Chapter 12

Chapter 12

He knew the master and princess hadn't married for love, so it was no big deal they didn't sleep together that night. But what was bugging the princess so much that she stayed up all night, out in the freezing cold, while a maid slept cozy on the couch?

He'd been with the master since he was a kid—no one knew him better. Before the wedding, Duke Qingguo and the master were never on the same page. The Duke got impeached for stealing salt and iron money by the master's guys, so he held a grudge. If it weren't for the forced marriage decree, he'd never have married his only daughter into Prince Yu's family.

But after the wedding, they had to keep up appearances, acting nice while being wary of each other.

Yesterday was all an act. He just saw Duke Qingguo covering his tracks, with no sign of giving in. The master must've seen that even clearer.

With this marriage tying them together, would Duke Qingguo straighten up and back the master for his daughter's sake, or was he cooking up something else? How much did the princess know? Could the Duke be low enough to use his own daughter?

He truly hoped the princess had no clue about the court's drama and would just be a loyal wife to the master.

Because he felt the master was a little different with her.

Given his personality, the master would ignore and keep away from what he hated, help out whoever he liked, and just watch whatever he didn't care about.

At first, he thought the master didn't care about the princess but was forced to get close. Later, he thought the master might not even like her, since he didn't stay the night after they slept together.

But yesterday, he went all out playing the loving couple. If it was just for appearances, he wouldn't need to throw around real gold, silver, and priceless paintings.

Plus, after Lanqiu told him the princess treated her itch herself, the master told him to have the mansion doctor stock up on anti-itch herbs and order the kitchen to ban cilantro in all food.

He figured the master still cared about the princess a little.

Qiao Yun went around the screen into the inner room and saw the master already up, sitting on the bed.

So he must have heard the conversation.

“Are Wei Chun and Lady Liu ready to depart?”

“The Duke's loading the carriage. Lady Guogong's waiting in the outer courtyard,” Qiao Yun replied while helping Chen Yingchou get dressed.

“The princess didn't sleep at all last night. Put an extra thick blanket in the carriage, light some benzoin incense, and tell He Ji to take it slow.”

The master spoke quietly, like he was afraid the outer room would hear.

Qiao Yun glanced through the screen, shook his head helplessly, but couldn't help smirking. “Understood.”

When Jiang Mo walked Chen Yingchou to the mansion gate, Wei Chun and Liu Yingrong had already been waiting almost an hour.

Wei Chun, tired from a sleepless night, had sunken eyes and a pale face. The officials and servants behind him all looked beat.

Liu Yingrong stood in the cold wind, fixed her eyes on the gate. Wei Chun came to her side, put an arm around her shoulder, and said, “You've been through a lot, my lady.” Then, facing the imperial city, he squinted. “The big plan is almost there. Within a year, I'll be second only to the emperor. Lan'er will come back too, and no one will dare mess with us.”

Liu Yingrong's eyes glistened with tears. “Wei Lang, I miss Lan'er so much. The northwest is brutal with wind and sand. She won't get used to it there. I wonder if she's okay.”

“It's just temporary. In the Battle of Zhuoyang, the Flying Cavalry lost forty thousand out of its original hundred thousand. With Prince Yu, the commander-in-chief, blind now, swapping leadership is bound to happen. The Flying Cavalry is the empire's army, but the court doesn't fully control it. If the leadership changes, they'll fall apart and be useless.”

Prince Yu's birth mother, Consort Rong, was from the Qi family of generals. The Qi family had helped found the dynasty. Her grandfather spent his whole life on horseback. When Consort Rong died of illness, the old general was in the thick of battle and missed seeing her one last time. Heartbroken, he had a heart attack, took to bed, and died within half a year.

Consort Rong's younger brother, Qi Lin, took over as commander. He often taught Prince Yu martial arts at the palace. When he was just thirteen, Prince Yu begged to go with his uncle to the border. The Empress Dowager felt sorry for him and said no, but the Emperor praised him for having his grandfather's guts and said yes.

At seventeen, during a heavy snow, the Rong Kingdom invaded. After more than ten days of fighting, both sides took heavy losses, making the next battle critical. But right before the campaign, Qi Lin suddenly got a bad headache. The army doctor warned it was serious and he needed acupuncture and rest to survive. Qi Lin refused, saying, “Spear in hand and enemies shouting, how can I lie in bed scared of dying? I'll face it with all my guts.”

But after just a few rounds in battle, he fell off his horse and died right there. Prince Yu took charge in the crisis, drove back the Rong army, and became famous overnight.

That day, glory and grief hit him at the same time.

Everyone in court knew Qi Lin had no wife, ending the Qi bloodline. Now, the Flying Cavalry's generals trusted only Prince Yu.

Moreover, the Emperor intended to pass the throne to Prince Yu, trusting, cherishing, and loving him, unconcerned about his military power. Now that Prince Yu was blind, the Emperor had two options for the Flying Cavalry: dismantle it or take it over.

Wei Chun believed the Emperor hadn't replaced the commander yet to drain the army's hopes. Once they grew disappointed with Prince Yu, changing leadership would come naturally. Whether dismantling or taking over, it couldn't happen overnight. The Flying Cavalry would falter and weaken, and that would be the time to act.

Liu Yingrong remained uneasy. “Wei Lang, I'm starting to regret it. Yesterday, I saw Prince Yu is blind but loyal and emotional. Even if he ends up a powerless idle prince, Lan'er could live peacefully with him. Maybe we should bring her back.”

