Daily Life of the Crown Princess’ Pampering
Daily Life of the Crown Princess’ Pampering Chapter 18: Justification

The question was far too direct. Liu Yin froze for a long moment before her face flushed red. Lowering her head in feigned shyness, she stammered, “I… Of course, I want to marry Crown Prince gege.”

Qin Yan glanced at her lazily before striding ahead, his expression unreadable.

Seeing that he still wasn’t responding, Liu Yin immediately chased after him, refusing to give up. “I just want to know—will you marry me or not?”

She hated when people dodged questions. Talking to this Crown Prince was enough to drive her insane.

Still, he remained silent. Only when they reached a fork in the path did he finally halt. Turning back, he met her gaze with a look full of meaning, his voice low and steady.

“You refuse to speak the truth—so why should I?”

Their eyes locked. Liu Yin, utterly baffled by his words, could only watch as he turned and headed toward the Eastern Palace, his figure gradually fading into the night.

She stood there, dumbfounded, for a long while before his words finally sank in.

Wait… does this mean he no longer believes her?!

Impossible! Her performance had been flawless! She had poured her heart into it!

But… what exactly did he mean just now?

The more she thought about it, the more unsettled she became. By the time she returned to Xiefang Hall, her mind was a tangled mess. No wonder the Crown Prince had been acting so strangely lately—he had even started talking to her more.

Could it be… that he had realized she didn’t actually like him all that much? Was that why his attitude had changed so drastically?

If he hadn’t seen through her, then why would he say something like that? What did he really mean?

The more she thought about it, the more her head felt like it was about to explode. Forget it. Twisting and turning over these thoughts wasn’t her style—she was just a kindergarten-level strategist in a game meant for masterminds. Even if he had figured her out, so what? It wasn’t like he was going to marry her anyway.

“Cousin, I had the imperial kitchen prepare a roasted lamb leg just for you! Come and try it!”

The door suddenly swung open, and the Sixth Princess walked in, leading a servant carrying a massive lamb leg. Liu Yin, who had just finished wiping off her makeup, immediately perked up at the sight of food.

The candlelight flickered, casting a warm glow over the steaming lamb leg, the skin sizzling slightly, looking crisp and mouthwatering. She hadn’t eaten her fill at the banquet, so without hesitation, she grabbed a knife and cut herself a generous portion.

She knew the Sixth Princess was trying to coax her into staying in the palace a few more days, but she had already decided—no matter what, she was leaving. The palace was stuffy and boring. Home was much better, where she could lounge around in peace.

Her leg had healed, and tomorrow she had to return to the academy. After just a few days away, even the Fifth Princess had stopped provoking her—clearly, she had caught wind of what had happened to Princess Mingyue.

The grand tutor had assigned a passage to memorize—long, convoluted, and impossibly difficult. Anyone who failed to recite it tomorrow would have to stand as punishment. Apparently, no matter how noble a student was, the tutor treated everyone equally. That was probably why the emperor had entrusted him with the role for so many years.

The hall buzzed with the murmurs of students reciting their texts. Liu Yin, still struggling with some of the characters, had to read along with the Sixth Princess, repeating the words while trying to commit them to memory. Her head was starting to hurt.

“Cousin, just stay a few more days,” the Sixth Princess urged, seizing the chance while they were distracted. “If you go back home, there’ll be no one to study with you!”

The grand tutor was making his rounds, not yet near them. Liu Yin shot her cousin a quick glare and lowered her voice.

“I’m supposed to be your study companion.”

“The more reason for Cousin to stay and keep me company!” The Sixth Princess declared with utmost sincerity.

The hall was filled with the steady murmur of students reciting their lessons. Just as Liu Yin was about to respond, the Sixth Princess’s maid, Hong’er, suddenly rushed in, looking flustered, as if something urgent had happened.

Everyone knew Grand Tutor Shen despised interruptions during class, but Hong’er had no choice. Stepping closer, she quickly whispered, “Miss, bad news! The Eldest Princess has taken Princess Mingyue to the Emperor, demanding justice! They’re claiming you put the spider on her! Even the Empress has gone over now!”

