The red-bottomed jug adorned with golden flowers spun in Tao Chuyi’s grasp as she stowed it away, instantly filling two wine cups.
Tao Chuyi picked up one of the cups and walked over to Nangong Yunshang. “Sister, let’s drink the cross-arm wine!”
Nangong Yunshang was just about to refuse when she suddenly remembered that she did indeed owe her this one ritual. The words of refusal died on her lips. Under Tao Chuyi’s expectant gaze, she mustered all her strength to lift her arm and take hold of the cup.
Their arms crossed as Tao Chuyi—well versed in the procedure from the storybooks—hooked Nangong Yunshang’s arm in hers. Together, they raised their cups and drained them dry.
Having finally completed the long-delayed rite, Tao Chuyi clapped her hands in delight. Then she hoisted Nangong Yunshang onto her back and dashed down the mountain, weaving past the bandits.
She ran without pause the whole way, fine beads of sweat gathering unconsciously on her forehead. Nangong Yunshang used her sleeve to wipe them away and, seeing no one in pursuit, suggested that she take a moment to rest.
But Tao Chuyi insisted she wasn’t tired and kept carrying her away from the danger.
“Chuyi, put me down. I’ve got some strength back now—I can walk on my own.”
The closer Nangong Yunshang pressed to Tao Chuyi’s back, the more keenly she felt how slender it was. She had never imagined that such a fragile frame could one day provide her with such a profound sense of security.
Tao Chuyi shook her head and continued her frantic sprint. Suddenly, a group of people appeared from below, their torchlight drawing nearer. She grew alert, scanning her surroundings, and only relaxed upon spotting Zishan at their head.
“Your Highness! Prince Consort!”
Zishan hurried forward to assist and had her subordinates bring up a sedan chair.
Nangong Yunshang let out a breath of relief. They had finally escaped the danger.
“Has only your group come?”
As Zishan helped her into the sedan, she explained, “General Zhao led the guards in storming the mountain to wipe out the bandits. I was tasked with slipping in amid the chaos to rescue you. Seeing that Your Highness and the Prince Consort are both safe and sound fills me with gratitude to the heavens.”
Nangong Yunshang beckoned to Tao Chuyi. “Chuyi, you must be tired. Come up here too.”
Tao Chuyi craned her neck to peer inside, saw there was only room for one, and promptly shook her head.
“Chuyi isn’t tired. Sister, you sit.”
There was no time to waste. The group swiftly descended the mountain and escorted the princess and her consort back to the pleasure barge.
This time, the Emperor showed them some consideration. He came to welcome them personally, offered a few words of comfort, and then departed.
The two changed out of their wedding attire into fresh clothes they had brought along. After drinking some calming tea, they could finally breathe easy, having survived the ordeal.
Arriving hot on their heels was Zhao Linglong. She and her guards had rounded up every last bandit. In reporting back to the Emperor, she also laid out the evidence of the prefect’s collusion with the outlaws—perfectly corroborating Xin Niang’s earlier accusations.
The Emperor immediately summoned the Eldest Princess and the Eldest Princess Consort. The pair pushed all blame away from themselves and flatly denied any involvement.
When Nangong Yunshang received word, she learned that the Eldest Princess was kneeling before the throne in tears, even threatening to hang herself to prove her innocence.
“The Eldest Imperial Sister truly spares no effort for her husband’s family.”
Yinghong snorted coldly. “Indeed. Your Majesty always falls for that act. One bout of tears from the Eldest Princess, and the order to arrest the prefect gets put on hold.”
Tao Chuyi poked her head out. “She’s a crybaby. Chuyi isn’t.”
Nangong Yunshang chuckled and pushed the oversized head away. “You’re into everything, aren’t you?”
Tao Chuyi grinned foolishly, slithered down, and hugged Nangong Yunshang’s leg, still beaming as if the earlier peril had been entirely forgotten.
