Chapter 362 – The Sweet Princess Was Here – The Engagement (07)
Nanny Li asked anxiously, “How is Her Majesty’s condition? Is there still hope for treatment?”
Inside Kunning Palace, every servant loyal to the Empress was beside themselves with worry. If the Empress died, none of them would be trusted again. Even if some concubine dared to reuse them, the Crown Prince would never spare the people who let his mother die of poisoning under their watch. Naturally, the better the Empress recovered, the better it would be for them.
“It’s still in time,” Bai the Divine Doctor Tang said. As long as she wasn’t dead, everything could still be fixed.
Bai Tang asked the system for a detoxification pill and a great restorative pill, then handed them to Nanny Li to feed the Empress.
Clapping his hands, he returned to Wu Chenyi’s side. “Her Majesty is fine now~”
All the palace servants were stunned. Just like that?
Nanny Li felt regretful. Why had she been relieved by Bai Tang’s words? Even the imperial physicians couldn’t figure it out—how could a young man like Bai Tang possibly diagnose it?
Sensing Nanny Li’s thoughts, Qiu’er let out a disdainful “Pah.”
“Believe it or don’t. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have given you the pills. When your mistress dies, you can regret it all you like.”
Xiao A patted Qiu’er’s head. “There, there. Don’t be angry. We don’t stoop to the level of ordinary humans.”
Wu Chenyi praised him, “Tang Tang, you’re incredible. Even the imperial physicians couldn’t cure Mother’s illness, but you healed her in an instant.”
“Your Highness…” Nanny Li wanted to say something, but Wu Chenyi stopped her with a single look.
For no particular reason, he simply believed in Bai Tang—trusted him from the bottom of his heart.
Tang Tang would never harm him or anyone who treated him well.
“Oh right, Her Majesty’s body still needs to expel the remaining toxins. You should boil some hot water and wipe her down,” Bai Tang instructed.
Wu Chenyi waved his hand, sending Nanny Li to prepare it. Then he led Bai Tang and Imperial Physician Chen out. Bathing his mother was not something they could watch.
Outside Kunning Palace, Imperial Physician Chen repeatedly begged for mercy. This Crown Prince might look gentle, but his methods were anything but. The physician didn’t hope to save his own wealth—he only wished his family wouldn’t be implicated. He hoped that once Noble Consort Liang learned of his loyalty, she would take care of his family.
Wu Chenyi said nothing, simply ordering the young eunuch Xiao Duzi to investigate. Xiao Duzi departed immediately, while Imperial Physician Chen was temporarily detained.
That night, on his way to Kunning Palace to visit the Empress, Emperor Jude was intercepted by Noble Consort Liang, who claimed discomfort and diverted him to Jinxiu Palace instead.
The other concubines ground their teeth in hatred, but none could do anything about Noble Consort Liang. They could only stay in their own palaces, fuming in silence.
After the toxins were expelled, the Empress felt completely refreshed. Her skin became more delicate and radiant than before, making her look ten years younger.
She sat on the couch, drinking the medicinal soup made from the recipe Bai Tang had written.
Nanny Li said angrily from the side, “That Noble Consort Liang has gone too far. This is an open challenge to Her Majesty!”
The Empress looked at herself in the Western-style mirror. Her skin was like congealed cream, as if she had returned to the bloom of eighteen. Yet the noble, mature, and steady aura surrounding her only added to her elegance.
“All right. Why bother lowering myself to the level of a petty clown? It would only cheapen my status.”
Without the influence of the drug, the calm and composed Empress had returned.
Becoming the Empress wasn’t just a matter of family background—you needed character and temperament. Back then, she had stood out among all the selected candidates, naturally possessing qualities uncommon to others.
Calmness and endurance.
It was precisely these qualities that Noble Consort Liang sought to destroy—she had someone drug the Empress, causing Emperor Jude to grow disgusted with her.
“Nanny Li, have you found the one spreading the rumors?” The Empress put down the bowl and dabbed her lips with a handkerchief, her expression serene.
