Baili Nan suddenly felt a pang of pain in his heart and angrily said, "What's the use of you doing this? Ouyang Yue is already my cousin's wife. You're still dreaming these pointless dreams. Leng Caiwen, didn't you think you were smart and liked to be free? How come you're now stuck in this Prince Chen's mansion, an awkward guest? What's your purpose? Are you taking advantage of my cousin and cousin's discord? Didn't you see their affection? You'll never have a chance. Why are you still so stubborn? Or is this Ouyang Yue's method, not only bewitching my cousin but also making you unwilling to let go? So fickle..."
"Shut up!" Baili Nan swallowed the rest of her words. Leng Caiwen's eyes were extremely cold at this moment, no longer the indifferent person she used to be, but filled with a murderous chill. In the past, Leng Caiwen didn't care about her and didn't care about her feelings. Now, she was speaking to her like this because of Ouyang Yue. Baili Nan felt indignant and wronged. Her eyes reddened. Over the years, she had been trying to get close to Leng Caiwen. As a princess of the royal family, she had worked so hard to pursue a man, but she had not only failed to receive any appreciation, but had also been insulted and reprimanded.
"Leng Caiwen, is this your explanation? How dare you humiliate me like this? Even though that person is married and it's impossible for you to be together, you still won't give up. You even insulted me because of her! Is this your answer?!"
Ignoring Baili Nan's anger, Leng Caiwen said in a deep voice, "I don't want to hear anyone speak ill of my cousin, not anyone! The princess is high above, a woman of noble birth. With a wave of her arm, countless admirers would follow. There is no possibility between Caiwen and the princess. Princess, please don't mention this matter again. Farewell!"
Watching Leng Caiwen leave without any mercy, Baili Nan clenched her fists and tears streamed down her face. She had pursued Leng Caiwen for nearly ten years, and this was the only outcome? Was she not even as good as a married woman? In what way was she inferior to Xuan Yuan Yue?
Baili Gan and Baili Nan did not dine at the Prince Chen's residence. However, when Baili Nan returned with her eyes swollen from crying, Baili Gan's first reaction was to fight Leng Caiwen to the death. But Baili Nan took him away while she was crying.
Ouyang Yue watched them leave and couldn't help but sigh. Baili Chen's expression also became somewhat complicated.
In the following days, Baili Chen had the gatekeeper collect the gifts from various mansions and register them. He also took leave from Emperor Mingxian and devoted himself to spending time with Ouyang Yue at the Chen Prince's Mansion.
One day, the two were sitting in the back garden. Ouyang Yue was drinking bird's nest porridge when she suddenly said, "Husband, I remember that the Empress Dowager's birthday is coming soon."
Baili Chen narrowed his eyes and said, "On the tenth day of the tenth month, just after the Cold Dew, a chrysanthemum appreciation banquet is held every year during the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, and this year will be no exception."
Ouyang Yue nodded and said, "It seems we need to choose a good birthday gift."
This Empress Dowager is not very prominent in the court. Over the years, she has been very well-behaved and dutiful. Although she inevitably harbors selfish motives, she promoted the current Empress after the death of Empress Bai. However, she does not show favoritism towards anyone when it comes to matters. She has a good reputation in both the court and the harem. She has never caused trouble for Ouyang Yue. Therefore, this birthday gift really needs to be carefully selected.
However, before the gifts were even chosen, the Empress Dowager summoned Ouyang Yue to the palace two days later. Since Ouyang Yue was pregnant, Baili Chen naturally followed her into the palace. The two first went to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, and Baili Chen chatted with her for a while. Then Emperor Mingxian came to see him, so he gave him a few instructions and went to the Imperial Study.
The Chengxiang Palace, where the Empress Dowager lived, was not as luxurious and grand as the Empress's palace, nor as magnificent as Consort Sun's Mingxiang Palace. Instead, it was very simple and peaceful. Every decoration was carefully done and followed a certain pattern, making people feel comfortable and relaxed when they were there. Every time I came to Chengxiang Palace, I felt very comfortable.
"Royal Grandmother."
The Empress Dowager smiled at Ouyang Yue and beckoned, "Come here quickly."
