Chapter 38: The Crown Princess Alone Is Enough for Me

Chapter 38: The Crown Prince Needs Only His Crown Princess

Shu Yan had kept watch all night. After helping Pei Yun change and freshen up in the study of Chenghua Hall alongside Shu Mo, she retired to rest.

Shu Mo followed Pei Yun back to Linlang Hall. Seeing that Pei Yun had finished her breakfast and was seated on the small couch amusing Li Chen, she hesitated before speaking. "Your Highness, I heard something this morning..."

Pei Yun didn’t look at her, merely teasing, "What’s this? Have you taken after Shu Yan, gossiping now?"

"Your Highness..." Shu Mo frowned, pausing briefly before continuing, "Yesterday, a eunuch drowned in the palace gardens."

Pei Yun’s hand, holding the toy drum, froze mid-motion. She turned sharply to look at Shu Mo, knowing full well that Shu Mo wasn’t one to indulge in idle rumors—unless the matter had deeply unsettled her.

"Where exactly did it happen?"

"It was at the well along the path Your Highness took when carrying the Third Imperial Grandson back after the banquet in the palace gardens the other day." Shu Mo couldn’t help but shudder. "How terrifying. Your Highness even paused to glance at it that day. Who could’ve imagined a body would be found there the next day?"

As Shu Mo spoke, she failed to notice that Pei Yun’s face had gone pale.

Had the man died yesterday, or had his drowned body only been discovered yesterday?

And of all places, it was the same well where Rong Jieer had died in the past life.

Rong Jieer had been a child—it wasn’t impossible for her to have fallen into the well out of curiosity. But a eunuch? That well’s opening was narrow; no one could just fall in by accident.

Somehow, Pei Yun found it hard to breathe. Pressing a hand to her chest, a dreadful thought crossed her mind: perhaps because she had saved Rong Jieer, that eunuch had died instead of her.

That eunuch had died in Rong Jieer’s place—but there was no way to prove it.

Rong Jieer was Prince Yu’s daughter, a Little Princess, highborn and cherished. Had she perished, Emperor Qingzhen would have launched a thorough investigation. But a eunuch’s life meant nothing; no one cared about his fate, nor would anyone trouble themselves to look into how he died.

Finally noticing Pei Yun’s distress, Shu Mo asked worriedly, "Your Highness, what’s wrong?"

It was just a eunuch’s death—why was Her Highness so upset?

Pei Yun looked up at Shu Mo. "Go and find out where that eunuch was buried. If he had family, give them some money. If not... arrange for someone to burn joss paper at his grave."

Shu Mo looked puzzled. "Your Highness, did you know him?"

Pei Yun shook her head. "No. But I’ve heard that eunuchs and palace maids, if left unmourned, may become wandering ghosts, unable to reincarnate. They linger where they died, sometimes even haunting the living. Let this be a way to avert bad luck... and to accumulate blessings for Chen'er."

Shu Mo assumed it was simply her mistress’s kindness and nodded in assent before withdrawing to carry out the task.

Pei Yun held Chen'er close and sighed deeply.

She spoke of accumulating blessings, but in truth, it was for her own peace of mind.

After the noon meal, just as Pei Yun had put Chen'er to sleep, Nanny Feng arrived.

Pei Yun had expected the Empress Dowager to summon her eventually—but not this soon. Was she here to confront her?

Pei Yun hadn’t yet decided how to respond, prepared to improvise. As Crown Princess, she was no match for Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. At worst, she’d incur the Empress Dowager’s displeasure.

But no matter what, she couldn’t afford to show anything less than utmost respect. So before Nanny Feng could even step into the hall, Pei Yun had already risen with a smile and hurried forward to greet her.

Little did Pei Yun expect Nanny Feng to smile even more warmly upon seeing her, immediately curtsying and addressing her as "Crown Princess" with a tone almost fawning. This left Pei Yun completely baffled—it didn’t seem like a reprimand at all, but rather as if she had come to deliver good news.

Nanny Feng had served the Empress Dowager for decades, someone even Emperor Qingzhen had to treat with respect. Her behavior now made Pei Yun quite unsettled.

Not wanting to offend her, Pei Yun instructed the palace maids to serve tea, but Nanny Feng declined. After a moment of thought, she spoke deferentially, "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager thought it over last night and decided that the selection of a secondary consort for the Crown Prince need not be rushed..."

Not rushed?

How could it suddenly not be urgent anymore?

Pei Yun grew even more puzzled as Nanny Feng continued, "The Crown Prince is devoted to the people of Great Zhao, handling countless affairs daily. Just like the imperial harem, if the Eastern Palace becomes crowded, troubles will inevitably multiply. Though Your Highness assists in managing matters, there will inevitably be issues beyond your control. It would be unwise to burden the Crown Prince with such trivialities, wouldn’t you agree?"

Pei Yun forced a smile.

What nonsense. This excuse was way too flimsy.

It sounded like an excuse fabricated specifically to avoid selecting a secondary consort for the Crown Prince.

But since the Empress Dowager had seemingly done a complete turnaround and would no longer trouble her, Pei Yun went along with it, replying, "Her Majesty is absolutely right. Like His Majesty and the late Empress, she cares deeply for the Crown Prince."

Nanny Feng chuckled knowingly, aware that Pei Yun was merely being polite. While the Empress Dowager truly doted on the Crown Prince, the Emperor and the late Empress... had hardly shown him much concern.

