The Flirtatious Beauty Decides to Steal the Princess - Chapter 5

Wen Ying was stunned. She had never heard such words spoken within the depths of the palace before.

Even though no one had taught her about matters of intimacy, and Wen Ying didn’t understand what it meant to like someone or why one would feel shy, she still knew that plump girls weren’t particularly favored.

But the words Fu Qingyin had spoken today were far from the thoughts of an ordinary woman at least not one raised under traditional teachings.

Wen Ying gazed at Fu Qingyin with starry eyes, and Fu Qingyin, caught off guard by the sudden brilliance in her gaze, was momentarily dazed.

Then, she curved her lips into a breathtakingly beautiful smile radiant yet not the least bit vulgar and slowly leaned closer to Wen Ying, her breath as fragrant as orchids. “Little Wen Ying, why are you looking at your sister like that?”

Wen Ying shook her head slightly, tugging at Fu Qingyin’s sleeve in a flustered manner. “I just think, Sister is amazing.”

Fu Qingyin couldn’t hold back her laughter this time. How could Emperor Wen have such an adorable daughter? It was truly enviable.

Fu Qingyin didn’t press Wen Ying to finish the dishes. Instead, she suggested packing them up to take back for the maid who served her.

“Sister Yun Chu doesn’t want me to interact with you.” Wen Ying’s face clouded with worry as she spoke, but when Fu Qingyin fell silent at her words, Wen Ying nearly slapped herself. She hurriedly added, “N-no, it’s not because you’re bad. She just doesn’t want me to interact with too many people and stir up trouble.”

This was indeed Yun Chu’s mindset. For years, she had carefully hidden Wen Ying away in the Ninglu Palace, avoiding unnecessary encounters with palace maids especially the imperial concubines to keep a low profile.

Today, Wen Ying had already broken the rules by appearing before Bai Zhi. She had no idea how to explain it to Yun Chu, let alone bring back leftovers.

“But Bai Zhi has already seen you today,” Fu Qingyin said, propping her chin on her hand. She didn’t mind being disliked, but Wen Ying seemed more bothered by it than she was, always quick to explain.

Wen Ying lowered her head, unsure of what to do. In that moment, she had simply wanted to step forward and help Fu Qingyin.

Her intervention had swiftly resolved the situation, but the repercussions might be endless.

“Little Wen Ying, smile. It’ll be fine. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Thank you for helping me today.” Fu Qingyin smiled bitterly, her fingertips brushing Wen Ying’s cheek. Right now, she didn’t even have the ability to promise she could protect her.

Remembering that Fu Qingyin was still upset, Wen Ying quickly changed her expression, beaming like a little sun. She stood up and hugged Fu Qingyin, earnestly instructing, “You were hit so hard earlier you must rest well. Sister Yun Chu is helping at the laundry bureau today. The sisters there are very kind and will give her lunch.”

The implication was clear: there was no need to worry. Wen Ying helped Fu Qingyin back onto the couch and was about to clear the dishes when, for some reason, Fu Qingyin reached out and pulled her back.

Wen Ying was still wearing her plain white dress, which complemented Fu Qingyin’s blue gown. Her sash wasn’t tied tightly, and with the sudden tug, it came undone.

Propelled by momentum, Wen Ying tumbled onto Fu Qingyin, her face instantly flushing as red as the blazing sun when she felt the softness pressed against her.

“Sister… sister, does this hurt you?” Wen Ying knew why she was blushing this time, but her first thought was still fearing that Fu Qingyin might feel pain.

From childhood till now, she had never touched another person there, only her own when binding her chest.

Fu Qingyin hadn’t expected things to turn out this way either, but she quickly regained her composure and instead looked at Wen Ying with an amused smile. “Then why hasn’t little Wen Ying gotten up yet?”

The teasing tone in her words was unmistakable, even to someone as slow as Wen Ying. She straightened up and turned away, huffing in mock indignation. “Sister has no shame! You’re the one who pulled me over!”

Fu Qingyin watched her slender figure, leisurely tying her sash before standing up to tousle Wen Ying’s hair with an elder sister’s instructive air. “Ahem, Wen Ying, be good. You mustn’t act so rashly in the future. It hurts your sister.”

Wen Ying’s ears burned crimson. She had lost count of how many times she’d blushed today. Why did she keep flushing uncontrollably just from looking at Fu Qingyin? She raised her cool little hands and patted her cheeks.

Summoning her courage, she turned around, pulled open the sash Fu Qingyin had just tied in a fit of pique, then dashed out of the main hall with a laugh.

“Come catch me, sister!” Wen Ying seemed to have scored a victory, leaving Fu Qingyin laughing by the bedside. Playing along, Fu Qingyin stood and chased after her for a while, both of them soon glistening with a light sheen of sweat.

