Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 91.2

The Fifth Prince’s enthronement ceremony was approaching when news came from outside the capital that General Zhao had captured the fugitive Princess Jiayi.

However, Princess Jiayi had a resolute nature. When she was caught, she had already committed suicide by poison. To preserve the last dignity of a princess, she did not hesitate to set fire to her hiding place before her death…

Thus, General Zhao could only bring back her charred and unrecognizable corpse to the capital.

Upon hearing this news, Jiang Libai was stunned for a long time.

She hadn’t expected Jiang Ying’s fate to end in such a miserable way.

She still remembered when they were young—Jiang Ying was extremely fond of cleanliness. Even when bullied by the old eunuchs and palace maids, she would always clean herself immediately.

Yet now, someone who cherished cleanliness had ended up with a body burned beyond recognition.

But this was the consequence of her own actions.

If she had never developed a thirst for power, if she had never harmed their father, she wouldn’t have met such an end.

Jiang Libai felt a vague sadness in her heart. Her eyes dazedly fixed on the window as she looked outside. Thinking back on the past, she felt as if nothing had changed—yet, at the same time, everything had changed.

“Princess.” A voice came from behind her—it was Chunxi.

She turned to look. Chunxi’s eyes were red, as if she had been crying. Pressing her lips together, Jiang Libai had a vague idea of what Chunxi wanted to say.

“What is it?”

Chunxi knelt to the ground, pressing her forehead tightly against the cold floor. “Princess, about Qin’er… may I handle her personally?”

Previously, with so many pressing matters in the residence, Qin’er—who had been locked in the woodshed—had yet to receive punishment.

Now that everything else had settled, Chunxi feared that the princess and the prince consort would soon deal with Qin’er…

Jiang Libai helped Chunxi up.

In truth, she no longer cared about Qin’er’s fate.

After all, Xingxing had already been rescued, and both Jiang Ying and Jiang Heng were gone from this world.

“Alright, I’ll leave Qin’er to you,” she agreed. Not just because of these reasons, but also because… she had long noticed that Chunxi and Qin’er shared a deep bond, and she didn’t want Chunxi to be left with regrets.

Receiving permission, Chunxi quickly bowed her head in gratitude. “Thank you, Princess! Thank you, Princess!”

The woodshed was as quiet as ever.

Chunxi hesitated outside the door for a long time before finally pushing it open.

Sunlight streamed into the room, illuminating a small figure sleeping on a pile of dry straw.

The figure stirred slightly, struggling to turn over.

Upon seeing Chunxi’s face, her dull eyes suddenly became clear.

“You’re here.”

Chunxi walked inside, looking at the face that had grown so gaunt it was barely recognizable. Slowly, she crouched down.

“Qin’er, can you tell me… who you really are?”

Qin’er forced a weak smile. “Does it matter?”

Chunxi fixed her gaze on her eyes, her voice becoming heavy with suppressed emotion. “To me, it matters a great deal.”

Perhaps it was the moisture in Chunxi’s eyes that stung Qin’er’s heart. She hastily turned her head away. After a long silence, she finally confessed her identity.

From the beginning, Qin’er had been a person planted by the Fifth Princess at the Seventh Princess’s side.

At first, her only purpose was to protect Jiang Libai. But over time, her primary role became delivering information about the Seventh Princess.

Whether it was what Jiang Libai liked to eat, what she enjoyed playing with, or what she loved to read—Qin’er reported everything meticulously to the Fifth Princess.

As the Fifth Princess’s spy, Qin’er naturally knew that the Third Prince and the Fifth Princess were working together. She also knew exactly who the Third Prince’s subordinates were.

That was why, on the day Fang Zhan came to the residence, when she served tea, she secretly received a note from him.

The note detailed what she needed to do next: to quickly abduct the little princess and hand her over to people arranged by the Fang family outside the residence…

After confessing everything, Qin’er lowered her head and asked in a small voice, “Sister Chunxi… with my identity… will you never forgive me?”

Chunxi closed her eyes for a moment, choosing not to respond. Her mind was still occupied with the revelation that the abduction of the little princess had also involved the Fang family’s influence.

“Big Sister Chunxi…” With her last breath, Qin’er called out the name she had always kept in her heart. Blood slowly trickled from the corner of her mouth as she collapsed to the ground.  

Chunxi snapped back to her senses and hurriedly held Qin’er in her arms. “Qin’er?!”  

But Qin’er’s mouth was full of blood, and her eyelids were slowly closing.  

