NOVEL WEB Chapter 190 - Left in Anger Again
Chapter 190: Left in Anger Again
The Second Mistress knelt on the ground to gather all the broken pieces of porcelain from the shattered teacup. Her body was shaking in anger, and her lips were entirely purple.
After Su Wenqian divorced her, the 200 taels of silver he had given to her were plundered away by her two sons. Subsequently, Su Wenqian did not give her any more money, and she was chased away by the innkeeper of the guest house and left to wander the streets. She could only swallow her pride and return to the Su Manor.
Su Wenqian had already sold their residence to repay the Su brothers’ debts. Instead, they rented a commoner’s estate, which provided them with a refuge from the wind and the rain at the very least.
Her daughter was also sorely disappointing. She had a child with a mountain dweller and ardently refused to return to the mountains. That mountain dweller would knock on their doors every few days and create a racket that destroyed any semblance of peace in the house.
Just as their household was in utter chaos, who would have guessed that the Eldest Mistress would suddenly return after living outside for a few months? Unexpectedly, she had brought back the mountain bandit who had posed as her daughter, declaring that she was the Eldest Miss of the Su Family.
There was solid evidence, as well as a living witness. She said that it was Ji Yuxian who investigated the truth, and the clothes she was wearing when she was rescued from the waters back then, as well as other small details, matched perfectly.
The moment Su Jiu returned, the first thing she did was to buy back their previous Su Manor. Overwhelmed with delight, Su Wenqian did not even request for the evidence to be presented before directly accepting Su Jiu as his daughter.
Su Wenqian immediately took a liking to Su Jiu, but at the same time, he felt remorseful and wistful.
This was not an act — a long time ago, he genuinely liked Yuejiu. Later on, when the Second Mistress informed him that there was a shipwreck and that Yuejiu had drowned in the middle of the lake, he was distraught for some time.
That day at the Ji Manor, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with that girl, but he no longer had a chance to meet Su Jiu again. Due to the problems in the manor, he eventually forgot about her.
When he heard the Eldest Mistress recount Su Jiu’s experiences over the past few years, he was rueful, tears falling from his eyes incessantly.
He never expected that his daughter would be so capable right now! She had opened a bodyguard agency, started a trading company, and her business had already spread to Fuyang. She was several hundred times better than his sons!
The Su Family’s residence had been bought back, and naturally, Su Wenqian wanted to reunite with the Second Mistress. However, Su Jiu declared that the Second Mistress had already received a divorce notice, and was no longer part of the Su Family. She would thus not return to the Su Manor.
Su Wenqian hastily pleaded for leniency on behalf of the Second Mistress. In the end, Su Jiu reluctantly agreed, on the condition that the Second Mistress would return to the Su Manor as a servant.
The Second Mistress could only agree to this helplessly. At the very least, she would not starve and freeze if she returned to the Su Family, and would have a safe place to reside in.
She initially assumed that she would still possess some sort of authority in the Su Family, and even if she returned as a servant, no one would dare to order her around. She never expected that Su Jiu would beat and scold her, treating her as a servant of the lowest rank.
Now, she finally understood why Su Jiu would agree to her return. It was undoubtedly to take her revenge and humiliate her!
Did Su Jiu already figure out what happened that year?
Impossible!
At that time, she was still very young, and it was impossible for her to remember what happened. If she did remember, she would have returned a long time ago.
After all, Mrs. Qin was already dead, and the dead could not speak. It would be fine as long as she kept her mouth sealed!
“Second Mistress?” The maidservant beside her noticed that she was in a trance and hurriedly asked after her.
“Qiao’er, help me call the Old Master here!” Madame Lin whispered.
The maidservant was put in a tough spot. “…The Eldest Miss does not permit this servant to help the Second Mistress.”
Madame Lin glared piercingly at her and chided hatefully, “I didn’t ask you to help me clean up the room! Are you telling me that you can’t even help me call the Old Master over?!”
Frightened out of her wits, the little maidservant turned around and scampered off.
After a short while, Madame Lin, who was still kneeling on the ground to pick up the shattered pottery, heard footsteps approach. A glint flashed past her eyes, and she forcefully gripped a shard of porcelain in her hand. In an instant, drops of blood oozed out of her hand.
The moment Su Wenqian stepped in, he noticed what had happened and immediately supported Madame Lin up. He looked at the gash on her palm and asked, “What happened here?”
Madame Lin hastily retracted her hand and plastered a dejected expression on her face. “Yuejiu disliked the hot tea brewed by this concubine and shoved it over. This concubine didn’t get a good grip on it, and the cup shattered onto the ground. Yuejiu then ordered this concubine to clean it up.”
