The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 19

Lady Gu was still somewhat displeased. She glared at the maids outside and at Gu Qing, “Couldn’t you have refused when he sent them? If you didn’t want them, could he have forced them upon you?”

Gu Qing quickly helped Lady Gu to her seat, poured tea for both her and Xie Zhizhen, and then explained, “This is what I thought those maids are all pitiable. If I refused them, they’d likely be sent to other households by the Sixth Prince anyway.”

“In these times, life is already hard for women. It’s better if I take them in, then find an opportunity to declare that they’ve fallen ill and died. I can give them their deeds of sale and send them away, it would be a good deed.”

Xie Zhizhen had initially been angry, but after hearing this, she found it reasonable. She glanced at the maids outside, who were young, around fourteen or fifteen years old.

At that age, they should be dreaming endlessly of love, yet they faced the fate of serving strangers, truly pitiable.

Lost in thought, Xie Zhizhen’s eyes darkened, and she fell silent for a moment.

Gu Qing couldn’t discern Xie Zhizhen’s expression, but seeing that Lady Gu had been placated, she called the maids over.

“Your servant greets the Princess and the Second Young Lady.”

The maids, after all, had come from the Sixth Prince’s household, so Xie Zhizhen recognized them. Though they didn’t quite understand why Gu Qing had summoned them in Xie Zhizhen’s presence, they instinctively bowed first.

Gu Qing cleared her throat. “For the next couple of days, you’ll stay with the other maids in the residence. In a few days, I’ll arrange for you to leave the estate.”

The maids immediately knelt. “Second Young Lady, spare us!”

“If I dare to make such arrangements, naturally, I have a way to get you out of the capital. Of course, I know some of you may not wish to leave the capital. You can choose to return or go back to the Sixth Prince’s household that’s your decision. My only responsibility is to get you out.”

Gu Qing tried to be as thorough as possible. “When the time comes, I’ll send you off separately, ensuring none of you know where the others are going. So you needn’t worry about someone returning to the Prince’s household and revealing your whereabouts to the Sixth Prince.”

“Of course, I understand some of you may know secrets about the Sixth Prince’s household. Whether you choose to flee for your lives or return is entirely up to you, I won’t interfere.”

Gu Qing didn’t assume everyone here was simple. There were likely spies from the Sixth Prince’s household or those with no choice but to stay due to poor family circumstances.

She wasn’t a bodhisattva she could only help where possible, without forcing everyone to follow her plan.

The maid on the far left, seeing her mission about to fail, lifted her head to let Gu Qing see her tear-streaked face, looking utterly pitiful. “Second Young Lady, we were all sent to you by the Sixth Prince. Isn’t it inappropriate for you to dismiss us like this?”

Tsk. Trying to use Xie Zhili to pressure her.

Just as Gu Qing was about to respond, Xie Zhizhen, her face cold and unkind, spoke first. “Since the Sixth Prince sent you to the General’s household, you now belong to the General’s estate. What? Does the General need to report to my royal brother about how he manages his own people?”

Her voice grew even colder, carrying an air of authority. “Since when has the Sixth Prince’s reach extended so far? I was unaware.”

The maids exchanged glances, never expecting that their plan to seduce Gu Qing would backfire so awkwardly in Xie Zhizhen’s presence.

After all, Xie Zhizhen was the emperor’s most beloved daughter. Even Xie Zhili had to address her respectfully as “Imperial Sister,” let alone these maidservants who would dare to talk back to her? They could only shut their mouths, lower their heads, and resign themselves to their bad luck.

Seeing that they had finally quieted down, Gu Qing waved her hand, signaling Shao Yao to lead them away.

However, even after the maids had left, Xie Zhizhen’s expression remained icy, showing no sign of improvement.

Lady Gu patted Gu Qing’s hand, giving her a meaningful look to coax Xie Zhizhen properly before leaving.

Gu Qing silently moved to sit beside Xie Zhizhen, but the latter shifted slightly away.

Helpless, Gu Qing leaned closer again, covering Xie Zhizhen’s hand with her own before she could pull away. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke, “I know I was wrong.”

“I shouldn’t have accepted those maidservants.”

Though she knew she wouldn’t do anything improper, putting herself in Xie Zhizhen’s shoes, no one would like their sweetheart bringing home a group of girls who harbored improper thoughts about her.

Even if it was just for a few days. Even if they were all housed in the servants’ quarters.

Gu Qing lowered her head, idly playing with Xie Zhizhen’s fingers, soft and fair, pleasant to the touch.

Perhaps because Xie Zhizhen had never done rough or laborious work, the skin on her fingers was delicate and smooth, unlike Gu Qing’s own hands, which had grown coarse with a few hardened calluses.

As her rough fingers brushed over Xie Zhizhen’s rosy palm, Xie Zhizhen felt a ticklish sensation and withdrew her hand.

Gu Qing’s fingertips trembled slightly. She scratched her head, inwardly scolding herself.

Wasn’t I supposed to be apologizing? How did it turn into playing with her hand?!

“Do you think I’m being too unreasonable?” Xie Zhizhen twisted her fingers nervously. “Even though you didn’t mean anything by it, I still got upset with you.”

She knew she might have been a bit irrational, especially since Gu Qing had already explained.

Gu Qing quickly replied, “Not at all.”

As she spoke, she took Xie Zhizhen’s hand and pressed it against her chest. “I understand. If I were in your position, I’d probably feel jealous too. You’re only upset because you care about me.”

Beneath her palm was the rapid thumping of Gu Qing’s heartbeat and the faint softness of her chest. It was the first time Xie Zhizhen had touched Gu Qing’s body so directly, and her cheeks flushed slightly pink. She tried to pull her hand back, but Gu Qing held it firmly in place.

“You let go.”

Seeing Xie Zhizhen’s blush, Gu Qing knew not to push too far and released her hand. “Well? Did you feel any disgust?”

Xie Zhizhen froze, completely unprepared for Gu Qing’s intention behind the action. She clenched her fist, her fingertips pressing into her palm as she carefully assessed herself. “I don’t think so.”

She had been too preoccupied with embarrassment just now.

A faint smile curled Gu Qing’s lips. Instead of taking Xie Zhizhen’s hand again, she wrapped an arm around her slender waist and pulled her into an embrace.

The faint peach blossom fragrance of the young woman was intoxicating. Her waist was so slender it could be encircled with one hand, tempting further exploration. Her delicate, soft body seemed boneless, making it hard to let go.

Xie Zhizhen understood Gu Qing’s intention she needed to gradually adjust to her touch and slowly overcome the shadows of the past.

She closed her eyes, but her mind involuntarily replayed scenes of women’s cries, coquettish laughter, and pained expressions. A wave of nausea surged within her, but she fought it by recalling every moment she had shared with Gu Qing.

The sweet-and-sour tang of candied hawthorns, the peachwood comb from their first meeting, Gu Qing’s help when the tutor punished her with copying.

One by one, beautiful memories gradually overwhelmed the nausea, replacing it with a joyful mood.

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