The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 146

Chapter 146: Taken Home by the Princess Part 34

The fierce battle continued until dawn, and by the time the sky brightened, the heavily wounded Prince Yong was captured alive.

Few people in Prince Yong’s residence were still standing.

The once prosperous residence was now a scene of carnage, blood splattered everywhere.

Surrounded, Prince Yong knew he was defeated. He let out a roar, “A true man fears not death!” and raised his sword, attempting to commit suicide.

As they moved to stop him, a projectile struck his hand, knocking the sword away.

“Argh!!” Prince Yong screamed, blood gushing from his hand.

The soldiers immediately swarmed him, subduing him.

General Qi’s eyes lit up: “Excellent archery! Whose skill is this? Who is their master?”

He turned to see his soldiers parting, a figure in black emerging from the crowd, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her expression cold and indifferent.

General Qi hurriedly stepped forward and bowed: “This general greets Your Highness.”

Qin Yang: “General Qi, please rise, thanks to your assistance, I have captured this traitor. Upon returning to the capital, you shall be greatly rewarded.”

A smile appeared on General Qi’s tanned face: “Serving Your Highness and His Majesty is this general’s duty.”

He stood up, his gaze inadvertently falling on the young woman holding a bow behind Qin Yang.

Also dressed in black, the color that made the princess appear dignified and imposing, on her, it seemed to enhance her agility and strength. Sensing his gaze, she turned, and General Qi, meeting her eyes, felt a chill and quickly looked away.

Judging by the bow in her hand, that impressive archery must be her doing.

He had heard that the An family had rebelled during the late emperor’s reign, their entire clan executed, including the newly appointed top scholar, only his daughter escaping, disappearing for almost a decade before reappearing as the Junior Minister of the Dali Temple.

General Qi didn’t think much of it, just that she wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

“Your Highness, the traitor is here!” Several soldiers dragged Prince Yong forward, forcing him to kneel.

Prince Yong, wanting to die but still clinging to his pride, refused to kneel, until a kick to the back of his knee forced him down.

Qin Yang didn’t reprimand him for his treachery, instead asking, “Why did you rebel, Prince Yong?”

His headgear knocked off, his hair disheveled, Prince Yong glanced at Qin Yang, spat out a mouthful of blood, and suddenly burst into laughter.

He laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face, confusing everyone.

After a while, he finally stopped: “Qin Yang, oh Qin Yang, despite your intelligence and the late emperor’s trust, entrusting you with the kingdom’s governance, you’re still naive. I finally understand why he chose you.”

Prince Yong’s voice turned cold: “Do you really think the young emperor trusts your loyalty? Do you truly not know who informed me of your departure that day?”

Qin Yang: “Tell me then, who was it?”

A soldier rushed forward, kicking Prince Yong: “You treacherous rebel! Stop spreading lies!”

He turned and shouted, “Take this traitor away!”

As Prince Yong was dragged away, coughing up blood, he continued to shout, “Qin Yang! Who are you working so hard for?!”

General Qi shouted, “Gag this traitor, he’s trying to sow discord!”

“Yes!” Soon, Prince Yong’s voice was no longer heard.

Qin Yang stood there, looking up at the bloodstained plaque of Prince Yong’s residence.

General Qi, thinking the princess was displeased, bowed and apologized: “Your Highness, I acted rashly, although His Majesty hasn’t stripped him of his title, if he continued, it would only cause unrest.”

Qin Yang lowered her gaze, saying indifferently, “I’m not blaming you.”

General Qi was speechless, unable to understand the princess’s intentions.

Qin Yang didn’t stay long, quickly leaving, and the officials, who had been awakened by the fighting, adjusted their hats, their faces grim.

Now, not only their hats, but even their heads might not be safe.

Execution would be a mercy, their families spared, but rebellion was a crime punishable by death for the entire clan.

Anything they said now would be wrong, they hadn’t noticed anything amiss, hadn’t reported it to the court in time.

When the Yongzhou officials arrived at the princess’s residence, they found the gates heavily guarded, several officials already waiting.

They paced back and forth anxiously, sighing as more officials arrived.

“Sigh…”

Judging by the situation, there was no need to ask, the Princess Regent was refusing to see them again.

The officials’ hearts sank, It’s truly over now.

As the sky darkened, Tao Ning returned, opening the door to find the room dimly lit.

She walked inside and saw Qin Yang sitting on the divan by the window, a finished memorial beside her, staring outside.

Tao Ning also looked outside, the night sky clear with few clouds, dotted with stars, a beautiful sight.

Lighting a lamp, she walked over, and Qin Yang, startled, turned around: “You’re back.”

She extended a hand, and Tao Ning quickly sat down beside her, pulling her into an embrace.

Leaning against the divan, she offered silent comfort.

Qin Yang leaned against her, her anxiety seemingly melting away, only calmness remaining, the only sound her own heartbeat and Tao Ning’s.

