The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 63

The scents of peach blossom and green grass mingled together. Finally, they reached the final step. Xie Zhizhen instinctively grasped Gu Qing’s hand, her nerves frayed.

“I am afraid.”

The corners of her eyes were slightly red, and she looked utterly dejected, yet she felt that dragging this out forever was not right either. In the end, before Gu Qing could say a word, she released Gu Qing’s wrist. For Gu Qing, a little setback was nothing!

Gu Qing watched Xie Zhizhen’s “ready for execution” expression. As the girl reached a peak of tension, Gu Qing placed a soft kiss on her eyelid. “What is that little head of yours thinking every day? It is not nearly as terrifying as you imagine.”

Xie Zhizhen opened her eyes tremulously, her watery gaze still filled with lingering fear. “But, but I read in books that it would hurt.”

For a moment, Gu Qing was speechless. She nuzzled Xie Zhizhen’s forehead and explained in a gentle tone, “That is because most women in this era are far too young when they first engage in this. At such an age, the body is not yet fully developed, which is why it hurts more.”

This was a theory Xie Zhizhen had never heard before. In her common knowledge, it was perfectly normal for a woman to marry, consummate the marriage, and even bear children at fifteen or sixteen. This was the first time she had heard that doing such things at that age was considered premature. Her round eyes were bright and moist, and her voice carried the slight rasp of someone who had just cried. “Is, is that true?”

Gu Qing nodded. Seeing her look so certain, Xie Zhizhen felt a slight change of heart. Her grip on Gu Qing’s hand loosened. She asked with a hint of uncertainty, “Is all of this what your world told you?”

Gu Qing smiled and nodded, knowing that Xie Zhizhen had given her consent. “In my world, eighteen is adulthood. If a woman wants to marry, she must wait until at least twenty.”

Hearing this, Xie Zhizhen grew even more curious about the modern world. She said almost unconsciously, “If only there were a chance to go and see your world.” It was a pity that Gu Qing did not even know how she had arrived here, let alone how to take her back.

As Xie Zhizhen’s voice trailed off, the atmosphere in the room ignited once more. Outside the window, the wind brushed against the petals, and a few drifted down, making the flower look even more beautiful. Soft whimpers drifted from the room. The wind grew stronger. Just as the flower thought it might break, the wind and rain came to a sudden halt.

Xie Zhizhen was exhausted. She leaned weakly against the bed as Gu Qing held her in her arms. Gu Qing’s fingers still carried a faint trace of moisture, her tone gentle and satisfied. “It didn’t hurt, did it?” Then she spoke up, telling Su Juan to prepare hot water.

Xie Zhizhen lacked the strength to move. She lay there lazily. Seeing the dark marks on the bedding, her cheeks flushed as she thought of what they had just experienced. It was true, just as Gu Qing had said, it did not hurt. Even if there was a tiny bit of discomfort, it was quickly drowned out by the sensation of pleasure. It was far less frightening than she had imagined.

Su Juan had been waiting outside. Long before Gu Qing closed the door, she had already ordered the hot water. Upon hearing Gu Qing’s voice, she quickly had the maids bring it in. As the group entered, they caught the rich, heart-pounding scent of peach blossoms. They kept their heads down, not daring to look toward Gu Qing or Xie Zhizhen for fear of seeing something they shouldn’t.

Seeing the messy clothing on the floor, several maids blushed and hurried past. Finally, the hot water was ready. Once Su Juan closed the door, Gu Qing carried Xie Zhizhen into the bath. Although the tub was relatively large, it felt cramped for two people. As they sat together, their skin inevitably brushed against each other.

Gu Qing’s gaze landed on Xie Zhizhen. The thought that this person belonged to her brought a massive sense of fulfillment. Remembering the way Zhou Xianyun had looked at Xie Zhizhen earlier, Gu Qing still felt a flicker of annoyance. She lifted Xie Zhizhen’s chin and asked softly, “Zhizhen, do you like me?” Her tone was exceptionally tender.

Xie Zhizhen was exhausted and did not want to pay her any mind. Gu Qing, however, was dissatisfied. Her hand moved slowly as she threatened playfully, “Do you like me? Hmm?”

At this point, Xie Zhizhen was too tired. She shot Gu Qing a fierce look. Why was it that Gu Qing was the one doing all the work while she just lay there, yet Gu Qing seemed full of energy while she was utterly spent?

“If you say you like me, I will stop teasing you,” Gu Qing insisted. She needed emotional validation from Xie Zhizhen.

Though she was impatient, Xie Zhizhen wanted to finish her bath in peace. She said coquettishly, “I, I like you.”

“Like who?”

“I like Gu Qing.”

This answer satisfied Gu Qing immensely. Her lips curled upward, and she finally stopped teasing. She dutifully wiped Xie Zhizhen dry, carried her back to the bed, and held her as they fell asleep.

