The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 52

Xie Zhizhen’s heart tightened, and she quickly pushed Gu Qing away. The bells on her feet chimed crisply, making her feel even more flustered.

Originally, this could only be considered their private bedroom. Although this was actually a study, it was still their personal space. She could overlook Gu Qing’s antics when they were alone, but now things were different. Su Juan was outside waiting to be summoned, and she suddenly remembered that there were several soldiers stationed just outside the study!

The more she thought about it, the more panicked Xie Zhizhen became, feeling an inexplicable sense of shame.

Gu Qing released her, her gaze lingering on Xie Zhizhen’s reddened lips. A slight smile played at the corners of her mouth, and she appeared perfectly calm. Noticing Xie Zhizhen’s obvious distress, Gu Qing reached out to help her up and patted her shoulder, which was exposed where the outer robe had slipped down. “Without my permission, they won’t let Su Juan in.”

She had already given orders that the study was a restricted area. Except for her and Xie Zhizhen, no one was to be allowed inside without her say-so, not even Su Juan, who had served Xie Zhizhen for many years.

Only then did Xie Zhizhen breathe a sigh of relief. She shot Gu Qing a glare, but with her watery eyes, the look lacked any real deterrent force. Instead, it looked more like she was acting spoiled, making Gu Qing want to steal another kiss.

However, considering there was someone waiting outside, it wasn’t right to keep Su Juan waiting forever.

At that moment, the soldier outside spoke again. “Your Highness, Prince Consort, Su Juan requests an audience.”

Xie Zhizhen quickly pulled her outer robe back on, but her shoes and socks had been kicked several meters away by Gu Qing. She anxiously thumped Gu Qing’s shoulder. “Hurry up and bring my shoes and socks here!”

Even though she was sure Su Juan wouldn’t enter without permission, letting her wait outside for too long would inevitably lead to questions.

Gu Qing brought the shoes and socks over to the chair. She reached out and wrapped her arm around Xie Zhizhen’s waist, pulling her into her lap. Before she could even start putting the shoes on, Su Juan’s voice outside grew urgent.

“Your Highness! Su Juan has urgent news!”

In her haste, Xie Zhizhen remained sitting in Gu Qing’s lap. Before her socks were even on, she blurted out, “Come, come in!”

The moment the words left her mouth, Xie Zhizhen regretted it. What was she saying? If she had just waited a few more seconds, she could have put her socks on. Now, her jade-like feet were still bare. She shrank back, trying to use Gu Qing’s skirt to hide them. From Su Juan’s angle, they probably wouldn’t be visible.

Having received Xie Zhizhen’s permission, the soldiers finally let Su Juan in. As she entered the study, her face was filled with anxiety, and she didn’t pay much attention to the somewhat ambiguous and strange posture of the two women.

Seeing Su Juan enter, Xie Zhizhen instinctively tried to tuck her feet away further. But remembering the crisp bells, she realized that while they might not have been heard from outside, Su Juan was now right in front of her. If she moved now, Su Juan would definitely hear them.

With that thought, Xie Zhizhen’s right leg remained stiff and vertical. She didn’t dare move a muscle, fearing any sound would attract Su Juan’s attention.

Of course, at this very moment, Gu Qing’s hand started acting up. Taking advantage of the table’s cover, her fingertips brushed against Xie Zhizhen’s waist. It tickled, yet Xie Zhizhen didn’t dare move.

“Your Highness, news just came from the palace. The Emperor has issued an Edict of Self-Reproach on behalf of the late Emperor.”

Su Juan’s words successfully diverted Xie Zhizhen’s attention from Gu Qing’s hand. She asked in shock, “How can that be?!”

Throughout history, an Emperor only issued an Edict of Self-Reproach during times of political upheaval, natural disasters, or national crisis. Xie Zhibai had only been on the throne for three months, and he was already issuing one, and on behalf of the late Emperor at that?

Su Juan nodded, understanding Xie Zhizhen’s shock. She quickly explained, “The Emperor… in the edict, he admitted to the late Emperor’s act of seizing a subject’s wife.”

