Villainous Crown Prince (20)
Song Xuyi did not know what happened after.
After escaping from the palace, she did not dare to leave the Wu Country immediately as she anticipated Nie Qianyu’s reaction. She was afraid Nie Qianyu would set up barriers at the border to block her path, so she intentionally stayed within the Wu Country for a few days.
As Song Xuyi had predicted, initially Nie Qianyu caused a commotion with soldiers searching everywhere for Song Xuyi. However, Song Xuyi used modern disguise techniques to portray herself as a peasant woman who looked nothing like the princess, and when soldiers came to search, she was busy drying rice in the fields, looking inconspicuous.
For a while, it seemed calm, but Song Xuyi remained vigilant, fearing that Nie Qianyu’s informants might discover her. She kept her disguise and cut off contact with Wang Mian, only traveling with a few trusted spies.
However, after a few days of peace, Nie Qianyu began to feel a sense of foreboding.
Sure enough, the ominous feeling turned into reality as news soon spread of the Crown Prince’s army pressing towards the border, seemingly ready to battle with Lishui Country.
At this moment, Song Xuyi realized that Nie Qianyu had been hiding her true strength all this time.
Without hesitating, Song Xuyi hurried back to the Wang family’s camp, not fearing being discovered.
Unlike the imposing aura of Wu Country, the atmosphere in the Wang family’s camp was somber, almost tragic. Wang Mian, who had always taken good care of himself and maintained excellent health, now appeared with bloodshot eyes, as if he had aged ten years overnight.
Yet in this world, there are always things we know we should not do but end up doing them anyway.
Song Xuyi worked day and night, doing her best to develop weapons suitable for this era. The soldiers of Lishui Country stood ready, day and night, waiting for the Wu Country to launch an attack.
However, to everyone’s surprise, the Wu Country kept troops stationed at the border without making any moves for a long time.
It was like the calm before the storm.
Song Xuyi grew increasingly uneasy, speculating on what the Emperor might be doing behind the scenes.
Since the last time the Wang family disregarded the Emperor’s wishes and launched a surprise attack that led to the capture of envoys, the Emperor had become extremely wary of the Wang family. Not only did he send several generals to supervise the Wang family’s every move, but he also kept the Wang family in the dark about all court developments.
The situation in the war was dire, and Wang Mian had no energy to deal with the Emperor at that point.
Song Xuyi overheard a conversation between Wang Mian and his clan members. They talked about how the young adults of the Wang family had all gone to the battlefield with a resolve to die, while the children were scattered and sent elsewhere.
The shadow of war had already cast over everyone, and the fall of the Lishui Country seemed inevitable.
Soon, Song Xuyi learned what the Emperor had agreed to.
On a day with howling winds, Wang Mian stormed into Song Xuyi’s tent with bloodshot eyes, filled with extreme anger. His sudden appearance startled two birds outside Song Xuyi’s tent, causing them to fly away in alarm and chirp. However, Wang Mian paid no attention to these details as he grabbed Song Xuyi and urged, “Xuyi, you must escape! Your useless father has agreed to surrender and become a vassal of the Wu Country, bringing an end to the war. But he’s out of his mind and wants to send you for a political marriage…”
“Is it Father who wants me to participate in a political marriage, or is it the Wu Country proposing it?”
Song Xuyi’s calm demeanor took Wang Mian by surprise.
As Wang Mian fell silent abruptly, Song Xuyi sighed softly, realizing his thoughts: it was probably both.
“Grandfather, I am willing to go for the political marriage…”
Although Song Xuyi’s heart sank, she inexplicably felt relieved. In that moment, the weight that had been hanging in the air finally settled back down to the ground.
She followed Wang Mian out of the tent, gazing at the sky filled with smoke signals and the battle-weary soldiers with weary faces. Softly, she spoke, “This is the best choice for now. The people and soldiers can no longer endure the war.”
“But you…” Despite knowing that Song Xuyi was right and it was the best choice, Wang Mian’s gaze remained sorrowful, his brows furrowed. “How can I let you, a daughter, bear all this burden when there are so many men in the Lishui Country? How can this be?”
