Chapter Twenty-Four
Yinreng thought he might be hallucinating; it seemed like he heard Princess Fucha say...
He's out of strength?
In the soft candlelight, the noble and composed Crown Prince appeared somewhat ethereal. Seeing that he was looking at her without answering, Jialuo looked at him in confusion for a few moments. After hesitating, she seemed to understand the meaning that his clear and calm eyes were trying to convey.
Today is a joyous wedding day, and the wedding night is just around the corner. Who has the mind to worry about whether they are hungry?
We'll be doing some strenuous work soon, so if we eat too much, we might get appendicitis!
Jialuo's face, without makeup, was delicate and beautiful with a touch of baby fat. Her pretty eyes sparkled like a galaxy, and when she looked at him, they were full of smiles and adoring infatuation.
"Since Your Highness is not hungry, why don't we prepare some water for a bath?" Jialuo remembered that on such a busy and hot day, even if ice basins were prepared, they wouldn't be of much use in such a busy place as a wedding banquet.
After a busy day, you're bound to be sweaty. Even if you don't smell bad, it's still good to take a shower first.
First he was criticized for being weak, then for being covered in sweat. Even the refined, noble, and composed Crown Prince began to feel uncomfortable.
"Hmm, prepare the water." Yinreng didn't think he was covered in sweat, but after a busy day, he did feel sticky and uncomfortable.
"Your Highness, would you like to try the flower petal scented lotion? It was made by my maid with various kinds of flower petals. It leaves a light, refreshing fragrance after washing. I wonder if Your Highness is allergic to any flowers?"
Jialuo looked at the handsome and noble Yinreng in front of her. As soon as she finished speaking, she realized that she had said the wrong thing. How could a man have the scent of flowers on him?
Her crown prince should have a faint scent of bamboo. It was said that royal men all had a scent of ambergris. Jialuo couldn't help but take a few steps forward, get close to the crown prince, and take a sniff.
The prince, who was being sucked in, subconsciously squeezed the teacup in his hand, feeling that he and Princess Fucha were somewhat out of place, with completely different styles.
“I’m not allergic, but how can a man wear floral scents, Princess Fucha… don’t bring up this topic again.” Yinreng’s face was cold, his refined temperament carrying a chill, as if he was somewhat impatient.
So, don't secretly wonder if someone is effeminate or not!
"Your Highness, I am no longer Consort Fucha, but your Crown Princess!" Jialuo also corrected him very seriously, as this title represented her status and rightfully belonged to him.
Yinreng didn't speak, but raised his eyelids and glanced at her indifferently. What did she mean by "rightfully possessing him"? He wasn't an appendage.
"Xiaoqing, quickly prepare water, the Crown Prince wants to bathe." Jialuo hurriedly called out to the outside, while the maids and Xiaoshunzi, who were guarding the door...
This, this, the Crown Prince seems to have only been inside for a short while, how, how could it be so fast?
"What are you all standing there for? Didn't you hear the Crown Princess's instructions?" Granny Jin quickly made arrangements. At first, she had also wondered if the Crown Prince's health was failing, how could he have deteriorated so quickly?
But after a moment, he realized that she must be planning to take a bath first.
As the door opened, servants carried buckets of water over and poured warm water into the bathtub. Jialuo was thinking about the scene she had seen in the Fire Avoidance Diagram.
Bath tub...
She remembered that the bathtub was quite large, seemingly able to support two people, but wouldn't it be a bit cramped if two people went in? Would they still be able to exercise like that?
While Jialuo was lost in thought, our self-possessed and noble Crown Prince glanced at her, no longer wanting to comment on the messy things in her mind.
Having met for so long, each time they met, he found that his Crown Princess could present a completely new side to him, but she was becoming more and more dissolute.
"Your Highness, would you like me to scrub your back?" Jialuo smiled sweetly, like a virtuous and obedient wife serving her husband, if the Crown Prince could not hear her thoughts.
"No need." The Crown Prince felt that having her scrub his back while she was having such a chaotic thought process made him feel like he was the one who was at a disadvantage.
Jialuo sighed with regret, looking at the Crown Prince with pleading eyes, hoping to change his mind.
The Crown Prince even kept Xiao Shunzi and the others behind and had the door closed, like a young wife who had been cheated on. Xiao Shunzi and the others were completely baffled. What was the Crown Prince doing?
Jialuo wasn't disappointed; she was bound to see it sooner or later anyway, since tonight was their wedding night!
Remembering the treasured book given to her by her mother, Jialuo glanced at the servants beside her and thought, "Never mind, I'd better not take it out yet, lest I ruin my image as a 'calm, dignified, and majestic' Crown Princess."
I rubbed my tummy, stretched my legs, and did some warm-up exercises to avoid getting cramps from overly strenuous exercise later, which would really spoil the fun.
Finally, after the Crown Prince finished his bath, the others tidied up the room and left again.
Jialuo had almost digested what she ate while waiting for Yinreng, the groom, to return to his room. After taking a bath, she felt beautiful smelling her own fragrance.
