The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 2

Gu Qing followed the eunuch guide into the imperial palace, where the familiar red walls and golden tiles remained unchanged from two years ago.

Entering the grand hall, the emperor sat upon the throne that symbolized power, the authority to decide life and death.

“Your subject pays homage to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years.”

The emperor looked down at the figure clad in silver armor, standing tall and straight, an inexplicable sense of familiarity washing over him, as if he had seen this person somewhere before. “Rise, beloved subject.”

After speaking, he pointed at Gu Qing. “You must be the deputy general Gu that General Yin mentioned in his letter to Us.”

Gu Qing had already coordinated with Yin Lang beforehand, knowing that with military merits to her name, the emperor wouldn’t make things too difficult for her. “Yes.”

“Why do We find you somewhat familiar? Lift your head.”

Gu Qing clenched her fists tightly, but her expression remained composed, her gaze steady as she raised her head.

The familiar features came into view, and the emperor was visibly shocked. “You! you are!”

“Your subject is the second daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household, Gu Qing, paying respects to Your Majesty.”

The moment these words were spoken, not only the emperor but even the military officers beside her were stunned. None of them had imagined that their comrade of two years was actually a woman.

The emperor narrowed his eyes. “Gu the Second, do you know that a woman entering the military camp is a grave crime?”

“Your subject knows her guilt.”

Gu Qing offered no excuses, and her earnest attitude softened the emperor’s expression slightly, easing the tension in the air.

Then, Yin Lang was the first to kneel, pleading for leniency as they had previously agreed. “Your Majesty, though it is not my place to say, disguising oneself as a man to enter the military camp and deceiving superiors is indeed a grave offense. However, the Second Lady Gu has rendered outstanding military service. In our humble opinion, allowing her merits to offset her faults would not be unreasonable.”

Seeing Yin Lang’s move, the other officers quickly knelt as well. “We beg Your Majesty for mercy.”

The emperor pondered for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

Those in the know, like Gu Qing and Yin Lang, remained completely unruffled. In the Geng Dynasty, after all, Gu Qing’s military achievements were undeniable. They had just returned from a victorious campaign, and Gu Qing had won the hearts of the soldiers. The emperor wouldn’t act against her at this moment, he just needed a way to save face.

But those less informed, like the other officers, were trembling with fear. Though they had received Gu Qing’s warning beforehand, they could only suppress their pleas and kneel in silence.

Fortunately, the emperor did not deliberate for long. “General Yin speaks reason. Gu the Second, for a woman to achieve such military feats in the camp over these two years is no small feat. We shall pardon your crime for now.”

“Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace.” Gu Qing knelt and kowtowed but did not rise. Instead, she produced a thick scroll. “Your subject has one more matter to report.”

This truly took the emperor by surprise. He motioned for Eunuch Li to bring it forward. As he flipped through the scroll, his expression grew increasingly grave. After a long while, he finally looked up and asked sternly, “Gu Qing, do you understand that if even a single word in this is false, We will not be so lenient with you again?”

Gu Qing raised her head, the determination in her eyes honed over two years in the military camp. Even the emperor had to admit that Gu Qing had grown considerably.

The Gu Qing of today had already surpassed many men in the capital. It was just a pity, she was, after all, only a woman.

Though women in the Geng Dynasty held relatively high status, there was still no precedent for women to be together with women.

“I will thoroughly investigate this matter. If it is indeed true, I will not spare Lin Chenzhi lightly!” Though he said this, the emperor knew that since Gu Qing had dared to present this dossier, the accusations were likely accurate.

With that matter concluded, it was time to reward merits. When it was Gu Qing’s turn, perhaps due to the dossier she had just submitted, the emperor’s attitude toward her softened considerably. “Minister Gu, you have rendered such distinguished service in battle, it is only right that you be rewarded. Tell me, what would you like?”

Gu Qing knelt with her back straight, neither submissive nor arrogant. “What I seek remains the same as it was two years ago.”