Su Wenqian furrowed his brows and ordered Qiao’er to retrieve some topical medication. He sighed and said, “You should just tolerate it! Things are no longer the same as the past. Now, our lodging and food, and even the wages of our servants are provided for by Yuejiu. If it wasn’t for her, we would have starved or left out in the cold by now. Moreover, the matter that happened many years back was indeed your fault, so just treat it like you’re making amends for your sins!”
Madame Lin’s tears fell in an instant. “Many years back, didn’t this concubine do it for the sake of the Su Family? Furthermore, she merely claimed to be Yuejiu, and you just readily believed her words. What if she was in cahoots with Ji Yuxian to trick you and the Eldest Mistress?”
Su Wenqian’s brows tightened and he shook his head, refuting, “Impossible! What advantage does he get from deceiving the Su Family?”
“Old Master, just take a look. She does not behave with a single strand of nobility. Di’er told me that she even spent 100,000 taels of silver at the newly opened Qing Brothel just for one girl, and she spent the whole day having illicit relations with the girls at Qing Brothel. With a daughter like her, aren’t you afraid of being jibed at?” Madame Lin revealed her opinions.
“Di’er went to a brothel again?” Su Wenqian’s expression became cold. “Hasn’t he brought enough harm to his family? He has zero sense of shame, and neither has he repented! He even badmouthed Yuejiu in front of you! If he has the guts, tell him not to spend the family’s money!
Madame Lin immediately shut her mouth, knowing that she had spoken out of place.
At this moment, a servant suddenly came in to report, “Old Master, Eldest Young Master Ji is here!”
Stunned, Su Wenqian personally went out to welcome him. On the way out, he instructed Madame Lin, “Return to the room first. We’ll talk about this later!”
Madame Lin’s face was overflowing with resentment as she stormed off in anger.
After welcoming Ji Yuxian into the reception room, Su Wenqian smiled politely and said, “Eldest Young Master Ji has graced my humble abode. May I know why you have visited?”
“I’m here to fetch my wife!” Ji Yuxian sat on the chair, his posture elegant and noble as he said with a faint smile.
“Wife?” Su Wenqian exclaimed in shock.
“Yes, don’t the Ji Family and the Su Family have a marriage arrangement? The Eldest Miss here is this Master’s wife, and we’ve already gone through the wedding rites together,” Ji Yuxian said without a hitch.
Su Wenqian realized that Ji Yuxian had decided to honor the marriage arrangement between their families, and his eyes instantly lit up. He did not dare to bring up their previous agreement to separate and hastily nodded his head to agree.
“Then, where is my wife?” Ji Yuxian asked.
“Yuejiu? This old man will immediately send someone to summon Yuejiu over!” Su Wenqian could barely suppress his emotions as he hurriedly ordered his subordinates to invite the Eldest Miss to the reception area.
After leaving the reception area, Su Jiu had entered the Eldest Mistress’ room and was in the middle of practicing her calligraphy with her.
The Eldest Mistress stared at her with overflowing love and affection. “Whenever you’re free, come and practice calligraphy in my room with me. Don’t go out and mess around!”
Su Jiu’s lips hooked into a smile as she asked, “Did Su Wenqian say something to you?”
“Are you telling me that what he said was untrue?” The Eldest Mistress glanced at her teasingly.
Su Jiu shrugged her shoulders and refused to comment further.
The Eldest Mistress poured out a cup of tea for Su Jiu, and when she saw her calligraphy, she asked, “It looks quite different from your handwriting when you were young. Who taught you?”
“Ji Yuxian,” Su Jiu casually answered.
When the Eldest Mistress heard this, her eyes flashed. She remarked, “From what I see, the Eldest Master has sincerely put you in his heart. He is a good and worthy man, what do you think?”
She was afraid that her daughter would choose to walk the same path as her. She had loved someone she should not have and married someone she did not love. It was a lonely life.
“I have no thoughts,” Su Jiu answered perfunctorily.
“Jiu’er!” The Eldest Madame took over the brush in her hands. She spoke seriously, “It doesn’t matter whether you are Su Jiu or Su Yuejiu. You have been arranged to marry the Eldest Master, and you are his wife!”
Su Jiu smiled, unbothered. “Doesn’t Mother already know that the Su Family and the Ji Family have already cut off ties and that the arrangement has been dissolved?”
“But I can tell that the Eldest Master still likes you!” the Eldest Mistress insisted with certainty.
During that one month on the mountain, she had seen Ji Yuxian’s love and care towards Su Jiu very clearly.
“I know!” Su Jiu took a deep breath and gazed out of the window.
