Free Web NovelChapter 212: Chapter 212: An Almost Explicit Hint, She Understood
Li Yuzong said, "If the Prince makes another mistake in the future, the Princess Consort will be permanently confined to Anle Hall."
Zhao Minghong asked, his expression complicated, "I can’t make *any* mistakes?"
Li Yuzong smiled and nodded.
Zhao Minghong had never been the type to quietly follow the rules. He bargained, "If I’m the one who makes a mistake, I should be the one to face the consequences. Can’t I just go to Anle Hall myself?"
Li Yuzong smiled and shook his head.
Tao Wanxin stepped forward and curtsied. "Thank you, Eunuch Li, for relaying the imperial decree. I am grateful to Your Majesty."
After Li Yuzong returned to the hall, she looked at Prince Yong and sighed.
’So this is how they’re reining him in. It seems it won’t be long before I have to return to Anle Hall. I need to start making plans as soon as I get back to the Prince’s Mansion.’
Seeing the worry in her eyes, Zhao Minghong grew annoyed. He narrowed his eyes and threatened, "You’d better stop giving me that condescending look, or I’ll go stir up trouble the moment I step out of the palace gates."
Tao Wanxin averted her gaze, no longer looking at him, and began to walk away on her own.
Zhao Minghong scowled behind her, grumbling incessantly.
"The Princess Consort has gotten quite bold, daring to walk ahead of me. For the sake of the child in your womb, I’ll let it go for now. But just you wait. Once you’ve given birth, I’ll show you how I deal with you."
Tao Wanxin had only taken a few steps before she stopped.
She said, "Prince."
Zhao Minghong said, "It’s too late to admit you’re wrong. I’ve already decided..."
Tao Wanxin looked back at him. "Prince, my handmaiden, Yin Xiang, is still in Anle Hall. Is it possible to bring her out as well?"
’He hadn’t expected her to call out to him. Not to repent or to suck up to him, but to show concern for that treacherous maid.’
His expression turned cold. "It’s already an act of grace from my Imperial Brother that you were allowed out. Why are you still worrying about her?"
Tao Wanxin smiled gently. "Yin Xiang is your person, Prince. I only blame myself for not realizing it all these years. It must have been so unfair to her, following me for so long without any official status. Why don’t you bring her out, Prince? I will pick an auspicious day and help you take her as a concubine."
Zhao Minghong scoffed. "I never knew the Princess Consort was so magnanimous. At this rate, we won’t need to worship any Buddha statues in Prince Yong’s Mansion anymore. We can just turn your Jinmo Residence into a temple."
"The other concubines in the mansion can come pay their respects to you daily and cultivate their spirits at the same time. Truly killing two birds with one stone."
Tao Wanxin’s face paled, and her knuckles turned white from how tightly she was clenching her fists.
"Whether or not you retrieve Yin Xiang is entirely up to you, Prince. After all, you are rather famous for your fickle tastes."
Zhao Minghong said, "There you are mistaken, Princess Consort. No matter how much I enjoy the new, I would never forget you, the old."
Tao Wanxin had resolved to hold her tongue, but she couldn’t stop herself from bringing up Yin Xiang.
’How foolish of me,’ she thought now. ’Why am I trying to pick a fight with Prince Yong here in the palace? It’s a blessing I’m even still alive.’
She reined in her emotions and lowered her head respectfully. "I will do as the Prince commands."
But when Tao Wanxin actually began to act subservient, Prince Yong grew even more displeased. He flung his sapphire-blue sleeves forcefully and limped away ahead of her.
*
When Li Yuzong cautiously returned to the hall to resume his duties, he found that the porcelain dish Emperor Wu Su had swept to the floor had already been cleaned up by the palace attendants. The throne was empty.
Ji Qingwu watched anxiously as Emperor Wu Su lifted the curtain and walked in.
’He just had a huge fit of temper. I wonder if he’ll decide to punish me too while he’s at it.’