Liu Yin: “!!!”

She hadn’t even tattled on them, yet here they were, flipping the story on her?! Absolutely outrageous!

She shot up from her seat, completely disregarding the fact that class was still in session, and bolted toward the door. The Sixth Princess called after her, but she didn’t stop, forcing the princess to hurry after her.

Grand Tutor Shen called their names a few times, but when neither turned back, his expression darkened. Glaring at the rest of the students, he made up his mind to deal with them once they returned.

Meanwhile, the Fifth Princess smirked as she continued reciting her passage. Sensing Shen Yao’s gaze on her, she leaned in and whispered a few words into her ear.

Upon hearing them, Shen Yao’s expression remained unchanged. She continued reading, her head lowered, but a fleeting glint flashed through her almond eyes—subtle, unnoticed.

According to Hong’er, they were in Qianqing Palace, but the entrance was heavily guarded by the imperial guards. Liu Yin barely got close before she was stopped.

“Miss Liu, without an imperial summons, you are not permitted to enter.” The imperial guards stood firm, their expressions cold and unwavering.

Liu Yin glanced at the line of guards blocking the entrance and reluctantly took a few steps back. She could only stare helplessly at the grand doors of Qianqing Palace. Just then, the Sixth Princess caught up to her, panting slightly before grabbing her arm. “Cousin, let’s go! Mother will surely speak up for you.”

But Liu Yin wasn’t ready to give up. She glared at the palace doors, pacing back and forth in frustration. She had no idea what kind of lies the Eldest Princess was spinning inside. And with the Emperor already suppressing the Liu family, what if this incident ended up dragging her parents down too?

Meanwhile, inside the palace hall, the air was heavy with tension. A middle-aged woman, dressed in an opulent crimson and gold robe embroidered with phoenixes, stood tall with an air of authority. Beside her stood a veiled young woman—only her forehead was visible, covered in alarming red blotches.

“Your Majesty,” the Eldest Princess spoke firmly, “you’ve seen Mingyue’s condition for yourself. A woman’s beauty is everything. I can overlook petty squabbles between young girls, but Liu Yin’s cruelty knows no bounds! Look at Mingyue—how is she supposed to face the world like this? Will she be reduced to a laughingstock before all under heaven?”

The sharp and pressing accusations echoed through the hall. The Emperor sat in silence, rubbing his temples in exhaustion. Beside him, Qin Yan observed the scene without a word, his expression as unreadable as ever.

“Royal Sister, if you are to accuse someone, you must provide evidence,” the Empress spoke firmly, her voice unwavering. “I care for Mingyue as well, but does Yin’er’s reputation mean nothing? You cannot simply tarnish her name with a few words. How do you expect the world to see her after this?”

Hearing this, the Eldest Princess stepped forward, her gaze locked onto the Empress. “More than one person saw Liu Yin’s maid tampering with Mingyue that day. Are you suggesting, Your Majesty, that you can simply dismiss this because it does not concern you?”

“Then summon those witnesses,” the Empress replied, composed. “If the accusations hold true, I will not defend that girl any further.”

The Eldest Princess narrowed her eyes. Summon witnesses? With the Liu family’s influence, who would dare speak against them? How shameless!

“Fine. I will have the Princess of Qiyang summoned—she saw it with her own eyes. Let’s see what you have to say then, Your Majesty.”

With that, she turned to a palace maid, who immediately bowed and retreated to carry out the order. Meanwhile, the Mingyue Princess remained silent, her head lowered, her eyes filled with hatred. Once she recovered, she would return this humiliation tenfold!

The Empress’s gaze flickered slightly before she turned to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, since we are investigating, we must investigate thoroughly. A few days ago, Yin’er was bitten by a snake in the imperial garden—I have always found that suspicious. We might as well uncover the truth behind that incident as well. I cannot allow my niece to bear false accusations.”

At these words, Mingyue’s expression shifted instantly. She reached out discreetly, tugging at the Eldest Princess’s sleeve. The older woman did not turn, but she understood immediately. That foolish girl must have left loose ends!

