The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 40

Gu Qing arrived at the imperial palace. The grand, gold-leafed hall felt desolate and empty. Both Xie Zhibai and Yin Lang looked exceptionally grim, their expressions so serious one might have thought a catastrophe had already occurred. Then again, if it weren’t for something truly critical, they wouldn’t have summoned her at this hour.

Gu Qing suppressed the lingering warmth of her earlier smile. Her lips thinned into a firm line, and her eyes sharpened with focus. “What happened?” she asked.

Seeing her, Xie Zhibai hurried forward. He initially intended to get straight to the point, but after a moment of reflection, he asked first, “How is my sister?”

Given her intelligence, it wouldn’t be hard for Zhizhen to guess that their father’s death was tied to Consort Shu. Unlike Zhizhen, Zhibai didn’t feel much personal grief; aside from his favoritism toward Zhizhen, the late Emperor had never shown much fatherly affection to his other children. Moreover, Consort Shu had raised Zhibai from childhood with the singular expectation of becoming the heir. In the brutal world of imperial succession, Zhibai had long been prepared. Achieving the throne with so little sacrifice was already far easier than he had anticipated.

But Zhizhen was different. Even if the late Emperor was complicit in her mother’s death, his love for her had been genuine. Zhibai feared she might resent Consort Shu—that his sister would hate his mother for killing a doting father to avenge a mother Zhizhen had never even met.

Thinking of Zhizhen’s state earlier that day, Gu Qing nodded. “Zhenzhen understands the complexities involved. Don’t worry.” She explained that Zhizhen merely needed time to process the loss of a loved one and held no grudge against Consort Shu.

Zhibai let out a long breath of relief, the tension finally leaving his shoulders. “You didn’t summon me just for Zhenzhen’s sake, did you?” Gu Qing noted. She knew he wouldn’t call her at such a time without a crisis.

Returning to official business, Zhibai’s expression turned somber. “The matter you warned us about… it’s actually happening.”

When Gu Qing first returned to the capital and her request to marry the Princess was denied, she had consulted Yin Lang and Zhibai about a premonition, a coordinated invasion of the Geng Dynasty by several neighboring minor states. Gu Qing had originally planned to use this conflict as leverage to force the Emperor’s consent.

Military power in the Geng Dynasty was largely concentrated in the hands of Yin Lang and Gu Qing. With the older generation of generals too aged for combat, they were the only two capable leaders left. Gu Qing, thanks to her knowledge of the original story, knew this war was inevitable, though it was breaking out sooner than expected—likely because neighboring states saw the Emperor’s death and the transition of power as a moment of weakness.

“When do we depart?” Gu Qing asked. Though she loathed the thought of leaving Zhizhen when she needed her most, Gu Qing knew she was the only one who could minimize casualties through her prior preparations.

Zhibai calculated briefly. “At the very latest, you must depart in three days.”

Sensing Gu Qing’s inner conflict, Yin Lang stepped forward. “I can go in your stead.” He had grown up in the military and had more practical combat experience than Gu Qing.

But Gu Qing shook her head. “I know you are stronger in raw combat, but in this specific war, only my presence can keep the sacrifices to a minimum.” As a general, she could not abandon her soldiers when she knew her specific strategy was their best chance at survival.

Yin Lang’s eyes flashed with admiration. He knew that every soldier was a husband, a father, and a son. Reducing casualties meant one less broken family. Zhibai patted Gu Qing’s shoulder, offering a small consolation: “Spend these next few days well with my sister.”

At the mention of Zhizhen, Gu Qing’s lips curled into a faint smile. She teased, “Is there something you’ve forgotten to call me?” After the wedding, their relationship had shifted from friends or master-servant to family.

Zhibai froze. He had considered this, but Gu Qing hadn’t brought it up. “I don’t know what to call you,” he admitted. “You are my sister’s Consort, so I should call you ‘Brother-in-law,’ but you are a woman. If I call you ‘Sister-in-law,’ it implies my sister is a man.”

Gu Qing raised an eyebrow. “Why not call me ‘Sister,’ just like she does? I wouldn’t mind having a younger brother.”

Zhibai’s expression stiffened as he straightened his sleeves, adopting a regal air. “The Emperor’s sister is the Grand Princess of the Geng Dynasty. You can’t just climb the social ladder from Consort to Grand Princess.” Gu Qing felt a twinge of disappointment, though she knew he was right—the Emperor’s formal address was a matter of state.

Gu Qing returned to the Princess’s Manor immediately. At the gate, she found Su Juan waiting, which struck her as odd. “Where is the Princess?” Gu Qing’s heart tightened, fearing something had happened.

“The Princess is fine, but… she is acting very strangely,” Su Juan explained. She recounted how Zhizhen had emerged from the study and suddenly demanded to see Xiao Lan. After questioning Xiao Lan about a portrait of her sister, Zhizhen had abruptly promoted the maid to her personal attendant.

Gu Qing was puzzled. What did the portrait of Xiao Lan’s sister have to do with Zhizhen? Xiao Lan was from the Sixth Prince’s manor—the son of the Empress who had killed Zhizhen’s mother. Zhizhen should have no connection to anyone from that household.

“It’s more than a promotion,” Su Juan added. “The Princess then said she would grant Xiao Lan her freedom and let her live here as a ‘friend.’ She has been acting incredibly close to her, almost like… blood sisters.”

Gu Qing went to the front hall and found them sitting together. Xiao Lan had been dressed in a white silk gown made of Shu brocade, a luxury Zhizhen rarely even wore herself, yet she had given it to a maid.

Xiao Lan looked uncomfortable in the fine silks, her upbringing as a servant making the situation feel surreal. She looked at Zhizhen anxiously. “Princess, do you know my sister? Do you know where she is?”

Zhizhen’s hand faltered as she poured tea. She forced a smile. “I do, of course. But if you see her looking like this, she’ll worry. Rest for a few days, and then I will take you to her.”

Gu Qing signaled Su Juan to take Xiao Lan away so she could speak with Zhizhen alone. Once the maid left, Zhizhen seemed unusually tense. She pulled her hand away from Gu Qing, her eyes wandering. “What happened? Nothing happened. I… I just happen to know Xiao Lan’s sister, that’s all.”

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