Because it was their wedding day, Liu Heng stayed in Lin Yuqiao's courtyard for seven days.
By the eighth day, almost everyone was craning their necks to guess whether the prince would still stay in Consort Lin's courtyard.
After all, no one had entered the manor for several years, and the youngest among those serving the prince was already in his twenties. Consort Lin was only fifteen or sixteen, in the prime of her youth, and beautiful beyond compare. It was only natural that the prince would favor her even more.
But their guesses were clearly wrong. Liu Heng proved once again that he was not a womanizer, and went to the princess's courtyard again.
After the meal, Wang and Liu Heng sat facing each other on the couch, talking, feeling extremely satisfied.
As expected, Consort Lin is nothing to fear. So what if she has a higher status? The Prince will treat her the same way he treats Consort Jiang.
After drinking tea, Wang remembered Lin's share of the allowance and wanted to discuss it with Liu Heng first.
“Your Highness, although Consort Lin has only recently entered the household, she is from a noble family. I would like to raise her allowance to be the same as Consort Jiang’s. Is that alright?”
Liu Heng thought for a moment. Although Liu Yan had moved to the outer courtyard and her daily expenses were no longer shared with the inner courtyard, the Princess still gave Jiang and Consort Jiang their allowances as usual. In this respect, the amount was actually quite considerable.
"Let's do it this way. Thank you for your hard work, Wanrong."
Liu Heng held Wang's hand, looking at her with tenderness. He was satisfied with Wang as his principal wife; she not only managed the affairs of the household well but was also very tolerant of his concubines and other concubines, making her a virtuous and generous woman.
He knew that Lin's arrival would put pressure on Wang, so to avoid chaos in the inner courtyard, he rested with Lin for a while before immediately returning to Wang's place. He wanted to show everyone in the mansion through his actions that the Princess was still favored by him and her position was unshakeable.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuqiao ate her meal alone in the quiet and lonely atmosphere, feeling somewhat out of place. She listlessly flipped through a script.
"These are goose feet and duck tongues that Granny Zhou from the kitchen just pickled. Concubine, please try them and see how they taste."
Observing that Lin Yuqiao barely touched her favorite delicacy, the fairy meat, at dinner, Granny Jiang went to the kitchen and asked for a few dishes of her favorite side dishes.
"This is best enjoyed with wine."
Lin Yuqiao picked up a piece of goose foot and put it in her mouth, chewing it slowly. It was a familiar taste, because she had always liked the braised food made by Granny Zhou, so Madam Li had given Granny Zhou and her family as servants.
"It's already late, and if there's no wine, please make do, Concubine."
Fearing that drinking alone would only make her more heartbroken, Granny Jiang advised.
"Good nanny, just one bowl."
Without the Yuquan wine, even the goose feet and the beef stew tasted bland. Lin Yuqiao pleaded with Granny Jiang with a grin, but seeing that Granny Jiang was unmoved, she called Qingming and Guyu over to help persuade her.
"You all need to put in a good word for me. Whoever manages to persuade the old lady to give me a cup of wine, I'll give her this bottle of Huasheng."
Lin Yuqiao pulled out the black gold and inlaid jade ornament from her hair and held it in her hand, waving it towards Qingming and Guyu.
Seeing her interest, Qingming and Guyu exchanged glances and then grabbed Jiang Mama's arms on either side, shaking her and pleading for Lin Yuqiao's life.
"Alright, alright, I give up, but I can only have one bowl."
Lin Yuqiao cheered and asked Qingming to bring the wine. Just as she was about to tell her to fill it up, Jiang Mama snatched the wine bottle away again.
"How can you eat it cold? This wine is extremely hot in nature. If you eat it hot, it will dissipate faster. If you eat it cold, it will congeal inside, and your internal organs will have to warm it up. Wouldn't that be harmful?"
After sticking out her tongue and listening to Granny Jiang's long-winded explanation, Lin Yuqiao dared not say that she loved drinking cold drinks the most.
Granny Jiang is a beauty expert. It is said that when she was in the palace, she had a chance to get a set of health preservation recipes from an aunt she knew. These recipes were all secrets passed down in the palace in the previous dynasty.
