The Traitor Crown Princess (Transmigration) - Chapter 5

Shen Yi’s body stiffened instantly.

Behind him, several maids responded and came forward, grabbing Shen Yi’s arms from left and right, making as if to haul him away.

“Wait.” Feng Xi tapped her nail-guarded fingers against the tabletop, her gaze scanning Shen Yi’s face inch by inch as the corners of her lips curled into a smile.

Feng Xi: “I heard that this Miss Shen’s ancestors were butchers?”

“Yes.” Although Shen Yi didn’t know what kind of game the Empress was playing, he answered as usual.

Feng Xi: “Vulgar and crude people should naturally be paired with someone vulgar and crude to be a fitting match, should they not?”

Shen Yi’s heart tightened.

Lan Nishang smoothed things over: “Regardless of Miss Shen’s background, I find her quite gentle and refined; the Crown Prince should like her.”

The atmosphere turned stifling instantly, like a boulder pressing down on Shen Yi, making it hard to breathe.

Chu Yun suddenly gave a light laugh, breaking the long-awaited silence.

His expression was indifferent, making it impossible to see through the emotions at the bottom of his eyes: “Then I shall thank the Empress for this.”

Lan Nishang felt it was strange. Why would the Crown Prince be so obedient today? It didn’t seem like his temperament.

Feng Xi also realized something was wrong, but since the words were already spoken, she naturally couldn’t pick up a stone just to drop it on her own feet. Regardless, they would live in the palace after marriage and wouldn’t escape her sight, so she agreed: “I wonder if the Crown Prince intends to grant her the position of Primary Consort or Secondary Consort?”

Chu Yun: “Primary Consort.”

The hatred in the depths of Feng Xi’s eyes became increasingly obvious: “Very well. A candidate for Primary Consort has already been chosen; then the Crown Prince should select two others to be Secondary Consorts.”

She looked at Feng Yueshu, giving Chu Yun no room to turn back: “Yueshu is a good child and has long admired you, so let her be your Secondary Consort. Li Dequan, go to the Ministry of Rites and notify them; I will personally handle all the arrangements for this wedding.”

Li Dequan hurriedly responded: “Yes.”

Feng Yueshu was clearly a hundred percent unwilling. She could have been the Primary Consort, but because of Shen Yi’s interference, she could only be a Secondary Consort—didn’t this implicitly prove that she wasn’t even as good as a woman born to a butcher?

Moreover, she had been frightened by Chu Yun, so she began to hesitate. Feng Xi inwardly cursed her as useless but still comforted her: “Rest assured, I am here to back you; have no fear.”

Only then did Feng Yueshu finally agree, hurriedly bowing in acknowledgment: “Yes, this commoner thanks Her Imperial Majesty the Empress.”

Feng Xi was finally satisfied. She extended her hand, and the maid beside her hurriedly steadied her, bowing her head as she assisted her to rise. Consort Shu also stood up.

Feng Xi: “I am weary and shall return to the palace to rest first. You may all play in the palace for a while longer; palace servants will escort you out later.”

The show-girls: “Thank you, Empress. We respectfully see off the Empress and Consort Shu.”

After the party left, Shen Yi finally finished the formalities and stood up, letting out a secret sigh of relief in his heart. The surrounding show-girls swarmed around him, their voices sounding like orioles.

“Congratulations, sister. I am the second young lady of the Shangshu’s family; if there is anything I can help with in the future, don’t hesitate to come to me.”

“I am the legitimate daughter of the Ministry of Revenue Shangshu’s family; if sister has need, feel free to contact my father.”

“Mmh, thank you.” Shen Yi responded calmly, suddenly changing the subject: “Did anyone see who pushed me earlier?”

The crowd went silent instantly. Those who came to participate in the selection today were all people of status, and they absolutely dared not do such an offense-giving thing.

Shen Yi couldn’t get an answer, so he didn’t say anything more. He bowed to the women in front of him: “I am a bit exhausted and will return to the mansion first; I apologize for disturbing everyone’s enjoyment.”

“It’s fine, rest if you’re tired.”

“Looking at the sky, I need to head back to the mansion, too. I’ll visit Miss Shen at her mansion another day.”

The show-girls looked at each other and left the Imperial Garden with Shen Yi.

