Chapter 32: Back Door

Staring at the piece of pastry in front of her, Xia Tong figured that he probably pitied her for not having enough to eat. Well, dignity couldn’t fill her stomach, so she immediately opened her mouth and stuffed the pastry in.

Her soft, moist lips brushed against his fingertip, feeling as delicate as water. Gu Qin’s gaze darkened as he watched her small face puff up, and in just a few quick bites, she swallowed the pastry, her cheeks moving as she chewed. Crumbs still clung to the corners of her mouth.

“Like a child,” he shook his head, letting out a soft chuckle, before turning back to the documents in front of him.

Xia Tong edged closer, looking at him with pleading eyes, “Exactly! I’m just a child. Can I not copy that stuff? I don’t even know how to write properly…”

Of course, the original owner knew how to write, but even with those memories, she couldn’t capture the elegance required. At most, she can write it in a way that is not ugly.

Without saying a word, Gu Qin pulled out a sheet of rice paper and placed it in front of her, his meaning clear.

Pouting, Xia Tong reluctantly picked up a brush with her uninjured hand, cursing her luck that it wasn’t her left hand that got hurt. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have to write at all.

She dipped the brush into the ink and stared at the blank paper for a moment before slowly beginning to write. It only took a short while to finish, as she only wrote two characters: “Gu Qin.” She really wanted to write “bastard” after that but didn’t dare. Instead, she silently cursed him in her head.

The writing on the paper wasn’t even neat, barely passable at best. Gu Qin studied it for a while, his expression unreadable.

The study was silent, and Xia Tong nervously gripped the brush. The calligraphy in this era was so intricate, and even her own name had too many strokes. She was worried it would turn out poorly. But she only wrote his name, so surely, he wouldn’t be angry, right?

“I wonder how your father taught you.”

His brows furrowed slightly as he stood up and reached behind her, guiding her small hand. The tip of the ink-dipped brush immediately pressed against the paper, and with firm strokes, he traced out a more refined version of her name.

Xia Tong blinked, watching in astonishment as her name appeared again on the paper, every stroke strong and bold. Her hand felt like it wasn’t even her own. Realizing something, she glanced back, only to see his sharp jawline and tightly pressed lips.

“Not a single character less. I want it finished by tomorrow.”

He looked down at her small, dissatisfied face, his large hand still holding her soft, delicate one, his expression serious and stern.

Xia Tong frowned, feeling utterly wronged. What had she done to deserve this torture?

Turning to face him, she pouted and, tilting her head, asked cautiously, “Then… can I have some meat?”

Their eyes met, and the faint scent of ink lingered in the air between them. Gu Qin’s gaze darkened, just as he was about to respond, but the door suddenly knocked.

“Master, something has happened in the palace. The emperor has summoned you urgently.”

It was the voice of Butler Lin. Xia Tong jumped in surprise. What happened in the palace?

Gu Qin’s expression didn’t change. He simply patted her head, glancing at her with a serious look. “Finish copying, then you can eat.”

“But… ten copies…” Xia Tong’s eyes widened as she quickly grabbed his sleeve, blinking pitifully at him.

He glanced at the small hand clinging to his sleeve, her pale fingers holding on tightly. Gu Qin lowered his eyes slightly and spoke calmly, “One copy.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Xia Tong immediately beamed, eagerly massaging his arm, her eyes crinkling with her smile. “Your Highneess, please walk slowly and be careful on the road.”

He gave her a slight, indifferent look but didn’t say anything, walking out of the study with his tall, solitary figure.

As soon as he left, Xia Tong gleefully took a seat at the desk, her lips still curved in a smile. Playing the pitiful card definitely worked, especially when she was already injured.

However, looking at the pile of official documents on the desk, she suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed. Did the villain really trust her that much?

These were important government documents! If she were to leak them, the consequences would be disastrous. Or perhaps he was just certain she wouldn’t dare?

