The Flirtatious Beauty Decides to Steal the Princess - Chapter 11

Though puzzled, Wen Yuan still retracted the exquisitely crafted umbrella, watching as her imperial sister was carried away by an unfamiliar woman.

The rain outside was still heavy, but Fu Qingyin, being a martial artist, had no trouble carrying the emaciated Wen Ying with one arm. The downpour washed over the rear palace, a place that appeared pristine but was in truth a cesspool of filth.

Fu Qingyin had never felt her steps so resolute before, as if putting distance between herself and the imperial gardens meant putting distance between herself and Emperor Wen.

Wen Ying lay sprawled on Fu Qingyin’s back, and after what seemed like an eternity, she lifted her head drowsily and asked, “Beautiful sister, where are we going?”

Still half-asleep, Wen Ying thought she had been dragged from her bed and was now being carried outside. Fu Qingyin glanced at her from the side and teased, “I’m taking little Wen Ying out of the palace. Let’s find a small village to live in together, alright?”

As she spoke, Fu Qingyin tightened her arm around Wen Ying slightly, cautiously posing the question. To her surprise, Wen Ying naturally rested her head on Fu Qingyin’s shoulder and replied softly, “Alright. Life in the palace hasn’t been good for me anyway.”

With that, Wen Ying fell back asleep. Fu Qingyin even forgot to keep walking, standing still as raindrops pelted the oil-paper umbrella, the sound mirroring the turmoil in her heart.

Little Wen Ying said yes. Fu Qingyin was at a loss for words. If not for the burdens she carried, she would have gladly spent the rest of her life in peaceful seclusion with Wen Ying in some mountain retreat far away from any other man’s reach.

Yet Fu Qingyin also knew that as a princess, she had a duty to her country and its people to seek justice.

When that time came, Fu Qingyin turned her head slightly to look at the girl resting obediently on her shoulder. Wen Ying’s fair, delicate face was utterly endearing, and Fu Qingyin resisted the urge to lean in and kiss her, suppressing the deepest longing in her heart.

When that time came, would little Wen Ying side with Emperor Wen? Would she cut ties with Fu Qingyin forever?

Fu Qingyin shook her head. A cold gust of wind blew raindrops beneath the umbrella, snapping her back to reality.

She immediately strode toward the Ninglu Palace. It was already very late, and Fu Qingyin felt as though she carried the weight of the world on her back, moving with utmost care.

By the time she reached the palace, Wen Ying’s soft breathing still lingered on her back. Seeing the candlelight inside, Fu Qingyin knew Yun Chu had returned and had been waiting for Wen Ying.

She could almost guess that had they been any later, Yun Chu would have gone out searching. Taking a deep breath, Fu Qingyin carried Wen Ying inside with great reverence.

“Your Highness!” Hearing the rain pattering against the umbrella, Yun Chu hurried to open the door, only to find Fu Qingyin standing in the rain in her cyan gown, with Wen Ying on her back.

Yun Chu’s anxious expression quickly hardened into one of aloofness. She merely bowed formally to Fu Qingyin.

“Thank you for bringing Her Highness back. Though I wonder, how did you leave the heavily guarded Hanguang Palace? And where did you take Her Highness? Did she faint, or…”

“She’s just asleep.” Seeing Yun Chu’s guesses growing increasingly far-fetched, Fu Qingyin parted her crimson lips lazily to explain.

Only then did Yun Chu’s anxious heart settle. As for the other questions, they could wait for later right now, the most urgent matter was to bring Wen Ying over and lay her on the bed.

She also filled a basin with the warm water she had prepared earlier, soaked a piece of coarse cloth, and gently wiped Wen Ying’s little face.

Fu Qingyin knew she couldn’t leave just yet, so she stood to the side, watching as Yun Chu cleaned the sleeping Wen Ying’s face. After finishing, Yun Chu prepared to remove Wen Ying’s clothes, which were slightly damp from the rain.

Just as she was about to undress her, Yun Chu shot Fu Qingyin a rather displeased look, and Fu Qingyin tactfully turned away.

Once everything was finally done, Yun Chu covered Wen Ying with a tattered quilt, its cotton stuffing peeking through in places. As she gazed at the girl, tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She steadied herself, picked up the basin, and led Fu Qingyin out of the room.

“Sister Yun Chu,” Fu Qingyin said obediently, looking at her. Though she wasn’t sure who was older between them, she addressed Yun Chu politely as “sister.”

The two stood beneath the eaves, raindrops pattering down from the roof tiles like strokes in a painting.

Yun Chu glanced at her and spoke calmly, “Your Highness, please answer all the questions I asked earlier, one by one.”

Fu Qingyin quickly recounted everything that had happened that night to Yun Chu. She understood that withholding details would only make Yun Chu worry more, and that wouldn’t make Wen Ying happy either.

After listening, Yun Chu sighed. She had known before leaving that Wen Ying intended to seek help, but she hadn’t expected her to go to Wen Yuan. In the end, this still dragged her into the affairs of the imperial harem.

Seeing the deep concern in Yun Chu’s eyes, Fu Qingyin couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you all so afraid of getting involved with the harem? Yun Chu, you must realize Wen Ying is growing up. Even if you could keep hiding her, do you really think you can hide her forever?”

