Cuddling with the Cold Female Protagonist – Chapter 71

Volume 3: Courtly Winds and Clouds, Each Finds Their Place

Secret Plotting

The study of the Chancellor’s Residence.

Xiao Zhengyun gripped the gu that Hua Wushang had given him, took a deep breath, then pushed open the door and walked in.

            

He happened to see Xiao Quan cooing over the daughter she had “adopted” who was still in swaddling clothes.

Instantly, he was burning with rage​¹. He was the legitimate son! His mother had only achieved her current glory and riches because of his maternal grandmother; on what grounds did his mother want to give the family property to this bastard​² from who-knows-where?!

He called out in a deep voice, “Mother.”

            

“Zhengyun, you’re here?” Xiao Quan heard his voice and looked up. Seeing her son arrive, she smiled broadly and handed her granddaughter to the wet nurse waiting at the side, telling her to take the young miss out.

Only then did she sit down in her chair and ask him, “How did your chat with your friend go?”

Xiao Zhengyun almost thought she had planted spies in his courtyard and already knew about his conversation with Hua Wushang. His heart jumped in alarm, and he mumbled, “Just the usual.”

            

Xiao Quan said, “Not bad. Although that old woman Cui Luo is pedantic, upright, and utterly unyielding​³, her son is a good sort. You should interact with him more, get him to speak up more often with those officials in the Ministry of Revenue. Then, those shops you have in hand will be able to suppress that impertinent young girl​⁴ from the Marquis Pingyang’s household.”

Listening to her tone, she thought the one he had been talking to just now was that brainless Cui Jinliu, and didn’t know he had dealings with Hua Wushang.

Xiao Zhengyun breathed a sigh of relief. “Mother is right. Your son has taken note.”

            

“Mm…” Xiao Quan rose, her hands behind her back, and paced back and forth. After a moment, she stopped and asked him, “Zhengyun, do you truly wish to marry into the imperial family?”

“What is Mother saying? Among the world’s honored, apart from the Emperor, none rank higher than the Imperial Consort. Of course, a man must marry into the imperial family to enjoy the ultimate glory and riches. If not marrying the future Emperor, what meaning is there?”

Of course, even if he married into the imperial family, he wouldn’t let go of anything belonging to the Chancellor’s Residence.

            

“Not bad, not bad. My son truly has ambition.” Xiao Quan laughed heartily upon hearing this. “Then who do you want to marry?”

Xiao Zhengyun hesitated. In terms of the power supporting them from behind, the Fifth Imperial Daughter currently had a greater chance of winning, but he actually preferred the Ninth Imperial Daughter.

The Ninth Imperial Daughter possessed the foremost beauty in Jingdu, her martial skills were formidable, she held military authority, and currently had no one by her side, appearing quite chaste and self-disciplined. He heard she treated the servants in the Imperial Daughter’s residence extremely well, so she would presumably be gentle and considerate towards her fulang in the future.

            

He wavered between these two Imperial Daughters, not yet decided on whom he should choose.

“I… haven’t chosen yet.”

“Mm… you do need to consider it carefully.” Xiao Quan naturally knew what he was thinking.

            

Among the Emperor’s several Imperial Daughters, those with the ability and opportunity to inherit the throne, currently, only two had a high chance of success.

The Fifth Imperial Daughter and the Ninth Imperial Daughter.

These two Imperial Daughters were indeed outstanding. As far as she knew, many noble young masters in Jingdu were interested in them. This son of hers had been doted on and spoiled since childhood, always wanting the best of everything. He was surely wavering between these two.

            

“The Fifth Imperial Daughter and the Ninth Imperial Daughter, who does my son lean more towards?”

Before Xiao Zhengyun could answer, she smiled and said, “It’s the Ninth Imperial Daughter, isn’t it?”

The Ninth Imperial Daughter was beautiful; many young masters in the capital flocked to her like ducks to water​⁵.

            

Xiao Zhengyun nodded. “The Ninth Imperial Daughter’s residence doesn’t even have an Attendant Lord. It shows she is a chaste and self-disciplined person.”

