The Seventh Princess Insists on Making Me Live Off Her - Chapter 30

Lian Liejin immediately jolted and guiltily looked toward Gao Jingxi, all the while cursing Junior Sister Zhao inwardly. She was truly a stick stirring up trouble.

Eldest Senior Sister was difficult to deal with, but did that mean the Seventh Princess was easy to provoke? Since Junior Sister Zhao had not been the one pinned to the bed and left dizzy and muddleheaded, she dared say anything she pleased.

As the cold wind swept past, Lian Liejin lowered her head, wishing she could faint on the spot.

Yet the princess seemed completely unconcerned. Instead, her phoenix eyes shone with both shyness and delight as she joined Junior Sister Zhao in lying through her teeth.

“That’s right. I thought Liejin and I should hold a bridal-chamber celebration at the Stellar Medicine Sect as well. After all, she grew up here, so it would only be proper to let her close friends meet me.”

Lian Liejin stared at her in stunned disbelief. She thought that even if the Empress herself came, she would never imagine that Gao Jingxi—who always acted openly and honorably and rarely smiled before outsiders—would actually cooperate with someone else in spouting such nonsense.

“Isn’t that right, Liejin?” Gao Jingxi secretly pinched the waist of the dumbstruck Lian Liejin. “You were the one who caused the greatest commotion last night.”

Junior Sister Zhao nodded as rapidly as a chick pecking at rice. “Senior Sister Guan Xie caused the most trouble. In the end, Her Highness taught her a miserable lesson.”

The beauty smiled like a blooming flower, though a blade was hidden beneath that smile, while Junior Sister Zhao enthusiastically played along. Forced into the situation, Lian Liejin gritted her teeth and decided to go with the flow. After all, who did not know how to pretend these days? She immediately put on a wide smile and slapped Junior Sister Zhao’s shoulder forcefully.

“Yes, that’s exactly what happened. The main reason is… the imperial family has such a custom. Every princess must bring her Princess Consort back to her spouse’s family home and hold another bridal-chamber celebration for good fortune.”

Wei Wan’er studied the three of them as they swore solemnly that this was the truth. Junior Sister Zhao in particular looked so excited and delighted that she appeared more like the one who had gotten married.

Knowing how these two usually behaved, Wei Wan’er still asked suspiciously, “You held a bridal-chamber celebration more than a month after the wedding?”

“Exactly. That’s why we only told Little Radish and Junior Sister Zhao. We celebrated for a while in the blue-tiled courtyard, casually ate some dried sweet potatoes and free-range eggs, then drank a little wedding wine.” Lian Liejin cleared her throat and gave Junior Sister Zhao an exaggerated smile. “Junior Sister, yesterday you said you would give Her Highness and me one thousand taels of silver as a wedding gift. Don’t forget. Convert it into banknotes so I can bring it back to Changyong more easily.”

Junior Sister Zhao’s smile instantly froze. However, under Wei Wan’er’s gaze, she did not dare deny it.

“Y-Yes. One thousand taels of silver isn’t much.” Junior Sister Zhao dared to feel angry but not speak out. She cursed Lian Liejin inwardly for being ruthless. She truly regretted not poisoning the food earlier and killing this money-grubber who took advantage of every opportunity.

With the three of them echoing one another, Wei Wan’er studied their faces doubtfully for a long time but ultimately said nothing more.

After entering the side room of the blue-tiled courtyard, she placed all the food on the table and lit three braziers.

“Guan Xie, all of you sit down and eat.”

Seeing that Eldest Senior Sister showed no further reaction, Lian Liejin released a long breath and relaxed, becoming increasingly at ease.

Half an incense stick later, the room had become almost unbearably hot. Lian Liejin simply removed her outer cloak and wore only a thin, light-colored lined robe.

Beneath the table, she tugged at Gao Jingxi’s clothes and muttered softly, “Your Highness, these medicinal dishes have no oil or salt. Everything is boiled in water. Don’t eat them if you dislike them. We can go and eat something else together later.”