Ouyang Yue walked over with a smile. The Empress Dowager gently stroked Ouyang Yue's soft hand with her slightly aged hand, and said with a loving smile, "You are a blessed person. It has been a long time since the palace has been lively. I don't know how long I have been looking forward to it. Good, good, I am very happy. Now that you are pregnant, you should avoid overexertion. If you have nothing to do, stay at the Prince's residence. Pay attention to your diet and other aspects. I have a booklet here with things you need to pay attention to at this time. Go back and take a look. In addition, I have also prepared some tonics. Go back and see if there is anything you need. Tell me what you want to eat, and I will find it for you."
Ouyang Yue laughed: "I'm sorry to trouble you, Grandmother. I have everything I need. I know Grandmother's kindness, and it tastes sweeter than anything I've eaten. Why would I need to take any supplements?"
The Empress Dowager glared at Ouyang Yue with displeasure: "You're quite the little rascal, with such a sweet tongue." She patted Ouyang Yue's hand and said, "I didn't want to invite you to the palace, afraid you'd get tired. But sending someone to Prince Chen's residence might not be clear. Did you feel unwell on the way?"
"Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. Mingyue is in good health and has no discomfort."
"Well, that's good. Just take good care of yourself and give me a healthy and chubby great-grandson. Then you'll be a great contributor in my heart." Ouyang Yue replied with a slightly flushed face, which made the Empress Dowager chuckle.
Ouyang Yue didn't visit the palace often, but she chatted with the Empress Dowager for half an hour. Just then, Baili Chen was about to return to take her home, but the Empress Dowager casually remarked, "Back then, the Eldest Princess brought your father to the palace twice. I was very fond of Zheng'er back then, but who knew I'd only meet him a few times." The Empress Dowager touched Ouyang Yue's hand, seemingly lost in thought. Ouyang Yue sensed something unusual; her grandmother rarely mentioned the Empress Dowager, but judging from the Empress Dowager's demeanor, they seemed quite close.
The Empress Dowager murmured, "Back then, Shuangxia, Xuanyuan Hu, and I were childhood sweethearts, weren't we..." She paused abruptly. Ouyang Yue wanted to ask something, but just then Baili Chen returned to pick her up. Full of questions, Ouyang Yue left with Baili Chen.
Inside the carriage, Ouyang Yue frowned deeply and suddenly said, "Husband, let's go to the Princess's residence!" Baili Chen had some doubts, but he still had the carriage change direction and head towards the Princess's residence.
The court session had already ended. Xuan Yuan Chaohua was talking with Princess Shuangxia when they heard that Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen had come to the residence. They were both taken aback. Ouyang Yue was pregnant, and especially in the early stages, she should not move around casually. They had previously told Ouyang Yue not to come over unless necessary, and that they could visit her at Prince Chen's residence if they wanted to.
Despite their thoughts, Princess Shuangxia and Xuanyuan Chaohua were still very happy to see Ouyang Yue return. As Baili Chen helped Ouyang Yue in, the two walked over with broad smiles on their faces. However, Ouyang Yue's expression was quite complicated. Upon seeing Princess Shuangxia and Xuanyuan Chaohua, Ouyang Yue didn't even bother to sit down. Instead, she looked directly at Princess Shuangxia and said, "Grandmother, I went to the palace just now. Yue'er has a question in her heart, and she won't be able to put her mind at ease until she asks about it."
Seeing Ouyang Yue's serious expression, Princess Shuangxia was taken aback and said, "Ask whatever you want to ask."
"I want to ask about my true origins. Why did my grandfather adopt my father? My father was just one of my grandfather's subordinates. And why did my grandmother dedicate herself to educating an outsider? Also, my father was adopted, but why do I have the birthmark of the Xuanyuan family on my body?!"
Ouyang Yue's question startled both Princess Shuangxia and Xuanyuan Chaohua, their expressions turning serious: "Yue'er..."
☆、208, the true story! (Annual meeting ticket~)
Ouyang Yue's words were not unfounded. In fact, after Xuan Yuan Chaohua revealed her background and Princess Shuangxia confirmed it, Ouyang Yue had a vague sense of doubt. At first, she couldn't say much because of the recent family reunion, but a series of events delayed things. This time, after the Empress Dowager's words, Ouyang Yue suddenly felt that this matter could not be delayed any longer.
