Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Consideration

Princess Jinyu understood what he meant.

All these years, the Imperial Consort’s Husband had indeed been considerate to her in every way.

She also knew that this was because the Imperial Consort’s Husband felt guilty about his mistress and was more considerate and gentle to her to make amends and atone.

She had been angry, but now she knew there was no mistress, no children with other women, and all of this was for that former sweetheart of Shangguan Xue, the sweetheart who was now married, facing a life-or-death crisis, and for whom he could still risk his life to protect.

This was simply an insult to her.

Princess Jinyu’s hands clenched involuntarily on her lap.

Shangguan Yue’s voice came again.

“There’s a saying among the common people that when husband and wife are of one mind, their sharpness can cut through metal. It’s a good thing for a husband and wife to be in harmony, but this doesn’t apply to Aunt.”

Princess Jinyu looked at him.

“Aunt is a princess; Aunt alone, her sharpness can cut through metal.” Shangguan Yue said, picking up a jade roller from the side and handing it over. “Whether the Imperial Consort’s Husband and the Princess are in harmony or not is irrelevant.”

Princess Jinyu smiled, her clenched hands loosening as she took the jade roller.

“So it’s better to let the Imperial Consort’s Husband pretend that the Princess doesn’t know.” Shangguan Yue continued, also smiling. “It’s been like this for so many years, so as not to suddenly change and arouse others’ curiosity and investigation.”

Princess Jinyu leaned back on the folding stool, gently rolling the jade roller on her face to soothe the skin that was flushed from her earlier crying and emotional agitation.

Of course, she knew that Shangguan Yue was flattering her.

She also knew that Shangguan Yue had abandoned the Imperial Consort’s Husband.

Originally, the Imperial Consort’s Husband and Shangguan Yue were both acting, but now only the Imperial Consort’s Husband was left to perform a one-man show.

The child whom the Imperial Consort’s Husband had risked his life to save and protect for so many years had abandoned him.

Because the Imperial Consort’s Husband could only keep him hidden, and if he wanted to regain his identity and become a high-ranking member of the royal family, only she, the Princess, could do it.

She was his greatest support.

What would Shangguan Xue’s face look like when his identity was revealed and she stood behind Shangguan Yue, showing that she had known all along?

Princess Jinyu smiled, looking at Shangguan Yue’s familiar face.

This child was born to Third Miss Du, but his blood flowed from someone else.

Shangguan Xue, your heartfelt devotion can only be in vain.

“Alright.” She nodded, reaching out to caress Shangguan Yue’s face. “To Aunt, you are a treasure regained after being lost. You’ve suffered in the past, from now on, Aunt will listen to you.”

Shangguan Yue nodded vigorously.

✿✿✿

…….

The chaotic sound of horses’ hooves stopped outside the Princess’ Residence.

Before the horse came to a complete stop, Shangguan Xue jumped down from its back, his figure stumbling. Fortunately, the attendants beside him were quick-eyed and steady-handed, catching him.

As he was about to rush into the residence, a voice came from the corner of the wall on the left.

“Imperial Consort’s Husband, over here.”

Shangguan Xue followed the sound, seeing a figure beckoning in the darkness of the wall, away from the lights.

Shangguan Xue hurried over and saw Shangguan Yue, wrapped in a cloak, standing up from the ground.

Shangguan Xue didn’t have time to speak, pulling him a few steps further into the darkness. The attendants behind them, alert and vigilant, surrounded the two.

“What are you doing here!” Shangguan Xue whispered in reprimand. “Don’t you understand her ruthlessness?”

Shangguan Yue looked at him. Shangguan Xue was wearing the attendants’ cloaks, not the one he usually wore, showing that he had come in a hurry.

Shangguan Xue had been in the Princess’ Residence for so many years, he must have his own informants. Shangguan Yue’s entry into the residence was immediately reported to him.

“I acted impulsively.” Shangguan Yue said with a smile, reaching out to fasten Shangguan Xue’s loosened cloak. “I calmed down after I arrived and didn’t go in.”

Shangguan Xue breathed a sigh of relief and asked again, “You really didn’t go in?”

It was the Princess’ Residence after all. Even if Shangguan Xue had informants, they were ultimately under the Princess’ control, only letting him know what he was allowed to know. Shangguan Yue looked at his concerned eyes and smiled, nodding, “No.”

Shangguan Xue was completely relieved, patting Shangguan Yue’s hand, then frowning, “So cold. Go back once you’ve thought it through. What are you doing squatting here? You’re not fully recovered yet.”

After hearing him finish, Shangguan Yue smiled and said, “Since I’m already here, I wanted to see the Imperial Consort’s Husband.”

Shangguan Xue was both angry and amused, and a little heartbroken. This was the second death threat he had experienced, and he was only eighteen this year.

“Alright.” He patted Shangguan Yue’s shoulder. “You go back quickly, don’t think about anything, I’m here.”

An attendant came over and whispered, “The Princess knows the Imperial Consort’s Husband is back.”

Shangguan Xue didn’t stay any longer, waving to Shangguan Yue, “I’ll go in first.” He then assigned a few attendants, “You guys escort him back.”

The attendants responded with a “Yes.” Shangguan Yue didn’t say anything more, bowing to Shangguan Xue and watching him enter the Princess’ Residence, surrounded by attendants.

The opened gate closed, leaving only flickering lights in front of it.

Shangguan Yue stood still in the darkness.

“Young Master…” An attendant, puzzled, whispered a reminder.

Shangguan Yue looked at the gate of the Princess’ Residence and smiled. How nice it would be if he were really the Imperial Consort’s Husband’s son.

But he wasn’t.

He was a heartless and ruthless member of the royal family.

He had advised Shangguan Xue to wait, not to reveal his true identity to the Emperor. In fact, he did need to wait, but not by the Imperial Consort’s Husband’s side anymore.

✿✿✿

Compared to the Emperor, the Princess was his greatest opportunity.

He lowered his gaze.

“Let’s go.”

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

After the first snowfall, the weather became colder and colder.

Zhuang Li sat at her desk, Chun Yue tucking a foot warmer under it.

“Young Madam, don’t write for too long.” She reminded.

Zhuang Li said she understood.

Chun Hong and Chun Xiang, who were tidying the bookshelf, giggled.

Chun Yue scolded them, “Young Madam is going to write.”

The two, Chun Hong and Chun Xiang, came over laughing.

“Young Madam, you really kept this?” Chun Hong held a box in her hand, with a lotus root inside.

Chun Yue was stunned for a moment, then remembered. When Young Madam was making dried flowers from lotus buds, Chun Hong jokingly asked if lotus root could be made into an ornament. Young Madam said yes, and Chun Hong really dug up a piece of lotus root, which the gardener then washed and sent over.

However, because of Xueliu’s accusation in the palace and the Empress’s investigation into the silk flowers, the lotus root was forgotten.

She didn’t expect Young Madam to actually make the lotus root into an ornament.

“It’s been drying in the box.” Zhuang Li said, glancing at it and nodding. “It’s ready now.”

Chun Xiang asked curiously, “It really became…um…a lotus root that won’t go bad?”

Flowers could be made into dried flowers, what should a lotus root be called? Dried lotus root?

It didn’t sound good either.

Zhuang Li smiled and asked, “Does it look good?”

Chun Hong said with a smile, “Whether it looks good or not, this servant can’t say, but it looks delicious.”

Chun Xiang laughed out loud.

Chun Yue couldn’t help but smile, glaring at Chun Hong before looking at the lotus root in the box.

Although she was a senior maid who didn’t do any manual labor, she wasn’t completely ignorant of grains. She had seen fresh lotus roots when she went to the kitchen, and they weren’t considered good-looking. But this lotus root that Young Madam had treated…

At that time, the lotus root wasn’t fully grown yet, delicate and small, with a head and a tail, a total of two short sections.

The mud was washed clean, and she didn’t know how Young Madam had smoked it, but the grayish-white skin had a layer of fluorescence, making it look both dry and bright.

And, she didn’t know if it was because of the way it was lying horizontally, but she inexplicably felt it was somewhat alluring.

How could a lotus root be associated with allure?

“Young Madam, do you want to display it?” Chun Xiang asked.

Zhuang Li said, “Sure, put it on the bookshelf.”

Chun Hong ran out with the box, “I’ll go find a nice plate.”

Chun Xiang followed behind, giggling.

Zhou Jingyun walked in, and the two maids almost bumped into him, hurriedly apologizing while holding the box.

Zhou Jingyun didn’t mind the maids’ lack of decorum, asking, “I heard you laughing from afar, what’s so funny?”

Chun Hong was no longer afraid of the Marquis’ Heir, raising the box to show him, “Young Madam made it, dried lotus root.”

Dried lotus root?

Zhou Jingyun looked at the box with some surprise.

“It doesn’t look good like this, go find a plate quickly.” Zhuang Li said with a smile.

Chun Hong and Chun Xiang bowed to Zhou Jingyun and ran out with the box.

Zhuang Li asked, “Why are you back so early today?”

Zhou Jingyun took off his cloak, and Chun Yue took it and hung it on the coat rack.

“The day after tomorrow is the Winter Solstice ceremony. We’ll depart from the Imperial City tomorrow, first to the Temple of the Holy Ancestor, then to the ancestral temple for the sacrifice, and finally stay at the Western Mountain Traveling Palace. It will take three days to go back and forth, so I was allowed to come back and prepare after the court session.” Zhou Jingyun said.

Zhuang Li hurriedly got up and asked, “What do we need to prepare?”

She was a new wife and it was her first time encountering such a thing.

Zhou Jingyun smiled and said, “You don’t have to worry, Mother has prepared everything.”

After all, the Marquis of Dongyang would also go, and the Marchioness of Dongyang was used to handling these matters.

But Zhuang Li insisted, “Then I’ll go to Mother and learn. I can’t always trouble Mother to worry about you.”

Will she be the one to prepare everything for him in the future? Zhou Jingyun hesitated for a moment, then said with a smile, “Alright.”