Chapter 008

Chapter 008

Hearing his words, Chu Yin's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked ahead.

Fortunately, Princess Baocheng was at a distance and likely didn’t hear.

She didn’t want Lu Jingzhao to offend Princess Baocheng.

Princess Baocheng was their father’s only full sister, born of the late Empress Dowager. Their relationship was special; otherwise, why would Chu Yin bother? She feared Princess Baocheng might stir trouble with their father, affecting Lu Jingzhao’s position.

"It was aunt who specially came to visit me, how could I not see her?"

Not sure who she was trying to convince, Lu Jingzhao didn’t bother to challenge her statement.

Although Jiang Yuanyuan was accompanying Princess Baocheng, her gaze never left Lu Jingzhao. Seeing him pick up Chu Yin, she was as shocked as if struck by lightning, taking a while to regain her composure. "Aunt," she finally said, "the Crown Princess seems to be ill."

Princess Baocheng, surprised, turned around.

"How can this be? Is it serious?" she hurried over, "Have you called the imperial physician?"

"Not yet," Lu Jingzhao instructed Dongling to summon the head of the Medical Bureau.

Chu Yin requested, "Please call Liu Yanshu."

Strange, considering the head’s medical skills were superior to Liu Yanshu's. Yet, Lu Jingzhao complied with her request.

"Aunt, please go ahead and have your meal."

He carried Chu Yin to the bedroom.

Approaching the bed, another wave of her period hit, and Chu Yin, with a slight frown, whispered, "Your Highness, you should put me down, lest I stain your..." She couldn’t say it outright.

"What?" He was puzzled.

"It's that," she murmured like a mosquito, "it's overflowing, I need to clean up."

"..." He understood.

Lu Jingzhao put her down and called for Lianqiao and Rendong.

The two maids hurried to prepare water.

The man standing beside her remained serious and expressionless, but Chu Yin was surprisingly pleased.

It turns out when she expressed pain, he did show concern.

"Thank you just now, Your Highness," she said.

Her eyes curved into a sweet smile.

Lu Jingzhao asked, “Does it still hurt?”

“It still does, but being held by Your Highness made it feel less painful.”

Lu Jingzhao: “...”

She’s on her period and still flirting with him? And they can’t even be intimate right now.

He really didn’t know what to think of it.

He remained silent.

Seeing Lu Jingzhao staying inside, Princess Baocheng frowned, “Could it be really serious? Jingzhao can’t leave her side?”

It had indeed been a while, and she wondered what the two were doing.

Jiang Yuanyuan bit her lip hard.

She had always believed Lu Jingzhao had no feelings for Chu Yin, but just now, he had held Chu Yin in front of them and stayed with her, not leaving.

Why would he do that?

She couldn’t accept it.

She had her plans; she didn’t mind being Lu Jingzhao’s concubine.

Being the Crown Prince’s concubine wasn’t just any position; she would be titled as a consort and history had many examples of consorts becoming empresses. She thought she could be one too, especially since Chu Yin wasn't favored.

But now...

Jiang Yuanyuan's fingers nearly tore the handkerchief.

“Yuanyuan, what are you thinking about?” Princess Baocheng gave her a curious glance, “Are you also not feeling well?”

“No,” Jiang Yuanyuan came back to her senses, “I’m just worried about the Crown Princess. I remember once when I visited the Eastern Palace, the Crown Princess was also on her period, but it wasn’t so severe. What if she’s fallen ill this time?” She placed a lotus seed paste stuffed fish on a white porcelain plate, “You eat first, don’t starve yourself. I’m young, I can handle being hungry for longer.”

Princess Baocheng felt somewhat displeased upon hearing this.

Could Chu Yin be pretending?

She had been conversing with them without any apparent discomfort, but as soon as Lu Jingzhao returned, she couldn’t even walk.

But what would be the purpose of such an act?

To create a rift between her and the Crown Prince? To deliberately starve her? To avoid hosting her?

Princess Baocheng felt that didn’t quite add up.

Jiang Yuanyuan then urged, “Aunt, please eat quickly. The fish will start to smell once it cools down, unlike other dishes that can be eaten later,” while picking up the dishes and bringing them to her.

Seeing the dish presented to her, Princess Baocheng picked up her ebony and silver chopsticks.

Just after taking a few bites, Liu Yanshu arrived at the Eastern Palace.