Nanny Feng then raised her hand, signaling the palace maids accompanying her to step forward and present what they were carrying.

"Your Highness, these are the gifts Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has prepared to compensate for the Third Imperial Grandson’s full-month and 100-day celebration. She also mentioned how dearly she adores the Third Imperial Grandson and hopes that, when you have time, you might bring him to her Cishou Palace for a visit."

Pei Yun looked stunned at the four lavish gifts before murmuring a faint "thank you." Even after Nanny Feng had left, she was still in shock, unable to comprehend what had happened to make the Empress Dowager do such a complete turnaround—not only refraining from reprimanding her but even treating her with such unexpected kindness.

The Crown Prince arrived after dinner.

Hearing the announcement, Pei Yun mused that her Linlang Palace had seen quite the commotion that day.

She had just risen to greet him when he strode into the inner chamber, so she had to stay by the daybed and curtsey instead.

Yet she kept her head lowered, avoiding his gaze.

After the events of the previous night—especially recalling his cold laughter and furious outburst—she still felt uneasy.

Afraid her eyes might give away her feelings, she kept them downcast.

But the next moment, a rough, calloused hand suddenly grabbed hers. Startled, she tried to jerk back instinctively, but his grip tightened, forcing her to look up at him.

When she finally met his gaze—though panic flashed in her eyes—Li Zhangye smiled in satisfaction and pulled her down to sit beside him on the daybed.

"Chen'er is asleep?"

"Yes, he just fell asleep. He didn’t nap well this afternoon and played for hours. This evening, I had the servants mash vegetables and minced meat into a paste for him, and he ate quite a bit before falling asleep soon after."

Pei Yun answered as she always did, trying discreetly to pull her hand free again, but his hold only tightened.

"Last night... I was at fault. I lost my temper and frightened you."

Pei Yun went still at his words, looking up in surprise. The Crown Prince’s expression was calm and gentle now, just as it had been in the past, his voice laced with regret.

Nothing remained of last night's terrifying anger.

Though, to be fair, only the moment when he'd swept the painting to the floor had been truly frightening. After that, it wasn't fear she'd felt—but torment.

Pei Yun shook her head with a composed smile, "This is my fault. I acted rashly and failed to consult Your Highness beforehand or seek your opinion before..."

Hearing this, Li Zhangye pursed his lips and couldn’t help but reflect on himself.

Last night, he had indeed snapped. From the moment he saw her nonchalantly handing him those portraits for him to choose from, to her answering *"voluntarily"* when he asked if it was the Empress Dowager's doing, his restraint frayed piece by piece until it completely collapsed.

Yet he should have considered that the Pei family had always been thoughtful, gracious, and kind-hearted. Even if it were the Empress Dowager’s doing, she wouldn’t reveal it truthfully to avoid harming their grandparent-grandchild bond.

Moreover, under the Empress Dowager's pressure, she had no way to refuse, with no room for resistance. How could he vent his anger on her?

And most importantly, he had never made his stance clear to her.

"The Crown Princess alone is enough for me," the Crown Prince spoke slowly, his usually cold and profound eyes filled with sincerity, eliciting a flutter she couldn’t name.

Perhaps in this life or the last, after all these years, she had never heard the Crown Prince make such a promise to her.

But soon, she mentally rolled her eyes.

Truly, men’s promises are as hollow as the wind. Had she not lived through her past life, she might have actually believed him. But when Shen Ningchao grew older in a few years, looking more like her sister by the day, would the Crown Prince still uphold his current vow?

Just empty words—how could she take them seriously?

Yet outwardly, Pei Yun naturally had to put on a show of gratitude.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Only then did he relax a fraction. "The Duke of State Stabilization's wedding is next month, isn't it?"

Pei Yun nodded. "Yes, the second day of next month. My mother had a fortune-teller pick an auspicious date."

Also the nearest favorable day.

Her mother, Lady Zhou, had grown increasingly fond of her future sister-in-law, Jiang Lanqing, even more eager than her brother, Pei Xuan, to welcome her into the family.

"That day, the Crown Princess will surely attend. It's a joyous occasion—you must dress to impress."

*Duh.*

Pei Yun muttered inwardly that the Crown Prince was stating the obvious when he suddenly pulled her hand toward him, pulling her slightly off-balance.

They were now so close that Pei Yun could feel his breath warming her cheek.

His deep, mellow voice whispered by her ear, "Last night, I ruined one of your gowns. I thought I might replace it for you. How does that sound?"

Almost without thinking, Pei Yun blurted out in complaint, "Not just that—Your Highness also ripped my underclothes!"

The moment the words left her mouth, Pei Yun realized her blunder.

Several palace maids were standing nearby, and her voice had been far from quiet. She even heard someone muffled a snicker.

No matter how thick-skinned Pei Yun was, she couldn’t bear having such intimate matters overheard.

A rush of heat flooded her cheeks, her ears flaming red as peonies.

The Crown Prince’s tone dripped with amusement as he added before leaving, "On the first day of the sixth month, I’ll come to your palace... to replace both the gown and the undergarment."

After the Crown Prince departed, Pei Yun's face remained flamed red. Turning, she saw Shu Yan and Shu Mo biting their lips to suppress laughter and scowled at them.

Cursing her big mouth, she thought—

God, how embarrassing.