Song Xuyi understood Wang Mian’s worries. He knew she had escaped from the Crown Prince’s chamber, and likely believed the rumors that she had been taken by the Crown Prince and become his concubine. As someone who had betrayed the Crown Prince, returning would surely lead to his torment and retaliation.
“The Crown Prince treated me well before, and he is outstanding among men. I genuinely appreciate the Crown Prince.”
To reassure the worried elder, Song Xuyi softly spoke once more, trying to make her smile appear sincere and shy, as if she were a woman about to marry her beloved, “Grandfather, I am very pleased to marry him.”
Wang Mian remained silent, casting a deep gaze at Song Xuyi, sighing heavily as if he aged many years in an instant.
Unnoticed by anyone, after hearing the conversation, with a “puff,” a brightly colored bird quietly flew up from the window and spread its wings towards the direction of the Wu Country.
The system’s reaction to Song Xuyi’s impending marriage to Nie Qianyu was extremely intense: “I said no falling in love, no falling in love! Listen to your grandfather and secretly escape, there’s still time…”
“This is not about falling in love,” Song Xuyi patiently corrected it, “I am just going for a political marriage.”
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“In the previous world, you started with the same reasoning!” The system got flustered, accidentally revealing too much, then realizing Song Xuyi’s contemplative gaze, it recoiled and dared not speak further, remaining silent and playing dead.
The system trembled, fearing Song Xuyi would question it, but even as the wedding procession set off, Song Xuyi did not inquire about the true meaning of its words.
On the day Song Xuyi departed for her marriage, countless people and soldiers spontaneously followed behind her, forming a long procession. They accompanied her all the way to the border, gradually dispersing as they entered the Wu Country’s territory.
People have scales in their hearts, knowing who truly serves the people and who merely seeks power. Everyone is clear about it.
Song Xuyi’s dowry was grander than ever before. To express his surrender, the Emperor nearly emptied the treasury to send her off, while Wang Mian, feeling sorry for Song Xuyi, also added significantly to her dowry.
Unlike the complex emotions of those sending her off – sadness, envy, regret, and pity – Song Xuyi remained remarkably calm.
Nie Qianyu probably hates her.
Song Xuyi had no idea how Nie Qianyu would treat her. Regardless, there seemed to be no good days ahead, and frustratingly, the system had not yet issued a “mission complete” notification, making it impossible for Song Xuyi to leave the world.
After entering the Wu Country, it would take about three days to reach the palace. As the wedding procession passed through a certain inn, Song Xuyi was preparing for bed after freshening up when she heard a commotion outside.
A haughty noblewoman, accompanied by a group of servants, barged in angrily, pointing at Song Xuyi, “Don’t think just because you are a princess of the Lishui Country, you can force yourself on the Crown Prince. You, a princess from a defeated country, dare to blackmail the Crown Prince?”
Song Xuyi widened her eyes, somewhat puzzled, not understanding what the woman was talking about. The noblewoman, seeing Song Xuyi’s reaction, became even angrier, “You’re pretending! Everyone knows you wrote a letter to the Crown Prince, demanding that he agree to spend his whole life with only you in the political marriage. Thanks to the Crown Prince’s benevolence and desire to end the war, preventing further suffering of the people, he actually agreed to your unreasonable request!”
“I?” Song Xuyi was genuinely puzzled this time. At this moment, it seemed like the system said something, but due to the woman’s loud quarreling, Song Xuyi couldn’t make out the words. She had no interest in getting involved in the jealousy-fueled quarrel between the women. Besides, the noblewoman seemed confused herself, praising Nie Qianyu as benevolent. Song Xuyi decided to turn away and have her attendants show the woman out. Unexpectedly, the noblewoman became even angrier at this gesture!
Storming up to Song Xuyi, the noblewoman scrutinized her, then sneered, “With a notorious reputation before your marriage and the unclear situation with the missing former Crown Prince, you’re not exceptionally beautiful either. I have no idea who gave you the audacity to make such an unreasonable demand…”
“I did!”
