Transmigrated as the Princess's Scummy Wife - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Must Sleep Together

“Why has this King’s (Prince’s) fifth sister fainted?”

Well, you should ask yourself that, Second Highness.

Nan Qing grumbled silently in her heart. She fanned Xuan Zhaoci gently, her back turned to the others, making no effort to hide her impatient expression.

However, once she turned to face the crowd, she transformed back into a picture of respectful and submissive obedience: “In response to Royal Sister: Highness Qinghe is of weak constitution. After prolonged exposure to the scorching sun, her body could not endure it, and she lost consciousness.”

Though she kept her eyes lowered, she used her peripheral vision to observe everyone’s expressions.

The Second Imperial Daughter, Xuan Hengyan, was clearly gloating. Among the noblewomen present, she was the eldest and most powerful. Most of the other sisters were taking their cues from Xuan Hengyan’s reactions, watching the scene as if it were a play, making no move to call for an Imperial Physician.

There were two exceptions: one stood at the very back, eyes downcast as if deep in thought, and another whose gaze moved past Nan Qing toward Xuan Zhaoci, carrying a hint of genuine concern.

Nan Qing memorized their appearances and clothing to ask the Princess later, though whether Xuan Zhaoci would be willing to talk was another matter.

“Incompetent and more than useless,” Xuan Hengyan snorted coldly.

Suppresting her anger, Nan Qing shrank back and said, “Pray, Second Highness, summon an Imperial Physician for Highness Qinghe.”

Xuan Hengyan stared at her for a long time with an unreadable expression. Nan Qing was baffled by the scrutiny. Was her act of caring for Xuan Zhaoci too out of character for the ‘scumbag’ persona?

She steeled herself and tried to explain her behavior: “Tonight is the fifteenth.”

In the Xuan Dynasty, on the first and fifteenth of every month, a large red lantern had to be hung at the entrance of the Princess’s bedchamber. Hanging the lantern meant “sharing the room.” Regardless of the personal wishes of the Princess or the Consort, the couple must sleep together.

The Xuan Dynasty placed great importance on expanding the imperial lineage, and officials in the Princess’s manor kept strict records.

The original owner and Xuan Zhaoci had been married for ten days and had yet to consummate the marriage. According to the plot transmitted by the system, the original owner had been waiting specifically for this day.

The crowd laughed meaningfully, their expressions filled with a mix of disdain and contempt. After their mockery, they could understand Nan Qing’s reasoning. Who didn’t know that the Empress’s daughter, Princess Qinghe, possessed the most exceptional beauty?

Lucky for this lowly commoner.

Xuan Hengyan waved her wide sleeves: “Go, summon the Imperial Physician.”

The physician arrived quickly, prescribed a few doses of topical and oral medicine, and that was that.

The Second Imperial Daughter lightly shook the folding fan in her hand and said in a measured tone, “Fifth Consort, this King (Prince) has granted you a great deal of time. You wanted an Imperial Physician, and I summoned one for you.”

“Now, explain yourself: where is the gold thumb ring?”

Nan Qing opened her mouth and began to lie through her teeth: “I was just about to find it, but unfortunately Highness Qinghe suddenly fainted. After I carried the Princess back, I forgot the exact location. I must return to search again.”

“Nonsense!”

“I think the Fifth Consort is just trying to stall for time. Second Royal Sister, this person is full of lies and cannot be trusted for a single word.”

“Perhaps Fifth Royal Sister is faking it, too. These two are likely conspiring to embezzle the Crown Princess’s gold ring.”

A few individuals were particularly vocal. Xuan Hengyan raised her hand to signal for silence. Nan Qing’s heart skipped a beat, but she soon realized she was overthinking. Xuan Zhaoci’s face was pale as a vegetable; in her feigned faint, her eyelashes didn’t flicker, her eyelids didn’t twitch, and her body was in a state of complete relaxation. Her acting was on par with the Best Actress from the neighboring film crew.

Oh right, they share the same face. Can they share acting skills, too…?

“Since it is still in the field, Fifth Consort, go and find it immediately,” Xuan Hengyan interrupted Nan Qing’s wandering thoughts.

Nan Qing was in no hurry. After observing Xuan Hengyan’s expression for a moment, she said, “I am also feeling unwell. Can Second Highness allow me to eat something before I continue the search?”

“I see you haven’t brought any food. What, is the Fifth Consort eyeing someone else’s meal?” Xuan Hengyan’s tone was full of contempt.