“Your Highness, it’s getting late. Shouldn’t we retire for the night?” Jia Luo stepped forward and took the prince’s hand, showing none of her previous shyness or bashfulness.
She stepped forward. His Highness the Crown Prince, who had just finished bathing, still had a bit of moisture on his body and a faint fragrance that she found appealing.
Crown Prince Yinreng: Have our positions been switched?
Even though our Crown Prince has no experience, he knows that as a man, he cannot be so weak. He took Jia Luo's hand in return and said, "Yes, it's getting late. We should go to bed early."
As a man, you should be more assertive, for example, you should be in the top position!
At this moment, Xiaoqing and Xiaoshunzi, who were guarding the door, couldn't hear any movement inside and were very worried.
On Xiao Shunzi's side: His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't even have a single maid; who knows what might go wrong?
Xiaoqing's side: Could it be that the princess has angered the crown prince? Why is there no sound at all? Does the crown prince dislike their princess?
While those outside were filled with anxiety and worry, Jialuo felt terrible. Waaah, cut, cut, she slapped Yinreng hard with her delicate white hands.
Sobbing and crying, she said, "You, you, didn't you see the picture? Waaah, it hurts, it hurts so much."
At the same time, she bit down on Yinreng's shoulder, not wanting to suffer any loss. If it hurts, everyone should suffer together; she couldn't be the only one who got hurt.
Afraid that she hadn't bitten hard enough, Jialuo put in all her strength.
hateful.
It wasn't as fun as I'd imagined at all; everything in the books was a lie!
As he was being questioned, Yinreng broke out in a cold sweat. A strange sense of guilt washed over him, and he recalled Liang Jiugong's special visit to deliver his father's wedding gifts.
He was busy copying books at the time and felt aggrieved, thinking that his father no longer loved him and was going to punish him before the wedding. He threw away the so-called big gift that his father had given him.
Now I can only recall the page I turned, but it's completely useless.
"Don't be nervous, relax..." the man coaxed in a low, hoarse voice.
After a long, long time, Xiao Shunzi and the others outside the door finally heard occasional soft noises coming from inside. At the same time, they instructed the kitchen staff to keep the water on hand at all times and not to let it run out.
Although it was the middle of summer, taking a cold shower was bad for one's health, so no one dared to let His Highness the Crown Prince take a cold shower.
As darkness fell, the main courtyard of Yuqing Palace was still bustling with activity. Water was being served, and people were taking baths, changing clothes, and going to bed. Several maids were also busy changing the bedsheets.
Jialuo was helped to take a bath and her legs were massaged. They were very sore and painful.
Wronged.
Waaah, she doesn't want to do it anymore.
The Crown Princess's heart-wrenching sobs made the Crown Prince feel slightly guilty. This, this, can't be blamed on him, right?
Finally, the Crown Prince tenderly massaged Jia Luo's thigh, but his lack of restraint only made it hurt more. Jia Luo slapped his hand away, "It hurts!"
Her weak strength couldn't hurt Yinreng in the slightest. Her soft voice was filled with grievance and a hint of sobbing.
The Crown Prince didn't hold it against her. Looking at her delicate, flushed face, he remembered how she had cried earlier. He smiled slightly and coaxed her in a deep voice, "Go to sleep. It won't hurt when you wake up."
This was the first time he had ever comforted someone, and since she was in such distress because it was her own fault, he was at a loss for what to do.
It was more comforting when she leaned in coquettishly and said straightforward and fiery things. I gently patted Jialuo's back and coaxed her softly.
Jialuo, who had been coaxed, was exhausted from listening to the deep voice of her male god and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Finally, he managed to coax the little woman to sleep. Yinreng visibly breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time felt a little proud. See? As expected of him, he can handle anything with ease.
In the quiet night, the red candles still burned, illuminating the bridal chamber with a soft, drowsy light. The newlyweds gradually drifted off to sleep.
Even though he went to bed a little late last night, his biological clock had already woken him up, which was his usual time to get up for school.
However, he found himself imprisoned. When he opened his eyes, he saw his Crown Princess sleeping soundly on top of him, her fair arms draped over him...
cough.
It's early in the morning, and as a normal man would react, he remembered how the Crown Princess had cried, screamed, scratched, and yelled last night, so he pushed her away helplessly.
Before I got married, I did have that problem, but I would just get up and study, and it would quickly go away. I didn't need to do anything about it.
After the marriage, although his crown princess caused a fuss last night, the two of them got along quite well afterwards. No wonder his ministers like to take wives and concubines, and so many of them...
Cough cough.
Jialu was so exhausted yesterday that she wasn't woken up at all. Instead, she turned around and hugged the quilt to her chest when she was pushed away.
Seeing that the Crown Princess hadn't been woken up by his efforts, Yinreng gained a better understanding of her sleep quality—she slept like a pig.
She got up, washed up, and ordered her meal. She also needed to pay her respects to her father, the Emperor, in a little while. Seeing that it was almost time, she went to wake Jialuo up as well.
Jialuo, who had been woken up, yawned and groggily opened her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"It's time to get up. You still need to pay your respects to Father Emperor later." The Crown Prince still felt sorry for the little woman he had tormented the night before, and his voice softened.