Although this was indeed the late Emperor’s fault, and many officials considered it a stain and a shameful act, no one had dared to speak up for Pei Fang during the late Emperor’s reign. It was only thanks to the Grand Tutor’s righteousness that Pei Fang had been secretly protected and given a new identity, allowing him to survive and return to the court today.

Xie Zhizhen was truly stunned. She hadn’t expected Xie Zhibai to do such a thing. She knew about her mother’s past, but she also knew that imperial power was not to be defied. Even if her father was wrong, he was the Emperor. The ministers didn’t dare say anything, and she couldn’t either.

Gu Qing was also surprised, but after a moment’s thought, she felt she could understand. After all, Consort Dowager Shu was still there. She squeezed Xie Zhizhen’s slightly cool hand. Noticing Su Juan hadn’t finished, she tilted her chin up to signal her to continue.

Su Juan went on. “And… and the Emperor also issued a decree to strip Empress He Yi of her title. He sent He Yi… no, he sent the Consort back to the Pei family estate’s cemetery. Once the Pei Consort passes away, the two of them are to be buried together.”

Xie Zhizhen fell silent. Gu Qing waved her hand, signaling Su Juan to leave.

Gu Qing rested her chin on Xie Zhizhen’s shoulder, breathing in the faint scent of peach blossoms from her neck. “Are you very surprised?”

Xie Zhizhen nodded. It was hard not to be surprised by such news. No one would have expected the new Emperor, after only three months, to issue an Edict of Self-Reproach for his father, especially for an aunt he had never even met.

Not only that, but Xie Zhibai had actually sent her mother’s remains back to Pei Fang, so that while they could not share a bed in life, they could share a grave in death. This didn’t seem like something Xie Zhibai would do on his own.

Gu Qing nodded. “You guessed correctly. It must have been the Consort Dowager’s request.”

Even if it was for her mother’s sake, Xie Zhizhen still found it hard to understand. “But Zhibai has only just ascended the throne.” His position wasn’t even fully secure yet.

Gu Qing lowered her eyes and answered silently in her heart: Because she loved your mother. She loved her so much that she cared for her loved ones too, even looking after your mother’s sweetheart. She loved her so much that even her own son became a tool for her.

Although she knew the answer, Gu Qing didn’t tell Xie Zhizhen. Some things were better left unknown. In any case, it was all the bitterness of the previous generation. Now the late Emperor was dead, Pei Fang had regained his identity and returned to the Duke’s Manor, and Xie Zhizhen’s mother had been reburied there as well.

The affairs of the older generation had finally come to a close.

“Perhaps it was to give your mother some peace in the afterlife,” Gu Qing comforted her. She leaned down to pick up the shoes and socks from the floor and put them on Xie Zhizhen. “As for the court, I am here, and the Protector General’s Manor is behind us.”

As her warm hands touched the cold feet, Gu Qing felt a bit of regret. Xie Zhizhen had a cold constitution, and she shouldn’t have been playing around and preventing her from wearing her shoes earlier.

As Gu Qing moved, the bells on Xie Zhizhen’s ankle chimed softly. But once the socks and shoes were on and hidden beneath the skirt, the sound was muffled. If one stood a little further away, it likely couldn’t be heard at all.

Xie Zhizhen nodded, thinking Gu Qing’s words made sense. This matter was in the past now; there was no use dwelling on it.

Gu Qing tried to take her hand, but Xie Zhizhen shook her head. she reached out her arms and said softly, “I don’t want to walk. I want a hug.”

Gu Qing shook her head with a smile, looking helpless yet indulgent. She picked Xie Zhizhen up in a bridal carry. Xie Zhizhen kicked her feet slightly, and the bells rang along with her movements.

On the way back to the room with Xie Zhizhen in her arms, Gu Qing ran into Zhou Xianyun and Wang Yong.

“General, I’ve finally caught you this time!” Wang Yong rushed up the moment he saw Gu Qing, laughing like a fool.

Zhou Xianyun didn’t say a word, standing quietly to the side. But when Gu Qing turned around, she saw the General, who usually acted like a rough man, carrying a world-class beauty in her arms.

The beauty wore a vibrant sunset-colored dress that matched the General’s. Her hair was in a simple and elegant single bun adorned with exquisite hairpins and leaf-shaped tassels. Her face, free of makeup, looked incredibly pure. Her features were delicate, and a faint smile touched her lips; she looked as beautiful as a celestial being.

