The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 69

Gu Qing looked at Xie Zhizhen, who was standing not far away in a cloud-mist colored dress. Her beautiful brows furrowed, and her eyes were filled with disbelief. Her voice was still a bit raspy, though much better than it had been that morning; it seemed the honey lemon water had done its job.

She then glanced down at Rosanna, who was clutching her skirt, and at Attila, who stood a step away watching her expectantly.

Was it just her imagination, or did this scene feel strangely like a “crematorium” field of jealousy?

But she was innocent!

Gu Qing hurried forward, but Rosanna held fast to her hem. Gu Qing turned back, patted the girl’s hand away, and quickly stepped in front of Xie Zhizhen. “Zhenzhen, let me explain. These two are a Prince and Princess from the Western Regions. Xie Zhibai asked me to show them around the capital. We only just met.”

Xie Zhizhen gave a non-committal “mm,” glancing at the siblings in their exotic attire. Her lips curled slightly into a sardonic smile. “So it was to accompany them. No wonder I could not find a trace of you all morning.”

Gu Qing instinctively moved to explain further, but in the next instant, Rosanna and Attila voiced their own dissatisfaction. Rosanna said huffily, “This is not the first time we have met General Gu! We met back in Ning City!”

In this moment, the usually bickering siblings were actually on the same side. Attila added timely, “Exactly. In Ning City, our silver was stolen. Luckily, General Gu helped us catch the thief.”

Though they did not know who this woman was, Rosanna and Attila instinctively disliked the tone she used with Gu Qing, even if she was beautiful.

A mocking smile played on Xie Zhizhen’s face. The lingering soreness in her body and the discomfort in her throat tangled with her current feelings of grievance and jealousy. “So it was a ‘hero saving the beauties’ moment. General Gu’s romantic luck is certainly flourishing.”

Hearing Xie Zhizhen’s sarcastic tone, Gu Qing’s lip twitched. She knew this was not going to end well. She glared at Attila and Rosanna. “Both of you, shut up!”

She rushed to Xie Zhizhen’s side, sounding anxious. “Zhenzhen, let me explain.”

“Go ahead,” Xie Zhizhen said with a beaming smile. She did not look angry at all; in fact, she looked quite gentle. But Gu Qing knew that the gentler Xie Zhizhen acted, the more dangerous the situation was.

Regardless of how “wrong” things felt, she had to explain. Gu Qing opened her mouth, but struggled to find the words. She had already said it was just a task from Xie Zhibai.

Suddenly, her eyes fell on the tanghulu in her hand. Her eyes lit up as an idea struck. With a slight smile, she offered the treat, the very one Attila and Rosanna had been vying for, to Xie Zhizhen. “They really are just here because of Xie Zhibai’s request. Look, I saw these while out walking and thought you would like them, so I brought them for you.”

Rosanna was shocked. She had not expected the tanghulu she had been so sentimental about to be a gift for this woman. Why should this woman get what she, a Princess of the Western Regions, could not?

Just as she was about to confront Gu Qing, Attila stopped her. He shook his head, signaling for her to stay calm, and whispered to her in their native tongue.

Rosanna suddenly realized. They had come to this “Zhiqing Academy” to see Gu Qing’s wife, the rumored Eldest Princess. And Gu Qing had just confirmed the candy was for her. The identity of the woman before them was now self-evident.

Though she felt a surge of indignation, Rosanna knew the other woman was Gu Qing’s wife. Furthermore, they had come to the Geng Dynasty to show loyalty, not to make enemies. She pouted and forced herself to swallow her anger.

Xie Zhizhen knew, of course, that Gu Qing’s absence all morning was not entirely her fault. Seeing that Gu Qing had remembered to bring her a treat even while busy, her expression softened slightly. She reached out to take the shimmering, candied fruit.

The moment she reached out, a cheer erupted from the students who were supposed to be studying.

“I knew Sister Xie would take Sister Gu’s tanghulu!” “Hahaha, I guessed right! Pay up!”

Where there was joy, there was sorrow. As one group of children collected their winnings, others pulled out money with long faces.

“Why did Sister Xie forgive Sister Gu so quickly?” “Yeah! If it were me, I would make Sister Gu kneel on a durian!” “I just saw Sister Xie reject Sister Zhou for Sister Gu’s sake, but Sister Gu was out playing with others. Too much!”

