Chapter 91: Matters of the Boudoir
It shouldn’t be like this.
The Imperial Son-in-law would never treat her this way.
Ping Le held her breath, her smile more bitter than tears.
“Has my husband heard some gossip?”
Lu You’an’s pupils darkened slightly. He pursed his lips and asked her.
“Which matter does the Princess refer to?”
Over the years, rumors about Ping Le had never ceased, countless ones.
In the end, she could always talk her way out of it, justify herself, and find reasons that convinced him. Coupled with her setting aside her pride and occasional gentle gestures, the matter would pass.
But how could Lu You’an truly know nothing?
It was merely self-deception.
Lu You’an thought of Wen Jia.
Thinking of the look Wen Jia had just given her, his heart ached, and he felt as if ants were crawling all over him.
Back then, he had vowed, “I will achieve great deeds, govern the nation, and discuss the world with His Majesty…”
The more ambitious he had sounded in front of Wen Jia then, the more stinging the slap to his face was now.
Not only had he failed to fulfill his ambitions, but he had also lived a mediocre life.
Now, he had fallen so low that Wen Jia looked at him with pity…
Lu You’an did not recognize himself.
Even less did he recognize the spirited Top Scholar from back then.
But in front of Ping Le, all the roaring, struggling, and regret within him could not be uttered.
It was unnecessary.
It was meaningless.
She would not understand.
She would not say, as Wen Jia did with understanding: “My lord’s talent is extraordinary and should be used to benefit the state and its people. It would be a pity to be confined to the inner chambers. Wen Jia does not blame you; I wish my lord great success in the future, soaring ten thousand miles.”
Ping Le saw no expected concern on his face, not even anger or suspicion. In that instant, she suddenly felt the person before her was incredibly cold, incredibly strange, leaving her flustered and filled with a sense of nowhere to place herself, a pervasive fear.
“Imperial Son-in-law…”
Lu You’an hummed, not moving.
“Husband…”
Ping Le reached out to hold his hand. Lu You’an instinctively moved slightly, then calmed down.
Let her be.
His hand was very cold.
Ping Le held it tightly and said urgently, “I truly have no connection with Fan Bing. You know, my heart has only ever held you. If I had been unfaithful all these years, do you think Fan Bing would have had a chance? I look down on him! How could I, Ping Le, look down on Wen Jia’s Imperial Son-in-law?”
She was arrogant and proud.
Lu You’an believed every word of this.
Ping Le indeed looked down on Fan Bing.
She even looked down on Wen Jia.
If it were before the Spring Flower Banquet, Lu You’an would have absolutely not believed that Ping Le would have had an affair with Fan Bing.
But recently, Ping Le’s temperament had changed drastically; she had become increasingly irritable and unreasonable.
Her uncontrollable desires and frantic actions almost overwhelmed him. When she had an episode, Ping Le was sometimes confused. This made Lu You’an feel that nothing that happened to her would be surprising.
After a long silence.
Ping Le’s grip tightened, gradually losing strength.
Lu You’an’s face also turned cold. His words were devoid of emotion, colder than ever before.
“Let’s not mention the past. Let’s return to the mansion.”
Ping Le’s proud and dignified face turned ashen, as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown on it.
The Imperial Son-in-law did not believe her.
No one was willing to believe she was innocent.
She trembled slightly with anger.
If she had truly done something to betray her husband, she would have accepted the blame, the scolding, the beating.
But she was pure, and her heart had always belonged only to Lu You’an.
Even when tormented by poisonous substances, she had never harbored thoughts of disloyalty.
But her unwavering loyalty was destroyed by Li Zhao and Xue Liu.
They had deliberately schemed to ruin her purity…
From then on, whenever Princess Ping Le was mentioned, Fan Bing would be associated with her.
She never wanted her name to be linked with Fan Bing’s.
Now, she could no longer escape it.
She and the Imperial Son-in-law would likely never return to how they were before…
Ping Le felt a wave of nausea, almost retching.
“It’s Li Zhao!”
“This must be a scheme from the Eastern Palace!”
“And Xue Liu!”
“She’s back for revenge, she wants revenge on me…”
She seemed lost in thought, murmuring to herself.
Lu You’an looked at her and asked, “The Crown Prince is your brother. You pose no threat to his throne, so why would he harm you with such despicable means?”
“And Miss Xue Liu, why would she seek revenge on you?”
Lu You’an leaned forward, staring into Ping Le’s eyes.
“Princess, did you do something to her? Why are you so guilty?”
Ping Le was stunned by the question, speechless.
–
To have such a farce on a joyous occasion, the atmosphere in Prince Duan’s Mansion was as heavy as before a storm, with dark clouds pressing down.
Li Fuyin’s mood was heavy, and she walked slowly towards the carriage, truly not wanting to return to the mansion.
