Chapter 3

Chapter 3

These maids assigned to the Dawn-Dusk Courtyard were all there to serve the new princess. From the moment their mistress entered the residence, they became the servants of Princess Yu, while Hui Qing was the princess’s dowry maid. By custom, she held a higher status than them, unless Prince Yu gave other instructions. In that case, Hui Qing was the Head Steward of the Dawn-Dusk Courtyard.

Two maids bowed and entered the room with quick, short steps. One prepared hot water for her bath, while the other readied her change of clothes.

Once more submerged in the bathtub, Jiang Mo felt sleepiness wash over her. Whether it was exhaustion from not resting for an entire day and night, or having smoothly passed a hurdle, or perhaps embracing the idea of taking things as they came, she relaxed her nerves. With the gentle massage from the maid behind her, she actually drifted off.

When she woke again, the water was warm. One maid was supporting her head, while another continued to pour warm water over her shoulders.

She shifted slightly and asked, “What time is it?”

“Just past the third quarter of the Zishi hour (around 12:45 a.m.).”

More than two hours had passed; she had never bathed for so long.

Jiang Mo instructed the two maids to help her dress and casually asked for their names and backgrounds.

“This servant is called Xingchun.”

“This servant is called Randong.”

Such elegant and matching names were unlikely their original ones. Thinking this, Jiang Mo couldn’t help but glance at the other two maids by the door.

Xingchun, quick-witted, immediately said, “The four of us were fortunate to be selected as children and entered the palace, serving in the Kunning Palace. His Highness granted us the names Xingchun, Wangxia, Lanqiu, and Randong, in order of our entry into the palace. After His Highness came of age and established his residence outside the palace, the Empress ordered us to continue serving His Highness.”

So Prince Yu truly valued his legitimate wife, willing to have his own accustomed attendants serve her. She wondered if this was genuine concern or merely surveillance.

It seemed finding a confidante in this residence would be exceedingly difficult.

Not only would she have to be wary of Hui Qing, but also of these four. From now on, she could not act freely in the slightest.

It was truly exasperating.

Xingchun, seeing Jiang Mo lost in thought and silent, fearing a misunderstanding, continued, “The four of us have never served His Highness closely. Those who attend to His Highness personally are all eunuchs from the palace. No palace maid has ever been entrusted with such duties. Being allowed to manage His Highness's room furnishings, serve tea, or fetch water was already a great favor.”

Jiang Mo was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood.

Xingchun was overthinking it; at that moment, she was concerned about something else.

“Xingchun, tomorrow when we enter the palace, you’ll be the only one accompanying me?”

No matter how many stories she had heard about the palace or how many portraits of noble figures she had seen, she had never actually entered the palace before, and she felt greatly intimidated.

Xingchun had entered the palace early, seemed clever, and was willing to speak more to her, making her the best candidate to keep by her side for now.

Xingchun was visibly surprised, lifting her head slightly before lowering it again and saying, “Yes.”

Having served in the palace for many years, she knew that masters always trusted the maids brought from their maternal families the most.

It was strange that on the first night in the residence, Head Steward Hui Qing was not by the princess’s side, and even stranger that tomorrow, when entering the palace, only she would accompany the princess.

Bringing her was reasonable—she had been a palace maid in the Kunning Palace and understood the Empress's preferences, which could help the princess respond to the Empress’s questions. But not bringing Hui Qing was utterly unreasonable.

This was Jiang Mo’s deliberate decision.

The next morning, while being dressed and made up, Hui Qing gave her many meaningful glances, hinting at wanting to ask why she wasn’t being taken into the palace and wanting her to dismiss the attendants for a private conversation. Jiang Mo ignored all of that.

Seeing Jiang Mo’s behavior, Hui Qing couldn’t say much, but her heart was flustered. She wondered if she had revealed some flaw.

Not until Xingchun helped Jiang Mo into the carriage was Hui Qing still extremely nervous, wishing she could immediately return to the Duke Qingguo’s residence and report to the Duke and his wife.

