The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 153p1

Chapter 153: Taken Home by the Princess Part 41 (1)

Chongxi straightened up: “Where will Elder Sister go after this?”

Qin Yang seemed a bit lost, her pale lips moving slightly as she looked at her empty hands: “Father granted me the fief of Danyang before his death, a place with distinct seasons. If Your Majesty is merciful, I wish to return to Danyang and live out the rest of my days.”

Princess Regent Qin Yang, daughter of the Empress, had always been decisive, even more so after growing up, a true embodiment of the Qin family’s strength and determination.

The late emperor, either arrogant or confident, had bestowed everything upon her, practically placing her on the throne, creating the unprecedented position of Princess Regent.

Only Chongxi knew that the late emperor’s actions weren’t out of arrogance, but trust. A few days before his death, he had looked at Chongxi with disappointment: “Why aren’t you more like your elder sister?”

The late emperor, nearing his death, was worried about the future of the dynasty, having even considered choosing another successor from the imperial clan.

But he ultimately gave up on the idea, much to Chongxi’s relief. Even after considering all possibilities, his father hadn’t even considered Qin Yang for the throne, the rumors of a female emperor easily dismissed.

No matter how capable she was, she couldn’t legitimately become the ruler of the Yu Dynasty.

He was the rightful heir, the destined emperor.

Chongxi: “Elder Sister, you must be tired after your journey, leaving for Danyang so soon, why not stay in the capital for a few days, recover, and attend my farewell banquet before leaving?”

Now that Qin Yang was in the palace, what reason did she have to refuse?

Qin Yang’s face paled slightly: “I obey the imperial decree.”

Even if the world knew she had been wrongly accused, she had already confessed, and as a criminal, she should be punished according to the law. Both sides decided to accept this temporary compromise.

Chongxi waved his hand dismissively, sending the guards away, his tone light as he gave the order: “Someone, escort Princess Danyang to Yongning Palace, attend to her well, ensure her safety.”

A eunuch obeyed, hurrying to Qin Yang: “Your Highness, this way please.”

Qin Yang: “This criminal will take her leave.” With that, she followed the eunuch.

The most surprised by this development was Chen You, who hadn’t expected the Princess Regent to be in the palace, let alone residing in…

This startled him so much that he forgot his pain and hurriedly asked the eunuch, “Did she say anything?”

Chongxi was easily swayed, and he was worried he might pardon the princess and allow her to stay in the court if she said something convincing.

Then he would be the one in danger, he didn’t want to spend his life disguised as a eunuch, with his talent, he would eventually return to court and clear his father’s name.

Chen You was ambitious, but his surname held him back. If he didn’t clear his father’s name, even if he changed his identity, he couldn’t appear openly in court.

The eunuch replied, “The Princess Regent didn’t say anything, she said she was here to confess her crimes, even handing over the command talisman, requesting to return to her fief in Danyang.”

Chen You couldn’t believe it: “Just like that? His Majesty didn’t punish her?”

She had practically surrendered, why not imprison her and eliminate her influence, reducing the Princess Regent to a footnote in history?

The eunuch continued, “His Majesty is keeping her in the palace, saying he’ll send her off after a farewell banquet.”

Chen You suddenly felt relieved: “A farewell banquet? Did His Majesty really say that?”

The eunuch, also unsure of the emperor’s intentions, simply nodded: “Yes, he even assigned attendants to Yongning Palace, to serve her well.”

“A farewell banquet, a farewell banquet is good.” Chen You’s eyes lit up, and he paced back and forth. “If I’m not mistaken, the Princess Regent’s return must have been kept secret, to avoid arousing suspicion, meaning almost no one knows she’s back…”

He suddenly stopped: “I must advise His Majesty to seal off all news, no one can know about the Princess Regent’s return.”

He immediately went to see the emperor, his steps hurried.

His request was quickly granted, news of the princess’s return suppressed, like a covered lamp, no light escaping.