“Gu Qing, you must think carefully. You are no longer the Gu Er of two years ago. Today, whether you ask for a promotion or gold and silver, I will grant it.”

The wrath of an emperor could leave millions dead, this was no idle threat. The generals nearby had never witnessed such a scene. If they hadn’t been standing so far from Gu Qing, they would have dragged her back and covered her mouth.

Yet Gu Qing remained unmoved, answering fearlessly, “I desire nothing else.”

“Hahahaha! You little girl are truly a romantic. No wonder you went to such lengths to gather evidence of Lin Chenzhi’s crimes, it seems you had this planned all along.”

The emperor’s stern expression melted into hearty laughter, making him appear somewhat more amiable. But Gu Qing knew the emperor was not so easily swayed.

“However, if you truly wish to marry the princess, she must be willing.”

“Summon Princess Roujia here.”

Even after two years, Xie Zhizhen could recognize her with just a glance at her silhouette.

Though not particularly tall or dark among the generals, she was indeed taller and slightly tanner than she had been two years ago.

Xie Zhizhen tried her best to ignore Gu Qing’s presence as she stepped forward and curtsied. “Your daughter greets Father Emperor.”

Though her head was bowed, she could feel the gazes upon her among them, one particularly intense and familiar.

The emperor’s cold expression softened slightly at the sight of Xie Zhizhen. “Rise. I know your health is frail, and I would not have summoned you so hastily were this matter not related to you.”

“Bring a chair for the princess.”

The eunuch Zhang beside him hurried to fetch a gilded, jade-inlaid chair for Xie Zhizhen, cushioning it with soft rabbit fur for her comfort. The standing generals couldn’t help but glance at the princess’s delicate demeanor, only Gu Qing’s gaze remained inscrutable.

“Zhizhen, do you know why I summoned you?”

Of course, Xie Zhizhen knew. Though she no longer resided in the palace, her aunt, Consort Shu, still held authority over the inner court, allowing her to receive advance notice. But she couldn’t possibly admit this in front of her father.

She shook her head. “Your daughter does not know.”

“Gu Qing, you speak.”

Gu Qing stepped forward, stopping before Xie Zhizhen. After a single glance, she knelt. “I, Gu Qing, second daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo and currently serving as deputy general, humbly beseech Your Majesty and the princess to grant me this opportunity. I wish to marry the princess and become Princess Roujia’s female consort!”

With that, she placed both hands before her forehead and bowed deeply.

Staring at the ground just centimeters away, Gu Qing recalled Xie Zhizhen’s appearance moments ago. Compared to two years ago, there wasn’t much difference her features had simply matured, becoming more refined. Yet, her delicate willow-leaf brows seemed perpetually tinged with sorrow, and her beautiful eyes habitually lowered, obscuring any discernible emotion.

She appeared much quieter now, and noticeably thinner.

These were the only two thoughts occupying Gu Qing’s mind at that moment.

Seated primly on her chair, Xie Zhizhen gazed at Gu Qing kneeling before her, listening to that familiar voice that had echoed in her dreams countless times. Yet, she could do nothing.

The figure seated on the high throne was her father, the emperor and she was a princess of the Geng Dynasty.

The events of two years ago flashed vividly in her mind, the words her aunt had spoken lingering relentlessly in her ears. And besides,

Xie Zhizhen lowered her eyes, looking at Gu Qing kneeling before her. Though the armor had been cleaned, she could still detect a faint trace of blood. Moreover, her father had addressed Gu Qing by name rather than by her military title, “Deputy General Gu”, a clear sign that the emperor still refused to acknowledge Gu Qing’s rank, despite her merits.

Her response was cruel: “This princess is already betrothed.”

Gu Qing looked up, her gaze piercing as she studied Xie Zhizhen. “If you were not betrothed, would you be willing?”