Logically speaking, if Ouyang Yue were Xuanyuan Zheng's biological daughter, then Xuanyuan Zheng, as Xuanyuan Hu's adopted son, would only have inherited the Xuanyuan family name. The so-called Xuanyuan family heirloom, the birthmark, would be impossible. If just anyone could be a member of the Xuanyuan family, the family wouldn't have remained a single-lineage lineage for generations. Yet, she does possess this inheritance. Why is that? Is Xuanyuan Zheng Xuanyuan Hu's son? But why keep it a secret and go through all this trouble? It's extremely strange, and there's probably a hidden secret behind it.
Princess Shuangxia looked at Ouyang Yue with a hint of hesitation in her expression. Finally, Xuanyuan Chaohua sighed and said, "Yue'er, it's normal for you to be curious and doubtful, because your grandfather and father are indeed not just adoptive father and son."
Although Ouyang Yue was prepared for this, she was still taken aback: "Brother, what exactly is going on?"
Xuanyuan Chaohua remained silent for a while, and Princess Shuangxia sighed, "It's more appropriate for me to say this." Ouyang Yue looked at Princess Shuangxia and saw a faint longing in her eyes, clearly lost in thought.
Baili Chen stood to the side, hesitating whether to leave or not, but in the end he held Ouyang Yue's hand. Now that they were husband and wife, there was nothing to hide. He stayed, and even if he knew, he wouldn't do anything to harm Yue'er or the princess's mansion, so he felt at ease listening to what was said.
Princess Shuangxia said, "Zheng'er and Brother Hu are indeed not father and son, but they are not subordinates without any blood relation either. This matter has to start with the ancestor of the Xuanyuan family." Princess Shuangxia's voice was calm, but it had a strange magic, slowly drawing them into the story.
The Xuanyuan family has always been somewhat peculiar. What's so peculiar about it? The direct line of the Xuanyuan family has always been very small in number, and it can even be said that this situation has been passed down from generation to generation without any change. So for a long time, the collateral branches of the Xuanyuan family were also more prosperous. However, since the Xuanyuan family had been military generals for several generations, often fighting on the battlefield, there were very few descendants left over after several generations. However, although the Xuanyuan family was small in number, it had also produced many outstanding talents, such as Xuanyuan Hu's father. It was Xuanyuan Hu's father who led the Xuanyuan family to a higher level.
Xuanyuan Hu had followed his father through countless battles since childhood, learning exceptional skills. His ruthless pursuit of victory also elevated the Xuanyuan family to a higher level. However, Xuanyuan Hu himself was found to be impotent. This matter caused a great stir not only within the Xuanyuan family but also throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty and even among the imperial relatives. It's important to understand that Xuanyuan Hu was in his prime at the time, commanding half of the Great Zhou Dynasty's military strength. His infertility was a double-edged sword for the Great Zhou Dynasty.
When he passes away and relinquishes his military power, the court can rightfully take it over. However, the Xuanyuan family has always been known as the border family of the Great Zhou Dynasty. With them, it is very difficult for foreign enemies to set foot on the Great Zhou territory. If the Xuanyuan family falls into defeat, the court will urgently need to cultivate someone like Xuanyuan Hu, or even someone more powerful and talented than Xuanyuan Hu. But such a person is not easy to find. And if the Great Zhou Dynasty has no other choice when the era changes, they can all foresee how much chaos will break out on the border. When the Great Zhou is beset by internal and external troubles, those restless countries will probably reveal their ferocious side.
At that time, Xuanyuan Hu and Princess Shuangxia were also very anxious. But then, Xuanyuan Hu somehow got wind of the news that the Xuanyuan family had more than one son in this generation, and there was another one, who turned out to be his former deputy general, Xuanyuan Zheng. He was very surprised, but when he saw the family birthmark on Xuanyuan Zheng's body, Xuanyuan Hu confirmed it.
It turns out that Xuanyuan Hu wasn't the only man in his generation. Xuanyuan Zheng was the son of a young lady from a fallen family in the Great Zhou Dynasty whom their father had met while at the border. The young lady was well-educated and knew Xuanyuan Hu's father's identity and how much he cherished his wife. He knew that their affair was just a moment of passion, a mistake made while he was drunk. So, after Xuanyuan Hu's father sobered up, the young lady disappeared. At the time, Xuanyuan Hu's father had thought about searching for her, since he felt he had a responsibility to take care of her after that one night of kindness. However, he never found her, and as time went on, he stopped thinking about it.
