Chapter 038

Chapter 038

Princess Baocheng hurried towards the pavilion in a flurry.

Seeing his plan fail, Jiang Xian naturally wanted to extricate Jiang Yuyuan.

"Shanhui, there’s something I need to tell you..."

Thinking it a trivial matter, Princess Baocheng didn’t stop walking: "Go ahead."

Jiang Xian lowered his voice, "Yuyuan might have been drugged by someone."

"What?" Princess Baocheng stopped abruptly, "Is there really a drugging incident?"

She had been skeptical when Lu Jingzhao mentioned "drugging", as her niece had come with her to choose a husband. How did she get involved in a drugging incident? But now that her husband mentioned it too, it seemed likely.

"Who drugged her? Who would dare to target her?"

"Wei Anzhong."

Princess Baocheng’s brow furrowed, "I’ll speak to Yuyuan first."

Wei Anzhong was the son of Marquis Wei Tong of Runan.

The Wei family had supported the founding of the dynasty, and Wei Tong, a man of both literary and martial talents, currently the General of Huguang, had secured a fourth-rank command position for his son. Wei Anzhong was known for his poor character, something Princess Baocheng had heard about from her husband.

When had he taken an interest in Jiang Yuyuan?

Full of questions, Princess Baocheng arrived at the pavilion.

Jiang Lin and Jiang Min were completely at a loss, not understanding why Lu Jingzhao had detained Jiang Yuyuan. They couldn't disobey the Crown Prince's orders but urged Dong Ling to remove the handkerchief so they could ask their cousin what had happened.

Dong Ling remained unmoved.

Fortunately, their parents arrived. Jiang Lin rushed to them, "Mother, Ah Min and I were just barbecuing. We didn't offend Cousin or the third cousin. I don't know why they suddenly left, and then Cousin was brought here."

Princess Baocheng nodded, turning to Dong Ling, "Jingzhao has informed me of the situation. You can let her go now."

Tears streamed down Jiang Yuyuan’s face.

Once free, she immediately threw herself into Princess Baocheng’s arms, "Auntie, I don't know what I did wrong... I just asked Cousin why he wasn’t eating the barbecue, Auntie..." She sobbed uncontrollably.

The young girl's cheeks were flushed red. Princess Baocheng reached out to touch her forehead, "Do you feel unwell anywhere?"

"A bit dizzy and feverish," replied Jiang Yuyuan, who had used only a small amount of the powder, "I don't know if it's because I caught a chill in the wind."

"You must have been drugged by Wei Anzhong... Yuyuan, think carefully, when did you last see him?" Jiang Xian suggested from the side.

"Uncle, are you talking about the gentleman who approached me unexpectedly today?"

"Yes."

"I don’t remember much, but a few days ago, I went out to buy rouge. Aunt, you know about it. I thought if I could find a desirable gentleman at Rabbit Hill, I would dress up nicely on an auspicious day, hoping to marry soon and not worry you," Jiang Yuyuan said, wiping her tears, "Who knew such a thing would happen... so suddenly..." She suddenly covered her face, "Uncle, was I really drugged? Who did it? What will happen if this gets out?"

"If it gets out, it’s still your fault. What were you doing buying rouge!" Jiang Xian scolded her, then apologized to his wife, "Ever since I brought Yuyuan home, she's been nothing but trouble, Shanhui. Don’t bother with her anymore; it’s just her bad luck."

Her husband was clearly taking her side, but could Princess Baocheng really just stand by?

Wei Anzhong, so despicable, using his family's influence to target her niece; could she really swallow this insult?

She started towards the hilltop to find her brother.

At this critical moment, Lu Jingzhao’s words suddenly echoed in her mind.

He had suggested that Jiang Yuyuan might have drugged herself and warned Princess Baocheng not to get entangled.

Knowing her nephew's nature, he wouldn’t make baseless statements. Given his usual reticence, for him to share this with her, he must be somewhat certain. Princess Baocheng pondered for a moment and then turned to Jiang Yuyuan, "How did Wei Anzhong drug you?"

She sharply turned the conversation.

Jiang Yuyuan, having seen her walking towards the hilltop and somewhat relaxed, tensed up again, "He... he approached me suddenly. I was admiring the maple leaves when he suddenly called me 'Miss Jiang.' I was frightened and tried to leave, but then he sprinkled something on me... At the time, I didn’t know what it was, but now I realize it was powder."

"How did he recognize you?" Princess Baocheng scrutinized her niece from head to toe, "You were dressed as a man, he shouldn’t have noticed you. Besides, why were you alone? I brought you here to meet those gentlemen, not to look at maple leaves."

She had been busy talking to her brother and hadn’t paid much attention to her niece, but the girl shouldn’t have wandered off, should she?

Seeing Princess Baocheng's tone become stern, Jiang Yuyuan, guilty and nervous, began to sweat and cried again, "Auntie, I'm sorry, it was my fault. I got carried away."

"You should be scolded. You're not a child anymore. Don’t you know any better?" Jiang Xian also reprimanded her, then turned to Princess Baocheng, comforting her, "Let’s not bother with her. Let her learn her lesson."

