Chapter 153 – Qing Transmigration Tale (62)
The candle drips streamed down like tears, falling on her heart.
Eighth Princess Consort kept on staring at the candle flame. She could hear the roaring wind. The floor heating was hot. The narcissus that had been half open two days ago was now completely open.
Had the snow snapped the branches of the plum tree outside? She seemed to hear noise. She thought that Eighth Prince had come back. But then she did not see him, and thought that maybe the old plum tree could not endure the heavy snow.
People said that plum trees should not be planted in the main courtyard. Plum was pronounced the same as “have not”. In the past, she did not believe it, but now she did.
She did not have a son, and she was soon to not have her man.
She stood up and said, “Come!”
The servant girls and grannies had stood silently in the outside room for half a night. Hearing their mistress finally be willing to talk, they hurriedly started to move.
“Mistress, what orders do you have?” The one who spoke was Eighth Princess Consort’s wet nurse. She knew her mistress’s thoughts, but if one did not think it through themselves, they would just find suffering for themselves. Which of the imperial princess consorts were not like this? Was it not the same with Fourth Princess Consort the next door over? That princely lady had kept on having children. But now? It was still Fourth Princess Consort who kept Fourth Prince company. If her mistress was willing to learn a bit from Fourth Princess Consort, maybe she would not have such a difficult time.
Eighth Princess Consort’s body swayed. “Call them to uproot the plum tree outside the window.”
Now? The ground was frozen, and there was snow and wind. Also, the sun was not up yet?
However, with Mistress’s present mood, it was better not to argue.
She acknowledged and then hurried to take care of this.
She knew her mistress’s personality. She would never bow her head, speak softly and seek pity from Eighth Prince. So, Ye could not learn of this matter.
In reality, many of the servants in the establishment were asleep. After the banquet, they had to clean up. The eunuchs who swept did not even have a chance to breathe.
She found strong and young servants to bring them in front of Eighth Princess Consort. Eighth Princess Consort was standing in the corridor, dressed in a black cloak with red patterns. The large red lanterns were lit up, illuminating all of the main courtyard.
The ground was frozen. How could they dig?
They laid wood out on the ground and lit it. Slowly, the fire started. They illuminated half the sky above Eighth Prince’s establishment.
The busy people could not help but stop and look in the direction of the main courtyard.
Nian-shi‘s courtyard was called Shaohua Courtyard. While it was far from the main courtyard, separated by a garden, it was on the center line of the entire establishment. This was enough for people to know that Ye valued this princely lady.
Standing in Shaohua Courtyard, it was possible to see the fire in the main courtyard.
The eunuch who followed Eighth Prince sighed softly. Ye had been busy for half a night before calling for water. Now, the main courtyard was making trouble. He did not dare to not report.
“Ye!” Through the curtain, Eighth Prince heard the shout.
He suddenly woke up and sat up. “What time is it?”
“It is time that Master usually gets up,” came the low response from outside.
What answer was this? The people around him never wasted words like this. They would just tell him the time when asked what the time was.
He rubbed his forehead. It seemed that the other had something not convenient to say right now. He hurriedly got out of bed.
On the bed, Nian-shi was a beauty, but a beauty was just a beauty.
Nian-shi saw Eighth Prince leave without any reluctance, and felt many things inside. She slowly closed her eyes. Nothing to fear! If Eighth Prince was truly a person who immediately forgot his wife, she would find it terrifying. A person who had feelings for women and remembered past feelings was something different.
When Eighth Prince left the door, he was about to ask when he was alarmed by the fire in the main courtyard. He immediately ran towards the main courtyard.
In this moment, he was full of regret.
In his mind were the memories of Princess Consort right after their marriage.
The people on the way saw how Eighth Princess Consort had used a fire to call Eighth Prince out of his wedding bedroom. Everyone knew.
Everyone would think that this was Eighth Princess Consort seeking pity, except for Eighth Prince. He knew his princess consort’s personality. She could not do something like this. She was sad.
Entering the courtyard, the fire was even more dazzling. Eighth Prince stood at the gates. Looking at Princess Consort illuminated by the flames, he did not dare to take a step forward.
The two of them had planted the plum tree together. It had been many years. Princess Consort loved it very much, and did not allow anyone other than herself to touch it. Today, she coldly watched it being surrounded by fire. Did she want to destroy it?
“Put out the fire! Put it out!” Eighth Prince shouted. Suddenly, he felt afraid.
Eighth Princess Consort did not seem to hear Eighth Prince’s words, and just stood there silently.
“Before I come back out, I do not want to see it.” Then, she turned to enter the room.
Everyone looked at Eighth Prince. Eighth Prince chased Eighth Princess Consort into the room.
Eighth Princess Consort took off her cloak and went to lie on the bed. Eighth Prince sat down by her, wanting to speak, but unable to say a word. All the explanations, after seeing how Princess Consort looked, could not be verbalized.
