Transmigrated as the Princess's Scummy Wife - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: The External Concubines

Inside the hall, green smoke curled lazily, and the air was thick with silence.

Dong He was the first to speak, breaking the quiet.

“Highness, the guard who announced the message outside just now do you need me to deal with her?”

“She is someone the Prince of Yan planted in my mansion. Of course, you need to deal with her. Furthermore…” The beauty took a slow sip of tea and continued methodically, “The more high-profile the disposal, the better.”

“Yes! I shall have it done immediately!”

“Also, I recall a guard in the mansion named Ji Ziyuan. This person has harmed two of my maids simultaneously. I am quite displeased.”

Xuan Zhaoci set down her teacup, her expression as cold and sharp as a frozen landscape in a snow kingdom. The porcelain cup met the solid wood with a pleasant, dull thud, complementing the soft voice of the plain-clothed beauty.

“There is a folk saying: one horse does not fit two saddles. Moreover, as a fifth-rank military officer, Ji Ziyuan does not have the authority to take multiple wives or concubines. Marrying two women privately is a violation of the Great Xuan laws and a moral failing. It tarnishes the reputation of the Qinghe Princess Mansion.”

Dong He replied with a smile, “Yes! I’ll drag Ji Ziyuan out and give her ten strokes of the board right now!”

“Don’t be in such a hurry. For this execution, a ‘Master’ needs to step forward.”

Dong He smiled so widely her eyes nearly closed.

Anyone else might have been fixated on the word ‘Master’ in that sentence, feeling the weight of status and hierarchy, but she had grown up with Her Highness and understood best the Princess’s heart of tolerance, kindness, and equality.

Princess Qinghe’s words had only one meaning. Dong He immediately picked up the thread: “Your Highness is unwell. We shall wait for the Fuma to return and have the Fuma carry out the execution on your behalf.”

Xuan Zhaoci smiled elegantly.

Meanwhile, Nan Qing was clutching the letter and wandering through a street two blocks away from the Princess Mansion.

Princess Qinghe was unfavored; her mansion was small and located on the west side of the Imperial Palace. Across the demonstration fields lay Yonghe Ward, a gathering place for the residences of third- and fourth-rank officials.

Two streets away from there was Wanxing Ward. This area housed the residences of wealthy merchants and lower-ranking officials. This was the location of the “external residence” mentioned by Nan Tianwei.

The streets here were bustling, far more prosperous than her own neighborhood, with vendors and porters visible everywhere. The smaller residences seemed to contain a more vibrant and lively atmosphere.

Nan Qing’s goal was clear: she was going to meet the two external concubines the original owner had hidden away. If things went smoothly, she would dismiss them directly.

According to the laws established at the founding of the Great Xuan Dynasty, a Fuma could not have external concubines and had to serve the Princess alone with all their heart.

Nan Tianwei had once revealed that the Third and Fourth Fumas played around quite a bit outside and didn’t care for the law at all. This suggested that the enforcement of this law was quite flexible, especially when the Fuma’s family held great power for example, the Third Fuma was the daughter of the current Prime Minister, and the Fourth Fuma was the daughter of the Great General leaving the Princesses with no choice but to turn a blind eye.

However, the original owner had no powerful family backing her. If she were discovered by the Princess, the only result would be “death.”

Nan Qing didn’t want to die. She was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, but she couldn’t rush her actions. She began wandering from the head of the street, though not aimlessly. These houses were small, but they belonged to affluent families and usually had maids standing guard at the gates.

She planned to pass by each house and linger for a moment. If the external residence had a gatekeeper, the maid’s expression would surely change upon seeing her. If there were no gatekeeper, Nan Qing would circle to the back and climb the wall to investigate.

From dusk until late at night, Nan Qing narrowed it down to the only house without a maid at the door. She circled the residence to find the lowest section of the wall and climbed up with her bare hands.

Then, she found herself face-to-face with a young woman.

“A flower-thief!!”

