Taking the Princess as My Wife - Chapter 16

Jiang Shaojia chuckled softly, her expression bright and relaxed. She did not answer Liu Ruheng’s words, but only slightly raised her slender, fair hand…

Jiang Shaojia chuckled softly, her expression bright and relaxed. She did not answer Liu Ruheng’s words, but instead slightly raised her slender, fair hand. Her voice was soft, sounding almost as if she were acting spoiled: “Liu Ruheng, help me up. My head aches a little.”

Liu Ruheng hurried forward to support her hand, asking anxiously, “Should I call for a physician? Is the pain severe? Is it an effect of the poison?”

“There is no need to call anyone; I am just a bit dizzy from lying down for too long.” Jiang Shaojia gripped Liu Ruheng’s hand with a slight force, causing Liu Ruheng to stumble and sit down beside her. “I only want to ask, how exactly does the Prince Consort view me?”

Liu Ruheng froze. Jiang Shaojia’s face still carried a smile, but Liu Ruheng felt she looked somewhat lonely. Unable to hold back, Liu Ruheng said softly, “The Princess is a very good person.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Liu Ruheng felt they were a bit perfunctory, yet she did not know where to begin explaining. In their usual interactions, although Jiang Shaojia would occasionally play small jokes, she always had a sense of propriety. When spending time with Jiang Shaojia, though Liu Ruheng occasionally felt embarrassed, she also felt a sense of free-spirited comfort.

It felt as though the disguise she had worn for so long could be briefly cast aside.

Hearing this, Jiang Shaojia’s eyes brightened slightly. She gently squeezed Liu Ruheng’s hand. “Liu Ruheng, will you believe whatever I say?”

Feeling the strength and warmth in her palm, Liu Ruheng felt her earlobes grow hot. She wanted to withdraw her hand, but after catching Jiang Shaojia’s gaze, her heart softened once more. The principle of “a friendship between gentlemen is as plain as water” was disregarded yet again; she told herself it was merely out of pity for the Princess being poisoned.

She gently returned the grip, her heart half-filled with a bitter sweetness.

“I am the Princess’s person, and also your future Prince Consort.”

Liu Ruheng felt herself to be both pathetic and hateful. She was entirely different from a man and loathed deception, yet she could only interact with Jiang Shaojia under the guise of a male identity.

Jiang Shaojia lowered her eyes. She held Liu Ruheng’s hand tightly, feeling the constant stream of warmth from her body. After a long silence, she murmured, “Is it true that human hearts are fickle?”

“The poison I was given… was caused by Imperial Father.”

Liu Ruheng was stunned. Although she had some vague suspicions, she was still shocked. Even a tiger, fierce as it is, does not eat its cubs; why would the Emperor want to harm Jiang Shaojia? She turned her head to look at Jiang Shaojia, whose eyes were downcast, hiding her emotions. Only her pale complexion was visible.

“Liu Ruheng, will you stay by my side forever?”

Liu Ruheng remained silent. Could she?

She had never forgotten that she was a woman. After a long while, she finally spoke: “The oath from that day holds true.” She added a sentence in her heart: As long as the Princess does not despise me.

“Even if I am a person completely different from what you imagine?” Jiang Shaojia sat up a bit straighter. Her gaze fixed on Liu Ruheng’s eyes, allowing for not even a flicker of evasion.

Liu Ruheng smiled instead. She rarely smiled so brilliantly.

“Even if you are completely different from what I imagined.” Liu Ruheng added another line, “I, too, am completely different from what you imagine.”

The Jiang Shaojia she once imagined was a princess who had been pampered and spoiled since childhood—though perhaps a bit willful, she still knew her limits. Most of the rumors in the capital existed because Jiang Shaojia was outspoken and would publicly expose the shameful deeds of others. Those slanders and defamations were likely acts of revenge from the self-proclaimed nobility who had lost face.