“Your Majesty, we have. It was a lowly maid from Kunning Palace. She accepted benefits from the Third Princess of the Huan Kingdom and spread the rumors. Furthermore, this maid was actually a spy planted by Noble Consort Liang.”
“I am no longer favored by His Majesty, so it seems snakes and rats can freely enter Kunning Palace. Nanny Li, go deal with it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
…
At the post station.
Bai Fangxin was on edge, restless and uneasy. She didn’t hear a single word the King of the Huan Kingdom said from across the table.
“Xin’er, are you even listening?”
“Ah—ah, yes, I’m listening.” Bai Fangxin snapped back to attention.
Seeing her distracted, the Huan Kingdom’s king sighed. “Don’t blame your father for being ruthless. This is for the sake of our Huan Kingdom.”
Bai Fangxin replied out of habit, “Yes, your daughter understands.”
The king looked relieved. “As long as you understand. From now on, you must be united with Tang Tang—don’t quarrel with him. The Wu Dynasty’s attitude toward our Huan Kingdom depends on the both of you.”
Soon, the Wu Dynasty announced its political marriage with the Huan Kingdom: Crown Prince Wu Chenyi would soon marry the Huan Kingdom’s Seventh Prince, Bai Tang. At the same time, the Huan Kingdom’s Third Princess would enter the palace as an imperial concubine.
When Bai Fangxin received this imperial decree, she felt her world collapse.
Impossible. Why would such an imperial decree exist? Why did she have to enter the palace and marry that old man already past fifty? Even if she couldn’t marry Wu Chenyi, she should at least be promised to another prince.
Bai Fangxin went to find the King of Huan. Coincidentally, Bai Tang was also there—the king was in the middle of lecturing him about national duty.
Bai Fangxin lifted her skirts as she rushed in, her eyes blazing with fury.
“You—tell me, was this your doing? Are you jealous of me…?”
Bai Tang, already drowsy from the king’s endless nagging, was caught off guard when Bai Fangxin suddenly grabbed his shoulders and shook him while shouting. Her shrill voice felt sharp enough to pierce his eardrums.
“Xin’er, let go of your brother at once!” The king of Huan was furious. He grabbed Bai Fangxin’s wrist and twisted, making her gasp in pain and snap back to her senses.
“What nonsense are you spouting? Didn’t you agree to this yourself?” the king said sternly.
“Father, what did I ever agree to? When did I say I wanted to enter the palace? What I clearly said was—”
“Enough. The Wu Emperor’s decree has already been issued. It cannot be changed.”
The king of Huan didn’t want her saying more in front of Bai Tang, afraid it would strain their sibling relationship.
Bai Fangxin opened her mouth but didn’t dare finish her sentence. The king turned to Bai Tang.
“Tang Tang, remember what I just told you. The fate of our Huan Kingdom rests in the hands of you and your sister.”
Bai Tang nodded. “A-Yi invited this son to go on an outing this afternoon. I shan’t disturb Father and Royal Sister’s discussion any further. This son takes his leave.”
He bowed to the King of Huan and quickly left the room.
Walking out of the post station, the young man looked up at the blue sky and took a deep breath. The King of Huan was a good ruler, but not a good father.
No—he was a good father, but only to Bai Fangxin, not to him or the other princes and princesses.
“Tang Tang, what are you thinking about?”
A shadow fell over him. Wu Chenyi approached, holding a parasol, and gently crouched down so their eyes were level.
The moment Bai Tang saw that warm, gentle smile, all his frustration vanished.
He wrapped his arms around Wu Cheny i’s neck. “I missed A-Yi. I thought you weren’t coming today~”
“How could that be? If Tang Tang invites me, nothing—no matter how important—matters more.” With his beloved leaping into his arms, Wu Chenyi couldn’t be happier.
