Chapter 149: The Holy Princess of Nan Zhao (84.3)
Translator: asa.s.sin
In the glow of pearls, the heavy stone gate was opened. In came the woman in a lavish golden outfit wasn't as calm as she used to be. Her disorder footsteps seemed full of anger. “Xu Qing Chen!”
Xu Qing Chen, who was in a rest with his eyes closed gently turned around and saw her came up a rush. He asked with a frown: “What is it?”
She seemed furious. With a flicker of her sleeve, she knocked all the teacups off the table with loud cracks. “Tell me! How do they know you are here?”
He shook his head and answered calmly: “I can't even get out of here myself. How will I know that? What? Is someone troubling you?”
“How will you not know? You must have sent out a message. Tell me, how did you do that?” She suppressed her anger with a lot of efforts as she asked.
Xu Qing Chen sighed and shook his head. “You think too high of me. I'm just a useless scholar, not a master-hand who keeps a low profile. You may well think if you've displeased someone lately.”
The woman snorted slightly: “Impossible. Except that woman, An Xi, I've only displeased… Huh, I think it's your fiancée.”
“I told you to leave her alone.” He said in a stern tone.
She sneered: “Don't worry. Nothing has happened to your dear fiancée. However… it doesn't mean she will always be safe. Last time I just wanted to give her a lesson. Speaking of that… her escort was very good at martial arts.”
Xu Qing Chen didn't seem to mind that. “Are you talking about her guard? In Great Chu, daughters of an ill.u.s.trious family always have a few guards around when they leave home. It's no big deal.”
“You trust her, don't you? Let's see if her guard can keep her safe and sound forever. Perhaps the two of them will fall in love over time. Don't girls love to be saved by a hero?”
He cast her a glance. “You might as well tell me what made you so angry instead of thinking about that.”
Speaking of that, under the mask, her face twisted as she said resentfully: “Someone threw those a.s.sa.s.sins' bodies outside my shrine!”
He was surprised but soon his frown disappeared. “It's nothing. Let the imperial family or the officials handle that.”
“No way!” She cried: “Don't tell me you know nothing about it! If the news spreads out that there are bodies outside my shrine, An Xi will use it as an excuse and take this opportunity to search here. Hum! I know she has wanted to interfere a long time ago. But she isn't qualified to do it!”
Xu Qing Chen took a book and opened it as he said: “You didn't mention that if people know about those bodies, they will suspect your innocence. Most importantly, you might not be able to have Great Chu or Xi Ling as your scapegoat given another year or two, and right now… you aren't ready to go to war with Great Chu.”
Her eyes darkened. She stared at him gloomily and said in a grave tone: “You know too much. Aren't you afraid that I'll kill you?”
Xu Qing Chen nodded slightly. “But you want to know more from me, don't you?”
“Right!” She admitted directly as she said: “If you haven't helped An Xi, she had no chance to win. Well, since you can help her, you can help me too.”
He shook his head. “I won't.”
“I will make you want to help!” She sneered.
Xu Qing Chen put down the book and looked at her with pity. “You are not a material for these things. None of your predecessors was either. Even though you are cleverer than them, you are no match for Princess An Xi in terms of governing.”
Anger pa.s.sed her eyes as she said coldly: “Who said that? You admitted that I'm cleverer than An Xi, didn't you?”
“You are simply better at schemes than she is. But that's not how you rule a country. Besides… your schemes aren't even good.”
“So what? At least you are in my palms now.” She said proudly.
Xu Qing Chen smiled without a word.
Seeing his calmness, she was suddenly seized by anger and said with resentment: “You despise me!”
He answered with a frown: “I don't. I simply don't approve of what you are doing.”
“I know it! It's despise!” She screamed: “What do you know? Do you know what a life An Xi had since she was a little girl? And what did I have? It's not fair! It's not fair that she was born a princess, an inheritress. It's not fair that she has everything!”
“You are the Holy Princess, loved by all.” Said Xu Qing Chen.
“Huh… loved by all? I haven't seen my mother since I was three. Alone since I was five. I wasn't allowed to talk to the maids, nor play outside, nor cry, nor meet any strangers, not even fall in love. And I have to go to that d.a.m.n holy temple when I reach 28. n.o.body wants to go there! Nan Zhao is mine. Everything is mine!” She suddenly yelled as if she lost her mind.
Xu Qing Chen shook his head. “A life as the Holy Princess of Nan Zhao does deserve sympathy. But I don't think you do. You are never restricted, aren't you? Otherwise, you wouldn't have met Prince Li nor become an enemy of Princess An Xi. In addition… the next Holy Princess emerged two years ago who was killed under you command. The Holy Princess can remain in her position until 28 but most Holy Princesses actually retire before they turn 25.”
“An Xi told you everything, didn't she?” The woman gazed at him. “She does trust you.”
“I'm her friend.”
“Hum!” It seemed that breakdown was totally fake, or simply put it this way, it was just a show. She found her elegance back in no time. “Huh, a friend! I'll make sure to bring you your friend's and your fiancée's heads.” After that, she left in a huff.