Leng Feng followed behind Chu Yun, utterly confused: “Master, why did you agree to accept Miss Shen just now?”

He had never seen Chu Yun say an extra word for anyone.

Chu Yun walked in front with his hands behind his back. The palace servants who passed by them hurriedly stepped aside to give way, leaning against the walls and bowing their heads in silence.

Chu Yun: “Anyone who enters the palace will eventually meet a fragrant demise. It is better for her to fail the selection and go home—at least that is freer than living in the palace.”

Leng Feng nodded: “Indeed.”

He seemed to think of something and trotted forward: “Master, I have already patched the secret passage by the rockery… but as for the person you asked me to find, I still haven’t found them.”

Chu Yun was silent.

Seeing Chu Yun was not speaking, Leng Feng pressed: “Master, what does that woman look like? Is she pretty?”

Mentioning her, Chu Yun grew serious: “Ask less about that.”

In the dim prison cell, two prisoners were kneeling on the ground. A table was placed before them, prepared with paper and brush. Jiang Wuyan, commander of the Imperial Guards, stood in front, and a fire burned in an iron bucket beside him, containing several red-hot branding irons.

Jiang Wuyan: “Where did he go?”

The two people kneeling on the ground raised their heads; they were the two yamen runners who had previously escorted Shen Yi. At this moment, they were disheveled, their white prisoner robes tattered and filthy, their faces bruised and purple there wasn’t a single uninjured spot.

Upon hearing the voice, they hurriedly shook their heads, whimpering with mournful moans.

Jiang Wuyan had no patience to waste time: “If your mouths cannot speak and your hands cannot move, then use your mouths; you know what to do.”

The two nodded like pounding garlic. Moving with difficulty on their knees, they bit down on the brushes and, tilting their heads back, began to draw and paint on the white paper.

After a while, countless drafts had piled up on the ground, and the two finally drew a portrait that was barely passable. The facial lines of the man in the painting were twisted, his eyes were of different sizes, his hair was a black blob, and his nose and mouth were inverted.

Jiang Wuyan frowned, feeling very annoyed. As his gaze drifted, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a flower on the person’s neck, and he was perplexed: “That person has a flower on their neck?”

The fat and thin runners nodded frantically.

“So that’s it.” Finally, there were decent features.

Jiang Wuyan handed the portrait to the guard next to him: “Take it to His Majesty.”

The guard took the drawing and bowed to Jiang Wuyan: “Yes.”

Shen Yi returned to the Shen residence. No sooner had he stepped out of the carriage than he ran via a small path to the Yuan mansion. At this moment, Yuan Hua was playing touhu (pitch-pot) with the housekeeper and Ruyu. Seeing Shen Yi enter through the back door, he asked: “Did you get selected?”

Shen Yi: “Naturally, and as the Primary Consort, no less.”

Yuan Hua clapped his hands: “That’s wonderful. It seems the Crown Prince thinks highly of you.”

“That’s not it.” Shen Yi pulled Yuan Hua to the side and told him about the graveyard incident and today’s accidental encounter.

Yuan Hua widened his eyes: “No way, is it that magical?”

Shen Yi tapped Yuan Hua’s head: “Those aren’t the main points. The main point is that if the Crown Prince finds out I am the third young master of the Shen residence, and if he isn’t happy about it, I won’t be able to escape death.”

Yuan Hua: “True. So what do you intend to do?”

Shen Yi: “Things have reached this point, so I can only take it one step at a time. Once he helps me clear my name, I will leave. If he doesn’t agree and finds out my true identity, then I will kill him.

If only one of us can live, then that person must be me.”

Yuan Hua gave Shen Yi a thumbs up: “Nice, that’s exactly how it should be. By the way, I have something to tell you. Do you remember your grandmother?”

Shen Yi: “I don’t recall. Why?”

Yuan Hua: “When she was young, she became a Daoist nun. Few people know she lives in a Daoist temple, so she avoided the confiscation. Ever since she learned you were still alive, she has been looking for you. Would you like to go see her?”

Shen Yi pondered for a moment and agreed: “Very well, let’s go now. In a few days, it will be the wedding, and there definitely won’t be enough time then.”

Yuan Hua: “Alright.”

