Chapter 291 Begonia Tears, the Deadlock is Hard to Break
The crabapple blossoms in the east courtyard seemed to have sensed their owner's melancholy. The morning dew on the petals had not yet dried, and when the wind blew, it rolled down like silent tears.
In the main room, Xiaoyanzi had stopped crying. She sat at her dressing table by the window, looking at herself in the bronze mirror, her eyes red and swollen, her face pale. She took a deep breath. Her fingertips traced the cool edge of the mirror. Reflected in the mirror was Princess Rong's ornate headdress and her exquisite yet somewhat drab light-green Manchu dress. Only the light in her eyes had dimmed considerably.
"Princess, would you like some lotus seed soup? It's freshly cooked and it's good for calming your nerves." Mingyue walked in holding a fine porcelain bowl with gold-painted patterns and carefully placed it on the dressing table.
Xiaoyanzi didn't look back, but just said "hmm" softly.
Caixia stood aside, twisting her handkerchief in her hand, and couldn't help but whisper, "Princess, don't take it too seriously. The prince...he must still be on your side, otherwise he wouldn't be so flustered."
"Towards me?" Xiaoyanzi finally turned her head, a self-deprecating smile on the corner of her mouth, but her eyes were as cold as ice, "Towards me, you will do it to other women on your wedding night..." She stopped abruptly in the middle of her words, as if choked by something, her chest heaving violently several times, and in the end she still didn't say the embarrassing words.
Some things, once spoken out, can never be undone.
She picked up the spoon, scooped a spoonful of lotus seed soup and put it into her mouth. The soft, sweet taste slid into her throat, but it couldn't warm her cold heart.
Outside the door, Yongqi still hadn't left.
He leaned against the pillar, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white from the exertion. The sunlight filtered through the crabapple branches, casting dappled shadows on his navy blue prince's uniform, but it couldn't dispel the deep gloom between his brows.
Little Dengzi and Little Zhuozi stood far away by the Moon Gate, anxious as ants on a hot pan.
"Xiao Zhuozi, the prince has been standing here for half an hour, and it's not a big deal, right?" Xiao Dengzi lowered his voice, looking anxious, "The princess must be feeling uncomfortable in there too."
Xiao Zhuozi frowned and sighed, "Oh, what a fuss. Who could have thought..." He was halfway through his words when he quickly glanced in the direction of the west courtyard and swallowed the rest of his words. There are some things that cannot be said casually in the palace.
The little bug squatted on the ground, drawing circles in the dirt with his fingers, muttering to himself, "Guaiguai longdidong, what's going on?... The prince and the princess used to be so happy, quarreling and arguing every day, but it was so sweet. How come..."
Little Ware tugged at his sleeve, signaling him not to talk nonsense, but his eyes were filled with worry: "Shh... keep your voice down. I'm afraid this matter won't be so easy to get over. That new concubine looks docile, but she has a lot of thoughts in her bones." After all, he came from a slum, and he had seen a lot of complicated people's hearts. He could tell at a glance that Chen Zhihua was not an easy person to deal with.
Yongqi naturally heard the servants' whispers, but he didn't turn around. He knew better than anyone that the root of the problem wasn't Chen Zhihua, but himself. It was he who had failed to refuse the Empress Dowager, who had lost his composure on their wedding night, and who had broken Xiaoyanzi's heart.
He raised his hand and tried to push the door, but just as his fingertips were about to touch the door panel, he pulled back as if he was burned.
What should he say?
That he drank drugged wine? That he mistook Chen Zhihua for Xiaoyanzi? These words sounded more like lame excuses. Given Xiaoyanzi's temper, she'd probably only get angrier.
Just then, there was a slight sound of footsteps coming from the direction of the west courtyard.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a little maid carrying a food box, cautiously walking towards the East Courtyard. When she reached the Moon Gate, she saw Yongqi and quickly stopped, kneeling and bowing: "Greetings, Your Highness."
Yongqi frowned and asked in a bad tone, "What's the matter?"
