Chapter 64

Chapter 64

"No need!" Jiang Mo refused immediately. "Don't bother the imperial physician. I just ate cold food a few days ago and it upset my stomach." She instructed, "Don't tell Prince Yu. I don't want His Highness to worry."

Of course, He Ji certainly wouldn't report it, but hearing Jiang Mo say this left a sour taste in his mouth, as if he had become the villain.

At this point, he could only hope that the prince would quickly cure his blindness and clear things up with the princess, so they could live happily together.

"Guard He, now that Lin Mei has left, you don't need to stay in the mansion all the time. The guard captain you selected and the head eunuch Qiao Yun chose are both very capable. Go to the prince's side without worry."

How could He Ji feel at ease? "Then I'll come to guard the mansion every night, Your Highness."

Jiang Mo didn't answer. She turned to Su Jiying and said, "If you have nothing to do, you don't need to come to Prince Yu's mansion anymore."

Su Jiying angrily gave Jiang Mo a light shove. Unexpectedly, Jiang Mo was so weak that she staggered back two steps and nearly fell, but Lanqiu caught her just in time.

Su Jiying was startled. She stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Mo's hand tightly. "What, you used me for Lin Mei, and now you're just going to throw me away?"

Jiang Mo did not respond, nor did she look at Su Jiying. She pulled her hand away and said to Lanqiu, "Let's go."

Su Jiying wanted to chase after her, but He Ji stopped her. "Miss Su, since the princess does not wish to see you, please don't bother her anymore."

"Who cares!" Su Jiying yelled at Jiang Mo's retreating figure, then turned and left.

To ensure that Prince Yu could accompany the princess on her birthday on the sixth day of the third lunar month, Bai Si lengthened the daily acupuncture and medicinal bath sessions. Chen Yingchou had planned to return to the mansion once more before then, but Bai Si said no.

On the sixth day of the third lunar month, it was a clear spring day when everything was sprouting and full of life. Chen Yingchou was in exceptionally high spirits and had Qiao Yun change him into bright red robes.

"Your Highness, these robes look just like wedding clothes."

Chen Yingchou touched his collar, his face full of joy. "On our wedding day, I treated the princess poorly. Today, I'll make up for it.

"Oh, Qiao Yun, is everything that I asked you to prepare ready?"

Qiao Yun was just as happy. "Don't even get me started. To keep the princess from finding out, I had people secretly decorate the garden at night."

Chen Yingchou touched the sachet at his waist. "Watch from a distance. Don't miss the right moment, and have He Ji ready too." He was a bit nervous. "I wonder if Lan'er will like it."

"Your Highness, the princess will surely like it."

*

In the evening, after being away for a long time, Jiang Mo entered the main courtyard. She had people set up a table and chairs in the yard. Sitting under the osmanthus tree, she took out the jasmine wood hairpin from her sleeve and placed it in her hair, quietly waiting for Prince Yu to arrive.

In the evening, around seven to nine, Prince Yu arrived.

Dressed in red robes, with a red silk ribbon covering his eyes and a ruby-studded golden crown on his head, he walked slowly toward her without Qiao Yun's support.

Lanqiu had the maids bring the dishes and wine to the table at the right moment.

Jiang Mo did not rise. She simply watched Chen Yingchou approach her step by step, as if watching someone from another world.

When he reached her, she stood up to support him. "Thank you, Your Highness, for coming to celebrate my birthday."

Chen Yingchou sat down. Jiang Mo served him food and fed him as usual.

"Lan'er, today's dishes taste a bit different."

Jiang Mo said, "I made all these myself. My skills can't match the mansion's chefs. Please bear with me, Your Highness."

Chen Yingchou's lips curled further. "Very delicious. Truly delicious." As he spoke, he lifted his bowl. "Lan'er, give me more of those dishes you made. I like them all."

Aside from pastries, Jiang Mo rarely cooked. It was a miracle if the food was even remotely edible. How could her skills compare to the mansion's chefs? Prince Yu was clearly trying to please her. He really was a good husband.

Suddenly, Jiang Mo felt that Chen Yingchou was somewhat hypocritical. He had clearly come from a romantic encounter, just moments ago being affectionate with another woman, yet now he was praising her unrefined cooking. Compared to a heartless man, she seemed to dislike such a womanizer even more.

She smiled bitterly. Wasn't the emperor's harem just like this? Each consort took turns flattering the emperor, and the emperor generously rewarded them.

As a prince, wasn't this exactly what he had seen and heard since childhood?

Prince Yu had left the one he loved to celebrate her birthday. What was she complaining about?

Chen Yingchou ate a lot, and Jiang Mo also had some. Perhaps because she was in her third month of pregnancy, her morning sickness had eased, and her appetite gradually improved.

After dinner, the sky was completely dark.

A few bright stars hung in the velvet-black sky. The moon seemed hidden by clouds, with only its edges faintly visible.

"Lan'er, come here to me."

Jiang Mo stood up, and a maid moved the stool next to Chen Yingchou.

Chen Yingchou said, "All of you, leave."

"Yes." The attending eunuchs and maids all retreated.

Chen Yingchou turned sideways and touched Jiang Mo's shoulder. He then turned her to face him and slowly raised his hand to caress her face.

The man's hand was dry and warm. His fingertips traced Jiang Mo's cheeks, gently stroking her brows, eyes, and nose, finally lingering on her lips for a moment.

"My Lan'er, still as beautiful as ever."

Jiang Mo raised her hand and grasped Chen Yingchou's wrist, moving her body back half an inch, moving her face away from his hand.