Nian-shi got up when the sky was getting bright. A granny came to get the wedding handkerchief. She rewarded the other.
The granny went with the wedding handkerchief to the main courtyard.
In the main courtyard, Princess Consort was lying there, not showing any signs of getting up. Eighth Prince just sat there, and did not give any orders. The princely lady was about to come to pay her respects. However, the two masters were like this. What was their intention? The princely lady could not just wait outside like this.
The sky turned bright. Eighth Prince finally moved. He said loudly to the outside, “Tell Princely Lady to pay her respects outside.”
Pay her respects outside? This could not work! Without the princess consort to drink the tea of the princely lady, the wedding ceremony was not finished.
The wedding handkerchief had to be seen by the princess consort before it would count.
The people outside looked at each other, and did not know what to do.
Eighth Princess Consort sat up. “No need, serve me to wash up and dress.”
Eighth Prince watched Eighth Princess Consort get up, and go into the inner room. When she came out, she put on her clothes. Everything was done methodically, but she never looked at him.
“Princess Consort, you do not have to force yourself.” Eighth Prince stood up and went over, wanting to hold Princess Consort’s hand.
Eighth Princess Consort dodged him and gave a small smile. “Ye, I am Eighth Princess Consort, and only Eighth Princess Consort.”
Only Eighth Princess Consort?
Eighth Prince immediately felt full of sadness.
Nian-shi entered and saw Eighth Princess Consort as a woman with a smile. She knelt down, kowtowed, and presented the tea above her head. Eighth Prince suddenly got up and took it. “Princess Consort is not feeling well, and cannot drink tea. Ye will drink in her stead.”
Nian-shi stilled. Who said that people had to drink all of the tea? People would just take a sip and pretend.
She did not know if Eighth Prince was too honest or if there were other meanings.
Eighth Princess Consort kept on smiling like that, even the curve remained unchanged.
No matter how stupid Nian-shi could be, she could see something going on.
Princess Consort was smiling, but her eyes were cold. Eighth Prince was cold, but he looked at Eighth Princess Consort with hot eyes.
Such a couple. She was an extra. Then what was the love with her last night? Since they both were not willing, why have her marry in?
The granny held the wedding handkerchief, stuck there, not knowing to advance or leave.
Nian-shi managed to keep her tears from falling. She insisted on finishing the greeting, and then quickly made her farewells.
Eighth Prince did not look at Nian-shi. He turned to Eighth Princess Consort and said, “If you do not want to smile, do not smile. Ye will do as promised. Nian-shi will not have a child in this life. I swear! I will record Hong Wang under your name after this. If the heavens have pity, we may have children. If not, we will just live with Hong Wang and Eldest Gege. In the future…… In the future…… If Ye advances, this promise will count. No matter what, Nian-shi will be the last.”
Eighth Princess Consort suddenly thought of what Lin Yu Tong had said. “He already slept with them. Does it matter who he slept with? Once the person’s heart is not faithful, why try to keep him?”
After a moment of silence, Eighth Princess Consort said, “In the future, I do not want to see He Zhuo. This person can stay in the establishment, but I request for him to withdraw if he sees me.”
He Zhuo had followed Eighth Prince for many years. Eighth Princess Consort had given much care to He Zhuo, and even a lot of special care for his family members. His daughter was reared in the establishment. Before Hong Wang and Eldest Gege, the child had been like a gege of the establishment. Eighth Princess Consort had cared for her greatly, almost to the point of spoiling her.
Now, Eighth Princess Consort was rejecting people who she had such relationships with. She likely hated them very much.
Eighth Prince’s lips moved. In the end, he nodded.
At this time, Lin Yu Tong heard the servants of the establishment talk about the noise next door.
“Such a big fire even from afar, I do not know where is burning,” Granny Yuan said.
Lin Yu Tong hurriedly ordered. “The weather is cold. Have the servants watch the braziers. They can use it to heat themselves, but they have to be careful.”
Si Ye nodded and ordered Su Pei Sheng. He turned and said to Lin Yu Tong, “Yesterday, Eight’s establishment had such a spectacle. I fear that not many people will be able to get a good sleep in these days. Once people are tired, they easily lose focus.”
The two were talking when people came from the palace to invite Si Ye to immediately go to the palace.
It was almost the new year. What urgent matter was there?
Lin Yu Tong worriedly saw Si Ye out the door. Turning back, she saw Hong Zhao’s little head poking out of the curtain.
“What is it?” Lin Yu Tong waved to him. “Enter if you want, or leave. What are you doing?”
Hong Zhao’s eyes moved around. “Where is A-ma?”
Lin Yu Tong said with a scary expression. “A-ma left because he is angry at you.”
Hong Zhao pouted. “Eniang is lying.” Then he ran in. He first went to look at the bed. Seeing that the blankets had been changed, he turned back. It seemed as though if the evidence was gone, the event had never occurred.
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