Chapter 33 The wild geese she had been waiting for so long were delivered to…
Shen Jizhao acted swiftly, with both the Emperor and Empress participating in the process of taking concubines. This time, two concubines entered the Eastern Palace: He Rushuang was a Liangdi (a concubine of high rank), and Tang Shan'er was a Liangyuan (a concubine of high rank).
The whole process was very quick, perhaps because it had been prepared for a long time. When the people heard the news, their eyes crinkled with smiles, and they offered their blessings.
Everywhere in the streets and alleys, people were saying that Shen Jizhao and Liangdi and Liangyuan were a perfect match, and for a time, it was quite lively.
The Crown Prince, who enjoys great prestige among the people, has been praised by everyone for his marriage this time. Only a true lady from a prominent family is worthy of him, and there is none of the resentment and regret that Jiang Shuifu showed when she married into the Eastern Palace.
The night before the marriage proposal, Shen Jizhao sat in his study for a long time. These days, he deliberately avoided thinking about the woman who had made him lose face and feel utterly humiliated.
She's amazing; she knows how to exploit his weaknesses, rendering him incapable of resistance with a single blow.
Contraceptive pills—this was the first time in his life he had experienced something so absurd and embarrassing. Every night they were intimate, she secretly took them.
It turns out that all the moments when she invited him to indulge in debauchery were just him deceiving himself. She hated him so much, how could she possibly want his child?
Jin Qing came in and showed the gift list to Shen Jizhao, but Shen Jizhao had no desire to look at it. He just stared at the ugly buck-toothed rabbit on the table with a dark face and sharp, penetrating gaze.
Look closely, this buck-toothed rabbit is all wrinkled, clearly it's been abused, but it was picked up again, its teeth are even crooked now, and it's grinning like it's asking for a beating.
Jin Qing could also guess what the man meant, after all, his appearance of needing to be coaxed was too obvious, but this was the first time he had seen it in all the years he had followed him.
Jinqing tentatively spoke up: "There is nothing unusual about the Eastern Palace."
As expected, upon receiving this answer, Shen Jizhao threw the buck-toothed rabbit out again, his eyes bloodshot as he clenched his fists, his palms already showing deep and shallow scabs that had broken open again.
Jinqing lowered her head as low as she could, barely breathing, for fear of being harmed.
After a long while, Shen Jizhao calmed down, but he looked as if someone owed him the entire national treasury.
"You can handle it, I have no objection, but I... will go with you!"
Jinqing knew that he was competing with himself, competing with the Crown Princess, and also competing with himself.
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The next day, Jiang Shuifu went to play polo, as she had arranged with her best friend.
She thoroughly enjoyed the polo match; the feeling of swinging the club made her forget everything. For a moment, she felt as if she had returned to her childhood, and the sweat she shed made her face glow.
Her friends didn't spoil her mood and didn't mention Shen Jizhao once in front of her. Today was the day he proposed, and she must be feeling terrible.
Jiang Shuifu had no idea what day it was. She had been doing quite well on her own these past few days, and she paid no attention to what was happening on the other side of the Eastern Palace.
After changing her clothes, she went to meet up with them, and soon she heard their conversation:
"Did you know? Recently, the daughter of the Imperial Censor has been making a scene about getting a divorce. It's terrible!"
"Divorce! This is no joke! She married down; her husband's official rank is lower than her family's, but even so, she doesn't have much of a chance. Her husband hasn't committed any major wrongdoings, and he has a good reputation. She's in the wrong! If she divorces him, her family will be ashamed of her, and they'll probably suffer a lot! After that, no one will want to see her!"
Jiang Shuifu's eyes darkened slightly. In this world, it's easy for a man to divorce his wife, but difficult for a woman to get a divorce. To get a divorce is equivalent to giving up one's own future and letting others trample on one's own face.
Another friend disagreed: "If you ask me, don't get a divorce. At worst, neither of us will care about the other, and we can each go our own way!"
When her friend saw her arrive, he tried to recruit her into his camp: "Shuifu, don't you think so?"
She did not answer that question.
Shen Jizhao walked at the very front, followed by two rows of guards, each carrying a different betrothal gift. The gifts stretched for the entire length of the street, making the scene appear extremely grand from a distance.
The common people offered their congratulations loudly at the scene, all hoping to receive a reward from the Crown Prince.
Shen Jizhao found it extremely noisy, his face had already fallen, his lips were pursed down, and he was very impatient. The order was first the He residence and then the Tang residence, but now there were two in a row. He shouldn't have come. He had made a mistake.
The He family had been waiting respectfully for a long time. He Daoge and He Beiqing were both nervous and expectant. The Crown Prince said that he would come in person to propose marriage, which was an unprecedented honor!
