Chapter 33: The Emperor Summons

The ripples in the agate were exquisitely detailed, and under the candlelight, the watermelon-red hue appeared especially vibrant. It was evident that this was a top-quality piece, and the fact that it was on the villain’s desk suggested it was no ordinary item. If it were a gift for her, Xia Tong would naturally be overjoyed. However, upon hearing the man’s words, she inexplicably felt a chill run down her spine.

“Shall I have someone make a bracelet out of it tomorrow?” His expression was quite serious.

Xia Tong’s eyes widened in shock, as if she had seen a ghost. No… don’t scare her! Has the villain gone mad?!

“Don’t like it?” Gu Qin’s expression turned icy as he swept the item aside. “Then throw it away.”

“No, no, no… I… I like it very much!”

Fearing the waste of such a treasure, Xia Tong hurriedly cradled the agate to her chest, ignoring the pain in her arm. She cautiously looked at him and asked, “You… really plan to gift this to me?”

It was unbelievable that a man who had just seconds ago threatened to execute her would suddenly want to give her such an expensive gift! Was she dreaming or had she encountered a ghost?

Gu Qin didn’t respond immediately, he merely cast a cold glance her way, his voice low. “Common objects are best suited for common people.”

Xia Tong: “…”

Maintaining her smile, she took a deep breath, respectfully performed a bow, and then turned to leave the study while clutching her precious find. As soon as the door closed behind her, she raised her foot to kick it out of frustration.

Indeed, villains are villains. Expecting them to be understanding is like hoping pigs will fly!

“What a beautiful piece of agate! The prince truly dotes on you, my lady.” Qing’er stared at the red agate, her face filled with awe.

Naturally, such a large piece was extremely rare. While it couldn’t help her father, obtaining a treasure was still a plus. A common person was just a common person, and she was curious to see how high and mighty that pervert thought he was.

“Yes, he really does!” Clinging to the agate, Xia Tong walked through the night and turned to Qing’er, saying, “Tomorrow, you should go to Yu Defang and find a craftsman. With such a large piece, we can make several bracelets. I want to gift one to my mother and make a jade ring for my father.”

Upon hearing this, Qing’er chuckled softly and nodded eagerly.

After securing the agate, Xia Tong had to tend to her wound again. Once she changed the dressing, she finally managed to fall asleep. Perhaps due to her fright, she had a nightmare in which the villain, with a twisted expression, cut into her flesh with a knife, causing her to bleed profusely. Terrifyingly, she couldn’t die, which left her in a cold sweat all night. The next day, she slept until noon.

For breakfast, they had small steamed buns made by a chef from Jiangnan. Since Gu Qin had unpredictable tastes, the regent’s residence always employed chefs from various regions—one of the perks of power.

Early in the morning, Qing’er burst in cheerfully. When she saw Xia Tong eating, she leaned closer and whispered, “Just now, Madam sent me news that the master has been successfully promoted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I heard that the case of the villagers’ riot will be handled by the master.”

Hearing this, Xia Tong took another bite of the bun, but she was not in a good mood. The notice issued today meant that the court had approved the promotion a few days ago. She foolishly ran over to inquire about the news last night. It was so embarrassing!

Furthermore, this case involving the villagers’ riot clearly implicated many individuals. Her father taking it on was undoubtedly a difficult job, and she worried he might find himself in a precarious situation.

“By the way, I ran into Miss Shen on my way back, and she asked me to give you this.” Qing’er suddenly pulled a letter from her sleeve.

Putting down her chopsticks, Xia Tong took the letter and her expression shifted to one of complexity. Indeed, the heroine had really run away!

The letter simply mentioned a wish to meet again someday, advising her to stay safe and keep her distance from Gu Qin, but it did not specify where she was going. However, this was the heroine, and according to the tropes of Mary Sue stories, she would undoubtedly encounter a benefactor or be captured by the male lead, leading to a tumultuous love affair. Where could she possibly run to?

“Keep an eye on any movements from the Ministry of Justice,” Xia Tong said as she used a match to burn the letter.

The heroine may have been neglected, but even her sudden disappearance wouldn’t stir up much chaos. What she was really concerned about was how the plot would develop next.

“I pay my respects to the princess.”

Suddenly, the butler appeared outside, followed by a figure dressed as a eunuch. Xia Tong was taken aback and immediately signaled for Qing’er to let them in.

It was nearly noon, and he assumed the princess would be having lunch. When the butler brought the person in, he glanced at the newcomer and said, “This is Eunuch Li from Qianqing Palace.”

As he finished speaking, the pale-skinned eunuch elegantly pinched his fingers and spoke in a high-pitched voice, “I pay my respects to the princess. The emperor has summoned you to the palace for an audience.”

At that moment, Qing’er’s expression changed significantly. She clearly hadn’t anticipated that the emperor, who had been unwell, would summon the princess to the palace at this time.

