Transmigrated as the Princess's Scummy Wife - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Earning Money for the Princess to Spend

Nan Qing, clutching the remaining half-bundle of Xuan paper, was ushered out of the Qinghe Courtyard entrance. Left with no choice, she limped back to her room on her crutches.

Passing the kitchen, she saw A-Xiang carrying a five-layered food box toward the Qinghe Courtyard. She curiously approached and asked, “Is that for Her Highness?”

“Your servant greets the Consort.”

“Ah, no need for formalities. If it’s for Her Highness, deliver it quickly. Don’t let her go hungry.”

“Yes.”

As soon as A-Xiang finished speaking, her legs moved like whirling fire-wheels. Despite her high-speed movement, the food box remained remarkably still. Nan Qing watched, deeply impressed.

Just how many hidden talents did Xuan Zhaoci have among her maids?

There was Donghe, who possessed immense strength and martial arts skills but feigned weakness; A-Xiang, who ran like the wind but usually had no presence in the Princess Manor… Nan Qing suspected there were others. Otherwise, how could Donghe have accurately caught Ji Ziyuan “treading on two boats” (cheating) the moment Nan Qing returned from her “outside residence”?

Perhaps Xuan Zhaoci even had secret guards tailing her…

The strange thing was, with so many capable people around her, how did Xuan Zhaoci ever allow the original owner to beat her? It was truly baffling. Even if it was an act, Nan Qing found it hard to understand someone actually being willing to endure a beating.

Princess Qinghe couldn’t possibly be a masochist, could she?

Nan Qing shook her head, forcing herself to go to sleep and stop letting her thoughts wander into strange territory.

More than half a month passed, and Xuan Zhaoci still refused to see Nan Qing. The two only maintained contact through letters.

From the letters, Nan Qing learned that Xuan Zhaoci truly felt nauseous the moment she saw her or even heard her voice. Especially after Xuan Hengyan had forced them to… do that, Xuan Zhaoci felt unwell whenever she recalled it.

This Palace has always been of weak constitution; I hope the Consort will forgive me.

Your Highness should focus on resting and recovering. Your servant is willing to accompany and wait for Your Highness forever.

Every morning before starting her farm work, Nan Qing would send in a letter of greeting.

The contents were simple: “Good morning, Your Highness,” “It is windy today, please have Donghe prepare an extra layer of thin clothing,” “I have made some breakfast; Your Highness may send a maid to fetch it, I hope it brings you joy,” and other brief pleasantries.

To Nan Qing, this was something she did as a matter of course. In her modern profession, she had to maintain a network of useful but distant acquaintances. She would occasionally send greetings, chat about their current lives, and send small gifts during specific holidays.

This method was very effective. Because it didn’t delve too deep and remained on the surface level of social interaction, both parties felt comfortable.

Treating Xuan Zhaoci, Nan Qing unconsciously applied the same logic. The only difference was that the food wasn’t bought outside; she made it herself.

She didn’t buy things outside because she had handed over her stipend she was broke.

But what she did casually as a habit didn’t seem “casual” in the eyes of others.

Every morning, Donghe would help her mistress organize the letters the Consort had tucked inside. Though the letters never explicitly mentioned “missing her,” every word was about greetings, the weather, and food. Within those plain lines, she saw the Consort’s sincerity.

True emotion was rare in the imperial family; this was an eternal truth. From the current Empress down to the imperial daughters and princesses, with the exception of her mistress, everyone valued power over sentiment.

In the civilian world, true emotion was even rarer. Most people were busy with farming and struggling to survive, worn down by life. They had neither the time nor the inclination to explore what “true love” was.

The Consort was poor, yet she didn’t care that her half-year stipend was confiscated by the Princess. She was scolded and beaten, yet she could understand the Princess’s “painful efforts” and held no grudge. She was busy with farming, yet she cooked for the Princess before and after work and sent greetings morning and night. She even proactively confessed the matter of the “outside residence.”

This person was truly fulfilling her promise to treat Her Highness with singular devotion. She was an excellent candidate for a “loyal dog” (simpering admirer). However, Her Highness had been unwell lately. No matter how many plans Donghe had, she had to put them on hold.

“Donghe.”

A call pulled Donghe back from her wandering thoughts. She hurried to Xuan Zhaoci’s side.

“What are you thinking so deeply about? This Palace called you three times before you heard.”

The newly awakened beauty looked hazy-eyed. Her dark brows were like ink washes framing her eyes, resembling an exquisite stroke in an ink painting lush yet elegant, stunningly beautiful. She leaned weakly against the headboard, eyes half-closed, with the faintest curve on her thin lips, radiating a calming aura.