He Rushuang dressed up meticulously, preparing to greet her future husband, the future ruler of Dabei, with the utmost solemnity.
She held her head high, knowing that she would be an important figure in the clan from now on, and would surely continue to carry on the honor of the century-old family and ascend to the position of empress.
Jiang Shuifu happened to pass by the He residence. She watched as boxes of things were being delivered into the crowded He residence like a flowing river. It took her a while to realize that these were betrothal gifts.
The most eye-catching person in front of the He residence was the beaming Shen Jizhao, who was talking with his concubine and her father and brothers. The smiles on their faces were dazzling.
Jiang Shuifu watched as the gentle sunlight shone brightly on the He family. The woman's shyness and blush, combined with the man's soft words, made it hard to look away.
She did watch for a few moments, until more and more onlookers gathered and the bustling crowd completely pushed her out of the way, before she finally turned her gaze away and returned to the East Palace.
Unable to fathom her feelings, the peach could only guess, "Miss, are you still sad?"
Jiang Shuifu chuckled softly, her eyes and brows softening with a gentle smile. Unlike the sharp and assertive demeanor of the past few days, she now appeared increasingly serene and peaceful.
"Wild geese, can you see them?"
He once asked her what kind of game she wanted, and she only mentioned wild geese. However, he kept this wild goose, which he had caught in the hunting grounds, until he finally used it when he took a concubine.
Since ancient times, only a proper marriage with a legal wife and principal wife can produce wild geese.
Jiang Shuifu finally understood completely. It turned out that he wanted her to make way for him, perhaps when Shen Jizhao ascended the throne, or perhaps before he could, he would demote his wife to a concubine.
What you force will eventually have to be repaid.
But she refused to accept this humiliation!
She thought, now she could answer her friend's question—no, she wanted a divorce! She was also very proud and could not tolerate such humiliation; all her previous pride had returned.
However, she needed to find a way to get a smooth divorce so as not to burden her father.
.
After the marriage proposal, the waiting period began, with the brides all busy preparing for the wedding. They all wanted to receive the emperor's favor on the ninth day of the first lunar month, which was their wedding day.
Shen Jizhao is busy every day, so busy that he doesn't even have an appetite. He can't be idle; even a short rest makes his thoughts wander.
After persisting like this for a month, he finally couldn't take it anymore.
As Jin Qing was reporting on official business as usual, he suddenly cleared his throat, looking extremely awkward, and casually asked, "Where is she?"
Jin Qing exclaimed "Huh?" It wasn't that he didn't understand Shen Jizhao's heart, but rather that he had been punished ever since he had taken it upon himself to test him that day.
Now he thought Shen Jizhao had completely let go of the Crown Princess, so he stopped paying attention to the situation there.
Shen Jizhao was displeased, "Forget it!"
Only then did one person come to Jinqing's mind: the Crown Princess!
However, he didn't know much about it either, so he could only stammer out some things from the past: "It seems there's nothing unusual. He's probably still eating and drinking all day long, and no one has reported that they want to see you."
Shen Jizhao's face immediately darkened. "Seems like? Shouldn't you be thrown into the Censorate too!"
He'd been holding back for so long, and this big jerk just eats all day and still has the nerve to talk back to her? What if she has to apologize to him? What if she has to explain herself to him? A whole month has passed, and he's really something!
Jin Qing immediately knelt down and begged for forgiveness, saying that he would definitely make amends. Shen Jizhao then let him get up and waited for news.
A few days later, unlike Shen Jizhao, Jinqing was so worried that her hair turned white.
The Crown Princess is really no different; she's exactly the same as before when she ignored the Crown Prince.
I plant flowers and listen to music every day, and my complexion has improved a lot. I've started smiling again, and I'm no longer the cold and aloof person I was before. I look completely refreshed, which is wonderful.
On this day, Shen Jizhao couldn't wait any longer, so Jinqing had no choice but to tell him the truth. He was overcome with emotion, something he hadn't done in a long time. The buck-toothed rabbit trembled, wondering if he was going to throw it away again.
Shen Jizhao didn't; he couldn't bear to part with it. He simply broke the pen in his hand and let out a cold laugh: "Ha!"
Jinqing was terrified, but he didn't get angry or say whether he should continue to observe. But who was Jinqing? If he didn't have this much sense, he would have been dead long ago.
A few days later, Jinqing suddenly rushed into the study in a hurry, "The Crown Princess has cleaned up all the palaces near you these past few days and prepared many items."
This is preparation for adding a new concubine to the Crown Prince's palace. Shen Jizhao pressed, "What was her expression?"
Jinqing lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye: "She said she would arrange such a small matter, and if the Crown Prince needed anything else, he could tell her. The Crown Princess was smiling, a genuine smile, from the bottom of her heart..."