Nangong Yunshang took a light sip of her clear tea. “Yinghong, go and spread the word: This Princess has suffered quite the shock. She wants for neither tea nor rice, plagued by endless nightmares, to the point of contemplating taking her own life.”
“Yes, this servant will go at once.”
Once the others had withdrawn, Nangong Yunshang rubbed Tao Chuyi’s large head and instructed her, “In a little while, no matter what I say or do, don’t be afraid.”
Tao Chuyi nodded right away, agreeing with remarkable crispness—though when the moment came, she forgot all about it.
When the Emperor arrived, Nangong Yunshang lay weakly reclining on the couch. A white silk sash lay on the table beside her, and an overturned stool was scattered on the floor. It was clear what had transpired.
“What is the meaning of this? Your Eldest Sister pulls this stunt, and now you? Are you both trying to threaten Us?”
Nangong Yunshang pushed herself up to perform a salute. “Your daughter knows she cannot coerce Father Emperor. She simply feels deeply wronged. To be inexplicably dragged into this strife and nearly lose her life, only for the true culprits to roam free—how could she not be choked with frustration?”
Her voice was feeble, her expression one of pitiable sorrow. With Tao Chuyi wailing inconsolably at her side, the scene was utterly heartrending.
The Emperor’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. Before he could respond, a serving girl came to report that the Eldest Princess was threatening to hang herself as well. He scowled fiercely and stormed off with a flick of his sleeve.
No sooner had the Emperor left than Yinghong whisked away the white silk and the stool.
Nangong Yunshang’s demeanor turned indifferent as she used a silken cloth to wipe away the marks painted on her neck.
“Sister, boo-hoo, Sister!”
In their haste, everyone had nearly forgotten the professional mood-setter, still lost in her sobs. They hurriedly helped her to her feet.
Nangong Yunshang wiped the tears from her face. “All right, little ancestor. Stop crying—I’m not really dead.”
Tao Chuyi only cried harder, as if she couldn’t stop herself, soaking Nangong Yunshang’s silken cloth through.
Nangong Yunshang pulled her into an embrace and cooed to her for ages until the tears finally ceased.
“You silly little fool. Sister’s fine.”
Tao Chuyi nodded, her eyes swollen like walnuts. She had meant to play along with the act, but for some reason, the thought of her sister dying had filled her with uncontrollable grief. The more she cried, the sadder she became, until she simply couldn’t stop.
She buried herself in the crook of Nangong Yunshang’s neck and mumbled, “Sister, may you be auspicious and safe.”
Caught off guard by these auspicious words, Nangong Yunshang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry—but above all, she was moved. It felt rather nice to have someone who regarded her as their entire world.
“Your Highness, do you think His Majesty will feel heartbroken by this?” Yinghong asked with concern.
Nangong Yunshang patted Tao Chuyi soothingly as she replied, “Of course not. I never intended to make him heartbroken. I only wanted to heap some public pressure on the old man.”
With irrefutable proof of the prefect’s collusion with the bandits, there was no protecting him even if the Emperor wished to. Nangong Yunshang’s dramatic display only made the Eldest Princess’s grief seem laughably hypocritical. Overwhelmed by the hassle, the Emperor at last issued a decree: the prefect’s entire line was to be dealt with—the main culprit executed, his clan exiled.
The Eldest Princess Consort was certain to be exiled along with him. The Eldest Princess herself could have stayed if she agreed to divorce, but she couldn’t bear to part with her consort. Instead, she packed her things, bade the Emperor farewell, and set off with her retinue to chase after him.
With that, the fleet shrank from seven pleasure barges to six. The Emperor brooded in ill humor and rarely showed his face. The Second Prince and Second Princess called on him daily to offer comfort, but saw little result.
On the Third Princess’s barge, by contrast, serenity and harmony reigned undisturbed.
Tao Chuyi sprawled on the deck, reaching out to catch fish in the river. Whenever one surfaced, she pushed it back under—bullying them since they couldn’t speak up.
