Chapter 4 Where did the freak come from?

Li Mingjue looked at her with an expressionless face, the one that could scare children into crying, and spoke indifferently, "Looks are but external matters to this prince. Moreover, who knows what kind of heart is hidden underneath the skin?"

Hearing this, Qi Yu smiled satisfactorily and said, "Beauties are common, but a true confidant is hard to find."

Having said that, he turned around and left with a carefree stride.

After the man had left, Li Mingjue glanced at a hidden spot, and immediately a figure emerged.

"Shiqi, investigate the princess. I want to know everything that has happened to her over the years."

"Understood."

Qi Yu wasn't afraid that Li Mingjue would find out about herself, because, no matter what, he would never be able to uncover her true identity.

After all, no one would believe the story of time travel if she told it.

As soon as she returned to her own courtyard, she saw someone lying at the door.

She looked down and recognized the maid that Qi Wei had sent as part of her dowry.

Qi Yu kicked the unconscious Hong Xing a couple of times out of disinterest. Seeing that the maid did not wake up, she simply left her lying there.

However, she was very interested in the person who had done this.

"Come out."

The trees in the courtyard shook, and a figure flew down from above.

Shen Nanxing knelt on the ground and said with clasped fists, "The princess is forgiving."

Qi Yu looked at the woman dressed in black and raised an eyebrow, "Did you do this?"

"Yes."

Shen Nanxing was somewhat uneasy. She had found the maid annoying with her constant chatter and had knocked her out without the princess's consent.

Qi Yu, on the other hand, helped her to her feet and looked at her approvingly, "Well done."

Shen Nanxing was momentarily stunned, but then Qi Yu circled around her with curiosity and asked, "You must be very light, right? You can even fly directly."

"Replying to the princess, this is qinggong, and it is unrelated to this subordinate's weight," Shen Nanxing replied earnestly, feeling out of sorts as she looked at her master.

Qi Yu laughed at the response, but then she suddenly remembered something, and the smile in her eyes slightly subsided.

"When did you come to be by my side?"

Shen Nanxing answered, "Replying to the princess, it was last night that the prince ordered me here, instructing me to follow by your side from now on to ensure your safety."

Qi Yu nodded noncommittally.

Protection is just a pretext, surveillance is the real aim, isn't it?

But she wasn't going to do anything detrimental to Li Mingjue anyway, so it didn't matter if someone was following her around.

Moreover, the hidden guards of the prince's residence were all highly skilled martial artists. Having such a person by her side gave an incredible sense of security.

Once she had thought it through, Qi Yu let Shen Nanxing continue with her duties and went back to her room to catch up on sleep.

Unexpectedly, just after noon, the Imperial Palace sent a message, commanding Prince Qi to bring the princess with him to the palace.

Qi Yu sighed leisurely, "Being a princess is so tiring."

Li Mingjue watched her with a look of despair and a slight curve formed at the corners of his mouth.

It was Qi Yu's first time entering the Imperial Palace during the daytime, and she looked around at the palace scenery, too much to take in at once.

She knew far too little about this dynasty, and pointed at one place after another, asking for clarification, so as not to give herself away later.

To the palace attendants watching by her side, her actions resembled those of a five-year-old child, asking extra questions about every novel thing she saw.

Li Mingjue, however, showed not the slightest impatience and softly explained to her, repeating himself several times whenever Qi Yu failed to understand.

Originally, Qi Yu had deliberately feigned an idiotic and foolish appearance, which to others only made her seem more unworthy of the prince.

The palace attendants all tacitly thought to themselves that the prince had taken such a princess as his wife; they were unsure whether it was a blessing or a curse.

The two first went to the harem, to the palace of the prince's birth mother, the Noble Consort.

"This son brings the princess to pay respects to Mother," said Li Mingjue as he led Qi Yu to give a bow together.

The Noble Consort observed Qi Yu's movements, which were no different from those of normal people, and a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.

However, she did not point it out directly. With many people around in the palace, she dismissed the palace attendants before subtly signaling Li Mingjue with her eyes.

Li Mingjue understood and nodded, saying, "Contrary to the rumors, the princess is not idiotic or foolish."

The Noble Consort looked at Qi Yu and spoke slowly, "That is good to hear."

As the daughter of a prime minister, yet branded with the name of a fool, one could only wonder about the life this child had led before.

Qi Yu touched her nose sheepishly.

Facing the Noble Consort, who had a kind and benevolent appearance, she truly dared not lift her head, afraid that her own esteemed look would frighten her.

Yet the Noble Consort regarded her with maternal affection, "I have heard that the prince's wife is blessed with great fortune, having saved my son. I have not yet thanked you."

With that, she removed a string of prayer beads from her wrist, "I have worn these beads for over twenty years, chanting scriptures and praying every day. May they protect you from calamities in the future."

Qi Yu glanced at Li Mingjue with a hint of panic, and only after seeing his nod, did she accept with both hands, "Thank you... Mother."

Before entering the palace, Qi Yu had been quite nervous about meeting Li Mingjue's mother.

Isn't it said that every woman in the palace is not simple?

Isn't it said that mothers-in-law always look at their daughters-in-law with disapproval?

But why does this Noble Consort not play by the rules, her kindness and compassion making Qi Yu want to... take her pulse.

In her previous life, her title as the Divine Doctor wasn't given for nothing, with many high-ranking officials begging for her to take their pulse. However, Qi Yu had never succumbed to wealth, only diagnosing those who were genuinely seriously ill.

Yet, she quietly took a good look from head to toe.

It must be due to many years of vegetarianism and devout prayer that, even though the Noble Consort was over forty, she showed no signs of illness.

Reassured, Qi Yu stored the prayer beads carefully and sat next to Li Mingjue, accompanying the Noble Consort in conversation.

They had hardly exchanged a few words when a splendidly dressed beauty walked into the palace, accompanied by two similarly dressed young ladies.

Blinded momentarily by the glittering jewels on her head, Qi Yu only realized who the person was when she heard a maid greeting her. It was An Ruoya, the most favored in the harem.

The one on the left was the Emperor's youngest daughter, Princess Jiahe Li Huaixi, and on the right was her sister, Qi Anran.

On the way there, Li Mingjue had told her that An Ruoya, originally a palace maid who became Noble Consort, was a forceful and domineering person who relied on the Emperor's favor to commit wrongdoing and was best avoided if possible.

Qi Yu was not afraid, but she did not want to cause trouble for the Noble Consort.

Although she did not want to provoke trouble, some people were intent on creating it.

"What kind of ugly freak is this? Brother Prince, how could you marry such a princess!" Li Huaixi looked disdainfully at Qi Yu, her words far from polite.

Before Qi Yu could speak, Li Mingjue beside her frowned and interjected, "Huaixi, you must not be disrespectful to my wife."

Li Huaixi had not expected Li Mingjue to defend Qi Yu, and her dissatisfaction grew. What did this ugly freak have that she did not!

In her eyes, only the best woman in the capital city was fit for Li Mingjue.

"She's no princess!" She said, affectionately holding Qi Anran's arm and provoking Qi Yu, "Only Sister Anran, beautiful and kind-hearted, is worthy of my imperial brother."