“Then what about you? Do you still like the Crown Prince?”
“Xiao Lie?” Su Jiu sneered, “Don’t worry, I have already figured things out over the past few months. I have never held any romantic affections for him. In the beginning, we got together because he told me that he liked me, and I was simply moved. Now, he has already gone back on the words he once told me. How could I put such laughable feelings to heart?”
“Then why don’t you accept the Eldest Master?” The Eldest Mistress frowned.
Su Jiu remained silent for a while. She turned her body around and continued writing while saying nonchalantly, “Aren’t things great the way they are now? A person doesn’t need love to live. Without it, life is so much more carefree. There’s no need to worry that someone would betray you one day, and there’s no need to care about whether he may like another girl.”
She was not the kind of girl who needed to rely on her biological family before marriage, and her husband’s family after marriage. Even if she was alone, she could provide adequately for herself, and live comfortably.
The Eldest Mistress shook her head with a sigh. “Your mother hopes that there would be someone to take care of you. At least, once your mother is old and no longer around, there’ll be someone to accompany you!”
Su Jiu looked back with a smile. “Mother should just stay by my side!”
The Eldest Madame gently stroked her black hair. “Of course, I will!”
Knock! Knock! Someone rapped on the door a few times, and Peach’s voice was heard from outside. “Eldest Miss, the Old Master has sent someone to invite you to the reception room.”
“Got it!” Su Jiu acknowledged, before placing the brush back on the rack. She casually draped a cloak over the Eldest Mistress and said with a smile, “It’s autumn, and the weather is cold. You should take care of your health, Mother!”
“Alright, you should head over!” The Eldest Mistress smiled warmly.
Su Jiu stepped out of the door and noticed that Peach was still standing outside. She casually pinched her cheeks and looked at her pink dress with a subtle smile. “Peach, you’re becoming more and more beautiful!”
She was still wearing a man’s robe, and her hair had been gathered into a bun. With a jade belt wrapped around her waist, she carried the aura of a nobleman. Even though Peach knew that she was their Eldest Miss, her teasing still caused her to blush. “Miss should hurry and head over. Don’t treat this servant as your plaything!” She grinned in annoyance.
Su Jiu’s lips curled into an evil smile as she turned around to leave.
Was Su Wenqian looking for her?
Was it because she had punished his beloved Second Mistress?
She wanted to have a good look and see how he was going to come to the Second Mistress’s aid.
Su Jiu sauntered towards the reception room, but when she saw that black and red silhouette, her footsteps instantly slowed as she walked in, step by step.
From the moment she appeared, Ji Yuxian’s eyes trailed behind her. The initial anger and resentment in his heart slowly turned into bitter longing. His original intention to spank her butt completely vanished in the blink of an eye.
Su Jiu remained unfazed as she sat on the chair opposite him. She smiled, saying, “Is the Eldest Master discontented with the present I have gifted you? Why would you have time to abandon the beauty and come here?”
Su Wenqian noticed the man’s robe on her body, as well as her languid posture. Fearing that Ji Yuxian would lose interest in her, awkwardness flashed past his face as he coughed softly, “Yuejiu, the Eldest Master came here especially to see you!”
Su Jiu raised a brow as she looked at Ji Yuxian.
He had not seen her for a few months, and it was as though the girl had leaped straight out of his late-night dreams. The man’s gaze was deep as he stared longingly at her face. “Just now, I have already told my father-in-law the reason for my visit. I am here to fetch my wife back to the manor.”
Su Jiu raised a brow and peered at Su Wenqian. She asked suspiciously, “Hasn’t the marriage arrangement between the Su Family and the Ji Manor been dissolved?”
Su Wenqian smiled awkwardly without saying a word.
Ji Yuxian fished out the divorce document and opened it for Su Jiu to see. “Is my wife talking about this? Your husband has not signed it, so it’s not counted. The government’s office has a clear record, which states that the Eldest Young Master Ji Yuxian’s wife is Su Yuejiu!”
Su Jiu glanced at the divorce document and said dryly, “Since the divorce the previous time wasn’t successful, we can get divorced again!”
Ji Yuxian’s complexion immediately became ashen, and his beautiful eyes stared gloomily at her. “Then, can your husband know the reason why my wife wants to get divorced?”
Su Wenqian panicked even more as he mumbled, “Ah! Yes! Yuejiu, divorce is not a small matter! You need to consider this carefully, you can’t just make a casual decision!”
Su Jiu held a cup of tea in her hands without saying a word.
Ji Yuxian spoke to Su Wenqian, “I must trouble my father-in-law to leave us for a moment. I have a few words I want to say to my wife privately.”