Where did this "Emperor Father" come from...?
Um? ?
Father Emperor!
Suddenly opening her eyes, Jialuo forgot that she was no longer just a princess of the Fucha family, but had married into Yuqing Palace and become the Crown Prince's wife.
Xiaoqing and the others quickly brought in water to help the Crown Princess wash up and change her clothes.
"Make your appearance bright and elegant." While doing her makeup, Jialuo knew that the elders generally preferred bright and dignified daughters-in-law. She would have to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager soon, and a delicate and gentle girl would definitely not please the Empress Dowager.
The Crown Prince, who was sitting next to Jia Luo, watched as the gentle and beautiful Crown Princess transformed into a bright and dignified woman... well, it was as if she had become a completely different Crown Princess. He looked at her curiously a few more times.
After she finished her makeup, Jialuo noticed the Crown Prince's curious gaze and smiled brightly. "Your Highness, do you think I look completely different from yesterday?"
The crown prince nodded slightly.
"Hehe, so, do you feel like you've made a profit?" The pretty young girl smiled brightly and sweetly.
Others: ? ? ?
The crown prince looked up in confusion, not understanding why Jia Luo said that. What could he possibly gain or lose?
"Now you have two Crown Princesses! In the future, when I do your makeup, you can transform her into a cold and beautiful woman, or a charming and alluring one..." Jialuo even listed Xiaoqing's makeup skills for the Crown Prince, which could make her into women of all different styles.
"Nonsense! You are my only Crown Princess." The Crown Prince's face turned cold as he reprimanded him. How could he say such things so casually? It was utterly absurd.
The Crown Prince's reprimand instantly silenced the atmosphere in the bridal chamber. Everyone lowered their heads, held their breath, and proceeded cautiously.
Only Jialuo, hearing the scolding, touched her face in grievance, "I made myself look so pretty, wasn't it all to make you happy and please you?"
With puffed-out cheeks and a sweet voice tinged with aggrieved reproach, she was simply a woman who dressed up to please her lover. She liked looking pretty, and besides, didn't men like that? What a hypocrite!
The crown prince only heard the last part, "Don't men like that? He's just saying that." He pursed his lips, thinking, "He... he can't say he doesn't like it."
He naturally knew that the princess of the Fucha family, the Crown Princess in front of him, had been deeply in love with him for a long time. The makeup was quite different, and the styles were indeed different.
Men are often fickle, and she wanted to keep him in this way, which the Crown Prince could understand.
"From now on, you must not say such things outside, understand?" The Crown Prince's cold demeanor softened as he admonished his Crown Princess on how to conduct herself in public. There is no better way than to teach your son in public and your wife in private.
The maids and servants, who had been bowing their heads and waiting to be reprimanded by the Crown Prince, couldn't help but secretly glance in his direction: Hmm? Wasn't the Crown Prince going to get angry?
They were also worried that on the first day of their marriage, the Crown Princess would anger the Crown Prince.
"I know." Seeing the Crown Prince's expression soften, Jialuo knew that he wasn't angry at all, and her smile brightened up again, sweet and charming.
She quickly retracted her composure, remembering her makeup today; she was now a graceful, elegant, and beautiful Crown Princess.
"Xiaoqing, set out the meal." Her posture was exactly the same as the etiquette standards that the teaching nanny had once instilled in her. Yinreng saw through her affected manners.
A hint of a smile flickered in his eyes; his Crown Princess was quite an interesting and charming person.
They had exerted themselves for a long time last night and were quite hungry. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess each had breakfast before preparing to go out.
As the two of them were preparing to leave, a maid came to report that the princesses from the back courtyard had come to pay their respects.
"Huh? Why are they here so early?" Jialu asked, then subconsciously looked at the culprit beside her. They say handsome men are a curse, so they must be here to see the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince listened to Jia Luo's thoughts without speaking, and coldly instructed the maids, "Let them wait."
He was very busy; he still had to go with the Crown Princess to pay their respects to the Emperor and his maternal grandmother.
After saying that, he left with the Crown Princess, leaving the group of princesses still sitting in a reception room in the main courtyard, each one dressed in their finest attire.
It wasn't that they were eager to pay their respects to the Crown Princess, but rather that they usually couldn't get close to the Crown Prince. Now that the Crown Prince's wedding was finally here, they thought that if they paid their respects to the Crown Princess, they might be able to see the Crown Prince.
Many of them were dressed in flamboyant attire, hoping to attract the prince's attention.
How could the maids serving in the main courtyard not know what these princesses are thinking? Aren't they just trying to use this to lure the Crown Prince to their backyard? Humph, they're shameless.
A hint of disdain flickered in their eyes. The more shy princesses blushed with embarrassment and lowered their heads, while the more shameless ones just sat there.
Knowing that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were going to pay their respects to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, they had no complaints. They came so early just to show their sincerity, didn't they?
