An Author and Protagonist Got a Happy Ending [Transmigration] - Chapter 26

Everything Xiao Muyu had done so far had a single purpose: survival.

The Princess had long since understood this. In the beginning, she too had been guarded, and later, perhaps with a touch of dark humor, she had never revealed the truth to Xiao Muyu—such as the details about those dreams or the wind and snow.

The Princess had watched Xiao Muyu for so long that she knew the other woman wouldn’t lower her guard just because of a few kind gestures. Even if Xiao Muyu knew she was the “protagonist” of the book, she wouldn’t easily offer her trust. The Princess didn’t think there was anything wrong with this; if she were in the same position, she wouldn’t hand over her trust easily either. If anything, she admired the girl’s iron-clad determination to live, even at the cost of her dignity.

Before sitting down here tonight, the Princess hadn’t thought much about the future—how to settle Xiao Muyu, how to make her truly trust her, or where their relationship was headed.

Friends? Lovers? Partners?

She hadn’t even tried to attach those words to Xiao Muyu yet. From the start, she had been driven by instinct, simply to fulfill a long-held obsession. She just wanted to keep her by her side.

Xiao Muyu, however, was likely the exact opposite. She was the one with the clear goal, waiting for the moment her power returned or she found another means of self-preservation to leave without hesitation. Even if Xiao Muyu could sit here now, chatting and laughing, the moment she could leave, she would never look back.

To Xiao Muyu, those red wedding robes meant nothing. Even though she had worn the red dress, bowed to Heaven and Earth, and been announced to the world… none of it drew Xiao Muyu a single step closer to her. She still stood far across the boundary, watching coldly through a mask of playful compliance. Perhaps her gaze hadn’t even lingered on the Princess for more than a second.

The Princess held her teacup, finding the cold tea dregs excessively bitter. Just as she looked up, a segment of an orange was offered to her. Xiao Muyu shook it twice, then saw the teacup and paused. “Oh, right. Can you eat oranges after drinking tea? Maybe forget it then.”

Without waiting for the Princess to reply, Xiao Muyu pulled the orange back and stuffed it into her own mouth. Her cheeks puffed out as she remarked, “The stuff sent to the Princess is indeed top-tier. Even the oranges are so sweet.”

Watching Xiao Muyu enthusiastically start on another orange, the Princess looked down at the foam in her cup and suddenly felt that she, who had been constantly worried and irritable, was a fool.

Xiao Muyu looked like a fool. But the Princess actually was one.

The Princess let out a soft sigh, stood up silently, set the cup down, and turned to leave.

Xiao Muyu asked, “Your Highness, where are you going?”

“Next door,” the Princess replied. “I’ll rest in the side room tonight. You sleep here.” Her tone softened slightly. “If you want to go back to your small courtyard, I’ll have someone take you tomorrow. You can do as you wish.”

Xiao Muyu paused, touched her cheek, and asked, “Are you not angry anymore?”

The Princess was silent for a moment. “I am not angry.”

She did indeed look as if her anger had vanished, lacking the fierce aura she arrived with. It was just that she was now so incredibly gentle that it felt “out of character,” making it hard for Xiao Muyu to accept.

Before the Princess stepped out, Xiao Muyu instinctively called out, “Your Highness.”

The Princess stopped and looked back. “What is it?”

“Uh…” Xiao Muyu searched for something to say. “Are you… not going to do anything?”

The Princess looked genuinely puzzled. “Do what?”

“You know, the kind of things one is supposed to do on a night like this?”

The moment it left her mouth, Xiao Muyu wanted to slap herself.

The Saintess was discarded by the Princess the very night of their wedding.

Such rumors began to spread through the palace, each version more detailed than the last, as if the speakers had personally witnessed the Princess passionately insulting the Saintess. These rumors weren’t entirely groundless. For instance, the Saintess moved back to her secluded courtyard the very next day. Furthermore, the Princess hadn’t shared a room with her since.

When Pei Qiuyue returned to the palace after visiting family, her third younger sister pulled her into a corner to ask about it. The late Empress had been very fond of the Pei Manor, and after marrying into the palace, she often summoned her sisters and nieces to keep her company. Thus, the younger generation of the Pei family, especially Pei Qiuyue, was very close to the Princess.

However, the third miss of the Pei family was younger and more flighty, lacking Pei Qiuyue’s composure. “Did that Saintess bully the Princess?” she pressed.