Wen Ying’s red lips parted slightly, utterly unaware of how alluring she looked. Fu Qingyin averted her gaze, guilt creeping in. Though Wen Ying had already come of age, she was still innocent in these matters, how could she keep making her blush like this?

Moreover, Fu Qingyin herself had genuinely found Wen Ying tempting, stirring thoughts she shouldn’t entertain. She straightened her mind. They had only known each other for a few days, and Wen Ying was the daughter of her enemy such feelings were entirely inappropriate.

After all the commotion, the sun had climbed to its zenith. Time had flown by. Just as Fu Qingyin was about to invite Wen Ying to stay for lunch, the girl hurriedly adjusted her hair, looking as nervous as if she’d done something wrong.

Noticing Fu Qingyin’s gaze, Wen Ying explained, “Sister Yun Chu will be back at noon to bring me lunch. If I’m not there, she’ll worry again.”

A hint of disappointment flickered in Fu Qingyin’s eyes, but she quickly rallied, blinking her beautiful lashes as she escorted Wen Ying to the gates of Hanguang Palace.

Before leaving, Wen Ying patted Fu Qingyin’s shoulder like a caring elder sister, soothing her patiently. “Don’t worry, beautiful sister. I’ll come back to keep you company this afternoon.”

With that, Wen Ying picked up the small bundle of storybooks from the morning and stepped out of Hanguang Palace. The moss-covered stone bricks outside made this place arguably the most desolate corner of the entire imperial palace.

Leaning against the doorframe, Fu Qingyin watched Wen Ying’s retreating figure and realized, to her surprise, that her heart didn’t feel as barren as before.

Only when Wen Ying

Even after all this time following Fu Qingyin, Sang Zhi still couldn’t help feeling afraid in moments like these. Her life had been saved by Fu Qingyin, so obedience came naturally now.

–

“Your Highness!” Wen Ying had just stepped into the room when she heard Yun Chu’s drawn-out voice. She stiffened, quickly hiding the small bundle behind her back before tremblingly walking forward.

In little Wen Ying’s eyes, Yun Chu had long been no different from her birth mother, yet Yun Chu always insisted on maintaining this formal address.

Yun Chu saw through Wen Ying’s concealment at a glance. Her gaze fell on the hidden bundle before softening her tone, “Did you go see that hostage princess again?”

Wen Ying knew she couldn’t hide anything from Yun Chu. With slumped shoulders, she produced the bundle, bracing for scolding.

But Yun Chu only sighed, taking Wen Ying’s hand to speak earnestly, “She was forced to come here, so resentment is natural. But you’re the princess here, can you truly be sure she won’t take advantage or bully you?”

Yun Chu’s concerns weren’t unfounded. Yet earlier, Fu Qingyin hadn’t even wanted Wen Ying to face Bai Zhi directly, proving she wasn’t as terrible as Yun Chu imagined.

Still, Wen Ying dared not mention Bai Zhi’s visit now. Her stammering only deepened Yun Chu’s worry. Frowning, Yun Chu disliked Wen Ying interacting with Fu Qingyin but equally hated confining the girl to the dilapidated Ninglu Palace.

Unable to continue, Yun Chu stood and handed Wen Ying the lunch brought from the laundry bureau. Having played all morning, Wen Ying was famished. She devoured the simple meal with gusto.

Sometime after they finished eating, a young maid’s shouts came from Ninglu Palace’s gates, a voice familiar to both Wen Ying and Yun Chu.

It was Yun Chu’s close palace friend. Yun Chu rushed out to find the girl panting with gossipy excitement. “What’s happened?” Yun Chu asked suspiciously. “Why that smile?”

The maid, Chu Ran, nudged Yun Chu’s arm and, ensuring no one was around, whispered, “During the lunch hour, the Noble Consort took the Eighth Prince for a garden stroll. Guess what?”

She paused dramatically until Yun Chu tugged her sleeve impatiently. “They found Bai Zhi’s body in the well by the gardens.”

“What?!”

“What?!”

Yun Chu and Wen Ying, who’d been eavesdropping exclaimed simultaneously. Startled by Wen Ying’s presence, Chu Ran still managed proper etiquette, knowing Yun Chu valued respect toward the princess.

“Greetings, Princess Wen Ying.” After bowing, Chu Ran admired how the princess grew more beautiful daily though such beauty surely meant future turmoil in the rear palace.

Wen Ying felt only horror. That very morning, Bai Zhi had stood there issuing commands. How could this news be real?

She didn’t mourn the death, but instinctive awe for life left her unsettled. The truth remained utterly unclear.

“I bet she’s been riding on others’ coattails for so long that someone finally couldn’t stand it anymore and took action,” Chu Ran said with delight. She had long disliked Bai Zhi just a palace maid serving others, yet she carried herself like a mistress every day.

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