Chapter 30 Princess Sissi
"Miss, the Crown Prince has arrived."
They quickly covered themselves with the blankets and pulled the gauze curtains shut, completely concealing the person inside.
What's he doing here?
Ping'er, carrying a pile of things, said, "I don't know, the old lady and master are receiving him in the front hall." She took out the items from the box one by one.
He sniffed the air; that smell…it was so familiar. He grabbed a packet, “This is…Zui Xiang Lou’s beggar’s chicken?”
Ping'er opened the package and exclaimed, "That's right! The Crown Prince is so good to our young lady. He knows she likes the beggar's chicken from Zuixianglou, so he specially bought it for her." She opened the rest of the packages as well, exclaiming, "Wow, it's all what our young lady likes..."
I looked around suspiciously; it was really strange. Yesterday I saw a hint of disdain in his eyes, so why was he suddenly being so nice to me today, bringing me so much food?
Suddenly, a few coughs were heard.
My heart skipped a beat. Oh no, Jingrui's still inside! I quickly started coughing loudly, "Cough cough..." using my body to block the view from the inside.
"Miss, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Ping'er asked worriedly.
She patted her chest a few times. "I probably caught a chill from the wind last night. Ping'er, could you go and brew me some medicine?"
Upon hearing this, Ping'er quickly went to brew the medicine.
He lifted the gauze curtain.
They stared at each other, wide-eyed.
Dugu Jing was surprised for a moment, but quickly regained his composure.
I didn't expect him to recover so well. After applying the medicine, he slept for half a day and then woke up overnight, looking much better.
Are you alright?
Dugu Jing: "I'm hungry."
Suddenly realizing, she said, "Oh, I'll have Ping'er get you something to eat later."
"On that table..."
He was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized what was happening and said, "Okay, okay..." and took them all from him.
Watching him eat heartily, I slowly realized that this was food that Dugu Ye had brought me, and I hadn't even taken a bite yet.
"Slow down..." he hurriedly called out.
A glance was cast my way.
I feel a chill. "Um... you can continue eating."
Besides, how would he know there was food on the table?
They could only watch helplessly as he devoured all the delicious food.
"Well, now that your injuries have healed, you'll probably be leaving soon, right?" She stared at his calm, expressionless face.
Dugu Jing's eyes were filled with deep emotion.
I was a little afraid to look him in the eye. Suddenly I heard Ping'er calling from outside.
"What's wrong?"
“It was Master who asked you to go to the front hall,” Ping’er replied.
I glanced back and saw that the bed was empty.
"Okay, I'll change my clothes and come right away."
Dugu Ye deliberately mentioned Dugu Jing, hoping to get news of him. "Hasn't Fourth Brother come to visit the Liu residence?"
"Since returning from Chuzhou, there has been no news of the Fourth Prince. His Majesty was very satisfied with the Fourth Prince's performance in Chuzhou. The Fourth Prince is busy dealing with various officials who come to visit, so he doesn't have time to come to the Liu residence to see this old man."
Dugu Ye smiled and said, "Lord Liu, please don't say that. I heard that you were one of the most handsome men in the capital back in the day, and you even married the most talented woman, Mo Qingwen."
Liu Mengjun's expression changed, and his eyes lost their composure. He seemed somewhat dazed.
"Father, Father..." I called several times but received no response, which puzzled me. What was going on? I had a feeling that Father was hiding many things from me regarding Mother.
"Lord Liu..." Dugu Ye called out again.
Liu Mengjun's eyes cleared instantly. "I'm sorry, I was just thinking about something and my mind wandered. I'm getting old, getting old..."
When it was time for Dugu Ye to leave, I went out with him.
“Miss Liu…” Dugu Ye called out to me.
"What's up?"
He straightened up, exuding an air of elegance, and asked, "Miss Liu, don't you want to know about Mo Qingwen?"
"You mean, about my mother?"
"Yes, Miss Liu, don't you want to know why Madam Liu left, and why Lord Liu has that expression whenever Madam Liu is mentioned?"
To be honest, I've wanted to know for a long time. But... that last letter made me wary of him. What if it was just bait, taking advantage of my curiosity...? Suppressing the impulse, I asked suspiciously, "You know?"
Dugu Ye smiled faintly, "Although I don't know, if it's something I want to know, there's nothing I can't do."
Such arrogance suddenly made me realize something. Right, I almost forgot, he's the Crown Prince. Even if we share a secret, his status and position mean he can end someone's life at any moment.
"I... I'll think about it some more." He left in a hurry.
The melodious sound of the zither filled the air, and the swirling white smoke made the room hazy. The woman playing the zither on the couch suddenly paused with her right hand, but then continued playing the zither with undivided attention.
Dugu Ye walked in, sat down on a chair, and listened slowly.
The song ended.
"Your piano skills have improved a lot again, not bad, not bad." He clapped his hands and looked at her with admiration.
Xixi got off the couch and gestured to the maid to put the zither away.
