Chapter 2 The Crown Prince Returns

Two days later, the carriages of King Huan and his heir returned to Yunzhou City, as expected.

Early that morning, everyone in the Prince's mansion began to bustle about, preparing for the return of the Prince and the Heir Apparent.

Yunzhu followed closely beside Ying Shi, step by step.

Although she had been in Yunzhou for two years, Ying Shi had never treated her as one of her own, and therefore had never properly assigned her any tasks.

No matter the occasion, she simply sat quietly or stayed by Ying Shi and Xiao Mingzhang's side.

"She's called the Crown Prince's consort, but let's see if the Princess will give her any real power?"

At a corner of the Prince's mansion's long corridor, several elegantly dressed women, seeing that Yunzhu had been following Ying Shi the whole time, couldn't help but start mocking her.

"That's right. Let alone trust, the fact that the princess didn't hate her is already a sign of kindness. How could she possibly let go of the household affairs and entrust them to such a foreign woman?"

Almost everyone in Yunzhou City knew about Yunzhu's situation.

So what if she's the heir apparent of the Huan Prince's mansion? She's just a nominal heir apparent with no real power, no freedom, and no trust from the Huan Prince's mansion.

When people share a common target for ridicule, they tend to become more cheerful and talkative. The group chatted and laughed, making sarcastic remarks while occasionally glancing in Yunzhu's direction.

Ayan saw it.

Once, twice, three times... She finally couldn't bear it any longer, leaned close to Yunzhu, and whispered, "Princess, I bet those people are gossiping about you behind your back again!"

Yunzhu got up very early today and stayed by Ying's side the whole time. Upon hearing this, she finally glanced towards the corridor.

She glanced at it once, then turned her head away again.

"It's nothing, ignore them."

She recognized the group of people in the corridor; almost all of them were young ladies from well-known and prestigious families in Yuncheng. These families were closely connected to the Huan Prince's mansion, having grown up together for many years. Because today was the day the Huan Prince and his heir were returning, they had come to welcome them.

Under normal circumstances, Yunzhu might have argued with them and, as the Crown Prince's wife, given them a minor punishment. But today was a special day, and she didn't want anything to go wrong in the manor before Xiao Mingzhang returned, so as not to needlessly affect her and his mood.

Ayan pouted, and seeing that Yunzhu didn't intend to pursue the matter, she had no choice but to suppress her displeasure for the time being.

Just then, Yu Jingsi and Cui Ranzhi arrived at the Huan Prince's residence together.

Yunzhu's eyes lit up.

Cui Ranzhi's father, Cui Zhengci, was a renowned Confucian scholar in the Central Plains. He had lived in Yunzhou for many years and was both a strategist in the Huan Prince's mansion and the teacher who raised Xiao Mingzhang. As for Yu Jingsi, she came from a family of military generals, and both her father and brother were generals under the Huan Prince.

Both of them came today with their elders to welcome the Prince and the Crown Prince back.

Ying, accompanied by Yunzhu, received them and then asked them to join the other guests who had arrived earlier to sit in the flower hall.

Yunzhu had been walking with Ying Shi all morning. It was a rare treat to see her two good friends, so she asked Ying Shi for a request and chatted with them a few more times.

"I heard that when you returned to the manor yesterday, the Princess Consort upset you?" Yu Jingsi, who was always well-informed, asked Yunzhu with concern as soon as she stepped outside the hall.

"What kind of suffering?" Cui Ranzhi's information wasn't always timely; sometimes, she couldn't match Yu Jingsi's shrewdness and resourcefulness.

She belatedly realized what was happening and asked, "Didn't you say that you went out yesterday with the Princess's permission? The Prince has been away for three months, and you've only got one day of free time."

"It's a long story," Yunzhu sighed. She wanted to explain to them, but knew that now was not the right time. She simply said, "It was just a misunderstanding. I'll tell you the details next time I have time."

