Chapter 10 You can delay it for a while, but you can't delay it forever...

Aunt Fangchun was overjoyed and quickly bowed in agreement, "This servant will have someone tidy up the bedroom right away. Will Your Highness come to dine with the Princess tonight?"

Yan Xuecui noticed the person beside her pause in breathing for a moment, and couldn't help but purse her lips: "Mm."

He wanted to see what the princess, who had declared she would "never marry him even if it meant death" and had been avoiding him for over half a month, was really up to.

Chi Ying was momentarily stunned, thinking she had misheard. After a long while, she realized that King Zhao had agreed.

He actually wants to share a room with me?

Chi Ying returned to Shuyu Zhai in a daze, feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

Although when Xiangqin returned to the manor to deliver a message, she intentionally mentioned that she and Prince Zhao had not yet consummated their marriage, it was only to urge Lady Yin to make a decision sooner, and she never thought that she herself would have to go through this.

Her marriage into the royal family was merely a transaction with Madam Yin. She handled the marriage arrangements for Chi Yingyue, while Madam Yin sought medical treatment and medicine for her mother. It was agreed that King Zhao's life was nearing its end, and she might not even get to see him before he passed away.

But how did things come to this...?

She had already used a cold as an excuse, and she couldn't keep getting sick. But she had to leave eventually. She couldn't pretend to be Chi Yingyue forever. If it was a pretense, it was hard to guarantee that it wouldn't be exposed. Besides, how could the Yin family mother and daughter allow her to live a life of luxury forever?

She had a vague feeling that she wouldn't stay here for long.

Being an invisible person in the mansion is one thing, and she can barely manage to exchange greetings and conversations occasionally, but to consummate the marriage with Prince Zhao would inevitably mean sharing a bed and having the de facto relationship of husband and wife.

Remembering the pictures in the album that Aunt Fangchun had given her, depicting men and women entwined, even though King Zhao couldn't see them and she had to take the initiative...

Just thinking about these things made Chi Ying feel her blood rushing to her head, her head throbbing, and her breathing becoming labored.

Back at Shuyuzhai, Qingzhi, Yinqiao, and the others were already busy making arrangements outside.

With dragon and phoenix candles, gilded curtains, mandarin duck brocade quilts, and even sheets with a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons pattern, the bedroom was decorated as festive as a wedding night in less than half a day.

Chi Ying was doing needlework absentmindedly in the side room when Xiang Qin and Bao Shan came over from the main house, both looking worried.

"Does the Third Miss truly intend to consummate her marriage with Prince Zhao?"

"I've heard that King Zhao is ruthless, and no woman can escape his bed alive... Perhaps you could think of another way?"

Xiangqin had been instructed by Lady Yin not to allow Chi Ying to use her charms to curry favor, but since King Zhao had taken the initiative to propose to share a room with him, it was beyond their ability to stop him.

Chi Ying said helplessly, "Do I have any other options? We can only delay it for a while, not forever."

She had spent many days with King Zhao and her opinion of his character had improved, but she had never seen him in bed, and she felt a vague sense of unease.

In the worst-case scenario, King Zhao would torture her using those legendary cruel and tyrannical methods... Thinking of this, Chi Ying's face turned pale, and she clenched her fingers tightly.

If that's the case, she'll fight to the death to escape. King Zhao only tortures women for his own amusement, so he probably wouldn't go so far as to kill the queen he married by imperial decree.

Now, she feels trapped in an invisible vortex, constantly being pushed forward, unable to control her own destiny. She'll just have to take it one step at a time for now.

...

After noon, the Prince's kitchen began preparations. It was the first time His Highness and Princess were dining together, so no one dared to be negligent. As the sun began to set, the carefully prepared dishes were neatly served on the table.

King Zhao did indeed arrive.

Chi Ying stood under the corridor and saw him walking gracefully towards her in a white robe with ink-wash patterns, holding a bamboo cane. He was tall and composed, and she vaguely recalled the poem she had read in her childhood, "The piled stones are like jade, and the rows of pines are like emeralds."

As she approached, she bowed respectfully, and Yan Xuecui heard the clear, melodious sound of the jade tassels swaying beneath her ears as she moved.

There were stone steps under the corridor. Chi Ying hesitated for a moment, but still did not go forward to help. Yuan De was right beside her, so he shouldn't need her help.

Yuan De had expected the princess to offer him a helping hand, but to his surprise, she did not. When he stepped forward to take the prince's arm, the prince stopped him and stepped onto the stairs on his own.

Yuan De felt a chill run down his spine, as if the air around him had frozen into ice.

I glanced up discreetly and saw that His Highness seemed...unhappy.

Having served His Highness for many years, Yuan De had developed a knack for reading people's expressions and feelings. He even felt that this slight unease was due to... the Princess not offering to help him up.

Could it be that His Highness has truly taken a liking to the Princess? That's why he's sending people to bandage and apply medicine, sending earrings, and even personally promising to move back from Yan Gui Lou to share a room with the Princess.

However, His Highness had seen the message delivered by the secret guards, and his fingertips even lingered on the words "arrogant and domineering" and "would rather die than marry" for a long time.

Could it be that tonight's sharing of the room is an attempt to test the depth of the princess's feelings?

Or is it that His Highness has indeed taken Consort Zhuang's words to heart and also wants a little prince?

Yuan De dared not let his mind wander. He suppressed his confusion and cautiously entered the room to serve.

The round table made of rosewood was laden with dishes. Although Yan Xuecui was blind, the rich aroma of the food in the air had already reached his nose. He could even smell that the dishes were arranged according to his previous preferences.