Her lips moved as if trying to say something, but Chunxi could no longer hear her.  

“Qin’er?” Chunxi held her lifeless body in a daze for a long, long time. Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes, and she bit her lips tightly, crying silently.  

—

Upon discovering that the Fang family was the mastermind behind Xingxing’s abduction, Jiang Libai sent a letter to the newly enthroned Fifth Prince.  

Later, the new emperor secretly found evidence of the Fang family’s dealings with the Third Prince. From this, he learned the shocking truth—that the reason the Third Prince had given up his claim to the throne in favor of Princess Jiayi was a woman who had already passed away…  

The Third Prince’s beloved was the daughter of the Fang family. However, because the Fang family had lost its power, the Third Prince’s mother disapproved of her as a daughter-in-law. She had been hoping to find a wide for her son with a strong political background to support his struggle for the throne.  

Since she could not prevent their relationship, she pressured the Fang family through her maternal relatives. Finally, while the Third Prince was away on an inspection tour, she forcibly arranged for Fang Xu to be married off far from the capital.  

In the end, Fang Xu, in despair and determined to preserve her purity, took her own life inside the wedding sedan.  

This drove the Third Prince to near madness, filling him with hatred for his mother and her entire family. Eventually, he and Princess Jiayi found common ground and secretly formed an alliance.  

One wanted the throne so that he could rightfully keep his beloved by his side.  

The other wanted to see her mother and maternal relatives fall from power, shattering their ambitions.  

Now, both Princess Jiayi and the Third Prince had met their downfall, and the Fang family had been exposed. When the Fang family members were arrested, they did not resist at all. In fact, as soon as they were imprisoned, they immediately revealed that the mastermind behind the previous assassination attempt on the emperor was none other than the Third Prince’s maternal relatives.  

In this vicious betrayal among villains, the new emperor finally issued an imperial decree. The Fang family, guilty of attempting to harm Princess Zhao Hua, was to be stripped of all property and exiled, never to return to the capital. The Leng family, guilty of attempting to assassinate the Grand Emperor, was to be executed along with their entire clan. Their public execution was set for noon the next day at the marketplace, to serve as a warning to all.  

—

It had been nearly six months since the new emperor’s ascension. Still underage, Jiang Wei was constantly pestered by civil and military officials to take a wife and concubines. Annoyed, he ran straight to the Seventh Princess’s residence as soon as court was dismissed.  

The early winter wind was bitterly cold. Snowflakes drifted down, piling thickly on the ground.  

Now the emperor, Jiang Wei, paid no attention to his image as he lay sprawled on the ground, scooping up handfuls of snow to shape a snowman. He finally stuck a carrot in as its nose.  

Admiring his perfectly completed snowman, he pulled the giggling Xingxing closer and proudly asked, “How is it? Did your uncle build a great snowman?”  

Little Xingxing, now over a year old, clapped her hands excitedly, laughing and babbling, “Good! Good! Jiji good! Snow snow good!”  

Jiang Wei frowned slightly, dissatisfied, and corrected her, “It’s ‘Uncle,’ not ‘Jiji.’”  

Xingxing pouted, mustered all her strength, and tried again—only to make the same sound.  

This instantly sent Jiang Libai and Gu Yun, who were sitting in a pavilion nearby, into laughter.  

“Look at her! She’s already over a year old and still can’t speak clearly. Hahaha…”  

Gu Yun pressed her lips together, stifling her laughter. “Just like you—such a little fool.”  

At these words, Jiang Libai abruptly stopped laughing. She reached out her hand and slipped it inside Gu Yun’s cloak, then slowly traced her fingers up along her collar.  

The cold touch sent a shiver through Gu Yun’s body.  

“Princess, why are your hands so cold?”  

Jiang Libai lifted her chin slightly, her tone proud. “Cold? And yet, you’re still going to warm them for this little fool.”  

“Yes, yes, of course.” Gu Yun gently opened her cloak wider and took Jiang Libai’s other hand, tucking it into her collar to warm it with her own body heat. “Is it still cold now?”  

Jiang Libai bit her lip, her eyes misting over like the snowy sky. Her small hands mischievously moved around before she nestled closer. “Not cold anymore…”  

Her voice had lowered slightly, carrying a hint of intimacy—like a kitten’s paw, lightly scratching at Gu Yun’s heart.  

