Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Jiang Mo nervously curtsied and said, "Your Highness, you've been waiting long."

Chen Yingchou stepped forward, took Jiang Mo's hand, and felt her forehead. "You still have a fever. Why would you disregard your own health to go see Lin Mei? If you wanted to see her, you could have asked her to come to the Morning Evening Courtyard."

Jiang Mo was so astonished she couldn't speak. She looked at Wangxia, who seemed just as confused as she was.

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Mei appeared from behind Jiang Mo, panting. "Princess, why did you walk so fast? Your earrings fell off. I hurried but couldn't catch up, so I had to bring them to the mansion."

Jiang Mo turned to look at Lin Mei and saw that she was holding a pair of coral earrings from her dressing case.

Though she didn't fully understand what was happening, she knew Lin Mei had come to her rescue.

"Oh, see how careless I am," she said as she took the earrings. "I didn't even notice I'd lost them."

Lanqiu stepped forward and gave Jiang Mo a meaningful glance.

Jiang Mo immediately understood that this was all Lanqiu's arrangement.

It turned out that about an hour after Jiang Mo and Wangxia left, Miss Lin had sent an invitation asking Jiang Mo to come to Luoyun Tower that evening to taste plum blossom wine.

Chen Yingchou had kept Jiang Mo's fall into the water under wraps, so Lin Mei didn't know about it. Since they had agreed to taste the wine together, she sent the invitation. Fortunately, she did.

When Lanqiu received the invitation and was about to decline it, she heard a commotion at the courtyard gate. She hurried over and saw Qiao Yun helping Prince Yu walk toward the side chamber.

She had initially planned to say that the princess was ill and didn't want to see anyone, hoping to block Prince Yu from entering. But then she thought: if he insisted on seeing her, she wouldn't be able to stop him. Just as she was worrying about what to do, she glanced down and saw the invitation in her hand.

Lanqiu had a sudden inspiration. She ran to the room, picked up a brush, and wrote a line on the invitation: "The princess went out without telling the prince. The prince has returned, but the princess hasn't come back yet. Miss Lin, come and help quickly."

After writing, she casually grabbed a pair of earrings from the dressing case.

Then she had a young eunuch take the invitation and the earrings to the back door and hand them to the Zhu family maidservant who was waiting for a reply.

She was grateful she had learned to write, and also grateful that the Prince, being blind, walked slowly.

This hastily devised plan by Lanqiu was full of holes.

Who loses earrings, and a pair at that? Who, while ill, still insists on going to a casual gathering? And Jiang Mo was wearing a maidservant's dress, visible to everyone except Prince Yu.

Unless someone were utterly foolish, they'd see through the deception at a glance, let alone someone as sharp as Qiao Yun.

At that moment, he was staring at Lanqiu and Wangxia. Seeing their anxious expressions, he knew without thinking that they had conspired to deceive their master.

Qiao Yun was furious. Lanqiu and Wangxia were longtime attendants of the Kunning Palace, having served their master since childhood just as he had. How could they side with someone else after just a few months?

He didn't dare to be angry at Jiang Mo, so he could only glare at Wangxia and Lanqiu.

Wangxia pleaded with her eyes, while Lanqiu clasped her hands in supplication.

Qiao Yun ignored them completely and gave them a cold, dismissive look.

He turned and said, "Your Highness..." but then stopped mid-sentence.

He saw Chen Yingchou's lips curl into a smile, radiant and joyful in the sunlight.

"What is it, Qiao Yun?"

Qiao Yun's heart ached inexplicably. He put on a cheerful expression and said, "The wind is strong outside, and the princess hasn't fully recovered. Let's go inside."

Lanqiu and Wangxia cast him looks of sincere gratitude, but Qiao Yun felt a chill run through his heart. After so many years by his master's side, he never thought he'd become an accomplice in deceiving him.

His loyal heart was about to be stained.

But he just couldn't bear to see his master heartbroken again. If he exposed the lie today, Qiao Yun didn't dare imagine what would happen.

Chen Yingchou patted Jiang Mo's back and scolded gently, "Early spring is still cold, and you're ill. Why are you wearing such thin clothes? Where's your cloak?"

Wangxia quickly said, "I'll fetch it."

"No need," said Chen Yingchou, taking off his own cloak and draping it over Jiang Mo. He put his arm around her and led her inside, calling out as he walked, "Lin Mei, since you're here, stay and keep the princess company."

Although they had only met twice, Lin Mei felt an inexplicable closeness to Jiang Mo. They say time reveals a person's heart, but sometimes you can tell from the first meeting whether you'll get along.

Lin Mei noticed the exchange of glances. Seeing that everyone in the Morning Evening Courtyard—even the most trusted Eunuch Qiao by Prince Yu's side—was playing along with Wei Yalan's act, she couldn't help but feel envious.

Everyone in the Prince Yu's mansion wanted the masters to be happy and avoided conflict.

The Zhu mansion was the opposite. Besides the legitimate heir from the principal wife, Minister Zhu also had two concubines, three secondary sons, and two secondary daughters. In such a large family, there was no shortage of scheming and infighting, and she was deeply weary of it.

Seeing how simple and harmonious things were in the Prince Yu's mansion, she yearned for such a straightforward relationship—just husband and wife, getting along well, without needing to balance others.

But then she thought about the possibility of Prince Yu taking a secondary consort in the future, and she couldn't help but purse her lips. In terms of deep affection, Prince Yu was certainly no match for her husband.

The things her husband had done to marry her had even moved the Emperor to grant them a marriage decree, making them the stuff of legends among the people.

As for Prince Yu, he had married Wei Yalan because the Empress Dowager favored it, not out of true love. If Prince Yu ever met someone he truly wanted to marry, he would definitely take a secondary consort.

