Taking the Princess as My Wife - Chapter 20

“May the Princess obtain all that she desires.”

It happened to be a day of rest, and Liu Ruheng once again went to visit Jiang Shaojia.

The foreign trade caravan she had spotted that day was likely the royal party of the Xiongnu arriving to propose a marriage alliance. However, for some unknown reason, the group—originally scheduled to arrive at the end of the year—had reached the capital in July.

Furthermore, they had not yet dispatched an envoy. Judging by the fearless and emboldened manner of that foreign man, there seemed to be some sort of conspiracy afoot; she had to inform Jiang Shaojia immediately.

The Princess was waiting for her in the water pavilion.

With a maid leading the way, Liu Ruheng carried the preserved fruits Jiang Shaojia had mentioned liking last time, feeling somewhat restless.

It was said that the Princess Huaqing Mansion was built by an extremely extravagant official of the previous dynasty. After his household was confiscated, it remained uninhabited until it was bestowed upon Jiang Shaojia.

The water pavilion was built by the pond, its four eaves curling upward and hung with several exquisite wind chimes. Layers of gauze curtains obscured the view, faintly outlining Jiang Shaojia’s slender and elegant silhouette.

Today, Jiang Shaojia wore a bean-green dress, her hair swept up in a cloud-like bun adorned with several delicate pearl hairpins, looking exceptionally fresh and refined.

Upon seeing Liu Ruheng, Jiang Shaojia’s red lips curled slightly as she leaned languidly against a chaise longue. Amidst the misty vapor of the cooling ice, Liu Ruheng felt she did not seem like a creature of the mortal world.

“How is it you thought to find me today? Is Lord Liu not always very busy?”

“I encountered a case a few days ago, but now that I am off duty, I came to find you immediately. I beg the Princess to appease her anger,” Liu Ruheng said, putting on a pleading act.

As she spoke, Liu Ruheng naturally moved a small stool to the side of Jiang Shaojia’s soft couch. After sitting down, she tilted her head slightly.

Seeing the maids move off into the distance, Liu Ruheng looked up into the Princess’s eyes and said gravely, “Princess, when I went out, I suspect I encountered members of the Xiongnu royalty. They entered the capital secretly without sending an envoy; I fear it is not simple.”

Liu Ruheng recounted the provocative words the man had said to her one by one, finally looking at her with a sense of grievance.

Jiang Shaojia chuckled softly. Her eyes grew colder, a trace of mockery flashing in their depths, but her words coaxed Liu Ruheng: “In my eyes, you are the best-looking. However, for that person to act so boldly, there must be someone in the capital looking after them.”

A flash of anxiety also appeared in Liu Ruheng’s eyes. During her month off, news had suddenly broken from the palace that the Emperor was seriously ill, and a group of officials had been dealt with.

The Emperor had been ill for over half a month now. Recently, the Crown Prince had been overseeing the state; he was eliminating dissidents and promoting many members of his mother’s clan to key positions in the imperial court.

The Chief of the Court of Judicial Review—whom Liu Ruheng had never met and was said to be investigating a case elsewhere—had stepped down from his position on the pretext of retiring to his hometown.

Now, the true person in power at the Court of Judicial Review was Vice-Minister Lu, the one Liu Ruheng dealt with most. He had rightfully taken over all the authority of the Court, merely waiting for a formal edict to be promoted to Chief.

Cheng Xuehai, who had always followed Vice-Minister Lu, also benefited, now holding the position of  Judicial Officer in the Court of Judicial Review.

She couldn’t help but feel emotional; no wonder people always wanted to involve themselves in factional struggles. If one gambled and won, they could ascend to the heavens in a single bound.

“The weather has changed.”

Liu Ruheng sighed softly and shifted the topic. She asked, “Princess, do you have any understanding of the young lady from the Left Premier’s manor?”

Jiang Shaojia raised her eyes, her smile not quite reaching them. “What kind of understanding? Why mention her suddenly?”

Feeling somewhat bashful, Liu Ruheng had no choice but to recount her nighttime investigation of the Left Premier’s manor, concluding: “She might hold key evidence; we still need to pay more attention.”