Su Wenqian immediately stood up and smiled, saying, “Alright, you guys take your time to chat. This kid Yuejiu has always been obstinate since she was young! Eldest Master, please pardon her.”
“Yes, I understand my own wife’s temper!” Ji Yuxian smiled dryly.
“Yuejiu, have a good chat with the Eldest Master!” Su Wenqian said, almost pleadingly, before turning out to leave. On the way out, he brought along all the servants with him, before shutting the door.
Only the two of them were left in the room. Ji Yuxian sat opposite, his long eyes shrouded in fog as he stared at her stoically.
Su Jiu looked over with a smile. “If the Eldest Master continues to tarry, the sky will get dark. The night was bought for 100,000 taels of silver, so don’t waste it!”
Ji Yuxian’s complexion became ash-grey; he stood up and walked over, before tugging the girl’s hand and pulling her into his arms. The worries that weighed on his heart instantly dissolved without a trace the moment he touched her.
An inexplicable sigh escaped from his thin lips, and his voice was as warm and doting as it was before. “Are you done throwing your tantrum? I haven’t even settled the debt of you running away from home, and now you dare to shove women into your husband’s arms. Are you that certain I won’t dare to attack you?”
The familiar scent of lotus wafted from the man’s body. Su Jiu took a deep whiff and said slowly, “Ji Yuxian, I am not suited to be Young Mistress Ji!”
“Whether you are suitable for it or not, it’s my call to make!” The man shifted his head and kissed her tender earlobes. He asked in a whisper, “Back when you were the Young Mistress of the Ji Manor, weren’t you happy? You said that you liked being with me.”
The man’s lips induced a wave of shivers. Su Jiu’s chest started to tingle, and she was about to melt into the man’s embrace. She hurriedly moved her head to the side and dodged him. “…But I’m even happier now.”
“Where’s that happiness then?” Ji Yuxian propped up her chin, not allowing her to evade. He bent over and seized the corner of her lips. “Messing around with the girls at the brothel, that must be your happiness, huh?”
“Those girls are gentle and considerate, and they do what I tell them to do. Naturally, they make this master happy!”
Ji Yuxian forcefully bit her ear lobe and said hatefully, “Master? You think of yourself as a man now. If you dare to continue messing around, I will directly kill those women!”
Su Jiu used both hands to push him away, before turning around. “Ji Yuxian, don’t force me!”
“If I don’t force you, then people will bully you like the previous time!” Ji Yuxian gave her a back hug as he sneered.
It had been almost three months since they last met. The man could not control his impulse to get close to her. After all, she was his legitimate wife, and they had embraced and kissed each other before.
However, when Su Jiu heard his words, her face paled, and the atmosphere instantly turned frigid.
Ji Yuxian realized that he had touched on her sore spot. He rested his chin on her shoulder, and his voice warmed up considerably. “Are you still unable to let him go? How much time do you need? I’ve already married a wife, but I’m still reduced to sleeping alone in an empty room. Wife, don’t you empathize with your husband?”
Su Jiu raised her brows. “Which is why I spent 100,000 taels to gift you a beauty! Isn’t that being considerate enough?”
“You still dare to bring that up!” Ji Yuxian abruptly spun the girl around. He did not give her a chance to reject as he lowered his head to plant a kiss on her lips.
Su Jiu struggled for a short while, but her body could not help but buckle. On the contrary, the hand on his chest that was meant to push him away appeared to tighten its grip on the man instead. From the beginning up till now, she could never bring herself to reject his advances.
Was it because the man was too handsome, and was it because his kisses soothed her nerves?
Su Jiu’s mind began to wander. Having noticed her lack of attentiveness, the man fiercely bit down on her tongue.
Su Jiu glared at him in pain and did not hesitate to bite him back. However, she ended up getting deeply entangled with the man, unable to commence her offense. Alas, she could only retreat in utter defeat.
The sky gradually dimmed, and with Su Wenqian’s order, no one dared to approach the reception room. Inside the quiet room, only the wet sounds of smooching could be heard.
After an unknown period, Su Jiu stopped and leaned powerlessly against the man’s body. Ripples of spring water could be seen in her lucent eyes as she breathed raggedly.
Ji Yuxian used one hand to wrap around her waist, as searing hot kisses landed continuously on her brows and eyes. He asked in a low and husky voice, “You obviously like being intimate with me, so how long are you planning to flee for?”
Su Jiu’s hands gripped firmly on his shoulders as she bit her lips without a word.
“Come, follow your husband home!” Ji Yuxian bit her fair earlobe as he coaxed softly.
The ripples of water in Su Jiu’s eyes soon settled. She pushed the man away once again and rubbed her red and swollen lips. Her expression was charming, but her tone was monotonous.