Faced with Gu Qing’s probing stare, Xie Zhizhen’s heart trembled. She didn’t quite understand the implication behind Gu Qing’s question especially when,

Xie Zhizhen glanced at the emperor seated on the high throne. His smile was as kindly as ever, yet she could see the threat lurking beneath. “What nonsense are you speaking, Deputy General Gu? Even if I were not betrothed, this princess could never be with another woman.”

A faint smile finally appeared on the emperor’s face clearly pleased with Xie Zhizhen’s answer. “Gu Qing, you heard it yourself. My daughter is unwilling.”

“This humble subject has overstepped.”

Seeing Gu Qing’s compliance, the emperor nodded approvingly, once again the benevolent elder. “Your contributions to this victory cannot be overlooked. However, since my Roujia is already promised, I shall instead bestow upon you the title of General.”

“Your subject, thanks Your Majesty for this great honor!”

Titles like “General” meant nothing to Gu Qing.

Soon after, the emperor dismissed Xie Zhizhen and spoke briefly with Gu Qing and the other military officers before releasing them.

Once outside the palace, the other officers immediately crowded around Gu Qing. These rough, straightforward men, who usually spoke without restraint, now seemed struck dumb, unable to utter a word.

Having fought alongside them for nearly two years, Gu Qing knew exactly what was on their minds. She sighed deeply, these were her brothers-in-arms, comrades who had faced death together. She didn’t mind the trouble and spoke first: “Yes, I am a woman. If you have any questions, ask them now.”

Only then did the floodgates open: “So back in the camp, when you said you were fighting to earn merits and marry your childhood sweetheart was that Princess Roujia?”

Gu Qing nodded. This had never been a secret in the military. Everyone knew Deputy General Gu had joined the army to win glory and marry her beloved. At the time, they had mocked her mercilessly, saying a true man’s ambitions should lie in serving the dynasty, not chasing after a mere girl.

“But aren’t you the second daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo? With that status, how could you be unworthy of a princess?”

Yin Lang frowned and quickly reprimanded, “No matter what, the princess is still the princess, the emperor’s daughter, our sovereign. No matter how capable we are, we are merely subjects, naturally unworthy of the princess.”

After all, the capital lay at the feet of the Son of Heaven, and some words simply couldn’t be spoken carelessly.

The group immediately fell silent. While they excelled in warfare, the intricate nuances of scholarly discourse left them utterly at a loss.

Gu Qing deftly answered their questions, addressing their concerns without inviting gossip. “If I were the second son of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household, then I might indeed be worthy of the princess. But I am merely the second daughter.”

The fundamental reason they couldn’t be together was that they were both women, a union unacceptable to the world.

Though the distinction between sovereign and subject was clear, given the status of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household and the mutual affection between her and Xie Zhizhen, securing an imperial marriage decree wouldn’t have been difficult. The true challenge lay in her being a woman.

Even in modern times, many still struggled to accept same-sex relationships, let alone in ancient times.

The group then posed a flurry of unrelated questions, which Gu Qing patiently answered before they dispersed, leaving only Yin Lang by her side.

“Tired?” Yin Lang raised an eyebrow. Gu Qing nodded, preparing to return home to wash up and change clothes. Yin Lang glanced back at the golden-tiled, crimson-walled palace and sighed. “Zhiqing, it seems the road to winning your beauty’s heart is still long.”

In the military camp, Gu Qing went by the alias Gu Zhiqing.

Though Yin Lang had long known her true identity, he had grown accustomed to the name she had fabricated and saw no reason to change it now.

A cold glint flickered in Gu Qing’s eyes. She never expected to succeed in one stroke. The immediate goal was to solidify Lin Chenzhi’s crimes and annul the engagement.

As for the next step, she already had a plan.

According to the original story’s plot, in about half a month, the southern barbarians would invade, that would be her opportunity to marry Xie Zhizhen.

Having known Gu Qing for so long, Yin Lang understood her well. Seeing that look in her eyes, he knew nothing good was brewing. “Very well, as long as you have a plan in mind.”

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