Chapter 28: Imprisoned Dragon

Chapter 28: Imprisoned Dragon

When Rong Bi awoke once more within her own body, she was overwhelmed by an excruciating ache all over, especially in the inner thighs, which burned with a searing pain that made it difficult for her to even rise from the bed.

She gritted her teeth, feeling her facial muscles tremble with the effort. After a struggle, she managed to sit up and discovered that her fingers were swollen, as if something had deeply indented the joints, leaving purplish bruises now prominently swollen. She found herself in a refined room, with a large courtyard visible through the window.

This... must be the prince's residence, right?

Wondering what the Crown Prince could have done with her body during the previous day's wedding ceremony that left her so sore and exhausted, Rong Bi noticed that the elegant palace attire with wide sleeves and long skirts that she should have been wearing was replaced by a loose male riding outfit. The clothing seemed borrowed, hastily draped over her undergarment, replacing her traditional dress and boots.

As a lady-in-waiting accompanying the princess, did they have to ride horses during the wedding? Was it the princess who rode? What kind of wedding was this? Could it be that Prince Jingbei intended to make things difficult for the princess?

Full of questions, Rong Bi removed the riding clothes, which were slightly sticky from not being changed since yesterday. Fortunately, it was cold, and she wasn't prone to sweating, so they weren't too dirty. At this moment, she gained some insight into the Crown Prince's upright character. Despite her lowly status as a servant, he hadn't taken a bath while occupying her body and only undressed when necessary.

She fetched a hot water jug from the table and filled a basin, using it to clean herself in the room before changing into fresh clothes. Noticing the painful bruise on her inner thigh, she applied a medicinal ointment for falls and sprains. She wondered how the Crown Prince had endured such discomfort, given his fastidious nature. The pain must have been severe, and riding a horse in those clothes would have been uncomfortable, yet he didn't change or wash himself...

The Crown Prince is a true gentleman.

Removing all hairpins except for her original bun, Rong Bi deduced that the Crown Prince wouldn't have styled his hair himself.

Rong Bi combed her hair, washed her face, and applied a light touch of makeup. She found even this simple act challenging, her fingers aching and her arm muscles trembling with pain. Searching the desk, she discovered no message left by the Crown Prince.

So why on earth did the Crown Prince use her body for horseback riding?

She gritted her teeth, got up, and pushed open the door to exit the courtyard. The young maids outside, some cleaning and others standing on duty by the corridor, all paused their tasks upon seeing her emerge. Then, attempting to appear nonchalant, they resumed their work, though their eyes secretly followed her.

Rong Bi: ...

What exactly had the Crown Prince done?

Rong Bi took a deep breath, a question that had repeatedly surfaced in her mind since she woke up. She couldn't help but inwardly blame the Crown Prince for not leaving her any clues, just as she had done. Oh well, these nobles were all self-centered, weren't they? She secretly curled her lips in disdain.

The courtyard was barren, with withered flowers and trees, clearly indicating that the prince's residence didn't place much emphasis on landscaping. Only the lanterns and colorful decorations hinted at an upcoming celebration, probably due to the host's recent marriage. The grand and expansive tastes displayed everywhere belonged to the male lord, who had been widowed for a long time.

Walking through the corridor as usual, Rong Bi guessed that this must be the courtyard of the prince's wife. Typically, the ladies-in-waiting, like herself, would reside on one side of the inner court, ready to attend to the princess's summons at any moment. As for the serving maids, they were likely part of the prince's household and forbidden from entering the inner court without summons, only allowed in during designated cleaning hours.

Yesterday was the wedding ceremony. Presumably, the Northern Jing Prince... had consummated his marriage with the princess. Logically, as a lady-in-waiting accompanying the princess, she should have been on duty in the inner court. However, she had spent the night in the outer court, which she attributed to the riding attire she wore and the excruciating ache in her limbs.

She called out to a young maid, who approached her with a smile, "Is there anything you need, Sister? I heard Mei Xiang Sister say that the Princess has given you a day off? Do you want something to eat? I can fetch it from the kitchen for you."

Addressing the princess as a concubine, it seemed that these young maids truly were mere servants in the prince's residence. Recalling Prince Beijin's plan to marry off their group of lady attendants, if they were to depart, the princess would undoubtedly become a helpless captive within these vast palace walls.

She inquired, "Where is Mei Xiang?"

The young maid hurriedly replied, "She's attending to matters in the front courtyard. His Highness has just left, and Sister Mei Xiang was busy all day yesterday. She said she still has no respite today, so she asked us to wait here."

Rong Bi nodded and proceeded towards the front courtyard. Along the way, she noticed two ladies strolling out at a leisurely pace. Though their attire was not brightly colored, they wore luxurious furs that must have been costly. Observing that they were accompanied by their own entourage of young maids, Rong Bi respectfully stepped aside to let them pass. The ladies gave her a curious glance but smiled warmly, acknowledging her with a nod, without any airs or grandeur. Once they had gone a fair distance, Rong Bi turned to the maid standing by the corridor and asked, "Who were those ladies who just passed by?"

The young maid promptly smiled and answered, "Greetings, Miss. Those were the secondary consorts of the prince's residence, Lady Li and Lady Tao. They came today to pay their respects to the princess."

Rong Bi trailed behind, observing as the two concubines were dismissed shortly after entering. She overheard Mei Xiang, who was sent out, saying, "Princess is unwell today. Ladies, there's no need for your attendance. The Princess has instructed you to return to your respective courtyards and avoid any disturbances."