However, rumors started circulating that the princess, knowing her crimes were unforgivable, had committed suicide out of shame.

But few people believed it. With no body and no witnesses, such rumors were easily dismissed.

Yongning Palace was where Qin Yang had lived since childhood, leaving to establish her own residence at fifteen, then becoming Princess Regent at eighteen, her residence expanding accordingly.

Whenever she stayed in the palace, she would spend the night at Yongning Palace, so it wasn’t abandoned like other palaces, regularly cleaned and maintained.

After several days of absence, seeing the familiar furnishings, it felt like a lifetime ago.

Not long after she sat down, someone announced that the head maid requested an audience, and Qin Yang allowed them to enter.

Head Maid: “Your servant greets Your Highness.”

“Rise.” Qin Yang sat there, listening to the head maid’s report with feigned interest.

She had brought a large group of maids and eunuchs, planning to fill Yongning Palace with them, as if afraid she would sprout wings and fly away.

Qin Yang, leaning against the armrest, said lazily, “I prefer quiet, there’s no need for so many attendants, just two or three in the inner chamber, the rest can wait outside.”

The head maid was displeased: “But His Majesty instructed us to attend to Your Highness well, ensuring your comfort and safety.”

Qin Yang raised an eyebrow, her gaze cold and indifferent: “You’re right, but the poison in my body has worsened, and I don’t have much time left, it wouldn’t be auspicious if I died in the palace, His Majesty might blame you.”

With that, she casually chose a few maids, dismissing the rest with the head maid, who were to wait outside.

They said, “A plucked phoenix is no better than a chicken,” and the head maid, chilled by the princess’s single glance, only realized what she had agreed to after leaving the palace.

But it was too late, she could only have the maids and eunuchs wait outside, a living person couldn’t just disappear into thin air.

Only three maids remained in the large room, The princess sat upon the daybed, dressed in plain clothes, her demeanor even more aloof.

A maid discreetly glanced up at the princess, her face elegant and serene, a cinnabar mole between her eyebrows.

In the past, the Princess Regent’s appearances were always grand, surrounded by attendants, and the palace staff could only lower their heads and bow, few daring to look directly at her face.

It was said that her face resembled a Guanyin, but her methods were like a Shura, leaving countless deaths in her wake.

Now, however, compared to the other princesses, she didn’t seem that different, just another beautiful noblewoman, with the natural dignity of a princess.

As they waited nervously, the silence was broken by Qin Yang: “Tea.”

Immediately, a maid hurried to prepare the tea, carefully cooling it before presenting it to the princess: “Your Highness, your tea.”

The other two maids were stunned. His Majesty had practically imprisoned the princess in the palace, they were here to monitor her, not serve her, why was she being so attentive?

Qin Yang glanced at the maid, took the teacup, and slowly took a sip, not worried about it being poisoned.

After finishing, she said, “Your tea-making skills are adequate, what’s your name?”

The maid in red replied, “Your Highness, my name is An Ning.”

Qin Yang lifted her chin, her thumb tracing her cheek: “You’re quite clever, since my personal maids aren’t here, you shall attend to me.”

An Ning replied, “It’s my honor to serve Your Highness.”

Qin Yang seemed pleased with her obedience, taking her hand and standing up: “I’m tired, let’s retire for the night.”

An Ning followed the princess inside, glancing at the two stunned maids with a look of disappointment.

And a hint of—How can you be so stupid?

The two maids: “…”

What just happened?

What is she doing?

The head maid didn’t tell us anything!

They looked at each other, puzzled, then a thought suddenly occurred to them.

One of them said, “Could His Majesty’s intention be…”

Could it be that they weren’t just here to monitor the princess, but also to uncover any spies she might have in the palace?

After all, His Majesty’s recent purge of the inner palace had uncovered quite a few.

