The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 28.2

Gu Qing was now feeling bored extremely, unbearably bored.

Because of the impending wedding, Lady Gu hadn’t allowed her to go out and play these past few days, nor could she visit Xie Zhizhen.

She had already been confined to the house for two days, no outings with friends, no visits to the princess’s estate to see anyone. All she could do was read in her courtyard or idly practice with her weapons.

On the night before the wedding, just as Gu Qing was about to get a good night’s sleep to look her best for the big day, Lady Gu entered her room with a mysterious expression.

“Mother, are you sneaking around like a thief?” Gu Qing found it amusing to see her mother acting so furtive.

Lady Gu’s eyes darted around, and she somewhat awkwardly pulled out a small booklet from her sleeve.

Given that it was the night before the wedding, Gu Qing instantly knew what it was after all, even if she hadn’t experienced it herself, she had seen enough dramas in her past life to recognize a “fire-avoidance manual” (a euphemism for an erotic guide).

Lady Gu sat beside Gu Qing, opened the manual, and blushed at the suggestive illustrations inside. But since this concerned the couple’s future intimate life, she had to explain it to Gu Qing, no matter how embarrassed she felt.

“Your situation with Zhizhen is unique, so I specifically sought out a manual for women.”

At this, Lady Gu grew even more flustered. Originally, she had planned to simply pass down the manual her own mother had given her, but then she realized that relations between women might be different. After discussing it with Consort Shu, they decided to find one tailored to women. “I’m not very knowledgeable about this, so you’ll have to study it yourself. Be careful with Zhizhen women are more fragile in these matters.”

Lady Gu had worked herself into a blush, expecting Gu Qing to be equally embarrassed after all, she was an unmarried maiden. But when she looked up, she saw that Gu Qing’s face had drained of color, turning slightly pale.

Just as she was about to ask what was wrong, Gu Qing spoke first, “Mother will Consort Shu also be explaining this to Zhizhen tonight?”

Lady Gu nodded this had been agreed upon by both families. “Why do you ask?”

Gu Qing accepted the fire prevention diagram and quickly urged her mother to leave. “Mother, I understand now. Please go back first.”

Her attitude only made Madam Gu more worried. “What’s wrong with you? If there’s anything, you can tell me.”

If it were about anything else, Gu Qing would have spoken up. But whenever it involved Xie Zhizhen, she was always reluctant to discuss it with her family. She could only brush it off with a few words. “I’m fine, just a little shy. Please go out first, I’ll look at it.”

Helpless, Madam Gu couldn’t persuade her otherwise and had no choice but to let herself be pushed out of Qingzhi Courtyard.

Once her mother was gone, Gu Qing immediately scaled the wall and left the Gu residence.

Despite Madam Gu’s repeated orders forbidding her from leaving and even assigning guards to watch Qingzhi Courtyard, Gu Qing had spent two years in the military camp as a general. If she couldn’t handle a few guards, it would be a disgrace to her reputation.

On her way to the princess’s residence, Gu Qing’s mind was filled with thoughts of Xie Zhizhen.

Because of Lin Chenzhi, she already harbored an aversion to women. If she had to look at those diagrams again, complete with Consort Shu’s explanations.

She didn’t even want to imagine it.

Just as she arrived at the princess’s residence, she happened to spot Consort Shu. Gu Qing let out a sigh of relief and stopped her. “Auntie, are you here to explain the fire prevention diagram to Zhizhen?”

Consort Shu was slightly surprised to see Gu Qing. “The bride and groom aren’t supposed to meet before the wedding. What are you doing here at the princess’s residence?”

Gu Qing scratched her head. “I was just afraid you might scare Zhizhen.”

She didn’t plan to tell Consort Shu about Xie Zhizhen’s time at the State Preceptor’s residence, so she made up an excuse. “Don’t worry, my mother has already explained everything to me. You know how shy Zhizhen is, it’s better not to show her these things.”

Consort Shu shot her a playful glare but didn’t insist. After all, in her eyes, Gu Qing had spent time in the military camp and was likely the more dominant one. As long as Gu Qing understood, it was fine for Zhizhen to just enjoy herself.

Before leaving, she still reminded Gu Qing, “You should hurry back too.”

Gu Qing nodded and watched Consort Shu return to the palace. She had intended to go straight home, but seeing the princess’s residence so close, she hesitated. In the end, she quietly slipped inside when no one was looking and made her way to Xie Zhizhen’s window.

“Zhizhen, Zhizhen.”