“But I heard the Fifth Imperial Daughter is interested in you?”

“The Fifth Imperial Daughter…” Xiao Zhengyun frowned. “She already has an Attendant Lord. I don’t want to share my qizhu​⁶. The person I marry must be exclusively mine. Only the Ninth Imperial Daughter currently has no one by her side. I lean more towards her.”

            

“It’s precisely such people who are harder to deal with.” Xiao Quan snorted with a laugh, thought for a moment, and then retrieved a white bottle from her bookshelf.

“The contents of this, I had someone purchase at a high price. It’s extremely potent. Even if she were a block of stone, it could melt her.”

The moment she said this, Xiao Zhengyun immediately knew what was inside. He was shocked. “Mother, have you forgotten how Su Tianci died?”

            

“Hmph, that stupid thing from the Su Residence just didn’t know how to play his tricks properly. Drugging an Imperial Daughter under everyone’s watchful eyes, of course he wouldn’t get anything good out of it. Drugging oneself is the most correct approach.” Xiao Quan finished speaking contemptuously, then turned to him with a gentle expression. “Zhengyun ah, listen to Mother, you won’t go wrong. It’s just that, at that time, I’m afraid your reputation might suffer a little.”

Saying this, she handed the item to him and explained her scheme in detail.

Since ancient times, there was the tactic of “killing three warriors with two peaches.”​⁷ Dramas of “two women fighting over one man” had circulated in the Yanxue Kingdom for a long time.

            

Although the Ninth Imperial Daughter currently had no thoughts about Xiao Zhengyun, she and the Fifth Imperial Daughter were mortal enemies. The Fifth Imperial Daughter, in turn, favored him. If, when Xiao Zhengyun and the Ninth Imperial Daughter were alone, he was drugged with an aphrodisiac, and then the Fifth Imperial Daughter burst in upon this scene, the Ninth Imperial Daughter would be unable to defend herself against the accusations.

The Fifth Imperial Daughter hated the Ninth Imperial Daughter to the core. She would definitely not let this opportunity go. It was highly likely that, to ruin the Ninth Imperial Daughter’s reputation, she would publicize this matter.

At that time, she (Xiao Quan) would then submit a petition to Her Majesty, playing the victim. To salvage the imperial family’s reputation, Her Majesty would certainly make the Ninth Imperial Daughter marry Xiao Zhengyun.

            

Her analysis was perfectly logical and well-reasoned. The more she spoke, the brighter Xiao Zhengyun’s eyes became. “Mother’s plan is truly brilliant! Reputation? It just sounds nice. As long as I can become the Imperial Consort, who cares about a bit of gossip​⁸?”

Mother truly deserved to be Chancellor for so many years. When it came to scheming, she was far more skilled than him.

It seemed he couldn’t act rashly in front of his mother, or he would be easily exposed.

            

Xiao Zhengyun silently hid the gu in his sleeve well.

Xiao Quan smiled. “This is merely a trifle​⁹.”

Actually, there were some things she hadn’t told Xiao Zhengyun.

            

With the hatred of having her intended husband stolen, the Fifth Imperial Daughter would certainly hate the Ninth Imperial Daughter even more. And the Ninth Imperial Daughter would inevitably loathe the Fifth Imperial Daughter, who exposed the matter, to the bone.

The two would be like fire and water, engaging in intense struggle. The Emperor would definitely have to spend effort to appease them. At that time, if the border was attacked again, the Emperor, overwhelmed and distraught​¹⁰, would surely have lax security around her. Then, taking the opportunity to eliminate the Emperor, support the Fifth Imperial Daughter to ascend the throne, kill the Ninth Imperial Daughter, and then remarry her son to the Fifth Imperial Daughter, she could then peacefully enjoy the life of the Guozhang​¹¹.

Even if, at that time, the Fifth Imperial Daughter detested her son for having served another woman, his body no longer “clean,” and didn’t want him, she could righteously disown her own kin​¹², directly kill her son along with the Ninth Imperial Daughter. She would just say her son died for love with the Ninth Imperial Daughter. As a meritorious official who had rendered “dragon-following service,”​¹³ she would still be able to enjoy glory and riches for the rest of her life.