Shen Jizhao remained silent for a while. On the table were various kinds of calligraphy brushes, most of which were brand new and made of excellent materials.
Only one stood out from the crowd, made of inferior materials with coarse fur. This was also the only one that hadn't been used much, yet it was constantly being stroked.
Jin Qing was trembling with fear; the cramped space made it hard for him to breathe, and he couldn't take it anymore, so he started making things up:
"The Crown Princess has let go of the past and wants to start over with you."
Shen Jizhao's eyes suddenly lit up, then dimmed again. He knew her temper quite well.
That's impossible.
That night, after the contraceptive medicine incident, he went to the door of her bedroom for the first time and stood there for a long time, until dawn. He left before she came out, not daring to leave even a trace of his back.
Over the next few days, Jinqing would come to report every day, and he was right; the Crown Princess was indeed trying to curry favor with the Crown Prince.
They would either give him words to ask Shen Jizhao, or they would instruct him to rebuild the Eastern Palace, moving grass and trees, saying that this way people could breathe more fresh air every day, which would be good for their health, including the Crown Prince.
Shen Jizhao felt it was unreal. Was she really going to start over with him?
Regardless of his doubts, he was still happy. It turned out that he cared about her more than he had imagined and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He could swallow the rest himself.
On this day, Shen Jizhao finally left his study, intending to see how the Eastern Palace had been repaired.
He suddenly bumped into Jiang Shuifu while he was strolling around. This was their first meeting in a month and a half. It was so unexpected, yet also part of their plan.
His gaze fell on her, fixed on her without moving. She really took good care of herself, her smile as beautiful as a flower.
He was somewhat stunned. Only when she gradually approached did he look away, avoiding her gaze.
Upon seeing him, Jiang Shuifu's usual dislike vanished. She bowed to him with gentle grace and invited him out:
"If Your Highness has some free time, why don't you go and admire the flowers? I have planted many flowers, and they are very beautiful."
Shen Jizhao didn't react until she invited him a second time, at which point he confirmed he wasn't hallucinating and hummed in agreement.
Jiang Shuifu led Shen Jizhao on a stroll through the garden alone. The garden was bursting with vibrant colors, and she chatted animatedly with him:
"Even though it's winter, some flowers are still blooming again, forgetting the pain of their past withering, and gladly choosing to bloom and smile. What does Your Highness think?"
Shen Jizhao understood her words. His blood surged and his eyes flickered.
She was begging him to make peace; she wanted to be his wife again.
He was a little excited and took a long time to process it, thinking about how best to answer.
Jiang Shuifu continued talking about flowers:
"This is a kalanchoe, named for its long blooming period. Today, I present His Highness the Crown Prince with a garden full of kalanchoes, wishing him a long and prosperous life. Does His Highness accept this gift?"
Shen Jizhao was taken aback by her sudden action. It turned out that the flowers he had planted for so long were meant to be given to him!
A smile played on his lips, but at the same time, a wave of self-reproach washed over him, filling his entire heart. He shouldn't have let his emotions dictate his actions, and he shouldn't have been so fixated on his so-called dignity and pride.
He was the crown prince, but he was also her husband.
There are other ways to solve problems besides arguing.
He was powerless to resist and could only listen to his heart, stumbling closer to her with light, unsteady steps:
"I... like it. You've managed the Eastern Palace very well. I was blinded by my own limited perspective before. From now on, no one will surpass you in the Eastern Palace, absolutely not!"
This was the power he gave her, the special treatment he bestowed upon her. What he really wanted to say was that she was his wife, the woman he would grow old with.
Yes, growing old together, he really likes that phrase.
Seeing that he was no longer angry, Jiang Shuifu simply let the matter drop.
"From now on, I will not speak rudely to you, nor will I cause any more trouble. How about we let bygones be bygones?"
Shen Jizhao originally thought that the contraceptive drug was an obstacle he could never overcome, but the voice in his heart told him that being with her was more important. He had done many things to hurt her in the past, and he had made more mistakes. He would make up for it.
"Okay, let's not talk about it anymore. I won't make the same mistake again! Let's... live together."
The two laughed, but for different reasons. Jiang Shuifu had her own plans, while Shen Jizhao was immersed in the joy of reconciliation.
As the year draws to a close, everyone in the Eastern Palace has been cooking crescent-shaped wontons. Jiang Shuifu loves them the most, and this year she wants to make them herself. She and Pan Tao rolled up their sleeves and did everything themselves, from kneading the dough to chopping the filling, wrapping, and cooking. The whole process was extremely joyful, and the laughter from Bihua Palace reached Shen Jizhao's ears.
Since the two made their agreement, Shen Jizhao has been visiting Bihua Palace to accompany her every few days. After a month, they have seen each other quite often. Today is the Winter Solstice, so of course he has to come.