Gu Qing felt that if Xie Zhizhen were not standing right there, she would make those kids copy the Three Character Classic a hundred times each!

However, she asked, “Zhenzhen, you rejected Zhou Xianyun today?”

Xie Zhizhen’s hand paused. She had heard the children’s chatter as well. The thought that she was busy clearing away her own admirers while Gu Qing was out collecting new ones, two at a time, made her hand pull back just as it touched the stick.

She was not that easy to coax!

Thinking that this tanghulu was bought while Gu Qing was with Attila and Rosanna, and that she might have even bought them each one, Xie Zhizhen’s voice turned sour. “Is this for me alone, or does everyone get one?”

It was obvious who “everyone” referred to.

Gu Qing looked at Xie Zhizhen’s cloud-colored dress, noting she had a matching one in her own wardrobe. “Naturally, only my one and only wife is worthy of me buying her tanghulu.”

At these words, Attila and Rosanna’s expressions shifted uncomfortably.

Xie Zhizhen was finally satisfied. It was not that she was easy to please, she told herself; it was just that the candy looked delicious, and Gu Qing had said it was only for her. She accepted the treat with a dignified air but remained silent, turning to walk away.

Gu Qing hurried to follow, but Rosanna grabbed her sleeve again. “General Gu, you are a dragon among men. Why must you be so humble before the Eldest Princess?”

Rosanna was pained to see Gu Qing coaxing Xie Zhizhen. In her eyes, a hero like Gu Qing should be revered and glorious. To see her bowing and scraping over such a trifle just because the other was a Princess felt stifling!

Gu Qing gave Rosanna a strange look. “I can tell you have been single since birth. You will understand when you are in a relationship.”

Rosanna was confused. “Single since birth? Relationship?” Was her Mandarin that bad? Why was the General so hard to understand?

Gu Qing did not bother with Rosanna anymore; catching up to Xie Zhizhen was the priority. As she headed toward the study, the children began jeering again.

“Is Sister Gu going to go coax Sister Xie?” “Can we watch?” “Will Sister Gu pin Sister Xie against the wall and kiss her?”

Gu Qing stumbled. She had not expected ancient children to know so much. She glared at them. “You lot! Everyone copies the Three Character Classic a hundred times for me today! No one eats until it is finished!”

A chorus of wails followed.

Meng Jing, having heard of Attila and Rosanna’s status, stepped in to host them. They were guests from afar, after all, and etiquette had to be maintained.

In the study, Xie Zhizhen noticed Gu Qing had not followed immediately. Annoyed, she tossed the tanghulu onto the sandalwood table.

The loud thud made the entering Gu Qing freeze. Knowing Zhenzhen was still upset, she walked over and looked at the slightly cracked candy coating. “Why are you jealous of them? One is a man, and the other is someone destined to be your sister-in-law.”

Xie Zhizhen knew that, but the way those two looked at Gu Qing made her uncomfortable. “If that person were a woman, or if Zhibai did not want her, would the General be looking to start a harem?”

Gu Qing reached out, taking Xie Zhizhen’s soft, delicate hand and placing it over her own heart. Her gaze was tender. “You know very well there is only one person in here.”

Under her palm, Xie Zhizhen felt the curve of Gu Qing’s chest and the steady thrum of her heart.

Xie Zhizhen admitted she was a bit easy to coax. She grabbed Gu Qing’s official collar and looked her in the eye. “Then stay away from them. I do not like the way they look at you.”

Gu Qing chuckled, cupping Xie Zhizhen’s face. “Alright. Do you want to try the tanghulu?”

Xie Zhizhen nodded. Instead of handing it over, Gu Qing took a bite of one herself and leaned in, offering it to Xie Zhizhen with her mouth.

The shimmering sugar coated the bright red hawthorn. Gu Qing held it between her lips, her teeth white against the red. The sweet coating brushed against Xie Zhizhen’s lips. It was sweet.

Gu Qing arched an eyebrow, gesturing for her to take a bite. Xie Zhizhen glanced around to ensure they were alone. With blushing cheeks, she parted her lips to bite the fruit.

But instead of just getting the candy, she found herself devoured by Gu Qing.

Gu Qing’s advance was fierce yet tender. The sweet shell broke under their teeth, releasing the tart juice of the hawthorn. The flavors melded perfectly.

It was a kiss that tasted of tanghulu.

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