Perhaps Prince Yu was even a romantic at heart, and then he might take more than one secondary consort. Thinking of this, Lin Mei no longer felt any envy.

Entering the side chamber, Chen Yingchou asked, "Has the princess's medicine been prepared today?"

Lanqiu replied, "Yes, it's ready. I'll go fetch it."

Chen Yingchou pulled Jiang Mo to sit down and took a paper packet out from his bosom. "Lan'er must find the medicine bitter these days. On my way back from the palace, I heard a peddler calling out, so I bought some candied fruit. With this, the medicine won't taste so bitter."

Jiang Mo didn't understand. The Princess Rong was coming to the court to sign a treaty—a matter of utmost importance. Chen Yingchou should be too busy to be away. How did he have time to come back?

"I heard that the Princess Rong is coming, and there must be many matters for you to decide. My illness has already improved. A few more days of rest and I'll be fully recovered. Don't worry about me, and don't neglect your important duties."

Chen Yingchou held Jiang Mo's hand. "As your husband, visiting my sick wife is the most important duty. But you're right—I will be busy for a while and won't be able to return home. Seeing you well today puts my mind at ease." He turned his head toward Lin Mei's direction, relying on his hearing. "Miss Lin, I hope you'll come to the mansion often to keep the princess company. I'll send someone to inform Zhiming and Minister Zhu."

Lin Mei was naturally delighted to come to the mansion. She didn't like staying in the Zhu mansion anyway. Her gratitude was evident. "Thank you, Your Highness. I will definitely take good care of the princess and make sure she is happy."

Seeing Lin Mei's reaction, Jiang Mo said, "Lin Mei and I hit it off right away. I'd like her to stay with me every day. Could she move into the mansion for a few days and live with me? What do you think, Your Highness?"

Chen Yingchou had only heard vague reports of Wei Yalan's temperament before. In recent days, he had made detailed inquiries. Wei Yalan had no close girlfriends or intimate friends among the noble families. He found it puzzling. Lan'er was gentle, mild-tempered, tolerant, and forgiving—why did she have no friends?

Since she had none before, now that she had one, he was naturally supportive. "Of course. With Lin Mei here, both Zhiming and I can rest assured."

Lin Mei couldn't suppress her smile. She quickly curtsied, afraid Chen Yingchou might change his mind. "Thank you, Your Highness. I'll go back to the mansion and pack my things."

Jiang Mo was even more direct. "Why bother going back? I'll have Lanqiu send someone to inform your household. The Prince Yu mansion has everything you need. Why bother fetching those odds and ends?"

Hearing the two of them go back and forth, Chen Yingchou felt genuine joy in his heart. The Princess Rong's visit to the court involved not only signing a treaty between the two countries but also selecting a groom. In addition, he had military affairs to handle—too many things. He couldn't be by Lan'er's side.

He was worried about Wei Yalan, and Zhu Shiliang was worried about Lin Mei. Since the two women got along so well, they could both attend to their official duties with peace of mind.

As they spoke, Lanqiu brought the medicine. Chen Yingchou reached out his hand. "Give me the bowl."

When the medicine bowl was handed to him, Chen Yingchou realized he was blind and simply couldn't administer the medicine to someone.

He could only check the temperature, then handed it to Jiang Mo. "The medicine is already cool," he said. Then he fumbled for a piece of candied fruit and, by touch, brought it to Jiang Mo's lips.

Jiang Mo held the medicine bowl in one hand and grasped Chen Yingchou's wrist with the other, bringing the candied fruit to her own mouth.

Her lips touched Chen Yingchou's fingers, the soft, warm sensation sent a ripple through his heart.

Chen Yingchou blushed like a young man experiencing first love, his Adam's apple bobbing as he pressed his lips together.

Jiang Mo, with the candied fruit in her mouth, closed her eyes and downed the medicine in one gulp. She casually placed the empty bowl back in Chen Yingchou's hand, then bit into the candied fruit and ate it. After just one bite, her eyes lit up. "Prince, this candied fruit is so sweet! I've never tasted such delicious candied fruit."

"Really?" Chen Yingchou asked, surprised. He had bought it on a whim, but now it seemed he would have to send someone to find that vendor.

Jiang Mo picked up a piece and fed it to Chen Yingchou. "Prince, try it. It's really sweet."

For the blind Chen Yingchou, Jiang Mo's sudden gesture was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples in his heart. He held the candied fruit half in his mouth for a long time before slowly chewing and swallowing it. The sweetness of the fruit spread from his mouth all the way to his heart. "Sweet, truly sweet."

Qiao Yun was so relieved that tears welled up in his eyes. He was truly glad he had made the decision to "go along with the charade" earlier.

"Prince," He Ji hurried in. "The Chamberlain of the Court of State Ceremonial says there is an urgent matter and requests an audience."

Jiang Mo said, "Prince, go quickly. Don't delay official business."

Chen Yingchou stood up and reluctantly stroked Jiang Mo's head. "If anything comes up, send someone with the jade pendant to find me at the Office of the Court of State Ceremonial."

Jiang Mo eagerly leaned closer into Chen Yingchou's embrace. "I understand."

Perhaps because she was ill, only after leaning close did she smell the jasmine fragrance on Chen Yingchou. She looked down and saw that the embroidered sachet she had made was hanging from Prince Yu's waist.

The sky-blue sachet against the deep purple silk brocade seemed a bit out of place.

Prince Yu was actually wearing her sachet. Wasn't he afraid that the woman he admired would be angry if she saw it?

Jiang Mo thought to herself: This man doesn't understand a woman's heart at all.