Gu Yun’s breath hitched for a moment. The starlight in her eyes shimmered, her concealed emotions slowly pooling into a tide of affection and joy…  

Catching a glimpse of Jiang Wei and Xingxing still playing in the distance, Gu Yun quietly wrapped an arm around Jiang Libai’s waist. Then, under her princess’s affectionate gaze, she swiftly scooped her up and strode toward their courtyard.

—

The heavy snowfall blanketed the sky, landing densely on the withered branches. The thick accumulation weighed them down, making them creak under the pressure, a sound that stood out starkly in the otherwise silent courtyard.  

Inside the room, the charcoal fire burned warmly. The tightly shut door not only blocked out the sound of the cold wind outside but also muffled the soft gasps within, preventing anyone from catching even the slightest glimpse.  

“Are you cold?” Gu Yun held the Seventh Princess’s small leg, ready to cover her with the thick cotton quilt beside them.  

Jiang Libai was drenched in sweat, her entire body burning up—she wasn’t cold at all. She clung tightly to Gu Yun’s neck, instinctively wrapping her legs around her.  

“There’s a charcoal fire in the room… not cold…”  

Her warm breath spilled onto Gu Yun’s ear, sending a tingling sensation straight down her spine. Gu Yun’s throat bobbed as she swallowed, her movements growing more urgent.  

Jiang Libai let out a soft gasp, her eyes shimmering with watery starlight. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips moist—like lotus blossoms in a small pond, rippling beautifully in the rain.  

“Mm… mm…” she whimpered softly, her fragmented sobs falling into Gu Yun’s ears, making it impossible for her to resist, completely entranced.  

Lowering her head, Gu Yun captured the slightly parted lips of the Seventh Princess, prying open her teeth with the tip of her tongue, gently delving inside to savor the sweetness within.  

Jiang Libai held onto her waist, doing her best to respond to the tender yet lingering kiss. When she was nearly out of breath, she whimpered and pushed against Gu Yun. “Jiejie… why don’t you… bite me instead…”  

Gu Yun froze instantly.  

She panted heavily, as if unsure she had heard correctly. In a dazed voice, she murmured, “What… did you say?”  

Jiang Libai turned her head to the side, exposing her delicate, fair neck to Gu Yun. With a soft and timid voice, she whispered, “Didn’t you say… biting here would make me pregnant again?”  

“I want to have another baby with you, okay?”  

Gu Yun’s heart trembled, and she forcibly tore her gaze away from that snow-white neck. “But… I’m worried…”  

Jiang Libai quickly covered her mouth, her tone coquettish yet shy. “Last time, it was only dangerous because I was mad at you… This time, you’ll be with me, and you won’t make me angry, so I’ll definitely give birth to the baby safely…”  

Besides, she was already prepared. After so much time recovering, she felt her body was strong enough again. Just a few days ago, she had summoned Physician Zhao to check her pulse.  

Physician Zhao said she was fit to conceive and, with proper care, there would be no risks during childbirth.  

“Sister… Look at Xingxing, isn’t she adorable? Don’t you want to have another baby with me?”  

Gu Yun chuckled softly and once again lowered her head to kiss Jiang Libai’s lips. “Of course, I do.”  

The fragrance of agarwood grew stronger in the room, the gauzy canopy swayed gently, stirring the faint yet lingering scent in the air…  

—

After the new emperor took in several concubines, good news also arrived from Princess Jia Ning’s residence.  

“Really?! Two months already?!”  

In the palace, Dowager Consort Yuan’s face was full of joy as she held Jiang Libai’s hand, carefully looking her over.  

“Rest well, don’t move around too much, and be careful with the child in your belly.”  

Jiang Libai lazily leaned against the soft couch, playfully pouting like before as she whined to her mother, “Why so delicate this time? When I was pregnant with Xingxing, didn’t I go everywhere just fine?”  

“You still need to be careful, do you hear me?” Dowager Consort Yuan tapped her forehead lightly, then turned to Gu Yun, reminding another time, “Now that Jia Ning is pregnant, you must take good care of her. Don’t let her run around… and be mindful of her meals. If the morning sickness gets too bad, have Physician Zhao take a look… If you two are too busy, you can leave Xingxing at the palace.”  

At this, she smiled, her wrinkles softening with warmth. “Your father likes Xingxing very much. Just last night, he told me that when you return to the capital, you should leave Xingxing here.”  

Xingxing was already two years old—running, jumping, and talking nonstop. She was at her most mischievous, full of energy.  

As soon as she arrived at the palace today, she had already run off with her grandfather to play.  