She picked up her teacup and took a sip. "Didn't my Crown Prince go to accompany Miss Yue'er? I heard he even brought her quite a few gifts to please her. Brother, you're so thoughtful..."
"Why say that, little sister Qianxi? We both understand the purpose." Looking at Qianxi, he suddenly thought of his own childhood.
At that time, although he was named Crown Prince, he was not favored by his father, the Emperor, from a young age. Moreover, he always had to work very hard to catch up with his fourth brother, but his fourth brother was exceptionally talented from a young age, and he was always the one forgotten in front of his father. Yet he still had to show his younger siblings the image of a kind and amiable older brother.
And she, Princess Sissi. A princess born in the cold palace. He found her amidst a pile of corpses. At that time, his dark, bright eyes were like mysterious black holes, seemingly empty inside. She sat on the steps, dressed in white mourning clothes, gnawing on a chicken leg offered as a sacrifice. Then, he took her away.
Over the course of several months, he helped her become a normal person. She could always see right through him.
Crown Prince, you actually hate Father and despise them, don't you?
Are you wondering why your father, who chose you as the crown prince, treats them so well, and you're jealous?
Behind your gentleness lies a devil.
She was so young, yet she could always see right through people.
Dugu Ye took a few steps closer. "Sister Qianxi, tell me, what is Father Emperor thinking?" Why send Fourth Brother to Chuzhou? Isn't striking at the Hu family weakening the Empress's power? Although the Empress has outwardly been on his side all these years, he has never underestimated her ambition. But Father Emperor's attitude towards the Fourth Prince truly worries him.
Xixi stared into Dugu Ye's eyes for a few seconds before losing her composure.
"What you want, I will definitely help you get it."
She pinched her flesh with her fingernail. "But I have one request, you..."
"Your Highness..." The personal eunuch rushed over and whispered something in the prince's ear.
A look of panic instantly appeared on Dugu Ye's face. "I understand."
Then he said to Xixi, "Xixi, I'm sorry, I have something urgent to attend to, so I'll have to go now."
Watching Dugu Ye's hurried departure, her fingernail snapped off, and blood flowed from her palm.
"Qian'er, go with us and take a look."
She played the piano with a restless mind, faster and faster, the music becoming chaotic, like countless silver threads entangled and disordered around her heart.
With a crash, the string broke, and the zither fell askew to one side.
"Where is he?" The tone was chilling. He seemed completely different from his public persona.
Qian'er shrank back. She had heard rumors in the palace that Princess Qianxi was terrifying; she was said to have grown up amidst piles of corpses, surviving by gnawing on the severed limbs of private individuals. That exquisite makeup seemed even more frightening. "To...to Liwan Palace..."
Click...
The palace maid's face was contorted in a grimace, her eyes wide with terror. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
Xixi walked over, dragged the dead palace maid into the room, and when she reached the bedside, she pressed a switch under the pillow, instantly opening a doorway large enough for a person to pass through. She then dragged the corpse downstairs.
The dim candlelight illuminated Xixi's half-lit, half-shadowed, cold face. "Almost done," she said, staring at her blood-stained hands, which seemed numb to her own.
She hadn't forgotten the promise Dugu Ye had made to her; once this matter was completed, she could fulfill her long-cherished wish. Suddenly remembering that Dugu Ye had gone to Liwan Palace, a dark cloud settled in her eyes. That bitch—she couldn't touch her now. She would definitely make her pay. She glanced back at the rows of corpses tied to bamboo, their bodies cooling. A cold smile played on her lips.
Dugu Ye was filled with nervousness when he arrived at Liwan Palace. As soon as he entered the palace, he rushed to the bed and hugged the woman on the bed.
The palace maids and eunuchs were startled and quickly retreated with their heads bowed, guarding the palace gates. Although Consort Wan was not favored, she was still the Emperor's woman; for the Crown Prince to be involved with a concubine… they wouldn't want to risk their lives…
Looking at the slender beauty, Dugu Ye felt a pang of heartache. "Wanwan..."
With tears welling up in her eyes, Murong Wan said, "Ye, I'm suffering so much..." Her eyes were misty, and then tears rolled down her cheeks one by one.
Dugu Ye's heart softened, and he pulled her into his arms, comforting her with utmost tenderness, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm here. Tell me everything that's wronged you..."
Murong Wan then recounted how the concubines had ganged up on her, "And, and..."
"Who else?" Dugu Ye's anger flared up instantly. How dare they bully his woman like this? He wouldn't let them get away with it. "Don't worry, Wanwan, I will make them regret what they did."
Murong Wan nestled against Dugu Ye like a little bird, "And Princess Qianxi, she threatened me that I'm not allowed to be with you." She looked up at him with a wronged expression.
"Him?" Dugu Ye hesitated for a moment, "As for Qianxi..."
"Ye, I just want to be with you. I'm not afraid of anything, but Princess Xixi actually threatened me with our secret meeting, saying she would tell the Emperor, Ye..." she cried out.