Mistakenly Marked the Madly Beautiful Princess - Chapter 77

The war-torn borderlands were sparsely populated, so the group exchanged their carriage for horses.

A rabbit poked its head out from underground, twitching its nose as it cautiously surveyed the area around its burrow. Startled by the sound of hoofbeats, it tried to dart back into its hole.

But misfortune was always one step ahead. It had barely retreated when someone grabbed it by the ears and lifted it into the air.

Ling Yue raised the struggling rabbit and waved it at the Eldest Princess. “Sister, look!”

The Eldest Princess dismounted, took the rabbit from Ling Yue, and gently stroked the fur on its head to calm it before releasing it.

The moment its feet touched the ground, the little gray rabbit scurried back into its burrow, disappearing from sight.

Nearby, Bai Yuqi, who had been holding a simple bow and arrow ready to hunt birds, glanced in their direction.

After hesitating for a moment while watching the birds circling in the sky, she put away her bow and arrow, dismounted, and walked over to the two. Her tone remained cold. “You two have been in Rong for too long.”

Ling Yue didn’t understand, but the Eldest Princess grasped her meaning she likely thought they were being too soft-hearted.

This assumption, however, was far from the truth. Letting the rabbit go was simply because she had no desire to eat rabbit meat. But some things didn’t require an explanation.

As they spoke, another rabbit emerged from its burrow not far ahead. It hopped a couple of steps before being snatched up by an eagle.

A piercing eagle cry echoed across the land.

Bai Yuqi seemed to have taken a liking to the eagle. She drew her bow, adjusted her aim, and let an arrow fly. Unfortunately, the distance was too great, and her aim was off.

She pulled another arrow from her quiver, measured the sky, then sighed in disappointment and put away her bow, returning the arrow to its quiver. “Too far.”

The eagle had already become a distant speck in the sky. Ling Yue estimated that she could shoot it down but chose not to show off. Instead, she shielded her eyes from the sun and began pondering what edible things might be found in the area.

As for Qing Niao and her mother, they were already exhausted, resting beneath a tree.

Bai Yuqi observed the group. Having grown up in the Northern Kingdom, she naturally adhered to the belief that the strong ruled.

She respected the Eldest Princess for her prowess but held no such regard for the others.

Looking at the exhausted Qing Niao and the seemingly naive Ling Yue, Bai Yuqi couldn’t help but warn, “Perhaps the envoy has been away from her homeland for so long that she’s forgotten the rules of this land.”

Bai Yuqi had been mostly silent throughout the journey, rarely initiating conversation. The Eldest Princess raised an eyebrow. “What are you trying to say?”

Bai Yuqi didn’t mince words. “I mean, your sister and servants might face harassment.”

The “servants” naturally referred to Qing Niao and her mother.

This, however, was entirely Bai Yuqi’s own assumption. Fortunately, Qing Niao was asleep; had she heard, she would have been furious.

But this matter couldn’t be taken lightly. The Eldest Princess replied calmly, “They are not servants. They are my friends.”

Bai Yuqi was taken aback. She glanced at Qing Niao but didn’t press the issue, merely stating, “Regardless of the relationship, she is weak.”

Though well-intentioned, Bai Yuqi had misunderstood Ling Yue greatly, likely due to her quiet and agreeable demeanor throughout the journey.

The Eldest Princess replied casually, “Well, you’re very kind.”

Bai Yuqi paid it no mind, merely lifting her head to gaze at the sky. The silver earring on her right ear stood out starkly against her dark skin. “I am only repaying your kindness. If not for your warning, I would have been caught in the turmoil of the Rong Dynasty court.”

Before everything erupted, Bai Yuqi chose to leave.

She only wanted revenge, but she was unwilling to sacrifice her life for it.

The Eldest Princess did not refute her, instead turning her gaze to the bow and arrows on the other’s back. Her eyes were full of perfunctory politeness, yet her words sounded sincere and full of praise.

“Skilled in archery and horsemanship with such abilities, you ought to have a bright future. How did it come to this?”

After speaking, the Eldest Princess gave her a once-over. Overall, the other woman still seemed too thin.

Bai Yuqi, straightforward by nature, did not hold back. “I tried as well, hoping to secure an official position in the court. Though I have the ability, because of my Rong Dynasty lineage, I faced baseless suspicion.”

The Eldest Princess listened quietly to her account without interrupting.

In truth, the Northern Kingdom was not particularly hostile to foreign bloodlines, but the outsiders they accepted had to sever all ties with their homeland.

But Bai Yuqi was different. She had family in the Rong Dynasty, and over the years, they had been searching for her. News of this had reached the Northern Kingdom, blocking her path to advancement.

Bai Yuqi’s so-called revenge was also driven by ambition.

Ling Yue spotted another rabbit emerging from its burrow, but she made no move to catch it after all, even if she did, the Eldest Princess would likely set it free.

Then she noticed a brightly colored snake trailing behind the rabbit, clearly highly venomous.

Feeling the sweat break out on her skin, Ling Yue hurried to the shade of a tree to cool off, pulling out a fan to cool herself.

Her actions were merely out of concern that her disguise might fail, but in Bai Yuqi’s eyes, it carried a different meaning she thought Ling Yue was somewhat delicate.

Recalling Ling Yue’s less-than-fluent Northern tongue, Bai Yuqi’s worries deepened. “Benefactor, though you have lived in the Northern Kingdom for many years, even as a spy, it may still arouse suspicion.”

