The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 5

Gu Qing recalled the news her subordinates had brought her yesterday. It was said that ever since Princess Roujia fell seriously ill a year ago, she seemed like a completely different person no longer reckless and willful, but instead displaying a newfound steadiness, embodying the dignified demeanor expected of a royal princess.

But how could someone’s temperament change so drastically just from falling ill? There must be something more, something hidden, that had transformed Xie Zhizhen into who she was now.

Looking at the woman’s radiant, smiling face, Gu Qing felt a wave of relief. Whatever had happened a year ago, the important thing was that she was back now. She would naturally protect Xie Zhizhen and ensure her smile never faded again.

“As long as the princess is satisfied.”

Xie Zhizhen noticed the slight tan on Gu Qing’s skin, her heart aching as she reached out to touch her cheek. But the moment her fingers made contact, an inexplicable discomfort surged within her, and she withdrew her hand. “You’ve gotten much darker.”

Seizing the opportunity, Gu Qing gently covered the back of Xie Zhizhen’s hand with her own. The rough texture, so unlike the softness of most women’s skin, unexpectedly soothed the unease in her heart.

“Don’t let the tan fool you compared to the others in the military camp, I’m practically pale.”

Thinking of the other generals she had seen the day before, Xie Zhizhen chuckled. “For a woman to compare her fairness with men, isn’t that a bit shameless?”

Her round eyes sparkled mischievously as she added, “But a little tan is good, it makes you look healthy.”

Just as their conversation was in full swing, Gu Qing’s expression suddenly darkened. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her deep black eyes turned as unfathomable as an abyss, sending a chill down Xie Zhizhen’s spine. Worried, Xie Zhizhen quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”

Gu Qing pressed her lips together, suppressing the anger in her eyes. “It’s nothing. The scenery over there looks nice, shall we go take a look?”

Xie Zhizhen was puzzled. They had been sitting comfortably, why the sudden urge to move elsewhere? Then, she heard the gasps and whispers of women behind her.

“Women with women?! That Princess Roujia is truly audacious!”

“Indeed. Though His Majesty swiftly denied the rumors afterward, so many palace maids and eunuchs saw it Princess Roujia and the Second Miss Gu, disheveled and lying together on the same bed.”

“How disgraceful.”

“Tell me, with their status, they could have any husband they wanted. Why would they behave like this?”

“I’ve heard it’s a sign of demonic possession.”

Xie Zhizhen’s mind went blank. Two years had passed since the incident, but with Gu Qing’s departure, her own engagement to Lin Chenzhi, and her reclusive life over the past year, she hadn’t heard such vicious gossip about herself and Gu Qing in a long time.

But this time, she wasn’t the only one who heard it, Gu Qing had too. No wonder her expression had turned icy earlier; she must have overheard the whispers from afar and wanted to shield Xie Zhizhen from the hurt.

Xie Zhizhen trembled with rage. She never imagined that after two years, the rumors would have spiraled into something even more outrageous, with claims of impropriety now circulating freely.

Just then, Gu Qing took her hand. The warmth of her touch seeped into Xie Zhizhen’s cold fingertips as she led her forward.

Looking at Gu Qing’s slender yet unexpectedly reassuring figure, Xie Zhizhen felt a sense of security. With Gu Qing by her side, it seemed nothing could ever truly harm her.

Those people never expected that their behind-the-back gossip would actually be overheard by the very subject of their discussion. Flustered, they quickly curtsied and bowed their heads in greeting. “We pay our respects to Princess Roujia.”

“Which noble family’s young ladies dare to slander the imperial family behind their backs?” Gu Qing had been away from the capital for so long that she no longer recognized most faces, and for a moment, she couldn’t place who these three were.

One of them, a woman in purple, noticed Gu Qing’s unfamiliarity. Xie Zhizhen, standing beside her, had kept a low profile over the past year, rarely seen in public. Emboldened, the purple-clad woman lifted her chin defiantly. “How can this be called slander? We were merely stating facts.”

Gu Qing smiled faintly, exuding an aura of authority quite unlike the delicate demeanor typical of capital ladies. Her crimson dress fluttered ominously in the breeze, unsettling the onlookers. Having seen bloodshed and taken lives on the battlefield, her presence alone made the purple-clad woman’s legs tremble uncontrollably.

Just as the woman was about to collapse under the pressure, Gu Qing spoke. “Do you know what punishment awaits those who slander the imperial family and court officials? What penalty follows those who spread baseless rumors?”

Gu Qing didn’t wait for an answer. “According to the laws of Da Geng, slandering the imperial family warrants a hundred lashes. Slandering court officials merits fifty lashes. As for spreading groundless rumors, the lightest punishment is fifty lashes, while the severest is imprisonment.”

At this, the purple-clad woman merely a sheltered noblewoman was easily intimidated. She nearly fainted in fright, saved only by the quick reflexes of a white-robed woman beside her, preventing her from collapsing in front of the crowd.

