WBSGVS Chapter 192 V2

Neither her brother nor Yi Han had addressed the key question: what if the Sixth Princess refused?

Yi Han noticed. His tone cooled slightly. “Don’t worry. She still has a younger brother, only ten this year. The palace is dangerous for children without mothers. Who knows if he can even survive? If she agrees, we’ll protect the boy. She’ll say yes.”

Qinghe finally relaxed. “Thank you, Third Brother. Yi Han. Thank you both for going to such lengths for me.”

“This is only right. You’re my little sister, after all!” Sima Chang said casually. He had always been a sucker for beauty, and Sima Qinghe had been beautiful since she was young. He’d adored her for years—doing this kind of harmless scheming for her was no big deal.

Sima Qinghe smiled. “And the Sixth Princess isn’t your sister too?”

Sima Chang replied matter-of-factly, “Sisters can be close or distant. Father has so many daughters. You’re the only one I’m close to.”

Sima Qinghe pressed her lips together in satisfaction. When she turned her head and caught Yi Han watching her with those calm, knowing eyes, she flushed a little with embarrassment. It always seemed like Yi Han could see right through her little thoughts, but the fact that he never seemed to mind made her secretly happy.

The Next Day

To avoid any complications, Sima Qinghe had already made preparations.

Since the whole thing had to look like a coincidence, she used her pet Pekingese as bait.

The moment the little white dog was let loose, it darted off in all directions. Because Sima Qinghe had delayed a bit, the attendants tasked with watching it were a step too slow, and the dog was gone.

Sima Qinghe immediately said, “Xiaobai’s never been that far. It must be terrified! Hurry, let’s go find it—follow me!”

“Yes, Princess!” the palace maids and eunuchs answered in unison.

They followed her from the imperial garden… to the secluded Cold Palace.

One of the maids who knew Sima Qinghe’s intentions pointed ahead and said, “Princess, I think I see something white over there. Should we take a look?”

“Good idea!” Sima Qinghe nodded, lifting her skirt and heading over.

The Cold Palace grounds were overgrown with weeds. Only a narrow footpath had been worn into the ground, created by Mama Dai and others during their thrice-daily trips to the imperial kitchens.

When they finally arrived, the palace doors were tightly shut.

Sima Qinghe feigned curiosity. “Someone, open the door. Isn’t this Cold Palace still occupied?”

It had been ten years since Concubine Bai was demoted and vanished into the depths of the palace. The attendants serving Sima Qinghe were mostly younger and knew little about that history. They all shook their heads.

Two eunuchs stepped forward to push the doors open, but found them barred from the inside. They knocked loudly, but got no response. Turning back, they reported, “Princess, the door is locked and no one’s answering.”

Sima Qinghe frowned deeply, clearly displeased.

That didn’t make sense. If someone were inside, how could they just ignore a knock?

The head palace maid stepped forward, her expression sharp. Standing in front of the door, she called out loudly, “How dare you! Princess Leqin is here—who dares not come out to greet her?!”

The only response was a long, awkward silence.

Even the head maid was speechless.

Sima Qinghe’s expression darkened further.

She hadn’t expected that someone inside would remain unresponsive, especially not to her people. She was a princess from birth, and her father doted on her. Not even the Regent dared disrespect her, let alone someone from a crumbling, cold palace!

If not for the fact that she needed someone to take her place in the political marriage, she would never have stooped to coming to a place like this!

But now things had gotten tricky. She’d come here on the excuse of looking for her dog and claimed curiosity about the Cold Palace. Her plan had been to “accidentally” discover Sima Qingli, rescue her, and then earn her gratitude, so that the marriage would go smoothly.

Who would’ve thought the person inside wouldn’t even open the door?

Should she have them break it down?

But that didn’t fit her usual persona!

The atmosphere grew stiff, and no one dared speak.

Meanwhile, inside the Cold Palace—

Right after the head maid’s shouting ceased, Mama Dai was kneeling beside the dressed young girl, her face twisted in worry. She pleaded, “Princess, please open the door. Princess Leqin is deeply favored by His Majesty. If we offend her, things will go badly for us!”

The moment the first knock came, Mama Dai wanted to open the door. In all her years in the Cold Palace, it was the first time she’d heard anyone knocking. Most people avoided this place like the plague, afraid they’d be tainted and sent here themselves.

But before she could get up, the young princess had stopped her. And now they were even saying it was Princess Leqin outside!

The most favored daughter of the Emperor!

They said she was kind too. If she saw a younger sister suffering here, she’d speak up to His Majesty. Getting out of the Cold Palace would be easy!

Yet despite all that, her mistress still refused to open the door.

No matter how Mama Dai begged, Qingli just lazily said, “If I open the door just because she asked, wouldn’t that be losing face? Not opening it. Let her get impatient and break it down.”

After all, she wasn’t going to be living in the Cold Palace much longer anyway.

Mama Dai’s face grew even more pitiful. She stared at the door anxiously.

Just break it already!

She was so done with this place.

Qingli gave her a strange look. Did she not realize that once she left the Cold Palace, she’d become a living piece of evidence against Concubine Shu? Whether Qingli stirred up trouble or not, Sima Qinghe and the others would still make sure Concubine Shu got taken down, along with anyone connected to her.

That was the only way to ensure Qingli would be desperate enough to accept their offer.

It would also ease their paranoia.

After all, if they saved her, it was only natural she’d owe them something… right?

Right?

Qingli rolled her eyes.

Yeah, right. As if she cared about being “rescued” by them.