However, Liu Ruheng had also vaguely sensed that Jiang Shaojia was not as simple as she appeared on the surface. The flying dagger technique she revealed on the day of the assassination attempt could not have been executed without long years of hard practice. How could a pampered princess study martial arts without anyone knowing?

Liu Ruheng had silenced the assassins partly to hide their tracks, and partly as a renewed gesture of her loyalty to the Princess. Liu Ruheng felt that she and the Princess were of the same kind—both “unsettled” according to secular prejudices.

Looking into Liu Ruheng’s shimmering eyes, Jiang Shaojia’s eyes grew slightly moist. She curled her lips into a smile and said word for word, “What if I said… that I was the one who killed Pang Jitong?”

Liu Ruheng was momentarily dazed. She asked, “Where is that ledger?”

“The one left at Pang Jitong’s manor has already been destroyed.” Jiang Shaojia gave a cold laugh and explained the truth of the matter in detail.

Pang Jitong and the Crown Prince had been working hand-in-glove. In recent years, when natural and man-made disasters were constant, the relief grain sent from the capital was maliciously mixed with sand and stone. After being embezzled layer by layer, what reached the mouths of the common people was nothing but watery gruel mixed with grit.

Initially, no one noticed, so their boldness grew. It wasn’t until they embezzled military funds and replaced the cotton in winter uniforms with reeds that they were discovered. However, the two of them acted very discreetly, pushing forward several insignificant people to take the fall and clear themselves of responsibility completely.

But paper cannot wrap fire forever. That ledger was eventually found by people Jiang Shaojia sent to a secret room in Pang Jitong’s manor. Pang Jitong did not trust the Crown Prince, so he wanted to keep evidence against him; if things ever came to light, he could use it to beg the Crown Prince to protect him.

As for Pang Jitong’s “suicide,” Jiang Shaojia glossed over it. Liu Ruheng could guess the coercion and bribery involved. For such a corrupt official, one could only say he got what he deserved.

However, the Emperor’s attitude toward the Crown Prince was truly strange. He clearly had more than one child, yet he insisted on protecting this one at all costs. If he hadn’t summoned Liu Ruheng that day, it would be one thing, but to specifically summon a lowly registrar already branded as the Princess’s follower—could there be some conspiracy, or was he trying to mislead the public?

After a long time, it wasn’t until Liu Ruheng realized that her hand and Jiang Shaojia’s were still tightly entwined that she withdrew her hand as if struck by lightning, her ears burning even more intensely.

Jiang Shaojia’s gaze was filled with inquiry. She didn’t quite understand why Liu Ruheng gave her unconditional trust—it seemed that whatever she said, Liu Ruheng would believe. And… if an ordinary person heard about a murder, why would they only ask where the ledger was?

“Does the Princess’s head still hurt?”

Jiang Shaojia shook her head. Her lips lacked color, making her look a bit more fragile than before. Her gaze focused on Liu Ruheng. “Do you not find me to be a woman with a heart like a snake or scorpion, or someone with deep, calculating schemes?” Jiang Shaojia asked extremely seriously, devoid of her usual teasing or lightheartedness.

“I do not think having a ‘heart like a snake or scorpion’ or ‘deep schemes’ are derogatory terms.” Liu Ruheng chuckled, her gaze exceptionally firm.

“There is nothing wrong with striving for what one wants.” Liu Ruheng paused before continuing, “Never forget your original intention, and you will reach the end.”

Liu Ruheng suddenly remembered that the Left Prime Minister and Grandmaster Hengtong had said the same thing to her on the day they first met.

Jiang Shaojia’s smile deepened until a single tear fell.

After Liu Ruheng left, Jiang Shaojia leaned sideways against the doorframe, watching Liu Ruhang’s retreating figure. A hint of darkness colored her gaze.

She, Jiang Shaojia, was not born with deep schemes, but she was born with a massive appetite and ambition.

Upon returning home, Liu Ruheng realized that the note written by Xiao Qing was still on her person. She let out a soft sigh and fetched the brazier used for winter. Only after ensuring the papers had been burned to ashes did she completely relax.

