Chapter 253: He Likes Tea
A cold wind, carrying the scent of sandalwood, rushed in.
Everyone held their breath, their gazes fixed on her.
Xue Sui adjusted her monk’s robe and walked out, as if nothing had happened. She slowly closed the room door again, then nodded faintly to the crowd below.
“Greetings, Your Highness Prince Duan, Princess Consort Duan.”
Li Huan’s gaze swept over her reddened ear tips, his voice as cold as ice.
“Where is the Crown Prince?”
Xue Sui looked at him calmly.
“The Crown Prince’s mind is settled after acupuncture, and he has fallen asleep.”
Asleep?
Everyone was dumbfounded, as if they had heard a fairy tale.
Even Lai Fu and Guan Ya were a little surprised, their expressions shifting from disbelief to heartache…
With the enemy at the gates, how could the Crown Prince sleep soundly?
A shadow crossed Li Huan’s face, his knuckles turning almost white.
Yet Xue Sui remained composed and turned to Lai Fu.
“His Highness’s pulse is weak. Is it due to excessive worry? Is he having trouble sleeping at night?”
Lai Fu blinked, then quickly bowed, answering with a fawning smile.
“Indeed, indeed. The Crown Prince has been troubled by military affairs lately, worrying day and night. He hasn’t slept well for half a month…”
“Since that is the case—” Xue Sui took out a medicine packet from her sleeve and handed it to Lai Fu.
“Dissolve this calming powder in water and take it to improve sleep. The powder can also be put into a scented sachet and placed under the pillow…”
A familiar medicinal scent wafted into her nostrils.
Li Huan’s expression changed.
Wasn’t this the sleep sachet that Xue Liu had given Xue Yuechen to prepare for him?
Lai Fu readily agreed. Watching Xue Sui’s composed instructions, she truly looked like a physician dispensing medicine, and he didn’t know whether to be happy for His Highness or to worry for him.
Xue Yuechen sensed Li Huan’s displeasure, stepped forward with her pregnant belly, and took Xue Sui’s hand.
“Sixth Sister, I’ve missed you so much. You’ve suffered so much since you left home. Are you living peacefully in the nunnery now?”
“Thank you for your concern, Princess Consort Duan.” Xue Sui frowned slightly as she looked at the weariness in her eyes. “The weather is so cold. Your health is paramount, Princess Consort. Perhaps you should go to the guest hall to warm yourself by the fire and thaw your hands and feet.”
“I’m fine… it’s good to see you.”
Xue Yuechen forced a smile and signaled to a maidservant, who handed over a food box.
“This is something I specifically asked the kitchen to make for you. It’s all your favorite dishes from before…”
“Princess Consort Duan is thoughtful.” Xue Sui cut her off, her fingertips pausing on the edge of the food box before she took it. “Since you have entered the Buddhist Gate, it is best to avoid these worldly delicacies.”
She casually handed the food box to Xiao Zhao.
“Take this out and share it with Ru Yi.”
Xiao Zhao bowed and took it. Her fingertips touched the food box, and it was still warm.
“Xiao Zhao thanks you, Young Lady, and thanks you, Princess Consort.”
Xue Sui clasped her hands together, lowered her eyes, and said in a calm, gentle tone.
“Prince Duan, Princess Consort Duan, please come to the guest hall for tea…”
Li Huan stared at the closed room door, then finally flicked his sleeve and turned, striding away.
The three of them, each with their own thoughts, sat down in the guest seats with grim expressions.
Jinshu entered, holding a teacup, and carefully poured tea.
The room had become much warmer.
Xue Yuechen looked up at Xue Sui, her eyes showing a hint of timidity, and tentatively held Xue Sui’s hand.
“Sixth Sister, my pregnancy has been unstable lately, and I wish to stay in the nunnery for a while. The Imperial Physician said that this place is tranquil and very beneficial for the fetus…”
“Princess Consort, you look unwell. You indeed need to rest.” Xue Sui said softly. “However, life in this nunnery is usually austere. I fear it may be too difficult for the Princess Consort.”
