Starting with Intercepting and Marrying the Eldest Princess - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: “I Have Only Gotten Much Thinner Since Marrying Your Highness…”

Pain…

When Xie Ning opened her eyes again, she felt a sense of déjà vu.

Of course, it was déjà vu! Hadn’t she just gone through this yesterday!

Compared to the original Xie Jing, this Princess sister-in-law wasn’t as excessive, at least she wasn’t tied up now. She also wondered if the back of her head could take any more—first hit by a sap, now smashed by a jade pillow. One more time and she probably wouldn’t wake up again.

Xie Ning lay on the floor, looking utterly peaceful.

At this moment, a ‘gulu gulu’ sound approached from a distance. Xie Ning opened her eyes in confusion and saw the Princess sister-in-law being pushed in a wheelchair by two maids. The blood-soaked white clothes from yesterday had been changed.

The Princess sat in front of the dressing mirror, being attended to by the two maids. None of the three paid any attention to her lying on the floor. One maid even stepped emotionlessly over her to tidy the bed.

This is a bit much! She didn’t expect an apology for being knocked unconscious, but to be completely ignored like this!

Xie Ning couldn’t help but cough a couple of times to signal she was still alive.

Pei Shujing instructed indifferently: “Xiao Zhu, take him to wash up.”

The maid who was tidying the bed glanced at Xie Ning and then walked out of the room without looking again.

Xie Ning was speechless. She said nothing more, quickly got up, and followed Xiao Zhu out.

After the two left, the maid behind Pei Shujing coldly asked: “Your Highness, why didn’t you let your servant kill him?”

The two maids who came in today were the two she trusted most, and they had not failed her trust in her previous life, so it was appropriate to let them know certain things. Such as her legs…

Last night, after knocking Xie Ning unconscious, she called in Xiao Zhu and Xiao Ying. When the two entered and saw the scene, they immediately thought the Fuma was responsible and wanted to kill him. Although they weren’t entirely wrong, she had other uses for Xie Jing, so she stopped them, fabricating an excuse that she had suddenly taken ill. However, the bloodstains on her clothes were ultimately unexplainable, but she saw no need to explain.

Last night, she had been worrying about how to face her Imperial Mother today, but Xie Jing’s question about sharing the bed gave her an idea. She actually didn’t need to worry. As long as the Fuma didn’t leave her room all night, when she went out in a wheelchair the next day, people would attribute the reason to Xie Jing. That’s why she knocked Xie Jing out; she wasn’t comfortable with such a wolf-hearted scoundrel moving freely in her room. However, in terms of reputation, it benefited that beast Xie Jing.

Just then, Xie Ning, having changed into the official robes of the Commandant of the Imperial Son-in-Law, stood behind her. Pei Shujing looked into the bronze mirror and sneered internally. He looked decent enough, but he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Pei Shujing, of course, did not know that Xie Ning was also secretly observing her in the bronze mirror. In Xie Ning’s eyes, the Princess wore a red palace gown, sat upright in the wheelchair, her features were cold and clear, and her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. Even the blurriness of the mirror could not hide her breathtaking beauty. Xie Ning secretly praised her, No wonder she managed to captivate Xie Jing so completely. It would be intolerable if a beauty like this were touched by a scoundrel like Xie Jing. Fortunately, fortunately… the current Xie Jing is her, Xie Ning.

After her makeup was finished, Xiao Yu pushed Pei Shujing out of the room. Xie Ning was a little unsure; what about her? Should she follow?

A side glance showed that the maid named Xiao Zhu was staring coldly at her. Okay, it seems I have to follow.

Upon leaving the door, she saw a carriage parked in the backyard. Xie Ning was about to climb in when Xiao Zhu grabbed her arm and pointed to the spot next to the carriage, clearly indicating she should walk alongside it. Xie Ning naturally had no objection; she would have felt awkward riding inside anyway.

“Your Highness is going to the palace to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.”

After walking for a while, Xiao Zhu suddenly spoke. Xie Ning looked left and right, confirming the maid was speaking to her.

“Oh, so you’re not mute?”

Xiao Zhu shot her a cold glare. Xie Ning pouted. It’s her fault for completely ignoring me; was I wrong to suspect she was mute?

“So I have to go too?”

“Aren’t you the Fuma?”

Xie Ning understood, and immediately patted her chest: “Don’t worry, I will definitely take good care of my sister-in-law… Your Highness!”

Xie Ning pushed the wheelchair, strolling excitedly through the Imperial Palace. Normally, the average person entering the palace for the first time would want to shrink into themselves—this was the deterrent force of imperial power. But Xie Ning, at this moment, was curious and confused, yet lacked the proper reverence, even exclaiming from time to time.

“Tsk.” Xie Ning shook her head. In her opinion, this palace was just so-so; it wasn’t as impressive as the Forbidden City back home.

The group arrived at Cining Palace. Before the palace maid could announce them, a dignified and noble woman came out to greet them from the main hall’s entrance. The woman saw her daughter in a wheelchair and frowned. Just as she was about to ask, she saw Pei Shujing lower her eyes, looking as if she dared not face anyone.

Pei Shujing lightly bit her lower lip. The Empress Dowager let out a soft ‘hiss’ and glanced oddly at Xie Ning, who was pushing the wheelchair behind them.

Unexpectedly, Xie Ning spoke with a beaming smile: “Your Highness, why don’t you introduce this elder sister in front of us?”

Both the Empress Dowager and the Princess were stunned simultaneously. The Chief Eunuch nearby glared: “How dare you! This is the Empress Dowager!”