Cui Ranzhi then asked, "Then the princess didn't make things difficult for you afterward, did she?"

"Don't worry, no."

Yunzhu shook her head. She was very content to have met two such caring friends in Yunzhou.

Her conversation with the two was brief, but when she returned to Ying's side, she was no longer the same as before.

Ying noticed this and couldn't help but glance at Yunzhu's face a few more times.

Unlike the light makeup of the previous days, Yunzhu wore an extremely bright and glamorous makeup today.

When Ying saw her for the first time that morning, he was momentarily stunned.

She remembered that the last time she saw her dressed and made up so beautifully was during the New Year. At that time, Yunzhu wore the same red dress as when she first entered the palace, her whole body blazing with color, even more dazzling than the rare clear sky in winter.

She said it was a custom of their Western Regions, a way of showing respect for important festivals.

Her eyebrows were naturally thick without any makeup, and her face was already outstanding even without any powder. Once she was made up, the words "national beauty" could not escape her grasp.

Although she was often not very satisfied with her daughter-in-law, Madam Ying had to admit that as a princess of a country, Yunzhu was fully worthy of her status in terms of both appearance and demeanor.

She coughed lightly, finally freeing herself from the halo of Yunzhu's gentle smile. Just as she was about to ask what she and Cui Yu had talked about, the guards who had been sent to keep watch outside the city gate early in the morning suddenly ran in.

The guard announced loudly, "They're back! The Prince and the Heir Apparent are both back!"

Ying Shi then lost all interest in Yunzhu.

She immediately called on everyone to follow her and set off to welcome the father and son who had not returned home for a long time.

—

The carriages and horses that carried King Huan home were very impressive.

From the street corner to the gate of the Prince's Mansion, the entire long street occupied by the Prince's Mansion was lined with soldiers.

Prince Huan's heir, Xiao Mingzhang, and Prince Huan, Xiao Shao, were at the very front of the army.

Yunzhu followed closely beside Ying Shi. As soon as she stepped out of the house, she saw two familiar figures dismounting from their horses.

She stopped and stood still.

Although Prince Huan, Xiao Shao, was over forty years old, his face still showed no signs of aging. His eyebrows were firm and his expression was serious. Perhaps it was a habit he had developed from years of leading troops on campaigns. Wherever he went, he always had the demeanor of a soldier.

As for Prince Huan's heir, Xiao Mingzhang, who was beside him, he was in the prime of his life, both in terms of age and appearance. Not only Yunzhu stood there stunned for a moment, but also many ladies and young women behind her stopped and marveled when they saw this handsome and refined prince.

We haven't seen each other for three months.

Yunzhu quietly looked at Xiao Mingzhang and thought that he hadn't lost much weight since they parted. The wind, frost, rain, and snow along the way seemed to have left him untouched. He was the same when he left and the same when he returned.

With sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and an imposing presence, every step he took exuded the gentlemanly demeanor cultivated from childhood.

"Your Highness! Mingzhang!"

While everyone was still in awe, Ying had already moved faster and reached her husband and son.

Yunzhu came to her senses and stepped forward, also exchanging greetings with Xiao Shao and Xiao Mingzhang.

"Father, husband."

She looked at Xiao Mingzhang, not intending to show too much of a smile, but when their eyes met, Yunzhu hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but let out a slight grin.

Xiao Mingzhang paused for a moment, then smiled at Yunzhu.

Prince Huan, Xiao Shao, was a man of quiet and reserved nature. He exchanged only a few words with Lady Ying in front of the palace gate before setting off and entering the palace.

Yunzhu naturally followed Xiao Mingzhang and Ying Shi behind him.

The young couple hadn't seen each other for a long time. Yunzhu thought that she had already prepared a lot of things to say to Xiao Mingzhang before he returned, but now that they were actually together, she really didn't know what to say first.

Xiao Mingzhang spoke first.

His voice was as warm and familiar as she knew it, as he asked, "While I was away, were you doing well at the Prince's residence?"