The setting sun melted like gold; the evening clouds gathered.

People were coming and going at the gate of the Taiqing Temple. Many believers came to pray for prosperity or to ask for a divine dream. The carriage stopped at the temple gate. Shen Yi had changed into everyday clothes, and he and Yuan Hua followed the guidance of a little Daoist boy toward the back mountain.

The little Daoist led them to a courtyard, nodded, and took his leave.

“Creak”

Shen Yi pushed open the wooden door. The courtyard was clean and tidy, planted with chrysanthemums, cymbidium, and other flowers; it was secluded and elegant. Under a sophora tree sat a woman wearing blue Daoist robes. Her half-white hair was held in place by a wooden hairpin. Her features were upright, and even when she didn’t smile, she carried a sense of intimacy.

When Shen Qinghe heard the sound, she turned around to look and saw two people walking in. The expression on her face instantly came to life: “Is it Ah Yi?”

Shen Yi: “Hmm, it’s me.”

Shen Qinghe stepped forward and took Shen Yi’s hand, her eyes reddening: “Good child, I have finally seen you. You must have suffered a lot, right?”

Shen Yi felt a sting in his nose and managed a reluctant smile: “It’s nothing.”

“Cough, cough.” Yuan Hua coughed a few times: “Aunt Shen, let’s go inside to talk.”

“Alright, alright, come in and sit.” Shen Qinghe held Shen Yi’s hand and walked inside.

The three sat down. Shen Qinghe poured two cups of tea and sat beside Shen Yi: “Come visit Grandmother more often when you have nothing to do; I’m bored to death here.”

Shen Yi showed a troubled expression: “I’m afraid that won’t be possible…”

Shen Qinghe was puzzled: “What’s wrong?”

Shen Yi told Shen Qinghe about what had happened over the past few days and his plans. Shen Qinghe was furious: “Absolutely not! I don’t agree with this! You cannot enter the palace.”

Shen Yi: “Grandmother, we have no other choice.”

Shen Qinghe: “Grandmother knows you want to help clear the Shen residence’s name, but have you thought about what you will experience if the matter is exposed? Dismemberment, death by a thousand cuts, I would rather the family name remain slandered than see you go through that. Ah Yi, let it be. Grandmother has already lost your parents; I cannot lose you, too.”

Shen Yi remained silent. Yuan Hua tried to smooth things over: “Grandmother, Shen Yi is very smart; he won’t be discovered.”

Shen Qinghe was furious: “You know perfectly well the Crown Prince is a bloodthirsty and cruel man, and yet you push Ah Yi into the fire pit. Is this really for his own good?”

Yuan Hua was speechless: “I…”

Shen Yi stood up, knelt on one knee in front of Shen Qinghe, held her rough, dry hand, and looked at her with resolute eyes: “Grandmother, I will be fine, rest assured.”

Shen Qinghe pushed aside the hair on Shen Yi’s face that had been ruffled by the wind, looking distressed: “I just don’t want you to work so hard… I only have you as a relative. If something happens to you, what will Grandmother do? Grandmother isn’t afraid of poverty, nor is she afraid of hardship—I’m just afraid of Ah Yi suffering.

Ah Yi, be a good boy. Let’s go live in another country; I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Shen Yi bit his lip: “Grandmother, I will protect myself.”

Shen Qinghe finally nodded in agreement.

As they were leaving, Shen Qinghe stuffed a brown cloth bag into Shen Yi’s hand: “These are the savings Grandmother has collected over the years; take them and use them. If it’s not enough, tell Grandmother, and I’ll go borrow some. You cannot let them look down on you when you marry into that family, do you understand?”

Shen Yi declined: “No need, Grandmother, you keep it.”

Shen Qinghe: “Be a good boy, take it.”

Shen Yi gritted his teeth, opened the cloth bag, took out two 50-tael bills, stuffed the rest of the money back into Shen Qinghe’s hand, turned around, and ran. After running out of the courtyard gate, he waved at Shen Qinghe: “Grandmother, I’m leaving now. I’ll come back to see you when I have time.”

Shen Qinghe nodded and waved: “Go on, take care of yourself.”

A cold wind blew by. His heart, which had been vacillating, was now resolute.

He must clear the Shen residence’s name.