115. The Future Crown Princess

Page 1 of 3

Chapter 115

As long as the illness could be monitored, Le Qianxue was not afraid in the slightest. She truly had contracted an infectious disease; she had not lied.

Those palace maids would only be inviting trouble by remaining there.

In any case, she had already made her position clear. Whether anyone listened was no longer her concern.

Before the afternoon was over, the palace maids’ faces had swollen. Red spots had yet to appear, but that was already proof the disease had spread.

The maids could no longer spare any thought for caring for Le Qianxue. They hurriedly sent someone to summon the Imperial Physician.

The eunuch was astonished when he saw what had happened. He was about to feel their pulses when Le Qianxue appeared.

“Imperial Physician, this illness cannot be touched. Otherwise, you will be infected as well.”

The physician immediately withdrew his hand and no longer dared to take their pulses.

No matter how desperately the two maids pleaded, no one came to treat them.

The matter soon reached the Emperor’s ears. Though he was furious, after thinking it over, he decided it was of no consequence.

The selection ceremony proceeded as scheduled, while Le Qianxue leisurely went about her own business in Clear Rain Courtyard.

Naturally, she had no intention of saving the two palace maids. The illness would not take their lives, but after a few days, their faces would probably be ruined.

Today was the selection ceremony, so Le Qianxue sent someone to find out who had been chosen. She wanted to know.

Thinking of how Jade Solitary Cold intended to select a principal consort, she wondered whether Mu Qingyu would be angered to death.

The thought lifted her spirits somewhat. It would be best if Mu Qingyu and Yang Ning’er fought among themselves. That would truly be entertaining.

Who would have expected that no news of the selection ceremony would emerge? Le Qianxue could not help but wonder why the proceedings had been made so secretive this time.

Even the candidate maidens had no idea what had happened. On the day of the selection, each prince was supposed to place a jade scepter in the hands of the maiden he had chosen. That was proof she had been selected.

Yet Jade Solitary Cold had chosen no one. As for Jade Hanxiang, there was no need to mention him. Those ugly women had tormented him over the past two days until he scarcely looked human, and he had not even been able to hold the jade scepter properly before dropping it to the ground.

Jade Zhiyang and Jade Nanfeng had chosen no one either. In other words, not one of the four princes had given away a single jade scepter.

This was the first time such a thing had ever happened. The old Emperor darkened his face, ordered all the candidate maidens to withdraw, and then reprimanded his sons.

Naturally, outsiders had no way of knowing what he said.

Not a single maiden had been selected, yet none of them were sent out of the palace. Some people began to suspect that another selection would be held. Thus, during those two days, each candidate displayed every talent she possessed, hoping to be chosen.

Meanwhile, under Le Qianxue’s careful care, her skin had improved considerably. The swelling in her face had gone down, though the red marks had not yet faded. That was of no importance; in another two days, she would be fully recovered.

Her illness was no longer contagious. After being cooped up in Clear Rain Courtyard for so many days, she decided to go out for a walk.

But before she could even step over the threshold, she saw Eunuch Chen approaching from a distance.

Le Qianxue was a little puzzled. Why had Eunuch Chen come again? Whenever he appeared, it was surely nothing good.

The moment Eunuch Chen saw Le Qianxue at the entrance to the courtyard, he was overjoyed.

He immediately said, “Miss Le, congratulations, congratulations! Come, kneel down and receive the decree.”

Le Qianxue glanced at the imperial decree in his hands and developed an ominous feeling.

“What decree is that?”

Why had she never heard that the old Emperor had issued an imperial decree? Were the informants she had planted really so incompetent?

Eunuch Chen said, “This is a joyous occasion. Miss Le, you should kneel first.”

Page 2 of 3

Le Qianxue frowned, but she could not continue questioning him, so she knelt to receive the decree.

She did not hear most of what Eunuch Chen said. Imperial decrees were always filled with long, absurd speeches. But one sentence reached her clearly.

Her eyes widened, and those words echoed endlessly in her mind:

“From this day forward, the legitimate daughter of the General’s Residence is appointed Crown Prince’s principal consort.”

How could this be possible?

Le Qianxue did not care whether Eunuch Chen had finished reading. She sprang to her feet, shoved him aside, and snatched the decree from his hands.

Her face was dark with anger, and the vermilion characters written upon the decree were painfully clear.

Eunuch Chen assumed that she was overwhelmed with joy and said, “Congratulations, Your Highness, the future Crown Princess. This marriage was personally bestowed by His Majesty.”

Le Qianxue casually threw the decree onto the ground.

Everyone present was instantly horrified. No one had imagined that Le Qianxue could be so willful.

But this was not mere willfulness. It was courting death.

Le Qianxue gave a series of cold laughs. She had never expected the old Emperor to bestow a marriage directly after the selection had failed.

It seemed that the old Emperor and Jade Solitary Cold had chosen her from the beginning. What, then, had been the purpose of holding the selection ceremony? It had merely been a formality.

She had thought she would escape this fate. Instead, she had wasted several days for nothing.

Eunuch Chen hurriedly picked up the decree and said to her, “Perhaps you are simply overcome with joy, Your Highness. Please take good care of the decree. If you lose it, you will be punished.”

Le Qianxue calmed down. Eunuch Chen was kindly reminding her.

If she openly defied the Emperor now, she would simply be seeking death.