The white-robed woman stepped forward, sensing Gu Qing’s hostility. She turned to Xie Zhizhen instead. “This humble subject does not understand what Her Highness intends by this.”

Xie Zhizhen glanced at Gu Qing, who stood protectively before her, and warmth flooded her heart. She stepped forward to stand beside Gu Qing, meeting the women’s gazes directly. “General Gu is only speaking the truth.”

This time, she wasn’t alone in facing the rumors. Gu Qing was there standing up for her, shielding her, staying by her side.

After all, she was still an imperial princess. Even if she usually avoided conflict, that didn’t mean she was a pushover who would tolerate being trampled upon.

The white-robed woman hadn’t expected Xie Zhizhen to confront them directly. Though Xie Zhizhen held the higher status as a princess, the woman still felt relieved not to have to face Gu Qing’s terrifying presence.

“We were only discussing the matter objectively. Surely those things weren’t unfounded, ” The white-robed woman was abruptly cut off when a pink-clad woman tugged at her sleeve. Annoyed, she snapped, “What are you doing?”

The pink-clad woman glanced at Xie Zhizhen and the protective figure of Gu Qing beside her before stepping forward to curtsy deeply. “We beg Your Highness’s forgiveness. This matter is entirely our fault, we foolishly believed the slanderous rumors and spoke out of turn.”

Regardless of their true thoughts, the other party was, after all, the emperor’s most beloved Princess Roujia.

The white-robed and purple-clad women finally came to their senses. Though Xie Zhizhen had kept to herself over the past year, appearing unwilling to stir trouble, she was still a princess, the emperor’s favorite. And the other woman before them, who had referred to herself as a court official, was likely the legendary General Gu.

For the first time, Xie Zhizhen didn’t shy away from the rumors but faced them head-on and this time, she emerged victorious.

She took a deep breath, exhaling the turbid air within her, straightened her back, and declared, “Hearsay is unreliable; seeing is believing. Without witnessing it firsthand, one should not make baseless assumptions. I imagine no family would want a daughter-in-law who spreads gossip everywhere.”

The thought of those people fabricating stories about her and Gu Qing, even going so far as to claim they were improperly dressed, made Xie Zhizhen feel as if a heavy stone were pressing on her chest, suffocating her with anger.

The group of women were startled, realizing Xie Zhizhen was warning them. Gu Qing had just returned to the capital and didn’t know them, but that didn’t mean Xie Zhizhen didn’t. Even if Xie Zhizhen truly didn’t recognize them, she could easily ask Lin Daidai to find out their identities. They quickly knelt, “We spoke out of turn, Your Highness.”

Xie Zhizhen had no intention of making things difficult for them. “This time, I’ll let it pass. But if there’s a next time, I will not be lenient.”

“Dismissed.”

“Yes.”

Only when their figures had completely disappeared from sight did Xie Zhizhen finally relax, her shoulders slumping as if all her energy had been drained from her.

Turning around, she noticed Gu Qing watching her from behind. Those eyes, brimming with laughter, reflected her small figure. Remembering the words she had just spoken, Xie Zhizhen suddenly felt a wave of embarrassment and silently turned away, pretending nothing had happened.

But Gu Qing was mischievous, deliberately stepping in front of her, forcing her to meet her gaze, and teasing, “You handled that quite well. Why are you blushing now?”

Knowing she couldn’t possibly cover Gu Qing’s mouth, Xie Zhizhen could only glare at her fiercely. “Stop talking!”

Unbeknownst to her, her soft voice paired with that adorably fierce expression held no intimidation in Gu Qing’s eyes. Instead, it seemed like a coquettish act, making Gu Qing want to pull her into an embrace.

But fearing she might provoke Xie Zhizhen too much, Gu Qing wisely kept quiet.

Suddenly, Gu Qing’s eyelids twitched slightly, as if she had heard something. Almost instinctively, she grabbed Xie Zhizhen’s wrist and pulled her along.

Xie Zhizhen, having been pampered since childhood, couldn’t keep up with Gu Qing’s pace. Realizing this, Gu Qing quickly found an empty room and ducked inside with her.

“Gu Qing, what?” Before Xie Zhizhen could finish, Gu Qing covered her mouth with a hand and whispered in her ear, “Shh, don’t speak.”

Outside, a voice called, “Zhiqing!”

It sounded like a young man. For some reason, Xie Zhizhen felt curious about the owner of that voice and wanted to peek out to see who it was. But Gu Qing covered her eyes before she could.

Xie Zhizhen wanted to ask why her eyes needed covering too, but recalling Gu Qing’s earlier warning, she decided to trust her and waited silently.

Before long, the voice gradually faded into the distance. Xie Zhizhen finally regained her sight and turned to ask Gu Qing who that was. But as soon as she opened her mouth, she found Gu Qing’s face inches from hers, their noses almost touching.

Their warm breaths mingled, and the sound of their pounding hearts filled their ears.

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