Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Princely Heir Is a Woman 8

In front of him was a bowl of delicious mushroom soup, containing several types of mushrooms, with an enticing aroma that seemed to seduce him.

Just like the person across from him who constantly kept him on his toes, thought Ye Ji to himself.

His face darkened, his eyes sinking like the depths of a pool.

Ye Ji tightened his grip on the spoon, dismissed his thoughts, and tasted a spoonful of the mushroom soup. It was indeed savory and fragrant, a taste that one could savor endlessly. Once tasted, it was a flavor one could never forget for a lifetime.

The Grand Steward, Hou Rongfa, beside him, however, was on edge. Although he had arranged for the soup to be tested before serving, the time was short, and His Majesty was eager to eat, which left him concerned.

Prince Ning outside the palace was still in madness.

The mushroom soup was indeed savory; Hou Rongfa gulped nervously, shifting his attention to Ah Chen. How did he not know before that even the Young Master had such a skill?

Ah Chen sensed this, glanced up, meeting Hou Rongfa’s gaze with eyes full of honesty.

This old eunuch was overthinking; how could she harm him?

There was hardly enough time to show pain.

While Hou Rongfa was still pondering about Ah Chen, her gaze had already settled on the person savoring the mushroom soup, her smile gentle and serene.

Did Hou Rongfa perceive a hint of indulgence in her eyes?

It must be a mistake.

It was his old eyes deceiving him.

“It’s indeed good,” Ye Ji paused, having finished the bowl of mushroom soup, his earlier irritation dissipated like smoke.

Ah Chen’s expression returned to its usual composure, seeing that he liked it, putting her in a pleasant mood too, “Your Majesty, this humble servant shall take her leave.”

“Stay for the meal,” Ye Ji instructed Hou Rongfa beside him, “Let the kitchen serve the food once it’s ready.”

It was already lunchtime; returning from the palace to Prince Ning Mansion would take a significant amount of time. The person across was delicate and petite, certainly due to not eating properly regularly.

Ye Ji’s appetite was excellent today; he found every dish delightful, though the bowl of mushroom soup was undoubtedly the most savory.

He noticed that the person across not only ate slowly but also ate very little, as if they were at odds with the food, and he couldn’t help but watch a bit longer. Even by the end of lunch, the person hadn’t eaten much.

“The palace’s food doesn’t suit your taste?” Ye Ji casually asked, “What delicacies at Prince Ning Mansion could be better than those in the palace?”

After speaking, he felt a bit regretful; judging by the person’s frail appearance, they probably hadn’t enjoyed any delicacies at Prince Ning Mansion, a place he was quite familiar with.

“Prince Ning Mansion still relies on the Princely Heir’s care, so it’s vital to maintain good health,” he seemingly added in passing.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for the concern,” Ah Chen replied, her expression extremely earnest, “I will certainly live well.”

No matter how difficult, how bitter, how lonely, even if the world were to be destroyed, the sun, moon, and stars were to fall, even if she were the only one left, she would not die, she would live well. Her body must live, and her soul must live too.

Because she had to wait for the day when the world would be reborn anew.

Ye Ji felt he was becoming even more unwell; otherwise, why would he feel as if her words were a promise to him?

It’s still better to see less of this person, as she influenced him too much.

He couldn’t bear to kill, so he could only distance himself.

No matter what plans Ning Zhen had, as long as they didn’t infringe on his domain, he’d choose to remain unaffected and unbothered, unwilling to meddle.

Let it be, he would never see this person again.

Having sent the person away, the joy Ye Ji felt from the delicious mushroom soup also faded, reverting him to that cold-breathed emperor, like a machine governing without emotion.

In the Imperial Study Room, Hou Rongfa even restrained his breathing, watching His Majesty silently as he flipped through one memorial after another without pause. After a long while, he steeled himself to remind him to rest a bit, lest his eyes couldn’t bear it.

The young emperor paid him no mind, not lifting his eyes even once.

