Chapter 29: Those Two Idiots

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“Why has Grandmother moved into Pine-Moon Hall? Could it be that she missed Uncle Imperial too much?”

A sweet, coquettish voice rang out. Moments later, a young couple appeared. The man had a stern, handsome face, yet whenever he looked at the woman leaning against his side, an unmistakable tenderness softened his features. The woman was charming and lively, her bright eyes sparkling with vivacity. She clearly had an outgoing and cheerful disposition.

Sure enough, the moment she saw the Empress Dowager, the woman hurried over, took her arm, and said sweetly, “Grandmother, Qingqing has missed you so much.”

She was the Princess Consort of An, Yu Qingqing.

Her mother, Madam Yang, had been close friends with Noble Consort Lin since their girlhood. Thus, Yu Qingqing and Prince An, Xiao Huailuo, had known each other since childhood, and their betrothal had been arranged when they were only seven or eight.

To put Madam Yang’s mind at ease, Noble Consort Lin had even personally petitioned the Emperor to grant them a marriage decree. That was how the two of them, despite growing up and realizing they had no desire to marry each other, eventually became husband and wife after enduring their parents’ earnest persuasion.

The Empress Dowager patted Yu Qingqing’s hand. “You only missed me? You didn’t miss your sister-in-law? Your imperial aunt is here too. Go and greet her.”

As she spoke, she gestured for Yu Qingqing to pay her respects to Lin Yue.

Though surprised, Yu Qingqing followed the Empress Dowager’s gaze.

A short distance away sat a woman with a gentle smile. Her eyes were clear and her teeth pearly white, and she carried herself with effortless grace. Though she appeared to be around Yu Qingqing’s age, there was a composed air about her that made it impossible to underestimate her.

Yu Qingqing stepped forward, bent her knees, and saluted. “Qingqing greets Imperial Aunt.”

Lin Yue took her hand. “There’s no need to stand on ceremony. Once we’ve all left the palace, you and Huailuo should come to our residence whenever you have the time.”

Yu Qingqing glanced at Xiao Huailuo, deliberately adopting a shy expression, then nodded. “All right.”

[She’s already started acting so soon?]

Lin Yue smiled faintly, inwardly bursting with curiosity.

Yu Qingqing frowned. Who was speaking?

Xiao Huailuo also looked strangely toward them, only to discover that neither woman had said anything.

Just then, that voice rang out again.

[I really can’t with you two scheming spouses. One of you knows the other is putting on an act but refuses to expose her. The other actually thinks her acting is superb and has taken first place every year.]

[Still, you should take less of that contraceptive medicine. Otherwise, you really may never be able to conceive.]

Contraceptive medicine?

The Empress Dowager and the Crown Princess both grew alert.

Yu Qingqing was so startled that she pulled her hand back, beginning to wonder whether she had somehow heard Lin Yue’s thoughts.

Xiao Huailuo was certain he had not misheard. He stepped forward, took Yu Qingqing’s hand, and instinctively tried to shield her.

Lin Yue smiled. “You and your wife truly are deeply affectionate.”

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[She clearly has him in her heart, and he clearly has her in his. Why must they wait until everything is beyond repair before they understand their feelings?]

[Xiao Huailuo, that Chen Noble Lady you’re so hung up on is no good. She keeps you infatuated with her, while all she wants is to bear the Crown Prince a healthy son who can inherit the throne.]

[Yu Qingqing, that scholar Jiang Heng you adore is utterly useless. In the end, he even slandered you just to save his own life, accusing you of carrying on with several men. If Xiao Huailuo hadn’t stopped the Emperor, you would have been condemned to death.]

Xiao Huailuo: “...!”

Yu Qingqing: “...!”

Good heavens! She could actually hear her imperial aunt’s thoughts.

Yu Qingqing was utterly stunned. She loved reading storybooks, and they were always full of mountain spirits and demons that possessed people and wreaked havoc.

Could it be that her imperial aunt had been possessed by a demon?