After a moment of quiet comfort, Tao Ning picked up the memorial and glanced at it. It was in Qin Yang’s handwriting, detailing Prince Yong’s rebellion, even mentioning General Qi.

Qin Yang, her eyes closed, her arm around Tao Ning’s waist, heard the soft rustling of pages and knew Tao Ning had finished reading it, not minding that she had seen the memorial intended for the emperor.

She traced Tao Ning’s hair with her fingertips, twirling a strand around her finger.

Lost in thought, she suddenly remembered a wedding custom where the newlyweds would cut a lock of each other’s hair and tie them together, symbolizing their union.

If they did that on their wedding night, perhaps it would also come true.

Tao Ning’s voice sounded above her: “Guard Li and the others from your residence contributed greatly, why didn’t you recommend them for a reward, Changyi?”

Now that Qin Yang no longer needed to conceal her identity, having removed her disguise, the cinnabar mole between her eyebrows was visible again, even more striking in the lamplight.

Qin Yang opened her eyes, her gaze deep, her voice calm: “They’re my people, they shouldn’t compete for rewards.”

The word “compete” was interesting.

Before Tao Ning could figure it out, she was pushed onto the divan by Qin Yang, the memorial taken from her hand and tossed aside, Qin Yang’s body pressing down on her, her gaze like water.

Qin Yang asked, “Your contributions were no less than General Qi’s, even greater, why didn’t you ask for a reward yourself?”

Her long hair cascaded down, her clothes thin, a strand of hair brushing against Tao Ning’s cheek, slightly cool.

Tao Ning turned her head, wanting to catch the strand of hair, but Qin Yang cupped her chin, turning her face back: “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Such a secret affair, not even worthy of a reward after the battle, didn’t she feel wronged?

If she did, what could she do?

What would she do?

Tao Ning, seeing Qin Yang in her thin nightclothes, knew what she wanted, actions speaking louder than words.

She reached up, cupping the back of Qin Yang’s neck and pulling her down, and Qin Yang, already accustomed to this, instinctively lowered her head, their lips meeting.

Their breaths mingled, their hearts pounding, the atmosphere heating up.

Stars twinkled in the night sky, their light streaming through the window, illuminating the two intertwined figures, their embrace passionate. As if feeling the chill of the night, the window suddenly slammed shut.

Qin Yang finally succumbed, Tao Ning now on top, her hair spread out on the divan, her slender fingers untying Qin Yang’s sash.

Qin Yang, not to be outdone, also untied Tao Ning’s belt while kissing her, the layers of fabric falling open like white lotus blossoms on a pond.

Late autumn, transitioning into winter, was always a rainy season, and after a series of autumn showers, winter finally arrived.

Thus, a year passed.

The rain came silently in the night, then intensified, pouring down before gradually subsiding, only the puddles reflecting the moonlight a reminder of the downpour.

The passion subsided, a damp robe falling to the floor, and a hand reached out, pulling the crumpled blanket over them.

Tao Ning held Qin Yang close, so close that she couldn’t break free, a comforting warmth enveloping her.

Tao Ning leaned closer, her warm lips kissing Qin Yang’s forehead, her nose, her cheek, finally landing on her lips, her voice muffled against them: “This is my answer.”

Qin Yang wanted to reply, but she was too exhausted, her long, tear-stained eyelashes fluttering, her upturned eyes tinged with red.

Like carefully applied rouge, a touchingly vulnerable sight.

Gentle kisses landed on her eyelids, and Qin Yang’s eyelashes trembled, the remaining tears rolling down her cheeks, wiped away by Tao Ning’s hand.

Her other hand reached out from under the blanket, flicking a copper coin to extinguish the candle, then she patted Qin Yang’s back and said, “Sleep.”

Qin Yang closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.

In her hazy state, she seemed to hear the sound of water, a pair of warm, slightly damp hands lifting her.

Half-awake, she tightened her grip around Tao Ning’s neck, seemingly soothed by the whispered words, though she wasn’t sure if she heard them clearly, then fell back into a deep sleep.

The next day, Qin Yang woke up in bed. The small divan beside the bed wasn’t suitable for sleeping, too cold, the bed much warmer.

Without opening the curtains, she stretched, still under the covers, waiting for the deliberately light footsteps approaching the bed, silently…

Qin Yang stretched her arms out from under the covers, a sliver of light entering through the curtains, and her slightly red eyes glanced at the approaching figure.

Tao Ning, holding clothes, said in surprise, “You’re awake? Why didn’t you call me?”

Qin Yang reached out lazily: “You didn’t leave any clothes for me, weren’t you hoping for this?”

Tao Ning: “…”

Indeed, the less clothing she wore, the more playful she became, once dressed, she was the composed and dignified princess again.

She didn’t know how she managed such a seamless transition.

Tao Ning coughed lightly, handing her the clothes.

While she did have such thoughts, it wasn’t her main intention.