Well, she really didn’t dare. She wouldn’t even touch them, let alone leak them. She found a book of Woman Commandments hidden in the corner of the bookshelf and started copying from it, though she couldn’t understand why a man’s study would have something like this.

She didn’t know how long she had been writing, but by the time it was dark outside, Gu Qin still hadn’t returned. It was not until 12 o’clock that Xia Tong finally finished writing the stack of papers. She didn’t understand what had happened in the palace. After folding her homework and putting it in the most conspicuous place, she left the study and headed back to her own courtyard.

Fortunately, the kitchen finally sent over some meat, along with several nourishing soups, so much that she couldn’t possibly finish it all.

Xia Tong fell asleep after a long time of digesting the food. When she woke up the next day, she discovered that the villain had not returned all night, leaving her puzzled about what had happened in the palace.

“I heard there was a riot in Dongshan Village outside the city, and many villagers were injured or killed. This news has spread all over the capital,” Qing’er said seriously while combing her hair.

Fang Yu, who was preparing breakfast, also chimed in, “It’s rumored that there’s a Yuanming Lake outside the city, which the young masters of the capital enjoy visiting. Some merchants wanted to buy land around it to build a manor, but the villagers refused to sell, perhaps because the offer was unfair. Unexpectedly, the merchants forcibly drove the villagers away, and the authorities did nothing. Several villagers were even beaten to death. This prompted the villagers to unite and write a blood letter to submit to the court. However, when the merchants discovered this, several more were killed. The authorities remained silent, and the villagers had no choice but to riot outside the city. Eventually, it was Lord Tang who went to intervene, but he was injured in the leg by the rioting villagers. Now, rumors are rampant in the capital, and many people are suffering as a result.”

“Which Lord Tang?” Xia Tong asked curiously.

Qing’er leaned in closer and whispered, “The eldest son of the Grand Tutor. I heard he was seriously injured.”

Taking a deep breath, Xia Tong stared at her reflection in the copper mirror and sighed. Overall, this was a tragedy caused by forced relocation.

“You wouldn’t believe it, but Madam Liu came to see you early this morning. I didn’t let her in since you hadn’t woken up yet,” Qing’er said with a subtle expression.

Xia Tong turned around. “Which Madam Liu?”

“The one married to the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Such events surely catch the Ministry’s attention. It’s just that the officials are colluding with the merchants and pretending not to see. Many people in the Ministry are suffering, and Madam Liu probably wants to ask you to speak well of her husband in front of the prince,” Qing’er said with a sigh.

After fixing her hair, Xia Tong went to the table and served herself a bowl of plain porridge. It was strange how rebellious she felt. Despite having meat available, she craved something lighter.

“Whoever comes to see me, just say that I’m unwell and not fit for visitors,” she said, taking a sip of the porridge.

There is no emperor who does not care about the people’s feelings. Given the magnitude of the recent events, many citizens are bound to be disappointed with the court. To suppress the rumors, a few scapegoats will inevitably be sacrificed—this is just how the capitalists operate. It’s impossible that there isn’t someone orchestrating this behind the scenes, but it doesn’t concern her.

“Your servant greets the princess. the Second Madam of the Xiahou family requests an audience.”

At that moment, the butler suddenly appeared outside her room. Xia Tong was taken aback, unsure why her snobbish second aunt would come looking for her.

“Second Madam’s brother-in-law is the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue,” Qing’er whispered in her ear.

Upon hearing this, Xia Tong took another sip of her porridge and calmly replied to the steward, “This princess is seriously injured and cannot receive guests at the moment.”

Now that something had happened, they suddenly remembered her, but hadn’t they forgotten how they mocked her mother before?

“I’ll inform her right away.” The butler didn’t linger and quickly retreated.

As he left, he glanced back at her, thinking that this princess was quite clear-headed. It was indeed inappropriate to get involved in such matters to avoid being gossiped about.

