An Author and Protagonist Got a Happy Ending [Transmigration] - Chapter 22

The gentle kiss was over in an instant.

Xiao Muyu covered her face in a slight panic, her eyes wide with disbelief. She blurted out instinctively, “Then you must have been tricked.”

She wouldn’t say such a thing to the Princess even if her brain were caught in a door ten thousand times. She wouldn’t say it to anyone. It wasn’t because of her stance against the Princess, but simply her own personality…

Xiao Muyu quickly realized she had spoken too loudly. She shut her mouth, and after a silence, tried to salvage the situation: “Actually, the original date was quite good.”

“I see your injuries are mostly healed,” the Princess said. “Moving it forward a bit won’t have much impact.”

“It does,” Xiao Muyu nodded solemnly, clutching her heart. “Actually, I’m not psychologically prepared yet. It would affect the atmosphere too much.”

The Princess gave a light snort and didn’t dwell on the issue further. “Let’s go.”

The Princess turned first and continued walking in her original direction. Xiao Muyu looked down at her hand, which felt slightly hot. A cluster of sparks suddenly ignited at her fingertips—larger than the one in the vase last time. She moved her finger, and the flame took the shape of butterfly wings, fluttering once before soaring into the sky.

The sound of the wind in her ears was clearer than ever before.

“What’s wrong?” The Princess stopped and looked back at her.

The flames had already turned into mist and vanished. The Princess saw nothing.

Xiao Muyu was dazed for a moment, as if just snapping out of a trance, and hurriedly quickened her pace to catch up.

There was an uninvited guest in the Old Emperor’s sleeping quarters.

When the Princess led Xiao Muyu inside, the Old National Preceptor was standing nearby, stroking his beard and looking at them. He wore a mysterious expression as if he had known they were coming, and when their eyes met, he offered that “mysterious smile” exclusive to charlatans.

If she hadn’t run into him here, Xiao Muyu would have almost forgotten he existed.

“Perfect. Since the Saintess is here, it saves me a trip. This old man will take the Saintess back to the Temple now.”

As the National Preceptor spoke, he walked toward Xiao Muyu. The Princess took a step forward to block him, and Xiao Muyu instinctively shifted behind her back.

“The Preceptor wants to take my person away right in front of me—what is the meaning of this?”

“I have been traveling for many days. I thought the rumors of the Princess marrying were just a joke. I didn’t expect the Saintess to still be away from the Temple. My old friend is anxious, which is why he sought me out to bring her back.”

“No,” the Princess said succinctly.

The Old Emperor began to cough. The Preceptor turned to look at the Emperor leaning against the sickbed, shook his head helplessly, and sighed: “Your Highness, do not be willful. You’ve played enough over these many days. As a daughter, you are no longer a child; how can you let His Majesty worry for you constantly?”

“Do you think I am telling a joke?” The Princess shifted her gaze to the bedside. The Old Emperor avoided her eyes.

“Is it not?” the National Preceptor said. “Otherwise, why would you do something so child-like? Although the Saintess comes from the Temple, she has no power, no status, and no talent to assist the Princess. Furthermore, if it is just because of ‘liking,’ is the Princess truly prepared to commit such a disloyal and unfilial act as defying His Majesty?”

“Cough, cough—” The Old Emperor coughed again, signaling that the Preceptor’s words were too harsh.

“In this matter alone, I will never yield,” the Princess’s tone was equally resolute.

“What does Your Highness mean? Do you mean that even if His Majesty disagrees, you would give up everything for her?”

“…” The Princess did not answer directly, but the meaning in her expression was clear.

The Old Emperor’s extended hand froze in mid-air, feeling a bit dejected. He looked at the National Preceptor, and seeing him ready to continue the accusation, he quickly called a halt.

“Enough!” the Emperor panted for a moment, softening his tone. “The Preceptor need not be angry. I have already promised the Princess; I will not go back on my word now. As for the rest… it is not a bad thing, as long as Xue-er likes it.”

The National Preceptor reminded him: “But as for the Temple, it might be difficult to give them an account. If news gets out that the Saintess has been taken into the Princess’s chambers, they will lose face.”

“I will visit the Temple in person to explain,” the Princess paused, looking at her father to state her true purpose. “I want to announce the marriage to the entire world.”

The Old Emperor fell silent, appearing hesitant. Behind them, Xiao Muyu was also surprised; she reached out and tugged the Princess’s sleeve, signaling her to be a bit more tactful.

The Princess merely squeezed her hand in return, stopping her movements, and waited quietly for an answer. After a long period of thought, the Emperor finally nodded.

Compared to the Princess’s absolute resolve, he valued his relationship with his daughter more. The National Preceptor’s words, rather than threatening the Princess, had actually given the Emperor a sense of crisis. She was just an insignificant plaything; compared to a falling out with his own daughter, the choice was obvious. Especially for a man who doted on his daughter as brainlessly as the Emperor did, it wasn’t even a question.

His previous bias was simply because he thought Xiao Muyu lacked talent and virtue, provided no help to the Princess, and her gender would invite questions. But on second thought, having a low status might not be a bad thing—it prevented “inviting a wolf into the house” in the form of someone truly ambitious. At least after he died, he wouldn’t have to worry about the person the Princess married trying to trample over her.

Either way, she was just a mascot. Whether in the Temple or the Palace, that fact didn’t change.

With the conflict over Xiao Muyu resolved, the Emperor breathed a sigh of relief. Then the Princess mentioned the Noble Consort. Hearing that the Princess had sent her to the Cold Palace, the Emperor didn’t even lift an eyelid; he nodded in tacit approval.

