The Flirtatious Beauty Decides to Steal the Princess - Chapter 25

“Thank you, Miss Jiang.” Wen Ying’s eyes sparkled as she took Jiang Zhiyi’s hand, extended from inside the palanquin, and stepped in. The palanquin was spacious, yet Fu Qingyin did not enter.

She stood below, a faint, inscrutable smile on her lips. “The two of you go ahead. I’ll follow on foot.”

Fu Qingyin’s gaze lingered on Jiang Zhiyi. The daughter of the Minister of Revenue currently, the minister wielded immense power in the kingdom. Yet, it was also he who single-handedly opposed further attacks on Yi Qing Kingdom, advocating instead for policies centered on the people.

Back then, Fu Qingyin had longed to infiltrate the minister’s household but never found the opportunity.

Now, the corner of her lips curled slightly. It seemed she knew how to draft that “letter home.”

Just one trip outside the palace, and Fu Qingyin could single-handedly shift the tides of the court. She could ensure the other nations received their due benefits.

As for this kingdom, it deserved nothing but swift annihilation.

A ruthless glint flashed in Fu Qingyin’s eyes, unnoticed by any of the palace attendants. Inside the palanquin, Wen Ying was brimming with curiosity this was her first time riding in one. Yet, mindful of propriety, she dared not let her eyes wander.

Jiang Zhiyi poured her a cup of tea, her voice gentle. “Princess Wen Ying, when will you be able to leave the palace and establish your own residence?”

The question caught Wen Ying off guard. By age, she had already reached adulthood princesses could consider leaving the palace after coming of age. But…

Wen Ying was at a loss. Her almond-shaped eyes misted over as she looked up at Jiang Zhiyi, shaking her head blankly. “I… I don’t know. Perhaps I’ll spend my entire life trapped in the palace.”

Her words fell like needles into the silence of the palanquin. Outside, the bearers carried the palanquin with slight swaying, the rhythmic creaking the only sound.

Jiang Zhiyi seemed to realize she had asked the wrong question. She handed the lukewarm tea to Wen Ying, the warmth seeping into her own palms.

“That won’t happen. Princess Wen Ying is far too kind to be confined to the palace forever.” Jiang Zhiyi had always felt that this princess was nothing like those scheming types. Someone like her would never thrive in the palace.

The only path to happiness was escape breaking free from this den of intrigue.

Fu Qingyin, walking outside, heard every word. Of course, she intended to take Wen Ying away. And today was the perfect opportunity.

The palanquin swayed its way to Chonghua Palace, its grandeur overwhelming. As Wen Ying stepped out, the dazzling opulence nearly blinded her. She rubbed her eyes and looked again Chonghua Palace had grown even more extravagant over the years.

Jiang Zhiyi, however, was unimpressed. She murmured something to her maid, too soft for Fu Qingyin to catch, but Wen Ying heard it clearly.

“With endless wars draining the treasury and the people suffering, His Majesty still spares no expense renovating Chonghua Palace. I don’t understand why such a facade is necessary.” Jiang Zhiyi sighed, her tone devoid of the joy befitting a banquet guest.

Wen Ying paused. She imagined the common folk would never wish for war.

Yet she hadn’t realized how dire things had become outside. No wonder Third Sister was vying with the others for the chance to leave the palace likely, the treasury could no longer afford to house two princesses.

Fu Qingyin was unaware of all this. It wasn’t until she and Sang Zhi were about to enter Chonghua Palace that she noticed Wen Ying hadn’t followed. Jiang Zhiyi had already entered through the side door after speaking those words after all, these noble daughters from prestigious families lacked royal blood and couldn’t use the main entrance.

Yet Wen Ying stood at the threshold of the main gate, unable to step inside.

“What’s wrong, little Wen Ying?” Fu Qingyin walked over, sensing her subdued mood despite her earlier excitement when stepping out of the sedan chair.

Wen Ying shook her head. Her pale blue dress stood in stark contrast to the resplendent palace, giving her an ethereal, unpretentious grace.