However, by the time she received the prescription, Granny Jiang was already quite old, so she didn't have the opportunity to serve the favored empress. When she reached a certain age, having grown accustomed to the sycophancy and backstabbing in the palace, she lost the will to continue enduring the hardship and was released from the palace by imperial grace. Coincidentally, her family knew that Madam Li was looking for a nanny to serve the young lady in her household, so they took the opportunity to go to the Chenliang Marquis's residence.
Granny Jiang never married and had no children. She got along well with Lin Yuqiao and truly loved her from the bottom of her heart.
After drinking and finishing most of the cold dishes, Lin Yuqiao's gloom from the night vanished.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west; whether you're sad or happy, it's still just another day. This is only the beginning.
When Liu Heng wasn't visiting her, Lin Yuqiao had nothing to do, so she would spend her days reading storybooks to pass the time.
Liu Heng stayed at the Princess's place for another ten days without stopping.
Every day when she went to pay her respects, looking at An He's peaceful face, Lin Yuqiao felt a tightness in her chest.
"Granny, when do you think the Prince will arrive?"
Granny Jiang didn't have any ideas either; there was nothing she could do if the person just wouldn't come. But seeing Lin Yuqiao's anxiety, she could only try to persuade her.
"The Princess Consort is not young anymore. How many more years can she enjoy the Emperor's favor? In a couple of years, the Prince will be married and have children, and the Princess Consort will have to accept that she is getting old. Consort, you should wait patiently."
Biting her lower lip, Lin Yuqiao kept telling herself to endure it. There will always be a way out; she had to be patient.
In the afternoon, Consort Baili came to talk to her again.
Sensing Lin Yuqiao's absent-mindedness, Consort Baili knew perfectly well what was going on and couldn't help but feel secretly pleased. She pretended to be casual and said, "If we're talking about the number one person in the royal family, it has to be our Princess. Not only does she have both a son and a daughter, but the Prince has always doted on her. He spends at least half of the month with her, and then there's Consort Jiang who gets to spend three or four days with him. Sometimes the rest of us don't even see the Prince once in months."
They were shocked by Consort Baili's words. Before she married into the family, she had already asked about everything she needed to know, but no one had thought to inquire about Liu Heng's private affairs.
"Does Consort Jiang only have three or four days a month?"
Lin Yuqiao suddenly remembered that the princess had said that her allowance was the same as that of Consort Jiang. Could it be that she could only see Liu Heng three or four days a month?
"Don't worry, Consort Jiang. You are younger and more beautiful than Consort Jiang, and your background is comparable to that of the Princess. You might have a few more days ahead of you. But if you have more days ahead of you, we won't be able to see the Prince for a long time."
As Baili spoke, she grew melancholy, and looked at Lin Yuqiao with a hint of resentment.
She was even more unlucky because her background was similar to that of the princess. Who knows, given Liu Heng's personality, he might have suppressed her even more.
Lin Yuqiao witnessed firsthand how Madam Li was oppressed by Marquis Chen Liang for half her life while she was in the Marquis's mansion. Even without concubines, Madam Li didn't have a good life. So what would she do in the future?
Although she knew in her heart that Consort Baili had ill intentions, Lin Yuqiao felt that the authenticity of the story could be guaranteed.
She started to panic. Was this how she was going to spend the rest of her life? Did she have no hope at all?
Seeing that her purpose had been achieved, Consort Baili was pleased with herself and, glancing at the sky, prepared to take her leave.
"Good sister, thank you for telling me, otherwise I would not know anything."
Lin Yuqiao pulled Baili Shi aside, her words sincere and warm. Calling Baili Shi "sister" regardless of their social status indicated her willingness to befriend her.
"You flatter me, Consort. I simply stayed a little longer than usual. You'll understand in time. If there's anything you still don't understand, please feel free to ask me."
As she stepped out of Lin Yuqiao's courtyard, a smile appeared on Baili's face. It seemed that Lin was still too naive.
Sitting on the tatami mat, Lin Yuqiao's mind was filled with desolation.
"Granny, if we really continue living like this, what hope is there for us?"
Suppressing her frustration and resentment, Lin Yuqiao continued to wait for Liu Heng. Whatever she wanted to do, she at least had to see him.
It wasn't until some time later that Lin Yuqiao heard the announcement during dinner that evening: Liu Heng had finally arrived.
