WBSGVS Chapter 195 V1

This time, the imperial decree arrived much faster than it had in her past life.

In the previous life, the original host had at least two days to settle in, enjoy all the privileges of being a princess, and bask in the glory before the decree came down. This time, probably to avoid any unexpected changes, the edict arrived the very next morning, right after Qingli had settled Sima Yan and returned to Chaoyang Palace for a single night’s rest.

She was granted the title of Princess Leyi and ordered to marry the ruler of the Chu Kingdom.

Sima Heng hadn’t even gotten a chance to see this pair of siblings.

It was all done with barely any effort.

The eunuch delivering the decree smiled as he handed it over and said warmly, “His Majesty has high hopes for you, Princess. Please don’t disappoint him.”

Qingli gave a faint smile. “You’re too kind, Eunuch. Of course I won’t.”

The eunuch seemed somewhat reassured, then turned to introduce the two stern-looking older women beside him. “Your Highness, these are the governesses His Majesty has assigned to you—Madam Chang and Madam Qiu. They are here to instruct you in proper court etiquette.”

“Got it,” Qingli replied lazily with a nod.

The eunuch withdrew, and the two governesses stepped forward to offer their greetings.

Qingli waved her hand dismissively. “Alright, that’s enough. You’re dismissed.”

“Your Highness!” Madam Chang called out, sounding rather anxious.

She was here to teach etiquette, and yet the princess didn’t seem even remotely interested in learning!

Madam Qiu, who had a bit more tact, tugged on Madam Chang’s sleeve and whispered, “Let it go. The princess just got back—it’ll take time to adjust. Let her rest for a few days.”

Madam Chang pursed her lips in frustration but didn’t argue and followed Madam Qiu out.

Qingli then tidied up her appearance and went to see the Emperor.

The moment the decree was issued, Sima Heng was informed that the Sixth Princess had requested an audience. Though he was impatient, he agreed—mainly because deep down, he didn’t want to send off his favorite daughter in a political marriage.

The emperor, not even forty yet, looked far older due to years of indulgence and pleasure-seeking. He was soft and bloated, his steps unsteady, and dark circles shadowed his eyes. He looked like a man in his fifties.

When he saw Qingli, his eyes lit up with admiration, tinged with a hint of regret. “So you’re Leyi? You look just like your mother.”

Mentioning Consort Bai brought a flicker of nostalgia to Sima Heng’s face.

Back then, he had slept with Consort Bai partly to spite Consort Shu—and also, admittedly, because Bai was incredibly beautiful. But Consort Shu had been too ruthless, and he’d ultimately been forced to give Bai up. He hadn’t expected that the child she bore would grow up to be this beautiful.

Consort Wan’s daughter, Leqin, was already quite the beauty. But this one—she was even more stunning.

The Emperor of Chu is getting a bargain, he thought.

Qingli gave a curt bow and greeted him indifferently. “Greetings, Father.”

She had dressed up today, and with her bright, vivid outfit and striking features, she looked even more dazzling. Though her manners were half-hearted, Sima Heng wasn’t offended in the slightest. He even smiled. “What brings you here?”

Qingli said, “Father, this is the first time my younger brother A’Yan has been away from me in years. He’s never been around so many people before, having lived in the Cold Palace all this time. I’m worried about him. I’d like your permission to visit him in the Qilin Hall whenever I wish.”

Sima Heng hesitated. “That might not be appropriate. The inner palace and outer court should remain separate…”

Qingli insisted, “But our situation is unique. After Mother passed, I was A’Yan’s only support in the Cold Palace. Now that we’ve been suddenly separated, he must be feeling lost. And I don’t know how much longer I’ll even be allowed to stay in the palace. Please, Father—I ask for your permission.”

Thinking about the Cold Palace and the marriage edict, Sima Heng’s expression turned sheepish. “Alright then.”

“Thank you, Father!” Qingli beamed and gave another perfunctory bow before adding, “I won’t disturb you further.”

She turned and left without waiting for a reply.

The middle-aged man sitting high on his throne had just opened his mouth to say a few more words when all he saw was her retreating. He let out a wry chuckle, a little irritated—but when he recalled the smile she’d just given him, he found it hard to stay mad.

Oh well. She had been wronged. It was understandable that she didn’t know much about court etiquette.

Outside the hall, Qingli’s smile vanished. Her eyelids lowered, her face impassive—but her eyes carried a sharp, frosty glint.

He wasn’t a particularly tyrannical ruler, but he wasn’t a good one either.

The fact that he hadn’t been overthrown by the Regent all these years probably meant there was still a strong royalist faction at play. She would have to make use of that faction for her ends.

In the original storyline, it was the Third Prince who eventually took the throne, with Sima Qinghe reaping the rewards as his ally.

But this time, Qingli had no intention of marrying into another country. Her goals were completely at odds with theirs. Naturally, the Third Prince would be no ally to her. The Second Prince had longstanding grudges and couldn’t be relied on either. The First Prince had died young.

Which meant that Sima Yan, the Fourth Prince, was the most rightful candidate for the throne.

She…

Qingli thought about how they’d been cultivating the original host like a pawn. She decided to wait and see how things developed.

With Sima Heng’s permission, Qingli started visiting Sima Yan every morning as soon as she woke up.

First, she supervised his martial arts training. After that, they would have breakfast together. Then, Sima Yan would head off to his lessons at the Imperial Academy, and Qingli would return to her residence.

This routine continued for two days, until Madam Chang and Madam Qiu finally lost patience. On the third day, they blocked Qingli’s path and stopped her from resting.

“Your Highness,” Madam Chang said sternly, “you haven’t even begun your etiquette training! You mustn’t waste your time like this!”