CH 70.2

Chapter 70.2 – Let’s Move When We Return

With the arrival of the war report from the northern border, the storm in the capital dissipated.

The winter solstice was coming soon. There was another military incident this year, so the Emperor took the court’s civil and military officials along with several princes to Circular Mound Altar1 to offer some sacrifices to Heaven.

Even Lu Qipei and Qi Yang were brought along, but the Third Prince who was in house arrest was left behind, as if he had been completely forgotten.

In fact, with the arrival of the war report from the northern border, the specifics of the battle in Huai town and Ping town also came. Everyone soon discovered that something wasn’t right – the two towns were captured on the same day, but when the Third Prince fled back, he told the Emperor that he lost Ping town because the Crown Prince was defeated and disappeared, affecting the army’s morale.

What did this mean? Evading responsibility and throwing accusations? When you think about it, there was more than that!

In the carriage heading to the Circular Mound Altar, Qi Yang was leaning her head on Lu Qipei’s shoulder. There was a rare gloating tone on her voice, “This time, Third Brother really shot himself on the foot. Royal Father is really done with him.”

Lu Qipei’s slender finger hooked a strand of Qi Yang’s beautiful hair and twirled it around her fingertips. Hearing this, she said, “The Third Prince really isn’t very smart.”

Of course, Qi Yang had enmity with the Third Prince. In the previous life, Qi Yang’s death could mostly be attributed to the Third Prince. But everything happened so quickly in this life, and before she could set up a plan to take revenge on him, he already put himself on a situation beyond redemption.

Ping town and Huai town were destroyed on the same day, and the Third Prince fled back to the capital. How did he know that the Crown Prince’s town had fallen and he had disappeared?

There was also the matter of how the town was breached. There were indeed traitors in Huai town who opened the city gates and allowed the Rong army to enter. But the investigation on Ping town brought very strange results. After repeated investigations, they couldn’t find out who the spy that opened the city gate was. In the end, faint clues were pointing at the Third Prince.

This matter had not been verified, so of course the Crown Prince wouldn’t write it in the war report, but he included all the clues and evidence in a secret report to the Emperor. He didn’t care whether the Emperor believed it or not, and what the latter would ultimately decide.

Of course, based on the current situation, the Emperor believed it, or at least became suspicious.

Well, these were something that Lu Qipei and Qi Yang didn’t know about; Qi Yang only vaguely understood something from seeing the Emperor. The young couple chatted leisurely, and the topic soon moved away from the Third Prince.

Lu Qipei turned to look at the person leaning on her shoulder and asked, “Ah Ning, when shall we move to the princess’s mansion?”

This time, the princess’s mansion was something that they selected together, renovated together, and supervised the construction of together. It could be said to be something that they put a lot of effort into. The move was just delayed due to the Crown Prince’s disappearance.

Qi Yang thought for a while without moving from Lu Qipei’s shoulder, then said, “Let’s stay here for a month, then move afterwards.”

Lu Qipei was puzzled, “Didn’t you agree to stay at the Lu Mansion for three days after the wedding, and then move to the princess’s mansion?”

Hearing this, Qi Yang finally sat up and gave a funny look at Lu Qipei’s slightly discontent face. “I didn’t think carefully before. We have just gotten married. It wouldn’t be good for your reputation if you move with me to the princess’s mansion too quickly.”

It wasn’t uncommon for the prince consort to live with the princess in the princess’s mansion. On the contrary, it was proof of the couple’s love. But Lu Qipei was a bit different from others; she didn’t have a strong background.

The longer Qi Yang stayed with her at the Lu family, the more it would show how much she valued the latter. On the other hand, if the princess moved to the princess’s mansion after staying at the ‘husband’s house’ for only three days, some people would suspect that she wasn’t happy with it.

It was a very biased and nonsensical speculation, but there really were some people who thought that way.

They might not have cared about it, but it was better to avoid trouble where they could. At least in Qi Yang’s heart, she didn’t want people to look down on Lu Qipei, and there was no problem staying at the Lu family for a few more days.

Qi Yang also jokingly said, “Ah Pei is so anxious to move back to the princess’s mansion with me. Aren’t you afraid that others would say that you’re eating soft food2?”

Lu Qipei blinked and said innocently, “My salary cannot be compared to a princess. What else is it if not eating soft food?” She leaned slightly towards Qi Yang and continued with a softer voice, “Your Highness, are you going to let me eat…?”

Those actions and words seemed to create an invisible air of ambiguity inside the small carriage.

The two were newlyweds; Qi Yang was almost seduced by her ambiguous word choice. She lowered her eyes slightly to meet Lu Qipei’s – her dark eyes seemed as clear as before, but there also seemed to be something else inside…

Qi Yang opened her mouth, trying to tell her to restrain herself while they’re on the road, but her lips were blocked by another before she could say anything.

After a moment, a voice was heard, “Let’s move when we return, okay?”

“Okay.”

Author notes:

Lu Qipei (matter-of-factly): After the wedding, it will be a world for just us two to be sweet to each other. Who would want to live with Qi Bo and those people with ulterior motives!

Qi Yang (silent for a moment): I always feel that this is another flag…

Translator notes: