Chapter 6
It was the lily fragrance on Su Ruoning.
Su Yao’s eyelashes trembled lightly. She pushed away Rong Yang, who was closing in on her, and put distance between them. Her gaze stared straight at her.
“If you want to play around, then go play somewhere far away. Don’t do it in the Su residence. Everyone here knows what our relationship is.”
Rong Yang froze slightly.
Play what?
What did the female lead mean by suddenly saying this out of nowhere?
Wait, was she not allowed to fish in the Su residence?
Without waiting for Rong Yang to say anything, Su Yao turned and left.
But she could not get away.
Rong Yang grabbed her arm.
“Make yourself clear. What do you mean, don’t play around in the Su residence?”
“The literal meaning.” Su Yao’s gaze was cold.
Rong Yang examined Su Yao with a scrutinizing gaze, her eyes full of contempt.
“Don’t use those baseless delusions of yours to guess my thoughts. A mere Su residence—making it disappear from the capital would be very easy for me.”
Su Yao pressed her lips into a straight line, her eyes filled with disgust as she sneered.
“Why would I have such delusions? Could it be that the princess does not know the reason?”
“Could it be that the princess does not know how despicable and vile the things she has done today are?”
Her voice grew heavier as she spoke, every word striking Rong Yang’s heart.
“Are you insane?” Rong Yang gritted her teeth and said, “I let you return to the Su residence, and that is despicable and vile?”
“Have I given you too many good looks recently, making you forget your own identity?”
“Since you are unwilling to stay here, we can return to the residence immediately, Princess Consort!” Rong Yang bit out the last two words especially heavily.
“Do you really want me to say it directly?” Su Yao pulled her arm free from Rong Yang’s grip. “There is another woman’s scent left on your body. Can you not smell it?”
Ah? Scent?
The book had mentioned that when Qianyuan and Kunze were intimate, each would release their scent to reach pleasure.
Rong Yang felt unprecedentedly disordered. The female lead thought she had been fooling around with another woman in the Su residence!?
Because she was not a native Qianyuan, she was not very sensitive to scents yet. She had not expected that the strange fragrance clinging to her was actually…
“If you want to find someone, you can go outside and find them. You can also have your maids send them to Jinxiu Hall. Since you came here, since you want to pretend, then I’ll have to trouble you to pretend until the end!”
“Shut up!” Rong Yang gritted her teeth. She was simply not that kind of person.
“If you’ve lost your mind, then get back to Fanghua Hall. Don’t disgust me here. I have no interest in the women of the Su residence.” Rong Yang glared at her coldly, her red lips parting slightly. “You think far too highly of your Su residence.”
“The scent on my body came from the Su residence’s second young lady. When I passed through the garden, she just so happened to fall right in front of me, neither to the left nor to the right. Out of momentary kindness, I gave her a hand…”
Rong Yang sneered. “Why don’t you go ask her why she wanted to fall in front of me?”
Su Yao pressed her lips tightly together, realizing that she had been somewhat impulsive, and should not have been so impulsive.
“Her matter has nothing to do with me.”
“So this is the upbringing of the Su residence?” Rong Yang mocked.
The atmosphere sank into a deadlock. Even the area around the pond became completely silent.
Only when the steward mama appeared did the silence break.
“Princess, Princess Consort, lunch has been prepared. Madam asked me to invite you both over.”
Rong Yang quietly let out a breath of relief.
When she turned and lifted her eyes, she realized that Chunxi and Xiaqing had brought Lanxin and were standing very far away…
Should she tell them next time that when the princess consort was here, they should not stand so far away? Otherwise, if something happened, how would they make it in time to save her…
The main hall was especially lively, until Rong Yang appeared. Then the atmosphere dropped to freezing point again.
Only after Rong Yang took her seat did everyone else dare to sit down.
Su Lie cleared his throat and said, “Serve the meal.”
Chunxi stood at the side and served Rong Yang dishes.
Rong Yang symbolically ate a little, then put down her chopsticks.
When Su Lie and Madam Su saw Rong Yang put down her chopsticks, they hurriedly put theirs down as well.
“Are the dishes not to Your Highness’s taste?” Madam Su asked.
“I’m full,” Rong Yang said lightly.
Madam Su lightly nudged Su Yao with her elbow, signaling for her to serve Rong Yang some food.
Su Yao’s expression turned somewhat ugly, but facing her mother’s ardent, expectant gaze, Su Yao still picked up her chopsticks.
She placed a piece of golden jade tofu onto Rong Yang’s plate.
Seeing the female lead suddenly serve her food, Rong Yang was both surprised and flattered. She looked at Su Yao in confusion.
Su Yao lowered her eyes and gave her no response.
Rong Yang picked up her chopsticks and, under everyone’s gaze, ate the piece of tofu.
Seeing this, everyone exchanged smiles. One slightly older elder said, “The princess and princess consort respect each other like honored guests and are deeply loving. It truly makes one envious.”
Hearing this, both Rong Yang and Su Yao felt uncomfortable all over.
“Enjoy your meal.” Rong Yang stood and left the table.
Everyone stood and bowed, respectfully seeing Rong Yang off.
Su Yao lifted her eyes and caught sight of Rong Yang’s departing back. Then she looked at her empty plate and became slightly dazed.
After lunch, Madam Su could not wait to pull Su Yao back to her room.
“Have you been well these past two years?”
She looked seriously at Su Yao, afraid of missing even the slightest wrong expression on her face.
Su Yao smiled and hugged Madam Su, hiding the sorrow behind her mind as she said lightly, “Everything has been well. The princess is usually like this. You saw it too. She has no ill intent…”
Madam Su held her in her arms, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She had raised her for seventeen years and worried for seventeen years. She had not expected one imperial decree to separate mother and daughter in the blink of an eye.
“Silly child, Mother only wants you to live well. If you are not living well, even if it is the imperial family, we still don’t care for it.”
“Mother, I’m doing well. Am I not standing perfectly fine before your eyes?” Su Yao leaned her face against Madam Su’s shoulder.
Su Yao and Madam Su stayed in the room for the entire afternoon.
Rong Yang stayed in the study on the other side for the entire afternoon.
No one came to disturb Rong Yang, and no one dared to disturb Rong Yang. Her status destined her to be alone.
She wondered how the female lead’s reunion with her family was going.
She had once again changed the trajectory of the plot. In the original book, the female lead returned to the Su residence half a year later. Rong Yang had brought it forward by half a year.
But at present, she had not received any punishment. Back then, it only said she could not change the persona, not that she could not change the plot. Besides, if she did not change the plot, how could she make the female lead change her view of her?
As long as the general direction was not wrong, it would be fine. Rong Yang comforted herself like this.
This time, she truly had not done anything. She had obediently sent the female lead back home…
Surely her crime was not enough to deserve death now, right…
As Rong Yang thought this…
Then if the female lead lets me go, what will happen to me?
Return from death?
In the third year after she got cancer and stayed in the hospital, her parents became pregnant. Not long after, they gave birth to a healthy younger sister.
From then on, she could clearly feel her parents’ love pulling away from her, and the world growing colder and colder.
Even if she returned from death, what should she do then?
Su Lie and Madam Su had not seen Su Yao for too long and momentarily forgot the time, so they strongly urged them to stay overnight and return tomorrow.
Seeing that Su Yao did not speak, Rong Yang knew she wanted to stay. Staying anywhere was still staying, and it was all about the same anyway, so she coldly agreed.
Everything was for lowering the female lead’s hatred value!
At night, a crescent moon hung in the distant sky, and stars filled the heavens, spreading into a dazzling and beautiful curtain.
In the courtyard of Plum Garden, Rong Yang lay on a reclining chair, quietly admiring the starry sky.
The nights in the hospital had all been gray and hazy. It had been difficult to see stars.
When Su Yao arrived at Plum Garden, it was still kept the same as before she married. Only now, there was someone in the courtyard who should not have been there.
Hearing footsteps, Rong Yang turned sideways and lifted her eyes. She froze.
Su Yao!
Wasn’t it said that I would live here alone?
Could it be that the female lead was also going to stay here tonight?
But there was only one bedchamber!
Su Yao saw the doubt in Rong Yang’s expression. “This is my courtyard…”
She had originally wanted to use missing her mother as an excuse to sleep in the same room as her mother tonight. Unfortunately, her father had looked somewhat troubled.
“We have already neglected the princess for an entire day today. I fear she may be displeased and blame you when you return…”
After refusing a few times, Su Yao was also afraid her mother would become suspicious, so she forced herself to come.
Rong Yang’s vision went dark. This plot development was a bit outrageous…
Lanxin brought hot water over and served Su Yao as she bathed.
“Bring over an extra quilt later.”
“Yes, Miss.” Lanxin then said, “Miss, tonight I will keep watch outside. If anything happens, just call me.”
“You have been tired all day too. Rest early. I will sleep on the soft couch. There’s no need to worry.”
Lanxin still wanted to say something, but seeing Su Yao’s firm expression, she consciously fell silent.
Rong Yang grew sleepy while watching the stars outside. Even if she did not want to enter the bedchamber, she still had to go in. She told Chunxi and Xiaqing to withdraw and rest, then entered the room.
Faint smoke rose from the incense burner on the table, and the room was filled with a light fragrance. For a moment, it was hard to tell whether it was the female lead’s scent or the incense from the burner.
Su Yao half-reclined on the soft couch, wrapped in a light-colored, loose inner garment that revealed the long, graceful nape of her neck like a swan’s. Why was she still so thin?
After returning to the residence, Rong Yang would have to have Imperial Physician Li put more effort into dietary nourishment.
Although Rong Yang also liked women, toward the female lead who might torment her to the point of wishing for death in the future, even while sharing the same room, she did not dare to have the slightest improper thought. After all, the female lead belonged to another female lead.
Rong Yang lowered the gauze curtain and lay flat on the bed.
From the corner of her eye, she glanced at the person on the soft couch not far away. At least she had some self-awareness.
Not long after, Rong Yang grew sleepy. Just as she was half-asleep and half-awake, she suddenly heard a faint rustling sound outside.
Su Yao heard it too. The sound seemed to be closer to the bed.
She came back to herself and almost instinctively got up, carrying her quilt as she walked toward the bed where Rong Yang slept.
Right now, she only knew one thing: they had already pretended to this extent, so they absolutely could not be discovered—especially not by her mother and father. Otherwise, tomorrow, the residence might be thrown into great chaos.
Almost at the same time the paper window was poked through, Su Yao was already on the bed.
Because she had moved too quickly, Su Yao lost her balance. Seeing that she was about to fall onto the bed, Rong Yang subconsciously pulled her, and Su Yao’s whole body crashed into Rong Yang’s arms.
Su Yao’s long lashes trembled. The temperature at her neck was scorching, and the body holding her was also warm.
Her mind turned into a vast expanse of snowy white…
Rong Yang’s gaze fell on the person in her arms as she asked, “What are you trying to do?”
“Someone is peeking. I don’t want today’s efforts to go to waste,” Su Yao said softly, her throat warm.
An ambiguous posture, a distance close enough to touch.
“Su Yao, you are being impudent.”
Her warm breath and the hot air she exhaled all enveloped Su Yao.
For the first time in two years, they were in such intimate contact.
Su Yao felt restless and irritated for a moment. Afraid of alerting the person outside, she pushed away the person holding her and put distance between them.
After being pushed like this, Rong Yang met Su Yao’s icy gaze, which looked as if she wanted to butcher her, and felt a chill run down her back.
Feeling somewhat guilty, she shifted closer to the edge of the bed. She was clearly occupying my bed, so why am I feeling guilty?
The rustling sound came from outside again.
Rong Yang sat up. Her loose clothing revealed her exquisite collarbones, and even further down, one could see a hint of the area that had been covered…
Her slender fingers lightly pulled open a crack in the bed curtain. Her dark eyes looked coldly toward the oiled paper on the window that was about to be pierced again.
She casually picked up some unknown small object beside the head of the bed and threw it toward that spot.
“Get lost!” Her cold anger accompanied the object as it smashed over.
A cry of pain came from outside the window, followed by the sound of a stone falling. From the sound of it, the person seemed to have twisted their ankle.
Seeing that the person had left, Rong Yang signaled for Su Yao to get off the bed.
Because of this small incident, Su Yao did not dare risk returning to the soft couch. After all, the paper window had already been poked through. If someone really discovered something, how could she explain it to her father and mother?
“This bed, half each,” Su Yao said coldly.
“Su Yao, don’t go too far. This princess does not like sharing a bed with others.” Rong Yang frowned. She was afraid she would wake up tomorrow missing an arm or a leg.
“Or you can sleep on the soft couch.”
“…”
Su Yao took advantage of the situation and lay down on the inside, ignoring Rong Yang’s darkened face.
Wasn’t the female lead supposed to be very afraid of Rong Yang?
Why was she not afraid of me?
Rong Yang lay sideways on the outer side. The bed was not spacious to begin with, yet it seemed as if the Milky Way lay between them.
No one knew how long passed, but Rong Yang still had no sleepiness.
The person beside her also made no movement at all.
Had she fallen asleep?
Rong Yang turned over slightly and lay flat, staring at the top of the bed for a while.
Only when her eyelids grew heavy did she slowly fall asleep.
A faint breathing sound came from beside her. Su Yao slowly sat up. This madwoman had really fallen asleep?
In the darkness, she stared tightly at the sleeping woman before her. Without her usual cold mockery and scornful face, even the tyranny and arrogance unique to someone in a high position had faded greatly at this moment.
Although her face was still cold, she did not look as frightening as usual.
Su Yao’s fingertips slowly stabbed toward Rong Yang’s closed eyes, as if she wanted to pierce those aggressive eyes.
Rong Yang had a nightmare. In the dream, she was chased by a female ghost. The ghost said she would dig out Rong Yang’s eyes and gnaw on her limbs, making her suffer in agony.
She woke with a start. The surroundings were already bright with daylight, and the person beside her had long gone somewhere unknown.
Rong Yang came to the courtyard and looked at the spot where the oiled paper window had been pierced last night. Not far away, there was also a stone that did not belong there.
The leaves rustled in the wind, and the morning dew refracted seven-colored spots of light. The gentle breeze carried away a trace of unease from Rong Yang’s heart.
When Chunxi and Xiaqing came over, they saw from afar that the princess was on the reclining chair in the courtyard.
“Did the princess sleep in the courtyard all night?” Xiaqing’s face was full of disbelief.
Chunxi froze slightly, then shook her head to show she did not know. Last night, Rong Yang had sent them away early.
Recently, the things the princess had done one after another had left Chunxi and Xiaqing overwhelmed. They did not know how many more unexpected things the princess had waiting for them. For example:
Coming to the Su residence…
Staying overnight in the Su residence…
And sleeping in the courtyard all night?!
“Princess,” Chunxi walked closer and called softly.
“Mm, you’re here…” Rong Yang opened her eyes.
“Princess… you couldn’t have slept here last night, could you?” Xiaqing mustered her courage to ask. She was simply too curious.
Rong Yang sat up and rolled her eyes at Xiaqing.
“This servant spoke out of turn.” Xiaqing hurriedly lowered her head.
After Chunxi served Rong Yang in washing up, she asked whether breakfast should be brought over.
“No appetite,” Rong Yang said, sounding slightly tired.
After the hour of si had passed, Rong Yang and Su Yao also prepared to set out back to the Princess’s residence.
Madam Su held Su Yao’s hand, her face full of reluctance and her eyes slightly red.
Rong Yang looked at Madam Su. It was not difficult to see that she had been a beauty when she was young. These past two years, because of Su Yao’s matter, the sorrow in her heart had been hard to dispel, so her complexion was inevitably haggard.
“Let’s go. In the future, the princess consort may return often.”
The original owner would not have said such words. Rong Yang had the feeling that she was about to be punished.
These words made Madam Su cry tears of joy. “Thank you, Princess, for your generosity.”
Su Ruoning, who had been standing in the corner the whole time, angrily looked at Su Yao’s favored appearance, feeling very unpleasant inside. Why was she better than her in every way?
Amid the family’s forced smiles, Rong Yang and Su Yao got into the carriage. Everyone in the Su residence stood at the entrance and called in unison:
“Farewell, Fifth Princess! Fifth Princess Consort!”
Madam Su lowered her head, the corners of her eyes slightly red. Although Su Yao kept saying that the princess and she treated each other with mutual respect, Madam Su vaguely understood in her heart that if Su Yao had truly been well in the Princess’s residence, with her personality, she would not have gone two years without returning home. She simply did not want her daughter to have another layer of worry, so she pretended to believe it.
Inside the carriage, Su Yao lightly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked at the Su residence gates gradually growing farther away, as well as her parents standing at the entrance. Her heart surged.
In a daze, she seemed to see the day she married two years ago. There had been no phoenix crown or ceremonial cape, no ten miles of red dowry. Sitting in the sedan chair, she had also looked back at her parents standing at the gate like this.
After the marriage was bestowed, she knew very well that she could not resist imperial power with her own life and the lives of her entire family, so she could only accept it.
Only when the carriage turned past the street corner and the Su residence could no longer be seen did Su Yao lower the carriage curtain and sigh deeply.
After they returned from the Su residence, the maids and guards in the Princess’s residence gradually discovered that some things had changed…
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