Transmigrated as the Princess's Scummy Wife - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: A Letter from “Yu’er”

The silence was absolute, so profound that one could hear a needle drop.

Nan Qing found it somewhat difficult to gauge Xuan Zhaoci’s attitude.

That habitually cold face had instantly become a kaleidoscope of expressions after her question concluded. Her brow was deeply furrowed; the “kaleidoscope” of colors seemed to be concentrated right there, as if a palette had been overturned.

Some people are born actors. With just an opening of the eyes, a slight lift of the brow, and the coordinated twitching of facial muscles, they can precisely convey every subtle emotion, with each emotion displaying multiple layers.

Xuan Zhaoci was such a natural-born actress.

Her undisguised disgust was the base tone of her entire expression, and the degree was controlled with pinpoint accuracy. It wasn’t a fleeting annoyance like discovering a neighbor had accidentally left their trash bag at your door that could be dismissed at any moment.

The disgust on that refined face ran deep. It was like a devout believer who had accidentally consumed forbidden food; their faith was shaken, and from the depths of their heart rose an extreme anger and loathing, which further extended into a sense of self-disgust.

Complex negative emotions intertwined across her face, yet remarkably, one could still see a trace of an eerily positive emotion:

A touch of crimson on her earlobe.

It was like a spark of light in the thick darkness, dazzling Nan Qing’s eyes.

Nan Qing didn’t know why her questions had triggered such a dramatic reaction. She had only asked three things: what was used to scratch her, how the Second Imperial Daughter produced the object, and whether Xuan Hengyan was a pervert.

Crouching by the chaise lounge, she saw the Princess appearing completely immersed in her own emotions, with no intention of answering. Just as she was considering asking again, those thin pink lips slowly parted.

“Second Imperial Sister…” Xuan Zhaoci closed her eyes. “She indeed dislikes bloodshed and is not fond of physical abuse; she is singularly obsessed with the affairs of the bedchamber.”

Her amber eyes swept over Nan Qing as she fought back the urge to vomit.

“This is a scandalous secret known to everyone in the Imperial Family. Because Second Sister’s ability to command the guards is exceptional, the Empress Mother simply turns a blind eye to it.”

“Uh…” Nan Qing, usually so fluent, was choked up. Her eyes slowly rounded. “Highness, are you saying… she won’t even let her own sister and sister-in-law off the hook?”

Nan Qing felt a delayed sense of panic, as if she had been desecrated without realizing it. It was one thing for the Prince of Yan to enjoy bedchamber pleasures, but why did she have to satisfy her twisted tastes while punishing her own sister-in-law?

Nan Qing felt like she had a bone stuck in her throat.

Xuan Zhaoci closed her eyes: “Yes. The Fuma and I have only recently wed; you likely wouldn’t know about the matter between Second Sister and the Tenth Imperial Sister.”

Nan Qing raised her voice in shock: “The two of them!? That!?”

Your Empress Mother’s level of tolerance is truly something… these imperial scandals are truly breathtaking.

“No,” Xuan Zhaoci explained softly. “Second Sister herself does not engage in female charms, but she loves to… watch.”

“There is a tavern in the capital dedicated specifically to Second Sister’s voyeuristic pleasures. The Tenth Sister is the owner behind that tavern; she profits from it.”

Nan Qing understood. In modern terms, the Second Imperial Daughter liked watching “films,” and the Tenth Imperial Daughter made a living selling them.

So… she and Xuan Zhaoci had just been treated like “actresses” in the pavilion!?

Nan Qing felt her world crumble.

For a moment, she couldn’t recover from the blow of being forced into such a role, and she certainly didn’t want to ask what strange object had scratched her buttocks. Heaven knows if it was a “toy” brought back from that tavern, or if someone else had used it!

Aaaah! Her firm buttocks were no longer clean! Even through the clothes, they weren’t clean!

She looked dazed and muddled until Dong He sent people to carry her back to Hetian Courtyard. She still hadn’t snapped out of it.

“This humble official greets the Fuma.”

Who’s calling me?

Nan Qing lay on the stretcher, looking utterly world-weary.

“Fuma? Fuma?”

Imperial Physician Hu circled to the front of Nan Qing, weighing a bundle of herbal medicine in his hand. He arched his eyebrows, smiling so wide his teeth were visible.

“I have kept you waiting, Fuma. These past two days, I sent my apprentice to find a key ingredient. Today we finally gathered it all and prepared an excellent prescription for you.”

Nan Qing felt she truly did need medicine. She lay there, listening listlessly to his rambling.

“This is a prescription passed down from my ancestors. I dare swear that in this field, even the old physicians in the palace cannot compare to me. This is Her Highness Qinghe’s blessing, and yours as well, Fuma!”

“Once this medicine is consumed, it will take effect within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Your pale complexion will immediately regain its color, your sickly appearance will vanish instantly, and you will be revitalized and full of vigor!”

That miraculous!?

Nan Qing widened her eyes, her gaze full of disbelief and curiosity. Ancient people really do have some tricks up their sleeves!

“Come, apprentice, feed the Fuma the medicine.”

A young physician came from behind, holding a massive bowl. He squatted in front of Nan Qing. Needing to escape her weakened, battered state, Nan Qing followed his lead and gulped it down in large mouthfuls.

Whether it was a psychological effect or not, once her stomach was full of the herbal brew, Nan Qing did feel a surge of energy throughout her body.

“The better the constitution, the faster it works.” Physician Hu took Nan Qing’s pulse, pondering for a long moment. “The Fuma has a top-tier constitution; the effects are already beginning. Come, apprentice, I shall help you carry the Fuma to the main hall.”