But she didn’t even know what had happened, so how could she report? She might even be punished. All she could do was wait and question Jiang Mo when she returned.

At that moment, sitting inside the carriage, Jiang Mo’s lips curled slightly. Thinking of Hui Qing’s anxious and helpless demeanor, she felt delighted.

For the past month, she had lived under Hui Qing’s oppression and had long wanted to break free.

She could endure and compromise, but that didn’t mean she agreed with such bullying behavior.

“Clatter—”

Jiang Mo followed the sound. The teacup on the small carriage table had been knocked over, spilling tea across the table. Fortunately, there wasn’t much tea; she wiped it clean with a handkerchief.

This was the largest carriage Jiang Mo had ever seen—spacious and luxurious, with fine brocade cushions covering three sides. A small table in the center held an incense burner, with curling sandalwood smoke rising, and a set of celadon tea utensils displayed on it.

At that moment, Chen Yingchou’s hand was groping blindly on the table.

He must be thirsty and wanted tea.

Jiang Mo poured a fresh cup of tea and handed it to Chen Yingchou.

As his fingers touched the rim of the cup, Chen Yingchou instinctively reached out a bit further to steady it but accidentally touched Jiang Mo’s fingers.

In an instant, he withdrew his hand.

Although he maintained a composed demeanor, placing his hands back on his knees, a trace of awkwardness still showed.

Jiang Mo noticed his discomfort. In the awkward intimacy of just the two of them, she boldly scrutinized the man before her.

His lips were slightly pressed, his brows twitching faintly. Unlike the cool elegance of last night, he seemed somewhat annoyed.

Jiang Mo thought he must be angry not at others but at himself.

Once a gallant commander on the battlefield, a majestic prince of the realm, respected and admired by all, he was now blind—unable to go to war, unable to participate in state affairs, reduced to a useless man.

Such a radiant person, now trapped in darkness.

Even something as simple as drinking water had become impossible for him to do alone.

How aggrieved and resentful he must feel.

This man was not only Prince Yu but also a general who defended the land and protected the people. Unbidden, a sense of compassion arose in her.

Jiang Mo lifted the carriage curtain. “Xingchun, have the carriage stop.”

Without asking further, Xingchun quickly went to Qiao Yun’s side and whispered.

Qiao Yun raised his hand. “Halt—”

Jiang Mo took another cup, poured tea, and placed it where it would be easiest for Chen Yingchou to reach. For someone with martial skills, he should be able to accurately determine the cup’s position on the table by the sound of pouring.

She guessed that Qiao Yun had been so meticulous in serving that he had already poured tea before Chen Yingchou boarded the carriage. In that case, her action might be redundant.

“Your Highness, your humble wife suddenly feels a little tight in the chest, perhaps due to nervousness. I will step down for a moment to refresh myself.”

With that, she left the carriage.

After enjoying the breeze for a while, when Jiang Mo re-entered the carriage, the teacup was already empty, and Chen Yingchou had shifted to a more comfortable sitting posture, no longer looking so aloof.

The carriage continued onward, swaying, still the same space, still as silent as before, yet something seemed different.

"The Emperor loves playing chess, and the Empress loves blending incense."

The sudden voice surprised Jiang Mo; she had thought they would travel in silence.

"I will remember."

These preferences were not private; Hui Qing's scroll detailed them thoroughly, and besides, her identity as the legitimate daughter of Duke Qingguo meant she ought to know them.

At this moment, Chen Yingchou seemed to use these words as a substitute for thanks—words he was not adept at expressing.

When the carriage reached the palace gate, Jiang Mo lifted a corner of the curtain and saw an old eunuch leading several young eunuchs and palace maids to greet them.

She recognized this old eunuch—he was Eunuch Guixi, who served the Empress closely. In person, he looked slightly more weary than in his portrait.

"Your humble servant greets Prince Yu."

Chen Yingchou rose, and Qiao Yun lifted the carriage curtain at the right moment.

"Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Guixi," Chen Yingchou responded casually, while Qiao Yun immediately helped him out of the carriage.

