Chapter 31 No one is stopping you from taking a concubine, but you still don't want one...
After the Cold Clothes Festival ended, Weiwei was locked up again and lost its freedom. Because of the trouble it caused at the banquet, the emperor ordered people to keep a closer eye on it and subject it to a strict training program from morning to night.
Upon hearing this news, Jiang Shuifu felt even more hatred for Shen Jizhao. Sometimes when she encountered him on the street, she would quickly flee, as she did not want to share the same air with him.
She couldn't get into the cage where it was kept, so she could only pray for it day after day, hoping it would recover soon. Its tail was so badly injured; she didn't know if it would ever heal.
Speaking of wounds, her own arm was also badly injured. That day, large drops of her blood meandered across the ground, startling He Rushuang when she came to treat her.
Jiang Shuifu wouldn't act rashly. What He Rushuang owed her, she would take back in a generous manner. She had never suffered such a serious injury in her life.
Over the past two weeks, the power dynamics within the Eastern Palace have gradually shifted. Everyone knows that new women are being brought in, one of whom is someone the Crown Prince is extremely favored by, and is rumored to be his sweetheart from the west side of the lake.
The news that the Crown Prince had reprimanded the Crown Princess for his beloved at the banquet had reached the Eastern Palace. The observant servants were busy cleaning and tidying up the other halls, hoping to get a reward when the Crown Prince gave the order.
Outside the Bihua Palace, several voices constantly chattered with flattery and obsequiousness:
"Please wait a moment, Miss He. I will go and inform His Highness the Crown Prince immediately. He is still in the study."
"Miss He must be tired. Why don't we go have some tea and snacks? The Crown Prince has recently come up with many new dishes, all of which are unique to the border region."
This was a blatant implication that these were prepared by His Highness the Crown Prince for He Rushuang, who was about to enter the palace. He Rushuang smiled and, with a hint of shyness, expressed her intentions:
"I am here to treat the Crown Princess, not to see the Crown Prince."
The peaches in the inner hall scoffed, "What are you pretending for! If you're not here to see the Crown Prince, why are you dressed so extravagantly, like a buzzing bee courting a mate, driving me crazy!"
After complaining for a long time, Jiang Shuifu interrupted her: "Tell her that if she's not sincere, she shouldn't come."
Pan Tao stamped her foot and ran out happily, determined to avenge the Crown Princess.
"The Crown Princess said that if you don't want to come, you don't have to. What a hypocrite! The Crown Princess doesn't care! The Crown Princess will always be the principal wife. This is a promise made by the Crown Prince himself. She's just a concubine, and a concubine who hasn't even entered the palace yet. How dare she come to the Eastern Palace like this! It's ridiculous!"
Pan Tao spoke softer and softer until Hou Tian's words were almost inaudible. She wasn't without brains; a little venting of her anger was enough.
He Rushuang didn't care about showing off her skills for a moment, but after hearing the man's footsteps and figuring out who it was, her eyes slowly reddened.
She was very tactful, only letting a thin layer of water cover her eyes, her upper and lower eyelashes gently opening and closing, making her whole face look moist and giving her a rather pitiful charm.
Shen Jizhao could see her predicament at a glance. He said to Pan Tao in his usual indifferent tone, "Don't be rude. Miss He is a guest. Do you act like this in front of the Crown Princess?"
He had only said it casually to give He Rushuang some face, but he suddenly realized that this ill-mannered maid was always by Jiang Shuifu's side, which must have had some influence on her. No wonder she had completely changed.
His face turned cold:
"If you do it again, we'll need more maids to do the laundry!"
The peach was startled by the prince's arrival, then became angry and somewhat aggrieved.
She was the Crown Princess's maid; couldn't he stand up for her? He, the Crown Prince, actually reprimanded his wife's maid for a woman who hadn't even entered the palace! Such an act of humiliation towards the Crown Princess—wouldn't he then favor his concubine over his wife? The Crown Princess was so wronged!
He Rushuang was happy; seeing that her goal had been achieved, she took the responsibility upon herself.
"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have forgotten that the Crown Princess has been waiting for me, and I shouldn't have troubled His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness is very busy with state affairs, and it's already very difficult for him to find the time."