Over the years, he has lost his appetite. Whether it's delicacies or simple meals, they are all just food to fill his stomach, and there is no difference to him.

Blindness affects his hearing and sense of smell, as well as his sense of taste. He can distinguish the five flavors more clearly than before, but that's all. Sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy flavors cannot bring him any pleasure or stimulation. Even the unknown of what the next bite of food will be and what it will taste like makes him extremely restless and uneasy.

Of course, he didn't show his irritation on his face, but Yuan De still keenly sensed the subtly chilly atmosphere.

Remembering the lesson he had just learned, Yuan De handed the bowls, plates, and silver chopsticks for serving the food to Chi Ying, and said with a smile, "I'm sorry to trouble Your Highness to serve you food, Princess."

Chi Ying was slightly taken aback, then reached out and took it.

Fortunately, she had nothing to do in the afternoon and did some research for the dinner. She inquired with the kitchen about King Zhao's preferences and memorized the dishes for the evening so that she wouldn't be clueless when King Zhao asked.

She knew that King Zhao used to enjoy eating fish, and that servants would serve him food at every meal. Therefore, even though he was now blind, the kitchen would not specially prepare dishes that were easy to chew and avoid foods with many bones and thorns. Instead, they would arrange the food according to King Zhao's previous preferences.

Chi Ying first served him a bowl of soup. "Your Highness, this tofu soup is made with chicken broth as the base, and silver fish, ham and dried scallops are added. The tofu is soft and tender and flavorful, and the soup is fresh but not greasy. Your Highness, please try it, but be careful as it's hot."

Yan Xue nodded and accepted it, smiling, "Thank you."

His chopsticks-holding hands were long and slender, as if carved from the finest white jade. His dining posture was elegant and composed, slow and deliberate, reflecting the refined nobility ingrained in his very being, befitting a member of the imperial family.

Chi Ying hastily shifted her gaze from his bobbing Adam's apple, and while he was drinking soup, she picked up another piece of golden minced fish and placed it on his plate. "This dish of golden minced fish and jade slices has thin, translucent, and crystal-clear sea bass slices, as white as jade, and bright orange and soft minced fish, which is exceptionally delicious."

Yan Xuecui put down her soup bowl, picked up a piece of sea bass, and slowly savored it. Finally, she smiled and said, "Not bad."

Chi Ying then served him several more dishes, describing each one in detail.

Yuan De secretly sweated. His Highness always insisted on not speaking while eating or sleeping. They were used to keeping quiet when serving food, and they were afraid that even the sound of chopsticks hitting the bowls and plates would displease His Highness. Who knew that the Princess Consort would talk so much? Fortunately, His Highness suppressed his temper and responded relatively gently, without losing his temper on the spot, which was enough to give the Princess Consort face.

After the meal, Yan Xuecui found that eating was not such a tedious thing after all.

That gentle voice brushed past his ear, telling him the name of each dish, what ingredients were used, and reminding him whether it was sweet or spicy, hot or cold. He chewed slowly, and these dishes that he usually didn't find interesting suddenly seemed to have a myriad of flavors.

Yan Xuecui drank half a bowl of soup, put down the lotus bowl, and asked her, "How is the food at the Prince's residence? Is the Princess Consort used to it?"

Chi Ying said, "I'm used to it, and I don't have any dietary restrictions."

She was not particular about food or clothing, and even reported her preferences to the kitchen to be the same dishes that Chi Yingyue liked, so as not to cause any problems if Chi Yingyue entered the mansion in the future.

As she served food to King Zhao, she ate slowly herself, thinking that if she put more food on his plate, she could buy him some time, and perhaps they wouldn't have to consummate their marriage tonight.

But a dinner meal always runs out eventually.

At the end of the hour of You (5-7 PM), Yan Xue rinsed his mouth with tea, and Qing Ze also brought over the bamboo slips he often read.

Shuyu Zhai used to be Yan Xuecui's bedroom, but after he went blind, he got used to recuperating at Yan Gui Lou. The dungeon he frequented was located at the bottom of Yan Gui Lou, so he simply stayed there from then on.

Today, Shuyu Zhai was rearranged. Chi Ying saw that the multi-treasure pavilion, crescent table, bookshelves, and scroll jars had been filled with many of Prince Zhao's items, and she felt uneasy.

Does this mean he intends to stay here permanently?

Qingzhi came forward and said that the hot water in the clean room was ready, and invited her to take a bath.

As for what to do after bathing, that goes without saying.

Chi Ying glanced at King Zhao, who was sitting idly on the couch drinking tea. He clearly had no intention of leaving, and her heart sank. She had no choice but to go take a bath first.

Considering it was the first time the two masters had shared a room, aside from the tedious formalities, Aunt Fangchun and Qingzhi prepared everything as if it were their wedding night.

Looking at the baskets of fresh flower petals and fragrant balms and perfumes, Chi Ying thought for a moment and then instructed Qingzhi, "Let's not use flower petals and perfumes today. I'm just recovering from a cold, and the smell of these spices still makes me feel a little uncomfortable."

Her body was filled with a rich fragrance, which inevitably made King Zhao feel that she was eager to please him. She needed to minimize her presence in his life so that he could neither see her face nor smell her fragrance...

Oh, and she also wanted to wear thicker pajamas, making herself feel bulky and unsightly, so she could just say she was recovering from a cold and was afraid of catching a chill...

How could he possibly regain his interest under such circumstances?

A note from the author:

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Aying: Presence -1-1-1...

King Zhao: Presence +10086, *sucks and kisses* [orange heart]

30 more little red envelopes to come! [starry-eyed]