Hearing this, Jiang Shaojia remained silent for a long while before sighing softly: “I am not familiar with her.” Strictly speaking, Jiang Shaojia was not close to any of the noble ladies in the capital. Most of them kept their distance due to her reputation and status—they were respectful enough, but dared not associate with her closely.

Hearing this, Liu Ruheng said helplessly, “It seems we must still start with the Lotus Sect.”

However, regarding the clues of the Lotus Sect, there was only the Taoist temple that Cheng Xuehai had initially recommended to her; the distinctive talisman paper from there had been recognized by the lady of the Left Premier’s manor.

Seeing Liu Ruheng’s troubled expression, Jiang Shaojia gave a light laugh. She sat up straight, her slender hand picking up an iced grape from the side. After meticulously peeling it, she fed it into Liu Ruheng’s mouth.

Liu Ruheng instinctively opened her mouth, her gaze shifting to Jiang Shaojia’s hand.

That hand was long and white, creating a sharp contrast with the purple-red grape.

Seeing Liu Ruheng obediently eat the grape, Jiang Shaojia’s red lips curled slightly. She said nonchalantly, “Do you want to hear a secret?”

The grape just now was very sweet and carried a slight chill. After eating it, Liu Ruheng felt her spirits lift significantly. Only after swallowing the grape did she speak: “What secret?”

Jiang Shaojia did not answer, but gestured for Liu Ruheng to look at the plate of grapes. Her expression was languid, and the playfulness in her eyes was strikingly obvious. “I just fed you a grape; shouldn’t Lord Liu return the favor with one?”

Jiang Shaojia’s official speech was standard and her articulation clear, but she placed extra emphasis on the words “Lord Liu,” making them sound exceptionally lingering and tender.

At this, the tips of Liu Ruheng’s ears turned red. She didn’t understand—it was clearly the same “Lord Liu,” so why did it sound so different when the Princess said it?

Perhaps knowing that Liu Ruheng was easily teased, Jiang Shaojia stopped there. She took a handkerchief from the side to clean her hands and then hooked her finger under Liu Ruheng’s chin. Her fox-like eyes were sharp, and her crimson lips curved into a dangerous smile. “This secret… people die for hearing it. Even so, does Lord Liu still wish to hear?”

Jiang Shaojia’s hands were slightly cool, even in the summer heat.

But Liu Ruheng’s face was burning. She felt as though Jiang Shaojia’s eyes were an abyss; she could only lower her gaze to avoid that piercing look.

Her voice was a bit dry. “Then… I shall not hear it.”

“I insist on telling you.”

The sharpness in Jiang Shaojia’s eyes faded. Before Liu Ruheng could react, she said: “I want to be the Emperor.”

Liu Ruheng snapped her head up, her eyes wide with disbelief that such words could be spoken so easily by Jiang Shaojia.

Yet, in her heart, a spark of excitement flickered. Why could a woman not be Emperor? Of course she could!

Suppressing the excitement in her heart, Liu Ruheng’s voice trembled slightly. Her eyes shone brightly: “Is the Princess serious?”

Under the eaves, the wind chimes rang, and the light gauze danced.

The young woman in the water pavilion held a posture of looking down upon the world. She was perfectly natural, her words filled with confidence and the arrogance unique to the young: “Of course I am serious. I do not believe I am any less than those men.”

Looking at the high-spirited girl before her, Liu Ruheng’s pupils contracted. She seemed to hear the violent thumping of her own heart.

Gazing into Jiang Shaojia’s certain eyes, Liu Ruheng could not hide the excitement in her voice as she gave her heartfelt blessing: “May the Princess obtain all that she desires.”

Liu Ruheng felt a bit embarrassed, and it took a long time for her to mask the excitement from a moment ago.

Jiang Shaojia’s words had instantly broken the knot that had troubled her for so long.

Women were never inferior to men. Why could men be enfeoffed as marquises or ministers and possess the ambition to be Emperor, while women could not?

She straightened her expression and solemnly dropped to one knee. Just as she had during their first meeting, she looked up at her: “I will certainly do everything in my power to assist the Princess in achieving her great cause.”