But for Xia Tong, it was simply self-awareness. She knew her own standing as a titled princess and understood that she couldn’t sway much with mere whispers.

Throughout the day, she had no idea how many visitors came to see her, but she turned them all away. Just by staying indoors, she heard that several officials from the Ministry of Revenue had been dismissed and investigated. Her second aunt had come once and then again, persistent in her efforts.

It was only at night that she heard the news of the villain’s return. Xia Tong didn’t dare to approach him, fearing she would have to rewrite the remaining nine copies.

“Master, the officials in court are in disarray. Isn’t the master being promoted? This is a golden opportunity, you should help him make some connections,” Qing’er said seriously as she massaged her shoulders in the dim candlelight.

Xia Tong lazily leaned against the soft couch, reading a storybook. Upon hearing this, she just popped a grape into her mouth. “How should I make connections?”

Qing’er smirked and leaned in closer, whispering a few words in her ear. Xia Tong turned her head, seemingly deep in thought.

To be honest, Xia Tong really didn’t want to provoke the villain, but he was her father after all. There’s a saying: “Fortune lies in danger.” It wouldn’t hurt to gauge the situation, especially considering his age. If he missed this promotion, there might not be another chance.

Without hesitation, she jumped up, grabbed her cloak, and headed to the kitchen with Qing’er.

The moonlight was bright, and the study still flickered with candlelight. The guards outside stood solemnly, paying close attention to any sound around them. Suddenly, a commotion arose nearby, causing everyone to focus their gazes on the source of the noise.

In the darkness, a lantern flickered with a gentle glow, revealing a woman with a slender figure and an ethereal silhouette, her beauty undeniable. Upon seeing her, the guards relaxed their vigilance. After all, she was the princess.

The night breeze was cool. Xia Tong gathered her cloak and looked around the yard, but she didn’t see Xifeng. It was really strange. Wasn’t Xifeng the villain’s personal bodyguard?

The study still glowed with light, indicating that the person inside was likely busy. Pushing the door open, Xia Tong peeked in and found a tall man sitting at the desk. However, instead of reviewing official documents, he was playing with a dark object while a large piece of red agate lay on the table, undoubtedly a rare treasure.

With a smile, she gestured for Qing’er to bring the food inside while she placed the lantern down and closed the door. If it weren’t for the lack of a flashlight, she wouldn’t have bothered with a lantern, given her strong aversion to it.

“I thought that Your Highness must be tired after returning, so I specially made a bowl of noodles. Why don’t you try it first?” she said with an official smile on her face.

The noodles were made by her, but Qing’er had helped with the preparation.

As she placed the bowl of appetizing noodles in front of him, the man simply raised his head and stared at her without speaking, his penetrating gaze instilling a sense of fear.

Feeling a bit uneasy under his gaze, and with Qing’er having already left, Xia Tong could only nervously glance at the large piece of red agate on the table and remarked, “Such a big piece of agate is quite rare.”

“What is it?” the man asked, lightly tapping the table while his eyes remained fixed on the red agate.

She recalled that it was said to promote blood circulation and could be made into a bracelet. Deciding it was best not to play any tricks in front of the villain, Xia Tong bit her lip and leaned in, curiously asking, “I heard there have been changes among the officials in the court recently?”

The candlelight swayed enchantingly. The woman’s fair face had a hint of anticipation, her pink lips slightly opened, and her bright eyes were full of flattery. He had seen many flatterers, but this was the first time he had seen someone so blatant.

The man casually placed the black jade he had been holding on the table. His sharp features appeared cold and indifferent as he replied in a measured tone, “I’ve heard that those who are sentenced to death by slow slicing won’t actually die.”

Her smile gradually froze. Xia Tong blinked, holding her breath as sweat began to bead on her palms, and her expression quickly turned to one of distress.

Beneath the candlelight, the man glanced at her pale wrist, his gaze deep and penetrating. “This red agate suits your complexion quite well.”