Naturally, she was a “sickly beauty.” In the blink of an eye, her cold brows furrowed slightly. Donghe knew what this expression meant and hurried to cover Xuan Zhaoci with more clothing.

“Your Highness, be careful of catching a cold.”

“It’s all because you, little girl, weren’t paying attention.”

“Your servant knows her mistake. I was just organizing the letters the Consort sent today and didn’t hear you for a moment.”

Donghe didn’t dare tell the truth. If a “loyal dog” was successfully trained, that was well and good; if not, she didn’t want the Princess to be heartbroken. She calculated everything clearly: Her Highness came first.

As she spoke, she fetched the letter and presented it to Xuan Zhaoci. A letter with only a few words on it kept Xuan Zhaoci’s gaze for a long time.

Donghe watched her mistress’s ears gradually turn red, her mind full of thought.

Meanwhile, in the vegetable field, Nan Qing was lying on a wooden cart, harvesting the last batch of vegetables.

“Imperial Decree: Her Majesty finds the texture of this batch of iceberg lettuce excellent. The Fifth Consort is ordered to harvest all the lettuce, and the palace maids are to deliver them to the palace immediately.”

The palace maid delivering the decree chased after Nan Qing’s cart, shouting three times before Nan Qing responded: “Your subject Nan Qing obeys.”

Even as she said this, she gave a look to A-Xiang, who was pulling the cart. A-Xiang instantly understood. While the palace people weren’t looking, she secretly swiped a few heads of succulent lettuce and hid them in the cellar under the pavilion.

The Empress wanted to eat all the vegetables in Nan Qing’s field without leaving her a single leaf? No way.

Without vegetables, what would Nan Qing use to repair her relationship with Xuan Zhaoci? She had handed over her stipend to the Princess; aside from vegetables and letter paper, she truly had nothing. Relying on just those two things to fully mend the relationship would be difficult. Moreover, this was only a temporary measure. In the long run, she needed to earn some money.

Sincerity was important, but spending money was equally vital Nan Qing knew this very well.

The fresh vegetables were packed into boxes, and the maid drove the box-cart, which rumbled toward the West Side Gate. Nan Qing took her crutches and headed to Nan Tianwei’s field.

“What? You want to sell shrimp?”

“Yes, Sister. I’m short on money,” Nan Qing said frankly.

Nan Tianwei waved her hand in disapproval. “You work during the day and serve the Princess at night. Where will you find the time to sell? Don’t do it. Sister can lend you or just give you some.”

Nan Qing shook her head. “That won’t do. The money I earn is meant to be spent on the Princess. How can I use someone else’s money?”

“Fine then. Your sister-in-law and I will help you sell.”

“No need. You two aren’t short on silver.”

“Who said that?” Nan Tianwei wore a look that said you don’t understand.

“I’m telling you, the items at Tianxiang Pavilion are very expensive. Buying one piece costs me a month’s stipend. But Boss Qi’s quality is excellent. I’ve bought from elsewhere before, but those low-quality ones are ruined in a night. Your sister-in-law and I were just getting into the mood…”

Nan Qing: “?”

Is it the meaning I think it is? Tianxiang Pavilion sells those kinds of things?

“Tsk, look at you, like a blank sheet of paper. You should go earn some money and buy some for your Princess.”

Nan Qing was dazed. Thanks, but no thanks.

But the money still had to be earned. The two agreed to catch the crawfish in the fields and sell them, splitting the profit fifty-fifty. The imperial family didn’t eat these creatures, which was why Nan Qing found a loophole. Otherwise, just like the vegetables she painstakingly raised, they would almost all end up in the palace.

The “sisters” started with Nan Qing’s field. Each carried a massive basket on their shoulders and began catching in earnest. Neither was afraid of the shrimp claws, and their movements were swift. Once they got into the rhythm, they began to chat.

“Qing-ah, the iceberg lettuce you gave me the other day? I sent it to A-Yu’s mother. My mother-in-law said it was incredibly delicious. She’s been an official for so many years and never tasted such good vegetables. Even the dishes at palace banquets can’t match the texture of that lettuce.”

She grabbed a crawfish and tossed it into the basket, looking at Nan Qing with expectation. “Weren’t you harvesting lettuce today? How much is left? Can you spare two for your sister?”

Nan Tianwei was very curious about the taste. For something to make both her mother-in-law and her wife praise it endlessly—just how exquisite was it?

Nan Qing agreed readily and said, “I had A-Xiang hide some secretly today. Sister, you must eat them discreetly. Don’t let the palace people find out, or you’ll be坑ing (screwing over) your sister.”

“Deal. This Empress is also quite unfair, taking all the home-grown vegetables. Sigh, I’ll plant some in the next season too. At least I can keep some for myself. You really have a way with growing vegetables; Sister admires you! A toast!”

Nan Tianwei held up a shrimp and clinked it against Nan Qing’s. The two shrimp claws collided and started fighting.

In the evening, a warm breeze blew, and sweat dripped. In the fields, the sisters held up shrimp in a toast. Just as they separated the two tangled crawfish, someone ran over in a hurry. The person was dressed as a palace maid and held a horsetail whisk. Upon seeing Nan Qing, she stopped to catch her breath and shouted loudly:

“By the Empress’s Command!”

A quarter of an hour ago, Imperial Palace, Zhenghe Hall.

“Your subjects greet the Empress Mother!” Five people knelt in unison. Looking closely, except for the Crown Princess, they were all Imperial Daughters. “Long live the Empress Mother! Long live! Long live!”

On the jade steps, the woman wore an elegant imperial robe. The black dragon robe embroidered with gold made her look noble and sacred. Her celestial face commanded respect without anger, but facing her daughters, her expression softened.

“Rise and be seated. We shall not discuss official business yet. The vegetables grown by the Fifth Consort have arrived. The Imperial Kitchen has stir-fried them with haste. Taste them while they are hot.”

Like the mother of an ordinary family, she beckoned the Imperial Daughters to sit and eat. However, the four Imperial Daughters didn’t dare move. Only after the Crown Princess stood up did they slowly rise and take their seats.

Xuan Hengyan looked at the Empress Mother. She watched her take a bite, then watched the Crown Princess taste it before she dared to move her chopsticks.

She wasn’t like the eighth sister, Xuan Zhewen, whose grandmother was the Grand Chancellor and who ate quite carefreely. Nor was she like the other two Imperial Daughters who were born from the Empress’s own womb and ate without restraint.

Xuan Hengyan ate with extreme caution. She feared making a single mistake before the Empress Mother and losing her title. A single piece of vegetable was split into a dozen bites; she was as elegant as could be, perfectly maintaining the etiquette of an Imperial Daughter.

The Empress let out a sigh of deep satisfaction. “Wonderful! Simply wonderful!”

The Crown Princess also wiped her lips. “Excellent vegetables!”

In the quiet hall, their voices were particularly sudden. Xuan Hengyan was already trembling with nerves; she was startled, her hand slipped, and her chopsticks fell with a clack. Everyone looked at her.

The Empress’s expression turned impatient, a flash of mockery appeared in the Crown Princess’s eyes, Xuan Zhewen scratched her chin in confusion, and the two younger ones looked a bit dazed, blinking their royal amber eyes.

The Empress Mother’s aura was too strong; cold sweat poured down Xuan Hengyan’s back.

She steeled herself, wiping her mouth and kneeling in one smooth motion. “Reporting to Empress Mother: your subject was thinking about the Peach Banquet in three days, and thus accidentally dropped her chopsticks.”

“Oh?” The Empress practically exhaled from her nose.

Xuan Hengyan’s heart pounded. In that moment, she used all the wisdom she had accumulated over twenty years:

“Your subject ate the lettuce and felt a surge of inspiration. Greens and fresh peaches are both crisp and refreshing foods. Your subject thought the crispness of the greens and the sweetness of the peaches might be an excellent pairing. Especially since the Fifth Consort grew this lettuce it is truly a delicacy of the human world. Even Empress Mother, who has tasted all the delicacies under heaven, praises it endlessly.”

“Since it received such high praise from Empress Mother, your subject thought to invite the Fifth Consort to serve as the Head Chef for the Peach Banquet, creating an innovative fusion cuisine. Your subject and the eighth sister have tasted the Fifth Consort’s skills; they truly rival the masters of the Imperial Kitchen.”

“Your subject believes the Fifth Consort can surely shoulder this great responsibility!” Xuan Hengyan spoke rapidly, her words crisp and decisive.

The Empress’s anger turned to a smile. “Someone, summon the Fifth Consort!”

Nan Qing: Your Highness, they are bullying me pity.

Xuan Zhaoci: I want to bully you too pats head.

Nan Qing: Are the two types of bullying the same? We’d have to close the doors and windows for mine—

Xuan Zhaoci: Shut up!

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