Xue Yuechen heard her refusal, and her eyes instantly turned red.
“It doesn’t matter. With you by my side, even plain tea and simple food would be a delight. From now on, we sisters will be together, just like in the old days…”
She looked at Li Huan again, her shoulders slumping slightly, her tone pleading.
“Don’t you agree, Your Highness?”
Li Huan sat up straight, merely grunting in response, his eyes fixed on Xue Sui.
“Ping An has become much thinner? Has your cough not healed?”
He unconsciously softened his voice.
“Chen Henian has newly concocted a loquat paste. I will send someone to deliver it another day.”
Xue Sui’s brow furrowed, and she was about to refuse.
The room door was pushed open again, and Li Zhao strode in.
“Why bother, Imperial Brother? The herbal tea at Shui Yue Nunnery is much more effective than loquat paste…”
Perhaps it was because he had slept soundly, his complexion was ruddy, the dark circles under his eyes had faded, and his eyes held a sleepy laziness. His handsome jawline exuded vitality…
Even Li Huan had to secretly sigh, the youthful exuberance and outward sharpness made him even more distinguished…
Li Zhao, completely oblivious to the awkwardness in the air, sat down directly beside Xue Sui and naturally picked up her teacup to take a sip.
“Good tea.”
Xue Sui lowered her head and grumbled inwardly.
This… is indeed good tea!
Li Huan smiled slightly, his fingertips tightly gripping the rim of the teacup.
“The Buddhist Gate is a place of purity. Are you not afraid of being impeached by the Censorate with such behavior, Your Highness?”
“Impeached?” Li Zhao scoffed, tapping the table with his finger. His nonchalant demeanor fully displayed the dignity of the Crown Prince.
“Imperial Brother, perhaps you should first explain why a strategist from your father-in-law’s mansion is secretly meeting with an envoy from an enemy country? I’ve been investigating a case recently and found something interesting—”
Xue Yuechen’s hand-warmer almost slipped from her grasp, her face showing panic.
Li Zhao looked with satisfaction at the changing expressions of the Prince and Princess Consort Duan, then suddenly stood up with a smile.
“After all that effort, I feel rather hungry. It’s cold today, how about I treat everyone to a vegetarian meal?”
Li Huan narrowed his eyes slightly. “The Crown Prince’s hospitality is too generous to refuse.”
“Imperial Brother, please—”
“Crown Prince, please!”
—
In the vegetarian hall, a painting of 《 listening to Zen in the snow 》, rendered in pine soot ink, hung on the main wall. A few slender bamboo branches slanted across the white space, exuding a quiet Zen atmosphere.
Li Zhao sat at the head of the table, idly poking at the food in his bowl.
Xue Sui sat on the rearmost cushion, her monk’s robe emitting a faint sandalwood scent from the charcoal fire.
“This mock meat tofu is quite exquisitely made.” Li Zhao picked up a piece of amber-colored vegetarian dish, tasted it, and signaled Lai Fu to serve it to Xue Sui.
“Try it. If you find it to your liking, I’ll have the kitchen prepare some vegetarian meals to send to the nunnery later…”
Li Huan abruptly put down his chopsticks. “Your Highness, this is not proper.”
The crisp sound of porcelain bowls colliding startled Xue Yuechen, causing her fingertips to tremble and a few drops of soup to splash from her spoon.
“Your Highness…”
Li Huan held Xue Yuechen’s trembling hand and looked up with a gentle smile.
“If the Crown Prince’s actions spread, how will the world comment?”
“Imperial Brother worries too much.” Li Zhao took a sip of tea, his gaze sweeping over Xue Yuechen’s swollen abdomen, and smiled enigmatically. “Princess Consort is pregnant. Imperial Brother should focus his attention on his legitimate heir and not always covet other people’s territory…”
Xue Sui’s knuckles, gripping the bamboo chopsticks, turned white.
