The Eldest Princess and Her Consort - Chapter 3

This person was none other than the current Eldest Princess she had just seen a few days ago…

Who? The Eldest Princess?!

The sudden turn of events left Yuwen Qing stunned. *Shouldn’t the Eldest Princess have returned to the military camp? Why is she at the General’s Mansion?*

Seeing her standing motionless, Steward Zhao urged, “Young Master, don’t delay. Let’s not keep the Eldest Princess waiting.”

“Cough, cough, cough…” Yuwen Qing quickly covered her mouth with her hand, a violent cough muffled in her chest, her face turning flush.

“Young Master, where are you unwell?” Steward Zhao asked anxiously.

“It’s nothing, just caught a slight cold,” Yuwen Qing said, her frail body swaying as if a gentle breeze could uproot her. She added weakly, “Of all the times to fall ill, it had to be when a noble guest arrives. Steward Zhao, please inform Grandmother that I won’t be coming. I wouldn’t want to pass my illness to the guest.” As she spoke, she broke into another fit of violent coughing.

Seeing his master so ill, Steward Zhao no longer thought about taking her to the front hall. He hurriedly turned to the maid behind Yuwen Qing and snapped, “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help the Young Master back to rest!”

With that, Steward Zhao rubbed his hands together in front of him and sighed deeply. “This old servant will go report to the Old Madam immediately.”

Supported by the maid, Yuwen Qing returned to her room.

Before long, the Old Madam entered with the household physician, followed by many others. The room suddenly felt crowded. Lying on the bed, Yuwen Qing’s view was obstructed, and she couldn’t see everyone. Her grandmother, leaning on her cane, walked quickly to the bedside and sat on its edge. Her aged face was etched with worry, yet it also radiated a strange sense of security.

Yuwen Qing tried to sit up, but her grandmother pressed a hand on her shoulder.

The Old Madam’s hand was withered but strong. “Don’t get up,” she said. “Let the physician examine you first.”

Yuwen Qing nodded.

The household physician bowed to her and stepped forward.

Her grandmother had chosen this physician for her, so Yuwen Qing wasn’t worried about her identity being exposed.

After a moment, the physician put away the pulse pillow, rose, and bowed to the Old Madam. “Young Master, your condition is not serious. You may have caught a chill last night. I will prescribe a few doses of medicine for you to take.”

The Old Madam waved her hand. “Then I’ll trouble you, Doctor Jiang.”

The physician left with his medicine chest.

The Old Madam glanced at Yuwen Qing, then shakily stood up with her cane. After taking a few steps, she sighed, “I apologize for causing Your Highness such concern. My grandson has been frail since childhood.”

Only then did Yuwen Qing follow the direction of the Old Madam’s words and see a woman standing in the center of the room. The woman wore a magnificent, flowing robe, and her beautiful features bore an irrefutable air of majesty.

Who else could this person be but the Eldest Princess of the current dynasty, Xiao Weilan?

Yuwen Qing’s heart panicked. She subconsciously choked on her saliva and began to cough. The maidservants rushed forward to attend to her.

Xiao Weilan glanced toward the bed and said calmly, “It seems Young Master Yuwen’s health truly needs proper care. If necessary, after This Palace returns to the capital, I will send an imperial physician to examine the Young Master.”

Yuwen Qing suppressed her panic, her face flushed red from coughing. She pricked up her ears to listen to their conversation. The Old Madam smiled and said, “There is no need to trouble you. Qing’er’s health has always been managed by the household physician, who knows him better than anyone.”

Hearing the refusal, Xiao Weilan seemed unbothered and said, “Since the Young Master is ill, This Palace will not disturb you further. There are still matters in the military awaiting my return. This Palace will take my leave now.”

Hearing this, Yuwen Qing breathed a sigh of relief. She stole several glances at Xiao Weilan over the maidservants’ shoulders.

Only after seeing her truly depart did she fully relax and sit up from the bed.

Xiao Xizi asked, “Does the Young Master feel any better?”

Her illness had been faked from the start. Now that everyone had left, there was no need to continue the act. She got off the bed, sat on the embroidered stool, and picked up the teacup beside her to toy with it.

“Ah… Young Master, why are you getting out of bed?” Xiao Xizi exclaimed in alarm.

Xiao Anzi, standing to the side, shot her a glare. “Don’t you know the Young Master’s condition? Hurry to the kitchen and see if the medicine is ready.”

Xiao Xizi suddenly understood. Her mouth fell open as she looked from Xiao Anzi to Yuwen Qing. Nodding, she said with a smile, “I’ll go right now.”