Her expression gradually became impassive. She took back the decree and did not throw it down again.

But then she asked, “His Majesty has bestowed only this marriage upon me?”

Eunuch Chen nodded. “Yes. His Majesty favored you from the very beginning. Moreover, His Highness the Crown Prince did not choose anyone else. He petitioned His Majesty for your hand.”

Le Qianxue clenched her teeth.

Jade Solitary Cold was the Crown Prince. The old Emperor had probably told him certain things, which meant her identity could no longer remain concealed.

She had abducted Yuan Feng. Although the old Emperor had not pursued the matter, Jade Solitary Cold must have known about it as well. Why, then, had he requested this marriage? Was it for revenge?

Jade Solitary Cold had wanted to marry her in the past too, yet she had never understood it. A man like him could never possibly love her.

For a moment, countless thoughts raced through Le Qianxue’s mind. She did not even hear Eunuch Chen calling her several times.

In the end, he tugged her aside, forcing her to return to her senses.

Eunuch Chen lowered his voice. “This old servant knows that you are not pleased, but this is His Majesty’s decree. You must not defy it. Besides, no news of the selection ceremony was released because, after His Highness the Crown Prince petitioned for your hand, the Fourth Prince spoke up and tried to claim you for himself. His Majesty flew into a rage and immediately confined the Fourth Prince. He even assigned someone to accompany him—and your younger sister was made his secondary consort.”

Le Qianxue froze.

Surely not. Le Linglong had framed a prince, yet she had still managed to become a secondary consort?

But Jade Nanfeng was merely a pawn as well. It was obvious that the old Emperor was favoring Jade Solitary Cold.

That was hardly surprising. The old Emperor had loved the former Empress, so naturally he would protect the son she had borne.

With that thought, Le Qianxue nodded. “What about the other two princes?”

Eunuch Chen said, “The Second Prince later chose the legitimate daughter of the Prince of Zhuang’s household. The Third Prince chose no one.”

Le Qianxue frowned. “And His Majesty said nothing?”

“His Majesty knows that the Third Prince has always been this way, so he did not force him,” Eunuch Chen replied. “Now that you are the future Crown Princess, you must be especially careful.”

Le Qianxue could only hum in acknowledgment. There was nothing she could do for now. She would have to wait for Le Yongcheng to return and discuss matters with him.

Page 3 of 3

After Eunuch Chen left, Le Qianxue no longer felt like going out. When she returned to the reception hall, her expression remained gloomy. Hua Tao did not dare speak, afraid of provoking her mistress.

From time to time, Le Qianxue glanced at the imperial decree. Her expression grew worse with every passing moment. Finally, she could bear it no longer and rose to her feet.

Since she had no other choice, she would simply poison Jade Solitary Cold to death. Even if she became a widow, she would rather that than marry him.

Hua Tao shuddered. “Miss, where are you going?”

“Do not meddle,” Le Qianxue replied.

Hua Tao immediately fell silent.

Le Qianxue had taken only two steps when she stopped again.

Killing Jade Solitary Cold with poison would not be so easy. If anything happened to him, and the old Emperor learned that she was the Ghost Doctor, he would certainly force her to save him. If she failed, the Emperor would vent his fury upon her.

After all, she had no powerful backing now and could only watch the Emperor’s mood.

Le Qianxue remained in poor spirits throughout the day. News that she was about to become the Crown Princess spread throughout the capital. No one could have imagined that the once foolish legitimate daughter would one day rise to such heights.

At dusk, Jade Zhiyang came to visit. He brought two jars of fine wine, apparently intending to congratulate Le Qianxue.

She had not wanted to see him, but he had already barged inside.

“So, you are unhappy about this?” Jade Zhiyang said as he took out a cup and poured himself some wine. “What is there to be unhappy about? You are about to become my imperial sister-in-law.”

“Do as you please,” Le Qianxue replied. “You should know your Crown Prince brother’s true nature as well. Why not simply tell me why he wants to marry me?”

Jade Zhiyang took a sip of wine and gave a light laugh, but his eyes held a faint sadness today.

He gently shook his head. “That cannot be said. Besides, Qianxue, once you become the Crown Princess, your life will surely be much easier.”

Le Qianxue snorted. “I am afraid my days of suffering are only beginning. I had no interest in knowing what schemes you were plotting before, but things are different now. Have you ever heard of letting a wolf into the house?”

She was trying to sound him out. Jade Zhiyang knew that, but he was unwilling to speak.

Why exactly did Jade Solitary Cold want to marry her?

Jade Zhiyang spoke slowly. “That is a fine phrase—letting a wolf into the house. In fact, I once warned my imperial brother that he could not deal with you by ordinary means. Even if he married you, I doubt he would be able to subdue you.”

Le Qianxue’s face turned cold, but she said nothing.

Jade Zhiyang stared at her. His eyes seemed veiled by a thin mist today, making them difficult for her to read.

She frowned slightly. “Then why have you come today? You brought wine to celebrate for me, so you should at least let me have a drink.”

Jade Zhiyang shielded the wine jar, preventing her from taking it.

He smiled. “I am simply a little troubled and wanted to share a drink with you. I will not have the chance after this. The Crown Princess cannot be too intimate with other men.”

Access this site by entering its name into any search engine.

…

Tianjin

Page 3 of 3