Chapter 143 After Marrying the Crippled Prince, 23 Spring Banquets
Lin Jinyuan returned from the palace, his face expressionless.
Yun Chiyi was moving the paintings out of the study to air them out when she accidentally discovered a portrait of a woman with yellowed paper. She sat down and looked at it; it turned out to be herself.
The spring rain on the night of spring knocked down the crabapple blossoms. In the painting, she stands under the crabapple tree with an umbrella, and even the umbrella is covered with a few petals.
The warm sunshine chased away the musty smell from the painting, and Lin Jinyuan's calm expression shifted slightly as he passed by.
Yun Chiyi moved a stool and sat down next to the painting, casually asking him, "You painted my portrait before? It looks like it's been quite a while."
Her jade-carved hands gently stroked it: "Your Highness's painting skills are truly excellent; you've captured nine-tenths of my beauty."
Lin Jinyuan smiled upon hearing this: "Not even one ten-thousandth of what Madam has. There are some more on the bookshelf; Madam can help air them out when she has time."
With nothing to do all day, Yun Chiyi immediately went to move the paintings.
Unfolding one by one, they were all portraits of her. The older ones were created by Lin Jinyuan based on his imagination. They looked brand new and were made on high-quality paper. They were Lin Jinyuan's memories of her.
Sunlight streamed down upon them, making each one shine.
Yun Chiyi assumed he was using painting as a pastime and didn't think much of it.
She carried her flower tea, moved to the center of the painting, and remembered that he had gone to the palace to meet the emperor that day, so she asked him a few questions.
Lin Jinyuan sat beside him, his tone devoid of emotion: "He's old."
Yun Chiyi said, "Even if the emperor gets old, he is still the emperor. He has beautiful concubines and a vast empire. Many people dream of enjoying this for even a day."
Lin Jinyuan spoke slowly: "That's not quite right. I don't have that thought right now."
Yun Chiyi looked at him hesitantly, wondering what he meant.
He has been lying low for many years, and now he is proceeding cautiously step by step. This is hardly the case if he doesn't want to wield power.
Lin Jinyuan smoothed a strand of hair that had fallen beside her ear: "There is an official position that is vacant and there is no one available, so Father Emperor entrusted it to me temporarily. I specifically told my wife that I will go to take up the post soon. I will be away from home for a while, but it won't be too long."
Yun Chiyi looked at him with a half-smile: "Your Highness has already made up your mind, so why bother asking me?"
Lin Jinyuan: "Your tone is not good, is she trying to upset me?"
Yun Chiyi twisted her shoulders and turned her back to him: "Your Highness is overthinking it. I'll have a few days of peace and quiet while you're away, so why not?"
Lin Jinyuan pulled her up from the chair: "The dew was still heavy when we went out this morning, but it's warm now. Why don't we go out for a ride?"
"I can't ride it, I'm just watching you ride it." Yun Chiyi yawned, looking uninterested.
Lin Jinyuan bent down again and picked her up in his arms: "It's nothing, let your husband teach you, my wife."
He had probably been sitting for too long and wanted to stretch his muscles in front of outsiders.
When Zhenzhen heard that the prince and princess were going on a spring outing, she immediately got busy, running around preparing food and riding clothes.
She added that in the past, the prince and princess's affectionate moments were always kept at home and the common people could not see them, so this time they should take the opportunity to show it off.
Yun Chiyi chuckled and patted her head with her fan: "What are you thinking about all day long?"
Zhenzhen answered sincerely, "The prince and the princess, who else could they be?"
Less than half an hour later, the six people from Prince Cheng's Mansion set off discreetly.
Although the spring day was clear and bright, the breeze was still a bit cool. Yun Chiyi was always lazy, so after arriving at her destination, she sat on a small felt blanket and ate some dried fruit and candied fruit.
Lin Jinyuan, dressed in a light blue riding outfit, was lean and tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist that looked incredibly handsome against the backdrop of the lush spring scenery.
He led the horse closer, bent down, and helped Yun Chiyi to her feet.
"Since you're already out, don't sit for too long. Rest for a while, okay?"
He'd already pulled the person up; what room was there for good or bad?
Yun Chiyi casually stretched out her arms, gesturing for him to carry her onto the horse.
Lin Jinyuan smiled helplessly, but his eyes were smiling: "Madam, please sit tight."
As soon as Yun Chiyi left the ground, she felt her vision broaden, with endless green grass stretching as far as the eye could see.
Lin Jinyuan mounted the horse in the stirrups and affectionately pulled her into his arms.
Yun Chiyi grasped her hand in return.
For some reason, Lin Jinyuan thought of the scene when Lin Tingyu saved her that day. She did the same thing, even though there was a strange man wearing a mask behind her, she still gave him her hand.
Or did she already know it was her?
Lin Jinyuan's eyes darkened, and he tightened his grip, holding her firmly in his arms.
Yun Chiyi didn't let out a sigh, and asked him in confusion, "Why are you hugging me so tightly?"
Lin Jinyuan's tone remained unchanged: "The road is rather bumpy; I'm afraid Madam might fall off."
Having a valid reason, Yun Chiyi said, "Then hold me tighter."
Lin Jinyuan burst into laughter, his long fingers tightening around her waist.
It was only a little boring at first, but once the horse started running and the wind whistled past her ears, Yun Chiyi's laziness was blown away.
Her face was rosy, and she smiled with joy.
Lin Jinyuan is an excellent horseman, so there's no need to worry about him being thrown off.
He held the reins and asked her, "Does Madam find it fun?"
Yun Chiyi: "It's acceptable."
She spoke with a faint laugh, and Lin Jinyuan's eyebrows were also touched by a smile.