Besides those who sought refuge with the Crown Prince, there were one or two who knew they were not good-looking enough to win his favor, so they planned to seek refuge with the Crown Princess. Since the Crown Princess was in charge of the household affairs, she couldn't let them go hungry or cold.
Meanwhile, Emperor Kangxi in the Qianqing Palace also got up early. He would not hold a morning court session today because of the Crown Prince's wedding. He had also gone to the Fengxian Hall last night to visit Empress Hesheli.
I talked to her a lot, and finally raised Baocheng to adulthood. Now he's married and will soon become a father.
The handkerchief stained with blood from the wedding night was taken away and carefully stored away last night when the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were bathing and changing their bedding.
Those below came to report that they had indeed consummated their marriage.
The palace maids are experienced; don't think they can really fool people by simply cutting their hands and bleeding them, as depicted in storybooks.
Of course, Kangxi didn't ask such perverse questions. He just needed to know whether his son Baocheng was capable or not, and that they could consummate their marriage. He breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, we don't need to send the imperial physician to check on Bao Cheng's lifeline.
Knowing that Bao Cheng had eaten breakfast before arriving, Kangxi didn't mind too much. He thought Bao Cheng should eat more, as he was still growing.
"Liang Jiugong, look, the Crown Princess I chose is truly exceptional. As for Bao Cheng's matter, I don't need to worry about it anymore," Kangxi said with a smile, cheerfully addressing Liang Jiugong.
Liang Jiugong knew that the Emperor was aware that he vaguely knew about the Crown Prince, but since the Emperor didn't mention it, he didn't say anything either. Now...
As the chief eunuch of the imperial court, Liang Jiugong naturally understood the emperor's thoughts. He did not mention whether the crown prince was capable or not, but instead praised how good the crown prince's character was and how good the crown princess was, all thanks to the emperor's good teaching and the good choice of the crown princess!
Emperor Kangxi smiled broadly, nodded, and reminisced about the Crown Prince's childhood, how he had grown up so quickly...
As he was reflecting on these things, the Crown Prince and his wife came to pay their respects.
The journey from Yuqing Palace to Qianqing Palace wasn't very long. Jialuo, wearing flowerpot-shaped platform shoes and the auspicious robes of the Crown Princess, slowly walked towards Qianqing Palace, supporting Xiaoqing with her hand.
The soreness from last night hadn't subsided, so I was walking a little slowly.
The Emperor's decree bestowed upon her the title of Crown Princess, meaning she would naturally become Crown Princess upon entering Yuqing Palace. The official document and the Crown Princess's ceremonial robes had already been delivered to the main courtyard of Yuqing Palace. [No record found on Baidu; this is a fictional creation.]
Crown Prince Yinreng knew what his Crown Princess was all about, and he didn't mind that she walked slowly. Instead, he walked slowly with her and occasionally introduced Jialuo to the layout of the palace, pointing out where this place was and where that place was.
"This path is the one I took to Cining Palace, and it was at the Imperial Flower Pond there that I rescued you." As he passed a fork in the road, the Crown Prince suddenly remembered this incident.
If it weren't for this incident, perhaps Princess Fucha would have passed away, and he wouldn't have had such an interesting Crown Princess.
Perhaps this is what they call fate?
Upon hearing the Crown Prince's words, Jialuo turned her gaze over. The suffocating feeling she had experienced when she first arrived, drowning, was still fresh in her mind. Knowing that the Crown Prince had saved her, her goodwill towards him increased rapidly.
When she brought it up, her smile was radiant with admiration. "I really should thank Your Highness for what happened back then. I'll repay your life with my body."
The crown prince glanced at it lightly and replied indifferently, "Hmm."
You have already made the promise.
Jialuo was about to laugh and take his arm, but then she remembered her makeup and persona for the day. She was a dignified and beautiful Crown Princess, composed and of average appearance.
He immediately withdrew his smile, revealing a haughty air of self-admiration.
"That's too much." Yinreng was speechless when he realized that his Crown Princess was thinking about this. He could never keep up with a woman's thought process.
But they didn't stop it; it wasn't a big deal anyway, so they let it be.
Upon hearing the Crown Prince say that she had overdone it, Jialuo composed herself, displaying the unique pride of a Crown Princess, yet also the gentleness of a woman.
Anyway, Jialuo felt she had handled it very well, but... why did the people around her think it looked so strange?
As they approached the Qianqing Palace, the Crown Prince stopped. "Just be yourself. There's no need to pretend. Your father can see through it."
Upon hearing this, Jialuo's expression stiffened and she looked embarrassed.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Jialuo's stiff face puffed up, looking a little angry. She had been quite worried about not having the dignity of a Crown Princess, and had been thinking for a long time about what expression to make.
The Crown Prince, who was being complained about, naturally enjoyed the show and found his Crown Princess quite amusing, noting her strong ability to make people laugh.
Jialuo, of course, had no idea that she had been seen through and was being used as a source of amusement. Well, since that was the case, she might as well just let things be as they were.
After being informed of their arrival at the Qianqing Palace, the two entered.
Emperor Kangxi had not seen the princess of the Fucha family many times. The first time he saw her delicate and pale appearance, he assumed she was just sick from catching a cold after falling into the water.