The Eldest Princess glanced toward Ling Yue’s location and lowered her voice. “Do you want me to abandon my sister and my friend?”

Neither Ling Yue nor Qing Niao spoke the Northern tongue well, which inevitably made the Northerners suspicious doubting whether the Eldest Princess was disloyal to the Northern Kingdom, hence her neglect in teaching her sister the language.

Ling Yue also noticed the Eldest Princess looking at her. The frown brought on by the heat softened into a gentle curve, leaving only tenderness.

A strand of hair strayed near her lips, and the Eldest Princess tucked the unruly lock behind her ear. In that moment, her eyes held only Ling Yue, her smile sincere and resolute. “I will not abandon them.”

Bai Yuqi did not quite understand. Having grown up with little experience of familial affection, though she still wished to persuade her, she could tell from the other’s tone that giving up was out of the question.

She stopped trying to convince her and instead watched an eagle circling in the sky. Drawing an arrow from her quiver, she nocked it and released the string just as the eagle dove for the rabbit.

Unfortunately, she missed. The eagle abandoned its nearly secured prey, and the arrow ended up saving the rabbit’s life.

The rabbit, having narrowly escaped death, scurried back into its burrow. A flicker of regret passed through Bai Yuqi’s eyes as she slung her bow over her shoulder and made her promise: “If there is any way I can help, Benefactor, please do not hesitate to ask.”

The Eldest Princess nodded. “Certainly.”

After a long while, the group had achieved nothing not because Ling Yue couldn’t catch any game, but because the Eldest Princess seemed to have no appetite for anything.

So they found a shady spot and began eating their dry rations.

Halfway through her meal, Ling Yue realized she wasn’t sitting beside the Eldest Princess. Staring at the half-eaten biscuit in her hand, she fell into hesitation, until she remembered Wen Yuanyuan’s advice about being brave.

Gathering her courage, she quietly shifted her position, intending to sit next to the Eldest Princess.

Just as she was about to succeed, someone with no sense of timing preempted her spot.

Ling Yue watched as Bai Yuqi sat beside the Eldest Princess and even offered her a piece of biscuit.

“Benefactor, have some more.”

The Eldest Princess initially didn’t want to accept it, but sensing someone’s resentful gaze, her mischievous nature stirred once more.

Under Ling Yue’s watchful eyes, the Eldest Princess took the biscuit from Bai Yuqi and smiled, “Thank you, you’re such a kind person.”

There was nothing particularly wrong with the words, but Ling Yue felt uncomfortable hearing them. Unconsciously tightening her grip, she crushed the half-biscuit in her hand.

The faint sound caught Bai Yuqi’s attention. Turning her head, she saw the crumbs in Ling Yue’s hand and couldn’t help but feel displeased.

She thought to herself that this child had been spoiled rotten so wasteful with food, even if it didn’t taste good.

But out of respect for the Eldest Princess, Bai Yuqi chose to ignore it and turned away, closing her eyes and leaning against a tree trunk to feign a nap.

Ling Yue also realized she had overreacted. Though the biscuit was crushed, it was still edible. She lifted her hand and swallowed it in one gulp, nearly choking herself.

After taking a few sips from her water flask, she finally recovered. As she focused on sealing the flask, she looked up and noticed the Eldest Princess watching her intently, making her feel embarrassed.

Summoning her courage, Ling Yue stood up, walked a few steps, and sat on the other side of the Eldest Princess. She raised her water flask and asked, “Sister, would you like some water?”

Noticing the Eldest Princess staring at the flask’s mouth, Ling Yue understood. She pulled a clean handkerchief from her sleeve and carefully wiped the rim.

Before she could finish, the flask was snatched from her hands. Ling Yue watched as the Eldest Princess uncorked it and drank a few mouthfuls without any hesitation.

Perhaps she drank too hastily water trickled from the corner of her lips, trailing downward until it disappeared into the depths of her neck.

Though it was an ordinary action, it held an inexplicable allure, and Ling Yue couldn’t help but let her thoughts wander.

Ling Yue instantly became subdued. She sat up straight, her eyes fixed on the ground, and began counting the ants.

One, two, three…

Where had she counted to? Better start over!

Ling Yue started counting from one to three again, but sitting so close to the Eldest Princess, even the slightest movement from her was palpable, and she soon lost track again.

Suddenly, something heavy landed on her lap. Ling Yue looked down and saw it was her water flask, while the hand that had returned it slowly retreated from her sight.

Her gaze unconsciously followed that hand, then drifted upward to meet the Eldest Princess’s smiling eyes.

Traces of water still lingered at the corners of her lips.

Ling Yue wanted to reach out and wipe them away but hesitated, ultimately following her heart and gently brushing them off with her fingertips.

The Eldest Princess didn’t refuse, and Ling Yue didn’t withdraw her hand. She caressed those pale lips, they felt incredibly soft.

Memories flashed through her mind they had kissed before. Though only once, Ling Yue often found herself reminiscing about it.

Ling Yue nervously withdrew her hand, “There’s water by your lips, wipe it.”

The Princess raised her hand to touch the spot Ling Yue had just touched, then noticed Ling Yue’s reddened earlobes and understood what the other was thinking.

Hah, little pervert.

Then she felt a bit annoyed and added inwardly: Hmph, coward.

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