Jiang Mo followed Chen Yingchou out. As soon as she appeared, she heard Guixi say, "Your humble servant greets Princess Yu."

Despite her nervousness, Jiang Mo gracefully extended her hand to Xingchun, and after stepping down and steadying herself, she performed a curtsy and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Guixi."

Guixi walked to Chen Yingchou's side and said respectfully, "Her Majesty the Empress has prepared a palanquin for the Prince."

In the palace, only the Emperor, the Empress, and high-ranking consorts were allowed to use palanquins, and even consorts could only do so within the rear palace. Princes and other ministers were not given this treatment when entering the palace for audiences.

Since Prince Yu lost his sight, he became the only courtier allowed to ride a palanquin when summoned.

"Not today," Chen Yingchou said, stopping and lowering his hand from Qiao Yun's arm. He turned slightly sideways. "I have the Princess to accompany me."

Jiang Mo glanced at Guixi, then at the palanquin beside him.

It had four stems, red lacquer, and was carried by eight bearers—large enough for two to sit.

As the Princess of Yu, she could ride the palanquin with the Prince, but it would feel awkward. Moreover, being too conspicuous would make them a topic of gossip; for her, as a substitute, staying low-key was the only way to avoid complications.

Qiao Yun stepped back, and Jiang Mo moved to Chen Yingchou's side, gently taking his arm.

Guixi bowed, saying, "The Prince and Princess are deeply devoted. Her Majesty the Empress can rest assured."

Chen Yingchou responded with a polite upward curve of his lips, patting the back of Jiang Mo's hand on his arm. "Ya Lan is dignified, courteous, gentle, and refined. Marrying her is my blessing."

Jiang Mo involuntarily shuddered. The name Ya Lan felt quite unnatural to her, and these compliments from Chen Yingchou made her feel guilty.

She knew that Chen Yingchou said this for the overall situation—to project an image of a harmonious couple to the outside world. It had nothing to do with her personally.

Guixi and his party led the way, and she carefully supported Chen Yingchou, following behind.

Qiao Yun, Xingchun, and the others walked at the rear.

The palace paths were wide, flanked by high red walls, solemn and deep. Occasionally, passing palace attendants would see them, immediately stop, bow, and stand still like puppets, their faces expressionless, no one daring to look up at them.

As they walked, she felt Chen Yingchou leaning closer and closer to her.

After losing his sight, Chen Yingchou rarely left his residence and had not walked much, let alone traveled the considerable distance from the Donghua Gate to the Zichen Hall.

Before, when entering the palace, Prince Yu must have strode confidently, never paying attention to such details.

She understood—a person who suddenly goes blind has no sense of security and instinctively relies on those nearby. At this moment, to walk this path with composure, Chen Yingchou could only depend on her.

Jiang Mo looked at the man beside her and said softly, "Your Highness, we are going straight ahead. I will inform you in advance of any turns, bumps, or steps."

Chen Yingchou's body clearly stiffened for a moment before he resumed his pace.

Along the way, they crossed a bridge and passed through two palace gates. With Jiang Mo's guidance and support, Chen Yingchou walked smoothly.

When they reached the foot of the steps before Zichen Hall, Guixi stopped, and he and his attendants withdrew to both sides.

Jiang Mo looked up at the magnificent palace, her palms sweating. She pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, and said softly, "Your Highness, we are at the high steps in front of Zichen Hall."

Chen Yingchou turned slightly. "Don't worry."

Having been supported the entire way, Chen Yingchou now took the first step, and Jiang Mo, who had been guiding him, was led by him up the steps one by one.

The one who relied and the one who was relied upon had switched roles.

Having walked this path with reverence countless times, Chen Yingchou ascended smoothly and calmly, from the first step to the last.

A young eunuch at the hall entrance went inside to announce their arrival. Chen Yingchou took a handkerchief from his bosom, fumbled, and pressed it into Jiang Mo's hand. "Don't be afraid."

Only then did Jiang Mo realize that the sweat on her palms had already soaked through Chen Yingchou's clothing.