With Xuanyuan Hu's impotence, the Xuanyuan family faced the possibility of disintegration. Xuanyuan Hu was very anxious, and when he heard the news, he immediately wanted to find Xuanyuan Zheng.
The existence of Xuan Yuanzheng actually stemmed from a message sent to Xuan Yuanhu by the impoverished young lady on her deathbed. She didn't want Xuan Yuanzheng to be without a proper status. Xuan Yuanhu, who was then worried about not being able to produce more offspring for the family, found this opportunity like a godsend. So, Xuan Yuanhu secretly arranged an identity for Xuan Yuanzheng that wouldn't arouse suspicion, thinking about how to make him legitimately join the Xuan Yuan family. Xuan Yuanzheng was much younger than Xuan Yuanhu, and if he were to enter the Xuan Yuan family directly, it would be a disgrace to the family. The Xuan Yuan family had always been small in number, passing down its lineage through generations. No matter how many women or concubines were married, it was all the same; the children born were all sons of the principal wife. If Xuan Yuanzheng were to return to the Xuan Yuan family, wouldn't Xuan Yuanhu be disrespecting his birth mother? How would his birth mother then feel?
While Xuanyuan Hu hesitated, he was killed by refugees, marking the true beginning of chaos for the Xuanyuan family. Princess Shuangxia, in a moment of quick thinking, insisted on bringing Xuanyuan Zheng back to the Xuanyuan residence, not as Xuanyuan Hu's brother, but as his son. Given the significant age difference between them, raising him as an adopted son was feasible. Princess Shuangxia defied considerable opposition and forcefully accomplished this, inevitably incurring losses; the Xuanyuan family's military power was somewhat stripped away.
However, Xuanyuan Zheng lived up to his reputation as a man of the Xuanyuan family, possessing both literary and martial talents. After being promoted to general, he did not cause any real chaos in the Xuanyuan family, which allowed the family to remain stable for a time until he gave birth to Xuanyuan Chaohua and Xuanyuan Yue, and then died in battle.
This is Ouyang Yue's true identity. She is indeed a descendant of the Xuanyuan family, their biological daughter, a close relative by blood.
Ouyang Yue sighed softly as she looked at Princess Shuangxia, then walked over and gently took her hand. Only then did she realize how much hardship Princess Shuangxia had endured. This Xuanyuan Zheng was, after all, her brother-in-law, whom she had raised with the strict discipline of a son. Didn't seeing Xuanyuan Zheng remind her of her deceased husband?
In Ouyang Yue's view, it was true that Princess Shuangxia married Xuanyuan Hu for the sake of the court, but Xuanyuan Hu's appearance was said to be quite terrifying, which would be unbearable for most people, let alone Princess Shuangxia, who was of noble birth. At that time, the emperor did not agree to her marriage, which led to Princess Shuangxia's hunger strike in protest. It seemed unbelievable that a normal woman would go to such lengths for the sake of the court, but feelings are such strange things. Princess Shuangxia must have loved Xuanyuan Hu very much.
Actually, Ouyang Yue had some hesitation before. If her father was really her grandfather's son, then asking this question would embarrass Princess Shuangxia. This would be a hurdle in her relationship with Xuanyuan Hu, something that would cause her heartache every time it was mentioned. Of course, although her brother-in-law would feel awkward, it wouldn't be enough to cause Princess Shuangxia pain.
"grandmother!"
Princess Shuangxia looked at Ouyang Yue and smiled with some relief. Knowing her true parentage, most people would probably feel some resistance towards Princess Shuangxia. Ouyang Yue was different from Xuanyuan Chaohua. Xuanyuan Chaohua was raised by Princess Shuangxia herself, and even knowing her true parentage wouldn't change his mind. But Ouyang Yue's relationship with her wasn't as deep. Princess Shuangxia nodded and smiled, "You're a good child." She then gently patted Ouyang Yue's hand and said, "As for the other person who didn't acknowledge your father's true identity back then, there was another reason."
What's the reason?
"That's because of the tiger tally."
"Tiger tally?"
“That’s right!” Princess Shuangxia nodded. “The situation was still very critical at the time. What does the tiger tally of the Xuanyuan family represent? It represents half of the military force of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Having it is like having a huge backer. Although getting it doesn’t guarantee the throne, it’s not far off. Everyone is eyeing it. If your father were really a member of the Xuanyuan family, I’m afraid these people would go crazy and seek revenge.”