“I’ve already said that I’m not returning. If you continue to force me, I won’t see you again!”
The warmth in Ji Yuxian’s eyes dissipated, and he stared at her in frustration and hatred. “Su Yuejiu, you want to destroy me, am I right?”
Su Jiu shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. “The Eldest Master voluntarily wants to destroy himself over me. What can I do?”
The corner of Ji Yuxian’s lips hooked into a self-deprecating sneer. “Alright, I was the one who willingly got depraved on my own, and ended up loving a girl with no conscience. I will head back to the Qing Brothel right now and dote on that girl my wife has chosen for me. You never know, maybe after a night of loving, I’ll forget about you tomorrow!”
After the man spoke, he turned and walked away decisively and indifferently.
Su Jiu furrowed her brows, her eyes fixed coldly on the man’s departing silhouette.
Su Wenqian walked in and asked urgently, “What happened to the Eldest Master?”
Su Jiu’s face was full of displeasure. She flicked her sleeves to leave, without answering.
At night, as midnight approached, the Eldest Mistress got out of bed and realized that the candlelight in Su Jiu’s room was still glowing. She knocked on the door and entered, only to find Su Jiu sitting on the couch and reading a book.
“It’s so late, why aren’t you sleeping yet?” The Eldest Mistress walked over and plucked out the book from Su Jiu’s hand, before placing it by the side. “It’s very late! Don’t read anymore, it’s not good for your eyes.”
Su Jiu extended her arms and hugged the Eldest Mistress. She buried her head into her arms as she said with melancholy, “Mother, I can’t sleep.”
“The Eldest Master came by today, and I heard he left in anger. Did you say something to provoke and infuriate him?” The Eldest Mistress stroked her black hair as she asked gently.
“I… I asked him to go find other women!” Su Jiu whispered.
The Eldest Mistress frowned with a sigh. “If you keep this up, you’ll make him sad. There will come a day when he finally stops liking you!”
Su Jiu sniffled and said faintly, “But… I can’t return to the Ji Manor now.”
“Why?”
Su Jiu shook her head without replying.
“In the past, you’ve suffered so much. Your mother only hopes that you’ll live comfortably. I know that you have your ideas, and your mother can’t force you to do anything. But your health is still the most important right now. Get some sleep, and don’t let your mind wander!”
Su Jiu nodded her head. “Mother, you should go to sleep too. I will sleep soon!”
“Alright!” The Eldest Mistress patted her on the shoulder, before turning to leave through the door.
Su Jiu lay on the bed, tossing and turning. When she heard the sound of the drums that signified that it was midnight, she got up abruptly.
Su Jiu nibbled her lips and put on her clothes, before leaving the room without making a sound. She then leaped forward and melded into the darkness.
At this hour, the only places that were still open to receive customers were the brothels and pleasure houses.
Now that midnight had passed, the Qing Brothel had also quieted down. Once she walked in, there were only a handful of guests clinging to the women as they drank. The voices of the ladies who were singing already showed traces of fatigue and lethargy.
Su Jiu walked up directly to the third floor. Along the corridor, blush-inducing moans could be heard from behind the tightly-shut doors on both sides. Su Jiu’s face paled slightly, and she quickened her footsteps.
Once she reached a particular door on the third floor, Su Jiu bit her lips and kicked open the door.
Inside, a man and a woman sat by a table. The woman was reclined on a wooden chair and was on the verge of falling asleep. The man, on the other hand, was taking swigs of wine alone.
The thick scent of wine permeated the air. It was clear that the man sitting there had already been drinking for a long time.
When he heard the door breaking open, the man slowly turned his head. His pair of black pupils stared silently at her as he said in a low voice, “You’re finally here!”
After Su Jiu overcame that wave of shock, she turned around to leave.
“Ah Jiu!”
The man swiftly stood up and swooped over to grab Su Jiu’s wrist. “Ah Jiu, even if you want to sentence me to death, shouldn’t you give me a chance to explain myself?”
Su Jiu struggled out of the man’s grasp and replied with a smile, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince must be joking. How can a lowly commoner like me be daring enough to sentence Your Highness to death?”
“Ah Jiu!” Xiao Lie grabbed Su Jiu’s wrist once again. He turned his head and said coldly to the girl behind him, “You, leave first!”
Qian Qiu had already woken up. When she saw the two of them, she dismissed herself quietly, before closing the door behind her.