On several subsequent occasions, the two walked in side by side, both elegant and graceful, a truly beautiful couple. Kangxi nodded in approval, thinking they were a good match for his crown prince.
"Your subject (your daughter-in-law) greets Your Majesty." The two bowed.
"Rise," Kangxi called out, looking at the Crown Prince. "Baocheng, now that you're married, you've finally come of age. Your father has fulfilled your mother's wishes."
"Father, no matter how old I am, I can never do without your guidance." The Crown Prince replied proudly, which sounded to Kangxi like he was being affectionate.
"The Crown Princess is still here, stop talking nonsense." Kangxi was pleased with the Crown Prince's coquettish behavior, but he still had to maintain the Crown Prince's dignity in front of others, such as the Crown Princess.
"Princess Consort, if the Crown Prince does anything wrong, please tell Father Emperor, and Father Emperor will stand up for you." Kangxi looked at Jialuo, his voice very gentle, much like a cheerful and loving father-in-law.
Jialuo knew perfectly well that Kangxi was just saying that; didn't she hear how he addressed her?
Bao Cheng! The Crown Princess! You can immediately tell who is close and who is distant.
"Your Highness is handsome and talented, with a refined and gentle nature. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with him." Jia Luo spoke sincerely, praising the Crown Prince with great satisfaction, except for something that happened last night.
Hearing the Crown Princess's heartfelt praise, both Emperor Kangxi and the Crown Prince smiled, one gentle and the other refined.
Kangxi glanced at his own crown prince's face and thought, "Hmm... He's so good-looking, it's all because of me. If I weren't good-looking, how could I have raised such a good-looking crown prince?"
Both men, feeling proud of being praised, were quite pleased. Emperor Kangxi doted on the Crown Prince, and while he initially had a somewhat critical eye towards the Crown Princess, like a mother-in-law looking at her daughter-in-law, now…
reward!
The generous reward was at least 30% more than what the First Prince and his wife received at their wedding. When word got out, the First Prince was the most resentful of all.
Now, after leaving the Qianqing Palace, it's time to head to the Cining Palace.
Previously, Cining Palace was the residence of the Empress Dowager. After her death, the Empress Dowager moved her residence to Cining Palace.
Cining Palace.
The Empress Dowager was already waiting for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. She was not the Emperor's biological mother, and the Great Empress Dowager who raised the Emperor had passed away. So she followed the Emperor's preferences. He valued and favored the Crown Prince, so she also valued the Crown Prince.
I first met the Crown Princess three years ago at Cining Palace, also in this very place, except that back then, the Empress Dowager was still alive…
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have arrived," a maidservant announced. The Empress Dowager had also arranged for them to receive Mongolian specialties such as milk tea and dried mutton.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess each bowed, saying, "Your grandson (your concubine) greets Your Majesty."
As they bowed, the Empress Dowager smiled kindly and gently. "Rise, rise. You must be tired after walking such a long way. Sit down quickly. Are you hungry? Have some milk tea and dried meat."
The Empress Dowager had never learned Manchu or Chinese. When she married the late emperor, the entire harem was filled with Mongolian concubines. After the late emperor died, no one forced her to learn Manchu, so she only knew fluent Mongolian.
Both Yinreng and Jialuo had studied Mongolian, so they had no difficulty communicating with the Empress Dowager.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. After all this journey, my stomach has already digested everything I ate." Jialuo picked up the jerky and started munching on it without any hesitation; she was indeed quite hungry.
The Empress Dowager liked women who were poised and elegant, and she smiled even more happily when the Crown Princess spoke to her in a friendly tone.
The Crown Prince was overlooked. The Empress Dowager also knew that the Crown Princess's ancestors had some connection with the Khorchin, and that she was related to Sumalagu by blood.
These things couldn't be told to others, but that didn't affect her affection for the Crown Princess; the two chatted happily.
If it weren't for the fact that she had to meet with several princes later, the Empress Dowager would have liked to invite the Crown Princess to stay for a meal.
Unlike the Crown Prince, who had three days of leave for his wedding, the princes were only granted one day off to attend the Crown Prince's wedding. In Kangxi's view, studying was the most important thing.
As for meeting the Crown Princess? We're all family, there will be plenty of opportunities.
Wouldn't there be time after school at noon and in the afternoon?
However, it was still quite a while before noon, and Yinreng had already returned to Yuqing Palace with his Crown Princess.
After a busy morning and walking such a long way, even in ancient times... no, in her past life, Jia Luo would never have run around in high heels, plus the lingering soreness from last night's intense exercise.
I feel terrible.
After finally getting back, I had just sat down and changed my shoes when a maid came to inquire about the princesses who had come to pay their respects and were still waiting in the reception room.
Just as Jialuo was about to take a break, she heard this and listlessly looked up at His Highness the Crown Prince. "Your Highness, I'm so tired..." [Feeling wronged, I walked such a long way today, and the soreness from last night hasn't subsided yet. I wonder if anyone noticed how strange my walking posture is today. Waaah, I want to soak my feet, I want to rest...]