Ouyang Yue thought for a moment and immediately understood the reasoning. Princess Shuangxia was determined to take Xuanyuan Zheng in, even though there were many difficulties and she lost some military power. Ultimately, Xuanyuan Zheng wasn't a legitimate descendant of the Xuanyuan family. Even with the Tiger Tally, his legitimacy wasn't entirely rightful. If someone were to use Xuanyuan Zheng's identity as leverage, there would be many ways to remove him from his generalship and seize the Tiger Tally. However, at the time, Xuanyuan Zheng was only an adopted son, and some people in the court dared not act rashly, which allowed him to be allowed to remain in power.
Because the tiger tally was a matter of great importance, and anyone who dared to seize it would be telling the emperor, "I'm about to rebel, come and arrest me!" Even though many people were eyeing the tally, no one would act recklessly until the crucial moment. Since no one could obtain it, it was better to let the Xuanyuan family handle it themselves; it would be theirs sooner or later anyway. Therefore, the Xuanyuan family was allowed to remain in Xuanyuan Zheng's hands. If these people knew that Xuanyuan Zheng was a direct descendant of the Xuanyuan family, the outcome would likely be completely different. They might have turned against him and even forcibly seized it. At that time, Xuanyuan Zheng had just joined the Xuanyuan family, and his position was unstable, making him the easiest target. Therefore, Princess Shuangxia's actions were the result of careful consideration.
At this moment, Princess Shuangxia suddenly looked at Ouyang Yue and said, "The Xuanyuan family has actually passed down two treasures for generations."
"Hmm?" Ouyang Yue looked at Princess Shuangxia with some confusion.
"These two treasures, one passed down to a man and the other to a woman. The tiger tally was passed down to a man, while this jade pendant has always been kept by a woman. I was originally planning to give it to you at a suitable time, but I will give it to you now." As she spoke, Princess Shuangxia took out a jade pendant from her bosom that was entirely emerald green and without a single flaw. In Ouyang Yue's eyes, this was the legendary, priceless imperial green jade pendant of ice type. Not to mention that it was rare in modern times, even if Ouyang Yue had traveled to ancient times, she would rarely have seen one, which shows its value. However, what impressed Ouyang Yue the most was not the value of the jade itself, but the lifelike garden scene carved on it. It was such a small jade pendant, only about a quarter the size of her palm, yet the entire flower scene was incorporated into it. Even the butterflies on the flowers, poised to take flight, were carved into it. Even with her extensive knowledge, Ouyang Yue was amazed by the superb craftsmanship on this jade pendant.
When Ouyang Yue took the jade pendant, she suddenly felt a strange sensation in her heart. She wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt that the white jade bracelet on her wrist, given to her by Baili Chen, seemed to move. When she looked over, she saw that the white jade bracelet was quietly resting on her fair wrist. How could it move without being still?
Ouyang Yue picked up the jade pendant and looked at it again with suspicion. She couldn't help but say, "The workmanship and jade quality of this jade pendant are very good. Yue'er, I think you should keep it for yourself, Grandmother. Jade has a spirit, and it will protect you."
Upon hearing this, Princess Shuangxia's smile deepened, and she couldn't help but reach out to touch Ouyang Yue's hair, saying, "No, this jade pendant was originally meant to be passed down to the women of the Xuanyuan family upon reaching adulthood. If any generation of the Xuanyuan family did not have a daughter, the matriarch would keep it safe and pass it on to a son, who would then pass it on to his daughter. This is not just a jade pendant with good craftsmanship and quality; it is said that there is a secret hidden within it."
"What secret?" Even Xuan Yuan Chaohua hadn't heard of this, so he couldn't help but look at Princess Shuangxia.
Princess Shuangxia shook her head: "I don't know either. I only know that this jade pendant is related to a huge secret. The jade pendant must not be exposed easily, otherwise it will cause trouble."
Ouyang Yue gently stroked the jade pendant in her hand, feeling its warm smoothness and a strange sensation running through her heart. What secret could it be that even her grandparents didn't know, yet it was still being passed down? However, she had no clue about these things for the time being, so there was no need to dwell on them.
At this moment, Princess Shuangxia suddenly said, "But why did you suddenly ask about your background, Yue'er?"