The woman screamed frantically. Nan Qing was so startled she fled in a panic, nearly forgetting her crutch. Terrifying. Had she misjudged?

The maids at the other houses had looked at her with expressions ranging from teasing and disdain to simple indifference none showed the secrecy expected of an external residence.

That woman’s scream was exceptionally loud. Nan Qing’s scalp felt like it was going to explode, fearing she would actually attract others or the local guards. If this turned into a scandal, it would be impossible for Xuan Zhaoci not to find out.

Leaning on her crutch, she used all her strength to run toward the main road. Just as she sprinted out of the alleyway, her peripheral vision caught a red object fluttering up and down. Nan Qing stopped abruptly and turned her head.

She saw the gate of the house where the screaming woman was located push open a crack. Someone was staring straight at her, waving a red silk handkerchief.

“Master Nan~”

Nan Qing felt goosebumps erupt all over her body.

“Who was screaming just now?”

After entering the door, Nan Qing naturally followed behind the woman. The tap-tap of her crutch echoed through several corridors until they reached a main hall. The hall faced a courtyard filled with a beautiful, overwhelming abundance of flowers.

She naturally sat down in the seat of honor, setting her crutch aside.

The woman before her didn’t answer the question but stared at her: “Master Nan, you are sitting in my seat.”

Nan Qing silently moved to the other seat of honor. Another person walked out from behind and stared at her just as gloomily: “Master Nan, that is my seat.”

Nan Qing: “…”

She moved to the guest seat.

The original owner was actually a ‘simp’ outside while bullying the Princess at home.

She noted that these two did possess some beauty, but they couldn’t compare to Xuan Zhaoci. In terms of features, posture, character, and temperament, these two couldn’t hold a candle to the royal beauty at home. The only thing they had was their health they were a hundred times better off than the frail, sickly Princess.

Nan Qing put on a somewhat lecherous smile: “My two little sisters, are we sure we want to waste time here?”

As a trained actress with refined skills, deceiving ancient people was a simple task. However, the reaction was unexpected.

“Get out!”

“Master Nan, stop being so disgusting.”

“I’m going to vomit up my meal from last night.”

Xinghe and Jiaoyu took turns scolding Nan Qing, listing all her faults.

Nan Qing’s head was full of black lines, and her heart was filled with mounting doubts. She suppressed her feelings and listened quietly to the conversation between the two.

“Please make sure Master Nan understands who gave you your status. Do you really think that becoming a Fuma means you’ve flown onto a branch to become a phoenix!?”

the person speaking most sharply was the one who had waved the red handkerchief at the gate. She had delicate features and held the handkerchief, looking at Nan Qing with an expression of pure disdain.

“If Master Nan dares to be disrespectful to us again, be careful—I’ll report it to the Prince of Yan so Her Highness can discipline you.”

Xuan Hengyan’s people?

At this moment, she finally understood why the Prince of Yan was always staring at her. It turned out these two were colluding with her in secret…

So, today I’ve basically walked into the lion’s den!?

Nan Qing’s heart was in turmoil, but she maintained a peaceful and respectful facade: “Very well. My apologies, I had no intention of offending you both.”

She leaned on her crutch and stood up, giving each of them a bow. She asked, “What are the Prince of Yan’s instructions?”

Xinghe squinted at this Fifth Fuma, wondering what medicine she had taken wrong today, and spoke slowly: “Does Master Nan truly not know why we summoned you?”

Nan Qing: “I don’t know.”

Those bewildered eyes were as clear as water. Xinghe only felt that Nan Qing was different from how she had been a few days ago, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what had changed. But one thing remained the same: she was stupid.

Xinghe snorted: “Master Nan put on quite a display of authority at the Qinghe Princess Mansion a few days ago.”

Nan Qing smiled: “Your master knew long ago. If you have something to say, Sister, just say it directly. There’s no need for so much setup and talking in circles.”