But how did she know about Jiang Heng? He was her true childhood sweetheart, the man she had grown up with and loved since childhood.

Jiang Heng would slander her in the future? How was that possible?!

Xiao Huailuo was bolder than she was. Though his mind was filled with doubts, he still gathered his courage and asked, “Has Huaiqing not entered the palace? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him since he married.”

Lin Yue replied, “He came to the palace the day before yesterday. The young couple have only just married and are still in the blissful early days of matrimony, so they naturally want to spend every moment together. You’ll be seeing him often enough in the future.”

[See him? When you’re trapped and surrounded in your residence, you send someone to ask him for help. Unfortunately, that person happens to run into him arguing with Su Yingyue, so he ignores you. And guess what happens next?]

[You and Yu Qingqing are burned alive in your residence until you’re nothing but charred corpses.]

[You two miserable fools—why are you still pining after him?]

Yu Qingqing: “...”

Xiao Huailuo: “...”

It was over. They would never be able to look at a charred corpse the same way again.

And there was another person involved.

Xiao Huaiqing.

But... how could Imperial Aunt know so much?

Unable to contain her curiosity, Yu Qingqing asked, “I heard that Imperial Aunt and Imperial Uncle were matched by Heavenly Master Zhang. Is that true?”

Xiao Huailuo glanced at Yu Qingqing and asked, “Why are you suddenly asking about that?”

Yu Qingqing looped her arm through his and said coquettishly, “Oh, I didn’t mean to offend Imperial Aunt. I heard Heavenly Master Zhang arrived in the capital yesterday, so I was only asking out of curiosity.”

Lin Yue quickly said, “It’s nothing. Heavenly Master Zhang truly was the matchmaker who brought your imperial uncle and me together.”

[More precisely, Heavenly Master Zhang found this body so he could receive me. So if I ever get the chance to ascend to immortality, I’ll have to prioritize him.]

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Ascend to immortality?!

Yu Qingqing was aghast. Was Imperial Aunt truly a demon who had descended into the mortal world to cultivate?

Or was she an immortal fairy reincarnated on earth?

The only person Heavenly Master Zhang would personally welcome was probably an immortal fairy, right?

In that case, she would not have to worry about being eaten by a demon for its spiritual energy. What a relief.

Only then did Xiao Huailuo suddenly understand: this imperial aunt was not the same imperial aunt he had known before. Yet since even Heavenly Master Zhang treated her with respect, she likely was not some monstrous aberration.

And if he could hear her thoughts, then the things she knew might actually come to pass.

Xiao Huailuo instinctively tightened his grip on Yu Qingqing’s hand, and his heart sank.

Yu Qingqing cried out in pain. “Huailuo, you’re hurting me.”

Xiao Huailuo came back to himself. He hurriedly lifted her hand and blew gently on it, his face full of concern. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. Does it still hurt?”

Yu Qingqing quickly replied, “It doesn’t hurt anymore after you blow on it.”

Lin Yue: [Treasure this while you can. Xiao Huailuo isn’t as hateful as you imagine. Later on, the only thing he’ll be able to blow for you is the icy winter wind.]

Yu Qingqing: “...”

She cautiously raised her head to study Xiao Huailuo and saw a genuine flicker of concern in his eyes. Her heart clenched, and she hurriedly pulled her hand free.

Xiao Huailuo stared blankly at his suddenly empty hand, then pretended nothing had happened. “As long as you’re all right.”

Lin Yue: [Keep pretending you don’t care. True feelings reveal themselves in unconscious concern. They aren’t reserved for the person you only remember whenever you happen to have the time.]

Xiao Huailuo: “...”

Why did Imperial Aunt say everything out loud? That was a terrible habit. She needed to change it.

Did he not know who he truly loved?

Hmph. It certainly was not Yu Qingqing.

The Empress Dowager could not bear to watch any longer. “Now that you’ve paid your respects, go and keep Noble Consort Lin company. There’s no need to stay here.”

She still wanted to hear more about cultivating immortality. She had no interest whatsoever in dealing with these two foolish grandchildren.

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