The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

The main courtyard of Prince Min Mansion was utterly silent.

In the inner chamber of the main bedroom, a spacious carved dragon-and-phoenix canopy bed hung with festive red gauze curtains; on the desk in the room, a pair of dragon-and-phoenix candles as thick as a baby’s arm spat out a lump of wick, crackling as it burned.

On the canopy bed lay two people, staring blankly at the top of the curtain—Chu Ze and the Princess Consort, who had been schemed against and packed together onto this big bed.

The two lay side by side without a word, the atmosphere, surprisingly, almost harmonious.

”If I were not Chu Ze, and you not Chongyang, if it were just two ordinary people, then this scene right now would probably be very festive.”

Chu Ze finally broke the silence.

The Princess Consort’s voice was a little hoarse. ”You are right.”

”What a pity, you and I are nothing more than a joke.” Chu Ze sat up, the satin-like quilt slipping down to reveal his thin upper body.

The Princess Consort held on to one corner of the quilt to prevent any spring scenery from spilling out, yet at the thought of their absurdity, she gave a bitter smile.

Things had already come to this; what was there left to fear being seen?

With his back to her, Chu Ze slowly picked up his clothes and began to dress. The Princess Consort tilted her head slightly to look over, her gaze tightening.

He was truly very thin, hardly any flesh on him, nothing but bones. When he bent slightly, the ribs on his back looked as if they might pierce through his skin.

”I don’t know how to say things like ’sorry’. You are the Princess, and you will always be.”

The Princess Consort sat up as well, wrapping the quilt over her chest. ”You need not say it. As you said, my status is that of the Princess, I...”

The blush had not yet faded from her face, yet the words would not go on. A sigh slipped from her lips.

Chu Ze had already finished dressing. Seeing the women’s clothing on the floor, he pressed his lips together, picked them up and handed them to her, then turned away.

The Princess Consort murmured a thank you.

”What the Imperial Concubine has in mind is nothing more than wishful thinking. Given our identities, even if there really were a child, it would only be an embarrassment.” Chu Ze said mildly.

The Princess Consort’s hand paused. Forcing a smile, she said, ”It was only once; it may not necessarily...”

Chu Ze said, ”Since they could set up such a trap, they must have made every preparation, perhaps even secretly fed you medicine to help conception.”

The Princess Consort drew in a deep breath, recalling the bowl of blood swallow’s nest she had eaten yesterday.

Hearing her intake of breath, Chu Ze turned slightly, then felt it improper to look, and asked, ”Do you feel anything amiss?”

”Yesterday I ate a bowl of blood swallow’s nest. It was sent by the Imperial Concubine, with people to attend me while I ate.”

Chu Ze’s handsome face twisted a little. He clenched his fist, opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing at all.

”Prince, I am already of some age. You and I are but husband and wife for one night. Even if there was medicine to help conception, it may not truly result in a pregnancy. You may set your mind at ease. As for you, Prince, you draw the gu today—please take care of yourself.”

Annoyance stirred in Chu Ze’s heart. He couldn’t help turning around to look at her sitting on the red bed, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, her skin pale as snow. The image of the two of them together flashed in his mind, and his face heated; he turned away again.

”Have you always been so accepting of whatever comes? To be humiliated and schemed against like this, do you feel no anger at all?”

The Princess Consort was stunned for a moment. ”I am used to it. If I could, I suppose I would hope to drink a cup of the Forgetting River’s water and forget my birth.”

Chu Ze could not tell what he was feeling inside. ”Rest now.”

He walked out. Behind him came the Princess Consort’s voice.

”Prince, you need not feel guilty, nor need you worry. From this day on, I will only be a Chu Family woman, and no longer a Xia daughter. Perhaps if I selfishly forget, I might live more at ease.”

Chu Ze’s steps faltered for a moment, then he strode out.