As Gu Qing moved, Zhou Xianyun thought she heard the faint, crisp sound of bells.

Gu Qing got a headache the moment she saw Wang Yong. “How did you find your way to the Grand Princess’s Manor?”

Wang Yong scratched his head. When the maid leading him saw Gu Qing and Xie Zhizhen, she bowed. Only then did he remember his manners. He quickly clasped his hands and was about to bow when Gu Qing stopped him. “Alright, alright. We’re not in court. There’s no need for such formalities in my own home.”

Wang Yong dropped the formal gesture and said in his loud voice, “General, after the big battle, the brothers have been saying we should find a time to get together and have a few drinks. You’re the only one missing!”

Even though Xie Zhizhen was present, Wang Yong always spoke his mind. He said directly without thinking, “Everyone says that since you got married, you’ve become all feminine, staying in the manor every day to accompany your Grand Princess. They even say you’re henpecked, and that you have to check the Grand Princess’s expression just to go out for a drink.”

Henpecked?

The nickname made Gu Qing’s lip twitch. Just because she hadn’t gone out for a drink, they had gone and given her a nickname?

Wang Yong’s words made even Xie Zhizhen, who had been feeling a bit somber, burst into laughter. She looked beautiful when she smiled, with two faint dimples and sparkling eyes. “But isn’t Gu Qing a woman to begin with?”

Wang Yong looked at the hair ornaments and dress Gu Qing was wearing. Even though he had known for a long time, he acted as if he had just realized it. “I guess you have a point.”

He was so used to treating her like one of the guys that he often forgot Gu Qing was actually a woman.

Seeing Xie Zhizhen laugh, Gu Qing’s mood improved significantly. She didn’t dwell on the “henpecked” nickname and didn’t refuse directly this time. “In a couple of days. I’ll invite you all to get together in a couple of days.”

She still wanted to spend today with Xie Zhizhen.

Wang Yong was still dissatisfied. If Zhou Xianyun hadn’t been watching him, he might have tried to carry Gu Qing off by force. “Don’t those bookworms have a saying? What was it? There’s no time like the present? General, why not today!”

Gu Qing looked at Xie Zhizhen in her arms. After a moment’s hesitation, she refused. “I have things to do today. We’ll talk about it another day.”

“What could you possibly have to do?” Wang Yong asked, puzzled. “The war is over, and you’ve married your childhood princess. What else is there?”

All the brothers had been bored lately. He couldn’t figure out why the General was the only one who seemed busy every day and couldn’t be called out to play.

Gu Qing’s eye twitched. “What would a single dog like you know!”

Spending time with a bunch of rough men couldn’t compare to being close to Zhizhen. Wang Yong didn’t understand; he just felt like he was being mocked.

Xie Zhizhen was amused. She tugged on Gu Qing’s sleeve and said in a soft, charming voice, “Alright, you’ve been with me for so many days now. You should spare some time for your brothers. I’ll rest in the room for a while; you go have a drink with them.”

The moment she said this, before Gu Qing could even respond, Wang Yong was already clapping his hands in excitement.

Gu Qing glared at him, signaling him to tone it down. “I haven’t even said whether I’m going or not. What are you clapping for?”

Being scolded, the strong man shrank his shoulders and whispered, “The Great General said it. He said as long as we get the Grand Princess to agree, you would definitely come.”

So, it was Yin Lang’s idea. Gu Qing couldn’t deny it, as she did indeed intend to go. “Fine. Where is the place? I’ll be there in a bit.” At the very least, she had to carry Xie Zhizhen back to her room first.

Wang Yong quickly replied, “At Wangxiang Pavilion.”

Without waiting for Gu Qing’s response, he hurried off with Zhou Xianyun, fearing Gu Qing might change her mind if he stayed.

As the two of them ran out of the manor, Zhou Xianyun looked back at the plaque over the gate. After a moment of thought, she asked, “Do you know the story between the General and the Grand Princess?”

Wang Yong thumped his chest. “Of course! When the General was in the camp before, she would talk about her little childhood sweetheart every single day!”

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