Not waiting for Su Jiu to avoid him again, the man spoke bluntly this time, “Back then, Xiao Jing used poison to control my father, the Emperor. I was pressed for time, and I had no other choice but to marry Princess Yu Long to pull over the forces of the Lord Yun Nan Manor. Otherwise, my father’s life would have been endangered. At the very start, I already discussed matters with Princess Yu Long. After the issue is solved, we would divorce, and I would no longer share a spousal relationship with her. I have always been waiting for you!”
“Xiao Lie!” Su Jiu turned around. She brushed off his hand and looked calmly at him. “You don’t have to divorce Princess Yu Long, and I also will not be able to be together with you. Only the two of you are the most suitable for each other. Considering our respective statuses, we should not even have had any associations with one another.”
“No!” Xiao Lie’s black pupils were wrought with intense pain. “We did not get along very well, and she does not have a place in my heart at all!”
Su Jiu took a step back. “Xiao Lie, we can’t go back to how we were before. From the day you married Yu Long onwards, it was already impossible for us to go back!”
“But my marriage to Yu Long is fake! Only my feelings for you are sincere!”
Su Jiu laughed out loud. “Fake? I saw you marry her and welcome her into your manor with my own eyes. Both of you have already been through the wedding rites, so how can it be fake?”
“You and Ji Yuxian have also gone through wedding rites, but why didn’t I mind? Or are you saying that the person you like is still him, and leaving me is just a relief to you?” The man’s handsome eyes were gloomy.
Su Jiu’s eyes brushed frostily over him as she chuckled. “The Crown Princess Consort in His Highness’s manor is still Yu Long. May I ask what qualifications you have to say such words to me?”
Xiao Lie’s complexion instantly became ghastly pale.
Su Jiu harrumphed coldly and turned out to leave. As she slowly descended the stairs, an unspeakable sense of satisfaction arose in her heart. She left the Qing Brothel and went back to sleep!
Three days later, it was the annual Mid-Autumn Festival. The Empress Dowager’s health had not been good recently, and she no longer attended palace banquets at night. As such, several court ladies, as well as the wives of some court officials, entered the palace early in the morning to pay their respects to her.
Nangong Bi was bestowed the title of a princess, and she also became the wife of a third-ranked general. Naturally, she could no longer be as lazy as before and had to follow her mother into the palace.
Inside the Fushou Palace, the courtyard was filled with women dressed to the nines standing around. They were clustered together in groups, chatting and laughing away.
The most distinguished and eye-catching was the Crown Princess Consort’s group. She was surrounded by a circle of noblewomen, each flattering her with the utmost respect.
Nangong Bi coldly glowered at her, before sitting down along the corridor with her mother to rest.
That day, the Empress Dowager had gotten out of bed later than usual and was still in the middle of having breakfast. Her lady-in-charge came out to ask the crowd to wait for a short while.
Everyone naturally accepted this humbly, not daring to disturb the Empress Dowager’s mealtime.
Yu Long caught sight of Nangong Bi and took the initiative to walk over. She smiled while asking, “When did Madame Nangong and Madame Hu arrive?”
Just as Madame Nangong was about to stand up, she was held back by Nangong Bi, who sneered, “Does it matter when we arrived? Is the Crown Princess Consort blaming us for not going over to pay our respects to you on our own accord?”
Yu Long’s brows knitted, but she flashed a faint smile. “Madame Hu, you’re speaking too seriously. After this consort entered the capital, this consort had the privilege of forming meaningful friendships. This consort only wanted to nurture a good relationship with you, Madame Hu!”
Nangong Bi looked up at her, her lips hooking into a mocking smile. She said in a crisp voice, “I don’t dare get close to the Crown Princess Consort, in fear that I would be betrayed one day. I don’t have the same luck as Su Jiu to stay alive!”
Yu Long’s complexion instantly paled. She stared stoically at the clever and eloquent girl.
Madame Nangong frowned at Nangong Bi, sending her a signal with her eyes. She stood up and smiled. “My daughter never thinks before she speaks, and she unintentionally offended you, Crown Princess Consort. I implore you not to hold a grudge!”
Yu Long smiled wryly. “Yes!”
With a slight nod of her head, Yu Long flicked her sleeves and turned around to leave.
After taking two steps, Yu Long looked back. Her face still carried the same dignified smile as before as she said, “I heard Su Jiu has already returned. Since Madame Hu is so close to her, you must have already known!”
Nangong Bi froze. She indeed did not know that Su Jiu had already returned to the capital. She disappeared for three months and didn’t even tell her when she had returned.
Hu Dapao as well; he must have known and hidden it from her!
Despite feeling upset, Nangong Bi still lifted her head and displayed a pretty smile. “The Crown Princess Consort does not need to incite disharmony between us. No matter how my relationship with Su Jiu is, it will not come to a point where we would flatter each other openly but stab each other in the back!”
