Chapter 42

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 42: Title

After sending off the palace servants, Wuyang returned to the courtyard and spotted Gu Hengbo standing under the eaves from afar. She pushed down her inexplicable thoughts and walked toward Gu Hengbo.

“Crown princess.”

“Oh? You didn’t leave?” Gu Hengbo was startled by her sudden voice.

Wuyang quietly observed her. “It’s almost noon. After lunch, I will escort the crown princess back to the residence.”

Gu Hengbo scratched her neck. “Having my hair down is so uncomfortable, but I think it’s nice here; it’s peaceful, and I have a beautiful lady like you to keep me company.”

Wuyang paused, “Your Highness, actually the prince is only following orders.”

Gu Hengbo sighed, “Alright, don’t speak well of your prince to me. I know all about his little problems.”

“……”

“Speaking of food, how about we make dumplings for lunch? I’m bored anyway, sound good?” Gu Hengbo waved her hands in front of Wuyang. “Are you lost in thought?”

Wuyang snapped back and stared at her. “Make… dumplings?” She didn’t know how.

Gu Hengbo looked around. “It’s fine, if you don’t know how, I’ll teach you. Last time, I went with your prince late at night to find a bun shop, but she took me to a brothel instead. Then we found a noodle shop, and she didn’t even have money for noodles.”

“What happened next?” Wuyang felt like she was dreaming.

“She ran away! That was my first time eating without paying,” Gu Hengbo said proudly, then her face fell. “But I still wasn’t full.”

Wuyang felt embarrassed!

In Mingluan Palace, Lian Tianwei sat by the bed, frowning with concern. “Queen, please don’t be angry with me. I know you resent me, but A-Rong…”

“Your Majesty, Prince Rong has arrived,” came the voice of a palace servant from outside.

“Quick, invite her in.” Just as Lian Tianwei stood up, Lian Rong walked in.

“Brother,” Lian Rong did not rush to look at the person on the bed but first paid her respects to Lian Tianwei.

Lian Tianwei sighed, walked over, and patted Lian Rong’s shoulder. “Talk to your sister-in-law for a bit. I’ll come back soon.” Saying that, he stepped outside.

After dismissing all the palace servants from the inner chamber, Lian Rong walked toward the bed. She sat at the edge with a furrowed brow, unable to help but reach out and hold the hand of the person on the bed. “Lan’er.”

The queen woke the moment she entered but kept her eyes closed, unwilling to look at her. “What do you want?”

Lian Rong turned her face to look at her. “Open your eyes and see me.”

Yet the queen still refused to open her eyes, slightly tilting her head and pressing her lips together in silence.

Lian Rong’s eyes flashed with impatience as she forcefully turned her face towards her. Without thinking, she lowered her head and kissed the pale, tightly pursed lips with great intensity. Only when a hint of iron and sweetness filled her mouth did she pull away. With gritted teeth, she glared at the face that made her feel dizzy. "It was you who said you did not like me, it was you who coldly rejected me. Now that I have married Gu Yuanqing’s daughter, it is you who acts like you’re about to die. Duan Rulan, how long do you want to torment me?"

The Queen stared wide-eyed at her, seemingly still recovering from the kiss moments ago. "A-Rong, you misunderstood."

Lian Rong did not give her a chance to argue back. Supporting herself on either side of her, her eyes revealed a chilling intensity. "Misunderstanding? Lan’er, tell me, you have feelings for me, don’t you? You are with my brother out of necessity, aren’t you?"

The Queen shook her head, her eyes filled with pity. "He has never forced me. A-Rong, I love him. I also love you, but that love is not the kind between a man and a woman. I have always seen you as my sister. You marrying Gu Meisheng, even if your sister-in-law does not object, how will the world view you? Moreover, you didn’t even discuss it with me beforehand."

Disappointment filled Lian Rong’s eyes. In front of this woman, her weakness was completely exposed. Her feelings for her seemed so humble and unworthy. She said their love was not romantic love, ha!

