Chapter 22: The Headless Princess

That night, at the foot of Taishan Mountain, the royal convoy set up camp. Apart from a group of military officers, Chen Zhao had not invited anyone else to participate in the spring hunt. Even around the Empress’s tent, no one was allowed to approach without special permission. Only An Suyun stood guard outside the tent. Her face remained an unchanging glacier, calm even if Mount Tai were to collapse before her.

At this moment, only Chen Zhao and Jiang Qionglin remained inside the Empress’s tent.

Rumors about Chen Zhao favoring Jiang Qonglin had already spread like wildfire. It was rumored that the Peony Gentleman was Chen Zhao’s intimate guest. For this reason, the Empress had particularly favored him, promising him the top position in the imperial examinations. The gossip was rampant, overshadowing even Wu Rui’an’s scandals.

This spring examination, Chen Zhao brought only him among the civil officials, further confirming the rumors. Stories about them became even more fantastical and sensational.

However, the parties involved remained open-hearted and unreserved.

For Jiang Qionglin, Yuehua was a patron, while Chen Zhao was the sovereign. He clearly distinguished between the two and would never allow himself any inappropriate thoughts. Moreover, he had won the top position in the spring examinations through his genuine talent, feeling no shame towards himself or others.

Yet, Jiang Qionglin didn’t realize that in Chen Zhao’s eyes, he was always the Peony Gentleman who could please her. How could she remain unmoved with such a beauty constantly parading before her?

At this moment, Chen Zhao was bathing behind a screen, while Jiang Qionglin attended her but dared not raise his head.

Chen Zhao stared at him for a long time, noticing that even his eyelashes hadn’t twitched. She beckoned him over, “Come here.”

“Your humble servant dare not.” Jiang Qionglin immediately knelt on the ground, looking like a frightened white rabbit.

“In the past, you were so tender with me, but now…” Chen Zhao no longer wished to play coy and shattered the thin veil between them, asking, “Is it because I am the Emperor that you fear me?”

“Your humble servant is apprehensive. Back then, I did not recognize your dragon countenance and startled Your Majesty. Please forgive my grave disrespect—” Jiang Qionglin prostrated himself on the ground, his forehead pressed against it, trembling with fear.

“What grave disrespect? It’s not that serious,” Chen Zhao chuckled and stood up.

She emerged from the bath completely naked, her porcelain-like skin gleaming. Though over forty, her body bore no excess flesh, well-maintained.

After stepping out of the bathtub, she stood boldly in front of him, crouched down, took his hand, and led him to the bed.

Jiang Qionglin trembled; if he still didn’t understand her intentions now, he truly lacked worldly wisdom despite his three years in the pleasure quarters.

“Drink some wine to warm yourself.” Chen Zhao brought pre-prepared wine from a nearby low table and handed it to Jiang Qionglin.

Jiang Qionglin tread carefully and drank the cup dry.

Soon after, two red patches bloomed on his cheeks.

“Still very afraid of me?” Chen Zhao lowered her voice and softly said, “You once said that when I call myself ‘I,’ you see me as Yuehua.”

Jiang Qionglin didn’t know what came over him; usually capable of drinking a thousand cups without getting drunk, he felt somewhat light-headed now. Looking at her unadorned, natural beauty, she resembled a beautiful noblewoman from the common folk.

No, she was even more submissive than ordinary women, every move exuding charm.

She treated him as tenderly as a wife would treat her husband.

Borrowing the courage from the alcohol, half-drunk, Jiang Qionglin gazed at her, slightly parted his lips, and smiled, “I’m not avoiding you because I’m afraid.”

“Then why?” Chen Zhao fixed her gaze on him, her eyes filled with tenderness.

“Because you are important,” Jiang Qionglin held Chen Zhao’s hand, caressing its warmth, and softly said, “Because you are important, I dare not be frivolous, dare not be negligent.”

Chen Zhao was momentarily stunned, much of the passion in her eyes fading. She stared at him for a long while.

Jiang Qionglin fell silent too. After a long pause, he got off the bed, fetched undergarments from a nearby rack, carefully dressed Chen Zhao, and wrapped a thin silk robe around her, saying, “Your Majesty, the mountain dew is heavy; be careful not to catch a cold.”

After finishing, he tidied the bedding, gently lifted the dazed Chen Zhao onto the bed, carefully covered her with a brocade quilt, and said, “Your Majesty, it’s late tonight. Rest early. Your humble servant takes leave.”

Chen Zhao watched him for a while, finally waving her hand, “Go ahead.”

“Yes, your humble servant takes leave.”

Jiang Qionglin exited the tent. An Suyun was slightly surprised, but this surprise quickly vanished, reverting her back into an icy beauty, unwilling to acknowledge anyone except Chen Zhao.

Jiang Qionglin returned to his tent, lying on the bed and heavily exhaling. He felt a slight swelling in his lower abdomen, like a fire within him gathering strength but unable to release.

Liking can be indulgent, but love requires restraint.

His extreme self-control was meant to tell her that he had dreams and ambitions and no longer wished to be a male concubine serving with his looks.

More importantly, he hoped she wouldn’t underestimate him.

