Abused Female Lead And Beautiful Villainess (Quick Transmigration)

The commotion He Qingning caused in Yun Province truly shocked the entire court. In just ten days, she had cleared up all the cases, overturning past injustices and false charges. They wanted to argue that even if He Qingning was highly favored, she was still just a princess. Guan Yujing was an imperial official, and even if he were to be convicted and executed, the case should have been sent up for confirmation before the Emperor issued the punishment order.

But the Emperor said, “Qingning has never left the capital. I was truly worried, so I granted her some special powers. For instance, if she encounters anyone who dares to defy her or attempt to harm her, she can order their immediate execution. Do you gentlemen believe that Guan Gushan’s offense against my Qingning didn’t warrant death?”

That wasn’t what they meant.

“Or do you think that in such a dangerous situation, Qingning should have arrested him and questioned him about his wrongdoings? I’ve thoroughly understood the situation in Yun Province. Guan Gushan offended Qingning and was punished with castration. Guan Yujing, dissatisfied, attempted to kill Qingning on the spot. In the emergency, Qingning had no choice but to execute him first. Otherwise, given Guan Yujing’s power in Yun Province, Qingning might not have made it out alive.”

The Emperor sighed with satisfaction. “Fortunately, Qingning acted decisively. The various cases that came to light afterwards prove he wasn’t wronged.”

“These are all crimes committed by Guan Yujing. Take a look for yourselves.”

The Emperor waved his sleeve, and a large pile of reports was pushed before the ministers. They picked them up and read silently, eventually unable to utter a word. They looked at each other and shook their heads. Princess Qingning had done nothing wrong. Guan Yujing was truly unfortunate to have such a destructive son. If not for Guan Gushan, given Guan Yujing’s wisdom, he wouldn’t have slipped up so easily.

The Emperor sat above, taking in everything. He wasn’t angry; Qingning’s outstanding performance excited him. His Qingning was indeed no less capable than any man. With a few more years of cultivation, she would surely be able to protect their dynasty. He could rest easy when he met her mother in the afterlife.

The courtiers later heard that the bodies of Guan Yujing and Guan Gushan had been chopped into mincemeat by the people of Yun Province. The reports detailing the father and son’s crimes were covered in the fingerprints of Yun Province’s citizens. This showed just how much the pair had angered both heaven and earth.

As the Emperor and He Qingning had anticipated, the Yun Province incident didn’t arouse much suspicion. They believed it was coincidental. From various sources, Guan Gushan was indeed a lecherous scoundrel. It was said that before he was even ten years old, he had defiled many respectable women. Seeing the breathtakingly beautiful He Qingning, he would certainly have had designs on her, leading to the subsequent events.

He Xiyan, hearing of this matter, didn’t pay much attention. He was currently preoccupied with finding a way to transfer his special blood to others. Shen Shi had to drink some of his blood every day, and he was starting to feel the strain.

Shen Shi, not wanting to see He Xiyan suffer, suggested drinking once every three days instead. He Xiyan readily agreed, as continuing daily would indeed have a significant impact on him. Ever since He Xiyan had been willing to give his blood to help detoxify her, Shen Shi’s heart and eyes were filled with thoughts of him. While she might have been initially attracted to He Xiyan partly due to his status, now, even if he were just an ordinary man, the fact that he was willing to feed her his own blood for months had made her decide that no matter what, she would stay by He Xiyan’s side for life.

But He Xiyan seemed to have lost his previous feelings for Shen Shi. When Shen Shi had threatened his life, he had hesitated, and his affection for her had gradually faded. More incredibly, he often found himself thinking of another person—his deceased princess consort, Shen Wan. He recalled how she had unhesitatingly cut her wrist to give him blood, knowing full well it might cost her life.

One morning, Shen Wan heard the hen cluck loudly, then personally witnessed an egg drop from its rear.

