Transmigrated as the Princess's Scummy Wife - Chapter 11

Xuan Zhaoci retracted her gaze and looked sideways. Xuan Hengyan was watching her with a leisurely air.

Two pairs of remarkably similar amber eyes met in a silent gaze.

Everything in the vicinity fell quiet. Occasional chirps of insects and birds echoed from the fields. The accompanying maids outside the pavilion kept their heads bowed; inside, Dong He adjusted her breathing to its lightest, and Nan Qing remained prone, appearing indifferent to everything around her.

Their eyes locked silent, yet surging with hidden currents.

“Withdraw.”

Xuan Hengyan waved her folding fan, two words lightly escaping her lips.

At the command, the accompanying maids turned and walked away, stopping about fifty paces out, facing away from the pavilion. Her personal maid, Shui Rong, consciously walked a short distance outside the pavilion and likewise turned her back.

A-Xiang and Dong He seemed not to hear at first, standing firmly in place. Xuan Zhaoci called to them softly: “Dong He, A-Xiang, go stand beside Shui Rong.”

“Highness…”

“Enough, listen to me.”

Dong He’s face was full of worry, but Xuan Zhaoci was firm. She could only follow the order, though she gave Xuan Hengyan a subtle, measuring look before turning away.

Xuan Hengyan picked a stone chair and sat down, crossing her legs. She arched an eyebrow slightly, signaling Xuan Zhaoci that she could begin.

Lying prone, Nan Qing only saw Xuan Hengyan’s “spectator” expression. She hurriedly propped up her body, struggling to tilt her head back.

Her slender neck arched back; this body’s flexibility was excellent. Without much effort, she could look up from her prone position and see Xuan Zhaoci standing above her head.

Even though she knew she looked like a turtle stretching its neck, she had to do it. She had to defend her firm buttocks from being wronged by a second injury.

“Highness, my loyalty to you is as clear as the sun, moon, heaven, and earth! You.”

She was silenced by Xuan Zhaoci’s palm again.

“Fifth Fuma, I am not like you,” Xuan Hengyan smiled meaningfully. “Don’t assume that just because I guard the palace gates and command thousands of guards, I am fond of abuse or bloodthirsty.”

“I am benevolent and do not enjoy killing.”

She usually preferred to use a borrowed knife to deal with people.

Nan Qing breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as there’s no beating.

But Second Imperial Daughter, why are you smiling so lecherously?

Before she could think deeper, her shoulder was pressed down gently. She was pushed back down onto the stone bench, her face pressed against the soft mat.

Amidst a series of cold sensations behind her, she felt a small patch of warmth approach, as if something hot was scouting across her back. The temperature wasn’t high; even pressed against the skin, it certainly wouldn’t cause injury.

Nan Qing was curious. Where had Xuan Hengyan produced this unknown gadget to prank her?

Just then, that object slid down her spine, paused at the tailbone, and then landed on her buttocks, tracing a small circle.

She hadn’t expected the physically weak Princess to have such precise control; the pressure was just right and caused no secondary damage.

A moment later, the warmth vanished. She then heard the footsteps of Xuan Hengyan departing, accompanied by a very cheerful voice.

“One month from now, I will host a Peach Feast at my estate. Qinghe, remember to bring the Fuma along. Hahahaha…”

The arrogant, uninhibited laughter spread for miles, echoing across the fields.

That’s it?

Nan Qing listened to the laughter, completely bewildered and confused.

She propped herself up to seek confirmation from the Princess about what had just happened, but Xuan Zhaoci was sitting at the furthest possible spot from her, lips tightly pursed, her face exceptionally pale.

Her slender willow-leaf brows were pinched together, the center of her forehead high and furrowed. The red mole at the corner of her eye twitched slightly. She looked utterly fragile, possessed of a beauty so desolate it seemed she might shatter.

Pain and distress were displayed vividly upon her.

Nan Qing’s heart suddenly felt as though it were being squeezed. She tested the waters cautiously, whispering: “Highness…”

Before she could see the Princess’s reaction, Dong He blocked her line of sight, saying through gritted teeth: “If the Fuma has rested enough, get back to the fields.”

Nan Qing was preoccupied with her thoughts. She turned a deaf ear even to the System’s noisy harvest and upgrade announcements.

