Chapter 5 (1/2)
The bad references are purely my own.
Incidentally, a line Xia Yuqing says towards the end, ”觉得与姑娘甚是有缘,” could be interpreted two ways with the context provided. ”I feel that we have fate,” and ”I'll throw my lot in with yours.” The first works because of Liu Yixiang's hand in Xia Yuqing's transmigration. The second because of the secret she is about to divulge.
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”BAM—” Xia Yuqing didn't have time to hide before the front door of Sweet Spring palace was blown away with a bang.
Xia Yuqing did a double take at the wrecked door on the floor through the billowing dust. She cried out bitterly, ”How is that the daughter of a prime minister?”
A prominent bureaucrat's family produced a tigress! Waah, that's not scientific!
”Miss Liu might be the prime minister's daughter, but she grew up in the household of a formidable general. Her maternal grandfather is a great general who helped found the country.”
”…”
As the dust finally settled around the toppled front door, a charming figure waltzed in.
She wore a red sandalwood hairpin with a trailing jade pendant that swung across inky hair and a comely face. From her perfectly plucked brows, vermillion lips, narrowed almond-shaped eyes, and the raised chin, it all screamed rich n.o.ble girl.
”Where's that b.i.t.c.h from Xia?”
Liu Yixiang raised her eyebrow, an almond-shaped eye sweeping the hall. Xia Yuqing snapped back to her senses and grabbed the maid besides as a cardboard box.
This movement unwittingly gave her away. When confronted by Liu Yixiang's chaste berry and orchid embroidered skirt, Xia Yuqing finally realized… I have some seriously bad juju.
”Ohoho, why h.e.l.lo there, Miss Liu.” Xia Yuqing laughed hollowly. She released her grip on the maid's clothes. ”Whatever are you doing here?”
”For you, of course.” Liu Yixiang laughed grimly. A dagger was on Xia Yuqing's neck before she finished speaking.
”Milady!” Xia Yuqing's eardrums were nearly ruptured by the successive shrieks of her maids.
Xia Yuqing's hair stood on end. She stared at the naked blade at her throat and swallowed with great difficultly. ”Miss Liu, let's talk about it. Knives are blind, it'll be bad if you injure someone while waving it around. Even if you don't someone anyone, it'll also be bad if you injure something!”
”Shut up. Speak when I ask you to, and if you try lying to me… hmph! Like you say, knives are blind. My martial arts might not to be great, but don't worry, it's still enough for me to behead you!”
Xia Yuqing paled and shut up quickly. Her head bobbed like a chick pecking at rice, terrified of irritating the grim reapress besides her.
”n.o.body else moves either, or I won't be polite. You can see for yourselves whether my dagger is faster or your legs.” Liu Yixiang warned the fidgeting Cui'er and the other maids. Their hands were tied, they could only watch on warily for fear of making the situation worse.
”I'll ask, did you spend the night here?”
Xia Yuqing dumbly nodded, then shook her head fl.u.s.teredly.
Liu Yixiang furrowed her brows. ”Is that a yes…or a no?”
”Yes.” Xia Yuqing's tears overflowed. If she knew this would happen, then she absolutely wouldn't have stayed yesterday. Now she was reaping what she sowed.
Liu Yixiang's eyes flashed with coldness. Her dagger inadvertently crept forward, ”And His Majesty stayed here too?”
Xia Yuqing nodded shallowly. Liu Yixiang narrowed her almond eyes, ”And when did he leave?”
”In the morning…”