Lu Jingzhao came out and asked, “Liu Yanshu, you’ve seen Chu Yin before. She started her period yesterday and is feeling very unwell. Do you know the cause?”

Liu Yanshu first bowed respectfully, then explained, “Your Highness, as the Crown Princess is naturally frail, it is common for her to feel discomfort during her period. To ascertain the exact condition, I would need to take her pulse.”

Lu Jingzhao hummed, “Wait here for a moment.”

Princess Baocheng beckoned, “Jingzhao, come have something to eat. You have to go to Chunhui Hall soon, you can’t go hungry.”

His father and Princess Baocheng grew up together in the palace, only parting when his father was assigned to govern a region. They occasionally corresponded, but he had no affection for Princess Baocheng, merely addressing her as ‘aunt’.

His interactions were mostly out of respect for his father.

Lu Jingzhao responded, “No need, you go ahead, I’m not hungry.”

Princess Baocheng assumed his lack of appetite was due to concern for Chu Yin, shaking her head, “I never realized Jingzhao cared so deeply for the Crown Princess.”

Jiang Yuanyuan nearly bit through her lip upon hearing this.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Perhaps it was just for today, coinciding with Chu Yin’s discomfort. He might be showing concern just because they were husband and wife – after all, who can be heartless? They also had children together. Jiang Yuanyuan thought, if Lu Jingzhao had been completely indifferent to an ailing Chu Yin, it would have been quite alarming.

Too much indifference, would that even be human?

His display of concern meant he was a normal person, and she might still have a chance to win his heart.

Jiang Yuanyuan gradually calmed down.

There was still plenty of time ahead.

After Chu Yin finished cleaning up, Liu Yanshu entered to take her pulse.

It was nothing serious, just a combination of previous exhaustion and entertaining Princess Baocheng leading to abdominal pain. Liu Yanshu didn’t prescribe any medication, suggesting Chu Yin simply needed more rest, as excessive medication could be harmful.

Princess Baocheng, who was also present, suddenly felt as if her visit had caused Chu Yin’s discomfort.

Could it be that she needed to apologize?

That seemed unlikely.

Observing her expression, Chu Yin said, “I’ve worried you, aunt. It’s my fault. I've been overly anxious lately, always suspecting something is wrong with my health, making Liu Yanshu come for no reason. This time was the same.”

Lu Jingzhao was destined to ascend the throne smoothly, but this situation was different from her previous life. She didn’t want any complications that could affect his future reign, so she took all the blame onto herself.

Princess Baocheng laughed, “Why worry unnecessarily at such a young age? Look at you, you’ve even affected Jingzhao’s appetite.”

“I apologize, Your Highness,” Chu Yin turned to Lu Jingzhao, “I’m fine now. Please go and have your meal with aunt.”

Lu Jingzhao could guess her thoughts, but it wasn’t necessary.

No matter how much the Emperor adored his sister, he wouldn’t allow her to meddle in state affairs.

“Next time you’re on your period, don’t push yourself,” he said to Princess Baocheng, “Aunt, you wouldn’t mind, would you?”

Princess Baocheng was slightly irritated but couldn’t afford to fall out with her nephew over a single remark.

Lu Jingzhao, as the only legitimate son of his brother, was firmly established as the Crown Prince. Why would she want to offend the heir apparent? She laughed, "Exactly, Ah Yin, you’re being too formal. Just let me know next time, and I won’t disturb you."

Not sure if she was angry, Chu Yin glanced at Lu Jingzhao, feeling that he had wasted her efforts.

Why bother arguing with Princess Baocheng? It was just a minor verbal loss.

But then she realized that Lu Jingzhao’s remarks were for her sake, and she felt pleased again.

Seeing the Crown Prince and the princess gathering around Chu Yin just because she was on her period, Jiang Yuyuan felt uncomfortable but masked it with concern, interjecting, "Crown Princess, in such a condition, drinking warm cow’s milk can help. I remember once being in so much pain I couldn’t get out of bed, right Aunt? It was the warm milk with brown sugar that helped me recover. Maybe next time, cousin, you can ask the kitchen to prepare some for the Crown Princess."

Princess Baocheng recalled, "Oh yes, that did happen."

Jiang Yuyuan elaborated to Lu Jingzhao, "Not too hot, and it’s best with a little brown sugar..."

