The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 54

Instantly, Xie Zhizhen snapped out of her daze. She scrambled to get up, looking as though she intended to rush straight to the palace.

Such a massive incident jolted even the drunken Gu Qing, scaring away most of her intoxication. Seeing Xie Zhizhen about to run out in her completely drenched robes, Gu Qing quickly pulled her back and called out to the door, “Is the Consort Dowager alright?”

Su Juan answered immediately, “The Aunt has been saved and is out of life-threatening danger.”

Gu Qing turned to Xie Zhizhen and said softly, “Zhenzhen, did you hear that? Consort Dowager Shu is fine now. But your clothes are soaked; if you enter the palace like this, the one in trouble will be you.”

Xie Zhizhen remained anxious; though her body was still in the room, her soul had already flown to the Consort Dowager’s side. Gu Qing continued her persuasion, “Be good. You don’t want your Aunt to wake up only to worry about you, do you?”

At the mention of the Consort Dowager’s feelings, Xie Zhizhen finally regained some composure and began hurriedly stripping off her wet clothes.

Knowing her urgency, Gu Qing didn’t bother calling the maids for new garments. She simply handed Xie Zhizhen the clean set that had been prepared for herself, while Gu Qing donned her old, slightly wine-scented clothes from earlier.

Gu Qing’s robes were clearly too large for Xie Zhizhen, but since they were both women’s styles, she managed to make them work despite the awkward fit.

Because they were in such a rush, they bypassed the carriage and rode directly to the palace on horseback. Gu Qing held Xie Zhizhen’s waist as they sped toward the gates, accompanied by maids who could ride and briefed them on the situation.

“At the hour of Chen today, the Consort Dowager left her quarters under the pretext of telling the Emperor to mind his health and rest. Instead, she returned to He Yi…” Thinking of how the former Empress Dowager was now the Consort of the Duke’s Heir, the maid quickly corrected herself, “She returned to the palace where the Duke’s Consort used to reside. She dismissed all the maids and eunuchs.”

“Fortunately, the Duke’s Heir, Lord Pei, went to the palace to visit the Consort Dowager. He discovered her just in time; she had slit her wrists in the Consort’s former chambers. Luckily, he found her early enough.”

Listening to this, Xie Zhizhen felt a chill run through her limbs. If Uncle Pei had been even a moment later, she feared she would never have seen her Aunt alive again.

Gu Qing sensed Xie Zhizhen’s terror and tightly grasped her cold hand with her free one. “It’s okay. It’s over now.”

“I just don’t understand,” Xie Zhizhen whispered. “Why would Aunt try to take her own life?”

Everything finally seemed bright: Xie Zhibai had ascended the throne, she and Gu Qing were married, and her mother’s matters were resolved.

Gu Qing lowered her eyes and said softly, “Perhaps it is precisely because she no longer has any lingering concerns that she no longer fears death.”

They finally reached the palace where Consort Dowager Shu was being treated. Maidservants and eunuchs surrounded the entrance, and Xie Zhibai sat on a stone bench outside, head in his hands, looking utterly miserable. Seeing his expression, Xie Zhizhen feared the worst and rushed forward.

“How is Aunt?”

Xie Zhibai looked up blankly, as if only just noticing her. Seeing her frantic face, he paused before saying, “Imperial Mother is out of danger, but she seems to have no attachment left to this world. Sister, go and talk to her. She might listen to you.”

How ironic; he was her biological son, yet at a time like this, he had to ask his sister to persuade her. He felt as though he, the biological child, was merely someone picked up from the side of the road.

Worrying for the Consort Dowager, Xie Zhizhen didn’t notice Xie Zhibai’s internal turmoil and went straight inside. Gu Qing, however, stayed behind and patted Xie Zhibai’s shoulder. As an outsider, she wasn’t sure how to comfort him.

Xie Zhibai gave a bitter smile. “Actually, I’ve known for a long time. in my Mother’s eyes, I was never her son. I was just a convenient weapon in her hand.”

He had always thought there was still time. He thought that if he fulfilled all her demands and became a perfect son, she might finally see him—perhaps she would be willing to give him a fraction of the love she gave his sister. But in the end, all he received was the news of her suicide.

“Gu Qing, I don’t understand.” Though he was the Emperor, he was still just a seventeen-year-old boy. “I don’t envy her favoritism toward my sister, but I am also her child. Why won’t she give me even a little…”

He couldn’t continue. He didn’t want to admit that he had craved his mother’s love his entire life but never received it.

Gu Qing knew his heart was bitter, but so was the Consort Dowager’s. Neither was truly wrong; they were simply caught in different positions.