He Qingning, seeing this scene, was also momentarily stunned before composing herself. “Your hen has laid an egg.”

“Yes, it finally laid an egg. It wasn’t in vain that I fed it so many good things,” Shen Wan said, cradling the warm egg. “Your Highness, shall we have soft-boiled eggs for breakfast?”

The hen that had just laid the egg clucked a few more times at Shen Wan. He Qingning, also in a good mood, quickly grabbed a handful of feed and put it in the hen’s small bowl. The hen clucked again and pecked rapidly at the feed in the bowl.

“You eat it. Just one isn’t enough for two people,” He Qingning said. It was her first time seeing a hen lay an egg, and she was surprised at how clean it came out. Looking at the hen, she found it more appealing than ever. Raising a Little Hen wasn’t bad at all, seeing how Shen Wan’s smile now reached from ear to ear.

Shen Wan took the egg out of the carriage and called for someone to set up a pot and light a fire. The guards wondered what she was going to do, only to see her washing an already clean egg. They were all astounded.

“Miss He, is that an egg?”

“Yes, it’s an egg.”

“Where did it come from?” The young guard remembered that he hadn’t bought any eggs. After all, there were many bumpy roads on their journey, and eggs could easily break. They had mostly bought dry rations and dried meat, which lasted longer and were filling.

Shen Wan nearly laughed out loud but quickly composed herself, saying coolly, “The Little Hen laid it.”

Hearing this, the young guard could hardly believe it.

That Little Hen really laid an egg? The egg was oval and smooth, of excellent quality.

It wasn’t in vain that he had painstakingly gone to town to buy feed for it.

When the egg was cooked, Shen Wan hurriedly carried the bowl back to the carriage, presenting it to He Qingning like a treasure. “Your Highness, it’s ready.”

He Qingning’s lips curled into a smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Then you eat it.” She had eaten all sorts of delicacies, but today was the first time she felt curious about the taste of an egg she had personally seen a hen lay. However, seeing Shen Wan’s joyful expression, she decided not to eat it.

“Your Highness, you eat it.”

Shen Wan had already peeled the egg and offered it to He Qingning. “It’s the first egg laid by the Little Hen. I want Your Highness to taste it first.”

“Why?” He Qingning asked, her heart stirring.

Shen Wan: “No reason. I just want to give you the best things.”

He Qingning’s gaze became incredibly gentle, her heartbeat quickening. She took the egg, produced a small knife, and cut it in half, giving one half to Shen Wan. “Isn’t this perfect?”

“Your Highness is indeed clever.” Shen Wan’s eyes curved into crescents as she lightly sniffed the egg. My goodness, the egg laid by her Little Hen smelled so fragrant. “Your Highness, please.”

188: What are you pretending for? Didn’t you just want the little princess to personally share it with you? This host really has too many little schemes. But why does he taste dog food? They haven’t even confessed their feelings or done anything else. Aren’t they just sharing an egg? Yet he feels a bit nauseated.

“How does it taste, Your Highness?” Shen Wan asked after gobbling down her half of the egg in two bites.

He Qingning nodded. “It’s delicious.” It truly was tasty, different from what she had eaten before.

“Little Hen, you must be diligent. From now on, lay an egg for me every day. I promise you’ll live a comfortable life, be liked by Her Highness, and your chicken life will be fulfilled.”

“Cluck cluck cluck…” The Little Hen was still pecking at its feed. Hearing Shen Wan’s words, it just clucked a few times, unclear whether it understood or not, perhaps thinking it was being called and instinctively responding.

He Qingning watched Shen Wan crouching beside the hen, talking to it. She simply smiled, her eyes filled with fondness as she gazed at her. She too began to look forward to the Little Hen’s future performance.