“The faster, the better!”

No sooner said than done, the master and apprentice dropped their things and grabbed the handles of the stretcher.

Nan Qing didn’t really want to go there yet, lest seeing Xuan Zhaoci remind her of the unlucky event at noon. she sank her weight into the stretcher, refusing to move. When the person being carried deliberately exerts downward force, two people cannot lift them—especially when one of them is elderly.

Physician Hu was sweating profusely with anxiety, slapping his thigh: “Fuma, there’s no time! If we don’t go now, there will be trouble!”

Nan Qing glared at him: “I’m not going! What do you mean ‘no time’? I am not going to the main hall today!”

Physician Hu was exasperated: “The medicine has already taken effect! If you don’t find Her Highness, do you plan to find a maid, Fuma!?”

“I’m not looking for anyone! Go away, both of you. I’ve taken the medicine and feel much better. No need for your concern.”

“Ai-ya! You are muddled! The medicine I gave you isn’t something you can handle on your own. With your internal fire raging, you cannot get through this alone. You must go to Her Highness and serve her well, Fuma!”

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something. He fished a book out of his pocket and stuffed it into Nan Qing’s arms. His old face turned bright red from exertion as the master and apprentice lifted the stretcher together.

Strength creates miracles. Nan Qing was suddenly suspended in the air, but that wasn’t her focus.

The book was filled with “spring palace illustrations” (erotica) that made her face burn. Her vision felt scorched, leaving her at a total loss. Connecting this to what Physician Hu had just said, how could she not know what kind of “medicine” she had just drunk and what she was being carried to the main hall to do?

Having just been a “female lead” in a mental film at noon, Nan Qing was scared pale.

A moment before the room door was opened, disregarding the injury on her buttocks, she rolled off the stretcher and scrambled on all fours toward the inner depths of the room.

Her wails were tragic: “I don’t want tonic medicine (Bu Yao)…”

“The Fuma indeed needs tonic medicine (Bu Yao)!” Physician Hu was frantic.

The two quickly caught up and grabbed Nan Qing’s shoulders. Nan Qing struggled desperately, but she had worked all day and was injured; she had little strength left, and the two medical practitioners were no pushovers.

The world-weary Nan Qing was hauled to the Qinghe Courtyard where Xuan Zhaoci lived.

Fortunately, she was rejected at the door.

“Her Highness is unwell. The Fuma is requested to return another day.”

Dong He only opened a crack in the door. If Nan Qing saw correctly, the girl even glared at her. She couldn’t see more of the interior, but she guessed Xuan Zhaoci was likely very embarrassed and didn’t want to see her.

After all, the person who held that “toy” to scratch her buttocks was Princess Qinghe herself.

Nan Qing’s embarrassment came quickly and left just as fast.

The next day, after finishing her farmwork, she returned to normal and went straight to the main hall to pay her respects.

But Dong He dismissed her with the same phrase: “Her Highness is unwell. The Fuma is requested to return another day.”

After several consecutive days of payings respects, Nan Qing received the exact same answer.

She grew anxious. If she wanted to go home, she had to maintain a presence in front of Xuan Zhaoci. She feared that if Xuan Zhaoci didn’t see her for a few days, she would become distant. Even if they couldn’t meet face-to-face, just a greeting would do—maybe Xuan Zhaoci would respond.

She circled directly to the back corridor of the main hall. Recalling which window corresponded to the chaise lounge, she walked beneath it.

Pretending to be seriously injured, she leaned on a wooden crutch, making a rhythmic tap-tap-tap sound along the corridor.

“Highness, I have come.”

“Is Your Highness feeling embarrassed? Don’t be. I haven’t taken that matter to heart. Moreover, I know Your Highness has great ambitions and wouldn’t let a small accident stand in your way.”

Separated by the window, the beauty reclining on the chaise lounge slowly closed her eyes. She was covered with a thin blanket. Beside her was a plate of green fruit. Dong He knelt on the floor, slicing a piece of fruit and placing it on a small saucer before her.

The refreshing scent of the fruit briefly suppressed the surging waves in her throat.

A moment later, Xuan Zhaoci seemed unable to bear it any longer. Her throat moved convulsively. Dong He, looking pained and nervous, held a clean rinsing bowl before her.

“Highness, I have come…”

After that sentence, the churning in her stomach intensified. Dong He’s expression changed drastically. Just as she was about to snap a rebuke, Xuan Zhaoci raised her hand to stop her.

After rinsing her mouth again, her pink lips were reapplied with moisturizing balm. She spoke softly: “Fuma.”

“Fuma, there is a letter for you!”

Outside the window, a guard’s shout interrupted.

Nan Qing waved her hand and took the letter, hurriedly answering: “Highness, I am here.”

“It is nothing. Fuma, you may return.”

With the window between them, many details of the voice were filtered out; Nan Qing couldn’t distinguish the speaker’s mood. She wanted to chat a bit more: “Highness.”

She wanted to ask what was wrong with Xuan Zhaoci’s health and build some rapport, but as she unfolded the letter, she saw the words written on it:

This lowly one has waited until the flowers have withered

Signed: Master Nan’s Yu’er

Clutching this “hot potato” of a letter, the words at the tip of Nan Qing’s tongue took a sharp turn: “I have some matters and need to go out. I will return to visit Your Highness later.”

The sound of the crutch tap-tap-tapped away into the distance.

Xuan Zhaoci clutched the thin blanket, her fingertips tightening.

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