Nan Qing lowered her gaze and knelt at the appropriate moment: “I would not dare. I can prepare something to eat myself. It will take less than the time for a cup of tea.”

Xuan Hengyan waved her hand impatiently, dismissing her.

“Second Royal Sister, I (this Royal Sister) am also hungry.”

The speaker was the youngest among them, and the only other Imperial Daughter (Prince) present besides Xuan Hengyan.

“Hasn’t Zhewen just eaten several slices of cold melon?” Xuan Hengyan smiled and tapped the Eighth Sister’s head with her fan.

Xuan Zhewen rubbed her forehead: “Royal Sister, I want something savory. These rose cakes, almond crisps, melons, and grapes are all sweet.”

Before Nan Qing could step out of the pavilion, she suddenly realized all eyes were focused on her. She had a sudden bad premonition.

“Wait, Fifth Consort. What do you plan to cook?”

“In response to Second Highness: I plan to simply pick some green vegetables from the field and stir-fry them.”

“They’ll be savory, right?”

Who makes sweet stir-fried greens…?

Nan Qing nodded.

“Old Eighth is hungry. Make an extra portion.”

Nan Qing: “…”

An Imperial Daughter is hungry and doesn’t ask the Imperial Kitchen for food, but comes to me? You want to mess with me again, don’t you?

Though she knew she was being toyed with, Nan Qing could only grit her teeth and accept it. However, this actually provided her with help in an unseen way. She responded respectfully: “As you command.”

“However, I may need to trouble Second Highness to send some attendants to assist me in picking and cleaning the vegetables. Highness Eighth is of noble status; only the tenderest tips of the greens are worthy of her.”

Nan Qing led the palace maids to the area where the iceberg lettuce was planted. She was responsible for cutting, and the maids for picking them up. She specifically told the maids not to touch her precious vegetables. Once someone else touched them, the system would find any excuse to electrocute her. After one plant had met a tragic end earlier, the feeling of being shocked was still vivid; she didn’t want a repeat.

This batch of vegetables happened to be ready for harvest. The iceberg lettuce heads were full, their leaves tightly closed and beautiful, glowing with a translucent emerald green under the sun—fresh and crisp. They had been cared for exceptionally well by the original owner; every head was of superior quality.

One could easily imagine the texture of eating it raw. The first bite would surely be crisp, followed by a “crack” sound as the fresh, pleasant vegetable flavor filled the mouth. It was so tender it required little chewing and could be swallowed in two or three bites. Sliding down the throat, it would bring a lingering sweetness, refreshing and pleasant. After being chilled, it would rival watermelon in cooling one down for the entire summer.

This vegetable was perfect for wrapping grilled meat to cut through the grease. She silently added grilled meat to her list of things to eat in the coming days.

Nan Qing’s movements were swift; she cleared the entire plot of iceberg lettuce. She also picked some rarer flowering bok choy. Several maids busied themselves behind her, picking up the harvest. It was a good thing the original owner hadn’t planted too much of this, or she would have been cutting all afternoon.

While the maids were cleaning the vegetables, Nan Qing went to the cellar beneath the pavilion to retrieve tools, side ingredients, and seasonings. She chose a downwind spot by the stream, set up a large, washed wok, and started the fire to preheat it.

By now, the maids had cleaned half the vegetables. After boiling a small pot of water, Nan Qing heard a maid cry out in surprise: “Second Highness, it’s the Crown Princess’s gold thumb ring!”

Xuan Hengyan showed obvious shock. Ignoring the fierce sun, she walked over quickly. As soon as she moved, everyone in the pavilion except the “sleeping” Xuan Zhaoci followed her.

The crowd surrounded the maid. The Second Imperial Daughter asked, “Where was it found?”

The maid held out a head of iceberg lettuce with half its leaves peeled back: “In response to Highness: it was found inside this vegetable.”

“How is that possible!?” Xuan Zhewen said in shock.

“Zhewen, mind your etiquette.”

“Yes, Second Royal Sister.” Xuan Zhewen stuck out her tongue.

The gold ring was wrapped in a silk kerchief. Xuan Hengyan closed her palm around it and glanced at Nan Qing, who was adjusting seasonings in the distance. Her expression was unreadable. Did this person do this on purpose?

Before she could think further, the Third Princess, Xuan Jin, said, “It is hot. Do not stay out in the sun. Let us return.”

Xuan Zhewen wanted to say more, but after a casual glance from Xuan Hengyan, she shut her mouth. The location of the gold ring was suspiciously obvious, yet except for the Eighth Imperial Daughter, Xuan Zhewen, not a single person dared to voice their doubts.

