Chapter 120 How could Xiao Che treat her like this? ...

Inside Chenghuan Palace, Yan Jiarou was tending to the two red plum blossoms she had picked a few days ago at the table when Yingxue came in carrying a plate of snow cream pastries. As she placed the plate on the table, she said, "My lady, I just saw Ji Le. She asked me to pass on a message to you."

Yan Jiarou picked up a piece of sorbet and put it in her mouth. After chewing it a couple of times, the sorbet melted in her mouth. It was sweet, soft, and delicious. She couldn't resist eating another piece, but Xiao Che didn't allow her to eat too many sweets. She had already restrained herself a lot for him. After hesitatingly finishing the third piece, she finally reluctantly stopped taking any more from the plate.

It was only at this moment that he remembered to ask Yingxue, "Hmm... Ji Le? What could she possibly have to say to me?"

Yingxue said, "They said they accidentally bumped into you a few days ago and wanted to apologize to you in person. They asked to meet you at Bixian Pavilion tomorrow at Shenshi (3-5 PM)."

“The Pavilion of Avoiding Immortals? Is it the Pavilion of Avoiding Immortals in the bamboo grove on the west side of Qionghua Island? In the past, my father loved to admire the flowers here with the Imperial Concubine. The palace servants dared not approach, and they privately called it the Pavilion of Avoiding Immortals. Although the Imperial Concubine is no longer here, it is still rarely visited and is very secluded.”

"If she wants to apologize, why doesn't she come to Chenghuan Palace herself? Instead, she makes me go to a place like that. I'm not going."

Xiao Che calling her Little Rabbit wasn't without reason; she was even more timid than a rabbit, and she was bound to be a little scared going to such secluded places as the palace. She wouldn't go unless Xiao Che invited her.

As she spoke, a faint blush rose to her cheeks, as if she had just thought of something.

She muttered, "Hmm... Tell her that if she has anything to say, she should come to Chenghuan Palace to find me. I won't go to Bixian Pavilion."

Yingxue said, "That's what I told her too, but she said she had prepared a big gift for the princess, which could only be seen at the Bixian Pavilion. She also said that if the princess didn't go, it meant she wouldn't forgive her."

"Because of her discord with the princess, she has already been rejected by His Highness. If the princess refuses to forgive her, she will be driven out of Hanguang Palace sooner or later. She has been by the side of the Consort since she was a child and has long regarded the Consort and her son as her only masters. The Consort has passed away. If the Third Prince also doesn't want her anymore, then she will not live."

Upon hearing this, Yan Jiarou frowned and said, "Why are you making it sound so serious? Xiao Che treats her like family, so she's different from the other maids. How could he abandon her? Is it because I often complain to him and say bad things about her..."

She immediately covered her lips, a hint of guilt in her voice: "Yingxue...am I too bad...?"

"How could that be? The master is the kindest. It's just that she always targets you for no reason. If you were to be disrespectful to your superior, you would be beaten to death if you encountered a master who mistreats his servants."

"That's too serious... To be honest, it's just a small matter, I didn't take it to heart. We're both women, we don't need to be as calculating as we are with men. I don't want anything to really happen to her because of me..."

Yan Jiarou rested her chin on her hand, leaning against the table, while her other hand fiddled with the red plum blossoms diagonally inserted in the glass vase: "I think I know why she asked me to meet her at Bixian Pavilion. After the Consort died, I heard that only she was allowed to frequently enter and leave Bixian Pavilion to tend to the flowers and plants that the Consort loved in her lifetime. During that time, she also planted some new varieties. Could it be that she invited me there because she saw that I love red plum blossoms and wanted to give me a splendid floral display as an apology?"

Yingxue nodded and said, "Yes, that's right. I was just about to tell you, Your Highness. When she asked me to pass on a message, she specifically mentioned that since it is winter now, many flowers and plants in the palace have already withered. However, the Bixian Pavilion is surrounded by the Yulan Pond, where the flowers are nourished by hot spring water and bloom all year round. If the princess likes flowers, she must not miss this magnificent sight."

Yan Jiarou's eyes lit up: "I knew it! Since that's the case, I think she's sincerely apologizing. If I don't go, I'll seem petty. I should go!"