Following the custom that the couple shouldn’t see each other before the wedding, Gu Qing didn’t open the window. Instead, she called out softly from outside.

Xie Zhizhen had just been about to sleep when she heard Gu Qing’s voice. She hurried over and was about to open the window when Gu Qing stopped her. “Don’t. We’re not supposed to meet before the wedding. It’s better like this.”

Xie Zhizhen chuckled softly. “Weren’t you always the one who hated these feudal customs the most?”

The term “feudal customs” was something Gu Qing had taught her.

Gu Qing grinned sheepishly. “Well, a wedding only happens once. Just in case.”

Warmth filled Xie Zhizhen’s heart. She knew that in the past, Gu Qing would have been visibly impatient whenever such topics came up. But for the sake of their wedding’s happiness, she was willing to believe in these so-called feudal traditions.

Gu Qing began chatting idly with Xie Zhizhen. “Zhizhen, do you remember the first time we met?”

“I remember. You gave me a hairpin.” At the mention of the past, Xie Zhizhen’s lips unconsciously curved into a smile.

“I stole that from my mother’s jewelry box. Wasn’t it beautiful?”

“It was.”
“Zhizhen, tomorrow we’ll be married. Are you nervous?”

“A little.”

“I’m a little nervous too.”

Before they knew it, both of them had fallen asleep.

The next day, Su Juan was about to inform Xie Zhizhen that Gu Qing was missing when she entered and immediately spotted Gu Qing asleep against the wall. She hurried over, calling, “Second Miss? Second Miss?”

Gu Qing, still groggy from sleep, heard Su Juan’s voice. “Second Miss, why are you sleeping here? The entire Gu Manor has been turned upside down looking for you!”

Gu Qing snapped awake, remembering that today was her wedding day and she needed to start preparing early. She bolted, but before leaving, she turned back to tell Su Juan, “If Zhizhen wakes up and can’t find me, make sure to tell her I’ve gone back!”

Because of the wedding preparations, Madam Gu had risen before dawn. When she arrived at Qingzhi Courtyard and couldn’t find Gu Qing, her temples throbbed with anger. She didn’t even need to guess where Gu Qing had gone and immediately sent someone to check the princess’s residence.

Of course, they couldn’t neglect the Gu Manor either just in case that troublesome girl had returned.

Both the Gu Manor and the princess’s residence needed to be thoroughly searched!

Before long, Gu Qing finally appeared at the gate. Madam Gu stormed over, growing even angrier when she saw her daughter drenched in sweat. She scolded, “Didn’t we say you couldn’t see each other before the wedding? It’s bad luck! After today, you can stick together every single day, and no one will care! Why must you insist on this one day?”

Fearing she might make her mother ill on the wedding day, Gu Qing quickly put on an ingratiating smile. She took Madam Gu’s arm and gently guided her back inside, soothing her with soft words. “Mother, Zhizhen and I didn’t meet last night. We just talked through the screen for a while. I must’ve been so tired I accidentally fell asleep.”

As a mischievous child, Gu Qing had often been scolded by her mother, so she had long mastered the art of appeasing her. The trick was to soften her tone, admit fault if she was wrong, and explain clearly if she wasn’t.

Hearing that Gu Qing and Xie Zhizhen hadn’t actually met, Madam Gu’s anger subsided slightly. She pulled Gu Qing along, urging her to change clothes quickly time was already running short.

Gu Qing glanced at the sky. After spending so much time in this era, she had learned to roughly estimate the time. It was probably still the Hour of the Ox, around three in the morning in modern terms. It was still so early.

Though she had anticipated it, she hadn’t realized wedding preparations would start when the sky was still dark.

Xie Zhizhen had initially prepared two wedding outfits, one for the ceremony and another as a backup in case of emergencies so both were perfectly coordinated.

Because the wedding was somewhat rushed, Xie Zhizhen’s dress didn’t need additional tailoring, but Gu Qing’s couldn’t be finished in time. Instead, dozens of seamstresses worked through the night to alter the spare dress, adjusting the measurements and minor details to fit Gu Qing perfectly.

Admittedly, the wedding dress for a princess was truly exquisite, but it was also incredibly complicated to wear. Fortunately, Gu Qing only needed to put on the inner garments herself, the rest was handled by Shao Yao and two other maids.

Once dressed in the inner layers, she stood still as the maids wrapped her in layer after layer. Thankfully, the dress had been designed with consideration for the season though cool, wearing too much could still be stifling. The fabric was breathable and lightweight, ensuring both beauty and comfort for the bride.

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