Wei Chun sneered, “Don't forget, madam. Though the salt-iron affair was settled, the Emperor is now suspicious of me. Can an untrusted minister survive? Rather than wait to be stripped of rank and executed, it's better to strike first.”

“I haven't forgotten. I was just feeling sentimental yesterday.” Liu Yingrong lowered her head. “I won't say such foolish things again.”

She gazed northward. Circumstances forced her, even as a titled lady, to be unable to see her own daughter, letting longing fester into illness.

“Father, Mother, you've waited long.” Jiang Mo, helping Chen Yingchou out of the outer courtyard, saw Wei Chun and Liu Yingrong with red noses and knew they'd waited a while. She handed Chen Yingchou to Qiao Yun and hurried over.

Liu Yingrong muttered quietly, “You're good at acting.” Seeing Prince Yu nearby, she adjusted Jiang Mo's cloak collar, took her hand, and said loudly, “You've been by my side since birth, Lan'er. If you miss me, come back and visit.”

When Prince Yu approached, she added, “Your Highness, if Lan'er misses me, please let her return to see me.”

Chen Yingchou replied, “Consummating but not staying the night on our wedding day was my fault. Once these rumors settle, I promise that if Lan'er wishes, I'll let her visit you both.”

All three were startled by his bluntness.

Wei Chun said, “Since Your Highness speaks so directly, I'll add one more thing. If Your Highness one day finds someone you love, I hope you won't take a secondary consort until a year after marriage and will treat my Lan'er well.”

By exposing their false relationship and demanding a year's grace, he sounded like a father protecting his daughter, but in truth, Wei Chun didn't want complications that year.

Chen Yingchou said, “I won't take a secondary consort.”

It was the same as last night. Jiang Mo knew this wasn't a vow of love but Prince Yu's refusal to be arranged further. With his blindness, he didn't want to ruin other women's lives either.

Seeing off Wei Chun and Liu Yingrong, Jiang Mo and Chen Yingchou boarded the carriage. Chen Yingchou instructed He Ji to head to East Street.

Jiang Mo thought Prince Yu was only speaking casually yesterday. She hadn't expected him to follow through. She hadn't shopped in a long time and wanted to, but not with him.

“Get some sleep.”

His voice was so low that Jiang Mo didn't catch it. “What?”

“I know you didn't sleep at all last night. There's more to come. East Street is still a way off. Rest for now.”

She understood everything except “more to come.” She didn't think Prince Yu said it out of concern.

Maybe the carriage was too warm, or the benzoin incense was working, or she was simply tired. Without overthinking, she murmured an acknowledgment, pulled the blanket over herself, and drifted off.

She didn't know how long passed before the street noise outside woke her.

“Your Highness, it's nearly noon. Should we eat something first?”

“No need. Wait until the princess wakes, and we'll eat together.”

Jiang Mo couldn't help feeling it wasn't so bad marrying Prince Yu. Even without deep love, he had a husband's sense of duty.

Just as she was about to rise, she heard He Ji say, “Your Highness, all of Duke Qingguo's shops on East Street have been investigated. The most profitable are Yongfu Tea House and Jinyu Tower.”

“Any fabric shops or cosmetic stores?”

"Yes, Jinli Cloth Shop and Yanran Pavilion."

"Arrange them in order: Golden Jade Tower, then the cloth shop, then the rouge shop."

"Yes."

"No tea house? All places women like to browse—could it really be for her?"

"Gurgle—" Her stomach let out an untimely growl. Given the situation yesterday, she had barely eaten, and this morning she had no appetite, only managing a few sips of porridge. Now, the aroma of food from the nearby tavern drifted in, making her stomach rumble.

"You're awake? Hungry?"

Jiang Mo nodded sheepishly, then remembering he was blind, replied, "A little hungry."

Chen Yingchou reached out a hand toward her. "Next, I'll need you, Princess, to keep playing the devoted couple with me. Since we need to dispel the rumors, it's best to act sooner rather than later."

Jiang Mo lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. Flanking the carriage were guards, with eunuchs and maidservants at the front and rear. The procession was no different from yesterday's return visit. Add the emblem of the Flying Cavalry Army on the sleeves and collars of the guards' uniforms—who wouldn't recognize this as the Prince Yu's carriage?

So she had been flattering herself. Chen Yingchou simply wanted everyone to know that he was accompanying his princess to East Street.

He said he'd wait to eat with her and take her to shops women liked, but it wasn't for her—it was just to sell the act.

"Let's go eat first."

Sitting by the window on the second floor of the tavern, Jiang Mo spotted a familiar stall by the river. She recalled the bustling streets when she first arrived in the capital, the magnificent inner city, and the novelty that made her wander through every street and alley.

That stall sold handmade hairpins, combs, and floral ornaments, mostly made of wood or stone, but exquisite in craftsmanship. She had bought a few pieces there with Luo Li. Remembering those times, her eyes stung.

"Madam, have some snacks first; the main courses will be here soon," Chen Yingchou's voice reached her ears.

Jiang Mo turned in response and saw several plates of pastries already laid out on the table, including her favorite jasmine flower cakes, so she began to eat.

Soft and smooth, but a bit too sweet—not as good as the ones she made herself.

After finishing, Jiang Mo wanted to try other pastries. Just as she picked one up, she heard a "gurgle" from across the table. Remembering that Chen Yingchou hadn't eaten either, she casually reached out, took his hand, and placed the pastry in his palm.

Chen Yingchou seemed to freeze, holding the pastry without moving.

But Jiang Mo didn't look at him anymore. She just kept eating her pastries, sipping tea, and looking out the window.

Author's Note:

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