The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 37

Xie Zhizhen had no memory of how she returned to the Princess’s Manor. She had just seen her Imperial Father with Gu Qing; how could he have passed away in the blink of an eye? Although she had noticed his poor state, she never expected the end to come so swiftly.

Knowing that Zhizhen was in a state of distress, Gu Qing tenderly helped her lie down on the bed. Seeing her beloved like this pained her heart. She said softly, “Get some rest, and try not to overthink.”

Xie Zhizhen didn’t speak. She stared blankly at the bed curtains, as unresponsive as a piece of wood. Gu Qing wasn’t in a hurry; she sat by her, gently patting her rhythmically. Her soothing voice flowed like spring water, as patient as if she were coaxing a child to sleep. Eventually, Xie Zhizhen drifted into the darkness of slumber.

Once she was certain Zhizhen was finally asleep, Gu Qing breathed a sigh of relief. She walked outside and instructed Su Juan, “Watch over the Princess carefully. I must go back to the palace to settle a matter. If she asks, tell her the truth.” Su Juan bowed respectfully.

On the way back to the palace, Gu Qing’s mind was racing. Something was wrong—terribly wrong. Based on the Emperor’s condition, he should have been able to last another month or two with the Imperial Physicians’ support. Yet, he passed away at this exact moment.

It was far too coincidental. It happened precisely on the third day of their marriage—on the day of the return visit—and right after they had finished their formal farewells to him. It felt deliberate, as if someone had carefully ensured that she and Zhizhen could complete a perfect wedding and a traditional return visit without interruption.

For some reason, Gu Qing’s intuition pointed toward Consort Shu. The Consort had a powerful motive; she hated the Emperor for stealing her sister and forcing himself upon her. Moreover, only Consort Shu would be so meticulous as to ensure Xie Zhizhen had a flawless wedding even in the midst of a bloody revenge.

Gu Qing went straight to Chengqian Palace. When Su Ye saw her, she was confused by the unexpected visit but went inside to announce her nonetheless. Soon, she returned to invite Gu Qing in.

Consort Shu appeared to be in a good mood. Perhaps having rested, the dark circles under her eyes had faded slightly. Without her elaborate makeup, her natural face was revealed—clean, elegant, and still breathtakingly beautiful. However, she didn’t look at all like a woman who had just lost her husband.

Gu Qing smiled, offering a playful bow. “Aunt looks like she is in quite a good mood.”

Having shed her heavy formal robes, Consort Shu wore a simple, plain-colored palace dress. She took a slow sip of tea, making no effort to hide her true feelings from Gu Qing. “A persistent, annoying mosquito has finally been swatted to death.”

Only Consort Shu would dare compare the Emperor to a mosquito. Gu Qing didn’t mind the attitude; as a transmigrator who knew the original story, she understood the deep-seated trauma and hatred Consort Shu held toward the Emperor.

Sensing Gu Qing’s purpose, Consort Shu’s joyful expression softened slightly. “How is Zhenzhen?”

Thinking of Xie Zhizhen’s fragile state, Gu Qing sighed. “She just fell asleep.” Gu Qing herself felt nothing for the Emperor, and were it not for Zhizhen, she wouldn’t have bothered with this at all. But to Zhizhen, he was, after all, her father.

Consort Shu lowered her head. She knew her gambit would inevitably hurt Xie Zhizhen, but she felt no regret. A small amount of pain in exchange for the death of that “dog emperor” and revenge for her sister was a price worth paying.

As for Zhizhen… She took Gu Qing’s hand, her expression full of maternal affection. “Aunt knows you are a good girl. You will take good care of her, won’t you?”

Gu Qing would have done so even without the request; Zhizhen was the little princess she held in the palm of her hand. Receiving Gu Qing’s firm response, Consort Shu finally felt a sense of relief. In this entire scheme, her only worry had been Xie Zhizhen.

Then Su Ye entered and curtsied. “Your Highness, it is the one from the Cold Palace.”

Consort Shu nodded and dismissed her. Noticing Gu Qing’s confused gaze, she offered a gentle, deceptively tender smile. “It has been discovered. The Empress murdered His Majesty. However, it remains a mystery how she escaped the Cold Palace and made her way to the Emperor’s chambers.”

Gu Qing didn’t believe for a second that Consort Shu didn’t know how the Empress got there, but she didn’t pry. All that mattered was that there was now a logical explanation to give to the world—and to Xie Zhizhen.

Having obtained what she came for, Gu Qing bowed to take her leave. “If Zhenzhen wakes up and doesn’t see me, she’ll likely throw a fuss. I have troubled Aunt; I shall take my leave now.”

Upon returning to the manor, Gu Qing immediately asked about Zhizhen. Su Juan looked worried and helpless. “The Princess woke up twice. Each time, she immediately asked where you were. I told her the truth and spent a long while comforting her before she could fall back asleep.”

Hearing that she had woken up twice in less than half an hour, Gu Qing’s face clouded with concern. How unsettled must her sleep be? She hurried to the bedroom, and the moment she entered, Xie Zhizhen stirred.