Jiang Shaojia helped her up, her eyes deep as an unfathomable ocean. “As you wish.”

The promise Liu Ruheng made this time was extremely sincere, unlike the expedient measures of the past.

Then she hesitated—should she confess her identity as a woman to the Princess?

She had wanted to confess on the day they first met, but was interrupted by a guard, and the opportunity was lost.

To be honest, Liu Ruheng’s feelings toward Jiang Shaojia were extremely complex. She was a woman; according to worldly common sense, a woman should like men, but she loathed them.

However, after disguising herself as her elder brother and having more contact with men, she felt they were even more foul. Could Jiang Shaojia truly accept her as a woman?

Liu Ruheng did not dare to gamble.

She did not show her worries, chatting and laughing with the Princess as usual.

It was mid-afternoon, and the breeze was not dry.

Spending time with Jiang Shaojia was always so relaxing. She didn’t have to pretend every moment, didn’t have to maintain a “friendship between gentlemen as light as water,” and didn’t have to be the indifferent person others spoke of.

She was simply herself.

Jiang Shaojia and Liu Ruheng enjoyed the cool air in the water pavilion, the breeze bringing waves of chilliness.

Unknowingly, the two of them finished all the preserved fruit Liu Ruheng had brought.

Time passed until evening; the heat of the sun had slightly receded. Jiang Shaojia caught sight of a few streaks of pale pink clouds on the horizon. She dazed for a moment and smiled: “Liu Ruheng, look at that cloud. Doesn’t it look like the way you blush?”

Hearing this, Liu Ruheng looked up. She stood and pulled back the ethereal gauze curtains, and indeed, there was a patch of cloud as pink as Jiang Shaojia had described.

But Liu Ruheng’s attention was completely captured by the slowly sinking sun and the lotuses. The golden afterglow gilded the pond full of lotuses beside the water pavilion.

She turned around in surprise, pointing at the pond of flowers: “Princess, these lotuses are blooming so well. Do you want to eat lotus seeds…?”

Jiang Shaojia had moved behind her at some unknown point. The two were extremely close, and Liu Ruheng’s lips brushed against her smooth, delicate forehead.

Liu Ruheng’s voice suddenly weakened. Her heart beat like a drum, and she only heard Jiang Shaojia say with a smile: “See, I told you it looked like that cloud.”

Liu Ruheng instinctively took two steps back, accidentally tripping over herself. Her waist hit the railing, and her eyes welled up with moisture from the pain.

A flash of a smile appeared in Jiang Shaojia’s eyes as she helped Liu Ruheng up. “I’ll take you to pick lotus seeds.”

She was not lying; this pond in the Princess’s mansion was built by channeling living water and was very vast. Now that it was July, the pond was full of blooming lotuses, looking quite magnificent.

After Jiang Shaojia suggested it, she led Liu Ruheng out of the water pavilion and pulled out a small wooden boat from beneath it.

Liu Ruheng was somewhat shocked: “How is there a boat?”

Jiang Shaojia tilted her chin, a hidden pride in her eyes. She explained, “Whenever I have something on my mind, I come for a boat ride. Shall we go?”

The boat was not large, just enough to seat two people.

The small boat drifted into the depths of the lotuses. A gentle breeze blew, and the pond water rippled. Liu Ruheng picked the most vibrantly blooming lotus and held it up against Jiang Shaojia.

She spent a long time selecting before picking the right one.

“This flower suits you.”

Jiang Shaojia took the flower Liu Ruheng handed her, along with several others she had plucked, holding them in her arms and laughing brightly: “Does it look good?”

“It looks good,” Liu Ruheng said involuntarily. “Princess, I want to paint a portrait of you.”

Seeing that Jiang Shaojia didn’t answer, Liu Ruheng quickly added: “My painting skills are decent; I definitely won’t paint the Princess as ugly.”

Jiang Shaojia burst into laughter. She gently set down the flowers in her hands. “I never said I wouldn’t let you paint.”

As her voice fell, Jiang Shaojia’s gaze drifted slightly. Her voice grew a bit quieter, appearing for the first time to be comforting someone: “In life, there are bound to be troubles. Don’t always keep them bottled up in your heart.”

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