Once the vegetables from the core three acres were harvested, the servants of the Princess Mansion transported a small portion back to the estate, while the rest followed a carriage rumbling toward the Imperial Palace.

Nan Qing’s cart clattered behind Xuan Zhaoci. The woman’s silhouette was elegant and refined, her royal bearing innate. Nan Qing rested her chin on her hand, watching while she pondered.

Since Xuan Hengyan left, Xuan Zhaoci hadn’t looked at her once. She was puzzled and a bit miffed. Puzzled as to why Xuan Zhaoci suddenly felt unwell, and miffed because she was the one who was “punished,” so why was Xuan Zhaoci giving her the cold shoulder?

After eating and searching her room once more, Nan Qing still couldn’t figure it out. She decided to stop forcing herself and just go ask Xuan Zhaoci directly.

“Highness, the Fuma seeks an audience.”

“Enter.”

Dong He didn’t move. She rarely disobeyed an order; usually, she only did so when she feared Xuan Zhaoci might be harmed.

Xuan Zhaoci leaned against the chaise lounge, her posture relaxed, her eyes lightly closed. After a long silence without hearing Dong He move, she flicked her eyelids open.

“Dong He, go invite the Fuma. There is no need to worry about me.”

When Nan Qing entered the door, she was glared at by Dong He several times, leaving her utterly confused.

What is wrong with this mistress and servant pair today?

“Peace be upon Your Highness. I, Nan Qing, have two matters that are unclear and have come to seek your guidance.”

“Mhm.”

“At noon today, while I was dining with Your Highness in the pavilion, the Prince of Yan arrived suddenly. After a few words of dispute with me, she became displeased and wished to punish me. But I wish to ask Your Highness: was there any error in a single word I spoke? Why did the Princess stop defending me and simply default to punishing me on behalf of the Second Imperial Sister?”

Xuan Zhaoci didn’t even lift her eyelids: “The Fuma offended the Prince of Yan first. Moreover, the punishment was light enough. Why must the Fuma harp on it?”

Nan Qing was annoyed: “Nonsense! It was clearly because the Prince of Yan couldn’t win the argument that she wanted to punish me!”

Xuan Zhaoci glanced at her expressionlessly: “If a ruler wants to punish a subject, they could frame you for treason. What would you do then? The Fuma is not a small child; you should understand this logic. Furthermore, the offense resulted in only a light penalty it can’t even be called a crime. Did my execution of the ‘punishment’ harm the Fuma in the slightest? When you received the boards, you didn’t say a word despite being ‘grievously injured.’ Now that you haven’t even sustained a scratch outside, you dare to bark at me?”

Fallacy! Pure fallacy!

Nan Qing’s temper flared instantly.

“That is because Your Highness is my wife! If I am beaten or scolded by my wife, it is my due; letting out a few groans is merely an expression of… flirtatiousness. But she is an outsider! What right does she have!? Today, I defended Your Highness and cherished Your Highness. Forget light punishment today, I should have received a reward from Your Highness!”

Her voice rose and fell with rhythm, her delivery showing her prowess as an actress. She spoke with such fervor it felt like she had just finished a high-intensity workout, her heart palpitating.

Actors have a drawback: it’s easy to get too into character.

Nan Qing swore it was purely professional habit her tongue moved faster than her brain, and the lines just leaped out of her mouth. The moment she finished, she was immediately filled with regret and embarrassment, and she gave herself a small slap on the mouth.

Watch your mouth!

The crisp sound of the small slap echoed in the quiet hall.

The beauty on the lounge seemed to find it unbelievable. Those beautiful amber eyes slowly rounded, and her pink lips parted slightly as if to say something, but in the end, she was so shocked she couldn’t utter a word.

Her mouth slowly closed, her lips pursed, and the muscles of her face shifted slightly. A hundred emotions played out—shock, disbelief, loathing, nausea, confusion, a mixed bag of feelings…

These varied emotions merged into one final expression:

You are sick.

Nan Qing: “…”

Suddenly feeling a gust of wind from behind, her body tensed. Instinctively, without even caring about the injury on her buttocks, she nimbly jumped off the stretcher and scrambled to the side of the chaise lounge, kneeling and curling up with her head in her hands.