Yun Chu looked up, listening as Fu Qingyin continued.

“Setting aside whether Wen Ying can find someone she loves, do you truly want to watch her grow old and die within these palace walls? To spend her entire life like you, with no chance of ever leaving?”

Though Fu Qingyin herself was prepared to fight for her country, when it came to Wen Ying, if she couldn’t protect her, why not send her out of the palace to find her own life?

Yun Chu’s method of hiding her might have worked in the past, shielding Wen Ying from the wolves and tigers of the harem, but it was no long-term solution.

Yun Chu knew this too, but she kept delaying, hoping for more time. She was just a lowly palace maid once they left this place, she wouldn’t be able to protect Wen Ying from anything.

Fu Qingyin’s sharp gaze was hard to meet, and Yun Chu quickly faltered under it. Yet, she desperately wanted to ask how Wen Ying could be kept safe and happy for the rest of her life.

Fu Qingyin didn’t know either, but before taking revenge on Emperor Wen, she would ensure Wen Ying had a way out.

After a moment of thought, Yun Chu considered that princesses who remained unwed by the age of twenty were allowed to leave the palace and live independently. If Fu Qingyin said they couldn’t keep hiding Wen Ying, then perhaps they should let the emperor notice her naturally. There were still two years. Even without a princess’s estate, she could still leave the palace.

Yun Chu thought this was indeed a good idea, but as she glanced at the ambitious woman beside her, her heart couldn’t help but flutter with unease. “If you continue to associate with our princess, I must warn you. You must never involve her in anything dangerous. Wen Ying isn’t like you, she has no maternal family or homeland to rely on. Her birth mother passed away long ago. In this lifetime, her mother and I had only one wish: for Wen Ying to live a peaceful and safe life.”

Yun Chu didn’t say anything more, and Fu Qingyin lowered her head.

Little Wen Ying had lost her birth mother at a very young age, and her father, the emperor, was like this Fu Qingyin sighed. She couldn’t make any promises to Yun Chu because the future was uncertain.

Moreover, Fu Qingyin herself wasn’t entirely sure what her current feelings toward little Wen Ying were.

The two stood silently under the corridor for a long time, neither speaking.

It wasn’t until Wen Ying, rubbing her eyes, pushed open the door that Fu Qingyin’s usually rigid tone instantly softened. “What’s wrong, little Wen Ying? Did you have a nightmare?”

Yun Chu was astonished to see Fu Qingyin, who had been so assertive during their conversation, now speaking to Wen Ying in such a gentle voice.

Wen Ying nodded, tugging at the sleeves of her clean undergarments, looking somewhat uneasy.

The room was still warm, and Wen Ying, having just crawled out of bed, had rosy, flushed cheeks.

Afraid she might catch a chill, Fu Qingyin and Yun Chu quickly pulled her back inside and shut the door.

The room was indeed cozy, thanks to Yun Chu’s constant repairs. Though drafts still occasionally seeped in, it was bearable.

Sitting on the bed, Wen Ying watched as the two of them, who rarely stayed together in the same room, now stood side by side. Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. “Sister Yun Chu, she’s really a good person.”

Yun Chu snorted and pinched Wen Ying’s nose. She couldn’t deny that her princess had an exceptionally kind heart.

If Wen Ying considered someone a friend, she would go out of her way to help them. But Yun Chu worried could such a temperament be easily exploited by others?

Flattered by Wen Ying’s praise, Fu Qingyin stood up somewhat awkwardly. “Wen Ying, rest well. I’ll take my leave now.”

Hearing that Fu Qingyin was leaving, disappointment flickered in Wen Ying’s eyes, but she nodded firmly nonetheless.

Outside, the rain had finally stopped. The moment Fu Qingyin stepped out, her smiling face turned cold again. She had no desire to smile at anyone other than Wen Ying.

With a light leap, she effortlessly scaled the palace wall and landed in the courtyard of Hanguang Hall. By this hour, the guards were already fast asleep.

Fu Qingyin’s gaze darkened as she looked at them. The dagger hidden in her sleeve gleamed coldly, but just as she was about to slit a guard’s throat, she stopped.

“Thank little Wen Ying. I’m in a good mood today.”

She carefully sheathed the dagger, her voice so soft it sent chills down the spine.

The sky was still overcast. Though the rain had ceased, the biting wind continued to howl.

Back in her room, Wen Ying sat on the bed, enduring Yun Chu’s scolding. In the end, she managed to coax her way out of trouble with a playful smile.

The next day dawned clear. Wen Ying had slept soundly, stretching lazily as she realized the sun had been shining for quite some time.

Yun Chu had already left earlier. Wen Ying got up by herself, washed, and dressed. The fine weather inspired her to take out her other pale yellow dress, one of only two she owned.

Yesterday, Yun Chu had permitted her to play near the imperial garden for a while. Now, all that remained was to wait for the emperor’s decree to withdraw the guards from Hanguang Hall, and she could go there with Fu Qingyin.

Thinking this, Wen Ying felt a surge of joy even as she changed her clothes. On the table were the pastries Yun Chu had warmed before leaving at dawn these past few days had truly been the happiest Wen Ying had experienced since the start of spring.

Support The Flirtatious Beauty Decides to Steal the Princess