The Princess was truly unusual today; her spirits also seemed poor. The only consolation was that the poison was not deep, and she only needed more rest to recover.

Nighttime.

Liu Ruheng lay in bed. Outside the bedroom, the cicadas chirped incessantly, and the slightly stifling heat made it difficult for her to sleep.

She couldn’t help but think of that tear from Jiang Shaojia. Everything she told Jiang Shaojia today came from the bottom of her heart; why did she cry?

With a long sigh, knowing that tonight was destined to be sleepless, Liu Ruheng decided to go to the Left Prime Minister’s manor to scout things out. After disguising herself, she once again quietly slipped out through the back door.

The bright moon hung high. Aside from the chirping of cicadas, the streets were terrifyingly quiet, with Liu Ruheng being the only soul around. Although there was no official curfew, she had never wandered the streets alone deep at night.

Liu Ruheng felt like laughing; wasn’t “wandering” a term used for lonely ghosts? She didn’t quite count as one. Nonetheless, she quickened her pace. If she happened to run into a night watchman, she would be seen as a suspicious thief.

Upon reaching the Left Prime Minister’s manor, Liu Ruheng selected a section of low wall. After struggling to climb over, she saw a row of black bamboos in the corner.

Following her memory, she headed toward the study mentioned by the old man. Passing under a set of eaves, she saw the old man sleeping soundly on a small bamboo bed.

Liu Ruheng’s heart pounded several times. She stepped lightly past the old man and successfully reached the study.

The moon was bright tonight. As the moonlight filtered through the study window, Liu Ruheng could just barely make out the furnishings inside.

For someone holding the rank of Prime Minister, the study was somewhat plain. Liu Ruheng meant no offense; she whispered an apology in her heart and began carefully searching for the ledger mentioned by Miss Mi Jing.

The Left Prime Minister’s study contained many ancient texts. Liu Ruheng had many reservations and did not dare to flip through them casually, choosing instead to check a few newer-looking ones. She found nothing.

Just as she was about to give up, she unexpectedly glimpsed a person in the corner. Her hair was loose, and she wore a white robe.

Liu Ruheng nearly screamed in fright. Her hair stood on end, and she tremblingly held the talisman she had kept in her robe.

Seeing the talisman, the person’s expression tightened. She walked toward Liu Ruheng with a pace that was neither fast nor slow, making no sound at all. Liu Ruheng pretended not to see her and silently quickened her steps toward the door.

“Stop. You are from the Furong Sect.”

The voice was cold yet familiar—it was the Left Prime Minister’s granddaughter. Liu Ruhang was suddenly moved to tears; it was a living person.

However, the Furong Sect was an evil cult that the Left Prime Minister had once suppressed. Why was this young lady not afraid at all? Was she not afraid that Liu Ruheng had come for revenge?

But that Taoist temple must be a new location for the Furong Sect. Liu Ruheng cursed her bad luck inwardly and felt a twinge of regret for the silver tael she had spent there.

She pinched her voice and said, “I am not. I came to steal some things. If I have offended you, I ask for your forgiveness.”

With that, she intended to open the door and flee.

“The thing you want to steal is in my hands.”

Liu Ruheng froze. She saw the young lady approaching her, successfully blocking her at the door. The night was deep, and despite the high moon, Liu Ruheng still couldn’t see the expression on her face clearly. She stood guardedly at the door and advised, “Miss, please let me leave. I have elders and children to care for; I am only seeking wealth and have no wish to hurt anyone.”

The lady gave a cold laugh. She said with certainty, “The thing you all were looking for before is in my hands. Only I know where it is. If you want it, then go kill that dog of an Emperor.”

Liu Ruheng was stunned once again. The Left Prime Minister had always been loyal and patriotic; even if the Emperor was not a good man, how could the Prime Minister have a granddaughter who spoke so casually of regicide?

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