’After all, I’m pretty much the source of the trouble in the brawl between Prince Yong and Wei Ting. Emperor Wu Su knows why I went to Anle Hall, so he must know what role I played in this whole affair.’
Ji Qingwu started to get up, about to climb off the daybed to greet him.
Emperor Wu Su raised a hand. "Stay where you are. No need to get up."
So Ji Qingwu remained kneeling on the daybed, her dark lashes fluttering up and down as she secretly observed his expression.
Seeing her feigned look of a gentle, obedient girl, when she was in fact being quite restless, Emperor Wu Su laughed to himself, though his expression remained neutral.
Ji Qingwu picked up the plate of pastries from the small table and asked softly, "Would Your Majesty care for a taste?"
A moment ago, she had heard the commotion; in his anger, he had swept the plate Eunuch Li placed on the main desk to the floor.
Emperor Wu Su’s gaze fell on her fair fingers holding the celadon plate. Her nails were bare of any polish, glowing with a natural, healthy pink.
’They were the exact same pastries. Placed before the throne, they had been an annoyance. But held by Ji Qingwu, they suddenly looked appetizing.’
Emperor Wu Su gave a slight nod.
Ji Qingwu’s heart leaped with joy. ’He’s willing to eat something, so his mood must be all right.’
She moved closer with the small plate, noticing his gaze fall upon a Dragon Well tea pastry.
Only then did Ji Qingwu remember the imperial custom: when the Emperor ate, palace attendants were always there to serve him his food.
"There are no silver chopsticks here... Your Majesty will have to use your hands."
Emperor Wu Su said bluntly, "Are there not a ready-made pair of chopsticks right here? Use your hand."
Since His Majesty the Emperor had spoken, Ji Qingwu had no choice but to obey. She picked up the grass-green Dragon Well pastry and held it to his lips.
But Emperor Wu Su did not open his mouth.
Ji Qingwu asked, puzzled, "Why aren’t you eating, Your Majesty?"
The Emperor stared at her lips. "Li Yuzong is getting lazy. He didn’t bring a silver needle to test for poison."
Outside the curtain, Li Yuzong heard the Holy Emperor’s words clearly, and his old face fell. ’Everything brought into the Diligent Governance Hall is always tested with a silver needle by me in advance!’
Ji Qingwu understood his barely veiled hint.
So she took the initiative. "I can be the ready-made silver needle. I’ll test it."
She lowered her head and picked up a Dragon Well pastry.
The corner of Emperor Wu Su’s mouth curved up. He saw that the pastries on the plate were untouched and knew Ji Qingwu must have been frightened by the events in the hall.
’Last time, he’d personally heard her say that Jiu Jiu liked to eat sweets when she was in a bad mood. Since the little girl had been raised by Ji Qingwu’s side, she had most likely picked up the habit from her.’
Ji Qingwu ate in a very refined manner, taking a small bite and savoring it slowly.
After a moment, she said, "The pastry’s outer layer is crisp, and the filling melts in your mouth. They’ve also added some pecans to the filling."
Seeing the glint in his eyes as he watched her, Ji Qingwu suddenly remembered. "It’s not poisoned. Your Majesty can eat it."
As she spoke, she raised the plate in her hands a little higher.
Emperor Wu Su lowered his head, but instead of taking one from the plate, he leaned toward her hand and ate the rest of the Dragon Well pastry she had just bitten into.
Whether it was intentional or not, his teeth grazed the pad of her finger.
Ji Qingwu snatched her hand back, saying shyly, "Your Majesty, that’s not... appropriate."
’After all, she had already eaten from it. To give it to the noble Emperor felt deeply improper.’
Emperor Wu Su didn’t care for sweets; it was still too rich for his taste. The pastry was only tolerable when paired with tea.
He took another sip of tea. "What’s not appropriate? We’ve already shared saliva. What’s there to be shy about?"
Ji Qingwu’s face turned beet red.
Emperor Wu Su raised an eyebrow. "How about this? I shall return the favor."