These words show that Shen Jizhao cares about her. In order to see her, he rushed over as soon as the maid reported it, even putting aside his official duties.
The peaches wished they could scratch her face; what was she trying to prove by showing off like that!
As soon as the words were spoken, a figure emerged from the Bihua Palace, speaking in a very unpleasant tone:
"Don't flirt here! The Eastern Palace is so big, any artificial hill or rock could easily accommodate both of you! But before that, Consort He still needs to finish what she needs to do. I despise and loathe those who break their promises!"
Jiang Shuifu's first words compared them to an adulterous couple, while her later words were a veiled insult. Shen Jizhao understood and accepted her anger.
She thought Shen Jizhao would leave with a dark expression and take He Rushuang away, but he didn't. He was going to take a concubine, which naturally made her unhappy.
He walked up to Jiang Shuifu and comforted her, "The Crown Princess's injury is serious, please go inside quickly!"
Jiang Shuifu was unmoved, and after glancing at the aggrieved peach, she warned him:
"My maidservants do not need the Crown Prince's discipline. I hope the Crown Prince will keep his distance and not meddle in other people's business! Pan Tao has been with me for more than ten years. No one can bully her!"
He Rushuang was shocked by Jiang Shuifu's merciless accusations. This was the Crown Prince, and she dared to criticize him like that!
She silently looked at the very imposing man. How would he punish her?
To He Rushuang's surprise, Shen Jizhao was not very angry, nor did he intend to punish her.
He thought about it silently for a long time. He needed to let her know about yesterday's events: "I am not..."
fraud.
Before he could even utter those two words, Jiang Shuifu warned him once again: "Your Highness, please wait. Bihua Palace is too small to accommodate you!"
Shen Jizhao watched as the gates of Bihua Palace were quickly closed, as if he deeply hated him.
He was isolated, and his fist had been clenched since then. After a long while, he slowly loosened his grip, and bright red blood flowed from his palm.
He lost the ability to think and judge, unwilling to think about the present situation, unwilling to acknowledge her changes, and even less willing to listen to the terrifying and unbearable voice that kept clamoring in his heart.
There was only one thought in my mind: It's okay, she's just angry.
.
Jiang Shuifu's injuries have improved somewhat, and she no longer needs He Rushuang to perform acupuncture to stop the bleeding. She only needs her dressings changed on a daily basis.
Shen Jizhao suppressed his political affairs again and again, and would occasionally try to find time to see Jiang Shuifu, but the success rate was very small, and he almost never saw her.
Jiang Shuifu kept making excuses and refused to see him. She didn't want to pretend to be friends with a liar anymore. To hell with the idea of mutual respect!
Shen Jizhao hadn't been the crown prince for nothing all these years; he used intimidation tactics and drove all the maids out while she was taking a nap.
Only then did he begin to examine his Crown Princess; she looked even more radiant and energetic than he had seen in the past few days.
According to Xiao Chu, she often orders local specialties and eats several bowls at a time. He was worried that she might get an upset stomach like last time, but she ate for a long time without any discomfort.
So, her appetite grew, and he hired many new chefs to cook for her, hoping she would taste the food he had eaten at the border. But she didn't seem to like it; she took one look and then left.
His hand gently stroked her eyebrows, and the way he outlined her features was no longer as restrained as before, but rather bold and unrestrained, and her expression became much more carefree.
He traced her eyelashes, nose, and rosy cheeks down her face. She was doing very well without him by her side.
A few days ago, she scolded him with great force, a side of her he had never seen before. While he felt the normal displeasure, he also felt that she was special.
He became curious, curious about her original appearance. When they were together before, he could sense that she was in control, or rather, that she was suppressing her emotions.
He seemed to realize that she wasn't free, and... happy, when she was with him before.
Therefore, he wanted to make amends.
He suddenly realized that the Crown Prince's Palace didn't seem to need too many people; she could manage on her own.
But this was just a fleeting thought. Shen Jizhao touched the arm of the sweetly sleeping woman, tore off her sleeve, and applied the medicine to her.