"Your Highness, you've already had dinner at the Princess's place, haven't you?"
Looking at Liu Heng's figure, perhaps because it had been a while, he seemed to have become a stranger.
Seeing that Lin Yuqiao was still eating, Liu Heng was a little surprised, "Why are you only eating dinner now?"
"I don't think it's too late, it's just that the Princess Consort ate earlier."
Since there were no set times for dinner in the manor, Lin Yuqiao's words carried a hint of sarcasm.
Seeing Liu Heng frown at her words, Lin Yuqiao put down her chopsticks, her eyes glistening with tears.
"It's been so long since I last saw Your Highness, and everyone says that I don't please him. Now that I finally get to see him, can't he even be a little jealous?"
Although Lin Yuqiao exaggerated, it was only a dozen or twenty days since they last met, but Liu Heng looked at her with tears in her eyes and a mixture of joy and reproach on her face, and felt a little helpless.
She made her point clear, which left him speechless.
After all, if the princess said such a thing, he could be accused of being petty, but since Lin was a concubine, he couldn't say that she shouldn't be jealous.
Liu Heng coughed lightly and said casually, "I'm here now."
She stood up, lifted her skirt, and rushed over to hug Liu Heng's waist. Lin Yuqiao buried her face in his chest and sobbed, "I thought Your Highness would never come to see me again."
Liu Heng sighed, lifted her chin, and saw that her face was flushed from crying, her cheeks were covered with tears, her small nose was also red, and her big, bright eyes were made even brighter by the tears.
Why do I always overthink things?
He wiped away her tears with both hands. Liu Heng looked at her pouting cherry-red lips, rubbing her tender cheeks against his palms, looking aggrieved and pitiful. He couldn't help but chuckle.
"How old are you to still cry like this? Do you miss your grandpa that much?"
"Yes, I want to. But the prince hasn't come yet."
Her voice was soft and sweet as she wrapped her arms around Liu Heng's neck, stood on tiptoe, and whispered complaints in his ear.
After she finished speaking, she bit his earlobe again, as if venting her anger.
When his most sensitive spot was licked by her warm, wet tongue, Liu Heng couldn't help but tremble slightly. He gripped her waist tightly, his Adam's apple bobbing rapidly.
With his arm around Lin Yuqiao's waist, Liu Heng wanted to lead her back to the inner room.
"I'm not leaving, I haven't finished eating yet."
Lin Yuqiao looked at the table full of delicious food, all of which she had spent time ordering that afternoon. She hadn't even eaten a few bites yet, and she was reluctant to leave.
She knew where Liu Heng's most sensitive spot was, and just now she deliberately acted to arouse his desire.
But he started a fire, and she didn't want to put it out immediately. If she was having a hard time these days, he shouldn't have an easy time either.
Struggling to break free from Liu Heng's arms around her waist, Lin Yuqiao returned to the dining table and looked at Liu Heng, saying, "Your Highness, won't you eat something else? This Phoenix Tail Shark Fin and Red Plum Pearl Fragrance are both delicious."
Watching her happily start eating again, Liu Heng felt a little helpless. Wasn't she looking forward to his visit and missing him terribly? Why did she put him aside as soon as she saw the food?
He picked up the plum wine on the table, poured himself a glass, and as the icy liquid went down his throat, his previously shouting body slowly calmed down.
After finishing the candied peach in front of her, Lin Yuqiao licked the juice from the corner of her lips, her face full of satisfaction.
She smiled at Liu Heng, who was sitting at the table, looking both beautiful and charming.
Liu Heng's heart stirred, and he pulled the person back to the inner room.
After washing up, Lin Yuqiao stepped barefoot onto the carpet in front of the bed. Her delicate pink feet trod on the fiery red fox fur, creating a striking contrast and a dazzling beauty.
After admiring her, Liu Heng bent down and pulled her onto the bed. As their eyes met, Lin Yuqiao blushed slightly.
The strong masculine scent enveloped her in this small space. Looking at Liu Heng's gentle and refined face, she suddenly felt that he was somewhat like Tang Sanzang from Journey to the West.
He shared a similarly disciplined personality, handsome appearance, and a touch of asceticism, making him highly sought after. She and the princess were like demons and monsters along their journey, all wanting to possess the holy monk.
Thinking this, Lin Yuqiao chuckled.