She was, after all, the niece she had raised. Seeing her cry so pitifully, Princess Baocheng’s heart softened a bit, deciding to ask one last question, "How did Jingzhao catch you? It can’t be for no reason, right?"

"I really don't know, Auntie. I just saw him leaving the pavilion and found it odd. I followed to ask why he wasn’t eating the barbecue, but then he ordered me to be captured."

So, with the Crown Prince absent, Jiang Yuyuan thought she could fabricate a story?

Dong Ling, who had been listening, couldn’t hold back any longer, "Your Highness, Miss Jiang did more than just ask. I tried to stop her from approaching the Crown Prince, but she pushed me forcefully, almost madly. That’s when the Crown Prince ordered me to detain her."

Princess Baocheng's gaze flickered, "Is that so?"

Jiang Yuyuan, unwilling to admit the truth, protested, "I was drugged, how could I have the strength? Besides, I wasn’t in my right mind then and can’t remember anything. You can say whatever you want. I just wanted to ask the Crown Prince..." She tugged at Princess Baocheng's sleeve, "My cousins were so dedicated to barbecuing, I didn’t want their efforts to go to waste!"

Hearing this seemingly considerate reasoning for her sons, Princess Baocheng hesitated.

But Dong Ling was thoroughly infuriated by Jiang Yuyuan.

She made it sound as if she was lying and falsely accusing her of pushing.

But did Jiang Yuyuan really think there was no reason for the Crown Prince to detain her? Dong Ling raised her voice, "You approached the Crown Prince at the pavilion, don’t think I didn’t see it… Fine, let’s not talk about that. Remember when Princess visited Wenshu Monastery and you stayed in the palace due to heatstroke? Didn’t you intercept the Crown Prince on his way and asked for a lift? I didn’t think much of it then, but now it's clear – you did it on purpose!"

Her words were forceful, piercing like the tip of a knife.

Princess Baocheng’s face slowly reddened.

She realized she had been manipulated by her niece all along!

This child actually fancied Lu Jingzhao!

Did she aspire to be a concubine? What for? With the Crown Princess above her, could she ever hope to stand out? Foolish enough, but to also deceive her, claiming filial duty, Princess Baocheng felt as if she had been slapped in the face.

She had treated Jiang Yuyuan like her own daughter, hiring a governess to teach her music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, grooming her as a lady of a reputable family, only to be repaid like this. Princess Baocheng's heart turned cold.

How did she raise such an ungrateful person?

The situation took a sudden turn, and Jiang Yuyuan, despite all her calculations, hadn’t expected the servant to dredge up the past.

Her first instinct was to deny everything.

"Auntie, I had no such intentions. I just wanted to go out for a walk after lying in bed for several days. Meeting the Crown Prince was an accident... I happened to be too tired to walk, so I asked him to take me to Kunning Palace."

An accident?

Her nephew was acting as regent at the time, surely traveling between Qianqing Palace and the Eastern Palace. She was staying in Kunning Palace; how could she have ended up there?

Princess Baocheng stepped forward and slapped her across the face.

The crisp sound shocked Jiang Xian and the two young masters of the Jiang family.

Yet, none of them dared to speak up for Jiang Yuyuan.

Jiang Xian, aware of the inside story, and Jiang Lin and Jiang Min, not being fools, understood Jiang Yuyuan's motives after hearing Dong Ling’s words.

Tears streaming, Jiang Yuyuan knelt down: "Auntie, I really didn't..."

"Shut your mouth!" Princess Baocheng, her hand trembling, scolded, "You ingrate! I treated you like a daughter, and you took me for a fool? No wonder you suddenly fell ill, no wonder you refused to marry. You shun heaven's path for hell’s gate! Fine, I’ll grant your wish," she turned to her husband, her voice stern, "She's your niece, and I leave her to you. Make sure you don’t disappoint me!"

Jiang Yuyuan felt a darkness envelop her, as if her heart was plummeting into an abyss.

Why?

Her seemingly flawless plan, adaptable in any situation, even if unsuccessful, shouldn’t have been exposed by her aunt.

Jiang Yuyuan couldn’t even cry anymore.

Jiang Xian ordered his attendants to take her back to the carriage for further handling after descending the mountain.

Princess Baocheng, watching Jiang Yuyuan’s crumpled, limp figure, felt no more love, only realizing her own naivety, and walked away.

The poetry gathering on the mountain finally concluded, with Emperor Jianxing generously rewarding the most talented officials who won his favor, followed by a feast for all the officials.

Seeing Lu Jingzhao remain unshaken, Lu Jingchen couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Jiang Yuyuan had lured Wei Anzhong into speaking with her, setting up a drama, but his elder brother, indifferent to feminine charms, had captured her instead. Any slight contact between the two would have been enough for him to assist Jiang Yuyuan.

"It's hard to cook without rice!" he thought.

Spreading rumors was an option, but too risky.

