Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 74

As soon as Jiang Libai stepped out of Qixiang Hall, she came face to face with Jiang Ying, who was seated in a wheelchair.  

“Fifth Sister?”  

Qiu Ju adjusted the wind-blocking umbrella, raising it slightly so that the figure of the Seventh Princess was fully reflected in Jiang Ying’s eyes.  

“Are you preparing to leave the palace?”  

Jiang Libai shook her head, her eyes filled with unresolved sorrow. “Xiao Wu has been saved. I must quickly inform Mother so she won’t keep worrying.”  

Jiang Wei actually survived?  

Upon hearing this news, Jiang Ying cast an imperceptible glance at the doors of Qixiang Hall, her mind instantly flooded with countless thoughts.  

But when she saw the redness around Jiang Libai’s eyes and her pale complexion, all those thoughts were pushed aside.  

She reached out a hand, wanting to touch her. “You were really worried about him, weren’t you?”  

Jiang Libai was still thinking about Imperial Physician Zhao’s words just now and hadn’t noticed the deep pity in Jiang Ying’s eyes.  

“He’s still so young, yet he suffered such a serious injury. In the future…” She didn’t continue, as the possibility of Jiang Wei developing lasting complications was no small matter, and she couldn’t casually spread such news.  

Thinking of this, she forced a smile. “I just hope that from now on, he can always be safe and never experience something like this again.”  

Only then did she notice Jiang Ying’s face, which was also devoid of color. Jiang Libai crouched down, gently holding her outstretched hand, treasuring it as she said, “I also hope that Fifth Sister will always be safe.”  

As she spoke, she stood up and lowered the umbrella in Qiu Ju’s hands a little. “So, when it’s windy, Fifth Sister should go out less. Otherwise, you’ll catch a chill and suffer for days again.”  

Jiang Ying pressed her lips together, slowly smiling, her entire being glowing with joy.  

“Alright, I understand.”  

After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Libai bid farewell with Chunxi and headed to Changchun Palace.  

As her figure gradually disappeared, the cool breeze around them stirred the lush green leaves, their rustling carrying an inexplicable cheerfulness.  

“Princess, shall we still go visit the Fifth Prince?” Qiu Ju asked tentatively.  

Jiang Ying lowered her head and looked at the hand that Jiang Libai had just held in her palm. The warmth she longed for seemed to still linger at her fingertips. She slowly curled her fingers into a fist and chuckled softly, “No need.”  

Hearing this, Qiu Ju was unwilling. “But, Princess, all our planning was meant to kill—”  

“Qiu Ju.” The smile on Jiang Ying’s lips vanished. “You are overstepping.”  

Her cold and emotionless voice rang out, striking Qiu Ju like a heavy blow, instantly waking her up.  

Without the Seventh Princess present, was the true Fifth Princess ever someone warm and gentle? The decisive and ruthless Fifth Princess was not someone she could influence.  

She had spoken too much just now.  

She only wanted to prevent the Fifth Princess from sparing the Fifth Prince after all their efforts, as that would disrupt many of their future plans.  

But seeing the Fifth Princess’s expression, it seemed she would no longer make a move against the Fifth Prince.  

“I spoke out of turn. Please punish me, Princess.” Qiuju lowered her head, not daring to say another word.  

“After we return, go to the punishment chamber and stay there for two days.” Jiang Ying’s expression remained unchanged as she lightly tossed out the words. Yet, they made Qiu Ju’s pupils contract instantly, and beads of cold sweat formed on her forehead.  

The punishment chamber—the tortures inside were not something an ordinary person could endure!  

It had been a long time since she had last been sent there. Qiu Ju became even more cautious, obediently accepting the order. She then stepped back into her position, respectfully holding the umbrella for the Fifth Princess.  

After informing her mother concubine that Jiang Wei had been saved, Jiang Libai wanted to see her father, the emperor. However, after much deliberation, she ultimately decided not to go to Ganming Hall.  