"Your Highness, tonight is my birthday. Let's have a drink."

She took out the medicine Duke Qingguo had given her, poured it into the wine flask, shook it well, then filled a cup for Chen Yingchou and handed it to him, before pouring wine for herself from another flask.

The cups clinked with a crisp sound.

Watching Chen Yingchou drain his cup in one gulp, Jiang Mo felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.

She really was a very, very bad person. She had deceived him, kept things from him, and now she was about to steal from him.

Yet he had always treated her as his lawful wife, never treating her poorly.

She couldn't help but resent him for having someone else in his heart, but she also forgot that his marriage to Wei Yalan was forced. He had never made any solemn vows to her, never said he liked her.

Those resentments and jealousies seemed laughable.

It was as if two little figures were fighting in her heart. One said Prince Yu was being hypocritical—having someone he liked, yet still coming to mess with her. The other said, what was wrong with Prince Yu staying by his beloved's side? What was wrong with being good to his wife?

In these many days, whenever she thought of Prince Yu, these two figures would appear. At first, Jiang Mo tried to reason it out, but later she grew tired and let her emotions swing back and forth—understanding and blame. Whichever figure gained the upper hand, she let that emotion dominate.

After all, she was not the real Wei Yalan. She shouldn't care about these things. But she couldn't stop herself from thinking about them. Since she couldn't control it, she simply ignored it.

At this moment, the figure that understood Prince Yu had the upper hand, so she became the bad person.

"Lan'er, did you take good care of the jade pendant I gave you?"

Jiang Mo removed the jade pendant from her waist and handed it to Chen Yingchou. "I wear it every day." She then took his other hand and placed it on her head, letting him touch the jasmine hairpin. "This hairpin, I have also been wearing it all along."

Chen Yingchou's fingers caressed the hairpin. "I know this hairpin doesn't suit you. You don't have to wear it if you don't like it."

He then placed the jade pendant back into Jiang Mo's hand. "Keep it safe. If anything happens and you can't find me or see me, the officers of the Flying Cavalry Camp all recognize this pendant. They will help you."

Jiang Mo instinctively thought that the woman might be seriously ill, and that Prince Yu would have to stay with her for a long time.

She didn't know that Chen Yingchou was looking out for her, fearing that if something happened to him, he would no longer be able to protect her.

In fact, the letter of divorce was already prepared. He hoped Wei Yalan would never see it.

"Come, let's go to the garden." Chen Yingchou pulled Wei Yalan up, ready to head out.

"Where to?" It was already night. What flowers were there to admire? She couldn't see anything. More importantly, Chen Yingchou had drunk the drugged wine; the effects would kick in at most an hour.

Sensing that Jiang Mo hadn't moved, Chen Yingchou gave her a firm tug. "Lan'er, I want to go there. Help me over."

Jiang Mo realized something. Could it be that Prince Yu had prepared a surprise for her?

She didn't want to go. She was terrified. Instinctively, she rejected whatever she was about to see.

She didn't want any more memories of Prince Yu—good or bad.

"Your Highness, I'm tired. I want to go back to my room and rest."

Chen Yingchou turned and held Jiang Mo's shoulders. "Lan'er, you've had a long day. But I really want to go there. Lan'er, just keep me company, please, at most an hour."

Jiang Mo's heart softened. "Alright."

As soon as they entered the garden, Chen Yingchou stopped. Suddenly, several men in black who were masters of light kung fu appeared in the garden, leaping into the trees and lighting the red lanterns all at once.

Instantly, the entire garden seemed shrouded in red gauze, brimming with festive joy.

These men in black quickly lit the red candles along both sides of the garden path, stretching beyond her line of sight.

The path beneath her feet became incredibly clear. She turned her head to look. Prince Yu's face was a blend of light and shadow, flickering between brightness and darkness, making his features look even more chiseled.

"Lan'er, on our wedding day, I treated you badly. I've always felt bad about that."

Jiang Mo supported Chen Yingchou as they walked slowly forward, looking at the red lanterns on the trees as they went. Each red lantern had "Happy Birthday" written on it.

"I've never blamed you, Your Highness. Actually, you didn't need to do all this."

Chen Yingchou stopped. "Lan'er, may you never have fears or worries again, and may you be safe and happy."

With a "bang," a whistling sound silenced the rest of Chen Yingchou's words. Brilliant fireworks exploded in the sky—burst after burst, blossom after blossom. Silver light poured down like a river of stars, and the gorgeous fireworks illuminated everything around them.

Jiang Mo had never seen such beautiful fireworks. She stared up at the sky, motionless, her eyes unblinking. Those dazzling flames in the pitch-black night lasted only an instant, yet they became eternal in her heart.

After about fifteen minutes, the sky returned to calm.

Chen Yingchou said, "It's all my fault. I didn't know it was your birthday. When Qiao Yun told me, only a few days were left. Besides, the New Year had just passed, and on Lantern Festival night, almost all the fireworks in the capital were used up. These are all the fireworks I could find."

On Lantern Festival night, she had fallen into the water and rescued someone, so she didn't see the fireworks.

Tonight, Prince Yu had made it up to her.

Jiang Mo's eyes grew misty. Prince Yu didn't have to do all this for her, yet he valued her birthday so much and went to such lengths to please her.

Perhaps he did have some feelings for her.

"Lan'er, I feel a bit drowsy. Help me back to the main courtyard to rest." During the fireworks, he had felt a bit tired, and gradually it became more pronounced. He thought it was because of the medicine Bai Si had given him; it never occurred to him that it could be anything else.