Chapter 382 - 381: Dying for the Princess Is Your Honor (Part 1)
"So, it turns out the second young lady of the County Magistrate’s mansion is the current Ninth Princess. No wonder she always seemed a bit difficult to deal with."
"Hush, keep it down. She is now the Princess, even more untouchable. If someone hears you, do you still want your head."
"This place is remote. Look around, is there anyone? It’s fine. They say the magistrate’s eldest daughter is gentle and well-mannered. Wouldn’t it be great if she were the Princess?"
"You’re really not afraid of death. But indeed, the magistrate’s eldest daughter is impeccable, beautiful, generous, and kindhearted. Even when she sees beggars, she arranges for someone to take them food. Actually, it’s to be expected. The Princess fell into their home, and the Lord County Magistrate didn’t dare to discipline her, so he had to go along with her, thus nurturing such a spoiled temperament."
"That’s true. Not to mention the Lord County Magistrate, even those officials in the Capital City wouldn’t dare to discipline her."
In Qingfeng County, people everywhere were secretly discussing this matter.
Twelve years ago, Cui Yu arrived in Qingfeng County as the County Magistrate.
The world’s situation is complicated. It’s normal for officials in some small places not to be promoted for many years. Originally, Da Qi split into two many years ago, forming what is now Bei Qi and Nan Qi, and their country is Nan Qi. Besides the neighboring small barbarian countries, there are many rebel forces in the east of the Central Plains. If something happens between Bei Qi and Nan Qi, the world might fall into complete chaos.
Back then, County Magistrate Cui moved his entire family here, bringing along the County Magistrate’s wife, two sons, and a pair of twin daughters who were still in their swaddling clothes.
The older one of the twin daughters was named Cui Jing, and the younger was named Cui Chen.
Cui Jing was obedient and sensible from a young age, while Cui Chen was prone to stirring up trouble and had an odd temperament. Despite being the young lady of the magistrate’s house, was she lacking in food and clothing? She always liked to fuss over trivial matters and even without regard for occasion, causing headaches for the County Magistrate couple.
Not only were their personalities different, but they also didn’t look alike.
However, there are many twins who don’t look alike in the world, which is unsurprising. But whenever County Magistrate’s twin daughters were mentioned, people couldn’t help shaking their heads, indeed, they were different in every way. The Lord County Magistrate is a rare good official, and the whole family is amicable and well-educated, except for this second young lady, who is different.
A few days ago, people from the Capital City arrived, and shortly after, news spread that the second young lady from the County Magistrate’s family was the current Ninth Princess who was snatched away at birth. The twists and turns are not to be mentioned, ultimately, the Ninth Princess surviving was entirely thanks to the Lord County Magistrate.
They believed the eldest daughter was more suited to be a princess and thought it was a pity. But thinking about the people of the imperial family, they were different from commoners and naturally more noble and proud.
In the County Magistrate Mansion, the County Magistrate’s wife, Madame Ning, was wiping her tears: "It’s not about not treating you well, it’s just that over the years, we were afraid if we treated you too well, traitors might notice something unusual, and how could we protect you then."
"We pampered Jing’er a bit more so that if traitors noticed anything amiss, they would inevitably think Jing’er was the princess, and you could live peacefully then."
"Since the Princess ended up in our family, we must try our best to protect her and dare not be careless."
"Now that you will be returning, you can finally go back to your rightful place, and our family can be at ease. I only ask for one thing, for you to be safe and sound all your life."
Madame Ning was truly saddened, and the sorrow on her face was genuine.
Just because the little girl in front of her was her biological daughter, Jing’er was indeed the real princess. This time when His Majesty arranged for someone to take the Princess back, it wasn’t a good thing, it was because Bei Qi had come to demand a hostage. None of the Princesses sent to Bei Qi returned alive.
Jing’er was the daughter of His Majesty and his most beloved Concubine Li; he wouldn’t bear to send his most cherished daughter to her death, otherwise, the incident of the real Princess being suddenly kidnapped wouldn’t have happened back then. However, somehow, the inside story of the kidnapping was known by the Bei Qi Emperor, who sent a letter demanding the person back.
The two children had grown up together and were the same age, so they had no choice but to let their biological daughter go in place of the Princess.
The Princess was of noble birth and was His Majesty’s most beloved daughter; the Lord naturally had to share His Majesty’s burdens as a minister. Although it was bitter for Chenchen, Chenchen was the daughter of a minister, and protecting the Princess was her duty. Chenchen’s temperament was always stubborn, to prevent her from messing things up, naturally, she couldn’t be told the truth.
Let her believe she is the Ninth Princess.
Isn’t she fond of gold, silver, jade, and fine clothing? Now her wish has come true. She goes to Bei Qi in place of the Ninth Princess, and His Majesty wouldn’t treat her badly; before that, she will surely be well taken care of.
Ever since the people from the Capital City arrived, she had noticed Chenchen’s joyful expression and her disdain and pride towards their family, quite a sense of finally making her mark.
Their family had never been like this in nature, didn’t know how Chenchen became the way she was, always liked to fuss and compete with Jing’er, had a particularly strong competitive spirit, clearly hadn’t lacked food or clothing in this house, had everything she ought to have, had to compare herself to Jing’er on everything.
Jing’er was the daughter of the Emperor, how could she compete with her? This nature, she shook her head gently, never mind, arguing over these useless things was futile, in a few days, Chenchen would be leaving with the people from the Capital City. After this farewell, there might be no chance to meet again.
This is ultimately her daughter, Madame Ning was still saddened, yet didn’t dare to show too much of her emotion.
Suddenly, she snapped back to reality, remembering yesterday when they were talking, Chenchen was extremely impatient and would mock her with a few words, yet today she didn’t utter a sound?
She looked up to see Chenchen was lost in thought.
"If you have nothing to do, then leave me alone, let me be quiet." Ah Chen suddenly said, glancing at Madame Ning with a haughty expression.
Interesting, this family is indeed quite interesting.
Criticizing the commissioner’s poor character, wild and unruly, competitive; if they had treated everyone equally, even if not equally, just without her noticing, she wouldn’t have fought. When others had things she didn’t, and she was criticized for being of poor character, who could stand it?
Indeed, she wasn’t short of food or clothing, but in these households, the quality of things holds much significance. If they focused only on Cui Jing, and she was treated similarly to her two brothers, it would’ve been fine. Yet the two brothers weren’t treated worse than Cui Jing, only she was, and how could she be content?
No matter how many excuses they found to justify it as if what they got were deserved, she couldn’t stand it.
A seventh-rank official is not high-ranking, and with four children at home, with the two boys needing education, expenses were naturally high.
Besides, Cui Yu was truly not a majorly corrupt official, considered decent and honest, and valued his reputation. Of course, he loved silver; who doesn’t love silver, but he wouldn’t take ill-gained money, with a bit of inherent loftiness.
The Princess mustn’t suffer, and the two sons need nurturing, so naturally, the commissioner would be mildly oppressed.
A vicious spiral led to her becoming increasingly less agreeable. If she didn’t fight, it would be worse, she feared.
Now that Bei Qi had come to cause trouble, demanding Nan Qi hand over the Emperor’s favored daughter as a hostage, the Emperor couldn’t bear it, yet Cui Yu being a minister quite concerned with the King’s troubles, volunteered to let his daughter go.
