.

After sending Chun Tao away, Ling Yue curled up under her quilt, trying to escape reality.

Who could understand? Waking up to find the Grand Princess lying beside her was utterly terrifying. And as memories flooded back, she realized she had been bold enough to mark the Grand Princess.

In an instant, countless gruesome deaths flashed through Ling Yue’s mind. But before her fear could fully take hold, the Grand Princess awoke.

The first thing the Grand Princess did upon waking wasn’t panic, fear, or rage instead, she gripped Ling Yue’s neck with a dazzling smile and said, “Now that you’ve had your fun, it’s time to depart.”

She truly intended to strangle her. Ling Yue felt the fingers around her throat tightening relentlessly. The terror of death spurred her to resist, and she no longer held back, prying the Grand Princess’s fingers away one by one.

Watching the surprise gradually dawn in the Grand Princess’s eyes, Ling Yue felt her chances of survival were high. Having clashed with her countless times in her past life, she understood the Grand Princess’s temperament well. Though dangerous, the Grand Princess valued talent greatly. With neighboring kingdoms growing restless, capable individuals were in high demand.

Yet her heart remained unsettled. In her previous life, she had misplaced her trust, lost her right hand and both eyes, and failed to protect her family.

Given a second chance at life, she refused to let it end here.

Waking from her daze, Lu He gradually regained clarity. On one hand, she was stunned by the other’s martial prowess; on the other, the more she looked at the person before her, the more familiar they seemed. She stared intently, and a small figure suddenly surfaced in her mind.

Seeing how nervous the other appeared, Lu He let out an almost imperceptible smile.

Ling Yue didn’t notice anything amiss and spoke with utmost seriousness, “This humble girl did not mean to offend you. Given the circumstances, what does the Princess think of me?”

What are you thinking?!

Ling Yue wanted to slap herself. She had intended to highlight her usefulness, but in the end, she blurted out such a senseless question.

While she was busy berating herself, the Princess’s voice reached her ears: “I find you quite acceptable.”

Ling Yue froze instantly. “Huh?”

Amused by her bewildered expression, Lu He leaned in, lifted Ling Yue’s chin, her smile not reaching her eyes. “It’s a pity that as you are now, you are not worthy of my attention.”

The close proximity made Ling Yue nervous. She didn’t dare look at the other’s face and cautiously asked, “What does Your Highness mean?”

Once her chin was freed, Ling Yue still didn’t dare raise her head.

She could hear the Princess rise from the bed, and the sound of her dressing made Ling Yue’s ears flush red. She didn’t dare glance back.

Then, the Princess’s voice came from outside the room: “Prove your capabilities to me.”

Her life was temporarily spared, but Ling Yue felt as if all her strength had been drained.

“If you fail to satisfy me, I will return to take your life.”

The threat was delivered without a hint of emotion. Ling Yue clutched her head, rolling back and forth on the bed until she bumped it and finally stopped.

She reluctantly poked her head out from under the covers, rubbed the red spot on her forehead from the impact, and let out an exasperated sigh.

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