            

No matter how she thought about it, this plan was extremely beneficial to her.

As for her son… well, she now had a granddaughter to inherit the family business. A son was just a son, it didn’t matter anymore. Since he wanted to marry an Imperial Daughter, then let him be. Anyway, this was the path he himself had chosen.

Mother and son, each with their own ulterior motives​¹⁴, formulated one ruthless scheme after another.

            

After secretly plotting in the study for half a day, the details of the plan were all thought out.

Xiao Zhengyun said, “I’ll go find the Eldest Imperial Prince now and ask him to help organize a flower-viewing banquet.”

“Remember to invite more people.” Xiao Quan smiled. “The more people, the better. That way, we can blow the matter up.”

            

“Alright.” Xiao Zhengyun agreed, left the study, took out an invitation card, and had a young servant deliver it to the Eldest Imperial Prince.

---

Su Yi received Ji Qingchi’s assurance, and her heart settled considerably. She reorganized and prepared everything anew, and reopened her shop.

On the day of the reopening, to prevent people from causing trouble again, she specially dragged Ji Qingchi over. The two of them, disguised, sat at a tea stall opposite the shop, keeping an eye on the situation.

            

Looking at the bustling crowd in the shop, Su Yi sighed, “I heard the customers were also beaten last time. They’re actually willing to overlook past grievances and come over this time.”

“Didn’t the manager of your shop compensate them last time? People die for wealth. The goods in your shop are of good quality and fairly priced; it’s perfectly understandable for them to come.” Ji Qingchi said slowly, reaching out to press down her paw that was reaching for a pastry, a half-smile on her face. “These pastries outside can’t compare to the ones in the residence. Are you trying to ensure you can’t go out anymore?”

Su Yi acted pitiful. “This is my first time eating here, I just want to try a bite.”

            

This demon​¹⁵, Ji Qingchi, ever since she found out Su Yi couldn’t eat things carelessly, had been controlling her everywhere, even stricter than her own maids, practically a Yan Can the Second.

Ji Qingchi was unmoved. “No.”

Su Yi struggled to pull her hand free. “Ninth Highness, pretty please…”

            

Ji Qingchi watched her kitten-like efforts with a smile. “Not happening.”

“Young Miss, we meet again.”

As the two were tugging, a robust male voice interrupted them.

            

Su Yi loosened her chopsticks; Ji Qingchi withdrew her hand. Both turned their heads in unison——

Hua Wushang stood to the left of their table, dressed in magnificent purple robes, fanning himself with a folding fan, and offering Ji Qingchi a handsome and radiant smile. “Young Miss, we truly are fated to meet.”

Su Yi, gloating over Ji Qingchi’s predicament, gave her a nudge. “He’s looking for you.”

            

Ji Qingchi lazily lifted an eyelid. “This Young Master, we’ve only met twice. How can that be called fated?”

Hua Wushang smiled faintly. “As the saying goes, a thousand-mile destiny is bound by a single thread​¹⁶. Among so many people on the street, I have only met you, Young Lady, twice. Isn’t this called being fated?”

In the original work, this Hua Wushang was sinister and ruthless, yet a playboy, priding himself on “being amidst flowers, yet not a single leaf clings to him.”​¹⁷ His methods of coaxing women came one after another. In the end, however, he was conquered by the female protagonist, and from then on, “a prodigal son’s return is more precious than gold,”​¹⁸ wholeheartedly wanting only to live in blissful union​¹⁹ with the female protagonist.

            

Su Yi smiled. “Speaking of which, I’ve also met you twice, Young Master. Does that mean we’re also fated?”

Hua Wushang’s expression stiffened. He had grown up surrounded by women since childhood and had heard such words many times. This woman couldn’t have seen his handsome appearance and wealth and fallen for him, could she?

