The Flirtatious Beauty Decides to Steal the Princess - Chapter 2

“Princess, where have you been?” Yun Chu’s fingertips still glistened with water droplets, likely from just having finished washing clothes. The two of them had been neglected in this desolate palace, with only a few garments to wear throughout the year. As a result, Wen Ying’s clothes had long since faded from repeated washing.

Fortunately, the plain white fabric made the fading less noticeable. Just as Wen Ying stepped into the palace courtyard, Yun Chu stood before her.

Under the hazy moonlight, Wen Ying’s delicate features appeared soft and serene, casting a momentary daze over Yun Chu, who seemed to recall the day she first met Wen Ying’s birth mother.

As Wen Ying grew older, she looked more and more like her.

Wen Ying lowered her head, not daring to meet Yun Chu’s gaze. She had been so focused on asking Fu Qingyin for the pastries that she hadn’t thought about how to explain it to Yun Chu. Though the pastries had cooled, she hid them behind her back yet their sweet fragrance was impossible to conceal.

Yun Chu’s eyes turned cold. “Your Highness, where did you get these pastries?” Today, the palace had held a banquet, and any leftover food would not have been kept in the imperial kitchens. There was no way Wen Ying could have taken them from there.

The more Yun Chu thought about it, the more frightened she became. She pulled Wen Ying close, inspecting her from head to toe. Only after confirming that Wen Ying was unharmed did she retrieve the plate of pastries hidden behind her back.

Knowing she couldn’t hide the truth, Wen Ying recounted everything that had happened. Though afraid Yun Chu would be angry, she blinked innocently and asked, “Sister Yun Chu, who exactly is the princess living in the neighboring courtyard?”

Yun Chu didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she was both exasperated and amused to hear that Wen Ying had made the other party taste the pastries first. She pinched Wen Ying’s soft, delicate cheeks.

“At least you were somewhat cautious. Don’t blame this servant, Princess, but after seeing how Her Majesty was schemed against in the past, I can’t bear to see you repeat her fate.” The anger in Yun Chu’s expression faded into resignation as she pulled Wen Ying into her arms, gently patting her back.

It was just like those stormy nights long ago when Yun Chu had soothed Wen Ying to sleep.

Now that Wen Ying had already celebrated her coming-of-age ceremony, Yun Chu couldn’t restrain her too much.

As for the one in the neighboring courtyard who was still called a princess though there were several neglected princesses in the palace, none were older than Wen Ying. Considering the guest of honor at today’s banquet, Yun Chu already had her answer.

“Come with me, Princess. It’s late, and you should rest. How about I tell you a story to help you fall asleep?” Yun Chu took Wen Ying’s small hand, still treating her like the child she once was.

Seeing that Yun Chu was no longer angry, Wen Ying nodded vigorously and followed her into the dilapidated bedchamber.

The furnishings inside were simple, lacking even basic porcelain or vases. Fortunately, the essentials, a bed and a dressing table were still intact. Yun Chu was diligent, keeping the room spotless, which made it feel warm and comforting despite its austerity.

Wen Ying placed the plate of pastries on the dressing table and absentmindedly touched her sleeve, only to realize the spoiled bun she had hidden earlier was now missing. Not that it had been edible anyway, so she paid it no mind.

“Sister Yun Chu, you eat them. I already had some in her courtyard.” Wen Ying wasn’t particularly fond of sweets, but over the years, Yun Chu had always prioritized her, often skimping on her own meals and living far more frugally than Wen Ying ever had.

Those two stale steamed buns today were probably obtained by Yun Chu with great difficulty, and she likely hadn’t eaten any herself. That’s why Wen Ying had gone to fetch some pastries, wanting to share them with Yun Chu.

Seeing Wen Ying so well-behaved, Yun Chu felt a pang of sorrow. Here was a proper princess, her veins flowing with royal blood, yet reduced to begging a hostage for pastries.

Yun Chu didn’t refuse. After loosening Wen Ying’s hair bun, she ate a few pieces of the pastries. They were filling, so just a few were enough to stave off hunger. She couldn’t bear to eat more, saving them in case they couldn’t find food tomorrow then Wen Ying could have them.

Wen Ying had already washed up. Though the early spring water was still chilly, her cheeks were rosy, as if they’d been brushed by winter’s biting wind.

It had to be said that Wen Ying’s mother had passed down excellent genes. Even without the luxury of skincare powders, Wen Ying’s complexion remained as smooth as a peeled egg. Even after enduring the harsh winds of winter, her skin only reddened slightly, never turning rough. By the time spring warmed, it would recover completely.

Noticing Yun Chu lost in thought, Wen Ying took the initiative to bring a damp cloth to her. After years of companionship, the line between master and servant had blurred at least in Wen Ying’s heart. But Yun Chu never forgot her place as a servant.