If one didn’t know her true nature, they might think she was genuinely considerate. Chu Yin watched Jiang Yuyuan try to show off her slender figure and fragrance in front of Lu Jingzhao, finding it distasteful, yet she did not intervene.

Because in her previous life, she hadn’t intervened either.

Lu Jingzhao was the Crown Prince and the future Emperor. Even if he wasn’t as lecherous as his father, it was unrealistic to expect him to remain devoted to one person forever.

She had long braced herself for the possibility of him taking concubines.

Her focus was on maintaining her status as the principal wife and raising their children well. The rest was beyond her control.

Fortunately, Lu Jingzhao turned out to be an unexpectedly considerate person.

Chu Yin observed quietly.

Before Lu Jingzhao could respond, Princess Baocheng, already undermining her niece’s scheme, said, "Let’s not disturb Ah Yin’s rest anymore, Jingzhao. Let’s go, you still have classes to attend." She turned and walked away.

Jiang Yuyuan followed behind, nearly stamping her foot in frustration.

At the banquet, she couldn’t find an opportunity to get close to Lu Jingzhao, as Princess Baocheng was incessantly talkative. Lu Jingzhao seemed bored and left early without eating much.

On the carriage ride back, Princess Baocheng mentioned Chu Ge again.

“Next time, I’ll invite the Chu family over, and you can meet him… They used to live in Qingzhou and only moved to the capital last year. I haven’t seen this young Master Chu myself, but I've heard he writes beautifully. Even the Emperor praises him. Marrying him would put my mind at ease.”

Jiang Yuyuan murmured softly, “I might not be worthy of him, Aunt.”

Princess Baocheng took her hand and smiled, “With me around, what’s there to fear? Besides, you’re also quite accomplished. I've arranged for a tutor for you, and you’re skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. You’re also beautiful. Why worry?”

What good qualifications did she really have?

If they were really good, she wouldn’t be mocked by the daughters of prestigious families, accusing her of living off Princess Baocheng’s favor.

Orphaned and with nothing, her only skill was ingratiating herself with Princess Baocheng.

The only reason she was spared disdain was due to Emperor Jianxing's favor towards Princess Baocheng, which raised the Jiang family’s status, bringing her some benefits. But with her background, the Chu family would never consider her, nor did she wish to marry Chu Ge.

She had her own choices to make.

Regardless, she was determined to take a chance.

After a nap, Chu Yin got up for lunch.

Since it was already late afternoon, she only had a bowl of delicious chicken soup with noodles.

With nothing pressing to do, not in the mood for writing or playing the guqin, and never one for needlework, Chu Yin asked Lian Qiao and a few maids to pick flowers in the Imperial Garden.

Though not as abundant as during the spring festival, the summer still offered peonies, peony roses, and hibiscus in radiant beauty, and magnolias, lilies, and gardenias in elegant charm.

Chu Yin lounged on a couch, trimming flowers with silver scissors, beside her a blackwood table with a small Ru kiln vase.

She leisurely snipped each stem, taking her time to admire them, effectively passing the time.

Lu Jingzhao returned while she was still arranging the flowers.

At first glance, she appeared to be sitting amidst a pile of fresh flowers.

"Why aren't you resting?" he asked.

"If I sleep more now, I might have trouble sleeping tonight," Chu Yin replied, examining a peony in her hand, "Almost done, I’ll join you for dinner shortly."

He said, “That’s fine.”

She placed the peony in the vase, then added lilies and jasmines as accents, creating a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing arrangement.

Seeming very satisfied, her lips curved into a smile more beautiful than the flowers themselves.

Lu Jingzhao’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and he looked away.

Chu Yin then asked, "What do you think, Your Highness?"

Not knowing much about flower arrangement, he didn’t give a specific opinion: “If you’re pleased with it, that’s all that matters.”

Can’t he just give a compliment when it looks so nice?

Really!

But today he had held her and spoken up for her, which was some progress.

Chu Yin glanced at his face, "I really like it, so I thought I’d give it to you. You can place it in your study; the jasmine is quite refreshing."

Lu Jingzhao: "..."

He suddenly remembered Chu Yin acting coquettishly towards him, claiming that his embrace made all her pain go away.

It was indeed strange.

They couldn't consummate their relationship, so why was she always teasing him?

Glancing at the vase, he asked indifferently, “Do you have something to tell me?”

If it wasn't teasing, then it was bribery.

Chu Yin: “…”