Chapter 63: Chapter 59: Minister in Plain Clothes, Beautiful Princess Consort

Today, Princess Consort Zhao, having changed into a simple white gauze dress instead of her usual red, was kneeling before a low table, engrossed in a book. The vast hall was occupied by only her two personal maids and two doorkeeping eunuchs. An old laundry woman was tending to the flowers and plants in the courtyard, creating a particularly cold and quiet atmosphere.

The hall was constructed from high-grade dragon sandalwood. On the table sat a gilded sandalwood Incense Burner with a base of fine suet jade.

However, the incense in the burner soon burned out.

Yang Yingchan rose. Without troubling the servants, she personally lit a stick of sandalwood and knelt again, her buttocks resting on her legs, creating a full, shapely curve. Even the two maids in the hall, women themselves, felt their hearts stir at the sight. The Princess Consort had an unusually soft mane of dark hair; when her personal maids combed it in the morning, they couldn’t help but hold it gently and utter a few words of sincere praise.

The Princess Consort was also extremely kind to her attendants.

Contrary to the rumors outside that a Martial Artist’s daughter would be arrogant, rude, crude, and barbaric, she often personally cooked delicious food to share with them. Whenever they paid their respects, the gentle-natured Princess Consort would look at her servants and offer a soft smile.

Although the Princess Consort came from a martial background, she adored reading. When asked why, she explained that one should study what one lacks and does not understand, much like the principle that “learning is a lifelong process.”

On occasion, when the maids washed the Princess Consort’s porcelain-like feet after she had grown tired from reading late into the night, their hearts would flutter even more as they marveled at how truly beautiful she was.

It wasn’t merely physical beauty; most of the concubines in the Imperial Palace were not lacking in looks. It was a kind of dignified grace that made anyone who saw her sigh in admiration.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

A knock came from the door.

“I’ll get the door.”

The two personal maids went forward. Yang Yingchan gave a soft “Mm,” her eyes never leaving her book.

The doors swung open, and a rather handsome young man in a bamboo-green Python Robe strode into the hall with a swagger. A faint smile played on his lips, and he was followed by two maids, one in red and one in purple.

When Yang Yingchan saw him, surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes. “Sixth Prince, what brings you here?”

Lu Mingyuan walked into the center of the hall, looked around as if he were in his own home, and casually found a chair to sit down in. He smiled and said:

“Calling me ’Your Highness’ is too distant, and it sounds strange to my ears. Sister-in-law can just call me Little Brother-in-law.”

“Didn’t I mention it before? I might come over to freeload meals from Sister-in-law often. I just happened to be hungry today. Don’t tell me Sister-in-law has forgotten?”

Hearing this, Yang Yingchan remained silent.

’This Sixth Prince might be handsome, but deep down, he’s just a lecher.’

’That day, I thought it was just a joke, a mere pleasantry between us. I never expected him to actually show up.’

’I am, after all, Prince Zhao’s primary wife, and he is the Sixth Prince of Great Yan.’

’With my husband still in prison, if anyone discovered some gossip about me and the Sixth Prince, I’d be condemned by everyone. How could I possibly remain in the palace then?’

’But if I refuse, given this Sixth Prince’s temper, he’ll surely make things difficult for me.’

’His mother is Noble Consort Yaoguang, and his maternal grandfather is the current Great Yan Prime Minister. I can’t afford to provoke either of them right now. Noble Consort Yaoguang is extremely favored in the Harem; offending the Sixth Prince is the same as offending her.’

Seeing her silence, Lu Mingyuan faintly guessed what she was thinking and chuckled softly.

He took a Redwood Box from his sleeve and handed it to her.

“Of course, Sister-in-law, when I freeload off someone, I don’t come empty-handed. This is for you.”

Yang Yingchan dazedly accepted the box, not expecting him to give her a gift.

“What is this?”

“Sister-in-law will know once you open it.”

At his words, Yang Yingchan opened a corner of the box.

She saw an extremely exquisite string of Amber Jade Beads. The amber was like white fat, exceptionally smooth, and engraved upon it were the six True Words of the Buddhist Family, which cleared one’s Heart Spirit just by looking at them.

Lu Mingyuan explained, “These are the Falsehood-breaking Pearls from the Buddhist Family. They are protected by True Words and have the effect to Calm Heart and Concentrate Spirit. My mother gave them to me, but I have too many things like this, so I brought a string for Sister-in-law.”

This was also the truth.

For a while now, his mother had often sent people over with treasures—delicacies from the mountains and seas, precious objects, and ornaments—saying they were all confiscated from the Cui Family and the Xie Family.

However, his decision to give them to her was naturally not without deeper meaning. He had three layers to his thinking.

The first layer was simple: he couldn’t stand the Eldest Prince.

The aftershocks of the struggle between the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince had threatened him multiple times. He still hadn’t forgotten his time in prison. Although it wasn’t directly the Eldest Prince’s fault—the Second Prince had been pulling the strings—he wasn’t blameless either. And later, during the palace coup, he had nearly been put in danger again.

He couldn’t defeat the Second Prince right now, but bullying the Eldest Prince a little was no problem. Besides, once he advanced to the Upper Three Grades, the first person he would settle scores with had to be his second brother, Lu Guangjing.

Now that the Eldest Prince was in prison, bullying Princess Consort Zhao a bit shouldn’t be a problem.

With so many eyes and ears in the palace, could his old man really be unaware of what he was doing and who he was meeting?

Since nothing had happened, and there had been no warning from his Imperial Father…

…it meant his Imperial Father’s attitude was clear. Princess Consort Zhao’s only value now was to control Prince Zhenbei. As long as she could be controlled, nothing else mattered.

