Chapter 385: Chapter 384: Dying for the Princess Is Your Honor 4

“After all these years in the Cui Family, my sister and I still have some sisterly affection,” Ah Chen said with a bright smile. “Sister probably has never seen the Imperial Palace, right? Perhaps she might never see it in her lifetime, so this time I want to take her there to see it.”

The Cui Family, hearing her say this, thought she hadn’t shown off enough, planning to take Cui Jing into the palace to make Cui Jing understand the difference in status.

For Cui Jing, it was definitely uncomfortable.

To say she would do anything to Cui Jing, not really; these days she just mocked her a couple of times and wrecked some of the things in Cui Jing’s courtyard.

Probably just wanted Cui Jing to feel the status gap, thus undermining her spirit.

The Cui Family really didn’t want to, but now Ah Chen is the Ninth Princess, and Cui Jing is the daughter of a seventh-rank County Magistrate, they couldn’t refuse.

Only four people knew the truth of the matter.

His Majesty, Consort Li, and the Cui Yu couple.

If Cui Jing dares to disobey the Ninth Princess, it is conceivable she would be humiliated and punished.

Cui Chen glared, wanting to say something, but was pinched on the arm by Cui Zhao, who whispered in his ear, “Don’t speak, this is the Princess.”

Cui Chen gritted his teeth, but it was really too much. Hasn’t Jing’er been bullied enough lately?

So it was decided, they would depart the day after tomorrow, and Ah Chen would take Cui Jing along.

“I have already arranged for someone to deliver a secret letter to the Capital City by fast horse. His Majesty and Consort Li are inside the palace, they won’t let Jing’er be harmed.” Late at night, Cui Yu and Ning were lying in the room, both awake and talking.

“Actually, going there once could be good, let His Majesty and Consort Li have a look at Jing’er. With them around, Jing’er won’t be wronged.”

Ning responded, “Naturally, Chenchen is becoming more and more outrageous, acting recklessly with her status.”

“Let’s let her be,” said Cui Yu, “there isn’t much time left anyway.”

Ning sighed and said no more.

On the day of departure, Cui Jing went with Ah Chen to the Capital City.

Originally thought she would be troubled along the way, but unexpectedly, Ah Chen mostly ignored her, treating her as if she were invisible, which actually allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief.

After half a month on the road, they finally arrived in the Capital City.

Without much delay, they headed straight to the Imperial Palace.

The Emperor and Consort Li already knew their real daughter was coming, and were eagerly anticipating it.

Even if they thought this fake princess was somewhat excessive, they temporarily put these thoughts aside, now only wishing to see the daughter they only met once at birth and never again. If news hadn’t suddenly leaked, letting Bei Qi know, none of this would have happened.

But as long as Bei Qi existed, the two dared not recognize their daughter.

That Cui Chen was extremely arrogant and domineering, which made the two dissatisfied, but they didn’t want to argue about it now, especially since the other party was about to replace their daughter and head to Bei Qi, and probably wouldn’t come back.

Finally meeting, Ah Chen, like a Commissioner, came forward with some anticipation to pay respects to the Emperor and Consort Li.

Back then, Ning claimed it was to hide her identity, that’s why they didn’t give her too much, and she believed it. This belief was why she never truly used her status to do much against the Cui Family people, just vented years of frustration by messing up Cui Jing’s courtyard, which made her feel at ease.

Actually, that story had holes everywhere, but what deep thoughts could a twelve-year-old girl have?

Later, suffering in Bei Qi continuously, she had no time to reflect on those things, only thinking about how to get through to the next day, how to survive till tomorrow.

The Emperor and Consort Li’s attitudes towards Ah Chen didn’t reveal anything unusual; people in the palace were good actors. The two looked happy on the surface, yet faintly suppressed some helplessness.

Not for Ah Chen’s eyes, but for Bei Qi’s, letting them understand this was the Emperor Song Chong’s most favored Princess of Nan Qi.

As for Cui Jing, who followed behind Ah Chen, the two merely glanced briefly without asking a word because they didn’t dare. They feared showing even a hint of concern would alert the people of Bei Qi.