From that day on, the Little Hen indeed performed admirably. Every day at dawn, it would cluck a few times and lay a smooth, oval egg. Each morning, Shen Wan would cook the egg and bring it back to the carriage, sharing it with He Qingning. The guards all knew by now that this Little Hen was quite capable, laying an egg every day. They felt somewhat envious; these were truly fresh eggs. That woman was not only fierce, but the hen she raised was also impressive, always pleasing Her Highness.

After about half a month, He Qingning and Shen Wan arrived in Qing Province. As soon as they arrived, they saw a familiar face. The woman being dragged along, her face streaked with tears, was none other than Madam Xu.

“Go, bring those people over here.”

Hearing He Qingning’s words, Shen Wan tilted her chin up, glancing coolly at Madam Xu. Look at that pitiful little face, so easy to sympathize with. Such good luck, to encounter Her Highness even here and successfully catch her attention.

Madam Xu had thought this time she was truly done for. Princess Qingning’s arrival had freed her from Guan Gushan, rescuing her from a life of misery. Unexpectedly, without Guan Gushan, she was about to fall into the hands of another man just like him. The family she had once protected with her life had sold her out. Firstly, they believed her virtue was ruined and she would be hard to marry off. Secondly, her younger brothers had reached marriageable age, and even after she had given them all her savings, it wasn’t enough.

In the end, her family had arranged a marriage for her—or rather, they had essentially sold her. Having been with Guan Gushan, she had heard of this man’s reputation. He was fond of beautiful women but had a strange habit of whipping his wives and concubines. Those who were whipped took ten days to half a month to recover. This man wasn’t from an official’s family but was the son of Qing Province’s wealthiest man, Liang Wu.

After learning the situation, He Qingning intended to buy Madam Xu with some silver. However, Liang Wu’s servant refused outright, acting arrogantly and telling He Qingning not to interfere.

“You’d better leave and stop meddling. If you offend our young master, you won’t be able to leave Qing Province.”

“Bring Madam Xu here,” He Qingning said, lifting the carriage curtain. The guards immediately pushed the servant aside and brought Madam Xu to the carriage. Just as the servant was about to curse, he caught sight of He Qingning’s face and was stunned.

It wasn’t until Madam Xu had boarded the carriage and it had left that he came to his senses. He ran full speed back to the Liang residence. A beauty, a great beauty! The young master would surely be pleased when he found out.

“This humble woman thanks Your Highness for saving my life once again.”

Madam Xu bowed to He Qingning, but her face showed no joy. As a mere woman, what good was being saved? Her family despised her and wanted to sell her for money. Now she was homeless. It would be better to find a clean place and end her life.

“You can stay by my side for now.”

Shen Wan turned her head, glancing at He Qingning. Little princess, are you openly keeping a beautiful woman without considering her feelings?

He Qingning noticed Shen Wan’s gaze and saw a hint of jealousy in it. She paused, surprise flashing in her eyes as she considered the possibility. She clenched her fist. Seeing Shen Wan turn her face away, pouting and looking very displeased, a smile tugged at her lips.

This time, He Qingning’s carriage was very low-key. On the surface, only a few people accompanied her, while the others were disguised and blended into the crowd. After all, the Yun Province incident had served as a warning to many. It would be difficult to investigate some unsavory matters if they were as open as last time.

After finding lodgings, He Qingning instructed someone to purchase another carriage specifically for Madam Xu. As she spoke, she clearly felt Shen Wan’s gaze grow more jealous. Though Shen Wan maintained a stern expression, He Qingning could clearly see her displeasure.

“Doesn’t Madam Xu have skillful hands?” He Qingning said to Shen Wan once they were inside. “I hear her embroidery skills are outstanding.”

Shen Wan snorted coldly, “Yes, quite good.” She clenched her fist. Though she had no embroidery skills, she had her small fists with tremendous strength. She could rip through ten layers of cloth, scaring Madam Xu’s face pale, her soul nearly leaving her body.

“Don’t you own a fabric shop?”

Shen Wan raised an eyebrow slightly. “Yes, I do.”