As soon as Xie Zhizhen entered, she smelled the heavy scent of medicine. The imperial physicians had been sent out, leaving only her, the Consort Dowager, and Pei Fang in the room.

She didn’t know what Pei Fang and the Consort Dowager had discussed, but Pei Fang looked relieved to see her. He patted her shoulder, started to speak, but finally just sighed. “Stay and talk with your Aunt.” Then, he also stepped out.

Seeing Xie Zhizhen, the Consort Dowager’s icy expression softened. Her pale lips curved slightly upward. “Zhenzhen, you’ve come.”

Xie Zhizhen rushed to sit by her side, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears. “Aunt!” she sobbed.

The white bandages on the Consort Dowager’s wrists were stained with seeping blood. Due to the blood loss, her voice was weak. “Be good, don’t cry. Aunt… Aunt just wanted to go find your mother.”

Her gaze was somewhat vacant, as if she were looking through Xie Zhizhen at someone else. She felt no fear of death; instead, she seemed to yearn for it.

Xie Zhizhen threw herself into her Aunt’s arms, hugging her tightly. “Aunt, please don’t go! I don’t want to lose you!” She was trembling with fear. When her father died, she felt more guilt than sorrow, but facing her Aunt’s departure, she felt only a desperate refusal to let go.

“Aunt, I know you miss Mother, but I miss you too! You can find Mother anytime, but once you leave me, I can never find you again!”

The Consort Dowager stroked Xie Zhizhen’s loose, damp hair. “But your mother has waited for me for eighteen years. I don’t want to make her wait any longer.” Despite her resolve, she felt a lingering attachment to this girl she had raised from a tiny child. “Zhenzhen, when I am gone, take care of yourself. Don’t run around with wet hair.”

“No! I’m still small, I can’t take care of myself! If you leave, I’ll get sick every day!” Xie Zhizhen cried out, trying to change her mind.

But the Consort Dowager continued as if she hadn’t heard, “Look at your clothes; they are Gu Qing’s, aren’t they? A girl should mind her appearance when going out. I trust that girl Gu Qing; she planned so thoroughly for your marriage. I am at peace leaving you to her. And Zhibai… I have wronged him, but you are his only sister. With him there, no one in the capital will dare bully you.”

These words, sounding like a final will, made Xie Zhizhen panic. Her Aunt was right there, but it felt as though she were already slipping away.

At that moment, Gu Qing re-entered with Pei Fang. Seeing Xie Zhizhen sobbing uncontrollably, Gu Qing felt a pang of heartache. She helped her up and looked at Pei Fang, who gave a firm nod. Gu Qing then led the protesting Xie Zhizhen out.

Xie Zhizhen didn’t want to leave, fearing her Aunt would try again the moment she looked away. Gu Qing whispered in her ear, “Don’t worry. Lord Pei will convince her to live.”

Xie Zhizhen stopped her tears, her nose red. “Really?”

“When have I ever lied to you?” Gu Qing asked.

Pei Fang watched them leave, thinking of what Gu Qing had said to him earlier: “Lord Pei, do you want the Consort Dowager to live? Even knowing how she feels about the late Consort?”

Pei Fang had been stunned. He hadn’t expected Gu Qing to know a secret that even the children didn’t know. Gu Qing had smiled and told him it didn’t matter how she knew; what mattered was whether he wanted her to live.

“Of course I want her to live. She is Yue Ru’s sister, after all.” Initially, Pei Fang had been shocked to learn of the Consort Dowager’s feelings for her sister, but that was replaced by admiration. She had entered the palace and endured everything just to protect Yue Ru’s child. She had achieved things he never could.

“Do you have a way to give her a reason to live?” Pei Fang had asked urgently.

Gu Qing had nodded. “But it requires you to give up something.”

Pei Fang didn’t expect that what he had to give up was…

Back in the present, Pei Fang looked at the pale woman before him. “You don’t need to persuade me,” she said.

“If you do not take your life,” Pei Fang said, “then a hundred years from now, I will return Yue Ru’s remains to the Grand Tutor’s estate, to be buried with you.”

This was Gu Qing’s plan: to use a shared grave as bait. The Consort Dowager could never have her sister in life, but if she could share a tomb in death… Gu Qing believed that if she could enter the palace for her sister eighteen years ago, she could live for her sister now.

Sure enough, a spark of light returned to the Consort Dowager’s vacant eyes. She gripped the bedding, disbelieving. “Really? You are willing to give Sister to me? She was your wife.”

Pei Fang nodded. He wasn’t truly willing; in life, his wife was taken by another, and in death, he couldn’t even keep her remains. But he felt that if Yue Ru were here, she would agree. After all, this was her twin sister who had grown up by her side.

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