The Seventh Princess Insists on Making Me Live Off Her - Chapter 11

Lian Liejin suddenly thought of the line, “A hidden sorrow and secret resentment arise.”

Was she not secretly resenting herself for running her mouth and reciting poetry to Gao Jingxi?

She had truly lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot.

The carriage was comfortably warm. Its specially reinforced wheels made the ride much steadier, and the thick fur cushions beneath them created just the right conditions to make a person drowsy.

Somehow, Gao Jingxi fell half asleep while resting against the soft cushions.

When the carriage swayed again, the Seventh Princess slid directly into Lian Liejin’s arms.

A warm fragrance washed over her, and a soft beauty rested against her chest.

Once again, Lian Liejin felt as though thorns were pricking her back and needles covered her seat.

Seeing this, A-You hurriedly made a shushing gesture toward Lian Liejin.

“Princess Consort, Her Highness barely slept at all last night.”

Lian Liejin had been about to push Gao Jingxi away, but after hearing A-You’s words, she stopped.

Instead, she adjusted her position so the woman could sleep more comfortably.

She had examined Gao Jingxi’s pulse before. The woman had an excellent physical foundation, but she had suffered a severe injury. Her old wounds had yet to heal when she sustained new ones.

Although Lian Liejin had used shadow power to treat Gao Jingxi last time and ease her injuries, the princess’s sluggish circulation of stellar power was not something that could recover overnight.

Her pulse had now become much thinner and weaker.

Someone who should have been carefully following a strict daily routine had actually dared to stay up all night cultivating immortality.

The two had intended to let Gao Jingxi sleep a little longer and had even instructed the coachman to travel slowly.

Who would have expected that less than half a shichen later, someone outside the carriage would call out loudly,

“Feng Zhi, son of the Vice Minister of Rites, and Chen Yu, daughter of the Chancellor, pay their respects to Her Highness the Princess.”

Hearing their strong, resonant voices, Lian Liejin could not help feeling annoyed.

Could they not allow someone to travel in peace?

They would naturally meet once they arrived at the destination, yet these two insisted on observing unnecessary formalities, making their presence known, and ensuring the princess remembered their faces.

Had she known this would happen, she should have asked Gao Jingxi to use a more battered carriage instead of parading through the streets so conspicuously and attracting a swarm of flies.

Especially that Chen Yu.

The last time, she had come to the Princess’s Residence to deliver a “gift.” At Tianyuan Residence, she had also followed Gao Jingxi around with an overly attentive expression.

Now they had encountered her again.

She truly lingered like a ghost that refused to leave.

“Sister A-You, let Her Highness sleep a little longer.”

Lian Liejin’s voice carried a faint chill as she prepared to ask A-You to send the two of them away.

Unexpectedly, Gao Jingxi, who had been sleeping with her eyes closed moments earlier, slowly awakened.

She gently tugged at the hem of Lian Liejin’s clothes and said in a delicate voice,

“Princess Consort, I am fine.”

Lian Liejin lowered her head and looked at the person in her arms.

Gao Jingxi’s cheeks were faintly flushed, cold sweat dotted her forehead, and her pearly teeth could be seen biting down on her red lips.

Lian Liejin had carefully studied Gao Jingxi’s injuries before.

The imperial physicians prescribed medicine that prioritized avoiding mistakes over achieving results. All the ingredients were mild tonics.

However, the injured princess’s body was too weak to tolerate excessive nourishment. The more tonics she consumed, the weaker she became, while the hidden injuries inside her body remained unhealed.

Although Lian Liejin’s treatment had improved her condition considerably, illness departed as slowly as silk being drawn from a cocoon.

One only needed to look at Gao Jingxi’s current expression to know that her pain had returned.

“A-You, help me outside.”

Gao Jingxi calmly moved out of Lian Liejin’s arms.

“Princess Consort, remain at ease.”

A-You supported Gao Jingxi. Feeling her princess’s body trembling, she was deeply distressed.

The carriage curtain was lifted.

Gao Jingxi slowly stepped down. Her phoenix eyes tilted slightly as she smiled with noble elegance.

“Greetings, scholars.”

A cold wind swept into the carriage, making even Lian Liejin shiver.

After seeing Gao Jingxi’s face, Chen Yu became even more excited and nearly lost the ability to speak coherently.

Only after some time did she manage to say,

“Your Highness, Moonview Tower recently received several paintings and calligraphy works by famous masters. They arrived only this morning. Brother Feng and I planned to admire them before the Poetry and Literature Gathering began. We unexpectedly encountered Your Highness along the way, so we dared to invite you to join us.”

“That is right, Your Highness.”

This Feng Zhi was the son of the Vice Minister of Rites who had rushed to answer the First Imperial Prince’s question at the banquet, only to humiliate himself terribly.

He had an honest-looking face and was wrapped in so many layers of clothing that he resembled a round glutinous-rice dumpling.

“I heard there is even a new painting by the renowned master Wu Zuozi. Eldest Young Lady Lian and Young Master Chen have already gone there.”

“In that case, I should certainly go and feast my eyes upon it.”

Gao Jingxi gave the two of them an approving smile before turning toward A-You.

“A-You, it is still early. Let us visit Moonview Tower and admire the works. As for the Princess Consort…”

“Your Highness, this humble subject will naturally accompany you.”

The moment Chen Yu heard Lian Liejin’s voice, displeasure appeared on her face. She hurriedly lowered her head to conceal it.

Seeing Gao Jingxi return to the carriage, she had no choice but to follow behind the procession with Feng Zhi until they reached Moonview Tower.

After turning through several streets, the group descended from their carriages.

In front of Moonview Tower, Lian Liejin stopped Gao Jingxi.

She removed the hoodless cloak she was wearing and prepared to place it around Gao Jingxi’s shoulders.

“Surely the Princess Consort does not need to treasure Her Highness quite so excessively? Feng Zhi and I would never neglect the princess.”

Whenever Chen Yu saw Lian Liejin’s pretty face, discomfort spread throughout her body.

This woman had done nothing but possess a noble birth, yet she had married the goddess of the entire city of Changyong. Now she was even jumping out to become an eyesore!

Feng Zhi also found the legitimate daughter of the Duke’s Residence, who had returned halfway through her life, completely intolerable.

Moreover, he had suffered terrible embarrassment during the previous banquet, while this Princess Consort had stolen all the attention.

Thus, he joined in mockingly,

“The Princess Consort is certainly meticulous. The roads are slippery in this snowy weather. It would be most appropriate for the princess to ride a horse while the Princess Consort leads it.”

Leading a horse was the work of a servant.

Feng Zhi’s words were extraordinarily disrespectful.

Lian Liejin did not even turn around. She focused solely on fastening Gao Jingxi’s cloak securely.

“If Your Highness wishes it, this humble subject will naturally lead her horse. However, the weather is cold. How could the princess’s precious body be allowed to suffer harm? Young Master Feng should be more cautious in both speech and conduct.”

“Heh. The Princess Consort certainly has an eloquent tongue!”

The cloak carrying Lian Liejin’s body heat was indeed very warm.

Gao Jingxi felt much of the chill within her body fade and instinctively raised her head to look at Lian Liejin.

Amid the fine snow, the woman’s ordinarily cold and distant features seemed to contain faint traces of affection.

For a moment, Gao Jingxi stared blankly into Lian Liejin’s eyes.

Neither of them paid any further attention to Feng Zhi or Chen Yu.

The snow, which had been light moments ago, suddenly became much heavier.

Amid the snow filling the sky, the two women gazed into each other’s eyes.

Passing commoners and children caught sight of the scene. Although they did not know who the two were, they all sincerely sighed,

“What an unparalleled pair—a match made by heaven.”

The two women staring at each other in the street as though no one else existed eventually became a celebrated romantic tale.

A folk song was even composed about them:

Cold dew turns to frost beneath the Weaver Star,
The Cowherd smiles as he leads the one he loves.

Of course, that would come later.

A-You retrieved a bamboo-framed umbrella from the carriage and held it above them, finally awakening the two from their daze.

Gao Jingxi pursed her lips slightly and took Lian Liejin’s hand.

“Let us go. We must still reach Youlan Waterside Pavilion before lunch.”

After passing through a long corridor, the group finally entered the main hall of Moonview Tower.

Lian Liejin felt that Gao Jingxi’s fingers were as cold as blocks of ice.

“Your Highness, have you been taking your medicine on time?”

Gao Jingxi turned her face away unnaturally and pretended not to hear.

Lian Liejin could only ask tentatively,

“Your Highness, could it be that you fear the medicine is too bitter?”

There was still no response.

“Your Highness, there is no need to be embarrassed. Many of the children this humble subject has treated were afraid of bitter medicine. That is why I specially created sugar-coated medicinal pills. Your portion has already been prepared and will be delivered to the Princess’s Residence today.”

“I am not a child.”

“What?”

Gao Jingxi’s gritted tone startled Lian Liejin.

She asked in confusion,

“This humble subject knows that. Your birth charts were matched with mine. But if Your Highness fears bitterness, what is wrong with taking sugar-coated pills as well?”

“Your Highness, how did you and the Princess Consort fall so far behind? Wu Zuozi’s paintings are being displayed on the third floor.”

No one knew when Chen Yu had approached them. She looked at Gao Jingxi with a radiant smile.

A-You stepped forward at precisely the right moment and supported Gao Jingxi.

“Miss Chen need not worry. Her Highness is together with the Princess Consort.”

She deliberately emphasized the words “Princess Consort,” hoping Chen Yu would understand her place.

Unfortunately, Chen Yu paid no attention to A-You’s words.

She also failed to consider that if Gao Jingxi had not approved, would A-You have dared speak that way?

“That is not necessarily true. Third Young Lady Lian spent many years living in the remote wilderness. She may know nothing about an elegant art such as painting. How could she possibly share perfect harmony and mutual understanding with Her Highness?”