“Since she’s homeless now, and she’s kind-hearted with excellent embroidery skills, I think such talent shouldn’t be wasted,” He Qingning said, noticing Shen Wan was still unhappy. Her voice suddenly lowered, “I kept her here to have her sent to your fabric shop. She can work there and teach embroidery techniques. How does that sound?”

“With her embroidery skills, the products will surely be popular among the women in the capital. The shop’s business will definitely improve. I can’t let you follow me without any benefits. We can’t miss out on such talent.” He Qingning’s tone suggested, ‘Don’t be angry anymore. This person is for you. Don’t you want to make money? She has the skills to earn silver.’

“Really?” Shen Wan’s eyes brightened. So Her Highness had kept Madam Xu not because her pitiful appearance evoked sympathy, but because of her outstanding embroidery skills. She wanted to send her to the fabric shop to make money for her.

Seeing Shen Wan’s renewed smile, He Qingning’s mood also improved considerably. “It’s true. I’ve already arranged for someone to send her back to the capital. I believe the shop’s business will soon improve.”

“Oh, so quickly?” Shen Wan was somewhat surprised, and at the same time, her heart was filled with joy, as if coated with honey. Ah, little princess, you’re truly adorable.

He Qingning nodded with a smile. If she hadn’t acted so quickly, Shen Wan’s little mouth would probably have been pouting enough to hang an oil lamp from it. She truly couldn’t bear to see her upset now.

“Your Highness, I’m going to walk the chicken,” Shen Wan said cheerfully, now that Madam Xu was no longer a threat.

He Qingning replied, “Let’s go together. The Little Hen seems to have gotten fatter recently. It should walk more.”

“That’s because Your Highness feeds it too much. It’s really stupid, eating whatever it’s given, not caring how fat it’s getting. If it gets any fatter, I might really want to stew it.”

In the courtyard, Shen Wan held the string as the Little Hen clucked and scratched at the ground, looking for bugs. Shen Wan was still muttering to He Qingning about not feeding it so much in the future. He Qingning nodded with a smile, indicating she understood.

The young guard stood to the side, silently watching this harmonious scene, feeling something was a bit off. This woman had even dragged their noble princess into her antics, and now they were walking a chicken together.

Their peaceful days didn’t last long, as Liang Wu soon came looking for them with his men.

Having learned from the previous experience, He Qingning had actually dispatched some people to Qing Province before leaving Yun Province, secretly investigating all affairs in Qing Province. By the time they arrived, the evidence had been mostly collected. She had recently reviewed all the matters involving the Qing Province prefect and the wealthiest man in Qing Province.

Now that Liang Wu had come barging in, it provided her with the perfect pretext to take action. With everything well-prepared, the Qing Province prefect and the wealthiest man in Qing Province were caught completely off guard. The two had colluded for years, oppressing Qing Province. Once all the evidence was gathered, He Qingning ordered their immediate execution on the spot, along with Liang Wu. In just three short days, the people of Qing Province suddenly felt as if the clouds had parted and the sun had emerged.

Events unfolded so rapidly that many hadn’t even had time to react. By the time news reached the imperial capital, He Qingning and Shen Wan had already left Qing Province. This time, the entire court truly understood that Princess Qingning wasn’t merely on a pleasure trip. They looked at the Emperor, smiling on his high seat, and suddenly realized with a start.

“This rain will likely last for three to five days,” He Qingning said, standing by the window of a small inn, looking out at the pouring rain.

Shen Wan, crouching nearby and playing with the Little Hen, replied, “Yes, it’s the rainy season now.”

Shen Wan put the Little Hen in its cage and walked to the window, also gazing at the heavy downpour outside.

Suddenly, she grabbed He Qingning and quickly moved her into the room. In that instant, an arrow flew through the window, embedding itself deep in the wall.

He Qingning’s heart rate quickened slightly. Shen Wan said, “Your Highness, I’m very capable. Don’t worry.”