“Who said I dislike them, hm?” Lian Liejin’s breath tickled Gao Jingxi’s ear, yet she still had to maintain the elegance and dignity of a princess and was too embarrassed to push her away directly. “No wonder you ate so many pastries and meat dishes at the Poetry and Literature Gathering.”

“But the osmanthus cakes were truly delicious.” Lian Liejin played with Gao Jingxi’s long hair, lightly breathing in its fragrance from time to time. “Your Highness, the food at the Princess Consort’s Residence is always boiled too. Once we return to Changyong, may I eat all three meals at the Princess’s Residence every day?”

A smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. As long as the princess agreed, she would consider all the dried sweet potatoes she had lost yesterday recovered.

Together with the silver Junior Sister Zhao was contributing, her private savings would soon swell again.

Gao Jingxi took a deep breath and clenched both hands inside her wide sleeves. “Certainly. Would you also like me to cook for you personally?”

“Your Highness, do you truly know how to cook?” Thinking of Gao Jingxi’s hands, which were as soft as tender tofu, Lian Liejin doubted she knew how. “I think it would be better to let the chefs at the Princess’s Residence prepare the food. We could eat it with greater peace of mind.”

Gao Jingxi: “…”

She was apparently inferior even to the cooks in her residence.

The food on the table was limited in quantity but exquisitely prepared. After Wei Wan’er served Lian Liejin some appetizing soup, she noticed the emptiness around her waist. Her expression suddenly became somewhat unnatural, and she blurted out, “Guan Xie, why aren’t you wearing your black jade?”

Lian Liejin, who had been wondering why the Seventh Princess’s expression had darkened again, was suddenly called upon by Wei Wan’er. She instinctively hid behind Gao Jingxi’s shoulder, revealing only a pair of slightly reddened eyes. “I replaced it with a black-jade bamboo fan. The black jade is… with Her Highness.”

“Guan Xie, that black jade… was left to you by your mother.” After pausing briefly, Wei Wan’er smiled once more, gentle and radiant. “Giving it to Princess Sister is truly the best possible choice.”

“Senior Sister Guan Xie, then what token of love did Her Highness give you?”

“A token… of love?” Lian Liejin nearly spat out the mouthful of pigeon soup she had just swallowed. “Junior Sister Zhao, no one will think you’re mute if you stop talking!”

“Oh, Senior Sister Guan Xie,” Junior Sister Zhao exclaimed with exaggerated coquettishness, “I saw the necklace inside your clothes yesterday. It was extremely beautiful. You treasured it so much that you hid it beneath your robes.”

“It’s a valuable item. How could I casually show it to others? Don’t you understand that wealth should never be displayed?” Although Lian Liejin spoke cheerfully, her hands still slowly opened her robe and revealed the golden-magpie necklace hanging around her neck.

Throughout the process, she kept secretly watching Gao Jingxi’s expression.

Unfortunately, the princess appeared not to have heard their conversation. Her face remained calm as she stared straight ahead at the celadon bowls and plates on the table.

Following the direction of Lian Liejin’s hand, Junior Sister Zhao said excitedly, “It really is a golden-magpie necklace. It forms a pair with your paired-badger black jade. Magpies and badgers together represent huanhuan xixi—joy and happiness.”

Lian Liejin immediately leaped from her seat like a monkey whose fur had caught fire. She grabbed Gao Jingxi and ran beneath the plum tree in the courtyard.

“Your Highness, don’t listen to Junior Sister Zhao’s nonsense. I merely forgot to return this golden-magpie necklace to you.”

Gao Jingxi’s expression darkened once again. She stepped forward and drew close to Lian Liejin, pretending to ask casually, “Oh? Are you saying you don’t want it?”

“That’s not it. The pearls and gold on the necklace glitter brightly, just like gold. I like it very much.”

…

A shower of plum blossoms drifted down.

Gao Jingxi seized Lian Liejin by the collar and pressed her against the tree trunk. She bit tightly into her red lips until a pale crescent-shaped mark appeared along them, then growled fiercely, “Then you had better protect it well. I want you to wear it against your body every day and every night!”

Naturally, different people would interpret this scene in different ways. Lian Liejin’s back rested against the freezing tree trunk, yet her heart burned hot. She realized the princess seemed to have changed considerably.

When they first met, Gao Jingxi always wore a cold expression. Like lush lotus leaves, she was noble as jade, and every word and movement carried an enchanting yet unreachable beauty.

Was this change because Gao Jingxi now knew that Lian Liejin had saved her life? Could the Seventh Princess be trying to repay her kindness?

Lian Liejin smiled faintly. They had plenty of time ahead of them. She could slowly observe how a princess of ancient times repaid a life-saving debt.

“All right. I’ll obey Your Highness and treasure it day and night.”

“Oh, stop whispering to each other. Senior Sister Guan Xie, Your Highness, hurry back!” Junior Sister Zhao leaned against the doorframe on one leg while holding her rice bowl and called out, “Eldest Senior Sister has a wedding gift for you.”

Hearing this, Gao Jingxi immediately released Lian Liejin’s collar and stepped aside. Lian Liejin had no choice but to grab her again and rush back into the side room.

When the two returned, Wei Wan’er unfolded a sky-blue robe patterned with water ripples and smiled as she beckoned to Lian Liejin. “Guan Xie, come here. Senior Sister sewed this robe for you. Try it on and see whether it fits.”

“Hmm? Senior Sister, why did you make me another robe? I still haven’t finished wearing the ones you made before.” Lian Liejin obediently walked over and extended both arms, naturally allowing Wei Wan’er to dress her. She then turned in a circle, looking handsome, elegant, and carefree.

“Since childhood, what have you worn that I didn’t make for you? Your old clothes have become far too small, so naturally I must make new ones every year.” Wei Wan’er smiled beautifully as she straightened Lian Liejin’s clothes, then looked back at Gao Jingxi. “Unfortunately, I didn’t know Princess Sister’s measurements, so I only made one for Guan Xie. Next year, when I make Guan Xie’s new clothes, I’ll make several for Princess Sister as well.”

As Lian Liejin removed the robe and carefully folded it, she shook her head at Wei Wan’er. “Senior Sister, making clothes for me is enough. Her Highness’s clothes are all sewn by palace seamstresses. I believe there are rules governing what she may wear.”

“Anything Eldest Senior Sister makes, I will naturally treasure greatly. However, Liejin is both the Princess Consort and my spouse, so I also worry deeply about every aspect of her food, clothing, housing, and travel. Now that Eldest Senior Sister is helping share that responsibility, I am genuinely pleased.”

“Is that so? I had assumed Princess Sister was a member of the imperial family, noble beyond measure, and could never spare the time to concern herself with such minor matters.” Wei Wan’er suddenly bent forward, covered her chest, and coughed lightly twice.

Gao Jingxi reached out to support her, the corners of her lips curving upward. “How could anything concerning my spouse be a minor matter? Eldest Senior Sister should take better care of your health. There are more than ten roots of top-quality stellar ginseng at my residence, which are especially nourishing. Once I return, I’ll have them sent here together.”

“Furthermore,” Gao Jingxi took a jade token from her robes and handed it to Wei Wan’er, “Eldest Senior Sister, if you ever wish to visit Liejin in Changyong, this token will make things much more convenient.”

Wei Wan’er was gentle as flowing water, while Gao Jingxi was noble and radiant as a thin layer of snow. The two exchanged one remark after another, completely preventing the other two women present from joining the conversation.

Eventually, Junior Sister Zhao secretly tugged on Lian Liejin’s sleeve and whispered, “Don’t you think the atmosphere between them is a little strange? Still, your princess is incredibly wealthy. Top-quality stellar ginseng is rare even once in a hundred years. Even the Stellar Medicine Sect has only a few roots.”