“How could she?” This was the first time Pei Qiuyue had heard the rumors. She was stunned but instinctively denied it. “She’s just an ordinary person who knows nothing. How could she bully the Princess?”

“True,” the third miss mused. “Then did the Princess finally see the Saintess’s true colors, come to her senses, and decide to banish her to the Cold Palace?”

“No.” Pei Qiuyue didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “What kind of nonsense are you thinking about all day? If you have that much free time, go read a book.”

At the mention of books, the third miss immediately pouted. “Can’t I care about Her Highness? Besides, you’re one to talk. When you first came back, you complained about how bad that Saintess was every chance you got, as if you wanted to stick pins in a voodoo doll of her.”

“I did not,” Pei Qiuyue reflexively denied.

Meeting her sister’s disdainful look, she cleared her throat. “That was before, when I was worried she had ulterior motives.”

“And you’re not worried now?” The third miss huffed. “You’re too close to see it; maybe you’ve been bewitched by sorcery. If you ask me, she definitely has some secret plan. Maybe she’s a spy sent by a rival faction or another country.”

Pei Qiuyue looked at her sister with a compassionate gaze and sighed. “Third Sister, read fewer storybooks and more proper texts.” She was too embarrassed to say that it was actually the Princess who had “abducted” the girl. No matter how well a rival faction prepared, they wouldn’t think of sending a woman to seduce the Princess.

The third miss was unhappy at being treated like a child. “If she didn’t have a purpose, why would she stay in the palace so obediently? Being a Saintess in the Temple would be much better than being locked in the palace and mocked. If it were me, I’d find a chance to run immediately.”

Seeing that Pei Qiuyue was now dazed and seemingly not listening, the third miss stamped her foot in frustration. “Don’t take this lightly! If something happens, it’ll be too late!”

“I understand.” The gentle Pei Qiuyue had to soothe her sister. “I’ll pass your words along to the Princess when I get back.”

“That’s more like it.”

With her sister satisfied, Pei Qiuyue breathed a sigh of relief. As she boarded the carriage back to the palace, she looked back. Her sister, quick to forget her annoyance, was waving cheerfully from the gate, telling her to visit again soon.

Pei Qiuyue smiled helplessly, knowing her sister’s words were mostly nonsense born from an argument. Yet, those words stayed in her mind.

After returning to the palace and tidying up, Pei Qiuyue ran into the Princess. The Princess was walking briskly, seemingly just passing through. Seeing the direction she was headed, Pei Qiuyue called out to her.

“Your Highness.”

The Princess stopped. Seeing it was Pei Qiuyue, she nodded. “When did you get back?”

“Just a moment ago. Is Your Highness going to see the Saintess?”

“Yes.” The Princess didn’t hide it. “Last time she said she wanted tea. An envoy sent some recently, so I’m bringing it over.”

Pei Qiuyue hesitated for a moment. “Did Your Highness and the Saintess have a fight?”

“No,” the Princess replied. “Why do you ask?”

Pei Qiuyue sighed. “There have been some rumors lately. Even my third sister has heard them.”

The Princess had clearly heard them too; her brow furrowed momentarily. She hesitated, as if the answer was difficult. “I just wanted to give her some space. And I’ve been quite busy lately.”

Pei Qiuyue didn’t quite understand what “giving her some space” meant, but since there was no conflict between them, she relaxed. She assumed the Princess was busy with the matter from before. Envoys from certain small countries didn’t seem to understand the need to respect the Princess’s recent wedding; they brought few gifts but a string of troubles.

“Still busy with the Xiyan Kingdom? It truly is endless.”

“Yes, I received another secret letter yesterday,” the Princess said briefly. “I was going to tell you when you returned. I may have to travel far in a few days.”

Pei Qiuyue froze, a bad premonition striking her. “Travel far? You don’t mean—”

“The Xiyan Kingdom,” the Princess replied. “The current ruler of Xiyan sent a secret letter yesterday, requesting that we extradite a traitor back to their country.”

“A traitor… the envoy?”

“Exactly. I plan to go personally.”

“That won’t do,” Pei Qiuyue frowned. “By their own account, Xiyan is in turmoil. It isn’t safe for you to go; one slip and it could spark a war between the two nations. Furthermore, the Palace and His Majesty need you—”

“That is why I am entrusting Imperial Father to you,” the Princess said. “I have a reason I must go.”

The Princess’s gaze was firm and her words calm; this was no impulsive decision. This meant she wouldn’t change her mind; she was merely notifying Pei Qiuyue.

