Chapter 37 Jealousy
Changqiu learned the term "pretty boy" from her husband.
Three days ago, the young master mysteriously gave him a task: to send someone to keep an eye on the princess, and to immediately inform him if the princess summoned the musician surnamed Xi from the Zuo Jiao Fang again.
Sure enough, as soon as the white-robed musician entered the house, Changqiu rushed over immediately.
Upon hearing this, Lin Lanting immediately asked for leave and left the government office, heading straight home.
That posture made it clear that he was going back to grab something.
As if sensing its master's emotions, Xuan Lei's four hooves moved like the wind, speeding like lightning, just like on the battlefield.
This time, Lin Lanting didn't even have time to feed the horses. He rushed into the east courtyard and stepped into the main house where the sound of zither music was wafting through the air.
What comes into view is a peaceful and comfortable scene.
A young woman in a soft silk dress leaned against the chaise longue as if boneless, surrounded by several maids, one massaging her shoulders and back, another kneading her legs, and yet another ready to feed her pastries and fruits.
Opposite the chaise lounge is an antique and elegant zither table, upon which sits a seven-stringed zither, on which the zither player's slender, white fingers are plucking and pressing.
Beside the zither table sat an incense burner shaped like a fairy reclining on a lotus, with wisps of fragrance wafting and rising from the layers of lotus petals.
The elegant, deep piano music flowed from the fingertips, filling the entire room and bringing a sense of tranquility and joy.
Even Lin Lanting, who had come with a lot of energy, felt that the moment was peaceful and serene, a time of tranquility and peace.
He shouldn't have bothered them, but he couldn't help but care.
"Princess."
With a slightly stiff and awkward smile, Lin Lanting cupped his hands and called out softly.
In fact, he didn't need to make a sound; the hurried and heavy footsteps he made when he came in were quite noticeable, not to mention the rustling and clanging of his armor as he moved.
Indeed, in his haste, Lin Lanting even forgot to remove his soft armor.
I had planned to finish up the official documents and then go on patrol today, but plans change, so this is how it has to be.
Disturbed from her peace, Huiyi, who had been dozing off, impatiently opened her eyes, glanced at the bright daylight outside, and asked in surprise, "Why are you back?"
Not feeling guilty at all, which made Lin Lanting inexplicably embarrassed, her face stinging.
When Xi Bai, who was playing the zither, saw Lin Lanting coming over, he immediately got up to greet her, but was stopped by Huiyi, who was engrossed in her music.
"No need for formalities, just play your music."
Lin Erneng is not a person who cares about rules. He can't even learn the rules properly, so he shouldn't make things difficult for others.
Lin Lanting was removing his soft armor when he heard this, his face darkened, and he seemed to be gritting his teeth.
At this moment, this would make him, the prince consort, lose face.
His gaze swept coldly over the musician named Xi Bai, his eyes seeming to want to devour him.
No matter how uncomfortable she felt, Lin Lanting couldn't show her displeasure when replying, so she forced a smile and said, "I had some free time today, so I left work early. What is the princess doing?"
Lin Lanting was extremely conflicted at this moment. He wanted to question her, but the words that came out of his mouth changed.
Logically, if a husband goes out and his wife invites a gigolo over for entertainment, the husband should have a legitimate reason to question or even hold her accountable.
But the two of them made a mess of the marriage, and the couple no longer acted like husband and wife, making such questioning seem ridiculous.
Huiyi felt that Lin Er was acting like an idiot today, asking nothing useful.
Sitting up slightly, Huiyi propped her head up and ate a carefully selected sweet grape before mumbling, "What can't you see?"
"Of course, it's to listen to music!"
Lin Lanting was so infuriated by her self-righteous attitude that he suddenly laughed, strode over, pushed past Jin Die who was massaging Huiyi's legs, and sat down on the side.
Caught off guard by being pushed aside by the prince consort, the Golden Butterfly people were all stunned and looked at their princess in confusion.
