The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 112

Xiao Beitang paid no heed to the protest, pressing forward once more to capture her lips, pinning Song Qingqian’s hands above her head.

With her lips sealed and her movements restricted, Song Qingqian was forced to endure the weight of her intense, overwhelming affection. She could only respond with muffled whimpers until, after a long while, Xiao Beitang finally pulled her lips away.

“This is the true ‘priority’ of the day,” Xiao Beitang whispered breathlessly against her ear.

She was more fervent today than ever before, her kisses tracing patterns across Song Qingqian’s body, leaving behind a constellation of unmistakable marks. The room was thick with the scent of their pheromones, a heady mist that bound them together. Song Qingqian, long since moved by passion, could only follow where she was led. Behind the swaying vermillion curtains, the room remained a scene of exquisite beauty as they indulged in the night’s pleasures.

As the first light of dawn broke, the sun and moon shared the same sky.

“Mother! Mama!” Xiao Yi ran toward the doors of the bedchamber with light, quick steps.

“Little Princess, slow down!” Xiao Tao chased after her, panting for breath.

Liu Zi raised a finger to his lips. “Little Princess, quieter please. It is still early; Her Majesty and the Empress have not risen yet.”

Xiao Yi promptly covered her mouth. She waited and waited, but even as the morning grew bright, there was no sound from within. She tossed a twig she had found on the ground and grumbled, “Since when did Mama become so lazy?”

Liu Zi coaxed her with a smile. “Why doesn’t the Little Princess go have breakfast first and come back later?”

“No! I want to eat with Mama.” Xiao Yi sat cross-legged at the door, huffing as she propped her chin in her hands.

Xiaoyu and the others had returned to the Prime Minister’s Estate last night, and she was still thinking about playing with them in the rockery. She wondered if the Village Head and the others would come back to the palace today. Such a small girl, yet her heart was heavy with many concerns.

“Xing’er,” Song Qingqian’s voice finally drifted from inside.

Xiao Yi reacted faster than the maid; she scrambled up and pushed the door open before anyone else could move. She knit her tiny brows, looking quite frantic. “Mama! You’re finally awake.” She stared worriedly at Song Qingqian’s slender, pale neck. “Mama, your neck was bitten by a bug!”

Song Qingqian raised a finger to her own lips. “Shh. Your mother is still sleeping; don’t wake her.”

“Oh.” Xiao Yi replied, looking dejected.

Xing’er led the palace maids inside with light steps to help Song Qingqian wash and dress. As the Empress sat before the mirror, she looked at the purple-red marks on her neck and let out a silent, inward sigh. I have to see people today; how is this dignified?

Xiao Yi was restless, pacing around the room without a moment’s peace. “Mama, hurry up,” she whispered loudly.

Song Qingqian: “?”

Song Qingqian looked at her, puzzled.

“The Little Princess wants to go to the Prime Minister’s Estate,” Xiao Tao answered for her.

Xiao Yi nodded vigorously.

Song Qingqian glanced toward the bed; there was no movement, Xiao Beitang was still out. She knelt down and whispered to the child, “They will come to the palace later. Yi’er, be a good girl and wait a little longer, alright?”

“Really?” Xiao Yi’er’s eyes lit up, her voice rising in excitement.

Behind the screen, Xiao Beitang rolled over and exhaled a long breath. Her voice was thick with sleep as she asked, “Is that Yi’er?”

Hearing her voice, Xiao Yi ran in and poked her head around the screen, using the tone of a small adult. “Mother, it’s broad daylight. It’s time to get up.”

Seeing the child’s disapproving frown, Xiao Beitang laughed. “Are you blaming Mother for sleeping late?”

Xiao Yi didn’t deny it, her tone still piqued. Mother has even led Mama astray. She added, “Yi’er waited at the door for a very long time.”

“In the future, when the Princess comes, do not make her wait outside. Bring her straight in,” Xiao Beitang commanded calmly.

Her casual remark was an Imperial Decree. Xing’er and the others bowed respectfully.

