Chapter 52 Too Attractive So she quickened her breakfast and then...
So she quickly finished her breakfast and followed Chu Yixin to the main room.
I glanced into the study, but no one was there.
"Perhaps the master is in his bedroom. Would you like to go and check?"
Jiang Zhuoying nodded, not yet noticing the change in the other person's address, and simply turned around in another direction.
Stepping into the bedroom, I glanced around; no one was there.
She hesitated for a few moments, then walked around the screen and called out, "Your Highness?"
Upon entering the other side of the screen, there was still no one there.
Where did that hypocrite go?
What are you doing here?
The two spoke at the same time, and Jiang Zhuoying froze, cold sweat suddenly pouring down her back.
She stiffened and turned around, only to find the person walking out of the hidden door, wearing only underwear, his upper body wet, the muscles of his chest and abdomen clearly visible, and a bath towel casually draped over his shoulders.
The girl suddenly turned around, her hands clenched into fists, her voice shrill: "How could you do this!"
How could anyone build a bathhouse inside a hidden door?!
"What did you call me just now?" The voice was hoarse and cold.
Jiang Zhuoying broke out in a cold sweat even more profusely. She swallowed hard and said, "Your Highness, I'm calling for you."
"Really?" The two words, spoken slowly, sent a chill down her spine.
"Do you know what punishment you will receive for deceiving me?"
He spoke of punishment, but his tone remained calm, showing no sign of anger.
The footsteps behind her slowly approached, and Jiang Zhuoying suddenly turned around with her eyes closed.
The girl lowered her head, her voice soft: "I didn't mean to..."
"Since you addressed him as Your Highness, why apologize?"
The girl paused noticeably, her voice becoming even more slurred: "Second Prince, I'm sorry..."
The man's breathing was slightly heavier than before, and his voice was deep: "You dare to say anything, but you don't dare to open your eyes?"
He looked down at the stiff little girl, noticing her fair ears gradually turning pink, her voice trembling as she lowered her head, and her slender fingers fidgeting.
"Go wait in the study."
Jiang Zhuoying felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She nodded hurriedly and quickly turned and slipped away.
...
She arrived at the study with lingering fear, only to find Chu Yixin waiting there, clutching the same secret letter as always.
Chu Yixin's eyes lit up when she saw her: "Miss Jiang, have you seen your master?"
Jiang Zhuoying nodded absentmindedly, "Mm."
"Why didn't the master come along?" He glanced back twice.
"Oh, she's changing."
You can't come out with your upper body bare, can you?
"Oh, changing clothes..."
Jiang Zhuoying was taken aback, and when she turned around, she met Eunuch Chu's bright eyes.
"No, Eunuch Chu, His Highness just finished bathing."
"Yes, yes, I understand! My family has served in the palace before, what haven't we seen?"
Chu Yixin comforted her with a smile, her expression more joyful than ever before.
Jiang Zhuoying: "..."
If she stays here any longer, her reputation may be ruined.
"Sir? You've arrived?"
Chu Yixin suddenly bowed respectfully behind Jiang Zhuoying.
Jiang Zhuoying pinched her thumb and forefinger, then turned around and curtsied.
She knew that Chu Yixin had sent a secret letter, and she wondered if she could glean any insights from it.
"Why are you still standing here?" he asked, his tone displeased.
The girl stood frozen in place, stammering uncertainly, "Then...where should I stand?"
Seeing that she was still in a daze as before, Qi Fan pursed his thin lips and pointed to the soft couch by the window: "Go."
"...Thank you, Your Highness."
Jiang Zhuoying turned around, her back to Qi Fan and Chu Yixin, took a deep breath, and calmed herself down...
She had already heard palace secrets at Yuanbao Tower.
As the girl slowly leaned back on the soft couch, changed into a more comfortable position, and then gently nibbled on the fish and lean meat porridge that had been specially prepared for her on the kang table.
Qi Fan withdrew his gaze, and Chu Yixin immediately presented the secret letter in her hand.
Jiang Zhuoying chewed on the bland porridge, but her peripheral vision and ears were meticulously focused on the direction of the desk.