Suddenly pressed against a hard, hot body, Huiyi felt extremely uncomfortable and instinctively shrank back, frowning and scolding, "What are you doing? There's plenty of room for you to sit, why are you crowding me!"
He was a big guy with a big butt, and when he sat down, he almost crushed Huiyi.
Feeling the crowd on the couch, Huiyi finished her scolding and then kicked it without hesitation.
Living indoors and lying on a couch, Huiyi was not wearing shoes, only silk stockings, so Lin Lanting felt the foot that came over very clearly.
Small and soft, it clung to his back, instantly sending a tingling sensation through him.
He restrained himself from grasping her hand and said with a chuckle, "Is it not allowed for me to sit here, Your Highness, since you are comfortable here?"
Huiyi raised her eyebrows and said in rejection, "No, you're making my Jin Die's room too cramped to sit here, and she still has to massage my legs!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Lanting's eyes flashed, and he seized the opportunity to say, "It's like no one can do it. I'll do it."
Without waiting for Huiyi's reaction, he climbed up one hand to her slender calves covered by the silk skirt and began to knead them gently.
Unlike Jin Die's soft fingers, Lin Er's hands had many calluses, and Huiyi immediately felt their roughness as soon as they touched her.
A layer of soft fabric could not block the sensation, especially since Lin Er was making those attentive movements.
"Hey, don't touch me!"
It was inevitable that Huiyi would feel uncomfortable switching from Jin Die to Lin Er. She felt a burning sensation where she was touched, which then spread rapidly throughout her body and finally appeared on her cheek.
She tried to pull her legs back, but there was only so much space on the couch, and Lin Er seemed to be pressing down on her, so Huiyi couldn't break free for a while.
"What do you mean?"
The rough sensation on my calves continued; although not as soft as the Golden Butterfly, it strangely made me feel relaxed and refreshed, and my bones felt lazy.
Lin Lanting calmly sensed the softness beneath his palm, then put on a serious expression and said, "Didn't I say that I can also serve the princess?"
"Does the princess think my sculpting is inadequate?"
Lin Lanting was very confident in his skills.
When he was a child, he competed with his older brother for his mother's favor in this way, and he was always successful.
That's how he developed this excellent technique.
Her slender fingers, calloused from the thin fabric, deftly kneaded the soft flesh of her legs through the fabric of her skirt.
The force was just right, and the technique was skillful. In just a few strokes, Huiyi tasted the sweetness. Her eyes narrowed slightly, clearly she was enjoying it. She murmured, "It's... not bad. If you want, then do as you please."
With her body feeling better, Huiyi's attitude softened considerably, which made Lin Lanting quietly relieved.
Yu Guang, a refined musician playing the zither at the table, witnessed all of this and looked at it strangely.
It seems the rumors aren't entirely true. Princess Chang Le and her husband aren't as estranged as the rumors suggest. Upon closer examination, they actually seem quite affectionate.
However, in this moment, such intimacy serves as a warning to him.
Especially when he saw the cold, stern, and clearly hostile look in Lin Erlang's eyes, he realized that Lin Erlang's gaze was sharp and menacing.
Having spent many years working in the brothel, Xi Bai had only ever suffered cold stares and ridicule, but he had never faced such a fierce gaze before.
Unlike before, which would only make you feel depressed for a while, Lin Erlang gives him a false impression.
He may not be able to leave the Lin family's house today.
Feeling flustered, he played a wrong note on the zither, which drew frowns from the two men at the head of the table.
"Hiss~"
“
To play something wrong like that? Are the people from the Left Music Bureau really that capable? Has the princess misjudged them?
Lin Lanting was not about to let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip by, and immediately launched a sarcastic attack.
Huiyi did not immediately refute, because Xi Bai had indeed played the wrong note, which was undeniable.
In Xi Bai's view, sometimes silence is an attitude.
His thoughts raced, and he gave a response.