The next morning, the sun was bright and the fragrance of flowers filled the air. A ray of morning light shone into the dim room. Women’s dresses were scattered haphazardly on the floor, and a red undergarment hung from the foot of the bed. A fair, slender arm marked with faint purple bruises lay outside the bed curtains. In the next instant, a hand with thin calluses reached out and pulled the arm back inside.

When Xie Zhizhen opened her eyes, she saw Gu Qing propping up her head, watching her. Those dark eyes were bottomless, staring at her as if she were the only person in her world. For some reason, Xie Zhizhen’s heart softened. But as she moved and felt the fatigue in her body, all tenderness vanished. She put on a cold face and began to dress.

Seeing Xie Zhizhen turn cold, Gu Qing panicked. She took the initiative to help Xie Zhizhen into her clothes, trying to please her. However, seeing the dress made Xie Zhizhen even angrier. She took off the outer gown and shoved it toward Gu Qing.

“It is all your fault!”

This dress was one she had specifically prepared for the first day of school. But because of Gu Qing’s antics last night, there were several faint marks on her chest and collarbone, making it impossible to wear the beautiful dress. In the scorching summer heat, she was forced to choose a dress that covered her all the way to her neck. She had wanted to leave a good impression on her students! Now, in the height of summer, she couldn’t wear her pretty gown and had to wrap herself up tightly. It was hot and not at all flattering!

During breakfast, no matter how hard Gu Qing tried to coax her, Xie Zhizhen kept her lips pursed, clearly refusing to engage. Even when they reached the school, both Zhou Xianyun and Meng Jing could tell that there was friction between the two. The difference was that Meng Jing’s face showed concern, while Zhou Xianyun looked like she was enjoying the show.

Gu Qing quickly led ten young girls over to Xie Zhizhen to claim credit. “Look, these are the students I found for you. How are they? Are there enough?”

Xie Zhizhen looked at the children. Though their clothes were simple, they were new and clean. Curiously, every little girl had a look of timidness in her eyes. Xie Zhizhen didn’t think much of it, assuming they were just afraid of being in a strange new place; they were only children around seven or eight years old. She gave a haughty nod, not wanting to embarrass Gu Qing in front of others.

Meng Jing then led the children away to start the first class, which was intended to assess their foundations. Suddenly, only Gu Qing, Xie Zhizhen, and Zhou Xianyun were left. Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Zhou Xianyun feigned concern with a sarcastic tone. “Princess, has the General made you angry?”

Xie Zhizhen’s lips pressed into a straight line. She did not want to discuss her private marital affairs with others. Seeing her silence, Zhou Xianyun assumed she had guessed correctly. Her lips curled up as she tried to hide her joy. “How could the General be like this? The Princess has been pampered since childhood. To marry a Princess is the General’s fortune; how could she treat the Princess this way? If it were Xianyun, I would never do such a thing.”

Xie Zhizhen frowned, finding Zhou Xianyun’s words strange. How could an outsider feel entitled to comment on her and Gu Qing’s relationship? Besides, Gu Qing hadn’t really done anything to her, other than what ordinary married couples do. Although Gu Qing had left marks on her collarbone, that was only because Gu Qing loved her too much and lost control!

Gu Qing never expected to encounter such “green tea” behavior in ancient times. Hearing those manipulative words, she grew inevitably angry despite knowing Zhou Xianyun’s tricks. Before Xie Zhizhen could figure out what to say, Gu Qing grabbed Zhou Xianyun and led her away. Although Zhou Xianyun was a constable and stronger than most women, Gu Qing was professionally trained and had no trouble restraining her.

They walked to a secluded corner where Gu Qing glared at her. “What exactly are you trying to do?”

Zhou Xianyun rubbed her wrist and tilted her head. “Can the General not see what Xianyun wants to do?”

Gu Qing’s brow furrowed. She hadn’t expected Zhou Xianyun to be so blatant. Since she was the one who had brought her back to the capital, Gu Qing didn’t want to resort to violence. “Zhizhen is my wife. Are you trying to come between us?”

Zhou Xianyun looked Gu Qing in the eye, her expression dead serious. “Her Royal Highness is of noble blood. How can she be limited to the General alone? Since ancient times, it has not been unusual for a Princess to keep male favorites.”

“Xianyun knows that in terms of strength, family background, and looks, I cannot compare to the General. Only this body of mine can be humbly offered to the Princess.” Zhou Xianyun approached Gu Qing and suddenly changed her aggressive stance, kneeling before her. “Why must the General be so repelled by me? Xianyun has no intention of taking the title of Prince Consort. I only wish to stay by the Princess’s side. I do not ask for status. I beg the Prince Consort to fulfill this wish.”

This was the first time Zhou Xianyun had addressed Gu Qing as “Prince Consort” instead of “General.”

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