The sound of the letter being torn...
Then the room was quiet for a while.
"My third brother wants to choose a concubine."
Qi Fan raised his hand and handed the letter to Chu Yixin.
Jiang Zhuoying paused, "A concubine?"
Jiang Ying is the principal wife, but she hasn't even officially married into the family yet, and they're already starting to select concubines?
Isn't this a bit too hasty?
Chu Yixin suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "The Third Prince's mistress is already pregnant?"
Jiang Zhuoying: "???"
The sound of the spoon hitting the porcelain bowl was crisp and pleasant.
Both of them looked towards the girl on the soft couch—
Qi Fan raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly: "What?"
Jiang Zhuoying barely managed to steady herself, picked up a handkerchief from the side to wipe the corner of her mouth, and after a moment's thought, spoke softly.
"Is what Eunuch Chu said just now true? I was just too surprised."
Upon hearing this, Chu Yixin glanced at her master and, having received tacit approval, nodded in explanation.
"Yes, according to the scouts, the Third Prince's mistress is pregnant."
He glanced at Jiang Zhuoying, then at Qi Fan.
Before even entering the main wife's household, his concubine was already pregnant; the Third Prince was truly shameless.
But then he thought again, it was indeed the Third Prince's child, so why was his master completely unmoved?
Jiang Zhuoying did not hide her surprise. If she wasn't surprised, then it would be suspicious.
Right now, she only has Jiang Ying in her heart. Jiang Ying is her uncle's legitimate daughter and has been raised as a true lady of a prominent family since childhood.
Well-mannered, dutiful, knowledgeable and reasonable...
Although her relationship with Jiang Ying wasn't exactly intimate, it wasn't bad either.
She knew Jiang Ying well; given Jiang Ying's personality, her marriage would definitely be decided entirely by her parents.
She was obedient from a young age; in her words, she was filial and obedient.
But the affair being pregnant...
She couldn't bear to watch her jump into the fire, even though her fake smallpox was most likely related to her uncle and his family.
However, she had not yet investigated the matter thoroughly and could not be certain that it was related to Jiang Ying.
After several rounds of deliberation, she had made up her mind.
She wants to attend the Third Prince's birthday banquet too!
When she made her decision and looked up again, she found that Eunuch Chu had already disappeared.
As for the aloof and profound Second Prince, he had already taken his seat behind the desk.
Jiang Zhuoying glanced at the porridge in her hand, then suddenly spoke in a sweet and soft voice, "...Second Prince, you are so good to me."
The man's right hand, which was holding the wolf-hair brush, paused slightly. He slowly raised his head and narrowed his eyes.
He hadn't said anything, but Jiang Zhuoying knew what he meant.
The girl continued in a soft voice, "This porridge melts in your mouth, and the fish slices and lean meat inside are fragrant and tender. I suppose it was specially ordered for me by the Second Prince?"
The man remained expressionless: "Hmm."
The girl was flattered and surprised: "I never thought that the Second Prince really cared about me!"
"In that case, after much thought, I've decided to repay you."
Qi Fan finally looked at him properly, his voice indifferent: "Have you thought it through?"
Jiang Zhuoying choked for a moment, then said coquettishly, "Second Prince, you really are something. You clearly promised me a three-month deadline, how can you go back on your word?"
Qi Fan lowered his eyes, staring at the marriage proposal on the table.
The time is not yet right.
For him, it made no difference whether it was March or the third day.
No matter what, she can only be his.
He heard his own low, hoarse voice ask: "How do you want to repay me?"
The girl licked her lips: "Yesterday, His Highness said that he originally wanted to invite me to the Third Prince's birthday celebration?"
The man looked up, his gaze sharp and intense, making her feel uneasy.
"Well, I was just thinking that the Third Prince clearly invited me, but if I didn't go, wouldn't that be disrespecting you?"
"If word gets out that this matter, and people say that even the concubines in the Second Prince's room dare to disobey him, wouldn't that damage the Second Prince's prestige?"
