Mu Guanchun finished venting her anger, took a piece of suet white jade pendant from her waist, and tossed it to Yu Qingxiao: A reward for you.
Yu Qingxiao declined: It was just a small effort, there is really no need for a reward.
Lou Yunli said, Please accept it. A drop of water’s favor should be repaid with a gushing spring, and it will also give this princess some peace of mind.
Hearing this, Yu Qingxiao complied with due respect and bowed to both of them to express her gratitude.
The surrounding commoners began to whisper to one another: Ah, so she is the Prince Consort.
Several young matrons looked at her with undisguised affection: To think she still has such grace after falling into the water; she is even more beautiful than the rumors say.
And isn’t that person beside her the Princess Huai-zheng? What a beauty as well.
The piglet vendor was caught right in the crowd, trembling as he hugged his little son, Yaozu, and turned to run away.
Li Gu’er rushed over, grabbed him by the collar, her eyes split with rage, and said viciously, Look at the good deed your Yaozu did! Setting off firecrackers randomly, if he had truly injured our princess, how many heads do you have left to be chopped off?
The man was well aware that his young son had caused a massive disaster.
Who under heaven did not know of the Prince Consort’s notorious reputation?
With a loud plop, he fell to his knees, lifting up his bruised face as tears streamed down like a broken dam.
Have mercy, Your Highness, please spare our father and son a path to survival.
Mu Guanchun paid him no mind. In this bone-chilling, freezing weather, their entire group was soaked to the skin, and every inch of their skin felt as though it were being pierced by needles. If they stayed frozen like this any longer, it might actually cost them their lives.
Taking Lou Yunli by the hand, she hurried onto the carriage that had just been led back by her guards.
Only Li Gu’er, who had never entered the water, was left behind.
Handle it as you see fit, Mu Guanchun said.
As soon as they stepped into the carriage, Lou Yunli picked up a small sandalwood box, inspected its contents, and let out a sigh of relief: Good thing the iron-skin dendrobium was not damaged. This is the very last stalk in the Imperial Hospital.
Meanwhile, Mu Guanchun rummaged through the carriage and pulled out a cloak to wrap around her.
Lou Yunli made a move to pull it off and drape it over Mu Guanchun instead: I don’t need it.
Keep it on properly, Mu Guanchun ordered in a tone that allowed for no argument.
Lou Yunli had no choice but to obediently obey.
Then, she opened her mouth to plead for mercy: That father and son were truly ignorant. If Your Highness wouldn’t mind imposing a minor punishment and then letting them go…
She shivered violently from the cold, shrinking her shoulders and hugging herself with both arms.
The pitiful sight stirred a trace of compassion in Mu Guanchun’s heart, causing her to instinctively push open the carriage window.
Yet what met her gaze was Zhaodi, standing at the market entrance, such a tiny, innocent little thing who had no idea what had just happened.
Truly deserving of pity.
The sight involuntarily reminded Mu Guanchun of Lou Yunli when she was a little girl, newly arrived in Dahuan and bullied by the old palace matrons.
She gave a hand gesture to Li Gu’er.
Understanding the intent, Li Gu’er leaned over to whisper a threat in the vendor’s ear: Treat your daughter well. If our Prince Consort ever finds out you are mistreating them, I guarantee you won’t wish to live.
Yes, yes, this humble one guarantees it! Having narrowly escaped death, the man repeatedly kowtowed. Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!
Most of the commoners lining the street were merchants from the marketplace, all too aware of how he loved to mistreat his daughters, and they spat on the ground around him, cursing him as getting what he deserved.
Before leaving, Lou Yunli turned her head toward Yu Qingxiao outside the carriage window to offer one final word of thanks.
Just then, a gentle breeze swept by, lifting Yu Qingxiao’s moon-white robe, a scene of absolute peace and tranquility.
It was truly the kind of romantic picture that belonged to main characters.
An eyesore.
Mu Guanchun pulled the window curtain shut. Sit properly.
Lou Yunli pouted. Your Highness is being mean to me.
The carriage halted in front of the grandiose main gates of the Prince Consort’s Manor.
Mu Guanchun supported Lou Yunli as they stepped down from the carriage.
Their drenched clothes caused both of them to shiver from the chill.
Yet Lou Yunli refused to move away, insisting on entering the estate together with her.
Mu Guanchun said, I have some matters to instruct Li Gu’er to do.
Hearing this, Lou Yunli obediently stepped back a few paces, her face clearly broadcasting the sentiment: I am not going to disturb you, but I am definitely going to wait right here for you.
Mu Guanchun’s heart softened once more. She was utterly defenseless against Lou Yunli’s kitten-like clinginess.