Once washed up, Wen Ying climbed onto the bed first. The quilt was fraying, its stuffing peeking through in places. Yun Chu made a mental note to ask the embroidery bureau for discarded thread tomorrow to mend it.

Wen Ying was self-sufficient, never needing help to prepare for bed. She struggled to untie the tightly bound ribbons of her dress. In that moment, her striking curves were revealed in full. Now clad only in her undergarments, freed from the constraints of her outer robe, she appeared even more mature.

Sitting on the bed, Wen Ying frowned at her reflection in the bronze mirror on the dressing table.

“Sister Yun Chu, I don’t like this,” she murmured. “Mother was like this too, and Father abandoned her. Is this bad?” With no one in the palace to teach her such things where even the next meal was uncertain Wen Ying had come to believe her natural shape was unseemly, hence the tightly bound robes that made her look like a child.

Yun Chu didn’t know how to explain, so she stayed silent.

Little did Wen Ying know, there would come a day when someone would tell her: one’s body was never meant to please others. If it must please anyone, it should be herself. As for those selfish men, they were the ones who should reflect.

But that was a story for another time.

Cradled in Yun Chu’s arms as stories were told, Wen Ying drifted off to sleep. The early spring night was bitterly cold, but Yun Chu’s tales kept her warm. Half-asleep, she learned that the woman in the neighboring courtyard, Fu Qingyin, was actually a princess from another kingdom, one on the brink of ruin. Sent by her mother to the enemy’s palace as a hostage, Fu Qingyin now lived far from home. Wen

The next morning, warm sunlight streamed through the wooden window, landing right on Wen Ying’s eyes. She blinked, her thick, long lashes outlined by the golden light.

Unable to resist the sun’s persistence, Wen Ying finally sat up, still drowsy. Her round eyes weren’t fully open yet, lingering in a daze.

Then, she suddenly caught sight of the half-eaten pastries on the dressing table, and all of yesterday’s events rushed back to her.

She smacked her forehead now she was wide awake.

Yun Chu had risen before dawn to help with chores in the laundry bureau and the hard labor department, earning a meager income to support both herself and Wen Ying.

Once a proper princess, Wen Ying had long been stripped of her monthly allowance by the imperial household department. With no one in the palace to shield her, she had no choice but to endure. She had wanted to work alongside Yun Chu, but Yun Chu had adamantly refused, insisting that a princess’s delicate body wasn’t meant for rough labor.

By her estimate, Yun Chu wouldn’t be back for several more hours. Hidden beneath the dressing table were storybooks and scrolls that Yun Chu had secretly salvaged from discarded books while working in the imperial library.

Wen Ying carefully selected a relatively new storybook, one about a lost princess who was eventually found and reclaimed her rightful place.

Would Fu Qingyin like this? She wrapped the book in her outer robe. Though the fabric was tight, she adjusted it carefully to avoid discomfort.

Without even finishing the pastries, she sneaked out of the Ninglu Palace with the book in her arms.

The two palace courtyards were separated only by a single wall, and Wen Ying quickly reached the neighboring courtyard’s gate.

In the daylight, she could finally read the plaque, this place was called the Hanguang Hall.

The name was elegant, but in this desolate corner of the palace, the Hanguang Hall was just as dilapidated as the Ninglu Palace.

Wen Ying sighed softly, then raised her small hand and knocked on the gate.

The spring morning was still chilly, and the gate was icy from the morning dew. With no warm food in her belly, her hands were freezing, but she endured the cold and kept knocking.

Luckily, this area was so deserted that the sound quickly reached the maid inside, who came to open the door.

It was the same maid who had stood beside Fu Qingyin the night before. Wen Ying figured her heartless father wouldn’t have assigned any attendants to serve her.

“Little Wen Ying? What brings you here?” The maid didn’t address her as “Princess.” She couldn’t bring herself to bow to the daughter of her enemy.

Wen Ying kept her gaze straight ahead, clutching the storybook in her arms as she walked forward. The wooden doors of the main hall were already somewhat damaged, and a musty smell wafted over as she approached. Frowning, she pointed at the moldy spots on the door. “Breathing in too much of this musty air isn’t good for your health. Go and see if the Imperial Household Department can come and fix it.”

Wen Ying had no way to summon the Imperial Household Department herself, but at least Fu Qingyin was a princess. Though their country was on the brink of collapse, it hadn’t fallen yet and was still struggling to hold on.

Yesterday, Yun Chu had speculated that it was precisely because Fu Qingyin had been sent here that their country had gained a brief respite. A hostage was inherently at the mercy of others, and Emperor Wen naturally understood the principle of “when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.” For the time being, he probably wouldn’t annex their country.

So, as the nominal princess, Fu Qingyin’s treatment should be slightly better than her own situation.

With these thoughts in mind, Wen Ying pushed the door open and stepped inside.

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