A giant fist was about to fall. She squeezed her eyes shut.

Highness, help!

“Dong He.”

The soft voice rang out. Dong He’s motion to strike Nan Qing froze. She resentfully retracted her fist, glaring angrily at this incredibly presumptuous Fuma.

Nan Qing let out a long sigh of relief. Having already died of social embarrassment once, she decided to grit her teeth and continue: “Highness, my words stand. Of course, I also understand the logic that one shouldn’t just seek temporary satisfaction.”

The chaise lounge was wide. Xuan Zhaoci was slender and only occupied half the inner side. Nan Qing folded her hands like an elementary school student, resting her chin on her crossed forearms at the edge of the lounge, staring up at Xuan Zhaoci.

Her eyes seemed to sparkle like stars, drawing one in to explore.

Xuan Zhaoci’s breath hitched. She silently looked away. On the other side where Nan Qing couldn’t see, her hand was secretly pinching her own fingertips.

Her stomach was churning violently, yet she remained expressionless: “Mhm. It is good that the Fuma understands.”

“But that is not what I wanted to say. Since things have come to this, I won’t pretend with you anymore. Highness, I know you have been faking being simple and harmless for many years.”

The Princess’s pupils constricted, and her body tensed. The change happened almost in the blink of an eye. Nan Qing caught it keenly and pushed on in one go.

“But your disguise seemed to change yesterday specifically when I helped you punish the servants. I don’t intend to interrogate Your Highness. I merely want to say: since Your Highness has changed the plan of your disguise and has already ‘beaten’ me, shouldn’t you stop acting weak in front of outsiders?”

Otherwise, the persona would be contradictory.

To get home, Nan Qing was determined to anchor herself firmly to Xuan Zhaoci. Regardless of whether the woman was “black” or “white,” Nan Qing could only stand on the side of Princess Qinghe. Therefore, she could expose the truth without any hesitation.

She didn’t want to go through the trouble of peeling back the layers like an onion to reveal more of the other’s hidden sides. She wanted to go home as soon as possible, so she just cut straight to the core.

But Xuan Zhaoci merely gave a soft smile: “Why would it be unnecessary? Inside the mansion, I am a Princess who dares to punish her Fuma. Outside the mansion, I must remain weak and pathetic a Princess who bullies the weak but fears the strong. Fuma, tell me, should I have helped the Second Imperial Sister with the punishment just now?”

The onion was cut open. It was grey impossible to distinguish between black and white.

Nan Qing realized: “I see. It was my lack of consideration. I hope Your Highness can forgive me.”

The Fuma, nodding while lying there, was quite… well-behaved.

Xuan Zhaoci bit her lower lip lightly: “I forgive you.”

“I have a second question. Just now, what did Your Highness use to scratch my… bottom? It was a bit warm. Does the Prince of Yan carry such things around?”

After their open talk, Nan Qing’s speech became somewhat unrestrained.

“Does the Prince of Yan have some kind of… habit? She says she isn’t fond of abuse, but she made Your Highness use something to scratch my buttocks. Is she…” Nan Qing paused for a moment, searching for a relatively elegant way to put it, “possessed of a hobby that differs from ordinary people?”

The inelegant way to say it was “pervert.”

Nan Qing was actually most curious about this. She blinked, her face full of “eating melon” (gossip) curiosity as she looked at Xuan Zhaoci.

Those two questions easily brought Xuan Zhaoci’s thoughts back to noon.

The tight physique, the curve of the waist, the bare hand wandering over it, the discomfort of the coarse hemp friction, and that person’s burning body temperature, the firm texture of the muscles…

The visual before her eyes, the touch at her fingertips, the sound in her ears… they invaded Xuan Zhaoci’s mind again without warning.

The senses that had subsided came roaring back. With a boom, Xuan Zhaoci felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and her expression instantly darkened.

Upon closer inspection, the rims of her ears were flushed with a rosy hue that contrasted sharply with her dark expression.

Nan Qing: You touched it!? (Clown emoji)

Xuan Zhaoci: I was the one who was disgusted! (Rolls eyes)

Nan Qing: Waiting for the face-slap; Her Highness will definitely be unable to put it down later. (Dog head emoji)

Xuan Zhaoci: …