The argument continued, but the Emperor only looked more fatigued. Family disputes—no matter how they were argued—always seemed impossible to resolve.

“If the imperial physician has already said that Mingyue will recover fully in half a month, why make such a spectacle of it, Royal Sister? Drawing so much attention—would that not make us the laughingstock of the court?” His voice was calm, neither too light nor too heavy.

At this, the Eldest Princess’s brows furrowed, and her sharp voice rang out once more. “Mingyue is a titled princess, yet she was humiliated in such a manner. That is an insult to the imperial family itself! If we let this go unpunished, where does that leave our royal dignity?”

The palace attendants kept their heads bowed, inwardly sighing. The Eldest Princess had always been this fiery—no surprises there. But what could they do? She was, after all, the Emperor’s full-blooded sister.

The Empress frowned in thought, trying to find a way to diffuse the situation. She had accounted for many things, but she hadn’t expected the Eldest Princess to disregard even the Liu family’s standing and insist on escalating the matter.

“The imperial garden has always had insects and spiders. The palace staff sees them frequently. How can you be so sure that the spider didn’t simply crawl onto Mingyue on its own, Royal Aunt?”

The sudden voice made the Eldest Princess’s gaze darken. She turned to the speaker—the Crown Prince. She hadn’t expected him to speak up for that Liu girl, but his tone was measured, less confrontational than she’d anticipated. “Are you suggesting the testimony of multiple witnesses is false?”

Qin Yan’s expression remained unchanged. His lips parted slightly. “If so many people saw it happen, why did no one stop her on the spot?”

The Eldest Princess was momentarily at a loss for words, while the Empress gave her son a look of mild surprise, as if seeing him in a new light.

“A few days ago, my cousin was bitten by a snake in the imperial garden. The eunuch responsible for releasing the snake was just about to be executed,” Qin Yan continued, his tone steady and unreadable. “If you have the time, Royal Aunt, perhaps you should hear who gave him that order.”

His words sent ripples through the hall. Mingyue tensed, panic flashing across her face. She clutched at her mother’s sleeve in distress—she had no intention of going down with that wretched girl.

The Eldest Princess fixed her gaze on her “good” nephew, her eyes narrowing slightly. After a moment of rigid silence, she finally spoke, her tone stiff. “Since the imperial physician says she’ll recover fully in half a month, I won’t pursue the matter further. No need to give others the chance to accuse me of pressing too hard when I have the upper hand.”

Hearing this, the Emperor let out a relaxed chuckle and waved a hand dismissively. “It’s good that you can let it go, Royal Sister. Wang Hai, bring out the Yuling Balm from the Western Regions for Mingyue. A scar on the young girl’s face would be unfortunate.”

As he spoke, his gaze drifted—seemingly by chance—toward his son, who stood there, unreadable as ever. A fleeting glimmer crossed the Emperor’s eyes.

Upon leaving Qianqing Palace, the Empress cast her son a meaningful glance, as if about to say something, but before she could, her gaze landed on a familiar figure pacing anxiously outside.

The moment Liu Yin saw them emerge, she rushed forward without hesitation. As she passed by the Eldest Princess, she deliberately turned her head away, her expression cold.

The Eldest Princess let out a sharp scoff but didn’t linger. She simply led her daughter away, though her face was visibly displeased.

“Why are you here? Skipping your lessons?” The Empress shot her an admonishing look.

“Cousin sneaked out,” the Sixth Princess immediately tattled. “Taifu is definitely going to punish us when we go back.”

Liu Yin glared at her before quickly sidling up to the Empress, slipping her arm through hers. As she did, she stole a glance at the man standing a little way off. For some reason, his words from the night before resurfaced in her mind, and her heart twisted in uncertainty—had he seen through her or not?

The Empress patted her hand gently before turning to Qin Yan, her voice warm. “It’s almost noon. Why don’t you join me for lunch, my son?”

=^_^=

kyotot[Translator]

Hi kyotot here~ ^.<= message me on discord for any novel request that you want me to translate Comments and suggestions are welcome! Hope you enjoy reading my translations!~

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