Clearly, she was usually aloof and indifferent toward everyone else, saving whatever rare playfulness she possessed entirely for her.
You really don’t care if you freeze yourself sick, Mu Guanchun said with no other choice. Go on and cover your ears.
Why?
Just cover them quickly.
Completely perplexed, Lou Yunli didn’t disobey. Covering both ears with her hands, a pair of phoenix-like eyes stared straight at Mu Guanchun, utterly certain that she was about to do something wicked.
Mu Guanchun crooked her finger at Li Gu’er, and when the latter leaned in close, she whispered, Kill Yu Qingxiao.
Li Gu’er’s eyes widened in shock, thinking she had misheard.
Do it immediately, Mu Guanchun said, pulling out a token and handing it to her. Take this and go to the Lamp-Lighting Guard post to select a few capable men to go with you.
The Lamp-Lighting Guard was a secret agency established specifically in this dynasty for assassinations and spying on official intelligence, founded single-handedly by Mu Guanchun ten years ago.
The original intention behind its creation was to rival the Eastern Depot.
For a mere Yu Qingxiao, to go to such lengths…
She is the princess’s savior, after all, Li Gu’er protested.
Mu Guanchun’s face hardened. This Prince does not wish to see her live past today.
The hot bath water inside the manor chased away the cold that had pierced into their bones, allowing Mu Guanchun’s limbs and skeleton to slowly, slowly relax in the warmth.
She let out a comfortable hum, wishing she could completely melt into this cozy, enveloping heat.
A wisp of incense coiled upward from a blue-and-white porcelain burner, dispersing into a light haze.
Once she felt thoroughly relaxed, she rose from the bath, dried her body and the moisture from her hair, and changed into a brand-new, snow-white sleeping robe.
Then, she poured herself a cup of Shaozhou carved wine.
Sitting quietly for a moment, waiting until the loose hair cascading down her back was thoroughly dried by the warmth of the bathing chamber, she collapsed onto the daybed and closed her eyes to rest.
The daybed was lined with soft tiger skin, radiating heat against her back until she broke into a light sweat. Finding it a bit much, she turned slightly onto her side, propping her head up with one hand.
Involuntarily, her thoughts drifted back to Lou Yunli.
She was already well aware of the young woman’s feelings for her, and even suspected that Lou Yunli had deliberately left her personal journal behind so that she would find it.
In truth, she did not believe that only romantic love between a man and a woman existed in this world; men could love men, and women could love women just the same.
Years ago, she had learned from her mother that Lou Yunli’s biological grandmother was an adopted daughter of the Yan family, making her and her mother non-biological sisters.
It was just that so many years had passed, and because it involved the inner-courtyard disputes of the old Yan family, she hadn’t bothered to investigate further.
Ever since she was born, the three kingdoms of Liangyao, Dahuan, and Qiansha had been locked in endless conflict.
Liangyao was the weakest, willing to form an alliance with Dahuan and send Lou Yunli as a political hostage to show their sincerity.
Coupled with her mother’s presence and out of consideration for the Yan family, they were able to protect Lou Yunli, the sole remaining bloodline of the Liangyao royal court.
Regrettably, the state of Liangyao was eventually conquered by Qiansha, leaving not a single member of the royal clan alive.
From then on, Lou Yunli had no homeland or ancestral home to return to.
Her mother took pity on Lou Yunli, bestowing deep affection upon her and caring for her just as she would her own granddaughter, repeatedly mentioning to Mu Guanchun that she wanted to select a husband for Lou Yunli.
Yet Lou Yunli was unwilling, and moreover still too young; besides, Mu Guanchun couldn’t bear to part with her either, figuring that imperial daughters never struggled to marry, and keeping her by her side for a few more years wouldn’t hurt.
Who could have anticipated that keeping her around year after year would lead to complications?
Sigh.
Mu Guanchun let out a heavy sigh.
She had finally managed to eliminate Qiansha and unify the four seas under three kingdoms.
Before she could even catch her breath, another matter had arisen, and a romantic one at that.
Those three characters, Lou Yunli, pressed down upon her heart like a massive boulder. With no clear solution in sight at the moment, she could only hope that Li Gu’er would finish the killing and return soon.
Hoping and waiting, she gradually grew weary, her eyelids fighting to stay heavy.
There was still some time before dinner, so she decided to take a brief nap.
She had no idea how long she had slept when she suddenly felt her cheek brushed by something soft and cool.
Like a dragonfly skimming the water.
Accompanied by a tiny sound of Pop~
Mu Guanchun snapped her eyes wide open, only to find Lou Yunli with her nose pressed against hers, breathing entangled with breathing.
Your Highness is awake, Lou Yunli asked with a smile.
Mu Guanchun instantly sat straight up from the dead with a start.