Chapter 366 – The Sweet Princess Was Here – Setting Out to Save Someone (11)
The Crown Prince’s residence was bustling as they packed large bundles and bags. Wu Chenyi’s plan was to disguise himself as a traveling merchant to do business and assess the local market conditions—naturally, he needed some goods to make the act convincing.
With Wu Chenyi around, Bai Tang had nothing to worry about. He went into the palace to chat with the Empress for a while and returned carrying generous rewards.
Qiu’er said, “Her Majesty the Empress is so generous! I’ve decided I like her!”
Xiao A narrowed his eyes. “Who is it you like?”
A chill ran down Qiu’er’s back when he met Xiao A’s meaningful gaze. “N-no one… I don’t like anyone…”
Once everything was ready, Wu Chenyi carried the cloak-draped Bai Tang into the carriage, and they left the capital.
Inside the imperial palace, Bai Fangxin only wished to avoid imperial favor, curling up in Changning Palace as a neglected Consort He. However, the demoted Liang Pin had no intention of letting her off. She used the spies assigned to Changning Palace to frame Bai Fangxin for having an affair with a guard—and then planned to lure Emperor Jude over.
No man can tolerate the color of the hat on his head changing—let alone Emperor Jude. If he were to witness such a disgraceful scene with his own eyes, there would be no worry that Consort He would continue receiving favor. He could even charge the Empress with incompetence in managing the inner palace.
Liang Pin had it all planned out. Unfortunately, there is always someone stronger. She habitually dismissed the Empress, but people change. While she had been under confinement, the Empress had risen again. Though Liang Pin had heard rumors, she had never witnessed it herself and had no idea how much the Empress had changed.
When the Empress received the report, she sat in Kunning Palace and let out a cold laugh.
“None of them will let this palace have peace. Very well—let me find something for you all to do.”
With a small trick, the Empress instructed the palace maid responsible for informing Emperor Jude to move the time forward. Upon hearing it, the Emperor recalled that ever since Consort He entered the palace, she had not yet been granted favor—and she was such a delicate beauty. His heart stirred, and he headed straight for Changning Palace.
By the time he arrived, Bai Fangxin had already inhaled a considerable amount of the special incense. Her mind was clouded, her whole body burning with heat.
The palace servants had long been sent away by Liang Pin’s people so that the guard could enter smoothly.
A beauty half-clad and helpless—how could Emperor Jude, who adored beautiful women, not be moved? He stepped forward and supported Consort He into the bedchamber…
The guard who had come to Changning Palace had just approached the entrance when he was thrown out by the emperor’s attendants.
“Blind fool! You dare trespass into Changning Palace?” Eunuch Gao glared down his nose at him, ordering the others to detain the guard and wait for the Emperor’s judgment.
How could an outsider barge into the harem? Besides, this guard looked unfamiliar—not one assigned to protect Changning Palace. His appearance here was definitely suspicious.
Bai Fangxin felt as if her body wasn’t her own. When she finally regained clarity and saw the traces left behind from being favored, she instantly let out a terrified scream.
W-what… what happened…!?
The palace maids rushed over at Bai Fangxin’s scream.
“Congratulations, Your Ladyship, congratulations! His Majesty even said he will come again tonight to dine with you.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Fangxin felt her blood surge and spat out a mouthful of blood.
“Your Ladyship…!” The maid cried out in alarm.
After vomiting blood, Bai Fangxin’s mind became much clearer. She had no memory at all of when Emperor Jude had come the previous night, nor what had happened. There was definitely something wrong here—she refused to believe otherwise. It seemed the mistress of Changning Palace might not truly be her anymore.
Bai Fangxin glared viciously at the senior palace maid before her. The woman trembled under her stare, but still forced herself to ask with concern, “Your Ladyship, what is the matter? Shall this servant summon the imperial physician?”
Bai Fangxin’s expression calmed, her tone turning gentle.