“As long as you are happy,” the Emperor said.

There was a hint of a man willing to trade his empire for a beauty’s smile. Fortunately, the future Empress wasn’t a spoiled, unreasonable daughter, otherwise, this country would be doomed.

Xiao Muyu offered a few seconds of silent mourning for the Consort, feeling a bit wistful. Before she could finish her sentiment, the Princess, having finished her pleasantries with her father, pulled her away. Xiao Muyu stumbled and nearly tripped over the threshold. She felt a chill on her spine—a feeling of being watched.

Without looking back, she knew it was the National Preceptor. Perhaps it was a warning. Xiao Muyu felt a dull ache in her chest and became a bit distracted. The Princess pulled her up, and seeing that Xiao Muyu didn’t even realize they were still holding hands, the Princess raised an eyebrow but didn’t say a word, leading her out.

Once outside, the Princess turned back and glanced toward where the Preceptor was. He was gone. The Princess’s face darkened slightly.

Xiao Muyu felt that, according to the tropes, the Old National Preceptor was due for an appearance.

Sure enough, that night after returning from having Doctor Shen apply her medicine, a gust of chilly wind blew the door shut behind her with a snap. Looking inside, the candle on the table had ignited soundlessly, and the National Preceptor was sitting there, leisurely drinking tea.

Xiao Muyu instinctively glanced behind her.

“Don’t bother looking. Hua Feixue and Pei Qiuyue are busy interrogating the guards and maids; they have plenty to keep them occupied,” the Preceptor “tsk-ed,” though it was unclear if the tea was too bitter or his mood was poor. “The mole I worked so hard to plant… that woman truly couldn’t keep her cool.”

Xiao Muyu remained silent for a moment, piecing things together. “You deliberately egged on the Noble Consort to cause trouble?”

“The Emperor was unhappy with his precious daughter marrying a ‘vase’ woman, so he told the Consort to stir up trouble in hopes of making the Princess change her mind. But he still doesn’t understand his daughter well enough. Once Hua Feixue sets her mind on something, how could she be swayed by the words of outsiders?” The Preceptor spoke like a sage, smiling as he continued: “People with too much pride are often the easiest to control.”

“The Emperor protects his precious daughter and likely sees the benefits of her marrying a ‘vase.’ He won’t bother you anymore, but he also looks down on you. You don’t need to pander to him; just stay well by your Princess’s side.”

This obviously wasn’t born out of kindness.

“In a few days, envoys from the Xiyan Kingdom will visit. Keep your ears open about the Princess’s movements. If anything happens, inform me immediately.”

The Preceptor tossed something into Xiao Muyu’s lap. It was cold and had some weight. Xiao Muyu picked it up and saw it was a jade pendant.

“There are three talismans inside this pendant to save your life in an emergency. Keep it on you; if you lose it, I will know immediately.”

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Muyu felt a sudden sharp pain in her chest. Her hand jerked, and the pendant fell to the floor. The National Preceptor gave a sinister laugh and threatened: “Do you understand?”

He hadn’t exactly given her a choice. Xiao Muyu grumbled internally, but naturally couldn’t say it. She bit her lip and nodded, her face covered in cold sweat. Satisfied, the Preceptor set down his tea and vanished like a gust of wind.

Xiao Muyu gasped and slid down the door until she sat on the floor, one hand over her heart, her face buried in her knees. The pain felt like being scorched by fire, spreading through her limbs and burning hotter and hotter.

Even a god… can die? Shall I take a gamble? Xiao Muyu thought dizzily.

She closed her eyes and seemed to see the distant sky. Beneath the vast, lonely night, there was an annoying shadow. She really wanted to hang it up and give it a thrashing—

Creak.

A soft sound came from behind; the wooden door bumped against her back. Pei Qiuyue looked through the crack and called out tentatively, “Saintess?”

Xiao Muyu shifted her body to make room. As Pei Qiuyue pushed the door open, she was hurriedly picking up the jade pendant and stuffing it into her robe.

“Is something wrong?” Xiao Muyu asked.

“I was passing by and heard a noise. I stopped to check—are you alright?” Pei Qiuyue scanned the room and frowned. “Are there no guards outside?”

As she spoke, two young maids hurried over. They didn’t dare admit they were gossiping and accidentally fell asleep, so they just claimed they felt unwell. With the investigation into the “insiders” ongoing, they were short-staffed; these two were new and not very experienced.

Pei Qiuyue scolded them a bit. Xiao Muyu guessed it was the National Preceptor’s doing—the maids had been caught off guard. Thinking they were innocent victims, she offered a few words of mediation. While she mediated, she thought to herself: The National Preceptor is truly a piece of work, harming innocent young girls. People like him should be struck by lightning—

BOOM—!

A sudden flash of light startled everyone in the courtyard. When they looked up, they heard the rumble of rolling thunder in the distance.

“What’s happening?” Pei Qiuyue was stunned. Lightning was rare in the Xuefu Kingdom, especially in this season. Her first thought was a fight, but she felt no spiritual energy leakage. It seemed like a normal natural phenomenon.

“Could it be an omen of something to come?” Pei Qiuyue felt uneasy. She stopped scolding the maids and ordered them to call guards to protect the Saintess properly, then turned to find the Princess to discuss it.

People of this era were somewhat superstitious, especially in a world where real “charlatans” existed.

Ignored by the others, Xiao Muyu stared into the distance with wide eyes. The maids assumed she was just scared.

Xiao Muyu covered her mouth and murmured to herself: “Why didn’t I make a wish for it to strike him dead directly just now…?”