Pei Shujing narrowed her eyes, but the Empress Dowager happily waved her hand: “It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Xie Ning immediately knelt down with a ‘smack’ as if terrified, trembling and saying: “Imperial Mother, please forgive your subject for being impolite. It’s truly because Imperial Mother looks barely a few years older than Your Highness, which led your subject to mistake Imperial Mother for Your Highness’s elder sister.”

The Chief Eunuch nearby was speechless. Princess. Why is there a ‘Princess’ in the title? How could the Fuma not know?

Everyone present knew Xie Ning was being deliberately complimentary, but the Empress Dowager couldn’t help but be happy. In her heart, the Fuma was already like her own child, and wasn’t it normal for a child to compliment their mother?

“Get up quickly, Fuma, no need for such formalities. Let’s talk inside the hall.”

After pulling Xie Ning up, the Empress Dowager personally pushed Pei Shujing ahead. Xie Ning fell a few steps behind and whispered to the Chief Eunuch beside her: “What is your name?”

The old eunuch’s white eyebrows twitched: “This one’s surname is Yan.”

“Eunuch Yan.”

The old eunuch hummed in affirmation.

“Please accept this!” Xie Ning was direct, pulling out a wad of banknotes. She had found these notes in Xie Jing’s clothes.

Eunuch Yan’s face stiffened. He looked left and right, wanting to ask: Is it this direct?

Xie Ning, seeing him not take it, misinterpreted his hesitation, thinking the old eunuch looked down on the amount and wanted more… She could only reluctantly pull out the remaining banknotes, looking pained. If he were any more greedy, she wouldn’t give him a single coin.

The old eunuch smacked his lips, instantly feeling that the Emperor’s judgment was excellent. The Fuma chosen was a bit honest, but honesty also meant a simple mind, and there would be no need to worry about the Princess being wronged outside. Eunuch Yan’s sleeve fluttered, and the banknotes disappeared in the blink of an eye. Xie Ning secretly exclaimed, Now that’s a true craftsman.

“Eunuch Yan, you have served the Empress Dowager for many years and must surely understand her. How was my performance just now?”

Eunuch Yan said kindly: “The Fuma is joking; this one dares not claim to understand Her Ladyship. Only by being loyal is one allowed to remain by Her Ladyship’s side. However, the Fuma need not worry. Your performance was excellent just now. Her Ladyship is genuinely happy. This one also thinks you are a talented person. If you were not the Fuma, this one would definitely try to keep you by my side and adopt you as a godson.”

Xie Ning chuckled twice. This old eunuch wants to adopt her as a godson? Being his mother is more like it.

The Empress Dowager in front was also whispering with Pei Shujing.

“Jing’er, is this… is it that serious?”

Pei Shujing felt helpless, but she had somewhat anticipated this situation. She pretended to be reluctant and said, “Imperial Mother… if you talk about it anymore, your daughter will just leave.”

The Empress Dowager happily nodded: “Alright, alright, I won’t talk about it, I won’t talk about it.”

“But this old woman is truly bored in the palace. I originally wanted to urge you to have a baby soon to keep me company. Now it seems I don’t need to rush.”

Pei Shujing’s mouth twitched. She abruptly changed the subject: “Where is the Emperor?”

The moment she finished speaking, a young man in a dragon robe strode in: “Elder Sister, I have arrived.”

Pei Shujing looked at the Emperor, who was looking at her with a worried expression, and felt only hypocrisy. How could she have failed to see the immense ambition her brother possessed before? It was good for an Emperor to be ambitious, but his ability did not match his ambition, and he directed his schemes and tricks toward his own family. Pei Shujing looked down upon such an Emperor from the bottom of her heart. In the Imperial Family, there was no kinship between father and son, much less between sister and brother. In the end, it was just that her former self had been too naive.

The Emperor naturally did not know what Pei Shujing was thinking at the moment. He turned and angrily scolded the Xie Ning behind them: “Fuma, I entrusted Elder Sister to your care. Is this how you look after her?!”

Xie Ning knelt on one knee, her face showing an expression of self-reproach: “Your Majesty, this subject… deserves death ten thousand times!”

The Emperor’s face was grim as he looked at Xie Ning for a moment, then suddenly asked: “I see the Fuma seems to have lost a lot of weight?”

Xie Ning’s heart sank. Although she looked identical to Xie Jing, her physique had subtle differences. Xie Jing’s shoulders were slightly broader, and his waist was a bit sturdier than hers, but unless a close person observed carefully, it wouldn’t be noticeable. Does the Emperor have such good eyesight?

Xie Ning bowed her head and said: “Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject has only gotten much thinner since marrying Your Highness!”

The Emperor was stunned. It has only been one day since the wedding, and he’s already lost weight? But after seeing his elder sister sitting in a wheelchair, he nodded as if suddenly understanding: “Understood.”

Pei Shujing unconsciously clenched her fists. She had wanted to watch how these two beasts would act in front of her, but Xie Jing dared to drag the topic back to her… Heh.

The Empress Dowager nearby also grew displeased. She slapped the Emperor: “Don’t put on your Emperor’s airs here. You two go to the Imperial Garden, and when you’re done talking, come find us.”

The Emperor withdrew with an awkward look. Xie Ning hesitated. She glanced at the Princess, but Pei Shujing was expressionless, as if she hadn’t heard the conversation at all. She could only follow him out helplessly.

When they reached the Imperial Garden, the Emperor’s face suddenly turned sullen when he saw they were alone.

“Xie Jing, when will you be able to get the Princess’s military authority?”

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