Thus, that night, he could only imagine someone’s figure and relieved himself again and again.

...

Early the next morning, an urgent letter from the Taiji Palace abruptly ended the yet-to-begin spring hunt.

The letter read, “Last night at midnight, Princess Tianxiang was decapitated in Prince Rui An’s mansion and died on the spot. The Turkic delegation was enraged and caused chaos in Prince Wu’s mansion. Three hundred imperial guards were temporarily dispatched to stabilize the situation.”

“These sons of mine are all incapable of giving me peace of mind!” Chen Zhao was furious and immediately issued an order to pack up and return to the palace.

By noon, Wen Yao hurried back to the pharmacy, interrupting Di Jiang’s lunch.

“Shopkeeper, something terrible happened!” Wen Yao rushed in, startling both Di Jiang and Shuxiang.

“Cough cough cough…” Di Jiang put down her chopsticks and violently coughed several times before managing to expel the food stuck in her throat.

“Stand straight! Speak properly!” Di Jiang, her face red, angrily said, “Why are you so flustered? Is the sky falling?”

“This is worse than the sky falling! We might really go to war!” Wen Yao waved her hands frantically, exclaiming, “Princess Tianxiang has been brutally murdered! Without a complete body!”

“What?” Di Jiang and Shuxiang were both shocked.

“She was beheaded in Prince Wu’s mansion. They say the blood flowed everywhere, even turning the water pools in the mansion blood-red!” Wen Yao continued.

“Could such a thing really happen?” Di Jiang frowned, recalling yesterday’s encounter with Princess Tianxiang, who was still very much alive. Though her actions were domineering, the sudden loss of such a beautiful woman was still heart-wrenching.

“Tell me everything in detail.” Di Jiang spoke seriously.

“It’s said that a maid discovered the princess’s body early in the morning. When she found Princess Tianxiang’s corpse, she was lying on a fake hill in the backyard garden of Prince Rui An’s mansion, having been dead for several hours! There was a scar as big as a bowl on her neck! Truly horrifying!” Wen Yao spoke vividly, leaving Di Jiang and Shuxiang stunned.

“The prime suspect is Prince Rui An,” Wen Yao added, “Yesterday’s conflict between him and Princess Tianxiang at the octagonal pavilion has already spread throughout the streets. He has been suspended from duty by the Empress, and no one knows what will happen next…”

“Why would Rui An kill Princess Tianxiang?” Shuxiang questioned.

“Exactly! If he didn’t want to marry her, he should have said so. Why kill her? Although she was sent by the Turks, Rui An had no choice but to marry her, but there was no need to kill her!”

“…”

Wen Yao’s words plunged the room into silence.

Indeed, these days, the discord between Rui An and Princess Tianxiang had become public knowledge. If Rui An killed her to eliminate evidence of his reluctance to marry, it made sense.

“In short, the Turks are already seething with anger, declaring that if the real culprit isn’t found within seven days, they will fight us to the death!” Wen Yao panicked.

“How could it come to this…” Di Jiang frowned and sighed, “What was supposed to be a joyous event has turned into a murder case. It’s truly bizarre and astonishing.”

“Absolutely! Now the prince is surely unhappy. He has already been demoted once, and this time, he’s stripped of all responsibilities…” Once Wen Yao started talking, she couldn’t stop, rambling on, “I heard that Prince Rui An has been drowning his sorrows in the pleasure quarters lately, often speaking recklessly, saying things like people from those places could also become top scholars. Hanging out with you, maybe someday you’ll also become court officials!”

“Really?” Di Jiang shook her head and laughed, “He doesn’t seem worried.”

“Exactly! It’s like the emperor isn’t worried, but the eunuchs are driven mad. This has already spread far and wide! The Empress is extremely angry, yet he shows no signs of restraint. Today, a murder case has erupted; his future days will indeed be tough.” Wen Yao sighed deeply, visibly worried.

Hearing this, Di Jiang grew suspicious again, saying, “Why does Prince Rui An have to pick on Jiang Qionglin? There are plenty of old stubborn ones in the court who don’t need him to step forward.”

“Right, although Jiang Gongzi is more talented than the prince, the prince is also skilled in martial arts! One is a scholar, the other a warrior; neither hinders the other unless…”

“Unless what?” Di Jiang asked.

“Unless he’s jealous,” Wen Yao paused, saying, “Jealous that you are nicer to Jiang Qionglin than to him.”

“…” Di Jiang’s lips parted slightly, visibly surprised. But upon reflection, it seemed… quite possible.

Especially that day, when she saw the note left by Wu Rui’an at the medical hall and Zhong Xu’s opened coffin shop, she realized Wu Rui’an might have seen Jiang Qionglin in her room and misunderstood…

She had been too lazy to explain before, but now she felt the need to clear up the misunderstanding. Otherwise, letting this misunderstanding continue might lead to even more trouble…

“Shopkeeper, you must help Prince Rui An!” Wen Yao pleaded with a sad face.

“I know what to do.” Di Jiang nodded, drank two cups of chunhua wine, and thoughtfully walked out of the pharmacy. Before leaving, she instructed no one to follow her.