Fu Qingyin extended her arm for Wen Ying to hold, her cascading hair brushing against Wen Ying’s shoulder as they walked forward together, with Sang Zhi following respectfully behind.

From a distance, they looked like a pair of beauties, but up close, they were just two women prone to blushing.

In this dynasty, women could marry, so today’s gathering also included a princess and her consort, seated beside the empress. Since this was the noble daughters’ spring banquet, the emperor would make a symbolic appearance later.

The grand hall of Chonghua Palace was filled with a subtle fragrance as women moved gracefully, their every gesture exuding nobility.

Wen Ying

Before long, a series of announcements came from outside as some of the imperial consorts arrived and took their seats beside the empress. Wen Ying’s gaze naturally drifted in that direction.

She noticed the only female prince of the dynasty and her consort. The two seemed deeply affectionate, with the prince always protective of her wife by her side.

“What’s caught Little A-Ying’s attention?” Fu Qingyin seemed to notice Wen Ying’s gaze and followed it, spotting the harmonious pair.

Fu Qingyin froze momentarily. If Wen Ying didn’t understand the relationship between two women, then had all her own overt and covert actions been seen through by Wen Ying?

Suddenly losing her usual composure, Fu Qingyin racked her brains trying to figure out how to ask Wen Ying’s thoughts. But before she could speak, the music and dance of the palace banquet abruptly began, signaling that most of the expected guests had arrived.

Wen Ying didn’t notice Fu Qingyin’s unease, lost in her own reverie as she glanced around. Fu Qingyin, however, had to keep shifting her gaze to follow Wen Ying’s wandering eyes, much to her own exhaustion.

“The Emperor arrives,” A eunuch’s shrill voice pierced the air like a blade through the sky. The music softened as the emperor strode in through the main gate, his laughter booming.

As if the nation was thriving under his rule, he took his seat at the head of the hall. Everyone in Chonghua Palace rose to bow except Fu Qingyin, who remained seated, unnoticed by the emperor.

“Rise,” Emperor Wen said, eyeing the noblewomen present. He knew it was time again for his annual matchmaking, intending this year to draw those overly upright officials into his own faction.

The court was divided into several factions some loyal to the emperor, others to the minister. When the plan to conquer Yiqing Kingdom was proposed, it was the minister and his allies who had thwarted the emperor’s ambition.

Emperor Wen had long held a grudge against the minister. Today, Jiang Zhiyi’s presence played right into his hands.

Just as Emperor Wen was about to speak, Consort Xin’s seat erupted in sobs. The emperor frowned imperceptibly. “What troubles my beloved consort?”

Even as he spoke, he recalled how Consort Xin had once relied on her family’s influence to act arrogantly, and his expression cooled.

From afar, Fu Qingyin watched, a smirk playing on her lips. The fish had taken the bait.

Sure enough, Consort Xin halted the music and dance herself, stepping forward alone to kneel before the emperor.

“Your Majesty, you must grant me justice!” Consort Xin’s tears fell like rain. Without waiting for the emperor’s inquiry, she twisted the facts, recounting how her attendant had been subjected to private punishment and how the empress had taken the woman away.

Seated in her place, even the slow-witted Wen Ying couldn’t help but laugh. Wasn’t Consort Xin practically hanging herself this time?

It would have been enough not to seek trouble with her, yet Consort Xin had brought it upon herself. Was she gambling on whether the emperor would side with the empress or her, his consort?

Hearing Wen Ying’s laughter, Fu Qingyin reached over to gently brush crumbs from the corner of her mouth, asking softly, “Little A-Ying can see how foolish she is too, can’t you?”

Fu Qingyin might as well have written “I’m clever, follow me” on her face, like a big dog wagging its tail for praise yet her eyes remained fox-like, cunning and inscrutable.

Wen Ying nodded, following Fu Qingyin’s lead as she lavished praise without hesitation: “Our beautiful sister is the smartest one!”

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