Disparaging the Crown Prince's reputation was something Lu Jingchen dared not do. He drank his wine in one gulp, frustrated with his own indecisiveness.

It was well past noon when Chu Yin, accompanied by her two children and Empress Jiang and Tang Feiyan, finished celebrating at the Yinghua Tower and returned to the Eastern Palace.

She guessed that Lu Jingzhao would likely return only by evening.

Indeed, as she expected, at sunset, her father-in-law and his entourage arrived at the city gate.

She hurried to the palace gate to welcome them.

Princess Baocheng, usually full of vigor, appeared unusually somber, her face dark as if wrung with worries. Chu Yin's glance swept past her, noticing the absence of Jiang Yuyuan.

Princess Baocheng and her niece were usually inseparable, but this time she returned without her.

Chu Yin felt a twinge of curiosity but didn’t dwell on it, greeting Lu Jingzhao with a gentle smile and a soft, "Your Highness."

The effects of the drug were strong, and despite the time elapsed, Lu Jingzhao felt his dormant desires surge the moment he saw Chu Yin.

Yet, his expression remained unchanged, and he did not return her smile.

Chu Yin, accustomed to his demeanor, asked during their walk back to the Eastern Palace, a question driven by her curiosity, "Are there maple trees on Rabbit Hill?"

"I suppose there are."

“……”

Going out to ascend the hill and not noticing its scenery? Chu Yin teased, "What occupies your Highness’s mind so much that you don’t even know if there are maples? I will ask Dong Ling later; he should know."

He hadn’t paid much attention, indeed.

Because he had little interest in appreciating the scenery.

Lu Jingzhao paused briefly before replying, "The pine branches of Rabbit Hill are fragrant and good for roasting meat."

"Oh? Did your Highness have roasted meat?" Chu Yin's interest was piqued as she latched onto his arm, inquiring, "What’s special about meat roasted with these pine branches?"

Her almond eyes blinked eagerly, shimmering with anticipation, waiting for his response.

He hadn't actually tasted it, leaving him unsure of what to say.

Perhaps next time, he could take Chu Yin with him.

She would surely be delighted to try it.

This thought made him pause slightly.

He had never before entertained the idea of taking someone out for enjoyment. Why now...

Glancing at Chu Yin, still awaiting an answer, and recalling the long hours at Rabbit Hill with her lingering in his thoughts, he realized that Chu Yin might mean something more to him than just a wife.

He lowered his head and kissed her lips.

Chu Yin was momentarily stunned.

He hadn’t answered her question about the roasted meat. Why this sudden...

But then, the last time he kissed her in the carriage was also unexpected. Moreover, he had scolded her afterward, forbidding her from being affectionate.

Surely not this time?

She wrapped her arms around his neck.

The long-suppressed desires found solace in her soft lips, but after the kiss, he yearned for more. His hands gripped her waist, pulling her close, hoping she would entwine around him like a willow branch.

An unusual passion different from the norm.

She found herself responding involuntarily.

His kiss was truly exceptional.

She relished the warmth in him, a side of him she had never witnessed in its full intensity.

His breathing suddenly deepened.

The kiss continued all the way to the Eastern Palace gates.

When the carriage stopped, so did he.

Opening his eyes, he saw his wife, her eyes misty, lips like dewy cherry blossoms, resembling peonies in the rain. He suddenly felt as though he was under the spell of a potion again, with desires piling up heavily.

Those deep, dark eyes of his made her heart race.

Chu Yin was momentarily at a loss for words.

Once inside the palace, she found her voice, "Today at Yinghua Tower, the wind was strong. I took Xuzhi and Zhenzhi to fly kites... Next time you're free, your Highness, you should join us. Xuzhi said with your height, you could probably fly the kite even further."

Actually, flying a kite had nothing to do with one's height.

Children always had such whimsical ideas.

He agreed, "Alright."

In their past life, they had never flown kites together. Chu Yin was excitedly picking out a day for the four of them to fly kites together.

But wait, what was her decision worth? It all depended on whether Lu Jingzhao would visit Chunhui Pavilion.

"Your Highness, when would you..." she began to ask, but Lu Jingzhao kissed her again.

Had he still not had his fill of kissing?

Chu Yin seriously wondered what he had experienced on Rabbit Hill.

Otherwise, why would he miss her so soon after just a few hours apart?

It seemed impossible.

After a separation of half a month, he had remained seemingly indifferent.

As the Crown Prince and Crown Princess became so intimately entwined, the maids and eunuchs discreetly retreated outside the door.

They had never kissed for this long before. She was genuinely tired, instinctively retreating until she was backed against a desk, trapped by her waist.

Sensing her dilemma, he paused, then lifted her onto the desk behind her.

Her legs dangling in the air, Chu Yin let out a soft gasp.

"Your Highness..."

She hadn't expected him to act like this.

He didn’t speak, continuing to kiss her while lifting her skirt.

The setting sun streamed through the window, warm and comforting, yet her body trembled slightly as she leaned against his shoulder, wanting to say, "Your Highness, it's not completely dark yet."

What exactly had he experienced on Rabbit Hill?