The guards stationed at the post station pretended to stare straight ahead, doing their best to remain professional. But through the corners of their eyes, they still caught sight of the affectionate pair. They couldn’t help but marvel inwardly—
The Seventh Prince isn’t even married in yet and already enjoys such favor. Once he marries in, won’t the Crown Prince spoil him to the heavens?
Realizing there were people behind him, Bai Tang shyly pushed Wu Chenyi away. “It’s too sunny here. Let’s go somewhere with shade.”
Wu Chenyi held the parasol, determined not to let even a bit of sunlight touch Bai Tang—even if he himself were to get sunburned.
But he didn’t expose Bai Tang’s flimsy excuse. Instead, he followed along gently and led him into the carriage.
Inside, ice had been placed to cool the air. A refreshing chill drifted through the compartment. Bai Tang squinted his eyes in comfort, stretched lazily, then lay across Wu Chenyi’s lap while nibbling on pine nuts. The man’s warm, low voice narrated a story to him.
The carriage rocked lightly. Bai Tang’s eyelids grew heavy. With a soft thud, the pine nut slipped from his hand.
Wu Chenyi lowered his head and saw the boy’s eyes fully closed—he had fallen asleep.
The man smiled faintly and adjusted his position to make Bai Tang more comfortable.
When the carriage arrived at their destination, Xiao Duzi barely raised a hand to knock when the door opened. Wu Chenyi placed a finger to his lips.
Following the prince’s gaze, Xiao Duzi saw Bai Tang curled up asleep in his master’s arms.
The sunlight outside seemed to bother Bai Tang; his delicate brows furrowed as he turned his face into Wu Chenyi’s chest. “Mmm~”
Wu Chenyi closed the carriage door again, blocking the harsh light.
Bai Tang’s knitted brows relaxed. With Wu Chenyi’s careful protection, he continued sleeping peacefully.
He slept all the way until the sun dipped toward the horizon.
Rubbing his eyes, Bai Tang asked, “Are we there?”
Wu Chenyi replied softly, “We can still catch the sunset.”
He pushed open the carriage door. The sky glowed a warm orange, and even the clouds along the mountaintop were dyed with the hues of dusk.
“It’s so beautiful~” The boy jumped from the carriage and ran up the hillside.
“Tang Tang, slow down!” Wu Cheny i hurried after him.
“Hurry up! If you can’t catch me, you’ll have to sleep on the floor after we get married~”
Wu Chenyi: !!!
Sleep on the floor after the wedding? Absolutely not.
He had planned to “let Tang Tang win,” but for the sake of his future married life, Wu Chenyi gathered his inner strength. His toes tapped lightly against the ground as he dashed forward with qinggong.
Bai Tang glanced back—no one was there.
He stopped. Was he running too fast? Did A-Yi fail to keep up? Could he have gotten lost?!
He didn’t actually want to shake Wu Chenyi off. Stretching his neck, he scanned the distance. A small black dot marked where the carriage had stopped. By all logic, A-Yi shouldn’t have fallen behind.
He turned back—and found a “wall” suddenly standing in front of him.
Bai Tang: !!!
“I caught Tang Tang. So I get to enter the bridal chamber after we’re married.” Wu Cheny i suddenly scooped Bai Tang up sideways, then shot forward using light footwork, heading toward the sunset.
“W-Where are we going…?”
“To a place where no one else is around—where Tang Tang belongs only to me.”
Xiao Duzi finally managed to park the carriage and hurried back to the spot where his masters had stopped earlier. A symbol was carved onto the tree trunk.
He knew exactly what it meant—the Crown Prince was telling him to leave first and not worry about them.
Xiao Duzi stomped his foot anxiously. Oh heavens, my lord, please come back soon! If you don’t return for the night, Her Majesty the Empress will skin this humble servant alive.
The young eunuch waited at the spot for a long time. Night fell, the stars glittered brilliantly, and a gentle breeze drifted through. In the end, he could only drive the carriage back to the palace in tears, praying desperately that Her Majesty would not summon the Crown Prince. Please, please don’t…
Author’s Note :
Next chapter: the wedding.