The wound was quite deep, the skin and flesh were separated. That beast was truly a beast, scratching so viciously. If he hadn't arrived in time, her wounds would have been far more than this. However, he reflected on it and realized that he was too hasty and too strong at the time, pushing her so far that she staggered.
He didn't let go of He Rushuang in his arms, and he didn't have time to catch her.
She was so badly injured, yet she still clung to that beast and wouldn't let go. He was furious, especially since everyone was watching, including the emperor. He could only give her a "small punishment as a warning."
Just as Shen Jizhao was halfway up, the woman who had been obediently letting him do as he pleased a second ago suddenly turned her beautiful eyes toward him with disgust, and kicked his hand away.
"Your Highness has gone on a night stroll. It's terrifying that you've wandered all the way to my palace. If you're sick, don't come here to torment me!"
Shen Jizhao convinced himself to get used to her harsh words and explained the matter from last time: "The reason I abandoned my official duties to come to Bihua Palace last time was not because of her."
It wasn't for He Rushuang, but for his Crown Princess, Jiang Shuifu; he wanted to check on her injuries.
The person lying on the couch got up, ignoring his explanation, and simply told him to leave:
"I don't want to know who this 'she' you're talking about is. I just want to remind the Crown Prince that no one is stopping you from taking a concubine, and please don't stop me from hating you."
Shen Jizhao was startled. Disgusting? This was the first time she had ever used such a cruel and hurtful word on him!
The doubts, strangeness, and disbelief that were deep in his heart finally came to fruition. In fact, he had seen it all along, but he just didn't want to think about it too much.
Let her hate him if she wants to!
He will treat her well, and she won't dislike him!
Shen Jizhao changed the subject, saying, "I will continue to apply the medicine for you. I know you don't like things being left unfinished!"
This was his test, a test of her feelings for him, a test of the bottom line he could never cross. She could hate him for a while, but she could never leave him forever!
He was too arrogant; even when testing someone, he used a certain tone because the only possible answer was affirmative.
Jiang Shuifu immediately rejected him:
"Many people stick to one thing when they are young and never regret their choices. But the more they go on, the more they realize that giving up halfway is the best way to cut their losses. I think that's right. Things that are not worth it should be discarded. Those times should be considered as a waste of time."
Cut your losses? Cut your losses from her love at first sight? Cut your losses from her constant clinging to him? Cut your losses from her cooking for him, making him a walking stick, and turning him into a buck-toothed rabbit? Cut your losses from her wanting to have his child?
Shen Jizhao did not accept it; those four words did not exist in his life, and he did not understand them.
He couldn't accept that she was the one who ran into his world first, saying she would stay with him for life, but then went back on her word.
He refused to accept it; a few words decided his future.
As Shen Jizhao calmed down, his memories drifted back to the past. Back then, she endured tears and ate spicy food to cater to his tastes, just so she could have something to talk about with him. But he mistakenly thought she was testing him, so he turned his back on her and completely denied all her efforts.
He will treat her well, and gradually win back her feelings for him; they will live a peaceful life together.
"I have recently hired a new batch of chefs, and the dishes they make are all to your liking. I will prepare a large banquet and wait for you in the main hall."
He originally wanted to hold the ceremony at Bihua Palace, but she didn't want him to come in, so he didn't force her.
Women can be easily appeased.
As for her suggestion to "cut losses in time," he wouldn't take it to heart.
.
For the next two days, Shen Jizhao went to accompany Jiang Shuifu as usual, but as before, he was turned away at the door.
He was not discouraged and focused on handling government affairs while arranging the banquet schedule.
He went through each dish almost one by one, carefully recalling which dishes she had made that Jiang Shuifu liked, making sure they were all dishes that Jiang Shuifu would like, and even being picky about the cooking time.
His heart felt increasingly at peace. It turned out that they had very similar tastes; what he liked, she also happened to like.
That day, Shen Jizhao waited for her early in the morning, putting aside all his official duties.
His face turned as black as the bottom of a pot when he looked at the dishes on the table.
"What's going on? Why isn't there any Sichuan peppercorns in this Sichuan peppercorn fish head dish? Didn't I tell you to add more, and to add whole peppercorns? Otherwise, she'll think it's bland."
