From Cold Palace Princess to Celestial Empress Ch. 169
Looking at Xiao Minghuang, who was being scolded, Lin Wanqiu suddenly felt confused. This wasn’t how the script was supposed to go.
Why wasn’t Her Highness’s new lover targeting her, secretly vying for favor, but instead criticizing Her Highness?
And in a lecturing tone, no less.
For a moment, it made her feel that this Sect Master Sheng was like a stern but kind-hearted senior.
Could it be that the relationship between Her Highness and Sect Master Sheng wasn’t what she had imagined?
Had she been overthinking it all along?
Lin Wanqiu’s heart was in turmoil.
She didn’t know whether she should trust Her Highness. Maybe she had really misunderstood?
Suddenly being scolded, Xiao Minghuang’s face was filled with embarrassment. She hadn’t figured out how to introduce the two of them to each other, and now she had to improvise.
After all, this was something she would have to face sooner or later; it was unavoidable.
“…Bailan, have you forgotten our previous agreement?”
Sheng Bailan, who had been in the middle of a tirade against Xiao Minghuang, suddenly froze, as if her words had caught in her throat.
A faint blush appeared on her cold, pale face. She blinked, finally hearing the words spoken.
“The three things I promised you, of course, I won’t go back on them, but our…”
At this point.
Xiao Minghuang’s expression suddenly changed. She stepped forward and pulled Sheng Bailan into her arms.
Caught off guard, Sheng Bailan nearly bit her tongue as she collided directly with Xiao Minghuang’s soft chest.
Then, Xiao Minghuang boldly kissed her lips.
This action interrupted Sheng Bailan’s words but shocked the other person present.
Lin Wanqiu’s eyes widened as she stared blankly at the scene before her, completely frozen in place, forgetting to move.
Her Highness… and Sect Master Sheng…
They’re… kissing!??????
She was utterly stunned.
She couldn’t believe her eyes.
It had happened right in front of her.
Was this a dream?
If it was a dream, when would she wake up?
Should she pinch her own face?
Or slap herself?
Would it hurt?
Or should she take action to dispel this nightmare?
If this wasn’t a dream?
What should she do?
Why did Her Highness suddenly do this?
Was she tired of her?
But Her Highness had just said that she was her partner. Was that a lie?
But why would she say such a thing in front of Sect Master Sheng? Wasn’t that just adding complications?
She didn’t understand!
She couldn’t see through it!
Was the Her Highness before her real or an illusion?
She couldn’t tell!
In an instant, she felt her blood surging and her spiritual energy becoming somewhat chaotic.
She felt as if she were sick, gravely ill.
Her head felt dizzy and muddled.
She couldn’t clearly see Xiao Minghuang’s face, nor could she hear her voice.
All she felt was her body becoming lighter and more ethereal.
The next moment.
Lin Wanqiu completely fainted, her body swaying as she fell backward.
As she fell, she felt as though she had tumbled into a pair of soft yet strong arms.
The next second.
Her body landed in a warm and soft embrace.
She opened her eyes.
The scene before her gradually became clear.
Xiao Minghuang was looking at her with worried eyes.
Feeling the familiar scent of Xiao Minghuang, she murmured.
“Why?”
Xiao Minghuang, her face filled with guilt, spoke:
“I’m sorry…”
No further words were needed; Lin Wanqiu understood completely.
The scene just now had been staged for her.
She had thought that Her Highness would bring up the matter with her, but she hadn’t expected it to be so direct, so… impactful!
The scene just now was like a sharp knife, piercing her heart and stabbing the softest part of her soul!
She didn’t expect Her Highness to remain chaste for her, but she had hoped it would happen in a gentler manner.
Not so suddenly.
Without any warning.
“I… I…”
Lin Wanqiu opened her mouth, struggling for a long time, but couldn’t utter a word.
She felt she should say something harsh, to make Her Highness understand that she wasn’t a woman to be manipulated.
But the words stuck in her throat.
Because once spoken, it might mean giving up.
It might mean being out of the game.
It might mean there would be no future between her and Her Highness.
Perhaps, she should just endure and wait for another day.
She was still young, with a long, long time ahead to plan, to scheme, to wait for changes.
She could wait.
Wait for an opportunity.
She had once read a line in a book:
“Thirty years on the east side of the river, thirty years on the west side; do not bully the poor youth!”
She should endure, wait for the right moment, wait for changes.
In the meantime, she should continuously improve herself.
A gentleman hides his tools and waits for the right time to act.
After some deliberation, Lin Wanqiu finally calmed down.
“Your Highness, I have matters to attend to, so I won’t disturb you and the Sect Master any longer.”
With that.
Lin Wanqiu turned and ran.
But.
Xiao Minghuang wasn’t about to let her go.
She knew that if she let her run away now.
The rift between them might never be mended.
So she reached out her arm and pulled Lin Wanqiu firmly into her embrace.
She leaned down and kissed Lin Wanqiu’s lips with a domineering force.
A faint citrus fragrance wafted into Lin Wanqiu’s nostrils.
Her body stiffened.
Besides the familiar scent of Her Highness, there was another, unfamiliar aroma.
It was that woman.
Her body trembled.
Her heart ached terribly.
Her heartbeat quickened, and she felt her face burning with shame, as if she had been slapped.
She struggled with all her might, trying to break free from Xiao Minghuang’s hold.
But Xiao Minghuang held her tightly in her arms.
Lin Wanqiu exerted all her strength but couldn’t escape Xiao Minghuang’s grasp.
Her lips were filled with the taste of Her Highness.
So familiar.
She felt her heartbeat quicken.
Her chest ached faintly.
But.
It was more about affection.
She couldn’t escape her true feelings.
She loved Her Highness.
She couldn’t let go.
A lingering kiss came to an end.
Xiao Minghuang released Lin Wanqiu.
She looked at Lin Wanqiu in her arms, her gaze tender yet resolute, and spoke each word clearly.
“Lin Wanqiu, listen carefully. You are now my Dao companion. Whether you are willing or not, you must acknowledge this.”
Lin Wanqiu remained silent for a moment, then raised her eyes to look at Xiao Minghuang.
Her gaze carried a hint of stubbornness and determination.
She didn’t speak, but she didn’t leave either.
Xiao Minghuang knew this was her response.
Silent, yet it said everything.
Xiao Minghuang reached out and gently caressed Lin Wanqiu’s delicate cheek, her voice soft:
“Lin Wanqiu, you are mine, forever mine. I won’t allow you to leave, never to leave.”
Lin Wanqiu lowered her gaze, staring at her toes.
Her fingers clenched into fists, her nails digging deeply into her palms.
Her eyes felt sore.
Perhaps, from the moment she fell for Her Highness, there was no way out.
The next moment.
She lifted her head and gently kissed the corner of Xiao Minghuang’s lips.
“Your Highness, I’m a bit tired. I want to rest for a while…”
“Alright.”
“I’ll accompany you to rest…”
“No, I want to be alone.”
With that, she pushed Xiao Minghuang away and walked into the courtyard bedroom.
This time, Xiao Minghuang didn’t chase after her.
She watched Lin Wanqiu’s retreating figure, so lonely and desolate.
She felt as if her heart was being gripped by something, the pain unbearable!
She knew she couldn’t force Lin Wanqiu.
But things had come to this, and there was no other way.
Better a short pain than a long one.
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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