Surprisingly, a voice came from behind the noblewoman, saying, “It was because I have admired the Grand Princess for a long time that I am willing to agree to a lifetime commitment to marry only the Princess.”
Song Xuyi stood frozen in place.
Nie Qianyu, standing at the door, seemed to have lost some weight, accentuating her exquisite features. Her eyes, distinct black and white, shimmered with emotions that Song Xuyi couldn’t comprehend.
Meeting Nie Qianyu’s gaze, Song Xuyi suddenly felt a nervousness creeping in belatedly.
Confronted by her beloved in front of others, the noblewoman could no longer contain herself, covering her face as she cried and ran out of the room…
The attendants respectfully withdrew, closing the door behind them, leaving the two alone.
For a moment, the entire room was filled with an intense silence.
Song Xuyi sat stiffly in the chair, her heart beating gradually faster, like a prisoner awaiting judgement. In contrast, Nie Qianyu appeared very natural, calmly removing her disguise and slowly revealing her feminine form after finishing her toiletries. Suddenly, she embraced Song Xuyi from behind—
“Sister Xuyi, how could you be so heartless?” Nie Qianyu’s voice carried a noticeable quiver, “I remember everything.”
Song Xuyi had envisioned many possible reactions from Nie Qianyu. She had thought Nie Qianyu might scold, punish, or even humiliate her. Yet, Nie Qianyu’s act of seeking comfort and expressing grievances hit Song Xuyi hard.
Due to the guilt she harbored for the “deception” of over half a month, seeing Nie Qianyu in this state made Song Xuyi’s conscience tremble. Suddenly, she did not know how to face Nie Qianyu.
“Sister Xuyi, I know you care about the world, marrying me is a burden for you,” Nie Qianyu’s voice seemed calm but had a noticeable tremor, “But why didn’t you tell me? As long as you speak up, I can help you with anything. I just want to occupy a small place in your heart…”
Will she cry?
Song Xuyi was shocked by Nie Qianyu’s extremely humble words. She couldn’t help but recall the aloof and superior little Crown Prince she had seen before. What had she done to make Nie Qianyu reveal such vulnerability?
The guilt in her heart reached its peak, and Song Xuyi couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Nie Qianyu. Nie Qianyu’s eyes were visibly moist, and the red mole at the corner of her eye accentuated her increasingly sorrowful expression.
Her heart instantly softened, her mind in chaos. Some thoughts involuntarily turned towards Nie Qianyu, “I do not like to compete with other women.”
“There will be no other women,” Nie Qianyu answered decisively, then shyly lowered her head, “The rumors just now were spread by me. I only fancy you, Xuyi…”
Watching Nie Qianyu in this state, Song Xuyi’s face inexplicably grew warm. She added, pursing her lips, “I don’t want to be trapped in the palace, living each day revolving around only you.”
As soon as the words fell, Song Xuyi clearly felt Nie Qianyu’s momentary silence.
In that instant, Nie Qianyu’s gaze underwent a significant change. If the previous Nie Qianyu had disguised herself as a harmless lamb, the Nie Qianyu in this moment exposed the nature of a wolf. She gazed darkly at Song Xuyi, leaned in close to Song Xuyi’s cheek, and in a low, husky voice—
“This is a bit too difficult for me, it’s the life I envisioned to be the most beautiful.” Nie Qianyu let out a soft sigh, followed by the mocking laughter of the system echoing in Song Xuyi’s mind. She lowered her head and kissed Song Xuyi on the lips, speaking in a teasing tone yet with a firmness, “You have to coax me first, Xuyi.”
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Initially, Song Xuyi thought Nie Qianyu’s notion of ‘coaxing’ meant giving her clothes or food as before. It wasn’t until they were on the road, and Nie Qianyu clung to her in the carriage, kissing her until her lips swelled and she could only get off the carriage with a veil covering her face, that Song Xuyi somewhat understood the true meaning of this “coaxing”.