“Gu Qing, is that you?” the girl’s delicate voice whispered.

“It’s me.” Gu Qing walked quickly to her side. As she approached, Zhizhen reached out her pale fingers to clutch at Gu Qing’s hem. Her exhausted eyes made Gu Qing’s heart ache even more.

Her outer clothes were still chilled by the spring air, so she shed them, leaving only her inner garments to ensure she was warm. She then slipped into the blankets and pulled Xie Zhizhen into her arms, whispering comfortingly, “I just checked at the palace. It was the Empress who killed Imperial Father.”

Xie Zhizhen nodded, showing little reaction. Gu Qing worried that she might find the news hard to accept. Looking at Zhizhen’s overly pale face and dry lips, she instinctively wanted to kiss her to provide some moisture. However, considering the solemn circumstances, she suppressed the urge. She merely let her fingers brush against Zhizhen’s waist.

“It’s actually not hard to understand,” Gu Qing fabricated. “Because of Xie Zhili’s rebellion, the Empress and her entire clan lost any hope of redemption. Perhaps she held a grudge.”

Gu Qing was making it up, of course. She knew that rather than the Empress, it was Consort Shu who had truly orchestrated the Emperor’s death. But she dared not tell Zhizhen; not everyone can handle the fact that their beloved aunt killed their father.

Xie Zhizhen leaned against Gu Qing, her voice faint. “Gu Qing, stay and sleep with me for a while.”

Noticing that Zhizhen’s hands were ice-cold even under the covers, Gu Qing wrapped her warm hands around them. “Sleep. I’m right here.”

With Gu Qing by her side, Xie Zhizhen soon fell into a deep sleep, and this time, she didn’t wake up midway. Eventually, feeling she had slept enough, Zhizhen rubbed her eyes and woke up. She found herself still in Gu Qing’s arms. The woman’s body was a perfect blend of softness and strength.

Xie Zhizhen looked up slightly and saw Gu Qing’s closed eyes. Her features carried a touch of heroic spirit, and her lips looked so red and inviting. Zhizhen shifted upward slightly; her throat was dry, and she pressed her lips against Gu Qing’s.

She tried her best to mimic the way Gu Qing had kissed her before, only to suddenly find herself staring into Gu Qing’s bright, smiling eyes. Startled, Zhizhen tried to pull away, but in the next second, Gu Qing’s hand was already pressing against the back of her head.

Having learned from her previous mistake, Gu Qing’s movements were much gentler this time. It wasn’t an aggressive conquest but a soothing, flowing sensation like a trickling stream. It was wonderful, and it left Zhizhen’s mind completely blank. The faint scent of grass mixed with peach blossoms allowed her to relax and forget her sorrows.

While Zhizhen was immersed in the scent, Gu Qing suddenly tightened her grip on her waist and carried her up onto the rooftop. The summer night breeze wasn’t cold; it carried a refreshing chill that felt comfortable.

Xie Zhizhen was terrified at first, clinging to Gu Qing for fear of falling. Gu Qing patted her back and chuckled softly. “Alright, you can open your eyes now.”

Zhizhen was still afraid, but based on her trust in Gu Qing, she peeked through a tiny slit. Seeing the height, she immediately squeezed her eyes shut again. “I’m scared!” she whimpered. The last time she had been this high was as a fearless seven-year-old; now that she was older and wiser, she had grown more timid.

Gu Qing comforted her, whispering in her ear, “I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you. Trust me?”

With Gu Qing’s encouragement, Zhizhen tentatively opened her eyes. This time, she didn’t see the drop to the ground; Gu Qing’s calloused hand was blocking her view of the edge. This small act gave her an immense sense of security. She took a deep breath, opened her beautiful eyes, and looked straight at Gu Qing’s smiling face.

Laughter is contagious. Unconsciously, the corners of Zhizhen’s mouth curled up, her smile mirroring Gu Qing’s.

Since it was Zhizhen’s first time on the roof, Gu Qing made sure she was sitting securely before sitting down beside her. They felt the evening breeze; sitting on the eaves on a sweltering summer night had a unique charm.

Gu Qing produced a jar of wine from somewhere. She set two cups on the red tiles and filled them. Because the tiles were uneven, the cups sat askew. As she poured, some wine spilled, dripping down onto the grass below.

Gu Qing handed a cup to Xie Zhizhen. Zhizhen sniffed it tentatively; it had a lovely, faint peach blossom aroma. She took a small sip. The sweetness spread across her palate unlike harsh liquor, this was fragrant and sweet. A smile touched her lips, and she unconsciously took a few more sips.

Watching her like a little greedy cat, Gu Qing smiled and took a sip herself. The peach blossom scent was familiar, though not as intoxicating as the scent on Zhizhen herself.

The small cup was soon empty. Xie Zhizhen held it out toward Gu Qing, her eyes sparkling. “I want more.” Seeing that she wasn’t drunk, Gu Qing poured her another. To her surprise, the girl who usually never drank finished it quickly and asked for a third.

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