Hesitating for a moment, she stood beneath the covered walkway, observing the two concubines bow their heads submissively as they retreated, and then, with some embarrassment, prepared to depart. Rong Bi pondered whether she should enter when Mei Xiang's eyes lit up at the sight of her, "Sister, you've come! Do come in, the princess was just mentioning you."

Rong Bi: "..."

Observing the two concubines who had yet to descend from the veranda, both couldn't resist casting a glance at the lady official they had previously overlooked. Upon beholding her astonishing beauty, their expressions turned contemplative, their faces adopting a serious hue.

Rong Bi stepped in to find the princess lounging nonchalantly against a large bolster, dressed in a comfortable, loose-fitting home attire and draped with a fox fur blanket. Smiling as she saw Rong Bi bow in a proper manner, she said, "You're back?"

The word "return" held a subtle meaning, but before she could fully process it, the princess waved her hand gently. "Everyone else may leave. Rong Bi, stay."

In the princess's chambers, commands were always swiftly obeyed, and soon the room was empty save for Yi Yang and Rong Bi. The princess's eyes held a lazy yet captivating charm. "No need for formalities. I know you're truly Rong Bi. Yesterday, the crown prince told me about the switch."

Rong Bi was startled but realized it made sense. With their bodies exchanged, the crown prince would naturally confide in his sister to ensure his safety within the palace. After all, the safety of the crown prince was tantamount to the stability of the kingdom, even if he was now confined.

"You might not be aware of what the crown prince did yesterday. He used your body to ride before the army, shooting down the dragon flag at the heart of the enemy formation. Single-handedly, he broke the Northern Border Army's ranks. Now, you should be the most talked-about lady-in-waiting in the entire northern region – the beautiful and skilled archer who serves the princess."

A smile flickered across Yi Yang's face, and Rong Bi felt a flush of warmth on her cheeks, mixed with curiosity.

Yi Yang continued, "Recalling the first time the crown prince switched with you, it must have been on the day of the marriage procession. That day, he had an argument with the emperor, who then gave him a pill. Nothing unusual happened after he consumed it, but that night, he found himself in your body. What about you?" Her tone was casual, no longer mentioning 'father emperor,' as if the distant ruler who controlled the winds and clouds was now just a king, no longer a parent.

Rong Bi fell silent for a moment. "Empress Dowager also gave me a pill." Yi Yang straightened, her expression turning stern. She asked a few detailed questions about that day, and after hearing the account, she chuckled coldly. "It seems that Chong Xiao, that deceitful Daoist, crafted some peculiar pills and presented them to the emperor and empress. The empress likely took it as a private joke and granted one to you as a favor. The emperor, on the other hand, probably wanted to test the crown prince and simply bestowed the pill he had on hand."

Rong Bi didn't fully understand, but wisely remained silent. Yi Yang pondered for a while before asking, "What are your thoughts?"

Rong Bi could only bow. "This servant is willing to serve Princess and the Crown Prince."

Yi Yang responded, "You're an intelligent person. The crown prince's situation is dire, being imprisoned within the palace. However, this sudden body swap presents an opportunity – a gift from heaven. We can exploit this to our advantage, and so, the palace will rely on you too."

Rong Bi whispered, "Yes."

Princess Yi Yang looked at her and sighed softly. "I'll arrange for two martial maids to serve you... There's no need to refuse. The Crown Prince doesn't wish to sully your reputation. It's necessary for a maid to accompany you, help you change clothes, and style your hair. You must get used to it. As my lady-in-waiting, it's normal to have a small maid serving you. Moreover, it's for the safety of the Crown Prince. Your well-being is now intertwined with our siblings' safety."

Rong Bi felt her ears grow warm. Princess Yi Yang continued, "This matter must remain a secret. No one else will know about it. I've trained these two maids for years, and they're very discreet. They won't inquire about things they don't understand."

Rong Bi whispered again, "Yes."

Princess Yi Yang went on, "The future is uncertain, so any promises now might seem insincere. All I can promise is that if there comes a day when my brother and I emerge from this darkness, we will not treat you unfairly."

"The Crown Prince discussed this with me yesterday. Our priorities now are: first, to settle in the North and gain the support of Prince Jingbei; second, to quickly understand the pattern behind your body swapping; third, to portray each other convincingly. You both still need some training. While you're here, I'll teach you what the Crown Prince knows. You can imitate his calligraphy and learn his etiquette. Being confined in Baohuan Palace with little service, the chance of being discovered is slim."

Rong Bi looked up at Princess Yi Yang. Her voice was calm and composed, revealing the resilience of these siblings as they braved the harsh winter. Rong Bi was an unwitting pawn, a force they had to secure.

Useless people would die, Rong Bi mused. The princess and the crown prince might have considered killing her to cut off the body-swapping possibility, but they chose to exploit this divine gift instead.

What could she gain from all this? Rong Bi suddenly felt a sense of bewilderment. But she had always had one simple goal: to survive, to return to her hometown, her square courtyard with its green brick walls, where she would raise a fish pond, cultivate a vegetable patch, sew by the window, and bask in the aroma of sun-dried tangerine peel.

This tranquil existence seemed to contradict her every move. Ever since she was summoned by the Empress and consumed that crimson pill, she had been helplessly swept into an ever-deepening vortex.

Evidently, the Crown Prince did not share such aspirations. He was a caged dragon, biding his time until he could soar through the skies, using his own body as a weapon to break through barriers and claim victory. That was his choice, and palace walls could not confine him.

Princess Yi Yang gazed at her, her expression turning tender and gentle. She beckoned for the girl to approach and gently stroked her long hair. "I apologize to you. You're like my little sister. Both of us are merely trying to survive, but we are seeds of fate, blown by the winds to grow wherever they may. Our lives are beyond our control."