...
Xu Rong's eyes were vacant.
To put it simply, it was both infuriating and hilarious.
I knew he couldn't resist showing off, but I didn't know he could show off this much.
Who's ever been by his side day and night—how dare he say that?
As Xu Rong was thinking, she suddenly felt her hand being poked again. She turned her head and saw Luo Yanfeng holding her apple-shaped face and looking at her with envy in her eyes.
Xu Rong chuckled dryly, forced to accept the envy, and pretended that Xiao Xin was absolutely right, that they were indeed very much in love.
She decided that she couldn't let him have his way any longer. It wouldn't be good to confront him directly, so she should subtly hint at it to him while there was still time. She should wake him up as soon as possible.
When she came to her senses and listened again, Xiao Xin had finally finished composing that sentence and quieted down. As the Crown Prince, he wouldn't pry into the affairs of other people's women. They then started talking about Mr. Su, and Xu Rong overheard a bit of it and was quite surprised.
She knew Mr. Su was a learned man, but she didn't know he was a genuine Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) who could easily have become an official. However, after being selected as an official, he only served for two or three years before resigning and returning to his hometown academy. Thereafter, he devoted himself to scholarship, and even the Crown Prince had heard of his reputation in the field of teaching and nurturing students, nodding and saying, "He is indeed a renowned teacher. His Majesty even intended to issue an edict to recruit him, but upon hearing that his ambitions lay elsewhere, he gave up."
He then said to Xiao Xin, "No wonder you have such a talented disciple. You must not waste this opportunity. I will keep an eye on the list of those who pass the prefectural examination next month."
It means we're waiting to see his results in the prefectural examination.
Xiao Xin bowed: "Yes."
The Crown Prince seemed to remember something, and then casually remarked, "I see you are still young and have only been married for a short time, so there's no need to rush into having children."
"Your Highness, I'm not actually in a hurry; it's my wife who's anxious."
Xu Rong: "..."
Although she was the one who originally pinned the blame on Xiao Xin, the fact that it was ruthlessly turned back on her still made her narrow her eyes.
Sure enough, Second Young Master, you say you're still deeply in love, but you won't share a single pot of the pot with her.
The Crown Prince said with a playful tone, "Is that so? Your wife is inside, and I just heard her say that she has already asked for medicine to help you recover. Since you're not in a hurry, don't take any medicine indiscriminately."
Xiao Xin replied quickly: "Please forgive me, Your Highness, for not being able to comply. Although I am not in a hurry, if my wife is worried about this, I am willing to eat to put her mind at ease."
Xu Rong was taken aback.
Luo Yanfeng cupped her face in her hands again, her eyes sparkling like stars.
The crown prince remained silent for a while.
Xiao Lun's voice rang out, tinged with a hint of reproach: "Second Brother, His Highness has given orders, so just obey them. Why say such unimportant things?"
"Enough." When the Crown Prince spoke again, he seemed to have a smile on his face. "Commander Xiao, besides the deep affection between husband and wife, there is also a strong sense of righteousness. Your younger brother is not only affectionate, but also righteous. Compared to him, you are rather lonely."
Xu Rong's heart stirred.
She didn't think much when she put the pot on Xiao Xin's plate; she just wanted to make it more realistic. So after she finished, she realized there was something ambiguous about it and went back to fix it.
But now that the Crown Prince has given Xiao Xin this assessment, it's quite interesting.
It's just taking medicine. Whether Xiao Xin actually took it or not is still unknown. He only said he was willing to take it, but the Crown Prince elevated it to the level of "righteousness." Does he really admire him that much?
But as mentioned before, the top scholar doesn't receive such high praise; it's just a token encouragement.
If we look back at the context of this topic in isolation, we can find that the core concept has been changed, namely:
—Do I take medicine because I'm anxious or am I sick?
No, it's because I have feelings and loyalty.
Throughout the entire process, it's hard to say whether the Crown Prince or Xiao Xin contributed more; it's just that neither was dispensable. Despite the complete lack of rehearsal, they executed a seamless and smooth performance. The only one who was superfluous was Xiao Lun.
He reprimanded Xiao Xin, but the Crown Prince stopped him.
Xu Rong felt a mix of emotions, and also a slight urge to laugh, so she lowered her head.
Normally, it's not easy to even see the Crown Prince once, but who knew that multiple coincidences would come together and I would even get a chance to help the Crown Prince.
They keep saying there's no rush, and even tell others not to rush, but whether they're truly in a hurry or not is a matter of personal experience.
Xu Rong looked up again, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping towards the Crown Princess below the window. She saw that the Crown Princess was still sitting upright, but her beautiful face looked lost in thought.
As someone who shares the same ideals as the Crown Prince, she should have sensed something from his words.
Unlike Luo Yanfeng, the Crown Princess was more perceptive. She noticed Xu Rong's gaze lingering on her for a moment and looked over.
Before Xu Rong could completely dodge, she smiled respectfully. The Crown Princess didn't take offense; she merely moved her lips and returned a slight smile.
Then he opened his mouth and said to Luo Yanfeng, "Yanfeng, it's getting late. Don't linger here any longer. You should lead the guests to their seats."