He pressed down, his warm breath drifting into Yun Chiyi's neck. Moved by his heart, he gently kissed her ear with his thin lips.
Yun Chiyi frowned slightly: "Your Highness is definitely a dog."
Lin Jinyuan smiled and relaxed: "When I'm not around, please think of me often, okay?"
Yun Chiyi replied, "Then remember to bring me some good food."
Lin Jinyuan said, "Of course."
Yun Chiyi asked again, "How long are you going to be gone? Ten days, half a month, or a year?"
Lin Jinyuan answered truthfully: "It should have been half a year, but that's not the time to back out. About a month is enough."
“That’s still quite a long time,” Yun Chiyi said.
Lin Jinyuan was delighted to hear her say that: "I often write to you."
Yun Chiyi pouted: "Then I'd better not. You always write such long letters. If I'm busy during the day, I'll go blind reading them by candlelight at night."
The two chatted for nearly an hour before leisurely riding back.
After resting at his residence for a day, Lin Jinyuan tidied up and went to take up his post in another place.
He left Chaosheng at the mansion to keep an eye on things.
But when he left, Lin Shulang followed him.
The two were very close, like father and son.
Yun Chiyi was playing cards with Chaosheng Zhenzhen when this idea suddenly popped into her head, and she even forgot to play her cards.
In the original novel, Lin Jinyuan and Lin Shulang were quite at odds. Even though they appeared to be on good terms, they secretly looked down on each other.
The year Lin Jinyuan died, Lin Shulang ascended the throne and immediately eliminated all the forces he had left behind.
Despite being a leisurely prince for many years, Lin Jinyuan is a man who won't act without a reason. Now, he is deliberately sticking close to Lin Shulang, as if he has changed his strategy.
Thinking back to what he had said before he left, Yun Chiyi gripped the cards tightly and fell into deep thought.
Yes, having immense power doesn't necessarily mean becoming emperor. As long as the person sitting in that chair is obedient, other identities don't matter.
She stood there in a daze for a long time, and even Chao Sheng couldn't help but urge her, "Your Highness, it's your turn to play your card."
Yun Chiyi looked at the bad hand of cards in her hand and randomly played one.
Chao Sheng excitedly threw down his cards and jumped up from his seat: "I won! I finally won!"
Zhenzhen's face fell, looking like a bitter gourd: "I was clearly aiming for five consecutive wins."
Amidst the cheers and jubilation of the students, Yun Chiyi lowered her voice and said to Zhenzhen, "Ignore him. I'll give you a jade pendant later."
Chao Sheng, being highly skilled in martial arts, heard him before he finished speaking and immediately protested, "How can the Princess Consort show favoritism?"
Yun Chi smiled gently: "You are Lin Jinyuan's person, and Zhenzhen is the apple of my eye. Isn't it obvious whether we are close or distant? When the prince comes back, you can just complain to him."
Upon hearing that Lin Jinyuan was not present, the two men lowered their heads like wilted eggplants.
Yun Chi thought to herself, "How come it looks like they're the ones who're all alone in their empty rooms?"
In the afternoon, the sunlight gradually cooled.
Yun Chiyi received an invitation to a spring banquet, which meant sitting with a group of beautiful women to enjoy the spring and pray for blessings.
This was something I had never seen before. Lin Jinyuan had just taken on a temporary post as a second-rank official, and Yun Chiyi had also benefited from it.
Yun Chiyi doesn't talk to outsiders, but things are different now, and she also wants to sound out what others are saying.
She and Zhenzhen prepared gifts together to present to the young ladies and noblewomen at the spring banquet.
On the day they went, they ran into Yun Shuxue. Yun Chiyi pretended not to see her and told Chaosheng to hurry up.
Upon arriving at the banquet, it felt as if one were surrounded by a hundred flowers, each woman carrying a faint, unique fragrance.
As Yun Chiyi was being helped by Zhenzhen through the flower-lined path, a beautiful lady came over with a smile to greet them.
"Greetings, Your Highness. Your Highness and I are cousins. You have not met me before, so you should not recognize me."
Lin Jinyuan's network of connections is not shallow; he has heard of the close ones, but he doesn't know which side's cousin this is.
Seeing that she meant no harm, Yun Chiyi responded with a smile.
"Knowing you were coming today, I made some flower cakes this morning. I didn't know if you preferred them sweet or bland, so I put some of both in."
Yun Chiyi held her hand and beckoned Zhenzhen over with the other.
Zhenzhen then relayed her message: "Thank you, Madam. My princess loves these pastries the most."
Then everyone remembered that Yun Chiyi was mute. At first, they wanted to take turns to say a few words to her, but now it seemed that the opportunity was very limited. The ladies, who were all carrying small gifts, stopped being modest and crowded forward to introduce themselves to her.
The system also lamented that Lin Jinyuan's success had brought prosperity to his entire family, and the world had changed. However, Yun Chiyi immediately scolded him, saying, "Who is this useless thing calling a dog?"
These are all inconspicuous little gifts, which won't cause gossip if given back and forth between women.
They spoke softly and quietly, but there were so many people that it was impossible to hear them all clearly.
But there was one sentence that Yun Chiyi heard from beginning to end.
The lady said that the medicinal wine she had was good for conditioning the body and could be used by both men and women. She heard that someone who used it gave birth to twins the following year. She didn't know what to give as a gift, but she got the idea from Madam Gao.
Isn't Madam Gao Yun Shuxue?
She can't stay still for a moment, always gossiping.
Now everyone knows that Lin Jinyuan has a hidden illness. Yun Chiyi was both amused and exasperated; this was truly an undeserved disaster.
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