The people in the hall were all intelligent. They knew that Ouyang Yue had suspected something before, but they didn't say anything. It wouldn't have been bad for Ouyang Yue to find out later. But for Ouyang Yue to suddenly bring it up today, it couldn't just be a coincidence, could it?
Ouyang Yue said, "Today, when the Empress Dowager summoned me, she mentioned my grandfather and grandmother when we entered the palace. I was really curious about them, so I asked her about it."
To everyone's surprise, Princess Shuangxia's expression changed upon hearing Ouyang Yue's words. Seeing this, Ouyang Yue couldn't help but say, "Grandmother? You and the Empress Dowager..."
Princess Shuangxia's expression was somewhat complicated: "The Empress Dowager and I were originally very close sisters. Now there's nothing to hide. Actually, Brother Hu and I were childhood sweethearts, but outsiders don't know this. Once, I disguised myself as a man and went out of the palace, where I met Brother Hu, and that's how we became acquainted. Others don't know and just think I was being silly back then, but in reality, I married into your family because I loved your grandfather!"
Ouyang Yue smiled and nodded, but a strange feeling crept into her heart. Her grandmother and the Empress Dowager were good sisters. What happened after that? If the Empress Dowager hadn't mentioned it today, her grandmother probably would never have mentioned her again. How could such good sisters have turned into this? It wasn't that Ouyang Yue was disrespectful to her grandfather. As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Although her grandmother liked her grandfather, it didn't mean that everyone else felt the same way. The Empress Dowager came from a prominent family and was first-rate in both appearance and talent. She became a favored concubine as soon as she entered the palace. She felt that it couldn't be because of a problem between her and her grandmother because of her grandfather's feelings.
However, the Empress Dowager has always treated her well. Today, the mention of her childhood sweetheart relationship with her grandmother and grandfather has aroused her curiosity. Was it intentional or unintentional?
Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen naturally stayed to have lunch with Princess Shuangxia and Xuanyuan Chaohua. After Princess Shuangxia and Xuanyuan Chaohua stuffed a cart full of food and supplies, they left the princess's residence somewhat disheveled. Since Ouyang Yue announced her pregnancy, only a few days had passed, and he had already received several cartloads of food and supplies. Even if she were to have ten or eight more pregnancies, it would still be enough; now, the place was truly overflowing with goods.
Back at the mansion, in the main hall, Leng Caiwen was already enjoying tea with Dai Yu, while Li Rushuang, Qi Qi, and Lü Yan were chatting hand in hand, making it quite lively.
Baili Chen helped Ouyang Yue into the hall. Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you to entertain me, cousin." Leng Caiwen was currently staying at the Prince Chen's residence and was Ouyang Yue's cousin, so he was practically a host. Since Ouyang Yue and the others weren't there, and Li Rushuang wasn't an outsider, Leng Caiwen naturally took the initiative to invite her in to keep them company.
Leng Caiwen said with some dissatisfaction, "You two are really something. Once you're out there, you're having so much fun that you don't want to leave. As your cousin, how can I not keep you company and entertain you?"
Ouyang Yue said with a smile, "Cousin, you must have some strange ideas again. I'm easily tired lately, and even if I'm interested, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep you company."
Leng Caiwen couldn't help but snort: "I heard from Lüyan that she knows of a place where swiftlets have quite a lot of bird's nests. You're pregnant now, so you should take good care of yourself. We're talking about it right now, and we're planning to go and check it out in the next couple of days."
Upon hearing this, Baili Chen's face lit up with joy. The swiftlet's nest was the place where blood bird's nest was produced. Moreover, the formation of blood bird's nest was not easy and required various natural conditions. Even the concubines in the palace could not drink it every day. Finding a swiftlet's nest with the conditions to produce blood bird's nest was extremely difficult. He couldn't help but say, "Where is it? I will send someone to take a look."
Leng Caiwen waved his hand and said, "That's not necessary. When Miss Lüyan was fleeing for her life, she accidentally saw it in a mountain cave. It will probably take at least ten days to half a month to get there. Even if you, Prince Chen, want to leave for two days, someone will be watching you. Do you think you can get out?"