The other maid, not knowing the answer, but not wanting to appear foolish, nodded, saying cautiously, “That must be it…”

Inside the bedchamber, Qin Yang, usually dignified and composed, pinched the maid’s cheek playfully: “So this is your method, palace maid An Ning?”

She examined Tao Ning’s face, still not used to the ordinary features, the downcast eyes and flat nose, a stark contrast to Tao Ning’s usual sharp, smiling eyes and delicate nose.

A screen and layers of curtains blocked the view from outside, and Tao Ning gently pushed Qin Yang against a pillar, a bold and blatant act of disrespect in broad daylight.

Tao Ning’s arms wrapped around her: “This is nothing compared to Your Highness appearing before the emperor, I was terrified when you were surrounded by guards.”

Tao Ning hadn’t dared approach then, the emperor surrounded by hidden guards, it would have been too risky.

After confirming Qin Yang’s safety in Yongning Palace, she had quickly left, changing into a maid’s uniform and styling her hair.

The head maid in charge of the palace maids was also indebted to the princess, otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to infiltrate so easily.

Qin Yang pinched Tao Ning’s earlobe, the soft flesh between her fingers, then leaned closer and kissed it, whispering, “I won’t do it again.”

The emperor spent three days preparing the farewell banquet, and on the morning of the third day, he sent word to Qin Yang, inviting her to the feast that night.

When the eunuch arrived to deliver the message, Qin Yang was sitting in the pavilion, watching as the mechanical bird she had released disappeared into the sky.

She turned to the eunuch: “After tonight, I’ll be leaving the palace, perhaps never to return. I wish to visit the ancestral temple and pay my respects to Father and Mother.”

The eunuch’s face was troubled: “His Majesty has decreed that Princess Danyang remain in Yongning Palace to recuperate, preparing for her journey to Danyang, you mustn’t overexert yourself.”

Qin Yang, knowing this was a difficult request, sighed softly: “Just relay my request to His Majesty, if he refuses… then so be it.”

She could visit the ancestral temple anytime, it wasn’t that urgent.

Just as she spoke, the maid beside her discreetly slipped a small pouch of gold into the eunuch’s hand.

Weighing the pouch, the eunuch, used to seeing the princess surrounded by attendants, now saw only one maid by her side, she must have never been so “poor” before.

Considering this, and the gold, it was understandable for him to be lenient.

The eunuch said, “I’ll convey your request to His Majesty, Your Highness, please wait, if he refuses…”

Qin Yang’s eyes lowered: “Then so be it.”

However, not long after, someone announced that His Majesty had agreed, but she could only stay for an hour, escorted by guards.

Qin Yang was surprised by his agreement. After thanking him, she departed for the ancestral temple.

The guards waited outside, and except for the cleaning staff, no one else was allowed inside.

Qin Yang entered alone, Tao Ning waiting outside.

The ancestral temple was the imperial family’s shrine, filled with portraits of their ancestors, the ever-burning lamps illuminating the dimly lit hall, the sunlight unable to penetrate the grand and imposing, yet strangely somber, structure.

It was empty, the emperor, to prevent Qin Yang from communicating with anyone, having everyone leave.

Years of teaching and guiding, yet no progress, but when it came to scheming, he was a natural, Qin Yang realized, her heart calm.

Standing before her father’s portrait, she bowed, then brought over a cushion and knelt down.

To emphasize the emperor’s authority, court painters always portrayed them with imposing features and a large build, steady and unwavering.

The late emperor was no exception, his portrait almost identical to his ancestors, as if carved from the same mold.

But in reality, he had been tall and slender, never overweight, even thinner in his final years.

After a long silence, Qin Yang finally spoke: “I’ve come to see you today, Father, I have something to tell you.”

The temple was silent, and Qin Yang could only hear her own breathing. Facing the portraits of her ancestors, she stood up and looked directly at her father’s portrait.

She had prepared her speech, countless reasons for her actions, but now, she didn’t want to say any of them.

Her voice firm, she said simply, “I’m going to depose Chongrui.”