"It's alright." Following the principle of reciprocity, Yunzhu asked him, "Was your journey back smooth?"

"Well, there weren't any major obstacles along the way."

"That's good."

They are clearly husband and wife, but their conversation inexplicably seems to have some kind of estrangement.

Yunzhu was puzzled; she couldn't remember a single word she had planned to say to Xiao Mingzhang.

She was so engrossed in her frustration that she didn't notice that she had gone astray and was about to walk into the flowerbed on the side.

Xiao Mingzhang acted just in time, grabbing her wrist and bringing her back to the right path.

Yunzhu paused for a moment, then finally gave Xiao Mingzhang a sincere wink.

The social gatherings in the hall were tedious and uninteresting, and in Yunzhu's opinion, they were utterly devoid of fun.

But this was her duty as the Crown Prince's wife, and it was something she would have to do for the next few decades, Yun Zhu understood.

She sat in the hall with Xiao Mingzhang for a full two hours.

Finally, after two hours, they were able to return to their rooms to rest.

With fewer people paying attention, upon returning to his own courtyard, the first thing Xiao Mingzhang asked Yunzhu was, "During the months I was away, did Mother give you any trouble?"

"..."

Yunzhu never expected that the first thing he would seriously ask her after returning home would be this.

To say that Ying Shi never made things difficult for her? What about the suffering of being cooped up at home for three whole months without being allowed to go out? But to say that Ying Shi never made things difficult for her? It's as if she's some kind of petty tattletale.

She didn't say anything, but just stared straight at Xiao Mingzhang.

Xiao Mingzhang understood her meaning perfectly.

He knew his own mother better than anyone.

"You've been wronged." He gently stroked Yunzhu's cheek and whispered comfortingly.

Yunzhu felt a burn on her ear.

She already knew things would end this way.

This had happened many times before. Whenever Ying Shi made things difficult for her, it was always Xiao Mingzhang who would apologize and coax her gently in the end.

She had no intention of making things difficult for Xiao Mingzhang.

"I understand my mother's thoughts, there's no need for you to apologize again."

But these words sounded like she was compromising.

Xiao Mingzhang cupped Yunzhu's cheek in one hand, pressing down on one eyebrow, looking at her with heartache.

He stroked her delicate face, moving upwards until his fingertips touched the depths of her eyes, which were stained with rouge, before stopping.

Yunzhu tilted her head back and looked at him.

She hadn't been touched so intimately for months. Xiao Mingzhang's fingertips, rough from years of holding pens and swords, always made her incredibly sensitive whenever they rested on her cheek.

Her cheeks gradually flushed crimson, overshadowing the original rouge.

Even though autumn has just begun in Yunzhou, the indoor temperature is still stuffy.

Yunzhu quietly closed her eyes, and Xiao Mingzhang's kiss naturally landed on her forehead.

It was a very gentle touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

Then, it was the eyelashes, the tip of the nose, the philtrum, and finally, it landed on those sweet, cherry-like lips…

He finally stopped being gentle, gripping her waist tightly with both hands, making her feel like a caged bird, only able to cling to his arms.

Yunzhu shuddered.

She hadn't experienced such intimacy for three months since Xiao Mingzhang left.

The moment her lips were completely enveloped, all her senses were instantly revived.

She was held in Xiao Mingzhang's arms, and at the same time, she wrapped her arms around Xiao Mingzhang's neck.

Their eyes met.

Yunzhu suddenly remembered what Ayan had said yesterday: "...Everyone says that Jinling is rich and prosperous, and the floor tiles in the palace are made of jade. Xiao Mingzhang, did you bring back a jade brick for me this time?"

Xiao Mingzhang chuckled softly without saying a word, only tightening his grip on her waist even more.

It's already autumn.

Yet spring water still flowed gently, irrigating the palace and leaving the floor damp.

A note from the author:

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Yay! Updated! I'll try my best to update before midnight every night from now on~