Seeing Ping Le and Fan Bing make fools of themselves had indeed brought her some satisfaction.
But she had no idea what to do next.
Li Fuyin hesitated, leaning on her maid’s arm, about to board the carriage, when she saw Jinshu hurrying over.
“Princess, please wait.”
Jinshu smiled, “The Ru Ren feared the Princess would fall and be frightened, and that her body would be unwell. She specifically asked me to bring you something good to ward off the cold and illness.”
Saying this, she took out a coin purse from her embrace.
“This is a dampness-dispelling sachet made by our Ru Ren herself. If the Princess carries it, it can ward off wind-evil and prevent lingering ailments…”
A subtle glint flashed in Li Fuyin’s eyes.
She gestured for her maid to accept it and nodded slightly.
“Please thank the Ru Ren on my behalf, Aunt. Tell her that today’s events were largely thanks to her rescue. However, I am unable to visit at this moment to bid farewell in person.”
Jinshu gave her a smiling glance.
“The Ru Ren said she felt a great affinity with the Princess and hopes you will visit often in the future.”
Li Fuyin’s unease lessened slightly.
This meant that Sixth Miss Xue would not watch her fall into trouble.
In fact, after leaving Tan Qiu Courtyard, she had been worried.
Today, she had not only offended Ping Le but also Fan Bing.
She was truly afraid of potential retaliation…
Once in the carriage, Li Fuyin opened the coin purse and took out the note written by Xue Sui.
“Princess, you might as well request an imperial decree to take your child to Pu Ji Temple to calm your heart. I have a trusted old friend at Pu Ji Temple; if you go there, someone will naturally take care of you.”
Li Fuyin’s eyes lit up after reading it.
The incident at Prince Duan’s Mansion would soon reach the palace.
The person the Emperor cared about most was, of course, Princess Ping Le.
However, Princess Wen Jia had actually done nothing from beginning to end. She hadn’t even spoken ill of the Imperial Son-in-law and Ping Le; she had merely “attempted to drown herself” out of distress.
Even if Emperor Chong Zhao did not have much father-daughter affection for her, if it had almost resulted in a death, he should show some pity for his suffering daughter, even if only for appearances.
The Emperor valued his reputation above all else.
Her requesting an imperial decree to go to Pu Ji Temple at this time was reasonable and logical…
Even if Ping Le and Fan Bing wanted to cause trouble for her because of this incident, they would have to reconsider. After all, she was someone who had attempted to drown herself. If one is desperate enough, what would they not dare to do?
Li Fuyin felt Xue Sui’s plan was brilliant.
As for what to do next…
She could not fathom this Sixth Miss Xue.
Even though they had joined forces to scheme against Ping Le just now, she still didn’t know how vast the world in this Miss Xue’s heart was, nor how great her ambition was…
But she was willing to believe.
Not for any other reason.
Only because of those scars…
They shared a resonance and hidden pain that others could not understand.
However, why would such an intelligent woman confine herself to Prince Duan’s Mansion?
Li Fuyin gazed at the eaves and brackets of the houses standing quietly in the night, sighing softly.
“Let’s go, we’re going to the palace.”
With the sound of hooves, Li Fuyin’s carriage slowly moved towards the Imperial Palace.
Xue Yuechen, with two maids, carrying lanterns, had already arrived outside the door of Tan Qiu Courtyard.
She was here to deliver something.
The maid Yu Zhui held a black ebony box inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
Inside the box were a statue of the Child-Giving Guanyin and a rulebook for the Prince’s Mansion.
Tonight was her husband’s grand wedding night. To bear an heir soon, she, as the Princess Consort, had to come in advance to instruct her on matters of the boudoir.
The door of Tan Qiu Courtyard was half-open, and light spilled from the gap, casting dappled shadows on the ground, much like Xue Yuechen’s current mood, with a light chill of snow and a misty rain.
Fei Cui raised her hand and gently knocked on the door.
With a creak, the door slowly opened. It wasn’t a maid, but Xue Sui’s cool and composed face.
There was no surprise in Xue Sui’s eyes, yet she smiled, bowed, and feigned surprise as she asked.
“It’s so late, why has the Princess Consort come?”
Xue Yuechen nodded slightly, signaling her to rise. She entered the courtyard with her maids, her gaze sweeping around. Seeing that everything was properly arranged, she withdrew her gaze with satisfaction.
“It seems no one in Tan Qiu Courtyard has been slacking.”
Xue Sui said, “With the Princess Consort’s strict orders, who would dare to be lazy?”
The two of them chatted as they entered the inner room. Xue Yuechen sent the maids away and took Xue Sui’s hand, slowly sitting on the edge of the couch inside, her expression showing concern and seriousness.