Pei Qiuyue fell silent. Knowing she couldn’t persuade her, she said no more. “Please be extremely careful, Highness.”

The Princess nodded, her gaze softening. “It will be hard on you.”

“Sharing Your Highness’s burdens is my duty. However…” Pei Qiuyue thought of Xiao Muyu and hesitated. “Regarding the Saintess… should we tell her the truth, or make up an excuse?”

Normally, such matters weren’t publicized. Pei Qiuyue wasn’t sure how much the Princess prioritized the Saintess.

“You don’t need to worry about her,” the Princess said. “I’m taking her with me.”

Pei Qiuyue gasped in shock. “That won’t do!”

When the Princess said she was going to Xiyan, Pei Qiuyue hadn’t reacted this strongly. Now, she was so shocked she forgot to lower her voice. Setting aside the fact that the Princess usually wanted to keep the Saintess bound to her side, Xiyan was far away over rough terrain. No one knew what would happen on the road. The Saintess was fragile; she might not be able to handle the hardship.

Most importantly… ‘If it were me, I’d find a chance to run immediately.’ Her sister’s words echoed in her ears.

What if she really ran? All the effort spent to keep the Saintess here would be for nothing. Moreover, the Saintess was the future Empress of Xuefu. If a future Empress ran away mid-journey, it would be a scandal!

“Absolutely not!” Pei Qiuyue protested vehemently, even offering a guarantee for the first time: “I know Your Highness is worried about her safety, but taking her out is even more dangerous. I promise that even at the cost of my life, I will protect the Saintess’s safety!”

Despite this intense opposition and the guarantee of her life, the Princess remained unmoved.

“I am not worried about her safety,” the Princess said. “I simply want to try a different way of being with her—if things continue like this, she will only drift further and further away from me.”

Inside the courtyard, Xiao Muyu was leaning over the table playing with building blocks. They were made by the palace craftsmen; Xiao Muyu had mentioned them in passing to a maid when she was bored, and the next day they arrived. The young maid obviously didn’t have the power to command imperial craftsmen, so it was clear who gave the order.

Because of a lack of communication and errors in transmission, the blocks were quite different from what Xiao Muyu had imagined. She could only build simple shapes. Still, in this era, it was a decent toy to kill time.

Maids were moving around her tidying things up. Her familiar maid was off duty today, so Xiao Muyu didn’t ask questions. She was indifferent to the happenings in her courtyard; sometimes it took her a long time to notice new things the Princess had sent over.

Until the Princess walked in.

The maids immediately stopped and saluted. The synchronized cry of “Princess” startled Xiao Muyu; her hand jerked, and the tall tower of blocks she had just stacked came crashing down. She scrambled to catch them, her head disappearing under the table.

Thump—

Her head hit the edge of the table. Xiao Muyu clutched her head with one hand, stunned as she looked at the block lying in her other palm. That block was clearly falling; she shouldn’t have been able to catch it in time. How…

It was as if a gust of wind had caught it and tucked it back into her hand.

“What are you doing?” The Princess walked over.

Xiao Muyu hurriedly crawled out from under the table clutching the block. She rubbed her head and blinked at the Princess, the picture of innocence. “Picking something up. Why has Your Highness come at this time?”

The Princess said, “I’m preparing to go to the Xiyan Kingdom.”

Xiao Muyu froze. The plot changed? She suppressed her confusion, intending to brush the Princess off. “Did Your Highness come specifically to say goodbye? Thank you for thinking of me. Then I… wish Your Highness a safe journey?”

“It is ‘we’,” the Princess corrected. She glanced at the maids and asked, “Is the luggage packed?”

The head maid said it would be ready shortly, and the others resumed their work. Xiao Muyu hadn’t reacted yet. “Why pack my luggage?”

The Princess said matter-of-factly, “Did I forget to tell you? I’m taking you with me to Xiyan.”

Xiao Muyu: “…” ???

She had heard nothing about this. Is this a trap? She was so afraid I’d run away before. Surely she isn’t planning to dump my body in the wilderness on a whim?

Xiao Muyu was both confused and uneasy. She tested the waters: “May I ask why you’re taking me? I know nothing; I’ll only be a burden to Your Highness.”

“I just want to take you to see it.” The Princess looked at her with an unreadable expression. “Do you not want to see the world?”

Xiao Muyu thought something was wrong with her eyes. She actually saw a trace of tenderness on the Princess’s face.