“Mama said Xiaoyu and the others are coming to the palace today. Is it true?” After a few days, Xiao Yi seemed to have realized that in this house, “Mother” had the final say.

“If your Mama said so, then it is so,” Xiao Beitang said, playfully pinching the girl’s rosy cheek.

“Yay! That’s wonderful!” Xiao Yi began to twirl in circles.

Xiao Beitang watched her and laughed heartily. Song Qingqian watched the mother and daughter, shaking her head with a smile.

“Yi’er, go out with Sister Xiao Tao and wait for a bit. Mother and Mama will join you for breakfast shortly, alright?”

“Mm-hm!” Xiao Yi nodded emphatically, proactively taking Xiao Tao’s hand.

Song Qingqian dismissed the other maids and personally attended to Xiao Beitang’s dressing. On the first day of a marriage, it was custom for the bride to help her husband dress.

“Sleep well?” Xiao Beitang arched an eye, asking a question she already knew the answer to.

After tossing and turning her all night, Xiao Beitang had refused to stop no matter what she said. Song Qingqian only pursed her lips and continued to help her into her inner robes.

Xiao Beitang decided to be mischievous. As Song Qingqian turned to reach for the next garment, she pulled her into a back hug. Song Qingqian tried to twist away, but she couldn’t break the firm grip.

“Why are you ignoring me?” Xiao Beitang teased, her voice taking on a pampered, coaxing tone. Song Qingqian remained silent.

“What’s wrong?” Xiao Beitang pressed.

Song Qingqian finally broke free. “You have the nerve to ask? Look at these marks on my neck. How am I supposed to face anyone?”

“Let me see.” Xiao Beitang reached out to touch them, and taking advantage of her distraction, kissed her again.

“Xiao Beitang!”

Xiao Beitang laughed and held her tight. “Alright, don’t be angry. I was wrong. I won’t leave them in such obvious places in the future.”

“Not anywhere,” Song Qingqian snapped coldly, pulling the Emperor’s hands from her waist.

“Mmm.” Xiao Beitang’s tone didn’t sound like someone who intended to be obedient.

As Song Qingqian continued with the robes, Xiao Beitang became uncharacteristically hesitant, her gaze flickering away. “By the way, about that.”

“What is it?”

“Qianqian, there’s something I must confess. Those concubines in the harem, it wasn’t my intention to take them. They were buzzing in my ear every day, and I grew so tired of it that I thought choosing a few would shut them up.” She grabbed Song Qingqian’s hand as she adjusted her clothes, trying to prove her loyalty.

“Mhm.” Song Qingqian offered only a single word, her expression unreadable.

“Of course, I was at fault too. I was acting out of spite when I let Liu Zi and the others choose them, it’s possible, possible.” Her heart was pounding. Would Song Qingqian be angry when she saw those faces that resembled her own?

“Possible what?”

“It’s possible they all look a bit like you,” she stammered, her voice almost inaudible.

“Mhm.” Again, a neutral response. Song Qingqian continued with the dressing.

Xiao Beitang watched her closely, searching for any sign of emotion.

“Have you seen them?” Song Qingqian asked after a long pause.

“Only one.” Xiao Beitang explained quickly. “Nothing happened! I didn’t ‘favor’ her. I only did it to crush the Dowager Consort’s ambitions. I didn’t even sleep in the same room as her!” She leaned in again. “Qianqian, my heart truly only has you.”

“I know.” That was two words.

What does ‘I know’ mean? As Xiao Beitang puzzled over this, Song Qingqian added casually, “You are the Emperor. Is it not common for there to be a vast harem?”

“I promised you I would never take concubines. I broke my word.”

Song Qingqian said calmly, “I didn’t take those words to heart. Given your status, I have to accept these things.”

In truth, saying she wasn’t jealous would be a lie. Song Qingqian’s heart had ached; back when she was secretly helping to select the concubines, she hadn’t slept well for several nights.

Song Qingqian fell silent for a moment before saying, “I was once ‘married’ to someone else, and you took other wives. My marriage was a sham, and your harem was never consummated. Let us simply consider that we have both ‘wronged’ each other once. We are even.”