The palace prepared for Ah Chen was naturally the most luxurious one; everything inside was exquisite, even the floor exuded opulence.

“You can stay here for a while,” said Ah Chen. “Take this rare opportunity to experience it well.”

Cui Jing appeared calm, seemingly unafraid of anything, indifferent to everything around her.

If the Commissioner saw this, they would surely be somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.

But Ah Chen was an outsider and naturally wouldn’t be angry about these things. She brought Cui Jing back, of course, intending to send her to Bei Qi; it should have been Cui Jing going in the first place. Nan Qi wasn’t that weak, and if it came to a fight, they might not lose to Bei Qi. With the eastern rebels and the Barbarian Tribe as threats, Bei Qi actually didn’t dare to go to war.

It’s possible to teach Nan Qi a lesson, but if Nan Qi resisted, Bei Qi wouldn’t dare to really fight.

Because Nan Qi’s backbone was too weak, they agreed to send a princess over.

The crux was actually in Nan Qi, as the Emperor Song Chong of Nan Qi was too soft, as were the ministers of Nan Qi. Ultimately, the suffering was borne by the Commissioner alone, which was really frustrating.

If only Nan Qi had been tougher, why send a princess to suffer? The chaos on Bei Qi’s side over the years made its downfall inevitable. The Emperor of Nan Qi was laughably reluctant to part with his own daughter, concocted another plan, ultimately sending another little girl to suffer. With parents so loyal to the emperor, what could the Commissioner do to escape?

Two months later, people from Bei Qi came to fetch the Nan Qi Ninth Princess.

The palace even hosted a banquet, and Ah Chen attended dressed in her finest, still keeping Cui Jing by her side. Anyone could see that she was somewhat arrogant and showy towards Cui Jing, not very friendly.

Three days after the banquet, Emperor Song Chong summoned Ah Chen, spoke a lot about how fierce Bei Qi was, that Nan Qi must send a princess as a hostage to prevent them from attacking. For the common people of Nan Qi, as a princess, she had to make a sacrifice.

When the time came, they would bring her back, and all Nan Qi citizens would be grateful to her.

If she didn’t comply, it would be her fault if Nan Qi suffered.

About what was going on with sending a princess from Nan Qi to Bei Qi, outsiders were unaware. Such matters Nan Qi definitely wouldn’t publicize, it would be humiliating, wouldn’t it?

And those in the palace who knew dared not explain to the Commissioner.

Since the people of Bei Qi came, the people around her had been changed to prevent anyone from saying inappropriate things to her and ruining things.

The Commissioner naturally didn’t want to go; who knew if she could return once gone? It was a strange place.

What gratitude, what sinner, she didn’t understand those things.

She only understood one thing: the Emperor summoned her back to send her to Bei Qi as a hostage, with no real affection, and she cried out that she did not want to go.

But it wasn’t something she could resist, later being tied up and sent away.

Ah Chen also made a scene this time. Without it, the act wouldn’t have played out properly; she had to let them bind her and send her away.

Sure enough, after she made a scene, the Emperor, with a grieving face, ordered her to be bound, while Consort Li fainted because of this, fell seriously ill, and could only recuperate in bed.

The people from Bei Qi, upon hearing it, sneered, she truly was the most favored princess, too bad the Emperor of Nan Qi was such a weakling, had to send his beloved daughter to Bei Qi to suffer.

Just like that, the Nan Qi Ninth Princess was bound and placed on the carriage.

Along the way, to prevent her from escaping, she was never unbound, constantly watched over.

This Ninth Princess seemed to have despaired, not speaking a word the entire journey.

In the blink of an eye, over half a month passed, and the Nan Qi Ninth Princess was delivered to Bei Qi.

Nan Qi Palace, Consort Li’s chambers.

Consort Li was heartbroken, crying when suddenly a voice sounded in her ear, “Mother Consort, don’t worry anymore, I am fine, don’t be sad.”

What?

Consort Li lifted her head and saw Ah Chen walking in, completely stunned.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep