The Seventh Princess Insists on Making Me Be a Kept Woman (GL) - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Banquet in Progress

Lian Liejin, who was practically drifting through space, was jolted awake by the warmth in her palm. After a brief moment of stunned silence, she lowered her eyes and pretended to ponder, “Your humble servant respectfully obeys the Princess’s will.” She tried to pull her hand back, but Gao Jingxi was gripping tighter and tighter. If she struggled too hard, the two onlookers would surely notice.

Chen Yu looked at their clasped hands, feeling only bitterness and pain. Perhaps the Seventh Princess really did like this Lian Liejin; she had never before been willing to have any physical contact with anyone, but now she was actively holding someone’s hand.

However, even if the Imperial Palace and the Yan Duke’s Estate acknowledged Lian Liejin’s noble, legitimate status, she was still a crude person who grew up in the wilderness. Furthermore, she was born unable to use Stellar Energy, making her a waste, no matter how noble her status.

It would be anything but easy for a waste like her to gain the recognition of Changyong’s nobility. And this group of proud, favored children of Changyong City had all the time in the world to make Lian Liejin’s life miserable!

With this thought, Chen Yu coldly smiled, bowed to Gao Jingxi with her brother, and the two left the Princess’s residence.

Inside the floral hall, three or four charcoal burners were lit, but Gao Jingxi still felt cold. She had suffered a severe injury in the autumn, and her body was still somewhat weak.

Now that those two had left, she didn’t want to keep up the pretense anymore. She said coldly, “Consort, please feel free to leave. Just return to the Princess’s residence every ten days.”

This was a rule in the Langing Kingdom: to avoid royal scandals and foster affection between the Princess and the Consort, the Consort had to stay overnight at the Princess’s residence at least once every ten days.

Outside, the accumulated snow was a foot deep. The sky and the earth were a uniform white. The wind carried pellets of snow, making it hard to keep one’s eyes open. Lian Liejin bowed to Gao Jingxi and walked straight out of the Princess’s residence.

Outside the residence, a single, small, gray silhouette stood beneath the eaves. Lian Liejin accepted the paper umbrella handed to her by A You and, after thanking her, walked toward the figure.

A You watched Lian Liejin letting the wind and snow fall on her shoulder, sighed, and turned to re-enter the residence.

“Little Radish, why didn’t you wait for me at the Consort’s residence?” Lian Liejin finally opened the umbrella, holding it over both of their heads.

The girl in front of her looked no older than twelve or thirteen but had actually passed sixteen. She was plump and adorable, most distinctly marked by a red birthmark between her eyebrows that added a touch of strange charm.

“Guan Xie, Senior Sister told me to look after you, so of course, I need to cover all the bases. Also, you possess Shadow Power, which is the opposite of Stellar Energy. Don’t let a Star Master discover you.”

When people on the Pengqiu Continent observe the stars to enter the Dao, their Star Chart appears above their head. They then contemplate the Star Chart, and upon enlightenment, they become an entry-level Star Observer.

Star Observers can continuously absorb the Stellar Energy between heaven and earth, gaining corresponding skills by enhancing their Stellar Energy and the attributes of their Star Chart.

Generally, Stellar Energy strengthens a person’s physique and potential. The ranks progress from Star Observer to Star Discerners, then Astrologers, then Star Breakers, Star Masters, and finally Star Diviners. The higher the Stellar Rank, the closer one is to the heavenly constellations, even having the potential to leap to become a successor to one of the Twenty-Eight Constellations and ascend to godhood.

However, no one had walked the path to godhood, so it might just be a myth. At the very least, Lian Liejin, as a transmigrator, didn’t believe it at all. She didn’t want to cultivate godhood; she just wanted to get rich.

Originally, her parents sent her to the Star Medicine Sect to study medicine. She then naturally opened a shop to sell medicine. Business was doing great, but now that she was married, she couldn’t even set up a street stall.

Due to the heavy wind and snow, there were few pedestrians on the street. Lian Liejin put a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture. “Here, I’m Lian Liejin. I won’t be discovered. The black jade on my body can absorb the fluctuations of Shadow Power.”

“Sigh, if you ask me, your Shadow Power is so strong. One move could swallow everyone’s starlight. What are you hiding and fearing?”

Lian Liejin shook her head. “We inheritors of Shadow Power are not a race that wantonly kills the innocent. Furthermore, without the stars, there is no shadow. The two complement each other and are indispensable.”

Little Radish pouted, saying angrily, “Others don’t think that way. Don’t forget that the motto ‘Exterminate the Shadow, Glorify the Star’ has been around on the Pengqiu Continent for a century.”

“I know that, of course, or else there wouldn’t be virtually only me left of the Shadow Tribe on the continent.” Lian Liejin said quietly, patting Little Radish on the shoulder. “Stop talking. It won’t help. I’m just worried that my pharmacy might receive a complaint. Those junior sisters in operations have such short tempers.”

As a transmigrator, Lian Liejin fulfilled her dream of opening an online shop (like a Taobao store). Under the name of her sect, the Star Medicine Sect, she opened a chain of pharmacies called Guan Xie Ju, selling both online and offline.

Currently, Guan Xie Ju has achieved break-even within three years and doubled its profit within five. Now, the only goal left is to secure funding and go public in ten years.

At such a critical moment, she had to devote all her efforts and couldn’t just rest on her laurels.

“Okay, Lie Lie. Let’s go back and have hot pot. The winter in Changyong is too cold; it’s nothing like the eternal spring of our Qingyue Mountain.” Little Radish pouted, her big eyes full of disdain. “Your pharmacy, Guan Xie Ju, sells medicines, medicated meals, medicated hot pots, and all sorts of strange snacks, which are sold overseas. The Star Medicine Sect’s annual income isn’t as much as yours in a month. You really are a money-grubber.”

Lian Liejin looked at the sky, a thin layer of snow landing on her eyelashes. She shook her head and said solemnly, “You don’t run a household, so you don’t know the cost of firewood, rice, oil, and salt.”

••••

In the Princess’s residence, Gao Jingxi was half-reclined on a soft couch, bundled in a thick fox fur coat. Her voice carried an inexpressible sense of melancholy. “Did you really not find Guan Xie? Not even on the whole of Qingyue Mountain?”

A You handed Gao Jingxi hot tea, bowing her head respectfully. “Your Highness, our people went up Qingyue Mountain. Everyone in the Star Medicine Sect said Doctor Guan Xie was not on the mountain. The staff at Guan Xie Ju also said the boss wasn’t in the shop. After that, our people searched Qingyue City and the surrounding counties for a long time, but did not find a woman who favors black clothing and wears a black mask.”

“Did you not search other medical halls?”

“Your Highness, itinerant doctors are naturally eccentric. Doctor Guan Xie might just be traveling around. If you are eager to thank her, perhaps you should support the major medical halls instead?” A You emphasized the word “thank”. She sincerely hoped the Seventh Princess could let go of her feelings for an outsider, or at least not be so obsessed. “You don’t even know what Doctor Guan Xie looks like. Where does this affection come from?”

Hearing A You’s words, Gao Jingxi felt a moment of discouragement, and a sense of confusion arose in her heart.

Could she really not have even a little bit of fight left now? She had already compromised on the marriage with Lian Liejin.

However, she simply could not forget the warmth in Guan Xie’s embrace when she was severely injured. Perhaps it was love at first sight, or perhaps it was the first time she had been so close to someone, which caused her to lose her composure.

“Your Highness, actually, this servant doesn’t think the Third Miss Lian is as bad as the rumors say.”

“Is that so?”

A You felt compelled to speak up for Lian Liejin. Previously, Changyong City widely rumored that the Third Miss Lian was ugly and crude. The consensus was: ugly, uneducated, and a country bumpkin.

“Actually, the Consort is handsome, and every movement reveals a noble temperament. Her only flaw is that her eyes are a bit cold. Moreover, Your Highness has already reached the rank of Star Master, just one step away from Star Diviner. It’s not a big deal if the Consort is a bit weaker.”

Normally, servants speaking casually about their masters was a major offense. But A You and Gao Jingxi grew up together. Though their status was that of mistress and servant, their affection was much deeper.

So, at this moment, Gao Jingxi was simply mulling over A You’s words.

She thought of Lian Liejin’s eyes: slender, almond-shaped eyes that were nevertheless filled with coolness, which forcefully undermined the eyes’ natural charm, giving her a unique air of aloofness and elegance.

Yet, the words that came out of Lian Liejin’s mouth were sometimes incredibly infuriating.

But Gao Jingxi had to admit, she liked those eyes, which seemed capable of holding all the hardships of the world.

Last night, she had been held naked in her arms. It was a good thing she didn’t take advantage of the situation.

In truth, she didn’t dislike Lian Liejin. If she hadn’t met Guan Xie, perhaps this marriage would have satisfied her, or even brought her joy.

Perhaps it was her innate rebelliousness, but she instinctively hated an arranged marriage.

“A You, send more people to search for Guan Xie.”

On the twenty-ninth day of the eleventh lunar month, the ninth day after the marriage of the Seventh Princess, Gao Jingxi, it was the custom for the Princess and the Consort to return to the palace to pay their respects to the Emperor and Empress. A grand banquet was also held in celebration.

After seeing the Emperor, Gao Jingxi and Lian Liejin went together to the Eternal Spring Palace—the residence of the current Empress and Gao Jingxi’s birth mother.

The floor heating inside the hall was blazing, and there were also four or five charcoal burners containing high-quality silver silk charcoal.

As soon as she entered the hall, Lian Liejin felt a wave of heat mixed with a sweet fragrance rush over her, making her head swim. She was wearing the dark-colored Consort’s uniform, which further enhanced her clean, handsome, and elegant appearance.

The Empress was over thirty but well-preserved, looking no older than her early twenties, bright, beautiful, and full of charm. Gao Jingxi bore a seven-tenths resemblance to her.

“Jiner, Xier, come quickly, let Mother have a good look at you.” The Empress smiled broadly, beckoning the two over. Then she immediately said, “Quickly bring the wild mushroom chicken soup that’s been stewing since yesterday. Look how thin you two are. You’re still growing; you must eat more.”

Upon hearing that she had to drink soup, Gao Jingxi’s expression immediately turned distressed. “Mother, every time I come to the palace, it’s just soup and pastries. Your daughter is getting fat.”

“Nonsense, you’re not fat at all,” the Empress scolded, then turned to Lian Liejin. “Jiner is much more obedient than you. He drank all his soup.”

Lian Liejin bowed to the Empress again, then drank another bowl of soup, making the Empress smile so much that the fine lines around her eyes became noticeable.

Gao Jingxi took advantage of the Empress’s distraction to viciously glare at Lian Liejin. She couldn’t understand why this person accepted everything given to her, refusing nothing.

“Jiner, did Xier bully you? Tell me, and I’ll teach her a lesson.”

Gao Jingxi kicked Lian Liejin under the table, signaling her to speak properly and not say anything she shouldn’t.

Lian Liejin remained unmoved, smilingly saying, “The Princess bullies your humble servant every day.”

No one expected Lian Liejin to seriously answer what was supposed to be a polite question.

The silence was sudden and awkward, but the perpetrator still looked completely self-satisfied.

“Your Highness the Princess always kicks me while sleeping. Mother, your daughter has been nearly kicked off the bed several times.”

The Empress’s heart finally settled. She thought the Consort was about to file a complaint, but it turned out he was just joking. After all, she knew the Princess and the Consort had only spent one night together. While her daughter might not be angry with her over the drugging, it was highly likely she hated Lian Liejin.

“Xier has had an improper sleeping posture since childhood. Jiner, you must be more tolerant in the future.”

Under the table, Gao Jingxi was practically trying to break Lian Liejin’s foot. Lian Liejin endured the pain, stood up, and bowed. “Mother, your daughter will definitely take good care of the Princess.”

Hearing this, the Empress smiled with satisfaction, asked Lian Liejin to rise, and brought out various pastries for the two of them to eat.

The three women chatted for a long time before the Empress finally felt tired and dismissed the two. “Take your Consort to walk around the palace. If you get tired, you can rest in the side hall. Just don’t forget the banquet tonight.”

The light was just right, a rare sunny day in winter. Gao Jingxi dragged Lian Liejin, her face overcast, to the Imperial Garden. The cold wind was biting, and the two stood behind a rockery.

“Why did you say that?”

“The Empress naturally wants to see your humble servant and the Princess live a loving life for a hundred years. Besides, that night, the Princess really did almost kick your humble servant off the bed.”

The two had not seen each other for eight days since the wedding. Gao Jingxi was now glaring at Lian Liejin, who returned her gaze without flinching.

To an outsider, they would surely look like a loving couple, walking with reluctance and exchanging flirtatious glances.

The truth was, one party was furious, and the other was calm and composed. Gao Jingxi felt like she was punching a cotton ball.

“Don’t you dare try to use these tactics to get my attention. It will only make people disgusted,” Gao Jingxi suddenly stopped after a short walk, turning back to Lian Liejin and saying quietly but firmly.

However, the Seventh Princess failed to control her distance and nearly stumbled right into Lian Liejin.

An attractive, subtle fragrance wafted toward her. Lian Liejin took a few deep, undisguised breaths, then nodded casually. “The Princess is right. The Princess is correct.”

Seeing Lian Liejin’s indifference, Gao Jingxi was instantly enraged. It had been the same way moments ago: acting like a gentle, carefree gentleman in front of her mother, yet the words she spoke were infuriating, and she was always flirting with her!

“Isn’t that Seventh Imperial Sister? Oh, Imperial Sister-in-law is here too. Imperial Sister thought you little couple might have forgotten to come to the palace, caught up in your sweet affection.”

A woman’s teasing voice came from behind. Gao Jingxi turned around and saw that they had run into the Fifth Imperial Sister. A smile immediately bloomed on her face, as beautiful as a hundred flowers blossoming. “Imperial Sister, why are you in the Imperial Garden?”

The court attendants present were all deeply shaken and quickly looked down, not daring to look again.

“Yes, I’m taking a break from my busy schedule. To be honest, I’m only here thanks to the two of you. If it weren’t for the banquet tonight, I’d still be swamped at the Ministry of Rites.”