Waking Up to an Imperial Marriage with My Archenemy - Chapter 21

Rumors were swirling outside that Censor Qiao was suffering a miserable existence. It was whispered that she had somehow offended Princess Leping again. Whereas she previously had at least half a day of freedom, she was now under constant surveillance. Even while tending to the Imperial Garden, she was flanked by several of the Princess’s servants who never left her side; occasionally, Princess Leping would even oversee the labor in person.

Most people simply chuckled at the news, and those with more empathy offered a sympathetic sigh or two. After all, it was none of their business. Since Censor Qiao had been betrothed to the Princess by imperial decree, any domestic disputes were a private matter, if the Emperor didn’t care to intervene, why should they?

Only one person was truly losing sleep over the matter: Zhang Zihe, the young heir to the Marquis of Jingnan. He was genuinely distressed and hadn’t had a good night’s rest in days.

Following Qiao Wan’s advice, he had hired the girls from the Moon-Sleeper Pavilion and finally managed to sway his arrogant cousin, Zheng Wei, who usually treated him with utter indifference.

During their banquet, Zhang Zihe had recited everything Qiao Wan coached him to say. The results had been immediate: his cousin had agreed on the spot to help him secure the new post. Yet, several days had passed, and there had been no progress.

Zhang Zihe waited at home until he could no longer sit still. He went to the Duke of Ning’s Estate, only to be turned away at the door.

Sensing something was wrong, he calculated his cousin’s schedule and intercepted him on the road. To his shock, Zheng Wei turned on him instantly, cursing him out and telling him that an idle loafer like him knew nothing of the court.

He told him to give up on the idea entirely.

Zhang Zihe was furious. He had spent a small fortune on those top-tier courtesans from the Moon-Sleeper Pavilion. It was preposterous that Zheng Wei could enjoy his feast, refuse to help, and then turn around and insult him!

Zhang Zihe couldn’t figure out where it had gone wrong. Asking Zheng Wei was a one-way ticket to getting yelled at, so he turned his hopes toward his newly minted “strategist,” Qiao Wan. But with Princess Leping keeping such a tight leash on her lately, he had no chance for a private word. He was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing frantically and sending servants to camp outside the Princess’s Estate every day, waiting for any moment Qiao Wan might be left alone.

Inside the Princess’s Estate, Luo Fengxin and Qiao Wan sat opposite each other in a water pavilion—or more accurately, Luo Fengxin sat while Qiao Wan reclined on a bamboo lounger.

As the weather grew sweltering, Qiao Wan had even lost her appetite for osmanthus cakes, spending her days in a state of lazy lethargy. Seeing this, Luo Fengxin had brought her to this pavilion.

Built over the water, the structure used a clever mechanism to pump pond water to the roof, which then cascaded down the eaves like a liquid curtain, generating a natural chill. Beneath the floor were hidden compartments with ventilation holes. Luo Fengxin had ordered ice blocks placed inside, allowing the cold air to rise through the vents. Sitting inside, one felt a profound sense of refreshment.

Qiao Wan knew of the Hall of Contained Cold in the palace, but her status had never granted her its use, nor did she understand its construction. Seeing this water pavilion in the Princess’s Estate, she was instantly charmed.

Originally, she had planned to head home as soon as this business was finished. Now, she was already brainstorming excuses to linger here until the heat of late summer had passed.

“This place is wonderful,” Qiao Wan said, resting her head on her arm as she glanced at Luo Fengxin. “Did you have such a pleasant spot for cooling off at the General’s Estate in the North?”

“No,” Luo Fengxin replied, shaking her head. “I only learned this estate had such a place a few days ago. This was originally the residence of a Grand Tutor from the previous dynasty. Imperial Father had it renovated and gifted it to me; the water pavilion was built by that Tutor.”

Luo Fengxin had been remarkably quiet lately, barely bothering Qiao Wan at all, and her words were rarely barbed. Qiao Wan chalked it up to the heat; apparently, even someone as naturally combative as Luo Fengxin couldn’t be bothered to stir up trouble when it was this hot.

Now this is what a Princess should look like, Qiao Wan thought. She was a General, after all; why was she always so petty?

On the stone table sat several bronze ice chests, chilling fresh fruit and sweet bean soup. Her former nemesis was now as serene as a flower.

Lying on the lounger, Qiao Wan could reach out with one hand for fruit and the other to play with the cascading water curtain. Between the snacks, the water, and the company of a beautiful woman, she felt her life was as blissful as an immortal’s.

While Qiao Wan was enjoying her leisure, Luo Fengxin was also in a good mood.

The person she had yearned for all these years was finally by her side, staying obediently within her estate as if she were being kept as a pet. Luo Fengxin felt the restlessness that had plagued her for three years finally settle into peace over these few short days.

However.

“Do you still have no intention of seeing Zhang Zihe?”

Qiao Wan’s current posture was simply too indolent. Luo Fengxin had tolerated it as long as she could, but finally found it impossible to look at any longer.

Back at Yaoquan Palace, this woman had been the picture of propriety. Now, perhaps realizing that their years as enemies had stripped away her veneer of “gentleness and modesty,” she had simply given up. She reclined without grace and sat without decorum, as supple as a snake. A sense of comfort and effortless lethargy radiated from her very bones, it made one want to do something inappropriate.

Unaware of Luo Fengxin’s thoughts, Qiao Wan propped herself up and popped a grape into her mouth.

“No rush. Let him simmer. Anything gained too easily breeds suspicion. If he isn’t desperate, he’ll only half-believe my suggestions. If I wait until he’s at his wit’s end, he’ll treat my advice like a life-saving straw and take even the greatest risks. It’s called ‘advancing by retreating.’ That’s exactly how I lured him in at Qinglu Temple.”

“How much longer do you plan to wait?” Luo Fengxin asked.

“I’m waiting for news from Min Province.” On the night Qiao Wan analyzed the political situation, she had revealed her trump card, the existence of Yue Xiu and her network to Luo Fengxin. To help Luo Fengxin ascend the throne, rebuilding trust was the first step. Though revealing one’s cards wasn’t strictly necessary for trust, Qiao Wan chose to believe in Luo Fengxin.

“I still find it strange. The people of Minzhou have assassinated three imperial officials in two years. The officials there should know the consequences of embezzling funds. Who would gamble their life like that when the stakes are so high?”

Qiao Wan’s question mirrored Luo Fengxin’s own doubts. As they speculated, a servant arrived with a letter.

“For you.” Luo Fengxin glanced at it and handed it to Qiao Wan.

“Speak of the devil!” Qiao Wan tore open the envelope. It was from Yue Xiu in Minzhou. On the surface, it was a standard letter of greeting, but it was laden with hidden codes.

After scanning the contents, Qiao Wan stood up and held the paper under the water curtain. The ink was specially treated; it dissolved instantly upon contact with water. In a moment, all traces were gone, leaving only a soaking wet sheet of blank paper.

“It seems our guess was correct. I’ll tell Yue Xiu to prepare to move. It’s almost time for us to wrap things up here as well.”