Yan Jiarou originally wanted to bring Yingxue along, but the next day Yingxue developed a rash on her face for some reason. She was not used to taking others out, so she went to the appointment alone.

By late afternoon, when the sky was bright, going to the Bixian Pavilion wasn't a problem. Although it was remote, Ji Le was waiting for her there, so she wasn't alone.

——

After entering Qionghua Island, continue walking forward, and soon you will reach the Purple Bamboo Forest. The bamboo leaves are dense and block out the sun. When the wind blows, they rustle and make the surroundings even more tranquil.

At the end of the bamboo grove lies the Pavilion of Avoiding Immortals.

Just as she was about to leave the woods, she suddenly stepped on a dry branch, which made a cracking sound.

Almost simultaneously, a voice came from the Bixian Pavilion.

In the quiet surroundings, human voices sound even more abrupt and clear.

"Why did you pluck the red plum blossoms that you planted for me and give them to that vile woman?"

It was Ji Le's voice; she had indeed been waiting for her at the Bixian Pavilion!

Such punctuality does indeed show some sincerity.

Yan Jiarou had already forgiven most of her in her heart and was about to appear and greet her when she belatedly realized something was amiss: She had said, "Why did you pluck the red plum blossoms that you planted for me and give them to that vile woman?" Pluck the red plum blossoms? Why did that sound so familiar? Could she be talking about her? But wasn't she here to apologize and make peace? Why was she scolding her?

And if she really was insulting her, then the person she was talking to...

She suddenly raised her head.

All she could see was Ji Le. The person standing opposite her was hidden behind a pavilion pillar. She could only catch a glimpse of his brocade robe, which was the color of sky blue after rain and looked vaguely familiar.

For some reason, she suddenly felt extremely flustered. She desperately wanted to verify something, and just as she was about to step forward, the person opposite Ji Le suddenly spoke up: "I'm just afraid she'll cause trouble for me, it's just annoying to listen to her. She's just a fool, why are you arguing with her?"

Her voice was like a clear spring flowing through a ravine, or jade striking stones, extremely clear and pleasant to listen to.

His tone was as nonchalant as ever.

That was... Xiao Che's voice!

Yan Jiarou's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth tightly.

Xiao Che actually had a secret rendezvous with Ji Le in such a secluded place as the Drunken Immortal Pavilion!

What is their relationship? And when he mentioned her, he said she was "just a fool," his tone not like a joke, but a clear contempt and disdain.

Jia Rou bit her lip, feeling an overwhelming sadness welling up inside her.

She always thought that although she wasn't very smart, Xiao Che didn't mind and still liked her very much.

But so... he... he actually looked down on her so much...

What about all those things he said to her before? He said he only loved her, and he would always love her… If that's the case, why is he here with Ji Le?!

She wanted to go up and ask for clarification immediately, but she also felt like she was torturing herself and couldn't help but want to keep listening. Just as she was hesitating, she saw Ji Le say with a rather resentful tone, "Is that so? But I always feel that you are spoiling her too much. It's just an act, is it really necessary to do this? Aren't you afraid that I will be jealous?"

"Otherwise, how can we trick her into coming away from Xiao Jue?"

"I already told you she's just a fool. Why are you jealous of her? Sister Ji Le took care of me since I was little. How can she compare to the bond between you and me?"

Ji Le smiled, but then said reproachfully, "When will you break up with her? I can't wait a moment longer to see you two being all lovey-dovey."

"Soon. Once I ascend to the position of Crown Prince, she will be of no use anymore, and I will naturally kick her aside."

"Really? Although she's incredibly stupid, she's undeniably beautiful and charming. You really can't bear to part with her?"

"No matter how reluctant I am, it's not as important as Sister Ji Le."

"Besides, to me, she was nothing more than a tool, a tool to take revenge on Xiao Jue and make him suffer and become decadent. I had no true feelings for her, only the desire to use her."

"real?"

"Of course it's true. Have you forgotten why I approached her in the first place? I know that Xiao Jue likes her and regards her as the most important person in his life. If I take her away from him, he will inevitably become depressed and lose his fighting spirit, or he might do something unwise in desperation. And either way, it will greatly benefit my struggle for the throne."