Her pleading eyes were so endearing that they made one's heart soften. Listening to her soft, aggrieved words, Yinreng realized that a large part of the reason for her suffering was his fault.
"Let them rest for a bit, and then they can come to pay their respects this afternoon," the Crown Prince ordered directly, clearly annoyed by the group of ill-mannered princesses. He then instructed Xiaoqing, "Bring a basin of hot water for your Crown Princess to soak her feet. She must be sore from walking such a long way."
Hearing the Crown Prince's caring words, Jia Luo, who had been feeling wronged, was moved to tears. "Waaah, the Crown Prince is so kind; he even noticed that I wasn't feeling well."
I love the Crown Prince!
With just one sentence, the Crown Princess fell deeply in love and confessed her feelings. However, the Crown Princess was too shy to speak out, and the Crown Prince expressed his understanding.
Women should be more reserved; that's a good thing.
"Your Highness, you didn't eat much at Cining Palace just now. Would you like to order a meal?" Jialuo asked, showing concern for the prince in return. Young people shouldn't go hungry, or they'll easily get stomach problems.
"No need, I still need to see a few brothers in a while." The Crown Prince considered the time; their lunch break was enough.
Jialuo obeyed the Crown Prince's arrangements.
I nodded obediently, but a foot bath... is absolutely necessary. I have to massage my feet first. Sigh, this day felt like it was going by so slowly.
The prince also changed his clothes. Although the sun wasn't very strong in the morning, he had already worked up a sweat after walking such a long distance.
The princesses, who had been waiting all morning in the main courtyard's reception hall, eagerly awaited the arrival of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess after hearing that they had returned from paying their respects.
She even asked her maid if there was anything wrong with her makeup and clothing that needed to be adjusted.
Occasionally, she would glance at the two or three princesses whose appearances were the most striking with a hint of apprehension, and consider her own strengths. Perhaps, perhaps the Crown Prince was not the kind of person who valued appearance?
Especially the new princesses who arrived later, who had never even seen the Crown Prince, how could they not be filled with anticipation?
As a result, after waiting and waiting, they were told to come back to pay their respects in the afternoon.
"No, we've waited here for so long, Your Highness, are you just going to send us back like this?" The princess, who hadn't lost her fighting spirit after being suppressed, still had her pride and arrogance. After all, she was the Crown Prince's princess, how could the Crown Princess treat her so casually?
The main problem is that all the princesses are equally unfavored, and since the crown prince is inherently asexual, they all have the illusion that they have a chance.
"That's right, the Crown Princess is going too far. Is she looking down on us?" They came early, paying close attention to their makeup and clothing to ensure they weren't inappropriate, worried that the Crown Prince would see them in a sloppy state when he returned. So they all sat up straight, even though it was hard work.
In addition, it was close to noon, and they had come without having breakfast. Hungry, their inner irritability was showing.
"This is His Highness the Crown Prince's order," the maid replied calmly. After she finished speaking, all the princesses fell silent.
In the end, they left one after another, waiting to come back in the afternoon.
However, the princesses all believed that the Crown Princess was deliberately doing this to intimidate them.
Even if you knew, there was nothing you could do. After all, she was the Crown Princess.
At noon, Jialuo finally had the chance to meet a few of the princes, well... a dozen or so...
From the eldest prince to the fourteenth prince, it must be said that the princes resembled their mothers more: the handsome eldest prince, the elegant and noble crown prince, the gentle and refined third prince…
"Crown Princess." The Crown Prince, who was praised for his elegance and nobility, was not happy at all, but rather felt a little angry.
"Your Highness, why are you so fierce to your wife? Unlike me, I'm so good to my wife." The eldest prince, having found fault with the crown prince, immediately launched a verbal attack, proudly raising his chin.
Haha, I'm the best, no matter what.
The Crown Prince, who was misunderstood by everyone, pursed his thin lips. "You have no idea what my Crown Princess is thinking. If your wives were like this, they would be even angrier than me."
Jialuo didn't know why the Crown Prince was calling her so angrily. She blinked her wet eyes a few times and noticed that her brothers' makeup was different from that of her elders. Their respectful and gentle demeanor gave the Crown Prince a strong sense of male chauvinism.
To others, it seemed that the Crown Prince got angry as soon as the Crown Princess greeted them. What did that mean?
“That’s right, Crown Prince, you can’t be so fierce to your wife.” The Tenth Prince shook his head. His mother said that once you marry your wife, you can’t beat or scold her; you have to pamper her.
Speaking of this, the Tenth Prince Yin'e felt that he was much better than the Crown Prince, at least he wouldn't be so fierce, he was so proud.
The other princes also watched the crown prince quietly. The crown prince didn't think he had done anything wrong. He had just called out "Crown Princess," so what?
When the Crown Prince's wife, Jialuo, saw that the Crown Prince was being attacked by so many princes, she did not interfere. She believed that submissive women had no right to speak, and that the brothers were very friendly and affectionate.
Crown Prince: Do you seem to have some misunderstanding about the terms "respectful obedience" and "brotherly affection"?