Most of the vegetable varieties in this demonstration field had been improved by Nan Qing to grow in high temperatures and drought. But Nan Qing could only make the vegetables adapt to harsh environments; she couldn’t create an entirely new biological structure. Ball-type vegetables like lettuce have a prominent feature: the head grows inward. Like a cabbage, the innermost leaves are the newest. This was knowledge they all had access to at the Imperial Academy.

Therefore, it was impossible for the gold ring to accidentally fall into the field and be “wrapped” inside the head by growing leaves.

But except for the Crown Princess, no one dared to touch that ring. So why did the Crown Princess put on such a grand show of “a thief crying thief”? Most people present were princesses low in status and light in influence who dared not question the Crown Princess. Even if they had doubts, they had to keep them suppressed.

Xuan Hengyan dared even less. Her mother was a minor official of the ninth rank. When she was born, she was only a princess; her title as an Imperial Daughter was something she had fought for by clinging to the Crown Princess. Every step she took had to be very cautious.

Xuan Zhewen tried hard to recall what was taught at the Imperial Academy. The more she thought, the more things didn’t add up, but she feared her Second Royal Sister, so she held her tongue and walked back silently.

Everyone returned to the pavilion without a word. By now, the vegetables were cleaned, and Nan Qing added lard to the hot wok. As the milky white fat melted, she threw in a handful of minced garlic. The hot oil sizzled with tiny bubbles, and the garlic gradually deepened in color until it was golden brown, sending up a savory aroma.

The flowering bok choy went into the wok with a whoosh, and Nan Qing added some of the boiling water she had just prepared. The boiling water hit the hot oil, causing an instant crackling explosion in the wok, and the oil smoke billowed high.

After adding a bit of sugar, the greens needed constant tossing. The emerald green vegetables now turned a deeper shade, and the boiling water had mostly evaporated. Now was the time for salt. Salt would draw out moisture from the greens, but not much. As she stir-fried, no obvious ring of water could be seen in the wok; only the walls were sparsely dotted with a mixture of oil and water.

This wok was very large. A family-sized portion of vegetables only covered a shallow layer, but a large wok was exactly what stir-fry needed the heat was fierce enough. After a few more tosses, the bottom of the wok began to brown slightly. Nan Qing quickly scooped out all the vegetables, and the maids immediately arranged them on plates.

Seven plates of bok choy were checked with silver needles and soon presented before the Highnesses.

When the Second Imperial Daughter asked for an extra portion, she naturally didn’t mean just one. Nan Qing, having been an actor in the entertainment industry, understood these social nuances well. Each plate had a small portion about eight or nine stalks arranged very elegantly. The garlic bits were removed during plating, making the dish look more like a piece of art than a meal. If this were in modern times, it would surely be sold at a high premium.

The stalks were distinct and full, showing no sign of wilting; the few seconds of intense stir-frying hadn’t destroyed their fresh crunch. Their deep green exterior was coated in a very thin layer of fat and a slight caramelized hue, looking extremely inviting.

The savory aroma of the meat-vegetable fusion filled the air, prompting everyone to pick up their chopsticks quickly. Even though they were eager, their eating manners remained elegant at least they couldn’t let an outsider see their haste.

The greens were at a perfect warm temperature, their aroma filling the nose and their taste being incredibly robust. These blue-bloods had eaten many dishes. Some dishes felt as if they were only brushed with a layer of seasoning; before one could even take a bite, the thin coating was washed away, leaving only a bland vegetable taste no different from eating seasoning and vegetables separately.

The dish Nan Qing stir-fried was the complete opposite. The robust flavor firmly enveloped the heart of the greens; the seasonings and fat complemented the fresh fragrance of the vegetable perfectly, and the slight char elevated the dish to another level. The shocking impact on the taste buds couldn’t help but stir the appetite.

With one bite, it was tender, refreshing, and smooth. The muffled “crunch” of the teeth closing was instantly transmitted to the skull.

Crack.

A sense of boundless satisfaction and pleasure rose within the mind. Before any feeling of greasiness could set in, the refreshing sweetness of the greens completely neutralized it, making it impossible not to take another stalk.

One by one, the plates were cleared with extreme speed.

Nan Qing: I’m super good at stir-frying!

Xuan Zhaoci: Shameless scoundrel!

Nan Qing: (Clown face) Not that kind of stir-fry…

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