Luo Yanfeng was listening intently to the conversation outside when the Crown Princess gave her an order. She was a little reluctant to leave, but she still said "Oh" and stood up, saying to Xu Rong, "Sister Xu, let's go to the banquet over there."
Xu Rong had no objection and rose to his feet, curtsied to the Crown Princess, and took his leave.
Just as she was about to leave through the back door, she faintly heard the Crown Prince say again: "Even so, if you have such a mind, you should still spend more time studying in the court."
Then Xiao Xin responded, "Yes."
After that, she could no longer hear anything and therefore did not know anything. Subsequently, Xiao Xin and Xiao Lun also took their leave.
The flower hall, both inside and out, became empty and quiet.
The crown prince rose, stepped over the screen, and walked towards the inner hall.
The Crown Princess remained unmoved.
Everyone in the inner palace knows that the reason why even the Emperor praises this Crown Princess is because of her rare composure.
To remain calm even when Mount Tai collapses before you is a rare composure even among men.
But in this situation, with the Crown Prince already close by, she still did not rise to greet him, nor did she speak, which was somewhat strange—neither strictly observing etiquette nor overstepping her bounds.
The Crown Prince ignored her and sat down beside her, then smiled and said, "Why are you even more irritable now that you're home? You were chatting and laughing with others, but when you saw me, you acted as if you didn't see me at all."
The Crown Princess said calmly, "Your Highness is too kind. I dare not accept that."
"Still won't admit it." The Crown Prince tried to grab her hand, but the Crown Princess dodged and couldn't escape. She had no choice but to let him put it in his palm and play with it, listening to him complain, "It's not like I scolded you. You were so considerate and generous in front of the Empress Dowager, but when you turn your back on me, you're sulking. Tell me, am I wronged or not?"
The Crown Princess did not answer, but pinched his palm.
The blow wasn't light; the Crown Prince cried out in pain, and only then did the Crown Princess turn her head and glance down.
The light in the flower hall was dim, and she couldn't see clearly for a moment. She raised the prince's hand a little higher, and the prince chuckled. Suddenly, he leaned over, hugged her, and kissed her on the lips.
The Crown Princess pushed him away, saying, "I am a useless person. Your Highness need not waste your energy on me. Instead, as the Empress Dowager wishes, you should select two concubines to serve Your Highness."
"Here you go again. If you really want to, why do you secretly cry every time your mother mentions it?"
The Crown Princess froze, her hands stopping: "Your Highness knows—"
"When I woke up this morning, half of my pillow was wet. How could I not have known?" The Crown Prince sighed and took her hand. "Ying'er, how can I feel good when you are suffering?"
The Crown Princess's given name is Ying, which is more elegant than Que'er.
The Crown Princess stopped speaking, lowered her head, and suddenly a tear fell, landing on their clasped hands.
The Crown Prince seemed to be burned. He used his free hand to lift the Crown Princess's chin, wanting her to raise her face.
The Crown Princess refused and dodged away again, saying in a low voice, "I have been impolite."
"Stop crying, I have important matters to discuss with you."
The Crown Princess paused for a moment.
"Those imperial physicians in the palace prescribe the same old remedies over and over again. They won't kill anyone, but they won't cure any illnesses either. Since you've finally found some free time today, go and ask Marquis Cheng'an if he knows any skilled doctors in his household. If he does, don't make a fuss, just invite them over."
The Crown Princess hesitated slightly: "Yes, there is, but my mother once secretly showed him my medical records... and he couldn't say anything about them."
“What kind of accuracy is there in just looking at the pulse diagnosis? Observation, auscultation, palpation, and questioning are all unreliable. Even a divine doctor would find it difficult to make a move. Call him here,” the Crown Prince said, gradually leaning close to her ear. “Don’t be angry. No matter what bitter medicine he prescribes, I will share the bitterness with you.”
The Crown Princess's expression changed drastically: "—Your Highness!"
Her eyes welled up with tears instantly, which quickly dripped down her cheeks. The Crown Prince reached out and wiped them away for her, smiling as he said, "Is that better now? I'll put your mind at ease so you won't envy other people's husbands anymore."
The Crown Princess's lips trembled slightly, but she managed to maintain her dignified demeanor as she retorted, "How could I have ever envied her? That's just Que'er talking nonsense. Your Highness, please don't take her child's words to heart."
“Your Highness, you always say one thing and mean another to me,” the Crown Prince said, opening his mouth slightly and biting her small earlobe. “It’s like you changed your sister’s name and forbade others to call her Sparrow, but you yourself don’t change your way of addressing her.”
"I only occasionally forget and call out a few times in private..."
...
The two leaned against the window for a while before the Crown Princess finally gently declined, saying, "Your Highness has important business to attend to."
Since they were outside, the Crown Prince didn't press the matter. He calmed his breathing, straightened his clothes, and got up with a smile to leave.
The Crown Princess quickly recovered, walked to the door, and whispered to the maid who had been guarding the door—actually a palace servant—"Go and invite Father here..."
After saying this, the palace maid's eyes suddenly lit up: "Does Your Highness mean that His Highness is finally willing—?"