"Sister-in-law of the Crown Prince, if the Crown Prince bullies you, you must not silently endure it." The Tenth Prince, who couldn't stand that the Crown Prince was more favored than them and was the little tyrant in the palace, clenched his fists and loudly uttered his first words of resistance against the bad man.
"Thank you, Tenth Brother. His Highness the Crown Prince is very kind." The Crown Princess thanked the Tenth Prince with a smile. The simple-minded Tenth Prince looked quite cute, and more importantly, he had a kind heart.
"Sister-in-law of the Crown Prince, you, you, don't worry about the Crown Prince anymore, come with me, I, I won't scold you." The Fourteenth Prince's chubby body was round and plump, and he was very fond of the beautiful and delicate Crown Princess.
It was simply because the Crown Prince was the only one favored and monopolized half of the country that the princes were jealous and envious. This led several princes to believe that the Crown Princess, who was being bullied by the Crown Prince, was on their side.
Hmm... or perhaps, he simply wanted to find an excuse to give the Crown Prince a good scolding.
Who cares? I just don't like the Crown Prince, like the First Prince.
"Sister-in-law, Tenth Brother is right. You can't be bullied so easily. As the Crown Prince of a country, it's really wrong of you to bully a weak woman. Where has your tolerance and magnanimity gone?"
As the eldest brother, he must set a good example, such as preventing his younger brother from going astray at a crucial moment.
Your Highness the Crown Prince, who can hear your thoughts: You all just love to watch the drama unfold.
"Didn't you prepare gifts for your younger brothers?" The Crown Prince ignored them, turned around, and spoke to Jialuo.
At the Crown Prince's reminder, Jialuo quickly asked Xiaoqing to bring the gifts over, starting with the youngest, the Fourteenth Prince. She didn't know the interests and hobbies of the princes, so she had asked His Highness the Crown Prince before preparing the gifts.
As for the eldest prince...
His Highness the Crown Prince wanted to say that his elder brother envied his talent in poetry and literature, and that giving him an inkstone or something would be enough. However, he also thought that Jialuo was a new bride, and that the struggle between him and his elder brother should not involve the Crown Princess.
Even if she doesn't like the eldest son, she still knows that he likes horseback riding, archery, and swordplay. As for what it is, the Crown Princess can choose for herself.
The thought of him personally delivering the gift to the eldest brother made me furious, but I didn't care.
Regarding the Crown Prince, the princes all shared a similar sentiment: Why is it that we are all the Emperor's sons, yet you are being favored, making it seem like we are not his biological children?
They're all sons and grandsons of dragons and phoenixes, who would be happy about that?
Of course, there are exceptions, such as the Seventh Prince Yinyou and the Eleventh Prince Yintao.
However, when faced with the Crown Princess, who was immediately perceived as respectful, gentle, and beautiful, the princes all displayed their royal demeanor, behaving politely and with great restraint, as if their earlier accusations against the Crown Prince were nothing more than a farce.
However, after the Crown Prince and Crown Princess left, the princes were still arguing about one thing: the Crown Prince was so fierce, and the Crown Princess was so pitiful, she was scolded.
The Crown Princess had only greeted them briefly, and the Crown Prince angrily reprimanded her. If she acted like this in front of so many brothers, who knows how much worse she would be in private!
In their eyes, the Crown Prince was aloof and arrogant, and they even heard that he liked to whip people!
hiss……
Would the Crown Prince secretly beat the Crown Princess? How could that be? She is still the legitimate daughter of the Fucha family.
Sure enough, the rumors spread like wildfire from the Imperial Study, and since they came directly from the mouths of the princes, how could they be false?
However, when words reach someone's ears, they are always embellished and interpreted by that person, and then passed on to another person.
Then, the story of "the Crown Prince scolding the Crown Princess" turned into "the Crown Prince always beats the Crown Princess in private," and it spiraled out of control.
These rumors were still brewing and fermenting, and the Crown Princess, who was returning to Yuqing Palace with the Crown Prince, was completely unaware of them.
"Your Highness, what do you think of my elder brother and younger brothers?" Crown Prince Yinreng still remembered the Crown Princess's praise of them, such as handsome and refined, which was utter nonsense!
Who could rival Aisin-Gioro Yinreng in terms of handsome appearance?
Who could compare to Aisin-Gioro Yinreng in terms of gentle and refined manners?
“My eldest brother and younger brothers are all very good; they are all warriors of the Qing Dynasty.” When Jia Luo heard this question, she knew it was just asking, “What do you think of my family?” Of course, she couldn’t say anything bad.
Unfortunately, the Crown Prince did not appreciate her praise and instead showed some dissatisfaction.
However, as the crown prince, and the person admired and cherished by the crown princess, he couldn't say anything that would be considered jealous or undignified.
Jialuo wasn't stupid. The Crown Prince seemed very dissatisfied with her answer. Recalling the confrontation just now, well... perhaps, this wasn't the answer he wanted to hear?
But she was a royal daughter-in-law, how could she dare to speak ill of the princes? If it reached the emperor's ears, wouldn't he suspect that she was sowing discord?