Seeing Liu Heng's puzzled look, she smiled and explained, "When I was a child, I read a play about a monk on his journey to the West. I heard that eating his flesh could grant immortality, and along the way, many female demons tried to seduce him."
"Then what?"
Liu Heng still couldn't find anything to make her laugh.
"That's all. I just think that Your Highness is like this monk. I'm just a vixen who wants to snatch Your Highness away."
"Oh, why would you snatch it?"
With a slight smile, Liu Heng's hand moved inside her clothes, roaming over her soft, snow-white skin.
Feeling hot and itchy all over, Lin Yuqiao laughed and fell into his arms, curling up into a ball, squeezing his hand onto one of her breasts.
"Snatch it, snatch it and eat it!"
Liu Heng leaned down and kissed the alluring red lips, the one who shouted that he wanted to devour him was devoured.
Inside the bed curtains.
After their passion subsided, Lin Yuqiao nestled in Liu Heng's arms, playing with his hair.
"Louqi will be back at the end of the year. Do you want him to stay in Kyoto?"
Upon hearing Liu Heng mention Lin Yucheng, Lin Yuqiao immediately raised her face and said, "Of course I miss him! I haven't seen my second brother for several years."
"You and your second brother are very close."
Lin Yuqiao got excited when she heard about Lin Yucheng, and Liu Heng asked her.
"Yes, Second Brother is so good to me. He not only plays with me, but when I was little, the calligraphy I copied was all written by Second Brother. When I grew up, I could never play the piano well, so Second Brother would take time at home to teach me. He taught me even better than a female teacher."
Lin Yuqiao said excitedly, "If Your Highness comes again tomorrow, I will play the zither for you. I can play very well now."
I remember that Lin Yucheng was skilled at playing the zither when he was still in the academy. According to those who heard him play, the sound of the zither could still be heard for a long time after he finished playing.
He held the person struggling in his arms down and nodded, promising to come again tomorrow.
"Go to sleep."
But Lin Yuqiao was not sleepy and wanted to continue talking, so she remained lying on top of him.
Looking into her still bright black eyes, Liu Heng placed his palm over them, feeling her eyelashes flutter and his palm itch slightly.
"Is that all, Your Highness?"
Even with her eyes covered, Lin Yuqiao's mouth didn't stop. When she spoke again, Liu Heng covered her mouth with his other hand, only to have his tongue lick her.
Liu Heng was at his wit's end and really wanted to wrap the person up completely in a blanket and leave them in a corner.
It seemed she wasn't going to sleep peacefully, so Liu Heng convinced himself that he just wanted some peace and quiet, and pressed down on her again, devouring her once more.
The next morning, after a pleasant farewell to Liu Heng, Lin Yuqiao happily went to the Princess's residence.
Wang Shi looked at Lin Yuqiao, who was wearing a delicate pale yellow dress embroidered with butterflies and flowers. Her slender waist swayed gently as she walked, exuding a graceful charm. When she paid her respects, she looked directly at Lin Yuqiao, unlike Consort Jiang and the others who looked respectful. Wang Shi couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
"My sister has grown even more beautiful. I had forgotten that you sent some people out of the courtyard a couple of days ago, didn't you? But did they not serve you well? Would you like me to send a few more people over?"
"Your Highness, I did send away a few lazy and dishonest people a couple of days ago. Thank you for your concern. My sister also brought a few people from the Marquis's residence. The courtyard isn't very big now, so we can manage them all. There's no need to add more people."
Lin Yuqiao had no intention of arguing with the princess. As for the courtyard, it wasn't actually that big; it was about the same size as the one she lived in when she was in the Marquis's mansion.
However, the princess was somewhat displeased by these words. What did she mean by "the courtyard is not big"? It was already the largest courtyard in the mansion. Lin Shi still thought it was too small. Did she intend to live in her own courtyard?
As for the people who were sent away, the princess did not pursue the matter. In this day and age, if the master says you are lazy or dishonest, that's how it is. The truth doesn't matter.
After everyone had left, the princess asked Zhou, the old woman beside her, "How many of our people were sent away?"
"Cherry and Pear were sent away, but the other three are still staying in the concubine's quarters."
"Yes, tell them to be careful and not let the Lin family find any fault with them."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com