“Oy, I say, Prince Consort.”
Zishan quickly pulled her up. “Your clothes are going to get filthy again. If Your Highness sees, she’ll surely scold us underlings for neglecting our duties.”
Tao Chuyi looked around wildly until her gaze landed on two maids from the barge ahead. The pair spotted her too and suddenly covered their mouths, snickering as if mocking her.
Tao Chuyi pointed forward. “Who are they?”
Zishan glanced over and saw the two maids hurry away.
“That’s the Second Princess’s barge. Those maids must serve her.”
“Then I’ll go take a look.”
With that, Tao Chuyi leaped lithely onto the forward deck.
“Hey, wait—Prince Consort!”
Zishan’s shout came too late; she had no choice but to follow.
“Prince Consort, let’s go back!”
Tao Chuyi’s movements were too nimble to catch.
She pursued the two maids and finally cornered them on the far side of the barge.
The maids were whispering and giggling, as if sharing some delightful gossip.
Tao Chuyi wanted to hear too and perked up her ears.
“The Third Princess waltzes into a bandit lair, and they let her come back in one piece? I just don’t buy it.”
“Right? Anyone going into a bandit den gets skinned alive at best—or worse…”
The maid laughed. “Talk about unlucky—the Third Princess marries an idiot, gets targeted by bandits… What princess has that kind of ‘good fortune’?”
Tao Chuyi didn’t fully understand, but Zishan did. If not for fear of causing trouble for her princess, she would have rushed over and slapped their mouths shut.
“What are they saying?”
Zishan considered briefly, then summed it up succinctly. “They’re badmouthing the Princess.”
Tao Chuyi flew into a rage. No wonder they had laughed upon seeing her—they were slandering her sister.
“Hey, you two.”
Regardless of consequences, Tao Chuyi charged out, grabbed one with each hand, and shoved both maids into the river.
“Help! Save us!”
Their screams drew the Second Princess’s guards. Zishan yanked Tao Chuyi away and they fled.
“Ancestor, you’ve stirred up trouble again.”
Tao Chuyi, however, was unconcerned. “They were badmouthing Sister. Pushing them into the river was already being kind.”
Zishan scratched her head. She had a point, but given the Second Princess’s temperament, retribution was sure to follow.
“What happened?”
The commotion was too loud; Nangong Yunshang had heard it from her cabin. She emerged to find Tao Chuyi’s hem soaked.
“Where have you been?”
Tao Chuyi ran over to her, looking utterly aggrieved. “Sister, they were saying bad things about you. I taught them a lesson. Did I cause trouble?”
Nangong Yunshang looked baffled and turned to Zishan, who sighed inwardly and recounted the whole story.
“So the Second Imperial Sister is every bit as vicious as expected.”
Spreading such rumors was the direst slander against a woman’s reputation—who didn’t know that?
Nangong Yunshang soothed her. “Chuyi did exactly right. Leave the rest to Sister.”
It wasn’t long before the two maids were fished out and the Second Princess arrived with them in tow, demanding justice.
“Third Imperial Sister, your Imperial Sister has taken offense today—hand over the Third Princess Consort!”
The Second Princess stormed in aggressively, looking ready to kick up a massive fuss if she didn’t get the person she demanded.
Nangong Yunshang emerged unhurriedly with her attendants, her gaze flicking over the two drenched servant girls. She spoke calmly, “Why such a temper, Second Imperial Sister?”
The Second Princess jabbed a finger at Tao Chuyi. “It was your precious prince consort who shoved my servant girls into the water. Even beating a dog requires considering its owner—does he get to discipline my people?”
Nangong Yunshang gripped Tao Chuyi’s hand tightly and smiled. “Naturally, no one can overstep their authority. Just the same, no one can bypass me to punish my people.”
This Second Bad Egg was truly odious!
Tao Chuyi glared at her huffily, wishing she could kill her with a look.