So, he spared a sliver of attention for Su Yi. Seeing her delicate, willow-like frailty​²⁰, he frowned slightly. He didn’t like this kind of woman who looked like she would die young, nor did she look like she’d be good for childbearing.

            

“Young Miss jests. This Hua is a devoted person. Young Miss, please don’t misplace your affections​²¹.”

“You don’t think I like you, do you?” Su Yi looked at him in amazement. This person was really confident. How did he just assume that after only two meetings, someone would like him?

Hua Wushang “shua” opened his fan and then snapped it shut, his chin slightly raised, the very picture of pride and self-importance. “No matter who Young Miss likes, it’s impossible for this Hua to like Young Miss.”

            

This was clearly asserting that Su Yi definitely liked him.

Su Yi felt as disgusted as if she had swallowed a fly. She was about to speak again when her hand was pulled up.

Ji Qingchi grabbed her hand, holding it carefully in her palm, and looked coldly at the preening peacock​²² that was Hua Wushang. “Didn’t I tell you I already have a sweetheart?”

            

Hua Wushang’s smile didn’t falter. “This Hua has heard that in the harem of the Dongli Kingdom’s emperor, there are also many situations like yours, Young Lady. They haven’t seen a man for too long and are merely seeking solace in each other.”

Ji Qingchi’s face changed drastically. She wished she could hack​²³ the man before her into eight pieces. What did he mean by that? Insulting her was one thing, but how dare he slander Su Yi, slander her feelings for Su Yi!

“Say that again?”

            

Her voice was low, heavily implying that if he dared say one more word, she would dice​²⁴ him into a thousand pieces.

Su Yi, not minding making things worse, leaned in to add fuel to the fire, smiling. “Young Master, if I were also interested in you, would you want to enjoy the bliss of having two wives​²⁵? Marry us both?”

“Young Lady, please don’t joke.” Hua Wushang put away his fan, gazing at Ji Qingchi with deep affection. “This Hua can swear to the heavens, I am devoted only to you, Young Lady.”

            

“Your heart is hidden in your belly, how would I know?” Ji Qingchi sneered. “If you really want to prove it, why not cut out your heart and show me? That would be truly sincere.”

“Exactly.” Su Yi smiled, fanning the flames. “We need to see if there are words carved on that heart. Otherwise, how can it show you’re unswervingly loyal?”

Su Yi had challenged him and made things difficult for him several times, making Hua Wushang somewhat displeased.

            

But with Ji Qingchi present, in order to leave a good impression on her, he endured it without lashing out, and said with a light laugh, “Young Lady, if one cuts out their heart, wouldn’t they die? Young Lady, please don’t joke with me.”

“I’m not joking.” Ji Qingchi met his gaze with a radiant smile, but her eyes were as cold as ice.

She casually tossed him a dagger. “Cut it out. If you cut it out, I’ll believe your words.”

            

The gemstones inlaid on the dagger flashed dazzlingly in the sunlight.

Hua Wushang’s smile froze on his face. He was about to speak when a woman in grey clothes walked over with her head bowed and whispered a few words in his ear.

Hua Wushang’s smile immediately vanished. He made a bow​²⁶ to Ji Qingchi. “Young Lady, this Hua has urgent matters to attend to. Farewell.”

            

“Afraid we’d make you cut out your heart, so you’re running away?” Su Yi said mockingly. “Then it seems your words were all false.”

Ji Qingchi also smiled. “Scram. Don’t let me see you again.”

Hua Wushang’s face turned ashen. He flung his sleeve fiercely and left with the woman.

            

Su Yi watched their retreating figures and commented, “This brother of Hua Wuying, he talks a load of nonsense​²⁷. He doesn’t look like anything good.”

Ji Qingchi didn’t understand what a “train” was, but she understood Su Yi’s meaning.

Gazing in the direction the two had departed, her brows furrowed deeply.

            

Su Yi picked up the dagger from the ground. Seeing Ji Qingchi still lost in thought, she waved her hand in front of her face. “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Ji Qingchi shook her head.

That woman who was bowing her head earlier looked a bit familiar, but she couldn’t recall who it was. Who could it be?

            

---

---