The Flirtatious Beauty Decides to Steal the Princess - Chapter 33

Though all these years, there had been no way to truly protect Wen Ying, her growth had been evident for all to see.

Wen Ying glanced at Fu Qingyin, then at Nanny Gu. After some thought, she couldn’t help but feel as though they had conspired to come see her off together. Their behavior left her both amused and exasperated. After reassuring Nanny Gu and repeatedly promising to take good care of herself, the old woman finally left with peace of mind.

The moment Nanny Gu was gone, Fu Qingyin made herself at home, staring at Wen Ying without restraint. Even though it was Fu Qingyin who had been reckless the night before, today it was Wen Ying who blushed under her gaze.

“Fu Qingyin, what are you doing? Shouldn’t you be packing?” Wen Ying feigned anger, puffing up like a bristling kitten, eyeing Fu Qingyin warily as if afraid she might pounce and devour her whole.

Fu Qingyin lazily rose to her feet. Wen Ying looked utterly adorable like this, and she couldn’t help but imagine how she would look in phoenix robes. Reaching out, she gently stroked Wen Ying’s cheek.

Then she sighed. “Little Wen Ying, why are you so easily flustered? How will you ever travel the mountains and rivers with me in the future? Your sister hasn’t forgotten her promise to take responsibility for you.”

This Fu Qingyin always hitting where it hurt most. Wen Ying dreaded her bringing up last night’s events, yet here she was, mentioning it outright. At a loss, Wen Ying glanced around anxiously until Yun Chu finally entered, clapping her hands after finishing the packing.

“Sister Yun Chu! When can we leave?” Wen Ying hurried over, clutching Yun Chu’s arm in an attempt to change the subject. Fu Qingyin, not daring to misbehave in front of Yun Chu, stood meekly by, looking like a little fox who had just gotten away with mischief.

Yun Chu didn’t understand the strange tension between the two but relayed the news she had just received. “You may leave the palace at any time, but Her Majesty the Empress has summoned you to her palace first. It seems Consort Xin displeased the Emperor today and is to be banished to the Cold Palace, never to leave again.”

Wen Ying’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected such a major event to occur just before her departure. The thought brought her a certain satisfaction, she would gladly witness the downfall of Consort Xin, who had tyrannized the palace for so many years, especially since the woman had once ordered Fu Qingyin beaten.

At the memory, Wen Ying’s expression darkened. Though Fu Qingyin had behaved improperly the night before, when Wen Ying had tended to her wounds afterward, she had seen the gashes on her back so deep they threatened to reopen, revealing raw, bloody marks.

It was clear how merciless the attackers had been, how little mercy anyone had shown Fu Qingyin. The more Wen Ying thought about it, the angrier she grew. She stood abruptly, pulling Fu Qingyin along as she stormed out, her cheeks puffed with indignation.

Fu Qingyin wore a knowing expression but followed Wen Ying obediently toward the Empress’s palace. Along the way, eunuchs and maids bowed respectfully at the sight of Wen Ying, all too aware of the Emperor’s increasingly volatile temper and fearful of provoking his wrath.

By the time they arrived at the Empress’s palace, Consort Xin had already been taken away. Only the Eighth Prince, Wen Yuan, remained kneeling on the floor, looking noticeably thinner.

“Elder Sister,” Hearing Wen Ying’s footsteps, Wen Yuan looked up at her with eyes already red and swollen, clearly from prolonged crying. Wen Ying, who had been brimming with anger moments ago, now felt a pang of heartache.

After all, it was thanks to him that Fu Qingyin had been rescued back then. Wen Ying still held some goodwill toward him.

“Why are you kneeling here?”

“Mother made a mistake. I pleaded for her and was punished with kneeling.” Wen Yuan sniffled as he spoke, looking like an abandoned kitten or puppy, a far cry from the haughty demeanor others often described.

Fu Qingyin stood to the side, her gaze at Wen Yuan as hostile as if he were a natural enemy. Yet, she never overstepped Wen Ying’s authority to express her emotions, always aligning herself with Wen Ying’s words and wishes.

From the depths of her heart, Fu Qingyin had resolved that from now on, she would defer to Wen Ying in everything except when it came to Wen Ying’s freedom.

This was how Fu Qingyin thought, and this was how she acted now.

“Father’s decree is not something I dare defy. Once you’ve finished kneeling, remember to ask the imperial physician for some ointment.” Wen Ying gave him a serious reminder before standing up to seek out the Empress. Fu Qingyin, however, was in no hurry to leave. She crouched down, her delicate fingers lifting Wen Yuan’s chin.

Only after calculating that Wen Ying had entered the main hall did she speak with a sinister smile: “Wen Yuan, was it? Stop pretending to be so pitiful. If I see it one more time, I’ll make sure you never open your eyes again.”

Did he love using those eyes to gain Wen Ying’s sympathy? Fu Qingyin itched to pull the sharp dagger from her sleeve and gouge them out.

As she finished speaking, Wen Yuan shuddered. Forced to meet Fu Qingyin’s icy gaze, he found himself too terrified to retort.

