Mistakenly Marked the Madly Beautiful Princess - Chapter 52

Ling Yue followed behind the Princess, gazing at her retreating figure and sighing inwardly at how remarkable time was transforming her initial fear of this woman into the sheer joy she now felt at every encounter.

They were heading out of the city, not on horseback but simply walking side by side. Ling Yue quickened her pace to match the Princess’s stride. Words often failed her, leaving her with only the simplest inquiries. “How has Your Highness been feeling lately?” she managed.

The Princess halted and turned, her eyes lingering on Ling Yue before she unexpectedly reached out to brush a hand against her cheek. “You seem to have lost weight.”

It was merely an illusion Ling Yue had been eating well, aside from the occasional nightmares that plagued her nights. But by now, she had grown somewhat numb to them.

The spot where the Princess had touched tingled faintly. Ling Yue raised her hand to rub it, then sheepishly lowered it upon noticing the Princess’s amused smile. “Your Highness must be mistaken.”

The Princess chuckled softly. “Is that so? If the food outside doesn’t suit you, you’re always welcome at the palace. I can’t have my little general going hungry.”

Ling Yue’s ears warmed at the endearment. “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”

The words felt oddly comforting, like a mother calling her child home for a meal.

On the river, a young man was poling a boat, too absorbed in his task to notice the two women on the shore exactly as the Princess preferred. Had the boatman been disturbed, she would have felt as though she’d disrupted the serene beauty of the scene.

Tugging Ling Yue behind a tree, she watched as the boat reached the bank and passengers disembarked one after another, each hurrying off to their own affairs. Ling Yue didn’t understand the Princess’s intention, but she, too, sometimes found solace in observing the bustling crowd.

Once the people had dispersed and the boatman set off for the opposite shore, the Princess emerged from behind the tree. She glanced back at Ling Yue. “Does this seem strange to you?”

Ling Yue shook her head. “Not at all.”

The Princess’s tolerance for her seemed to be growing. She didn’t challenge the white lie, instead smiling at the ripples spreading across the water as the boat moved away. “Don’t you find this rather delightful?”

Ling Yue was taken aback, but the Princess soon clarified. “Such a peaceful life isn’t it fascinating?”

Studying her expression, Ling Yue believed she understood. She, too, sometimes felt this way, cherishing the tranquility that felt like a blessing she could never have dreamed of in her past life.

The thought filled her with guilt. She had always believed Lu Weiying was the one who cared for the people, but now she saw it was the Princess who truly held them dear. Her past misunderstandings ran so deep that she had been deaf to any voice defending the Princess.

Once again, she marveled at how wonderful it was to be reborn, to have the chance to choose anew.

Sincerely, Ling Yue praised, “This peace is all thanks to you.”

“I never thought you’d resort to flattery.”

Ling Yue grew flustered at the remark and hurried to explain, “I meant every word!”

Seeing her agitation, the Princess relented, though a shadow of worry crossed her face. “This life is the result of everyone’s efforts mine included, but not mine alone. If I were gone, there would still be all of you. There would still be me.”

Ling Yue cut her off before she could finish. “No. The Princess will always be here.”

Surprised by the intensity of Ling Yue’s reaction, the Princess fell silent for a moment before smiling again. “Indeed.”

After speaking, she added gravely, “The Northern Kingdom intends to send an envoy to discuss trade with us.”

Trade?

Ling Yue never expected things to take this turn. In her previous life, she had not witnessed trade between the two nations even until her death. Moreover, the Northerners were so arrogant could this be a trap?

Ling Yue couldn’t help but caution, “Your Highness must be careful; this might be a trap.”

In truth, Ling Yue’s concerns were not unfounded, as the envoy this time was Lu Weiying. One had to admire her ability to persuade the Northern Emperor under such circumstances.

Unfortunately, her intentions were too complex, and a clever person who was hard to control posed significant risks.

The Eldest Princess pondered deeply. In reality, none of the above mattered much to her; what concerned her was the history between Lu Weiying and Ling Yue.

Thinking of this, she spoke softly, “You know that the Fifth Princess defected to the Northern Kingdom. The envoy they are sending is her.”

Ling Yue’s pupils contracted sharply. If she had been slightly anxious before, her worry now increased tenfold.

“Your Highness! We must be even more cautious!”

With the same attitude as Qing Niao, the Eldest Princess grew more convinced of her inner suspicions.

Yet this made her somewhat angry. If her suspicions were true, how much suffering had Ling Yue endured in her past life?

Suppressing her inner fury, she maintained a calm demeanor and said lightly, “I’ve noted what you said, but there’s one more thing I must tell you.”

Ling Yue replied, “Please speak, Your Highness.”

The weather suddenly changed. A gust of wind brought a chill, and the sky darkened, suggesting rain would fall soon.

Ling Yue noticed this as well. Seeing the Eldest Princess dressed so lightly, she couldn’t help but worry. “Your Highness, let’s return to the city first.”

No sooner had she spoken than a few raindrops fell, one landing right on the tip of Ling Yue’s nose. Before they could react, the rain grew heavier.

Ling Yue grew frantic. She stretched out both hands to shield the Eldest Princess’s head, but it was utterly ineffective.

So she took off her own outer garment and held it over the Eldest Princess’s head. Without waiting for consent, she urged, “Your Highness, let’s run!”