“Mm, I think so too. Eldest Senior Sister seems extremely afraid that Her Highness will bully me.” Lian Liejin stroked her chin with an all-knowing expression. “The Seventh Princess is being so courteous because she probably feels like an ugly daughter-in-law meeting her parents-in-law.”

Wei Wan’er carefully examined Gao Jingxi’s noble features. Her slightly raised phoenix eyes revealed a deep, cold gleam, yet the young woman’s brows also carried exactly the right amount of gentle warmth. Wei Wan’er could not read her. She could not tell what thoughts were hidden beneath the Seventh Princess’s flawless, white-jade face.

The midday meal ultimately ended early when several of them left before finishing. Because the temperature suddenly dropped, everyone hurried back to their own rooms.

Inside the bedroom, Gao Jingxi remained silent. Lian Liejin half narrowed her eyes as she tightly shut the window. The two displayed remarkable tacit understanding and lay down together without removing their clothes.

Fine rain mingled with light snow. By afternoon, the sky had already grown frighteningly dark. Sunlight reflected off the snow and filtered through the blue silk covering the window lattice, falling across the apricot-yellow bed curtains and leaving the room filled with peaceful, faint shadows.

Lian Liejin awoke to the sound of rain and snow striking the eaves. She dressed quietly and saw the Seventh Princess beside her still lying with her eyes tightly closed, her black-feathered lashes trembling with each breath.

Just as Lian Liejin climbed from the bed and prepared to leave, the person behind her awakened.

“Where are you going again? To find your Eldest Senior Sister?”

Gao Jingxi half opened her misty eyes. She looked delicate and moving, and even her voice had unconsciously become soft and sweet.

“I’m going to settle Guanxie Residence’s accounts and decide which products we’ll focus on selling this year. Continue sleeping. We can return to Changyong tomorrow.”

“When will you come back?” Gao Jingxi propped herself halfway upright, her long hair spilling down and hiding half her face.

“Reviewing the accounts takes both time and concentration. I’m afraid it may be well past midnight.” Lian Liejin hurriedly turned away, not daring to continue looking at her, but she could not straighten her collar no matter how she tried. “Once we’re traveling by carriage tomorrow, it will be difficult to sleep peacefully. Your Highness should rest more.”

Gao Jingxi nodded and lay back down. This was neither the imperial palace nor the Princess’s Residence. Instead, she could freely sleep whenever she wished. Watching Lian Liejin stand with her back turned, hurriedly fumbling with her clothes, Gao Jingxi once again felt an unexpected sense of comfort.

After Gao Jingxi pulled up the quilt and closed her eyes as though sleeping deeply, Lian Liejin could more or less guess the princess’s thoughts. Ancient nobles lived without material worries, yet their lives lacked one thing above all—freedom.

Here in the mountain forest, it was no longer imperial power that restrained people, but only heaven and earth. Therefore, Gao Jingxi’s brows were finally no longer so tightly furrowed. Even as she slept, a faint dimpled smile could be seen on her face.

Looking at Gao Jingxi’s fair and delicate wrist exposed outside the quilt, Lian Liejin, who had already been about to leave, inexplicably sat quietly beside the bed again. She slowly reached out and touched the woman’s skin.

In truth, Gao Jingxi had not yet fallen asleep. Feeling Lian Liejin’s touch, the ease she had experienced moments earlier instantly vanished. Her heart began pounding, and her entire body felt as though it were being lightly scratched by a kitten.

After a while, faint breath brushed past her ear, and that person’s fingertips settled on her other wrist.

Because her eyes were closed, all her other senses became infinitely sharper. Gao Jingxi’s heart thundered like a drum, while her jade-like hand gripped the floral bedding beneath her until it wrinkled.

The Seventh Princess finally could not bear it any longer. She opened her eyes and scolded coquettishly,

“W-What are you trying to do?”