With a heavy heart, she returned to her residence, and it was already nearing the late evening hour.  

She hadn’t eaten much all day, and her stomach let out a soft growl, reminding her that she needed to eat.  

She instructed Chunxi to have the meal prepared and then returned to the main courtyard.  

Lanterns had already been lit under the eaves, their gentle glow filtering through the paper coverings. Qin’er, who was sitting on the railing beneath the eaves, spotted the approaching Seventh Princess from afar.  

“Princess.” She rose and saluted, then truthfully reported everything about attending to the Prince Consort today. “…The Prince Consort is still the same, mostly unconscious, and even feeding him medicine is difficult…”  

After finishing, she cautiously raised her eyes and noticed the lingering moisture at the corners of the Seventh Princess’s eyes. She quickly lowered her head again.  

“I understand. You may leave.” Exhausted, Jiang Libai dismissed Qin’er and entered the room alone.  

The moment her footsteps echoed in the inner chamber, Gu Yun, who had been pretending to be asleep on the bed, immediately recognized them.  

“Princess, how is the Fifth Prince’s condition…” She sat up and lifted the bed canopy. The sorrow on the girl’s face was instantly reflected in her eyes.  

Seeing this, she didn’t ask further and instead got up, walking over to Jiang Libai’s side.  

A faint aroma of agarwood wafted toward her, slightly clearing Jiang Libai’s mind, which had been muddled all day.

The woman’s tall figure was somewhat thin, yet her embrace still provided Jiang Libai with endless warmth.  

She lowered her eyes and slowly rested her head on Gu Yun’s shoulder, leaning her entire body against her.  

At this moment, she felt much more at ease.  

Gu Yun looked down at the fluffy head nestled against her, sensing the exhaustion weighing on her.  

She reached out and pulled her into her arms, one hand gently stroking her thin back, the other softly smoothing the strands of hair that had fallen beside her ear.  

“Do you want to sleep for a while?”  

The woman’s gentle and soothing voice dispelled the gloom in Jiang Libai’s heart. She buried her head deeper in the embrace and shook her head, speaking in a muffled voice, “I haven’t eaten all day, I’m a little hungry.”  

As soon as she finished speaking, Chunxi’s voice came from outside the door, “Princess, where would you like to have your dinner?”  

Jiang Libai closed her eyes, took a deep breath of Gu Yun’s delicate fragrance, then withdrew from her embrace. When she opened her eyes again, she had already regained her usual spirit.  

“Go lie down on the bed. I’ll bring you some food in a moment.”  

Once the room was tidied up, Jiang Libai went to the main hall and called Chunxi in.  

As the fragrant dishes were placed one by one on the round table, Jiang Libai picked up her chopsticks.  

But after just a couple of bites, she found that eating felt meaningless.  

Glancing at the young maids standing by, she ordered Chunxi to lead them out.  

Once the room was empty, Jiang Libai listened carefully to the movements outside. Confirming that they were standing far away, she got up and walked into the inner chamber.  

Reaching the bedside, she lifted the hazy bed curtain and raised her brows at Gu Yun, who had just opened her eyes, smiling as she asked, “Would you like to join me for dinner?”  

Hearing this, Gu Yun immediately lifted the covers and sat up. 

Seeing the fair palm of the Seventh Princess stretched toward her, she smiled lightly and placed her hand in it.  

The two sat together, eating dinner while softly talking about the events of the day.  

The murmuring voices mixed with the crisp clinking of bowls and dishes, and an atmosphere of deep warmth quietly spread.  