She was too familiar with Li Zhao’s smile—
Like a lurking wolf king toying with its prey, the calmer his expression, the deeper his malice.
As expected, his next sentence was: “I also heard that the Medical Officer Chen from Prince Duan’s Mansion has been frequently entering and exiting the pharmacy of Granny Wang in the dark alley on West Street. I wonder if it is to help the Princess Consort with her pregnancy?”
The vegetarian hall fell into sudden silence.
Sparks from the brazier exploded on the bluestone, scattering a few specks of scorched debris.
Chen Henian was from the Imperial Hospital and could have gone directly to the Imperial Pharmacy, but he chose to go into the dark alley on West Street. It was certainly not just for prenatal care.
Therefore, there must be other dealings…
Xue Yuechen looked at Li Huan with a pale face. Seeing that he did not refute, she suddenly gagged.
Li Huan abruptly stood up, supported Xue Yuechen’s swaying body, and sternly questioned Li Zhao.
“What does Your Highness mean by this!?”
“Just a joke.” Li Zhao chuckled deeply, but his eyes seemed to be filled with ice.
“Imperial Brother cares so much, perhaps I have hit upon your secret thoughts?”
Without waiting for Li Huan to retort, he suddenly turned and smiled at Xue Sui, his upturned eyes resembling a fox’s.
“Master Liaochen, tell me, has Buddha ever saved anyone from the obsession of seeking what cannot be obtained in this world?”
Xue Sui stared into his eyes, which were filled with coldness, her voice as light as falling snow.
“Buddha saves all beings, but not obsession.”
A sudden gust of wind outside the window, carrying snow, swept towards the window frame.
Li Zhao’s smile finally faded. His gaze swept over Li Huan’s tense face, like a deep pool covered in ice.
“Buddha is merciful. If Imperial Brother has any shady dealings, you can confess them before Buddha…”
“The Crown Prince entered the nunnery with murderous intent, and now suspects others of desecrating this pure land?” Li Huan’s face darkened, and he cupped his hands.
“I cannot accept such suspicion from Your Highness. I bid you farewell!”
He said this and flicked his sleeve, leaving.
“Your Highness—” Xue Yuechen cried out softly, and a sharp pain suddenly gripped her abdomen.
Xue Sui leaned forward to help her, but her bamboo chopsticks suddenly fell to the ground.
She bent down to pick them up, only to see Li Zhao shift his boot, crushing the chopsticks.
Then he leaned down, supported her arm, his fingertips sliding to her wrist through her monk’s robe.
“What else do you want to eat? Everyone’s already been angered away!”
“……”
She looked up, meeting Li Zhao’s eyes, which were brimming with a smile.
There was no teasing, only an almost possessive desire that burned her chest with pain.
The Love Silk Gu screamed in her veins, as if in sync with Li Zhao’s heartbeat, a pervasive itchiness spreading through her.
She heard her own slightly husky voice.
“Your Highness’s eloquent words will surely bring you great fortune in the future.”
Li Zhao chuckled, moved his boot away, and pulled her up.
“Xue Ping An, you truly know best how to stab me in the heart.”
He smiled faintly, tapped her bare forehead with his fingertip, and then, without looking at her again, turned and strode away.
The touch was as light as a feather, yet it made Xue Sui’s fingertips tremble with anger.
That scoundrel!
She really should have angered him away too.
Xue Sui suppressed the surging chaos of the Love Silk Gu, lowered her eyes, and watched the arc of Li Zhao’s cloak as it swept past the threshold. Her hands felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and after a long while, she raised them to clasp them together.
“I bid farewell to the Crown Prince.”
Li Zhao: I’ve won this round, let the whole world rejoice… Someone, send tickets!
Reader: ??? Is this person crazy!
Xue Sui: Please pity him, he’s quite mad!