He rose and bowed respectfully, looking apologetic. "It is Xi Bai's fault. I was punished by the deputy director of the Jiaofangsi to chop wood the other day and injured my wrist. I should have rested for a few days, but the princess summoned me. I did not want to offend the princess, so I came here. It was Xi Bai who did not think things through and disturbed the princess's enjoyment. I will accept the princess's punishment."
His words were calm and measured, gentle and composed, yet they evoked pity in Huiyi.
Lin Lanting's heart skipped a beat, and he cried out inwardly.
"So that's the reason. It's really pitiful. It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself. Quickly sit down and rest. We'll talk again when you've recovered."
"Thank you for your forgiveness, Princess. I only wish that you will not despise me."
He spoke cautiously, with a hint of pitifulness, which elicited various expressions from the people in the room.
Huiyi's message is the simplest and most straightforward: pure pity and compassion.
Yu Niang and Bi Qing looked on guard, their gazes toward Xi Bai growing increasingly hostile.
Having spent so many years immersed in the palace, they are masters at understanding people's hearts.
Just like one's own princess, although she may seem spoiled and willful, she is actually pure, passionate, and innocent.
As for the prince consort, although he looks fierce and acts eccentrically, he is not a bad person at heart and is a good young man.
He's just a bit out of line, always provoking the princess and getting a beating or scolding, but he can still smile happily.
This young man, Xi Langjun, was not very upright.
He appears gentle and refined, but harbors a sharp edge, subtly flattering and ingratiating himself before the princess.
I'm afraid the princess will fall for it.
Yu Niang glanced at the princess, whose face was filled with pity, and felt troubled.
"Speaking of which, why did your deputy director of the Music Bureau punish you by making you chop wood? Isn't that the work of a musician?"
Even if a musician makes a mistake, he shouldn't be punished like this.
This question hit the nail on the head. Xi Bai hesitated for a moment, then shook his head as if hiding something, and said softly, "Perhaps they are short-staffed for this job?"
"Your Highness is so noble, there is no need for you to concern yourself with my humble and trivial matters. It would be too much of a bother for you."
Lin Lanting watched as one person played the victim and the other showed pity, going back and forth until his face turned a deep purplish-red.
Finally, after seeing the pretty boy off, Lin Lanting hadn't even caught his breath when he heard Huiyi say, "Go and send someone to find out what's going on at the Left Music Bureau. I want to see what's really going on."
Lin Lanting paused, her hand instinctively gripping the slender ankle, and said with displeasure, "You're going to stand up for this pretty boy?"
After being pinched by Lin Er for a while, Huiyi was no longer so resistant. She didn't even react when her ankle was grabbed. She just disagreed and retorted, "What pretty boy? Why do you call him that?"
"Besides, what I do is none of your business. Mind your own affairs!"
Huiyi didn't like Lin Er speaking to her in that tone, as if she had done something to offend him.
"Get your hooves off the ground!"
His other foot kicked at Lin Lanting's forearm, but it felt like he had landed on a rock; the arm didn't budge.
Huiyi was furious and wanted to kick him again, but Lin Er caught her.
Now both feet are in the opponent's hands, putting them in a very passive position.
"You're going to rebel!"
Even though Huiyi was slow to realize how awkward her current posture was, her face flushed red as she glared fiercely at Lin Er.
Lin Lanting had no romantic thoughts at the moment; he was furious.
That pretty boy musician was obviously no good. Only Li Huiyi was stupid enough to be fooled by a few words.
"Ignore that pretty boy, he's no good. Be careful."
Huiyi glanced at Lin Lanting from head to toe, then sneered and said sarcastically, "Do you look like a good person?"
"It's none of your business, I know what I'm doing."
Lin Lanting tried to persuade him several times to no avail, and his pride made him give up and leave.
For several days in a row, the couple barely spoke, as if they were locked in a battle of wills.
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Author's Note: I'm out of steam, this is all I can write. I'm not sure if I can write tomorrow, maybe I will, maybe I won't. [crying emoji]
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