The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 10

Xiao Beitang stared at him coldly. Upon hearing his proposal, she suddenly curled her lips into a smirk and clapped her hands in mock admiration. “A brilliant idea. Truly brilliant. This way, Song Qingqian’s virtue is ruined, and she is marked by another Qianyuan. She would naturally be unworthy of being the Crown Princess Consort.”

Xiao Lin and Xiao Wanqi stood by, utterly aghast. Wanqi looked at Xiao Beitang in disbelief. “A-Tang.”

“But this Qianyuan would have to be one of our own,” Xiao Beitang continued, pacing the room. “Otherwise, if word gets out, the matter might spiral out of control.”

“A-Tang, do you truly mean to do this? This method.” Xiao Wanqi was at a total loss, her hand half-raised to stop her friend. Though they acted recklessly, they had never stooped to such cruelty.

Xiao Beitang raised a hand to cut her off. She smiled at the man. “I wonder if the Gentleman is willing to lend me a hand and be the Qianyuan to make this sacrifice?”

“This lowly subject is willing to go through fire and water for Your Highness, even unto death!” Greed flashed in Zhu Kai’s eyes, and he prostrated himself on the floor, kowtowing to show his loyalty.

“In that case, you would become the savior of the Prime Minister’s daughter. You help me, you gain the Prime Minister’s favor, and you win a legendary beauty for a wife. Three birds with one stone, correct?” Xiao Beitang’s expression darkened, her voice turning razor-sharp.

A chill ran down Xiao Lin’s spine as she stared at Zhu Kai in horror.

“This subject has no such intent! I only wish to share Your Highness’s burdens! Please, believe me!” Cold sweat drenched Zhu Kai’s back as he kowtowed repeatedly.

Xiao Beitang looked at him with a gaze so cold it felt as though she was flaying him alive. “Scum like this shouldn’t remain in this world to plague others and he certainly shouldn’t remain by Royal Uncle Chu’s side,” she threw out coldly as she turned away.

Two secret guards dropped from the ceiling. One lunged from behind, muffling Zhu Kai’s mouth while wrenching his neck. With a sickening crack of bone, Zhu Kai’s life flickered out. The guards offered a silent salute and efficiently dragged the corpse away.

“A-Tang, it was my oversight to bring such trash before you. My father had no idea.” Xiao Lin stammered, her face pale with apology.

“Why the panic? I disposed of him for you because I don’t want word of this leaking out.” Xiao Beitang sat down calmly and poured herself a cup of tea.

“That maggot deserved to be minced into dog food for suggesting such a vile scheme. A-Lin, what kind of people is your father keeping around!” Xiao Wanqi scolded, her face twisted in disgust.

“I’ll have to warn my father when I get back. How did a man like that ever sneak into the Prince’s estate? Disgusting.” Xiao Lin felt as if she had swallowed a fly.

“Yesterday, when I was asking my father about your wedding, he happened to be leaving the study. He must have overheard us. He stopped me in the courtyard, saying he had a plan but insisted on telling you personally. I’d heard he was talented and had passed the provincial exams, so I.”

“Forget it. You couldn’t have known how venomous he was.” Xiao Beitang sighed. “As for the wedding, you don’t need to help me think of any more ways out.”

Though she had only heard the plan from Zhu Kai’s mouth, she felt a flicker of pity for Song Qingqian. It was a tragic thought, a noble lady from a distinguished family being targeted for ruin by her own future spouse. Song Qingqian was blameless. She didn’t deserve such injustice.

“A-Tang, I promise the Zhu Kai incident was an accident. We can still find another way,” Xiao Lin said, thinking her friend was still fuming.

“Zhu Kai wasn’t entirely wrong about one thing. It will be nearly impossible to get Imperial Mother to retract the decree. This matter is settled. There’s no use dwelling on it.” Xiao Beitang’s voice regained its usual lazy, nonchalant tone.

She had thought it over: if it wasn’t Song Qingqian, it would be a Zhang Qingqian or a Li Qingqian. She might as well choose someone her parents approved of. She had done some digging, Song Qingqian was known to be reserved and kept to herself. As a teacher, her temperament was reportedly aloof. This was ideal. She wouldn’t be a jealous wife, nor the type to cling to her husband.

“A-Tang, since you’ve made up your mind, there’s no need for these long faces! Let’s go to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion for some music and dancing!” Xiao Lin threw an arm around her shoulder, acting as if the murder had never happened.

Three days later, the Bureau of Astronomy presented a list of auspicious dates to Emperor Jing. Hearing that the Princess was still out carousing every day, the Emperor chose the earliest possible date. The grand wedding was set for one month later.

Song Qingqian had assigned Kun-class secret guards to follow Xiao Beitang. The Princess sensed them, but she assumed they were another group sent by the Emperor since her own Qian-class guards hadn’t eliminated them. She never suspected they belonged to her future bride.

Through these reports, Song Qingqian learned that Xiao Beitang operated in the city under the pseudonym Jiang Tang, claiming to be from her maternal grandfather’s family.

The month passed in a state of uneasy peace. On the eve of the wedding, Song Qingqian sat in her room, reading by candlelight. Her parents entered together, their faces lacking their usual smiles, replaced by a heavy sense of worry.

“Father, Mother.” Song Qingqian set her book aside and rose to greet them.

“Qianqian, still reading?”

“Yes. Father, Mother, please sit.”

“You’ve worked so hard this month, staying home to learn the wedding etiquette,” Song Lian said, looking at the room filled with treasures gifted by the Emperor. He felt both proud and apprehensive. The Emperor had handled the wedding with extreme gravity, doubling the traditional specifications for a Crown Princess Consort. Wagon after wagon of jade and silk had been sent to the Prime Minister’s estate.

“It is no hardship. It is you who have worked hard to arrange everything,” Qingqian replied, pouring them tea.

“Qianqian, you wed tomorrow. Once you enter the palace, your mother and I can no longer protect you. You must be cautious in all things,” Song Lian said solemnly.

“I understand, Father.”

“Though the Emperor shows us supreme favor, serving a sovereign is like living with a tiger. We must remain prudent.” Song Lian repeated the lessons he had taught them since childhood, words Qingqian knew by heart.

After a few more instructions, he left the mother and daughter alone. Madam Song’s eyes welled with tears. “Qianqian, I used to wish every day for you to marry soon. But now that the day is here, I find I cannot bear to let you go.”

Song Qingqian sat beside her. “Mother, please do not be sad.”

“I know you are unhappy about this in your heart,” Madam Song whispered. “But I must tell you: once you marry, you are a woman with a home. You must serve your husband and raise your children. Do not be too unyielding. I worry your stubbornness will provoke Her Highness.”

Qingqian remained silent. Madam Song sighed. “Qianqian, what do you think of your mother’s abilities?”

“In my heart, Mother is second to no Qianyuan.”

“I manage numerous shops and keep this estate in perfect order,” Madam Song said. “Your father is upright and cares for nothing but court affairs. Without me, you would be living in poverty despite being the children of a Prime Minister. Yet, before your father, I am always submissive and gentle. Only then does he treat me as he does. A Kunze, in the end, must rely on her husband.”

“I understand, Mother. Rest assured,” Song Qingqian replied softly.

She understood her mother’s meaning perfectly. However, she had no intention of remaining Xiao Beitang’s wife for long. She had already made her own plans.