The Crown Princess nodded: "Yes, go ahead."
One palace maid hurried away, while another, unable to contain her excitement, said with tears in her eyes, "These past three years have been so hard on Her Majesty... yet no one dares to mention it to His Highness."
In ordinary families, if a woman cannot have a child, it is assumed to be the woman's problem; how much more so in the imperial family?
Even if you know there's a possibility, you absolutely cannot admit it openly.
Because of the Emperor's own inner conflict, he was determined to have a legitimate eldest grandson of impeccable birth, and this heavy burden fell entirely on the shoulders of Crown Princess Luo Ying.
The pampering is unique, and so is the pressure.
Besides, how could it be that there's no rush?
With no heir in the Eastern Palace, the foundation of the nation is unstable.
"Perhaps it's just that my body is weak." The Crown Princess sighed. In front of her confidante, she didn't need to hide anything and said, "In any case, if it still doesn't work, then just give me a quick death."
The palace maid comforted her, saying, "The imperial physicians have examined Her Majesty many times and have always said that Her Majesty is in good health; she just needs to relax."
It was unharmed, but there was no movement at all.
How could she be happy?
The Crown Princess gave a bitter smile. It was a matter between two people, and only she sought medical help. The other possibility was clearly there, yet no one dared to touch it; even she could only keep her doubts to herself.
Even today, my younger sister's usual recklessness seems to have brought her an opportunity from heaven, paving every step of the way for the prince, leaving him no choice but to step down.
Thinking back on the events of the past, the Crown Princess's expression softened, but gradually became thoughtful.
**
Nothing unusual happened during the entire birthday banquet; it proceeded as planned, and no one knew that an elderly man in gray carrying a medical kit was led into the Cheng'an Earl's residence through a side door next to the back kitchen.
After the afternoon banquet ended, the guests took their leave one after another, and Xu Rong and Xiao Xin boarded the carriage to return to their residence.
At this point, she was no longer considering the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. She was very clear-headed; even if she tried to curry favor, she couldn't do so now. After marriage, a woman follows her husband, and her status followed Xiao Xinlai. How could a illegitimate son of a marquis's family, who was also the wife of a top scholar, be expected to socialize with the Crown Princess?
That's overthinking it.
Even if she could, she wouldn't want to. The disparity in their social status meant she would have to expend more dignity and effort. Wouldn't it be better to stay home, sleep, and look at the flowers?
Why seek out suffering?
As for the future, we'll see how things go depending on the needs.
After returning to her courtyard, she was preoccupied with how to bring Xiao Xin to his senses. This was a very difficult task, perhaps even more so than trying to curry favor with the Crown Princess—after all, it wasn't within her area of expertise.
In stark contrast to her, who was restless every day, Xiao Xin remained calm and composed, shuttling between the Marquis's residence and the Su family, displaying remarkable ambition and drive.
Xu Rong gradually: "..."
She seems like a strange older sister, always scheming about other people.
Perhaps Xiao Xin wasn't as deeply involved as she thought; that day at the Marquis of Cheng'an's residence was just a matter of acting and performance.
After observing for five or six days, Xu Rong's desire to speak grew increasingly weak.
Forget it, let's just drag it out. If we delay it a little longer, this matter will be over.
They maintained a pleasant working relationship.
Just then, an elderly man in gray carrying a medical kit came to see Xu Rong.
Xu Rong was quite puzzled when she heard Hong Liu's message—no one in her courtyard was sick, and she hadn't called a doctor, but since she was free, she still had someone invited in.
Generally speaking, one should avoid offending doctors.
This is her survival experience from her previous life.
Accompanying the old man in gray was a middle-aged woman. The woman's clothes were inconspicuous, but her status seemed to be higher than that of the old man. She entered the door first, curtsied, and said, "This servant has come on the orders of the Crown Princess."
Xu Rong was taken aback and hurriedly asked someone to offer her a seat, but still did not know her purpose. He asked for tea while inquiring about her.
The middle-aged woman sat on one side of the chair, her expression solemn, and said, "The Lady of Ji'an Marquis obtained several prescriptions for you from outside, didn't she?"
Xu Rong nodded.
"This is it." Since the next message came from the Crown Princess, the woman stood up again and said, "Her Majesty said that it is best to have the doctor examine the patient in person before making a diagnosis. Even if the prescription obtained from outside is good, it may not be suitable. Therefore, Her Majesty recommended this doctor to you."
Xu Rong stood up, her mind unusually blank: "..."
Before the woman could finish speaking, she asked, "I wonder if the second young master of the household is here? Her Majesty's decree is to be conveyed to both of you."
Xu Rong said with difficulty, "--Yes, it is."
The woman was somewhat pleased: "Then please have the second young master come out as well."
At that moment, the curtain in the east side room moved, as Xiao Xin finally heard that the noise was related to him and came out on his own.
He was pondering the wording of an article, his mind still on it, and didn't quite hear what the woman was saying. He came out to look at the woman, then at the old man, and finally at Xu Rong.
Waiting for her to explain.
Xu Rong longed to look up at the sky.
She really didn't want to curry favor, but this Crown Princess was just too honest.
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