His Imperial Father might even be hoping for Princess Consort Zhao to be involved in a scandal, giving the old man a suitable excuse to declare war on Mobei.

As for the second layer of his thoughts, it wasn’t complicated either.

Prince Zhenbei, Yang Xiao, was, after all, a Vassal King commanding an army of 300,000 at the Border Pass. He was someone worth winning over.

His maternal grandfather once said something.

’Not contending does not mean being unprepared.’

The third layer of his thoughts couldn’t have been simpler.

This Yang Yingchan was indeed luscious and truly beautiful. She was absolutely the best person to help him solidify his persona as a profligate dandy.

The Eldest Prince might look down on her, his pride not allowing it, but he couldn’t be so pedantic.

For a moment, Yang Yingchan caressed the Falsehood-breaking Buddhist Beads, somewhat lost in thought.

In all her years in the Capital City, aside from the mooncakes sent by the palace, no one had ever given her a gift.

One can fall in love at first sight; a woman’s heart is fickle.

Just a moment ago, Yang Yingchan had a bad impression of Lu Mingyuan, thinking him a mere lecher. But now, having accepted the Buddha Beads, with the Redwood Box resting on her lap, she caressed the beads with a look full of tenderness.

In reality, she was recalling many things.

Holding the string of pale green and white Amber Jade Beads, Yang Yingchan lowered her head and stared at them, mesmerized. To outsiders, as a venerable Princess Consort, Prince Zhao was hers, Mobei was hers, and a life of freedom, glory, and wealth was also hers. But the reality was, just as common folk would never know the schemes and power struggles within the Court and the Deep Palace, none of these things were truly hers.

She had nothing. She was all alone, and that was all.

“Little Brother-in-law.”

Yang Yingchan collected her thoughts and suddenly called out.

“Hm?”

Lu Mingyuan didn’t know what she was thinking. It seemed as if she’d had a change of heart.

“Thank you for your gift. I’ll go have someone prepare the ingredients and start a fire to cook.”

With that, she stood up, walked to a side courtyard, and instructed the old woman to start the fire.

「Half an Hour later.」

Lu Mingyuan sat at the table, looking at the five dishes before him in astonishment.

Scallion pork ribs, fried sesame flatbread, steamed lion’s head meatballs, shrimp and tofu soup, and a clear soup with fresh bamboo shoots.

’The Princess Consort made all of this herself?’

’The way she cut the bamboo shoots and tofu… her knife skills are truly excellent.’

Yang Yingchan wiped her hands with an embroidered handkerchief, sat down slowly, and smiled. “I’m afraid I’ve made a poor showing, Little Brother-in-law. These are just some humble dishes.”

Lu Mingyuan picked up his chopsticks and chuckled. “I thought Sister-in-law was a martial practitioner. I never imagined you were so skilled with your hands.”

Yang Yingchan’s gaze was distant as she said, “I haven’t practiced martial arts in many years. I’ve just been staying in the Prince Mansion. Since I can’t go out to listen to music or wander about, I just cook out of boredom.”

“Always in the mansion? Don’t tell me Eldest Brother doesn’t let you leave?”

Lu Mingyuan asked, puzzled.

Yang Yingchan told a lie, forcing an explanation. “My husband has strong masculine pride and doesn’t want me to show my face in public.”

Their relationship had been set from the moment the marriage was decreed. One doesn’t air their dirty laundry in public.

She was an optimistic woman who rarely blamed fate or others, choosing instead to endure whatever came her way. Her mother had passed away early, leaving her a carefree childhood. She had witnessed her father dominate battlefields and Demon Fiends attack cities. She was only eight when her father was made a Titled King. Before he left, he had said many things she didn’t understand at the time. The gist was that it was a pity she wasn’t a boy, but he didn’t regret having her. And she didn’t resent the father who had sent her here as a hostage.

She recalled the splendor and prestige of her first days in the Prince Mansion, the cold, grim face of Emperor Yong’an back then, and the day-and-night torment from Lu Changfeng.

Although she was young then, she understood a great deal. Still, she had hoped to be taken back, to see her father just one more time, even for a fleeting glance. But it never happened.

She was trapped here.

“Is it good?”

Seeing Lu Mingyuan wolfing down his food, shoveling rice into his mouth, Yang Yingchan asked with an expectant look on her face.

“Delicious. It’s so white, tender, and smooth.”

“To make tofu like this requires extremely high-level knife skills, and the control of the heat has to be masterful.”

Receiving such praise, Yang Yingchan was deeply satisfied and broke into a relaxed smile.

There were not many things that could prove her worth. Now, there was one more.

When Lu Mingyuan saw her smile, he was slightly taken aback. He felt as if a spring breeze had brushed past his face and pear trees had blossomed. He smiled brilliantly and said:

“Sister-in-law, you’re truly beautiful when you smile.”

Hearing this, Yang Yingchan’s face flushed slightly.

Seeing her reaction, Lu Mingyuan couldn’t help but remark, “A talented poet is a minister in white robes. A beautiful woman is a Princess Consort’s smile and frown.”

After hearing this line, Yang Yingchan was a little dazed, then her expression turned to one of astonishment.

“Little Brother-in-law, you can compose poetry on the spot?”

Lu Mingyuan smiled faintly. “It’s just some verse from a brothel. Why wouldn’t I be able to recite it?”

“But I’ve never heard this line from you before, Little Brother-in-law.”

When Yang Yingchan had nothing else to do, she would sometimes buy copies of the Great Yan Mansion Report to read. They recorded major events both inside and outside the Court, remonstrance essays from famous Great Scholars, and poems sought after by the literati.

That line about the “minister in white robes” was so smooth and catchy; it didn’t sound like a common piece. How could it not have appeared in the Mansion Report?

…

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