The Transmigrated Princess - Chapter 75

The balsam nail polish was finally set, just as it was time for classes to end. Lin Daidai gave her story a brief conclusion and sent the children home.

Xie Zhizhen was preparing to return to the Eldest Princess’s Manor when news arrived from the palace regarding the Consort Dowager Shu.

Consort Dowager Shu had been caught in an affair with Pei Fang. The Emperor was furious; he had already dismissed Pei Fang from his post and placed the Consort Dowager under house arrest pending further orders.

When she first heard this, Xie Zhizhen refused to believe it. Although she could sense that her Aunt had no feelings for her late father and that there was someone else in her heart, she was certain that person could never be Uncle Pei.

Xie Zhizhen, unaware of the inside story, thought this way; Gu Qing, who knew the truth, was only confused for a moment before she quickly realized the intent behind the Consort Dowager’s actions.

The two arrived at the palace. Because the Consort Dowager was under house arrest, no one was allowed in or out, including Xie Zhizhen.

Xie Zhizhen was angry and prepared to force her way in, but Gu Qing quickly pulled her back. “Why don’t we go ask the Emperor what the situation is first?”

Looking at the guards blocking her way, Xie Zhizhen knew they were merely following Xie Zhibai’s orders. She squeezed Gu Qing’s hand and nodded.

They arrived at Xie Zhibai’s study. The eunuch at the door had long since received orders from the Emperor, so he did not stop them and let them straight in. This surprised Xie Zhizhen. She had assumed that since Xie Zhibai had made such a choice, he might refuse to see her.

Inside the study, the decor was sparse. All of the late Emperor’s belongings had been removed, replaced only by a few paintings Xie Zhibai had kept from his time as a Prince.

Xie Zhibai stood at his desk, his well-defined fingers holding a black jade brush. The wolf-hair bristles, soaked in ink, moved across the paper in a fluid, sweeping motion. Hearing the movement at the door, he looked up at Xie Zhizhen and Gu Qing.

Xie Zhizhen spoke immediately. “Aunt would never do such a thing.” Her tone was not as sharp as before, but calm and composed, as if stating a simple fact.

Xie Zhibai raised an eyebrow, his gaze turning toward Gu Qing with a hint of surprise. “You didn’t tell Sister?”

Xie Zhizhen looked at Gu Qing in confusion, not expecting this to involve her. Gu Qing stroked Xie Zhizhen’s hair and sighed. “I was afraid that if you knew, you might accidentally let the secret slip.”

After Gu Qing’s explanation, Xie Zhizhen finally realized that the source of all this was the Consort Dowager Shu’s desire to return to the Grand Tutor’s manor as a free woman. She had come up with this desperate plan so that Xie Zhibai could strip her of her title on behalf of his late father.

Upon learning the truth, Xie Zhizhen was instantly relieved, but her brow soon furrowed. She was unhappy with her Aunt’s methods. The Consort Dowager had gotten what she wanted, but what about Xie Zhibai? As a son, he was being forced to “divorce” his own mother on his father’s behalf.

Xie Zhizhen walked over to Xie Zhibai and, just as she had when they were children, pulled him into an embrace and gently patted his back. “Sister knows. Aunt was too selfish in this, putting you in such a difficult position.”

The smile Xie Zhibai usually wore vanished instantly. He burrowed into his sister’s shoulder like a child, weeping silently. Not a sound escaped him; only his slightly trembling shoulders betrayed his emotions.

Although Gu Qing felt a twinge of jealousy seeing Xie Zhizhen holding Xie Zhibai, she knew the boy had endured much and needed an outlet for his grief. Xie Zhizhen was the best person for that.

Gu Qing quietly stepped out of the study, leaving the siblings alone.

Before long, Xie Zhizhen came out. Gu Qing keenly noticed that the fabric on her right shoulder was slightly darker from tears, but she said nothing and led Xie Zhizhen away. Their part in this play was over.

Xie Zhizhen was quiet throughout the journey. She did not ask why the Consort Dowager had done it; Gu Qing figured she could probably guess most of it by now.

The night was very still. Because of the afternoon’s events, Xie Zhizhen’s spirits remained low. As luck would have it, it began to rain that night. A sudden flash of lightning caused Xie Zhizhen’s body to jolt.

Although she had spent most of the afternoon dyeing her nails, she hadn’t managed to block out Lin Daidai’s voice. Those ghost stories had, after all, found their way into her ears.

She remembered Lin Daidai saying that on a stormy night, when the lightning strikes, it is the perfect time for ghosts to appear. The life-taking ghost would crawl out from under the bed, quietly…

It would grab your ankle with a bone-chilling touch!

Terrified, Xie Zhizhen scrambled into Gu Qing’s arms, her whole body shaking as she pulled her delicate jade feet back into the bedding. The faint tinkle of the bells on her ankles rang in her ears.

Gu Qing instinctively patted Xie Zhizhen’s shoulder, slowly waking from her slumber. She comforted her, asking, “What is it?”

Being woken up in the middle of the night didn’t make Gu Qing angry; she was just a bit dazed, her voice carrying a hint of lazy exhaustion.

Hearing Gu Qing’s voice, Xie Zhizhen finally felt her heart ease. Although she didn’t know who was stronger between Gu Qing and a ghost, her subconscious told her that as long as Gu Qing was there, she didn’t need to fear any demons or monsters.

She hugged Gu Qing tightly, their bodies pressed together. Her voice was still trembling. “Gu… Gu Qing, there is a ghost. I’m scared.”

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