“…So, during this time, you still can’t go out. I’m worried you’ll suffer the same harm as Xiao Wu… In the days ahead, let’s stay in the residence, keep a low profile, and ignore the troubles outside…”  

Ever since she had seen Jiang Wei lying on the bed, barely breathing, Jiang Libai couldn’t help but recall Gu Yun’s deathly pale face when she had previously pretended to be poisoned. She was terrified that one day, Gu Yun would truly lie lifeless before her, unable to respond to her calls ever again…  

“Alright.” Gu Yun set down her chopsticks, rubbed Jiang Libai’s small face, and let her warm fingertips brush over her, bringing her some comfort. “I’ll always stay by your side.”  

—

However, before two days had passed and before Gu Yun could celebrate Jiang Libai’s birthday, an urgent message, carried across eight hundred miles, arrived from the border, disrupting everyone’s plans.  

In the imperial court, civil and military officials looked in astonishment at the soldier who was panting for breath.  

“What did you say?!” Emperor Yu, sitting at the highest seat, abruptly stood up from his broad dragon throne upon hearing the soldier’s report.  

The soldier, covered in filth, took a deep breath, reorganized his words, and quickly repeated them in front of everyone.  

“The Yun Kingdom has executed our envoy and has mobilized two hundred thousand troops to press against our borders, catching us off guard. Jinzhou has already fallen, and General Song… General Song has perished in battle…”  

Previously, when the people of Yun Kingdom set fires in the capital, Yu Kingdom had cautiously sent an envoy to Yun Kingdom in hopes of negotiating.  

Yet, unexpectedly, Yun Kingdom not only acted so unreasonably by killing the envoy, but also, without any just cause, dispatched troops to invade their land!  

The hall fell into a deep silence, with everyone displaying different expressions.  

Emperor Yu, suppressing the grief of losing a beloved general, slowly sat back on the dragon throne. “Where is General Song’s body?”  

The young soldier’s eyes were filled with grief and rage as he clenched his teeth and replied, “Your Majesty, after General Song evacuated the people from the city, he stood his ground at Jinzhou… After Jinzhou fell, his body was… chopped to pieces by the Yun Kingdom.”  

As soon as these words fell, the entire court erupted in uproar.  

Even those who were usually indifferent were now bristling with anger.  

In just a few words, the young soldier had vividly depicted the brutal manner in which General Song had died. If even a dignified general had met such a tragic end, then the battlefield must be even more horrifying! How could they not hate this?!  

Emperor Yu remained silent for a long time before he sternly inquired about more details regarding the border war.  

And so, the news of Yun Kingdom’s two hundred thousand troops capturing three border cities spread.  

While the capital was in a state of panic, waiting to see which great general their emperor would send to the border to resist the enemy, an even worse piece of news arrived.  

“What?! The Jin Kingdom, after hearing that the Yun Kingdom had invaded our borders, has also assembled a hundred thousand troops at our border, eyeing us like a tiger watching its prey?!”  

Hearing this, Emperor Yu immediately understood.  

Yun Kingdom must have secretly colluded with Jin Kingdom long ago!  

With these two nations joining forces, their goal was clearly to destroy Yu Kingdom!  

Fortunately, General Zhao had been stationed at the border with Jin Kingdom for many years. Given his abilities, he should be able to hold them back.  

However, before Emperor Yu could feel relieved, an urgent secret letter, carried across eight hundred miles, was placed into his hands.  

“…Jin Kingdom has attacked. A hundred thousand troops have already reached our city walls. Scouts report that another hundred thousand are on their way…”  

Emperor Yu’s eyes swiftly scanned the letter, and in an instant, his vision went black, and he collapsed heavily onto the dragon throne.  

Eunuch Sun hurriedly supported him, helping him catch his breath. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what’s the matter?!”  

“The heavens want to destroy my Yu Kingdom… They want to destroy my Yu Kingdom…” Emperor Yu, overwhelmed with despair, panted heavily.  

Yun Kingdom had two hundred thousand troops, and Jin Kingdom also had two hundred thousand troops…  

Yet, Yu Kingdom had only one hundred thousand soldiers stationed at each border, meaning they were outnumbered by half at both fronts…  

How could they possibly fight this war?!