Xia Tong was startled, but she managed to keep a composed face as she looked at Butler Lin. “Has the prince returned to the residence?”

Although the villain was known for scaring people, he was still a powerful figure. She couldn’t shake the feeling of unease about why the old emperor wanted to see her.

“Master… has not yet returned,” the butler replied, lowering his head. He then turned to the eunuch beside him, saying, Eunuch Li, you also know that the princess was attacked by an assassin recently and is not feeling well. Wouldn’t it be better to postpone the visit to the emperor until another day?”

Butler Lin wore a smile as if he were making a suggestion rather than expressing fear. However, Eunuch Li looked troubled as he waved his feather duster and said, “Butler Lin, you’re putting me in a difficult position. This is the emperor’s command. We servants can only obey. It’s also been reported that the emperor learned of the princess’s assassination attempt and, being worried about her health, wishes to see how she is recovering. You can rest easy.”

The butler fell silent, calculating the distance from the regent’s residence to the council hall. It should take about a quarter of an hour, which should be enough time, but unexpected events could occur. The emperor had never taken charge of state affairs. It was indeed strange for him to summon the princess so suddenly.

Xia Tong felt just as anxious. Seeing the butler’s silence, she realized she could only take things one step at a time. After all, she wasn’t the villain and didn’t have the power to defy imperial authority.

“Then please ask Eunuch Li to wait a moment while I change,” she said.

“Your Highness, there’s no need to rush. I’ll wait outside,” Eunuch Li replied with a smile before stepping out of the small hall.

Seeing this, Butler Lin leaned closer to Xia Tong and whispered, “Your Highness, don’t worry. I will send someone to inform the prince. And isn’t Miss Hongxue always with you? If anything unexpected happens, just ensure your own safety.”

Everyone could see the special treatment the prince gave to the princess. The butler was determined to prevent any mishap, especially given the recent turmoil in the court, not to mention the incident involving the Grand Tutor’s eldest son.

“I understand. You may leave now,” Xia Tong said with a slight nod. She then went inside with Qing’er to change her clothes.

She knew that she couldn’t appear careless when visiting the palace, so she changed into a formal double-layered long gown in a lotus green shade with golden embroidery, which looked particularly dignified. When the eunuch outside urged her again, Xia Tong finally stepped out.

Though she didn’t particularly like Hongxue, having her accompany her made her feel a bit safer. Once they got into the carriage, they headed towards the palace.

During her last visit to the palace, Xia Tong had felt apprehensive, but this time she dared to take a good look at the ornate structures surrounded by red walls. All around were tall buildings and batches of imperial guards patrolling, while eunuchs and palace maids hurriedly walked by with their heads down, creating an atmosphere of oppression and seriousness.

“We’ll soon reach Qianqing Palace, Your Highness. Just a quarter of an hour more,” Eunuch Li said with a smile, casually sizing up the regent princess. It was no wonder that even the empress and the crown prince had considered her as a candidate for the crown princess. At first glance, while she might not be as charming and stunning as the ladies in the palace, she had a captivating and unforgettable elegance, far more dignified than the noisy crown princess from the Duke’s residence.

“How is the emperor’s health these days?” Xia Tong asked casually.

“Your Highness, the emperor’s health is often unstable. Fortunately, with the regent prince assisting with state affairs, the emperor can focus on recuperating,” Eunuch Li replied respectfully.

While he was subtly flattering her, Xia Tong pursed her lips and stopped speaking. She could only think about how vast the palace was. After such a long walk, they still hadn’t reached their destination, and they were not allowed to ride in the carriage. Being a villain would surely be more comfortable, allowing her to do as she pleased.

After what felt like a long time, they finally arrived at the heavily guarded Qianqing Palace, where it was eerily quiet. Eunuch Li smiled and said, “Your Highness, please wait a moment. I will go in and announce your arrival.”

With that, he bowed and entered the inner hall, leaving Xia Tong outside to wait for the summons. She scanned her surroundings but only saw a seemingly endless line of guards, illustrating how fearful the emperor must be.

Before long, the doors of the hall slowly opened, and while Xia Tong was contemplating what to say, a familiar figure unexpectedly stepped out.

“I pay my respects to His Highness, the Crown Prince,” Qing’er and Hongxue both greeted him with a curtsy.

The opulent hall was majestic and dignified, guarded by rows of fully armed soldiers. The man emerged in a black dragon robe, exuding nobility, with a strikingly handsome and emotionless face. As he stepped out, he spotted the elegantly dressed woman outside, and a fleeting shadow crossed his dark eyes.

“I pay my respects to Your Highness, the Crown Prince,” Xia Tong thought to herself that she hadn’t checked the almanac before leaving home today. Nevertheless, she bowed respectfully.

In her long-tailed gown that gracefully swept the floor, she revealed a glimpse of her fair neck as she bent slightly. Her delicate face still bore the innocence of youth. The man, with his hands clasped behind his back, gazed deeply at her, his voice low, “How have you been, Princess?”