The words she had intended to say were suddenly forgotten. The Eldest Princess, dazed, followed Ling Yue’s lead, rushing forward until they reached the city gate and dashed under the eaves of a building before she came to her senses.

Ling Yue was drenched from head to toe. She shook out the garment in her hands, carefully folded it, and held it. Without even wiping the rain from her face, she anxiously asked the Eldest Princess, “Your Highness, were you caught in the rain?”

The Eldest Princess shook her head; she hadn’t been touched by a single drop.

Ling Yue examined her closely. The Eldest Princess’s hair was only slightly disheveled. She reached out to smooth the unruly strands but suddenly felt the gesture was too presumptuous and quickly withdrew her hand. “My apologies, Your Highness.”

Seeing her apologize, a flicker of regret passed through the Eldest Princess’s heart. She replied, “There’s no need to be so formal.”

The rain grew heavier, but the Eldest Princess’s status still commanded respect. The owner of the building had already brought out an umbrella unfortunately, only one.

The Eldest Princess rewarded them with silver, took the umbrella, and handed it to Ling Yue. “Hold it.”

Ling Yue opened the umbrella, positioning it entirely over the Eldest Princess’s head, leaving herself completely exposed.

Frowning at the sight, the Eldest Princess said nothing but reached out and pulled Ling Yue under the umbrella. When the other tried to decline, she insisted firmly, “Do not defy my order.”

Ling Yue obediently quieted down upon hearing this, though the umbrella was indeed small fitting both of them made it rather cramped, and the closeness meant they were unavoidably near.

She attempted to shift half her body outside the shelter of the umbrella, but as soon as she took a step, she received a sharp warning glance from the Princess.

With no other choice, Ling Yue suppressed her inner unease and continued walking alongside her.

The raindrops pattered rhythmically against the umbrella, but to Ling Yue, each drop seemed to strike directly at her heart.

She rubbed the fabric of her sleeve, only to find it damp and unpleasant to the touch.

Stealing a glance at the Princess beside her, Ling Yue noticed that her own wet clothes had soaked into the Princess’s garments.

She subtly moved a bit farther away, ensuring their clothes no longer touched.

Unable to hold back, she began to fret, “Your Highness, you should bring attendants when you go out. It would be safer and more convenient.”

The Princess deliberately walked slowly. She never liked having an entourage, especially today when she had come specifically to see Ling Yue she didn’t want any third party intruding.

This reason, however, wasn’t something she could openly explain. With a light smile, she replied, “I came to see you today. I believe having you alone is more than enough.”

Ling Yue hadn’t expected such a response and grew flustered. “Your Highness flatters me.”

Eager to change the subject, she quickly asked, “What was it you wanted to discuss with me earlier, Your Highness?”

Seeing Ling Yue with her head lowered, the Princess looked ahead and spoke slowly, “When the time comes, I want you to participate in the negotiations with the Northern Kingdom.”

Ling Yue grew anxious again.

She was entirely unskilled in such matters and feared causing trouble. Surely the Princess understood this so why assign her the task?

After a moment of internal struggle, Ling Yue declined, “I am not adept in this area.”

As if anticipating this response, the Princess remained unruffled. “The Northern Kingdom values martial prowess. Your presence would be fitting it would give them one more reason to be cautious.”

That reasoning wasn’t entirely wrong, but Ling Yue still hesitated.

Noting her hesitation, the Princess added, “You won’t need to speak. I’ll be there, so there’s no need to worry.”

Having been reassured to this extent, Ling Yue had no grounds to refuse.

But did this mean she would have to face Lu Weiying again?

Ling Yue couldn’t quite define her feelings upon reflection, resentment seemed to dominate. Suppressing the hatred in her eyes, she nodded gently. “I understand, Your Highness.”

The Princess smiled. Spotting some nameless wildflowers at the street corner, she bent down to pick one, twirling it between her fingers. A thought seemed to strike her, and she asked lightly, “Little General, do you have a favorite flower?”

Ling Yue had never considered the question before, but in her memory, the old, dilapidated courtyard where she used to live had walls covered in climbing roses, which she found beautiful.

“I like roses, Your Highness.”

As the rain began to lighten, the Princess stretched out her hand and said softly, “Roses,that’s lovely.”

The rain stopped. Ling Yue closed the umbrella and, looking into the distance, spotted a rainbow.

Delighted, she pointed toward it. “Your Highness, look!”

The Princess glanced up briefly before turning her gaze back to Ling Yue, who was completely absorbed in the rainbow and hadn’t noticed.

The rainbow was beautiful, but the Princess’s eyes unconsciously drifted elsewhere.

Watching Ling Yue’s smile, she felt an inexplicable sense of contentment, as if such a moment was rare and precious.

After a while, Ling Yue sensed something amiss. Turning, she found the Princess watching her and asked in confusion, “Your Highness, is something wrong?”

The princess turned her head. “It’s nothing, let’s head back first.”

After taking two steps, she suddenly turned again. “Young General, come along.”

Only then did Ling Yue snap out of her daze. She quickened her pace to walk side by side with the princess.

After the two had left, the doors and windows along the street finally dared to open. Countless curious eyes watched the departing figures.

“The princess and General Ling?”

“Surely not?”

“It certainly looked like them. Good heavens!”

Walking ahead, Ling Yue suddenly felt a chill run through her body. She sneezed and let out a soft sigh as she looked down at her drenched clothes.

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