"Compared to His Highness the Crown Prince, you are naturally inferior. You are both talented in literature and martial arts, and possess both beauty and talent." Jialuo didn't bother to mention the other princes, and only praised His Highness the Crown Prince.
[Good-looking, with a refined demeanor, skilled in both literature and martial arts, handsome and noble—what a dashing young man! I only like people like you.]
Upon hearing this, the displeasure that had been lingering around the Crown Prince slowly dissipated, replaced by a calm joy, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. "Hmm."
When Jialuo saw that the Crown Prince had been appeased, she happily realized how to make him happy in the future. It turned out that His Highness the Crown Prince liked to be praised.
Crown Prince: I am not a child.
He wanted to refute it, but had no reason to do so. This was Jialuo's inner thought; he couldn't possibly expose such a thing.
Amidst a touch of embarrassment and annoyance, he took two quicker steps ahead, leaving Jialuo, whose legs were still sore, to slowly walk with the help of her maid. She couldn't understand why the Crown Prince suddenly seemed unhappy again.
A man's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea, as unpredictable as the weather in June.
They haven't even returned to Yuqing Palace yet, and many people have already seen it. Right now, there's nothing to think, but after two days, when public opinion picks up, people will realize there's a big problem!
Yuqing Palace.
Jialuo, who had finally returned, slumped back into the chair. If there had been a recliner available, she would have wanted to lie down.
The Crown Prince didn't go back to the front courtyard in a fit of anger; at least he still had that much composure. The magnanimous Crown Prince didn't hold it against her.
I don't have much of an appetite in the summer, so I mostly eat cold dishes, which are quite refreshing.
His Highness the Crown Prince had never eaten like this before. After all, the menus provided by the kitchen were always in a state of "not seeking merit, but avoiding mistakes." Whether or not he was rewarded was irrelevant; the key was not to get an upset stomach.
The cold dishes were not only simple, but also sour and spicy... Hmm, they were afraid the Crown Prince's stomach wouldn't be able to handle it. Now that the Crown Prince had sampled the Crown Princess's meal, he thought it was pretty good.
It's been hot lately, and I haven't had much of an appetite for stews. "Let's have the same meal as lunch tonight."
While they were having their meal, the princesses from the back courtyard, having finished their afternoon nap, came to pay their respects to the Crown Princess.
Jialuo, who was feeling sleepy after a big meal and was about to take a nap, sighed resignedly. Life is tough, but she still had to keep working.
Seeing that the Crown Princess looked somewhat dejected, the Crown Prince didn't understand, but since the Crown Princess had just married into the family, he was worried that the other princesses might cause her trouble. "I will go with you," he said.
With him in charge, those princesses probably won't cause any trouble.
Is the Crown Prince worried that the Crown Princess might do something to his favored concubine?
The Crown Princess wouldn't bully those princesses; it's the princesses who should be worried about whether they'll bully the Crown Princess. They all looked quite fierce today.
The Crown Prince is so good to the Crown Princess; he's definitely backing her up.
The maids and servants serving around him had all sorts of thoughts when they heard the Crown Prince's words, but the Crown Prince ignored them all.
He looked at Jialuo and found that his Crown Princess was not affected by these words. Jialuo simply nodded and said, "Okay."
What could Jialuo possibly be thinking? She's still growing and needs to eat more; she's working hard to eat right now!
My Crown Princess is, in a sense, also a person with a strong will.
In the main courtyard's reception hall, all the princesses had arrived. Seeing that neither the Crown Princess nor the Crown Prince had come out, and without inquiring, they assumed this was a show of force to intimidate them.
But after waiting and waiting...
The princesses knew that the Crown Princess was doing this on purpose. After the "show of force" that morning, they didn't ask any questions and acted as if they were just there to sit down.
She only occasionally chatted with the girl sitting next to her, a casual exchange that resembled a superficial sisterhood... a superficial sisterhood, seemingly all smiles and laughter, but actually concealing a hidden self-aggrandizement.
Finally, the Crown Princess arrived, accompanied by the Crown Prince.
When the eunuchs announced, "The Crown Prince has arrived! The Crown Princess has arrived!", several princesses immediately sat up straight, touched their hair and faces, and tugged at their clothes, determined to present their most beautiful selves to the Crown Prince.
Jialuo knew the princesses were coming, but that didn't stop her from eating. Sure enough, she had just finished her meal and strolled over, pretending she was just there for a walk and a chat afterward.
As soon as I stepped out, I saw several princesses sitting there, all dressed in their finest attire. I paused for a moment, thinking, "Wow, there are quite a few of them!"
[The Crown Prince is only eighteen years old. He's been observing three years of mourning, so he should have been fifteen three years ago. How come he already has more than ten princesses? Is he already such a lecherous young man??]
On the first day after his marriage, the Crown Prince was first suspected by his brothers of assaulting (beating and scolding) the Crown Princess, and then suspected by the Crown Princess of being a lecherous man. The Crown Prince himself: ? ? ?
(End of this chapter)
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