A cold glint flashed past Yu Long’s eyes. She threw her an indifferent glance, before turning around to walk away!
Madame Nangong gaped at her daughter and muttered in a low voice, “Yu Long is still the Crown Princess Consort, and in the future, she will be the Empress. She initiated a conversation with us! How can you be so impolite and forget your manners, Bi’er?!”
Nangong Bi harrumphed dismissively, “Manners? Why do I need manners to speak to someone as despicable as her?”
Madame Nangong shook her head. “No matter what, you shouldn’t speak without giving yourself some leeway to retreat, Bi’er. If the Crown Princess Consort holds a grudge against you, she will undoubtedly take her revenge in the future.”
“I’m not scared of her!” Nangong Bi hissed angrily.
Madame Nangong understood her daughter’s temper and rebuked her, “You are already someone’s wife, you can’t be as headstrong as before and make a fuss. Even if you don’t make considerations for yourself, you need to think on behalf of Dapao. Now, your every word and deed will implicate him, do you understand?”
Only when Hu Dapao was mentioned did Nangong Bi finally calm down. She tugged Madame Nangong’s arm and shook it coquettishly. “Your daughter understands. At most, I’ll hide when I see the Crown Princess Consort and scold her behind her back!”
Madame Nangong helplessly nodded her head, chuckling. “Ah, you’re still like a child!”
After close to half an hour, the lady in charge of attending to Empress Dowager Xiao finally came out and arranged the audience in sequence.
Among these people, the person with the highest rank was naturally the Empress, followed by the Crown Princess Consort. The two of them stepped into the hall one after the other to offer their mid-autumn greetings.
Empress Dowager Xiao sat on the wide couch engraved with golden phoenixes, wearing an auspicious palace robe embroidered with a gold hibiscus. When she saw Yu Long, she was extremely jubilant. “This child is very beautiful, and her temperament is good as well. She and Lie’er are a match made in heaven.”
The Empress stood at the side, expressionless.
Ever since Xiao Lie was named the Crown Prince, the Empress’s complexion had become uglier day by day. She even found an excuse to avoid coming to Empress Dowager Xiao’s palace to pay her respects every day.
“Many thanks to Royal Grandmother for her praise!” Yu Long wore a lilac-colored satin palace dress embroidered with gold butterflies, clouds, and flowers. She appeared elegant and fresh, complementing her original charisma with warmth. She was dignified and beautiful, while her posture was imposing.
Imperial Concubine Rong’s eyes were radiant as she smiled, saying, “If the Empress Dowager likes Yu Long, you can summon her into the palace more often to accompany you!”
“Good, good!” The Empress Dowager enjoyed liveliness in her palace, and when she saw Yu Long, she took a liking to her and gave her a happy and faint smile.
After the few of them chatted for a while, the other noble ladies also stepped into the hall to offer their well-wishes one by one. Empress Dowager Xiao accepted each of their greetings.
Once everything was concluded, Empress Dowager Xiao was already feeling quite lethargic. She dismissed everyone and returned to her sleeping champers, with Imperial Concubine Rong by her side.
“It has been many days since I’ve met Jingrou. A few days ago, I sent some servants to summon her into the palace, but she wasn’t in the Su Manor. Has she returned?” Empress Dowager Xiao asked.
“Yes, I heard that Older Sister Rou has already returned. Recently, she has been spending time with her daughter, which is why she hasn’t entered the palace to visit the Empress Dowager,” Imperial Concubine Rong said gently.
“Her daughter is such a pitiful child. Not only was she robbed by mountain bandits, but she was also divorced by the Ji Manor. Get Jingrou to enter the palace another day, and ask her to bring her daughter along as well.”
“Yes!”
Yu Long exited the palace and boarded her horse carriage. She closed her eyes, and a subtle hint of exhaustion could be seen on her face.
Su Jiu had already made her return!
But she did not come looking for her, let alone make any moves.
However, the more things remained this way, the more her heart became unsettled.
Qing Lan poured out a cup of tea and passed it to her. She said with displeasure, “That Miss from the Nangong Family behaved so disrespectfully towards you, Crown Princess Consort. Why do you have to tolerate her?”
Yu Long slowly opened her eyes and replied with indifference, “She’s just a brat who doesn’t understand the difference between heaven and earth. Why do I have to put her in my eyes?”
“But this servant feels uncomfortable for your sake. You are someone who the Crown Prince personally asked His Majesty for a hand in marriage. You are the legitimate and official Crown Princess Consort! Since when was she qualified to pick on you?” Qing Lan said with indignation.
