The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 152p2

Chapter 152: Taken Home by the Princess Part 40 (2)

After a nap, Chongxi felt more energetic, and after his meal, he got dressed and went for a walk.

His paranoia, fueled by the Princess Regent’s absence, had intensified, and he had several attendants executed almost every day, suspecting them of being assassins.

He was surrounded by many attendants, the closest being Chen You, who was still limping from his punishment.

Due to Chongxi’s paranoia, Chen You, whose background was relatively clean, became his most trusted confidant, and because of this trust, the guards hadn’t been too harsh, allowing him to move around freely.

But now, Chen You, his lower body aching, wished he had been beaten unconscious.

At least he wouldn’t have to endure this walk in the garden.

Winter was approaching, and everything was withering. Chongxi looked around with dissatisfaction: “Just dead branches and fallen leaves, nothing to see. Even the most beautiful flowers, grown in a greenhouse, can’t brighten this desolate scene.”

Out-of-season flowers, while still blooming in the warm greenhouse, looked out of place and desolate in the autumn wind.

He tossed aside the flower bud in his hand, extending his hand, stained with flower juice, and Chen You immediately took out a handkerchief and wiped it clean, suggesting, “Since Your Majesty finds this scenery uninteresting, how about… I heard there’s something interesting outside the palace recently…”

Chongxi, finally showing some interest, retracted his clean hand: “Then let’s go to Changsheng Palace.”

Attendants brought the palanquin, and Chen You helped Chongxi into it, then, enduring the pain, jogged alongside, following the palanquin to Changsheng Palace.

Changsheng Palace was originally an abandoned palace, overgrown with weeds, unoccupied for years. One day, Chongxi, passing by, took a liking to it and demanded the Ministry of Revenue allocate funds for its renovation.

Initially, the officials didn’t understand why, then they heard that the emperor’s mother had once lived there, and he wanted to renovate it in her memory, to diminish the Princess Regent’s influence.

With the kingdom at peace, and no other way to gain prestige, this seemed like a reasonable request, so they agreed.

Unexpectedly, after the renovation, Chongxi named it Changsheng Palace (Palace of Everlasting Victory), its true purpose being a place for cricket fighting.

With the palace already built, the officials, even if angered, couldn’t do anything, they couldn’t control the emperor like the princess.

Who would have thought that the princess’s strict discipline wasn’t about controlling the emperor, but simply because he wouldn’t listen otherwise?

The palanquin stopped before Changsheng Palace, and eunuchs rushed out to greet them, kneeling and bowing.

Chongxi frowned: “Changsheng Palace is too small, it’s an insult to my generals.”

“A new palace is already under construction, Your Majesty, said to be magnificent, perfect for your generals, perhaps you can inspect it next year,” Chen You said with a flattering smile.

Such a large palace, and it’s for two tiny crickets?

A single falling tile could crush these “generals.”

In Chen You’s eyes, Chongxi’s personality resembled the Qin family’s: cold, paranoid, arrogant, and devoted.

As long as he wasn’t forced to attend court, he could spend the entire day fighting crickets with the other eunuchs, completely focused, only returning to his quarters when tired, to wash up and sleep.

Only then could Chen You take a break, switching shifts with another eunuch, to change his bandages.

Two crickets were placed in a bowl, and Chongxi excitedly used a straw to make them fight, the prizes for winning piled beside him.

Silver and jade pendants were common, but a closer look revealed a jade belt hook with a dragon pattern among the other eunuch’s winnings.

Everything in the palace belonged to the emperor, to be bestowed or smashed as he pleased.

Even the most foolish emperors of the past only had their concubines play with silk from the treasury, use pearls as slingshot ammunition, but losing a jade belt hook, a symbol of status, to a eunuch, was rare.

As the crickets fought, the battle reaching its climax, Chongxi’s face flushed with excitement, practically jumping out of his seat: “Attack! Attack! Attack! You useless creature, bite it! Why are you lying there on your back like a dog?!”

The other eunuch also cheered excitedly, urging his “general” on.

“Bite it! …Sigh, it’s dead again, that liar deceived me, he boasted so much, why are you kneeling? I haven’t punished you yet.” Chongxi looked at the suddenly kneeling eunuch, puzzled.

The eunuch’s face was pale, his voice trembling: “Your Highness…”

“!” Chongxi’s face also paled, and he instinctively covered the bowl with his sleeve, not wanting Qin Yang to see him wasting his time, “Why is Elder Sister here?!”

He turned around and indeed saw Qin Yang.

Dressed in a simple white robe, her hair plainly styled, a sandalwood bracelet on her wrist, she looked less extravagant than usual, her head bowed slightly as she said softly, “This criminal greets Your Majesty.”

Chongxi was shocked, then he remembered Qin Yang was a criminal, how dare she enter the palace?

How dare she?!

He wanted to question her, but his actions betrayed his subconscious fear, taking a few steps back: “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”

He shouted, “Guards! Guards! Protect me!”

Instantly, several guards rushed in, their eyes widening in surprise upon seeing the person surrounded.

It was Princess Regent Qin Yang?

Chongxi: “What are you planning?”

Qin Yang stood there, like a quietly blooming white flower, her expression calm, bowing slowly: “Your Majesty, I’m here to confess my crimes.”

Chongxi thought he had misheard: “Confess?”

Qin Yang: “Yes, I was negligent in my duties, allowing my subordinates to abuse their power and cause trouble for Your Majesty. I’ve realized my mistakes and am no longer worthy of serving you, so I’ve come to beg for your forgiveness.”

These were the words Chongxi had been waiting for, but hearing them now, looking at Qin Yang, he felt a strange discomfort.

This didn’t seem right.

It was too easy, not Qin Yang’s style. She was known for her tenacity, her ruthlessness hidden beneath her gentle appearance, willing to defy even the heavens when angered.

Chongxi, standing behind the guards, asked, “Do you truly confess?”

Qin Yang smiled bitterly, pulling something from her sleeve: “Your Majesty, I was poisoned when I was young, a poison the Imperial Hospital couldn’t cure, and the remaining toxins have been lodged in my heart meridian, and recently… it has worsened, perhaps beyond cure.”

Chongxi knew about this, but he hadn’t realized it was so serious: “Then you’re here today to…?”

Exhaling slowly, Qin Yang presented the item in her hands: “Your Majesty, I’m here not only to confess, but also to return this.”

Her eyes lowered, she offered the copper command talisman, its color stark against her pale palm.

This was the talisman that controlled the capital’s military forces, and she was handing it over willingly, without any hesitation.

Chongxi: “Take it.”

A guard sheathed his sword, took the talisman, and presented it to Chongxi.

Chongxi rarely held this talisman, but its weight brought him a sense of security.

“Your Majesty, neglecting your duties for frivolous pursuits, I heard you built a new palace…” Qin Yang paused, realizing her position, and lowered her voice, “This criminal will take her leave.”

Hearing these familiar words, Chongxi finally believed that the person before him was indeed Qin Yang, not someone in disguise.

Strangely, hearing her familiar tone, he felt reassured, finally daring to look at her directly.

He realized the powerful and intimidating elder sister he had always feared was actually such a frail woman, dressed in white, as light as a cloud.

A thought crossed his mind, and he instinctively called out, “Elder Sister, wait.”

Qin Yang stopped, this development within her expectations, but her expression was one of feigned confusion: “Your Majesty?”