Chapter 759: The Princess’s Grand Arrival

Chapter 759: The Princess's Grand Arrival

"By the way, brother, I heard someone left several corpses in front of your mansion earlier?" Tuo Bachi asked with apparent concern. "Who would dare provoke an imperial official so brazenly?"

This topic just made Pang Ruhai more irritated.

Noticing his expression, Tuo Bachi offered helpfully, "Brother, why not let my men investigate for you? Some matters are... inconvenient for your people to handle directly."

Pang Ruhai's expression softened slightly as he glanced at this meddlesome half-brother. "No need for your help. Just stay out of trouble and avoid any more head-risking schemes—that’s all I ask."

Tuo Bachi smiled. "You have my word, brother."

Pang Ruhai gave a curt "Hmm" before sternly warning, "And don’t act rashly regarding the princess. Understood?"

Tuo Bachi bowed with a grin. "As I said, set your mind at ease."

Only then did Pang Ruhai snort and swept out toward the front courtyard.

...

When the magistrate’s wife, Luo Shi, received Pang Ruhai’s message, she was completely stunned.

First, corpses had been left at their gate, and now Princess Fusui was visiting their backwater town?

"Why would a princess of such standing come to this provincial outpost?" Luo Shi murmured skeptically.

The messenger hesitated. "Perhaps... she’s sightseeing and happened to pass by?"

He then urged, "My lady, the magistrate emphasized that Princess Fusui holds His Majesty’s highest favor. He expects you to treat her with the utmost respect."

Luo Shi frowned and nodded. "I understand. Inform my husband that I’ll join him in the front courtyard once I’ve changed."

Pang Jinkang, standing nearby, looked puzzled. "Mother... why is a princess coming here?"

Luo Shi sighed. "Who knows? Let’s just hope she means no harm."

She suddenly turned serious, addressing her son firmly. "Go change into proper attire. The princess’s visit demands our entire family’s full ceremonial welcome."

Pang Jinkang hesitated but eventually agreed.

A thought had flickered through Luo Shi’s mind earlier.

Rumors said Princess Fusui was exceptionally beautiful and the imperial couple’s darling—not some figurehead princess.

What if...

What if the princess set her sights on her Jinkang?

Wouldn’t that secure the Pang family’s generational wealth and status?

Even if her husband’s collusion with Tuo Bachi were exposed, the princess’s influence could save them!

The idea ignited a gleam of ambition in Luo Shi’s eyes, filling her with urgency.

She made haste to prepare, intending to wait for Pang Jinkang, but another messenger arrived, announcing that the princess’s carriage was mere blocks away. Pang Ruhai insisted she rush to his side to greet their guest.

Luo Shi could wait no longer.

She hastily instructed her trusted maid, "Go supervise the young master. Make sure he presents himself impeccably."

The unspoken implication was to have the young master groom himself properly!

He must make a favorable impression on the princess!

The confidential maid understood and hurried off.

Luo Shi then leaned on the elderly maidservant's arm and hurried to the front courtyard.

Pang Ruhai had been waiting anxiously in the front courtyard. When he saw his wife rushing over, he had no time for more than a few words. The couple exchanged a glance and quickly headed toward the estate gate.

At this moment, Pang Ruhai felt grateful for one thing—fortunately, the blood left by the corpses earlier had already been scrubbed away.

Otherwise, if the princess arrived to see the ground stained with blood at the estate gate, who knows what conclusions she’d draw!

Now, the main gate of the Pang estate was swept open. Pang Ruhai and Luo Shi stood before it, nervously awaiting the arrival of Princess Fusui's carriage.

Pang Ruhai nervously fidgeted with his collar.

Luo Shi spoke softly and gently, "My lord, there’s no need for such nerves. I’ve heard that Princess Fusui is still quite young and was first raised from commoner to Township Lady, then promoted to County Princess, and now to Princess... She must be amiable."

Pang Ruhai sighed inwardly.

Half his tension stemmed from her status as a princess, while the other half came from the decapitation-worthy offenses he had secretly committed during this time!

After the couple exchanged a few brief words, a lavishly decorated carriage turned the corner.

The carriage was flanked by guards in full armor—a formidable display.

This dispelled the last traces of doubt in Pang Ruhai and Luo Shi’s hearts—though the procession was far short of a princess’s full retinue, the presence of these fully armored soldiers made deceit unthinkable.

After all, impersonating royalty was a crime punishable by death!

The carriage halted before the estate gate.

Pang Ruhai and Luo Shi pasted on smiles and hurried forward to greet it.

Standing before the carriage, they bowed and said, "Upon hearing of Your Highness’s arrival, this lowly official and his wife were overawed and hastened to welcome you. If there is any impropriety in our haste, we implore Your Highness’s indulgence."

After Pang Ruhai spoke, no reply came from the carriage.

The hearts of Pang Ruhai and Luo Shi lodged in their throats, filled with unease.

After a long pause, a soft voice finally came from within the carriage: "Magistrate Pang, you are too courteous. I am merely passing through and imposing on your hospitality. How could I possibly take offense at your kindness?"

Hearing this voice, Pang Ruhai couldn’t help but relax slightly—it sounded fragile and pliant—the voice of someone easily manipulated...

But Luo Shi, upon hearing it, frowned in recognition.

This voice... why did it sound so familiar?

As if... as if she had heard it somewhere before?

—Not that one could blame Luo Shi for failing to connect it to "Miss Feng."

After all, even if she’d torn her hair out thinking, she would never associate a princess with a merchant's daughter.

A fine-boned hand emerged from the carriage and drew back the curtain.

Pang Ruhai and Luo Shi unconsciously stilled their breaths.

Instead, a beautiful woman with a cold and aloof demeanor stepped out of the carriage.

She scanned the area with a cold gaze, as if confirming the safety of the surroundings, before stepping down from the carriage.

Pang Ruhai and Luo Shi stood frozen in shock.

They found it hard to connect the soft, delicate voice they had just heard from inside the carriage with the coolly detached young woman now standing before them.

For a moment, Pang Ruhai and Luo Shi hesitated to approach and greet the princess.

However, after the young woman stepped down from the carriage, she ignored Pang Ruhai and Luo Shi, turning instead to reach back into the carriage.

Another delicate little hand reached out from inside.

Xingxing had planned to hop down on her own, but as soon as she lifted the curtain, she saw Qing Shuang leaning over, hand outstretched, waiting to help her down.

Xingxing gave a wry smile but still took Qing Shuang’s hand.

—Yes, that’s right. Yu Yonggui had thought Qing Shuang would leave after detoxifying, but while she did depart, she quickly took care of her business and immediately returned.

Qing Shuang felt that Xingxing’s situation was clearly shaping up to be messy and risky, and at such a time, she naturally wanted to contribute.

Thus, Qing Shuang became Princess Fusui’s "lady-in-waiting."