"These oysters are missing garlic. Without garlic, they have a fishy smell, and she can't bring herself to eat them."
"I've told you so many times, this mutton should be fatty, how can you eat it if you pick out all the bones!"
Shen Jizhao was so nitpicky that he couldn't stand any dish, and he even had to criticize the presentation.
The maids were so scolded that they couldn't lift their heads, trembling with fear, almost kneeling on the ground to beg for forgiveness. Who exactly was this arrangement for? Why is His Highness the Crown Prince so concerned!
She's obviously not the Crown Princess; the Crown Princess doesn't like spicy food.
Shen Jizhao lit an incense stick and gave them a deadline to serve the dishes again. This delay brought the agreed time to the end.
He first carefully checked each dish, and only after confirming that everything was correct did he sit up straight, straighten his robes, and wait quietly.
He waited and waited, but she still hadn't come. He figured she might be playing around and would be back soon, so he told someone to keep the dishes warm.
But even if the food is kept warm, it will eventually get cold if the person doesn't come. The maid asked him if he wanted to remove the dishes, but Shen Jizhao immediately refused and scolded the maid, saying that if she came in a while, there would be nothing left on the table, and what would she eat?
As evening approached, Shen Jizhao waited and waited, feeling sticky all over. He decided to take a bath first, and she should be back by then.
But after he finished bathing, she still didn't come back.
Shen Jizhao could no longer sit still. His icy aura could freeze the entire Eastern Palace, and his expression was a sign of anger.
He was going to find her.
As soon as Shen Jizhao and his men walked out, they saw Jiang Shuifu returning.
He rushed forward, intending to ask why she was so late, as the palace gates were already locked. He was afraid something had happened to her, so he led his men to look for her.
But all that came to his lips was, "I'm glad you're alright."
Jiang Shuifu gave a perfunctory bow, then ignored him and walked inside.
Shen Jizhao stopped her, saying, "I'll have someone heat up the dishes. You'll come with me to the main hall. You promised me!"
Jiang Shuifu hadn't said a single word at that time, so how could he be sure she had agreed? But she felt there was no need to waste words:
"I've changed my mind! Is that not allowed?"
Shen Jizhao bit his cheek, swallowing his anger. The woman in front of him was already gone, so he could only grab her. Silver moonlight shone on the two of them, and suddenly a thought struck him:
"You said you wanted to see the stars last time. The moon is beautiful tonight, perfect for stargazing. I will answer all your questions."
Jiang Shuifu refused decisively: "I don't want to watch it!"
Shen Jizhao knew that she didn't want to watch it with him!
He had always been a chosen one, and no one dared to contradict him, let alone show any obvious dislike for him or reject him again and again.
His domineering and forceful nature was revealed, giving her an ultimatum: "You can choose not to watch today, but I will send you back."
Jiang Shuifu knew what he was up to, but still wanted to sneak in and sleep there: "Is the Crown Prince lonely?"
Shen Jizhao's veins throbbed slightly. How could she say that about him! What did she think of him? Was he the kind of person who only knew how to enjoy women?
This is an absolute insult to him! He has never been treated like this before!
Jiang Shuifu ignored him, scoffed, and ran off in a flash, leaving behind only the words, "Don't follow me, there are so many people in the East Palace!"
This sentence alone doesn't seem to have any problem, but when put together with the previous sentence, it becomes a big problem!
Shen Jizhao's eyes were already as deep as they could possibly be, his profound pupils filled with unfathomable flames.
Jiang Shuifu went to sleep immediately after returning to Bihua Palace. She had played too much today and was extremely tired. To make matters worse, she ran into that person who had ruined her good mood all day.
But while she was half asleep, Pan Tao looked nervous, her eyes twitching as she said in a flustered manner:
"The Crown Prince has arrived in a very imposing manner! He is followed by several skilled guards!"
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Author's Note: Some readers may not have seen the author's note, so I'm reposting it. Please don't subscribe immediately after the update, as you might see some confusing content that could affect your mood. Due to time constraints, I need to revise it after posting, so it's best to subscribe the next day.
The next chapter is a crucial turning point, directly related to the male lead's marriage proposal. Can you guess what foreshadowing elements haven't been used yet?
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