Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 133: Do You Want to Die or Live?

Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Do You Want to Die or Live?

The Imperial Concubine immediately realized, "Are you speaking of Princess Lingya?"

Qi Yu nodded slightly, "Precisely."

Palace Attendants had already been dismissed to wait outside the hall, and Qi Yu was not worried about eavesdropping through the walls. She sipped her tea and spoke indifferently, "Princess Lingya came to Dazhao for a marital alliance, yet now, she can’t enter Prince Qiu Residence, and Prince An has been deposed. What can she do?"

The Imperial Concubine pondered briefly, then said, "It seems the Princess can only return to Tulan."

But Qi Yu shook her head, set down her teacup, and chuckled, "Mother seems to have forgotten, there’s still one person of noble status left in the palace."

At this point, she raised her eyebrows slightly, all the while showing the expression of someone enjoying the show.

The Imperial Concubine furrowed her brows and thought deeply for a moment before exclaiming loudly, "The Emperor!"

Qi Yu nodded with a smile, "Indeed. Princess Lingya came bearing a dowry of thirteen cities and ten thousand taels of gold. How could the Emperor let her leave so easily?"

She did not refer to him as father Emperor, and the Imperial Concubine did not mind.

Qi Yu’s tone was so light, one might almost think the voice came from afar, unconnected to the clear-eyed, white-toothed young girl before her.

The Imperial Concubine was momentarily stunned, a hint of weariness surfacing on her face, "The Emperor certainly isn’t willing to let her go, at least not until he gets his hands on the dowry."

Qi Yu’s expression turned stern, and she said in a low voice, "Once the dowry is in hand, it’s even more impossible to let her go. No matter what, Princess Lingya cannot leave Dazhao alive."

She lacked the kind-heartedness of the Imperial Concubine and saw through Li Tianze’s ruthless tactics at a glance.

He would not allow Princess Lingya to bear offspring, nor could he let her return alive.

As long as Princess Lingya remained in the harem, it was an unstable factor; as long as she lived, Li Tianze’s thoughts would drift to the distant Tulan.

Dazhao was not an impermeable fortress of copper walls and iron ramparts, as evident from the fact that Li Ming’an was able to correspond with that elder Prince.

The reach of Tulan’s influence was far more fearsome than what appeared on the surface.

This was a deathly trap, and not something a princess could withstand alone.

Because it wasn’t just one person’s fate at stake, but the destiny of two nations.

In recent days, under Li Mingjue’s guidance, Qi Yu had gained some understanding of the court affairs and gradually developed her own perspectives.

The situation was intricate and indecipherable to those not involved.

But as an outsider, she saw the game’s progress clearly—who was playing and who the pieces were—at a glance.

It wasn’t enough just to remove Li Ming’an. On the borders of Qingzhou, Tulan Kingdom was lurking, ready to strike.

The Imperial Concubine, a devout Buddist for many years, had a hard time witnessing these acts of slaughter.

But she was not someone who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong; the Empress, possessing her small piece of land, only saw the Emperor’s affection and how it faded with lost beauty.

However, Li Tianze’s heart was void of such trivial love and affection. He was the King of Dazhao, and every action he took was for the welfare of his people.

She was but an old woman who had lived in seclusion within the depths of the harem for many years, incapable of much, only able to pray Buddha for Dazhao’s blessing and for her Emperor to enjoy longevity and happiness.

"You must have other affairs to tend to in entering the palace today, go attend to them first, I need to rest," the Imperial Concubine called for a maid to enter and waved her hand at Qi Yu, her voice extremely weary.

Qi Yu ensured she was settled in her room for a rest and took her pulse; once she was sure there were no major concerns, she left.

She hadn’t brought Chunlan with her on this palace visit, only Shen Nanxing.

Walking the length of the path together, the master and servant stopped in front of the entrance to Xuanruo Pavilion.

Qi Yu turned to Shen Nanxing, disguised as a maid, and said, "No matter what happens later, wait for my command before you act."

Shen Nanxing bowed her head and assented, "Understood."

She followed Qi Yu into the palace, her mind still somewhat puzzled.

Was it really going to come to blows just for a visit to see Princess Lingya?

But she didn’t ask further. Whatever the case, all she needed to do was to follow her master’s orders.

Princess Lingya had not taken her to the front hall but found a pavilion where she had arranged a banquet. Once Qi Yu was seated, she said to her, "No need to stand on ceremony, Princess Qiu."

Qi Yu really didn’t stand on ceremony, picking up her chopsticks, she immediately went for a piece of jujube cake.

She was genuinely hungry.

Shen Nanxing watched her movements with some trepidation, the Princess even ate without testing it first.

What if there was poison inside?

She had not forgotten that this Princess Lingya had once used a Poisonous Insect on Qi Yu.

But since Qi Yu didn’t say anything, she could only stand behind with her head bowed, being a quiet and obedient Palace Maid.

Lingya, seeing her eat without any hesitation, raised an eyebrow, "Aren’t you afraid I’ve poisoned it?"

After saying that, she felt a sense of schadenfreude.

For Qi Yu had used the same line to scare her at Yongchun Hall before, and it was more interesting everything came full circle.

Qi Yu, upon hearing this, didn’t even stop picking up her food, and replied nonchalantly, "Since the Princess knows I’m a doctor, you would not resort to something as low as poisoning."

Lingya was taken aback, left speechless.

But her Maid Adi was somewhat dissatisfied and retorted sharply, "Has the Princess ever heard that doctors do not heal themselves? If you were poisoned, even with a thousand skills, you wouldn’t be able to use them!"

Qi Yu looked up, glanced at her, and swiftly finished off another piece of jujube cake under her gaze. Speaking with certainty, she replied, "If I were poisoned today, tomorrow Prince Qiu would allow the two of you to be buried with me, which wouldn’t be a bad deal."

"You!" Adi was so infuriated by her words she couldn’t stand it, but couldn’t come up with a rebuttal and could only point at her, fuming.

Lingya raised a hand to hold her back, "Adi, do not be rude."

Having said that, she looked at Qi Yu with a somewhat gloomy gaze, seeing her eating carefree, and felt displeased.

"Is the Princess flaunting how much the Prince dotes on you?" Lingya asked, holding back her anger.

Qi Yu set down her chopsticks and smiled, "Of course not."

Seeing Lingya’s suspicious gaze, she drew out her tone and deliberately said, "After all, the Prince’s favor towards me is as clear as day and night, there’s no need to flaunt."

This time, even Lingya almost lost her composure, wanting to point at her rudely.

But being a Princess after all, she had to suppress her anger and silently reminded herself not to stoop to the level of such riffraff.

After having her fill and enjoying the scenery around the pavilion for a while, observing that the place with its lush grass and singing orioles was indeed a blessed land, Qi Yu sighed, "It seems that Father truly cares for you."

Lingya remained silent, a hint of irritation flashing in her eyes.

Since she entered the Imperial Palace, Li Tianze had made no secret of his preferential treatment for her.

The Xuanruo Pavilion where she now resided was only a few steps away from Empress’s Jingyang Palace, and it boasted the best view and most spacious palace in the entire Imperial Palace.

If any of the concubines in the harem were to live here, they would likely be overjoyed.

But Lingya showed no pleasure, for she knew this was Li Tianze’s statement.

He might not be interested in her, but he indeed had the intention to take her as his concubine.

Lingya also knew that she had no room to refuse.

Whether marrying Prince Qiu or the Emperor of Dazhao, it would be a good deal for Tulan Kingdom.

Though she was a Princess, in the end, she was merely a pawn.

For now, she still held some value in Li Tianze’s eyes.

But as time passed, she would become a thorn in his side, one that needed to be removed.

Seeing Lingya lost in thought with her head bowed, Qi Yu didn’t disturb her, simply looking idly at the egrets flying over the water.

After a long while, she asked softly, "Has the Princess made up her mind?"

Lingya’s heart jumped; could this person really guess what she was thinking?

She looked at Qi Yu warily and said coldly, "What do you mean by that, Princess?"

Qi Yu withdrew her gaze, landing lightly on the bellflower on Lingya’s forehead, her eyes smiling as she looked at her.

In the ensuing silence, Lingya only heard her speak slowly, in a gentle tone that nonetheless sent shivers down one’s spine.

With a smile in her eyes, she said, "Since the Princess didn’t understand, I’ll ask again. Have you decided whether you want to live or die?"