"Furthermore, Yan Jiarou has been at odds with me since childhood. Although Xiao Jue and I are both her brothers, she only treats him well. Every year on my birthday, she either forgets or is extremely perfunctory, just giving me any random item as a birthday gift. She treats me worse than a servant in the palace. I hate her and resent her. I have a long-standing grudge against her and have always wanted to find an opportunity to take revenge on her."

"Heaven has eyes. It actually arranged for a spirit fox to help me. She contracted a strange disease, and only my blood essence could relieve the restlessness in her body. This gave me an opportunity to get close to her. Later I found out that she was actually easily swayed by both soft words and hard words. As long as I said a few sweet words and made up a few vows of eternal love, she would believe them and be overjoyed."

"People from Lanling have always been exceptionally talented in matters of love and sex, and are most adept at flirting and seduction. How could a young girl who has never experienced love resist her? Especially after experiencing love, she has become addicted and naturally can't live without me, becoming more and more infatuated with me every day. Not long ago, I deliberately told her I didn't want her, but she still begged me desperately, playing tricks like threatening suicide. To be with me, she even abandoned her dignity as a young woman—you tell me, how much she must like me."

"Ah, the more she acts like this, the happier I feel."

"Didn't she hate me the most and look down on me the most? But later she obediently let me fuck her in bed, and did whatever I asked her to do. She was incredibly obedient. The contrast between her before and after is really satisfying."

"Now that I have achieved my goal of revenge against her, and I have also had my fill of her body, all that is left is for Xiao Jue to be deposed. Once I sit on the throne, she will no longer be of any use to me, and I will naturally kick her aside at that time. For now, you should be more patient. We will have plenty of opportunities to get closer in the future, so why be bound by this moment?"

"Alright then, Xiao Che, I always believe you." Ji Le said, leaning against the person opposite her, and said to him, "It's just that the fact that she broke off the red plum tree that day really made me angry. That red plum tree was our love tree, and that wretched woman actually broke it... Originally, you and I should have been snuggling together to admire the red plum tree, but now I get angry just seeing that red plum tree, so I'll punish you by making you admire the rare and exotic flowers of this Bixian Pavilion with me. Although it's winter, the scenery here is even better than in spring."

“Okay,” the man wrapped his arms around her and said softly, “Of course I will listen to Sister Ji Le.”

What a loving scene of a couple in love.

Yan Jiarou looked at the two people not far away and felt a tearing pain in her heart, as if it was being violently pulled out of her chest, or as if a barbed dagger was being stabbed into her and twisted back and forth until her flesh was bloody and she was in unbearable pain.

It hurts so much, it really hurts, why does it hurt so much?

She had never felt this way before; she was helpless and lost, standing there blankly.

At an age when they hadn't fully grasped the meaning of love and affection, they were given such a bloody lesson.

That's really cruel.

My vision gradually blurred, and when I raised my hand, I realized that tears had unknowingly streamed down my face.

Xiao Che's face seemed to reappear before my eyes, still handsome and alluring, uttering sweet words of love.

However, her vision was blurred by tears, and she could no longer see him clearly.

Yes, it seems she never truly saw him...

“Xiao Che,” she said softly, “why…why did you treat me like this? Why did you say such things…”

"Do you know how hurtful it is for me to hear you say that?"

But no one could answer her; he was holding Ji Le in his arms, gently comforting her, just as he had always done for her.

He hugged another woman... How disgusting...

Perhaps she was extremely saddened, or perhaps this realization brought her great shock, she felt a slight nausea.

It turns out it was all a lie.

Xiao Che's affection for her was a complete deception.

He's full of lies; not a single word of it is true. He's a complete fraud!

He was just using her, taking revenge on her, treating her as a tool, a plaything. It's ridiculous that before today, she always thought he liked her so much.

Her nails dug deep into her palms, yet she felt no pain at all.

He seemed completely lost.

After an unknown amount of time, she suddenly seemed to realize something and stared intently ahead.

After the heartache and sorrow reach their peak, a furious counterattack of anger and resentment ensues.

Why? Why did he treat her like this?!

She wanted to get to the bottom of it! She wanted to know how he planned to repay what he owed her!

Just as she was about to step forward, a hand suddenly reached out from behind and grabbed her.