At times, she would feel a sense of panic, always thinking that things between them seemed to progress too quickly. She didn’t understand how they had reached this point all of a sudden. Yet, deep down, there was a subconscious sense of inevitability, as if everything was meant to be this way. Moreover, Nie Qianyu’s face truly appealed to her aesthetic sensibilities. Once Nie Qianyu furrowed her brow and acted coy, Song Xuyi simply couldn’t resist Nie Qianyu drawing near.
Soon, the day of the grand wedding arrived.
It was the largest and most lively wedding in history, symbolizing the union of two countries into one and heralding a golden age for the Wu Country for the next hundred years.
Initially, Song Xuyi didn’t feel much attachment to the wedding. However, as she held Nie Qianyu’s hand and entered the hall, she could sense Nie Qianyu’s hand trembling slightly.
Suddenly, Song Xuyi also felt a sense of nervousness. This nervousness peaked after entering the bridal chamber: tonight, what would happen?
Song Xuyi sat on the edge of the bed, unable to help but wonder: would Nie Qianyu really make the first move? After all, this era was quite conservative, and Nie Qianyu had received education tailored for men…
But if Song Xuyi had to take the initiative for the first time, she felt certain that she wouldn’t be able to do it.
With these thoughts in mind, Song Xuyi inadvertently sighed with relief, thinking that tonight probably wouldn’t turn out as she had anticipated.
However, soon enough, Nie Qianyu entered the room.
Song Xuyi couldn’t help but blush as she looked at Nie Qianyu, who was smiling beautifully under the veil.
After lifting the veil, tying their hair, and eating dumplings in a series of rituals, the two of them finally drank the ceremonial wine.
Nie Qianyu had intended to switch the wine with clear water, but seeing Nie Qianyu so overwhelmingly happy all day, Song Xuyi couldn’t bear to tarnish the wedding with any flaws, so she took a small sip of the wine…
Later, they removed their makeup and closed the curtains, and Nie Qianyu reverted back to her feminine appearance.
In Song Xuyi’s memory, at the beginning, both of them were extremely reserved. Nie Qianyu even seemed a bit upset, tears welling in her eyes as she said, “Are you intentionally avoiding… consummating our marriage, so you drank the wine?”
Despite speaking harshly, Nie Qianyu still cared for Song Xuyi. It seemed like she was worried about Song Xuyi getting thirsty from drinking, so Nie Qianyu decided to get out of bed to pour water for Song Xuyi. However, according to palace rules, after the wedding, the concubine must sleep outside. When Nie Qianyu got up, she had to pass over Song Xuyi…
At this moment, with the crimson candles flickering, the fragrance emanating from Nie Qianyu’s body grew more intoxicating. In the hazy light, the beautiful view of Nie Qianyu became more enchanting, especially with tears in her eyes. Perhaps due to being busy changing clothes, the straps on Nie Qianyu’s dress were loosely hanging, revealing delicate and beautiful collarbones and skin as smooth as jade. As Nie Qianyu passed over Song Xuyi, Song Xuyi’s mind became increasingly dizzy. She suddenly felt a burst of fire in her heart and couldn’t help but embrace Nie Qianyu’s slender and soft waist, pressing down gently and then kissing…
After that, Song Xuyi lost control of what happened next.
Song Xuyi only remembered Nie Qianyu’s increasingly desolate eyes, the swaying red candles, and her own repeated pleas…
The next day, Song Xuyi woke up with a sore waist, almost unable to face Nie Qianyu’s stunning face: Nie Qianyu was not just skilled, she was simply too skilled! Song Xuyi even embarrassingly fainted in the end.
……
Song Xuyi, however, was unaware that after she fainted, Nie Qianyu gazed at her sleeping face for a long time. Finally, Nie Qianyu hugged Song Xuyi tightly, and the possessiveness in her dark eyes gradually faded, replaced by a sudden laugh.
“You’ve coaxed me well!” she softly spoke, throwing a set of keys from the bedside secret compartment into the brazier.