As soon as he entered the room, the aroma filled his nostrils. The food looked and smelled delicious, and he felt a little tempted to eat. However, he subconsciously glanced at her and asked for her permission.
Jiang Shuifu smiled mischievously: "Your Highness, there's a share for you too. If you don't want it, give it to Jinqing."
Before Shen Jizhao could even glance at Jin Qing, Jin Qing vanished in an instant, hiding in a tree and patting his chest in relief that he had run away quickly. This was a precious moment that the Crown Prince had finally obtained, and he couldn't disturb it.
Shen Jizhao felt somewhat dazed. This time felt too unreal, like a dream that he could wake up at any moment.
He ate everything clean this time, leaving not a single bite, and still felt it wasn't enough. He couldn't say anything, so he could only endure it.
Jiang Shuifu was still eating. She really doesn't eat spicy food, and she doesn't dip her food in vinegar. She eats lightly and enjoys it very much.
She was very excited: "The moon is so round tonight, I imagine it will be even rounder after the New Year!"
Shen Jizhao looked at her with an extremely longing expression and secretly curved his lips. He slowly approached her and carefully touched her face with his large hand. The movement was hesitant and slow, as if he was very unfamiliar with it.
When he touched her furry cheek, Jiang Shuifu froze instantly, then took a step back without thinking.
Shen Jizhao was also a little stunned, but then he took a step forward and wiped the white dirt off her face. It was clear that she had a childlike nature and liked to play with powder.
He said to her with a smile:
"Happy Winter Solstice Festival. On New Year's Eve, Father will host a palace banquet, and we will celebrate with all the people. On that day, we bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new. I want to spend that day with you. If I can make the New Year's gift you want, I will definitely give it to you!"
This is Shen Jizhao asking her if there's anything she wants.
After learning from his previous experience, he decided it was better to ask directly to avoid her disliking what he had prepared and affecting her mood.
Jiang Shuifu finally got her answer. Clever as she was, she didn't reply immediately, but instead got up to remake the crescent-shaped wontons for him, turning back with a sly smile.
"Your Highness, I'm hungry. Let's make some more!"
Shen Jizhao first gave a puzzled "hmm," then revealed the biggest smile of his life, "Okay!"
He was grateful that she was willing to grant his wish.
He used to disdain making demands, and he would take it for granted when others did things for him, but now he understands the meaning of gratitude.
He watched Jiang Shuifu wrap and cook for him, and then he realized that everything in the world was amazing. He found that he also found this kind of ordinary life quite nice, very nice.
He personally presented it, a large bowl full. Logically, even if there was more, it wouldn't be a burden for him, but he felt it was heavy. He dared not walk too fast, afraid of spilling it, afraid of dropping it, afraid of disappointing her again.
He ate his hot wontons, and she sat beside him. A sense of peaceful bliss washed over him, and he lingered there, reluctant to leave. He began to speak:
"I... on New Year's Eve, you wait for me, no, I wait for you..."
He wanted to give her a gift that she had wanted for a long time. He had done his homework and was sure she wouldn't dislike it.
Jiang Shuifu asked him casually, "Then, Your Highness, could you grant me one wish?"
Shen Jizhao was naturally powerless to resist. "Of course, what is it?"
Jiang Shuifu certainly couldn't say that now and try to brush it off: "This wish is also your wish, you'll know when the time comes!"
Before leaving, he hesitated for a long time, dawdling as if he had made an extremely difficult decision. Finally, he looked at her with a serious and solemn gaze:
"If you truly despise the Crown Prince, I can try living as an ordinary citizen..."
Ordinary people only have one wife.
Unfortunately, these words were destined never to be spoken. Jiang Shuifu interrupted him, "That day, I will also present His Highness the Crown Prince with a New Year's gift!"
Shen Jizhao was very happy. Even after she turned and entered the palace, and the candles in Bihua Palace went out, he was still very happy before slowly turning back to his study.
She said she wanted to give him a New Year's gift!
He didn't sleep a wink all night, he was so excited! The entire Eastern Palace received double the reward!
What could it be? Anything is fine! He'll accept it and tell her he likes it!
However, what he wanted most was for her to stop calling him "Your Highness the Crown Prince," and for him to stop calling her "Crown Princess."
They are husband and wife, not a cold and aloof crown prince and crown princess.
He admitted that he was wrong before.
That night, after Shen Jizhao left, the candlelight in Bihua Palace was lit again, and busy figures were reflected on the windows all night long, as if they were packing things.
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Author's Note: The buck-toothed rabbit and the calligraphy brush were gifts from the male protagonist's daughter when they were in the countryside. The male protagonist, being stubborn, had already brought them back.
The next chapter is about the crematorium and divorce.
Shen Jizhao: I'm happy with anything you give me.
Me: Really? You mean it!
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