“His Highness was just named the Crown Prince, so his position is not secure yet. We still need support from the Nangong Family and Hu Dapao. Why do I need to give him unnecessary trouble just to gain the upper hand in a battle of words?” Yu Long sipped her tea. Even though there was only a maidservant beside her, she still carried herself with utmost dignity.
“Yes, you are magnanimous, and you don’t need to bother with her, Crown Princess Consort!” The frustration on Qing Lan’s face was replaced with contentment.
The horse carriage stopped in front of the Crown Prince Manor. Qing Lan supported Yu Long’s arm as she alighted the horse carriage, before heading through the gates of the manor.
“Has His Highness the Crown Prince returned yet?” Yu Long asked as she was walking in.
The guard standing at the side hurriedly shook his head and replied, “He hasn’t returned yet!”
Yu Long gently nodded her head and walked inside.
“There was a banquet in the palace today. His Highness might return later tonight!” Qing Lan reassured her softly.
A self-deprecating smile bloomed on Yu Long’s face. “So what if he returns early?”
In this Crown Prince Manor, she was only a valuable ornament for display, and only the servants would greet her as the Crown Princess Consort. When Xiao Lie saw her, however, he wouldn’t even give her a second glance.
Inside the inner courtyard, the two of them had just stepped through the exquisitely-carved gate, when they heard the servants of the manor chatting behind the foliage.
“Cut it out!” A little maidservant giggled. “His Highness and the Crown Princess Consort will be returning soon!”
Another person added lazily, “What’s the rush? His Highness will not return to the manor so early.”
“His Highness always returns so late into the night, and he has never stepped into the Crown Princess Consort’s courtyard. The Crown Princess Consort has been given the cold shoulder right after marrying into the manor!”
The other person said in a suppressed voice, “I heard the guard that followed His Highness mention that a new brothel opened in Shengjing. His Highness has been heading there every day after court, and he stays there until late at night!”
“Ah? That shouldn’t be true! His Highness has such a noble status, how is it possible for him to like a prostitute?”
“Whoever His Highness likes, the other party surely cannot reject. Maybe our manor will have a concubine soon!”
…
Qing Lan’s brows tightened, she turned her head and noticed that Yu Long’s complexion was not looking good. She immediately reprimanded, “Who’s there gossiping about their masters? Hurry and get over here!” The area behind the foliage was soon plunged into silence.
“Get your bums here this instant!” Qing Lan exclaimed coldly.
Those two maidservants hastily ran out and knelt on the ground. They begged while prostrating, “This servant deserves to die! May you spare our lives, Crown Princess Consort!”
Yu Long asked in a monotonous voice, “Is what you said just now true?”
“No, it isn’t! These servants were just speaking nonsense!” The two maidservants hastily answered.
Yu Long’s eyes swept past them expressionlessly, before walking along the cobblestone path towards her courtyard. She continued softly, “If those who have tongues only know how to speak nonsense, it’s fine if they are removed!”
The two maidservants trembled as cold sweat dripped down their foreheads. “Crown Princess Consort, please have mercy! These servants will not dare to repeat this mistake!”
“Someone!” Qing Lan shouted. She conveyed to the approaching guard, “Cut off the tongues of these two servants and throw them out of the manor. They are not allowed to appear before His Highness the Crown Prince or the Crown Princess Consort again!”
“Yes!” The guard acknowledged, before walking forward to drag the two maidservants in the ground.
“Crown Princess Consort, have mercy! These servants have recognized their mistakes!”
“Older Sister Qing Lan, have mercy!”
The two maidservants cried bitterly and pleaded for mercy, each quivering in trepidation. Qing Lan did not even pay them a glance before waving her hands, signaling the guards to take them away.
She chased after Yu Long, who had walked up in front. Qing Lan hastily said, “Crown Princess Consort, don’t take the servants’ words as true. His Highness the Crown Prince is certainly not like this!”
Layers of frost covered Yu Long’s eyes. She remained silent as she returned directly to her room.
On the other side, once Nangong Bi exited the palace, she bade farewell to Madame Nangong, before boarding her horse carriage to return to the General’s Manor.
Inside the manor, Hu Dapao was waiting for her. Before Nangong Bi could ask about Su Jiu, he immediately walked out of the door to welcome her. He held her hand and smiled, saying, “You’re finally back! Let’s go, I’ll bring you to see someone!”
Nangong Bi quirked her eyebrows curiously. “Who?”
“You’ll know once you meet her!”
He pulled Nangong Bi out of the manor. A guard outside the gate was mounted on Hu Dapao’s horse.
Hu Dapao held the girl’s waist and carried her up the horse. He nudged the horse, and they galloped away.