Yet, a seed of hatred sprouted in his heart. He seemed to channel all his fury toward Fu Qingyin, as if she were the source of all his misfortunes.

Wen Yuan had never been one to hold back. Just as he was about to say something, he heard Wen Ying’s voice calling for Fu Qingyin from behind. The two, brimming with hostility, instantly dissolved their resentment at the sound of that soft, gentle voice. Fu Qingyin replaced her expression with a smile, stood up, and quickly followed Wen Ying.

When they entered the Empress’s main hall, the Empress sat there in a bright yellow phoenix robe, a rare sight, as she usually dressed with dignified simplicity. The formality startled Wen Ying, making her think there was some other important matter at hand. But it turned out the Empress wasn’t primarily there for her.

The Empress’s gaze shifted to Fu Qingyin, as if she had something to discuss with her. Wen Ying obediently took the hint and did not linger.

“What do you want with me?” Fu Qingyin clearly held no regard for the Empress. The courtesy she had shown before was merely to avoid upsetting Wen Ying. Now that they were about to leave the palace, Fu Qingyin saw no need to keep up the pretense.

The Empress paid no mind to Fu Qingyin’s attitude. Slowly raising her wrist, she brought a teacup to her lips, took a sip, and then spoke: “Yunchu isn’t leaving this time. I’m aware of that. What about you? Any thoughts?”

At these words, Fu Qingyin’s beautiful hands, hidden beneath her wide sleeves, clenched slightly. But she said nothing, only smiling. “What do you mean by that, Your Majesty? After inciting Noble Consort Xin to seek revenge on me, do you still expect me to hold the royal family in high regard?”

“You already know.” The Empress raised her brows, admiring Fu Qingyin’s intelligence. Speaking with someone like her was quite enjoyable, but she couldn’t bring herself to entrust Wen Ying to Fu Qingyin.

The Empress dismissed her attendants and personally rose to close the doors, leaving only herself and Fu Qingyin in the grand hall before she spoke again.

“I know your feelings for Wen Ying. Back then, I harbored the same unspeakable thoughts toward her mother.” The Empress rarely spoke of this to anyone. Even before Shen Qingning’s death, she had never been able to voice it outright.

Though this nation allowed women to express affection and marry one another, their identities from birth had denied them such rights.

Fu Qingyin now had no choice but to take this seriously. She watched the Empress intently, listening carefully to what followed, but the more she heard, the more she sighed inwardly.

“I must vet Wen Ying’s future. And you can you give her happiness?” This was the sole reason she had summoned Fu Qingyin today. She knew Fu Qingyin’s temperament she sought vengeance but also wanted Wen Ying for herself.

But would Fu Qingyin truly treat Wen Ying well forever?

Fu Qingyin’s answer was resolute, yet it wasn’t enough to convince the Empress.

“Since you know Noble Consort Xin was incited by me, you must also guess that I’m aware of your intentions for leaving the palace.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the temperature in the grand hall seemed to drop. Fu Qingyin felt a chill envelop her body, her gaze locked onto the Empress. She hadn’t expected her to possess inner strength as well.

Fu Qingyin remained silent, but the Empress pressed forward step by step, slowly backing her into a corner. “I could easily imprison you right now. What then of your grand plans for revenge?”

The Empress seemed almost unhinged, yet her every movement retained the grace Wen Ying so admired. Sometimes, Fu Qingyin wondered how she maintained such poise.

Now, Fu Qingyin decided to gamble. “Then why hasn’t Your Majesty done so?”

The oppressive aura around the Empress softened slightly, her eyes filled with a mother’s tenderness. “Because little Wen Ying is fond of you. How could I harm you? The suffering you endured was merely punishment for failing to protect her. Well? Do you accept that?”

Until now, Fu Qingyin had believed she was the one pulling the strings. Yet the true mastermind turned out to be the Empress, this woman who sat securely in the central palace, never even vying for favor.

Before Fu Qingyin could respond, the Empress explained how Noble Consort Xin’s downfall today had been aided by the sachet Fu Qingyin had once planted in her clothes. The Emperor, mistaking it for poison, had immediately banished her to the cold palace.

“Years of affection, and just like that, she’s cast aside.” The Empress sighed as she returned to her seat, lamenting Noble Consort Xin’s fate like any ordinary woman of the deep palace. But Fu Qingyin knew the Empress had played no small part in it.

That sachet had originally been meant for use during a banquet. When the opportunity was missed last time, Fu Qingyin had assumed the plan was foiled.

Who could have guessed the Empress would turn it to her advantage? A cold sweat crept down Fu Qingyin’s spine, and a single thought surfaced in her mind she had to kill the Empress. Her instincts warned her that leaving her alive would only lead to future vulnerability.

The Empress smiled and shook her head: “There’s no need for you to think of ways to deal with me now. Your enemy is still sitting in the Hall of Diligent Governance.”

These words were like a wake-up call. For the first time, Fu Qingyin felt what it meant to be on the back foot. She nodded, this time truly without any ulterior thoughts. Feeling the immense pressure, she had now learned to be wiser and simply followed the Empress’s lead.

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