"So?" The man's eyes held a half-smile.
"So, after much thought, I decided it would be best to accompany my brother, the Second Prince."
Qi Fan didn't take her change of heart seriously.
The young girl is naturally fickle, and it's perfectly normal for her to be curious and unusual after learning about her third brother's situation.
He nodded casually, granting her request.
The Third Prince's birthday is in half a month. During this period, Jiang Zhuoying is kept under close watch, and she can't find a chance to leave the mansion alone. Naturally, she can't meet with Xiangyue.
Half a month later, the wound on her shoulder had healed, but just as Ah Liu had said, a long scar remained on the surface.
Eunuch Chu brought a lot of scar-removing ointment. Although Jiang Zhuoying felt bad, she had no choice but to accept it since things had come to this.
She applied different scar-removing creams every day, hoping the scar would fade as much as possible.
Besides, Jiang Zhuoying also went to the study every day, but instead of being the one serving others, she became the one being served.
The soft couch in the study had become her territory, piled high with pillows, cushions, and even the soft mats had been replaced with her favorite patterns.
The kitchen in the courtyard would also send her delicious food every day, not only with different dishes but also with careful preparation, which was very beneficial to the recovery of her wounds.
As for the desk prepared for her, she hasn't even sat on it lately.
Whenever a man showed any interest, she would raise her arms and whine.
"Second Prince, you are so cruel. Seeing that I am so badly injured, you still have to make me unhappy."
Upon hearing this, Qi Fan glanced at her indifferently and did not urge her any further.
These days, Jiang Zhuoying no longer needs to avoid the situation; she has overheard many secrets of the court in this unassuming study.
For example, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy was a man of the Second Prince.
The Prime Minister is afraid of his wife.
The Third Prince's favorite concubines are the daughter of the Minister of War and the daughter of the Prefect of the Capital...
Even Jiang Zhuoying, a sheltered young lady who never concerned herself with court affairs, knew that this third prince was indeed ambitious.
The emperor is still alive, yet he wishes he could marry every young lady who could be of benefit to him.
I wonder if his princely residence can accommodate him!
Finding a spare moment, Jiang Zhuoying, with a stern face, secretly wrote down everything she knew about the Third Prince's outrageous deeds.
She had to find a way to deliver this message to Jiang Ying at the Third Prince's birthday banquet.
But the most difficult thing she faced was not how to deliver the message, but how to deliver the message with such a face.
She must not be recognized by Jiang Ying.
After much thought, Jiang Zhuoying could only come up with one solution: to cover her face with a veil on the day of her birthday banquet.
...
On the day of the Third Prince's birthday banquet, Jiang Zhuoying wore a moon-white gauze dress with a high waist. She had thought it through and decided that she should wear a more low-key color to avoid attracting attention.
However, since the color is so understated, the style cannot be too understated either, otherwise it would be inappropriate for it to stand next to the Second Prince.
This ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) appears understated and reserved, while the gauze fabric adds a touch of lightness. Most importantly, it matches her face towel perfectly, creating a harmonious look.
Jiang Zhuoying was very satisfied with her appearance until she excitedly walked out of the room, only to be hit hard by a single sentence from someone.
The man's face was cold and stern, and his tone brooked no argument: "Go back and change into a dress."
The girl's eyes widened: "Why?"
"Is it not pretty?"
Qi Fan lowered his eyes and stared at the ethereal girl in front of him. He didn't know why she was wearing a face mask today. Her white gauze dress stood in the light and shadow, her slender waist was like water, and she was as pure as a fairy descended to earth.
After a long silence, under Jiang Zhuoying's increasingly suspicious gaze, he swallowed hard and said, "It's not appropriate."
Too attractive.
The girl immediately replied, her brows furrowed: "What part is unsuitable?"
The man remained expressionless and said calmly, "It's windy today, and this material is too thin."
Jiang Zhuoying: "..."
The reason was perfectly valid, but she remained frozen in place: "I'm not cold."
The man remained unmoved.
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Author's Note: Yingbao: How could anyone build a private room inside a hidden door?! Shameless!
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