Jiaoyu flared up, slamming the table: “Who is your sister! Watch out, or I’ll slap that foul mouth of yours! Call her Xinghe!”

The people the Prince of Yan sends have quite the tempers.

Nan Qing was startled: “Fine. Xinghe. And you, Jiaoyu.”

She finally distinguished the two, at the cost of receiving their furious glares.

Xinghe flicked her handkerchief in anger and said coldly: “Her Highness said personally: Since Master Nan and Qinghe have consummated their marriage and are now inseparable, I have no desire to break up the couple. The Fifth Fuma may live in harmony with my Fifth Sister.”

“However, every move Princess Qinghe makes must be truthfully reported to me by the Fifth Fuma.”

“The Prince of Yan’s words end there.” Xinghe lowered her voice. “If you dare betray Her Highness, as your external concubines, Jiaoyu and I will immediately let this matter reach Princess Qinghe’s ears.”

“The neighbors on this entire street can testify that Master Nan visits her concubines every few days.”

“You are a mere peasant with no power or influence. No matter how unfavored Princess Qinghe is, killing you would be as easy as turning over a hand.”

One carrot, one big stick. This is how the original owner was trapped.

Nan Qing suppressed the shocking turmoil in her heart and closed her eyes: “I understand.”

“It would have been better if you had been this sensible earlier.” Xinghe took a sip of tea. “Her Highness’s judgment is still decent; Master Nan isn’t stupid to the point of being beyond saving. Tell us, has the Fifth Princess shown any abnormalities these past few days?”

“Abnormalities such as?” Nan Qing asked bluntly.

Xinghe, who had just finished praising her for not being stupid: “…”

Jiaoyu reclined lazily: “Sister, she really is stupid.”

Nan Qing felt offended and gave a fake smile.

“The last time you came was seven days ago. Start from the day you returned.”

Seven days ago was the day Nan Qing had transmigrated.

She weighed her words: “The two days after I returned were busy with farming. I didn’t have much contact with the Princess.”

Xinghe and Jiaoyu frowned simultaneously.

“Then it was the fifteenth. After I consummated the marriage with the Princess, there were no abnormalities. I have affection for the Princess and helped her punish the retainers and maids who bullied her. As for abnormalities… Her Highness has been feeling very unwell these past few days. Perhaps she is pregnant. Of course, it would be another matter if I am ‘incapable’.”

Nan Qing spoke with absolute sincerity. Xinghe and Jiaoyu listened with faces full of disdain.

From their words and reactions, Nan Qing gleaned part of the truth the original owner had no external concubines, had not been messing around, and had never had anything happen with Xuan Zhaoci.

It seemed Xuan Zhaoci wasn’t feeling unwell because of post-marital sexual activity; the Princess hadn’t experienced it at all… Oh no, this is bad. That means the fact that she wants to vomit whenever she sees me is likely a true statement.

Nan Qing mentally coughed up a pint of blood, feeling utterly depressed.

“Has the Fifth Princess seen anyone recently?”

Nan Qing vaguely recalled seeing Princess Ning’an on the street that day. She pondered for a long while.

“I have no recollection of anyone. Before she fell ill, Her Highness accompanied me whenever I went out. Since falling ill, she has been in her room, and besides Dong He, no one really goes in. After I punished the servants, almost no one dares to enter the Qinghe Courtyard without announcing themselves except for the people you send to give me letters.”

Xinghe nodded: “We will report the situation truthfully to the Prince of Yan. Master Nan, see you in seven days.”

Nan Qing left the external residence with a mind full of thoughts.

When she returned to the mansion, the gates were wide open, and the high-hanging red lanterns illuminated a large crowd of people at the entrance.

They all turned their heads in unison, looking at the Fuma who had returned late at night.

Nan Qing’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Xuan Zhaoci: Returning late, meeting external concubines, revealing my situation to others… The Fuma is quite bold.

Nan Qing: (Crying loudly) (Crying loudly) (Crying loudly)

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