Under the bed, there was a secret passage, and the keys in the brazier were the only way to unlock it.
Song Xuyi would never know that beneath the room she stayed in, Nie Qianyu had personally designed a secret chamber. It was originally meant to be the most elaborate cage for her wife who loves escaping.
However, the birds informed Nie Qianyu: Xuyi had told her grandfather that she liked her and was willing to marry her.
As long as Xuyi stopped thinking about leaving her, Nie Qianyu would do everything to make her happy—after all, what she liked was the Xuyi who had light in her eyes, warmth, and kindness.
So, Nie Qianyu tried for the last time.
She succeeded, albeit using some despicable means, but Xuyi finally willingly married her.
Why did she strive to become the ruler of two countries?
In that moment, Nie Qianyu found her answer.
That was an obsession that had arisen long ago: only by becoming the ruler of two countries could she have enough power, enough leverage to embrace the moon from the sky in her arms!
Not long after, the Emperor of Wu Country suddenly died, and Nie Qianyu succeeded the throne.
Because the two countries had just been unified, to prevent turmoil, Nie Qianyu continued to present herself in male attire. She indulged Song Xuyi’s entry into the court, reformed people’s livelihood, and governance, allowed commoners to participate in the imperial examinations, and established private schools in every town…
Initially, the ministers had some objections, bluntly stating ‘a hen cannot crow at dawn.’ Some even cursed Nie Qianyu as a “negligent ruler,” and one censor even insulted her, leading to a confrontation with the palace pillars… But Nie Qianyu endured all the pressure, supporting all of Song Xuyi’s actions.
In the end, time proved everything. As life improved, everyone began to celebrate: fortunately, the Emperor married the Empress. They were an extremely rare pair of wise monarch and virtuous Empress, destined to be together for eternity.
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Five years later, Nie Qianyu revealed her true identity as a woman, causing a stir across the realm. However, at this time, there was peace throughout the land of Wu Country, with prosperity and education for all ages, no more famine or wars. While this revelation shocked many, it did not cause much chaos.
Nie Qianyu carefully raised a child from a collateral branch as the Crown Prince. They stayed together for fifteen years, but due to the health issues caused by years of disguising herself as a man and taking medication, Nie Qianyu couldn’t survive.
Song Xuyi, for some reason, was inconsolable just a moment ago over Nie Qianyu’s last words of “We will meet again in our next life.” However, as Nie Qianyu took her last breath and the system’s broadcast of “mission completed”, and asking if she wanted to leave the task world, Song Xuyi’s grief suddenly vanished as she gazed at the lifeless body. Subconsciously, she truly believed they would meet again, seeing this separation as only a temporary parting.
“Why did it take so long to show the task as completed?” Song Xuyi hadn’t expected the mission to last this long.
“I’m not quite clear on that either; in any case, the Main God has their own judgment criteria,” the system responded, while understanding everything: Nie Qianyu, plagued by uncertainties in the relationship, fearing she hadn’t done enough, had always kept the female and male leads of the original Lishui Country as a trump card. In case Song Xuyi escaped, she could use them to threaten Song Xuyi to return. That was why Song Xuyi hadn’t completed the mission earlier.
But the system naturally wouldn’t tell Song Xuyi about these things.
Song Xuyi didn’t inquire further.
“Let’s leave.” Song Xuyi closed her eyes, slowly lying down next to Nie Qianyu, and once again, there was a familiar sensation of dizziness—
The author has something to say:
Oh, you have no idea how many precious hairs I’ve lost today looking at the comments section, asking me whether the ending is a “BE” or a “HE.” T_T
I personally feel that this little world is HE.
But I’m afraid you’ll make me read 《The Path to Redemption for Abusive Story Authors》. So, I’m shrinking in the corner, not daring to make a sound~~~
LP: Re-translated on April 30, 2024
Damn, she died like that and surely they would always find each other again
I like the the villainess in this kinda stayed the villainess throughout. Xu yi avoided a bad end for herself there!
Finaly a HE
Author is such a tragedy loving person