Hou Rongfa sighed, everything was fine just a moment ago?

“I really don’t have to go back to the Marquis Mansion?” Ning Yumei still couldn’t believe it; she never imagined she could completely escape from that abyss in her lifetime. Precisely because she couldn’t believe it, she couldn’t help but ask several times.

Ah Chen was exceedingly patient, speaking softly, “Yes, Second Sister never has to return there again.” She held Ning Yumei’s hand, which was nothing but skin and bones, “You can live here for the rest of your life; if you have any thoughts, you can always tell me. What happened at the Marquis Mansion will not happen a second time.”

“Father…” Everyone in the Capital City knew about Prince Ning’s lunacy, and Ning Yumei was still worried he might suddenly recover.

Ah Chen smiled, “Father is gravely ill.”

If he woke up someday, it would just be a matter of feeding him another bowl of mushroom soup.

“It’s most important to nurse your health, Second Sister,” Ah Chen reassured her for a moment. Ning Yumei finally calmed down, with some lingering unease in her heart, but cherished the days where she didn’t need to endure beatings.

Exiting Ning Yumei’s courtyard, Ah Chen looked around Prince Ning Mansion, arranging for the places where her sisters previously lived to be redecorated. Even if they wouldn’t reside there long-term, they could visit frequently.

Her task was to ensure their safety, not to interfere with their choices and lives. They could remarry if desired, or not marry at all, choosing whatever they liked.

As long as they were happy and content.

While arranging the sisters’ courtyards, Ah Chen also reorganized her own courtyard, first arranging a bamboo grove for herself.

Qing Zhu and the others knew she wanted to plant a bamboo grove beside her courtyard; though they didn’t fully understand, they complied.

At present, the entire Prince Ning Mansion adhered strictly to Ah Chen’s word; whatever she said went.

Especially the guards, each more obedient than the last, given that none hadn’t been disciplined by the Young Master.

In a few days, a bamboo grove stood beside Ah Chen’s courtyard, having been entirely transplanted, so that while sitting in the courtyard, one could glance up and see it. A pavilion nestled within the bamboo grove for leisurely tea drinking.

Rumors of the Jiang Family spread throughout the Capital City; people generally understood what transpired and were no longer bold enough to disdain this Princely Heir.

None of this affected Ah Chen; after sorting out the mansion, her gaze shifted to the matter concerning her seventh sister, Ning Yuwan. It was time to resolve her situation.

She was very busy and had no leisure time to have tea in the bamboo grove.

Having that bamboo grove indeed granted her more restful sleep at night.

“Young Master, tomorrow morning the Seventh Young Lady will go to the temple to offer incense, and will return after noon,” Qing Zhu reported.

Recently, the Young Master placed people within the households of the seven young ladies of Prince Ning Mansion; though not in core positions, it sufficed to monitor surface happenings.

The Seventh Young Lady had only been married for less than half a year. Judging by the news, she and her husband seemed quite affectionate. Qing Zhu was somewhat puzzled why the Young Master was attending to the Seventh Young Lady first, as the situation of the other young ladies didn’t sound as optimistic.

But the Young Master had her own calculations; Qing Zhu only pondered idly over her confusion, refraining from speaking much as she trusted the Young Master to see what she could not.

“Should we proceed to Li Mansion after noon tomorrow?” Qing Zhu asked.

Ah Chen shook her head, “No, follow her quietly in the morning.”

By the afternoon, the corpse would likely be cold.

The commissioner’s seventh sister, Ning Yuwan, perished just under half a year into her marriage, reportedly ending her life due to the disgrace of false bandits.

Who could have imagined that within lay a sickening truth buried along with Ning Yuwan?

The so-called bandits were impersonated, with the imposter being Li Junzhang, who had a son named Li Bianxing.

Li Bianxing was precisely Ning Yuwan’s husband.

The Li Family could once be considered Prince Ning’s cronies, and that old fool of Prince Ning truly disregarded his daughter’s life.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep