Chapter 42 Portrait
Chu Yunjin woke up at noon.
She opened her eyes and turned her head to find that Yan Cang was no longer in bed.
She called Adele in: "Where has the prince gone?"
"His Highness went to the study in front and said he would come back later to have lunch with His Highness," Adele replied respectfully. "If His Highness needs anything from His Highness, he can go directly to the study."
Chu Yunjin hummed in agreement, then sat up and leaned against the headboard: "Did you open and look at the things that Princess Jin gave me last time?"
Adele shook her head: "No."
"Give it to me."
“Yes.” Adele turned and walked away.
A short while later, she returned with a rectangular brocade box and handed it to Chu Yunjin.
Looking at the exquisitely crafted brocade box, Chu Yunjin sighed inwardly that the things used by royalty were indeed luxurious. Even a brocade box for a gift looked so high-class, with such intricate workmanship and exquisitely carved patterns, making it irresistible.
Chu Yunjin couldn't help but wonder what gift the Princess Consort of Jin had given her.
Her hand hesitated on the hidden clasp of the brocade box, recalling scenes from TV dramas where a cloud of black smoke billowed out when the box was opened, and then the person was poisoned and died.
She hesitated even more as she opened the brocade box.
"What's wrong with the princess?" Adele asked, puzzled.
Chu Yunjin looked at her hesitantly: "Adele, do you think it's possible that the Princess Consort of Jin poisoned the brocade box?"
Adele was taken aback: "It should be...it should be unlikely, she's not that stupid."
She paused for a moment and then explained, "The brocade box was brought by the Princess Consort of Jin herself. If it's poisoned, she'll be the first to be implicated."
Chu Yunjin hummed in agreement, realizing she was being too pessimistic.
As the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family, she couldn't possibly do something so stupid. The original owner hated Yan Cang so much, but she only made a fuss and never thought of poisoning him.
After all, plotting against the royal family would result in the extermination of nine generations of one's family.
With a "ding", Chu Yunjin opened the brocade box.
What came into view was not some precious jewelry or rare antique, but a rolled-up scroll.
Chu Yunjin seemed to have guessed something, her brows furrowed slightly, and she said calmly, "Adele, you may leave now."
"yes."
Adele turned and walked out.
Chu Yunjin picked up the scroll and unfolded it, revealing a graceful and elegant woman in the portrait. As the woman's face gradually came into view, Chu Yunjin's pupils narrowed and her expression changed.
The woman in the portrait looks exactly like her, only a few years older. She has shed the naivety of her youth, and her eyebrows and eyes exude a dignified and peaceful air that comes with age. Her eyes are slightly melancholy, and she looks unhappy.
The woman wore a magnificent phoenix hairpin and had a peony-shaped flower decoration on her forehead, making her look incredibly noble and beautiful.
Is this the woman Yan Cang truly loves?
Chu Yunjin carefully examined the style of the phoenix hairpin on the woman's head. It was a seven-tailed golden hairpin, which seemed to be worn by women of the rank of Imperial Concubine or Crown Princess. She was not quite sure whether a Princess Consort could wear it, because each dynasty had different regulations.
However, it is certain that the Empress could wear a nine-tailed phoenix hairpin.
Chu Yunjin felt a tingling, numbing pain in her heart, as if insects were tearing at it.
She desperately wanted to know who this woman was.
It couldn't possibly be someone from the palace, could it?
If it were one of his father's concubines... Chu Yunjin shuddered and quickly shook her head to banish the terrible thought.
“Your Highness,” Granny Zhou reported respectfully from outside the door, “His Highness has sent word that he will be here in a quarter of an hour. If Your Highness has already risen, we can prepare to instruct the kitchen to serve the meal.”
Chu Yunjin quickly called out, "Rise, rise! Serve the meal!"
"yes."
Chu Yunjin put the portrait back into the brocade box, then got up and put the rectangular brocade box into the cupboard. She then instructed Zhaixing and Laoyue to come in and help her with washing up.
After I finished washing up and getting dressed, the meal was served.
Yan Cang stepped into the house and saw Chu Yunjin dressed neatly. His eyes darkened slightly as he inexplicably thought of the words she had said to him that morning while hugging his neck. The throbbing in his heart surged up like waves.
He walked over and took her hand: "Did you sleep well?"
Chu Yunjin was a little embarrassed: "I originally wanted you to get some rest, but in the end I ended up sleeping so soundly?"
"I rested very well," Yan Cang said. "I'm going out of the city to the military camp this afternoon, and I'll be back a little late tonight. You can stay at the manor—"
"Don't worry, don't worry, I'm not going anywhere," Chu Yunjin assured him, patting her chest. "I have things to do this afternoon."
Yan Cang said gently, "If you feel bored, you can go out for a stroll."
Chu Yunjin shook her head: "It's not boring."
Yan Cang hummed in agreement, said nothing more, and pulled her hand to sit down at the table.
Looking at his handsome features, Chu Yunjin had a lot of questions she wanted to ask, but she still felt that now was not the best time.
Hmm, let's ask again on our wedding night.
Everyone had their own thoughts while eating the meal, yet it was still a warm and cozy experience.
After lunch, Yan Cang left with Qing Chuan, riding out of the city.
Chu Yunjin instructed Adai: "Arrange for a few people to go out of the manor and buy some things for me."
Adele asked curiously, "What does the Princess want to buy?"
“Red candles, and the cut-out ‘囍’ character—I want to decorate the bedroom.” Chu Yunjin said shyly, “I used to always give the prince a hard time, and we didn’t even have a proper wedding night. I… I want to make it up to him.”
Adele smiled and said, "Yes, I will take care of it right away."
Chu Yunjin took a deep breath. No matter who Yan Cang liked, it wouldn't change her decision to improve her relationship with Yan Cang. She would deal with the rest later.
Chu Yunjin spent the entire afternoon busily decorating her new house.
When Yan Jinyue returned to the palace by carriage, she encountered Pei Yi'an, who had just come out of the palace, at the palace gate. Meeting him twice in one day was considered unlucky.
Yan Jinyue was about to get off the carriage, but the moment she saw him, she sat back down: "Go straight to the palace."
Pei Yi'an and Yan Jinyue both entered through the East Gate. This was not the place where officials went to court; as long as one had a waist token, even the carriages of princes and princesses could enter and exit.
"Sixth Princess," Pei Yi'an said in a low voice, blocking the carriage, "I have something to say to you."
Sitting in the carriage, Yan Jinyue coldly said, "We have nothing to do with each other anymore, so what else is there to say?"
"I don't want to cancel the engagement." Pei Yi'an walked to the car window, lowered his eyes, and said sincerely, "Jin Yue, I've liked you for three years, and you've been sincere with me too. Is our relationship so fragile that it can't withstand the test?"
"A test?" Yan Jinyue lifted the carriage curtain, looked at Pei Yi'an's pale and shameless face, and sneered repeatedly, "So you brought back a slut and her bastard child to test me?"
Pei Yi'an's face froze: "Sixth Princess."
"Then I'll test you too." Yan Jinyue smiled faintly, "When I meet a man who moves my heart, and we have physical intimacy, and I even get pregnant, then you can come and say these words to me."
Pei Yi'an pursed her lips: "Men are different from women—"
"I am a princess." Yan Jinyue looked down at him coldly. "Pei Yi'an, have you forgotten your identity? I am a princess, the daughter of the Emperor. All your glory and favor come from the royal family. Don't forget your place."
Having said that, he lowered the carriage curtain and said, "Let's go to the palace."
"Wait." Pei Yi'an reached out and tugged at the carriage curtain. "What will it take for you to forgive me?"
The carriage had already started moving slowly, and he could only jog along to keep up: "Princess, just say what you want, and I will do whatever it takes as long as it's within my power!"
"Since that's the case, then let that bastard in Tang Beixuan's belly disappear." Yan Jinyue's voice was cold and ruthless. "Only in this way can you prove your sincerity in atoning for your sins."
Pei Yi'an's face turned pale, and he froze on the spot.
The carriage didn't stop for a moment, sped away, and soon disappeared into the palace gates.
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