"Lan’er, for over a decade, since the moment I fell in love with you, I have not cared about ethics or morals. What the world thinks means nothing to me!" Lian Rong buried her head into her neck, murmuring.

The Queen reached out to pat her back. "A-Rong, promise your sister-in-law that you both will separate, okay?" She did not want her to spend her life under the strange gazes of others. She was Dongyin’s Prince Rong, and Duan Rulan’s sister.

Lian Rong let out a self-mocking laugh. "Separate?" She raised her head from her neck. "Then would your sister-in-law be willing to accept treatment from the royal doctor?"

The Queen was taken aback. "A-Rong."

Lian Rong sat up straight. "If you do not love me, then do not treat me kindly. And don’t use the grand excuse of caring for me to threaten me."

The Queen looked at her in disbelief. "How can you think this of me?"

Lian Rong stared into her eyes. "I know you do not like Gu Meisheng. Although she is Gu Yuanqing’s daughter, she is nothing like her father, and her personality is very simple. You want me to separate from her? She’s a girl, how can she live her life if you make her go through this?"

"She has already been with her brother…"

"No, we have already been intimate. She is innocent," Lian Rong said expressionlessly.

The Queen turned her head away. "Since you have decided, why say all of this?"

Lian Rong looked at her coldly. "I came today to tell you, sister-in-law, that you really do not need to use this method to provoke me. Because my heart has already been deeply wounded by you. Instead of living like this, it would be better to give the royal sister a quick end, don’t you think?"

"Leave."

Lian Rong chuckled coldly. "Fine. Whenever you come to a conclusion, you can summon the royal sister to the palace anytime; this wretched life is always here for you. I will not disturb your rest, farewell, royal sister."

When Lian Rong stepped out, Li Xin was already waiting outside the hall, looking like he had just arrived. Seeing Lian Rong come out, he hurried over. "Your Highness, the Emperor asked that you go to Mingyu Hall after leaving."

Lian Rong glanced at him without emotion. "Tell the Emperor, this king cannot go today." Without waiting for Li Xin to respond, she walked around him and continued out.

Li Xin stood stunned, not knowing what to do. Usually, when Lian Rong did not attend morning court, it was by the Emperor’s direct approval. However, in general, this prince still took the Emperor’s words seriously. What was happening today? But he naturally did not dare to step forward and ask, only watching Lian Rong’s figure grow farther away.

Qian Yue was in the courtyard organizing the cleaning of the royal residence after the wedding. Just as she turned around, she saw Lian Rong walking in. She was a bit surprised. "Why are you back so soon, Your Highness? Where is the crown princess?"

The servants working in the courtyard greeted Lian Rong, who usually treated them nicely and did not act like a prince. She always wore a smiling face. But today, seeing her expressionless, and the new crown princess not returning with her, they all thought the couple had quarreled, and the new crown princess had upset their prince.

Lian Rong said nothing and walked directly towards her residence.

After instructing the servants, Qian Yue followed her. She initially wanted to ask if she needed a sedan chair but thought better of it and simply walked behind her.

Lian Rong entered the study, sat in the chair behind the desk, and rested her forehead in one hand, gently pressing. "Qian Yue, please light the bamboo smoke."

"Yes."

"Is there any news from Nanyin recently?"

"No, the Southern Emperor has seemed very busy recently. The last time someone delivered news was before Your Highness’s wedding."

Lian Rong lazily leaned back in her chair. "She is still upset with me. Lianhua is the eldest princess of Dongyin. My brother treats his children like treasures. How could he allow his precious pearl to marry her? Besides, even if my brother and sister-in-law agreed, I do not trust a woman like her with my niece."

"There are indeed many people around the Southern Emperor," Qian Yue said sincerely. It’s hard to say anything good about that.

Lian Rong, absent-mindedly playing with the pen holder on the table, said, “Since she doesn’t want to come, I’ll go south myself. You can send someone to pass the message later.” This petty woman was angry; if she got too upset, she might just organize the troops to march north.