“There’s no need. The people I brought with me should have learned palace etiquette by now. Send Chunxin to me.”
Chunxin was someone she had brought from the Kingdom of Huan. Everyone brought from there had been sent to the Household Department to learn the palace rules, and they were supposed to return soon to serve her.
“Yes.” The senior palace maid withdrew. In her heart, she knew she needed to find another way out. Staying in Changning Palace was no longer an option—she wouldn’t remain the chief maid and would have to live under someone else’s mercy.
With the Empress’s friendly assistance, Chunxin returned to Changning Palace—only to unexpectedly see a young eunuch sneaking out of the palace and heading straight toward Liang Pin’s residence.
When the eunuch returned, he was seized and interrogated. Only then did they learn that all of this had been Liang Pin’s scheme. Fearing that Bai Fangxin would steal the position of the Emperor’s most favored consort, she had planned everything in order to eliminate her.
Steadying her mindset, Bai Fangxin quickly re-entered the harem’s battlefield, engaging in fierce and ruthless conflict with Liang Pin.
Meanwhile, the Empress sat in Kunning Palace enjoying the spectacle. During the grand reorganization of the harem, she conveniently released Liang Pin from confinement. However, the Empress had already filled all the consort positions. If Liang Pin wanted to rise any higher, then someone above her would have to either lose favor and be demoted—or die.
Among the four consorts, Bai Fangxin was the one with the weakest foundation in the Wu Dynasty. She also had fresh grievances with Liang Pin, and now that she had become Emperor Jude’s new favorite, the other woman would never let her go. It was either she died or Liang Pin died—there was no avoiding the fight.
On the other side—
When the carriage reached the outskirts of Ning City, Wu Chenyi’s task was to investigate the Prefect of Ning City.
Bai Tang had been stuck in the carriage for a long time. Taking advantage of the nice weather, he lifted the curtain to get some air.
“A-Yi, take me riding, please? I don’t want to sit in the carriage anymore—there isn’t even room to stretch my legs.”
The scenery outside was lovely, the breeze gentle. The little squirrel’s love for nature awakened, and he shook Wu Chenyi’s arm, acting spoiled.
“Alright, but only for a short while. Once we enter the city, you have to go back into the carriage,” Wu Chenyi replied, thoroughly enjoying his lover’s clinginess.
He held the youth close and whistled.
Before long, a sweating, fiery-red stallion arrived beside the carriage. Wu Chenyi lifted Bai Tang onto the horse with him. He instructed Xiao Duzi to drive the carriage at a slower pace into the city while he took Bai Tang for a stroll nearby.
Qiu’er stared at the precious stallion beneath them with envy.
“What a fine horse… If we sold it, imagine how much energy we could get…”
Bai Tang replied, “You’re not allowed to sell it. This is A-Yi’s mount.”
Qiu’er pouted. “I was just talking. But seriously, Tang Tang, the book says men with money turn bad. It’s important to control the household finances. You must manage the Crown Prince’s treasury properly…”
Xiao A shook his head. Qiu’er had found a new obsession: saving money, earning money, converting things into energy. Even his favorite food couldn’t distract him anymore.
Autumn was glorious. Bright red maple leaves fluttered to the ground. The two of them rode beneath the trees—it felt like traveling through a tunnel of time.
Bai Tang leaned back into Wu Chenyi’s arms and asked in a childish, milky-soft voice, “A-Yi, what exactly do you like about me?”
He had wanted to ask this for a long time. From the very first world to each world after, his old gong always chased after him—spoiling him, loving him. He was just an ordinary little squirrel; what virtue or ability did he have to make the child of destiny devote himself to him in every life?
Wu Chenyi rested his chin gently on Bai Tang’s head.
“There are so many things I like about Tang Tang—your smile, the way you look content when you eat, the way you call my name in your sleep…” The more he counted, the happier he became. He had been part of every piece of the boy’s life.
“Ahhh…” The little squirrel sighed, opened the snack pouch Wu Chenyi prepared for him, and gnawed on a pinecone to calm his excitement.
Wu Chenyi pecked Bai Tang on the cheek.
“There’s no ‘why.’ I like you simply because I like you. Not because you can give me benefits. Just because you are you. The moment I saw you, my heart was full of joy.”
Feelings were a strange thing. Even if the other party understood nothing, even if he brought no benefit—once you liked someone, you simply liked them, and wanted to offer them everything you had.
“A-Yi, you’re so good to me~” Bai Tang said as he held the hand Wu Chenyi had wrapped around his waist.
“It’s Tang Tang who’s good. Because of you, my life is no longer lonely.”
Just as the two were enjoying this peaceful moment, a sharp scream sliced through the quiet, warm atmosphere.
Bai Tang immediately became alert and straightened up.
“There’s someone over there.”
In the direction the youth pointed, several black figures flashed by—someone was running fast, and the one who had screamed was a woman.
Qiu’er said, “A group of people are chasing a woman. A farmwife saw them earlier, so they killed her.”
Xiao A added, “I recommend that the host intervene. This person is a key character and will greatly help the male lead with his mission.”
The moment Bai Tang heard it had something to do with Wu Chenyi, his interest was instantly piqued.
He pulled on the reins and said to Wu Chenyi, “Let’s go after them and take a look.”
“Alright—whatever Tang Tang wants.”
Since Tang Tang wanted to help, Wu Chenyi would never let him down.
With a sharp “Hyah!” Wu Chenyi pressed his legs against the horse’s sides, urging the fiery stallion toward the direction of the fleeing shadows.
Fang Xianglian stumbled over a rock and fell heavily to the ground. She had been running for so long that she was at the end of her strength.
“Why… why are you trying to kill me…?” Fang Xianglian rarely quarreled with anyone. She was new to Ning City and couldn’t understand who would want her dead.
The killers raised their long blades, their voices cold and vicious.
“Blame yourself for standing in the noble lady’s way.”
As soon as he finished speaking, silver light flashed. Fang Xianglian shut her eyes instinctively.
Clang! Clang! Several metallic sounds rang out, followed by screams.
Fang Xianglian opened her eyes. The killers who had surrounded her were all lying on the ground. A pair of exquisitely crafted boots entered her field of vision.
She slowly lifted her gaze upward—and saw a face of unmatched, breathtaking beauty.
The young man was as gentle and refined as jade, the corners of his lips holding a faint, elegant smile.
“Miss, are you unharmed?”
Not only was he handsome, even his voice was pleasant—warm like a spring breeze, soothing to the heart.
“I… thank you, young master, for saving me…”
Before Fang Xianglian could finish speaking, a soft, milky voice called out from not far away: “A-Yi~”
The elegantly dressed young man turned slightly, giving Fang Xianglian a clear view of the youth behind him—what a strikingly handsome little lord.
“A-Yiiii~”
The boy’s voice sounded on the verge of tears. “I-I can’t get down… I’m scared…”
Moments earlier, the situation had been urgent, and Wu Chenyi had used his light footwork to leap off the horse to save her.
Wu Chenyi looked anxious as he quickly returned to the horse, one hand grabbing the reins and the other helping the youth down.
Fang Xianglian watched the affectionate pair with envy. Compared to them, her own situation was worlds apart, and her heart sank slightly.
Bai Tang walked up to Fang Xianglian and said in a soft, milky voice, “You’re safe now~ Don’t worry, okay?”
Fang Xianglian kneeled and kowtowed to them.
“The great kindness you two young masters have shown—Xianglian has no way to repay it. If you ever have need of me in the future, Xianglian will surely repay you.”
Author’s Note :
The heroine’s scenes will be off-stage for now. Next up will be all Tang tang + the male lead (ah, Bai Fangxin finally doesn’t have to hop around anymore).