“Sixth Sister, you must be exhausted today, right?”
Xue Sui gently shook her head, the faint smile on her lips unchanged.
“With the Princess Consort’s concern, I am not tired.”
Xue Yuechen patted Xue Sui’s hand and sighed softly.
“There are some things that I, as an elder sister, must say, yet I fear I might offend you, my sister…”
Xue Sui lowered her gaze slightly, “Why should the Princess Consort and I be strangers?”
Xue Yuechen gazed at her for a moment, then tightened her grip on her hand.
“This Prince’s Mansion is not like our Xue family. There are many rules, and the Prince values etiquette above all else. From now on, every word and action of yours must be extremely careful…”
Xue Sui nodded.
Xue Yuechen continued, “The Prince has only one daughter, born to Consort Yuan. Consort Yuan is a distant cousin of Consort Xiao’s family and gave birth to the Prince’s eldest daughter, holding considerable favor with Consort Xiao. She usually acts arrogantly, relying on her family’s influence, and doesn’t even regard me with respect… Even if you don’t make a mistake, if she dislikes you, she can find ways to make you suffer. Sister, you must be more vigilant and handle her carefully…”
Xue Sui nodded slightly.
“I have noted it.”
Xue Yuechen looked at her calm face and couldn’t help but worry.
Actually, there was one more thing she hadn’t said.
Initially, the person Consort Xiao had chosen to be Prince Duan’s Princess Consort was Yuan Qingzhu.
It was only because she received the prophecy of “Eight Auspicious Star” from Daoist Ling Xu that Consort Xiao looked upon her differently and chose her for Prince Duan’s Mansion.
And because of this, Consort Xiao felt a sense of compensation towards Consort Yuan and indulged her greatly…
To maintain a dignified and graceful demeanor in the face of Yuan Qingzhu’s provocations, no one knew how difficult it was for her, the Princess Consort.
Xue Yuechen sighed, “There is also Consort Zhang. Her family background is not prominent. However, she is an old acquaintance of the Prince from his youth and is quite favored by him. Otherwise, with her family background, she wouldn’t have become a consort. You know the Prince rarely interferes in the inner affairs of the mansion. But this Consort Zhang was personally requested by the Prince to the Imperial Consort.”
Xue Sui nodded again, “Thank you for your guidance, Princess Consort.”
Xue Yuechen treated her as one of her own, detailing the mansion’s personnel without any reservations.
“The other concubines have little favor with the Prince. They either rely on Consort Yuan or Consort Zhang. They are all obedient in front of me, but they are all opportunists, each with their own little schemes…”
Xue Sui hummed, “I have noted them all.”
Xue Yuechen said, “The Prince is usually gentle and rarely inquires about the inner affairs of the mansion, but he is, after all, the master of this Prince’s Mansion. When you serve him in the future, you must be more gentle and considerate, and less willful. If you can gain the Prince’s favor and give birth to a son, then you and I, sisters, will have support…”
Xue Sui narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked at her.
The Princess Consort of Prince Duan, adorned in magnificent robes and enjoying fine food, was weary from the scheming within the deep mansion, her face showing unconcealed loneliness.
“As women, we must rely on our husbands and sons.”
Xue Sui smiled faintly, “With the Princess Consort here, I feel at ease.”
Her answer was completely off-topic.
Xue Yuechen then glared at her reproachfully.
“The inner court of the Prince’s Mansion has always been a place of gossip. You have just entered the mansion, so you must think thrice before acting, and be more vigilant. If you truly cause any great disaster, I may not be able to protect you. Just like today, your rash act of jumping into the water to save someone was inappropriate. Coming here and making such a scene right away will make those who were observing coldly now look at you with sharp eyes.”
Xue Sui glanced at her.
She raised her eyebrows slightly, with a hint of lazy amusement.
“A life was at stake, how could I stand by and do nothing?”
Xue Yuechen seemed to recall something, her gaze averted. She did not respond to the statement, smiled, and opened the box she had brought.
“You must properly worship this statue of the Child-Giving Guanyin for blessings and to bear a child soon. You must also keep the rules and regulations of the Prince’s Mansion in mind, lest someone find fault with you.”
Xue Sui took the wooden box with both hands, “Thank you for your trouble, Princess Consort.”
Xue Yuechen watched her put the items away and remained seated.
Xue Sui turned to look at her, “Does the Princess Consort have anything else to instruct?”
Xue Yuechen’s expression was complex, and she fidgeted, appearing somewhat awkward.
“I have said all I needed to say. I should leave now, lest the Prince comes and we run into each other, which would be awkward…”
Xue Sui understood her conflicted thoughts and smiled slightly.
“The Prince will not come.”
Xue Yuechen’s heart sank, “Why is that?”
See you at the second watch dinner~~!