The little maid was frightened by his aura, and her voice trembled a little: "Your Highness, it was...it was the concubine who asked me to come here. The concubine said that Your Highness had not had breakfast this morning, so she asked the kitchen to make some snacks and send them to Your Highness to fill his stomach." As she spoke, she handed the food box forward.
Yongqi's face darkened instantly, and a hint of disgust flashed in his eyes.
Was sending snacks at this time intentional or truly "considerate"? Either way, it made him feel extremely irritated.
"Take it!" He spat out two words coldly, his voice filled with suppressed anger, "I'm not hungry!"
The little maid trembled at his yelling, her face pale with fear, and she almost dropped the food box in her hand. She stammered, not knowing what to do.
Seeing this, little Dengzi hurried forward to smooth things over: "Hey, you little maid, don't you see that the prince is worried? Take the things back quickly! The prince appreciates the concubine's kindness." As he spoke, he winked at the little maid.
The little maidservant finally woke up from her dream, nodded quickly, and ran hurriedly to the west yard with the food box, as if there was a flood or a beast chasing her.
Looking at the little maid's embarrassed back, Yongqi felt even more irritated. He knew that Chen Zhihua's action, no matter what her intentions were, would only make things worse in Xiaoyanzi's eyes.
He looked at the tightly closed door again, feeling as if something was blocking his heart, making him feel suffocated and uneasy.
In the main room, Xiaoyanzi heard everything clearly.
Her hand holding the spoon suddenly tightened, her knuckles turned white, and the sound of the spoon hitting the porcelain bowl was particularly harsh in the silent room.
"Heh," she sneered, the coldness in her eyes even more intense, "that's quite considerate."
Mingyue and Caixia looked at each other, neither daring to speak. They knew this new concubine was going to stir up trouble.
Xiaoyanzi put down her spoon, stood up, and walked to the window. She pushed open a window, and a cool breeze with the scent of crabapple blossoms rushed in, ruffling the loose hair on her forehead.
She looked at the tall crabapple tree outside the window, watching the petals fluttering in the wind, and her eyes gradually became firm.
What's the point of crying? What's the point of getting angry?
She is Xiaoyanzi, Fang Ci who has been reborn and experienced ups and downs. She is no longer the little girl who only knows how to cry.
Is Chen Zhihua trying to sow discord? Is she trying to take advantage of the situation to gain power?
It’s not that easy!
The position of the principal wife of Prince Rong's Mansion belongs to her, and she will never give up Yongqi's heart to anyone else!
But... thinking of the absurdity of Yongqi and Chen Zhihua that night, and the glaring mark on Chen Zhihua's neck, her heart still ached as if it was being pricked by needles.
"Mingyue," Little Swallow suddenly spoke, her voice much calmer, "go get me a basin of cold water."
Mingyue was stunned for a moment, then reacted and quickly responded, "Yes, Princess."
Caixia asked in confusion: "Princess, why are you using cold water? Be careful not to catch a cold."
Xiaoyanzi looked out the window, a faint smile on her lips: "Wash your face and wake up. There are some things that are useless to avoid. You have to face them when you have to."
She couldn't just hide in her room and feel sorry for herself. She had to find out what happened that night. She also wanted to let Chen Zhihua know that she, Xiaoyanzi, was not so easy to bully!
The cold water splashed on her face, and the cool touch made her shudder, and also completely dispelled the confusion and weakness in her heart.
She raised her head, looked at herself in the bronze mirror, and took a deep breath.
The game has just begun.
And she will never lose.
Yongqi seemed to hear the movement inside the room from outside the door. His body stiffened slightly, and then a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes. He raised his hand again, and this time, his fingertips landed steadily on the door panel and knocked lightly.
"Xiaoyanzi," his voice was trembling with anticipation, "I know you're still angry, but... can we talk about this?"
In the room, Xiaoyanzi heard his voice and tightened her grip on the towel.
talk?
OK.
She wanted to hear what he had to say.
She did not respond immediately, but silently wiped the water droplets from her face and straightened her slightly messy clothes.
Yongqi, standing outside, waited for her response with his heart in his throat. The crabapple blossoms under the porch continued to fall silently, as if sighing for the lovers stuck in this impasse.
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