Yuwen Qing shook her head as she watched them. *I’m faking this illness today. I probably won’t be able to hide it from Grandmother. What should I say when she returns?*

Yuwen Qing felt a wave of irritation.

Sure enough, a short while later, the Old Madam entered the room, supported by Nanny Cui.

Yuwen Qing immediately rose to help her. The Old Madam grasped her hand firmly, holding it tight. Yuwen Qing was confused.

“Tell me,” the Old Madam said, “what is going on?”

Yuwen Qing touched her nose with her other hand. “I was just worried I’d be found out.”

The Old Madam’s gaze turned scrutinizing. Feeling guilty, Yuwen Qing averted her eyes. The two walked into the inner chamber and sat down. The Old Madam pulled a letter from her sleeve. “Your maternal uncle sent this through the Eldest Princess. Read it.”

Yuwen Qing took the letter and opened it.

The Old Madam continued, “Your maternal uncle is very pleased that you became the Top Scholar of the Provincial Examination. He wants you to go to the Capital Academy to study. What do you think about this?”

As she finished speaking, Yuwen Qing finished reading the letter. It was exactly as her grandmother had said.

The Capital Academy was indeed a paradise that every scholar dreamed of, but due to her status, her path in the imperial examinations would likely end here.

Yuwen Qing put away the letter and said with a smile, “Granddaughter still wishes to remain by your side and fulfill her filial duties to Father and Mother. As for Maternal Uncle’s kind offer, I will take it to heart.”

Old Madam placed her hand on Yuwen Qing’s wrist and said earnestly, “Ever since your parents passed away, our Yuwen family has gradually declined. The collateral branches lack any outstanding scions, and your status is…” At this point, Old Madam paused and tightened her grip on Yuwen Qing’s wrist. Yuwen Qing felt a twinge of pain, her gaze falling on the skeletal hand, but she remained silent.

Old Madam paused for a moment before continuing, “You can study without worry. When the time comes for the Metropolitan Examination, your Maternal Uncle will arrange everything for you.”

“Does Maternal Uncle also know about my status?” Yuwen Qing asked in a low voice.

Old Madam was gratified by her granddaughter’s maturity, her eyes welling with tears. “Your Maternal Uncle doesn’t know. The fewer people who know about your status, the better. But don’t worry, Grandmother will find a way when the time comes. You just need to focus on your studies.”

Yuwen Qing said nothing more. If things continued like this, the Yuwen family would likely be squeezed out of the Four Great Families within a few years. The clansmen had always placed great importance on family honor, and she understood that her Grandmother was doing this for that very reason.

She squeezed her grandmother’s hand and smiled, feigning a joke. “Granddaughter truly can’t bear to part with Grandmother. I never expected Grandmother would actually be willing to let me go.”

Once she left, she didn’t know how long it would be before she could return. If she passed the imperial examinations, she might be assigned to an unknown location.

When would she see her grandmother again?

Yuwen Qing suppressed her reluctance and chatted with her grandmother about family matters before rising to continue her studies.

With the itinerary set, everyone in the courtyard, great and small, was busy preparing for the Young Master’s journey to the capital for his studies. The Yuwen family had been generals for generations. Although they were one of the Four Great Families, their financial strength relied solely on their annual court stipends and the rewards bestowed by previous emperors.

Yuwen Qing was only taking two thousand taels to the capital this time. In those great noble families, this wouldn’t even cover a concubine’s monthly expenses.

The Old Madam leaned on her cane, her eyes moist. She closed them and opened them again, a glimmer of a tear flickering in her eyes, revealing her reluctance. “Write home more often. Discuss everything with your maternal uncle. Never act rashly when you encounter trouble.”

Tears welled in Yuwen Qing’s eyes as well. She didn’t know when she would ever return. Taking a step back, she knelt and kowtowed three times to her grandmother before finally boarding the carriage, glancing back at every step.

Only two personal maids and one guard accompanied her on this journey.

Meanwhile, after Xiao Weilan returned to the military camp, she once again sent people to the Luo’an Prefecture Office to retrieve household registration records. Half a month passed without any progress, and with the army scheduled to march back to the capital, she had no choice but to leave.

Qiushui entered carrying a meal and said with heartache, “Your Highness, please eat first. Why not leave a few people behind to continue searching for that young woman? I’m sure we’ll find her.”

Xiao Weilan put down the registration ledger and pinched the bridge of her nose. “That’s all we can do for now. Go make the arrangements.”

“Yes,” Qiushui replied.

Xiao Weilan closed her eyes and said, “Pass the word. The army will march back to the capital tomorrow.”

Returning to the capital was the priority. Her “dear” younger brother was already impatient to kill her. How could she let him have his wish? As for finding the woman, that could wait. What good would it be to find her if she were dead?

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