The palace was spacious, peaceful, and perfect for an energetic little troublemaker like Xingxing.  

Jiang Libai thought for a moment, then looked at Gu Yun. “Xingxing loves it here. Why don’t we let her stay with Father and Mother for a few days?”  

Although Gu Yun was reluctant to part with Xingxing, seeing how much fun she was having, she knew the little girl would be more than happy to stay at the palace for a while.  

“Alright, let’s let her stay and play for a few more days.”  

—

The following autumn, as the State of Yu celebrated a bountiful harvest, Jiang Libai safely gave birth to a baby girl.  

Their little daughter was fair and plump, her round eyes darting around curiously—an obviously lively and cheerful little one.  

But what gave Gu Yun a headache was… the baby girl had a gland at the back of her neck…  

After examining her carefully with Yixing, they still couldn’t determine whether she would eventually differentiate into an alpha or an omega.  

This was tricky!  

In the end, Gu Yun and Jiang Libai discussed it and decided to announce to the public that she was a girl. If she later differentiated into an alpha, they would claim she had actually been born male but had to be raised as a girl due to a prophecy from a high monk.  

—

More than ten years later.  

In the back garden of the princess’s residence, a charming and delicate young girl burst into the house like a whirlwind. As soon as she entered, she clung to the legs of her mothers, wailing at the top of her lungs, “Mother! Mama! I… I think I’m about to differentiate…”  

Hearing this, Gu Yun and Jiang Libai exchanged glances before quickly taking their daughter’s hand and leading her into the inner chamber.  

Not long after, Jiang Xingwan, having heard the news, hurried over as well.  

Standing beside her mother, she gazed anxiously at the tightly closed doors. “What will my sister differentiate into…?”

When Jiang Xingwan and Gu Yilan were little, their mom and mother had already talked to them about these matters. Because of their mother’s example, neither of them wanted Yilan to differentiate into an alpha. After all, living a lifetime while hiding one’s true identity was truly painful.  

Fortunately, in the end, Gu Yilan differentiated into an omega. Although she would still be affected by pheromones, at least she wouldn’t have to spend her entire life pretending to be a man like their mother.  

—

Spring returned to the land once again. The accumulated snow in the courtyard gradually melted, and tender buds began sprouting from the ground, glistening with droplets from the melting snow, making for an especially delightful sight.  

“Sister, Xingxing is already married, but Yilan still hasn’t found the right person. What should we do?” Jiang Libai watched the koi fish swimming back and forth in the pond, her face full of worry.  

Gu Yun took the fish food from her hands and casually scattered some into the water. After thinking for a moment, she cautiously asked, “…Did she not tell you?”  

“What?” Jiang Libai was confused.  

It seemed that the ungrateful Gu Yilan really hadn’t told the Seventh Princess about that matter.  

Gu Yun coughed lightly and betrayed Gu Yilan in just a few words: “A few days ago, she told me that she met someone very strange, someone who doesn’t seem to belong to this era and feels like an alpha. That’s why she hasn’t been in the manor lately—she’s been chasing after a girl named Jiang Xinglan…”  

Upon hearing this, Jiang Libai slapped the stone table, her hands trembling with anger. “That little brat! She didn’t even mention a word of this to her own mother!”  

Gu Yun, feeling sorry for her, took her hand and blew on it gently. “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. I only found out yesterday. I thought she had already told you…”  

Jiang Libai quickly dropped her furious expression and threw herself weakly into Gu Yun’s arms, crying in a soft voice, “They’re all ungrateful, sob sob… Only you treat me the best…”  

Gu Yun patted her back and chuckled softly. “Mhm, I only treat you well. Those two ungrateful brats—let’s just ignore them, okay?”  

Jiang Libai nodded vigorously, then grabbed Gu Yun’s collar and lifted her nearly dry, tearless eyes. “Then, Jiejie, let’s not bring them. Just the two of us—let’s go traveling together, exploring the mountains and rivers!”  

This was something Jiang Libai had always wanted to do, but in the past, with the children around, she couldn’t bear the thought of dragging them along on an unpredictable journey, so she had given up on the idea.  

But now, it seemed like the perfect time for the two of them to travel the world together!  

Gu Yun gazed down at her, her eyes filled with an unbreakable tenderness. “Alright, let’s go out and see the world—just the two of us.”  

Mountains and rivers, streams and seas, distant mist upon the horizon.  

Yet none of it compares to the joy of being by your side.