Baili Chen didn't argue. What Leng Caiwen said was true. If before, people were watching him to prevent him from causing trouble, now there were even more people watching him. Especially if Ouyang Yue gave birth to a boy, Baili Chen would likely see even more people as a thorn in his side. Although being in the capital had many inconveniences, if he left the capital casually, his life would be in serious danger. He really couldn't go. Baili Chen looked up at Leng Caiwen, who was already picking at the tea leaves in his teacup with the lid, no longer looking at him or Ouyang Yue. Baili Chen's eyes flickered, unsure of what to say.
Ouyang Yue laughed: "There's no need for such trouble. I'm eating and dressing normally now. Ordinary bird's nest is just as good. Blood bird's nest sounds disgusting, and I don't want to eat it. I appreciate your kindness, cousin, but I don't want to trouble everyone. I think we should just forget about it."
Leng Caiwen remained silent, and Li Rushuang, sensing the awkward atmosphere, also kept quiet. Lü Yan, however, widened her eyes and said, "Princess Consort Chen, although I've never drunk blood bird's nest before, I've heard its effects are much better than ordinary bird's nest. I just heard Qi Qi say that even among the concubines in the palace, only the favored ones drink it regularly; the others are lucky to have a bowl occasionally. Since we have this opportunity, why not get some? Princess Consort Chen, this is your first pregnancy, you must be extremely careful!"
Qi Qi blushed at the comment. She had only mentioned it casually, so why was Lü Yan bringing it up now, as if she had done it on purpose?
"Snap!" Leng Caiwen put down his teacup, opened the fan he carried with him, and fanned himself casually for a couple of seconds. He said, "Cousin, you don't know me. I can't stand being idle anywhere. I feel like I'm getting irritated. I just happened to have a chance to travel around. If I don't take this opportunity to go out, I'll feel uncomfortable all over. I'll think about you every day."
After speaking, he turned to Dai Yu with some dissatisfaction and said, "Tell me, why are there so many self-righteous narcissists in this world? I, a young master, am so handsome and dignified, why would I travel so far for a girl's sake? Let me tell you the truth, I heard that a peerless courtesan has recently arrived in Qizhou Prefecture, and her singing is absolutely superb. I just wanted to catch a glimpse of her beauty." He was speaking to Dai Yu, but he glanced sideways at Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue, as if to say, "Look at you two, you're really being presumptuous. I'm not doing this for you, it's just something I did on the side."
Ouyang Yue looked on, about to say something, when Baili Chen said, "I knew you were unusually lazy. There must be something wrong with you suddenly being so diligent. It turns out it's all for a woman. Why don't you settle down sooner? Even if you redeem this Hua Mei as a concubine, your father will be laughing in his sleep."
Leng Caiwen nonchalantly twirled her fan: "You're wrong about that. I just like this kind of free and unrestrained life. Once you start something, it'll just be one thing after another. It's better to be with these people who don't need any titles now, to avoid endless trouble later."
Ouyang Yue looked at Leng Caiwen, a glint in her eyes. Baili Chen stopped talking. Leng Caiwen may seem carefree, but once he makes up his mind, as his friend, he knows that no one can change his mind.
Next, Lü Yan explained in great detail the background and location of the cave she had visited. Dai Yu then produced a map, and Leng Caiwen decided to leave the capital early the next morning, hoping to make it back in time for the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet.
That night, the room, lit by an orange-yellow nightlight, was filled with a warm and ambiguous atmosphere.
A few soft, silent moans escaped from the bed, adding to the ambiguity of the room. Baili Chen braced his arms on the sides of Ouyang Yue's head, not pressing his entire body down as he usually did, constantly controlling his weight. The beautiful woman beneath him was now half-undressed, her hair disheveled, her face flushed, and her eyes alluring.
Baili Chen's heart tightened, and he let out a "howl" as he lowered his head and lay down on Ouyang Yue's chest, causing her to moan continuously. After a while, Baili Chen, his face flushed, reluctantly turned over and lay down next to Ouyang Yue, but he still picked up the blanket and covered Ouyang Yue's half-naked body to prevent him from going on a wild rampage again.
Ouyang Yue was panting, and the flush on her face wouldn't fade anytime soon. She turned slightly to the side and nestled in Baili Chen's arms. Feeling Baili Chen's wildly beating heart and his chest rising and falling, she couldn't help but ask, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Baili Chen's expression had not yet returned to calm. He simply held Ouyang Yue's body possessively and breathed heavily through his nose, saying, "It's alright, I'm fine."