Chapter 35
A-You’s loud voice came from outside the carriage. “Your Highness, Princess Consort, we’ve arrived at the Princess Consort’s Residence.”
Neither of them responded. Wondering whether they had fallen asleep, A-You called out another reminder.
There was still no answer.
A-You had no choice but to lift the carriage curtain and look inside. She barely managed to suppress a scream before hurriedly dropping the curtain again. “Your Highness, please continue. This servant didn’t see anything.”
The intimate atmosphere inside the carriage shattered instantly. Gao Jingxi watched Lian Liejin’s slightly puckered lips draw closer and closer, then shoved her away. “How dare you! Who allowed you to do that? You… you’re doing it again…”
This time, Lian Liejin was unexpectedly clever. She sat steadily inside the carriage and called loudly to A-You, “A-You, Her Highness intends to take me back to the Princess’s Residence. Keep going.”
After waiting a while and hearing no objection from Gao Jingxi, A-You hurriedly told the coachman to drive toward the Princess’s Residence, as though afraid the two might change their minds.
“Lian Liejin, you’re becoming increasingly bold. Now you even dare order A-You around?”
Having recovered, Gao Jingxi immediately resumed her dignified manner as a princess.
“Your Highness, I want… I want to stay at the Princess’s Residence.”
Gao Jingxi gave a soft snort and turned away, refusing to acknowledge Lian Liejin. However, even after an incense stick’s worth of time, there was still no reaction from her.
The Seventh Princess could no longer endure it. She quietly turned around to see what Lian Liejin was doing.
An enlarged smiling face suddenly appeared before Gao Jingxi, causing her heart to skip half a beat.
This woman looked exactly like a child asking for a piece of sweet cake. Gao Jingxi outwardly told her with great disdain to sit properly, yet the corner of her mouth curved into a smile she did not even notice. “Why are you like a child? How can you cause so much trouble?”
“But I truly am younger than Your Highness.” Lian Liejin shrugged as though it were perfectly reasonable, wearing an expression that said, What can you possibly do about it?
“I’m only three months older than you.” Gao Jingxi tilted her head and thought for a moment. “Your birthday is the ninth day of the tenth month.”
“I don’t care. Your Highness was born on the seventh day of the seventh month. If we round it up, you’re a whole year older than me.”
Gao Jingxi was rendered speechless. She climbed out of the carriage and hurried directly into the Princess’s Residence.
“Your Highness, I want to sleep in your room.” Lian Liejin followed closely behind and caught Gao Jingxi’s clothes, pursing her lips pitifully. “Didn’t you say that as long as it wasn’t excessive, anything would be allowed?”
At that moment, A-You approached carrying a lantern. “Your Highness, everything has been prepared in the study.”
Gao Jingxi’s heart softened. She brushed the fallen snow from Lian Liejin’s shoulders. “Fine. Go and wash first. I’ll come later.”
“All right.” Lian Liejin’s peach-blossom eyes curved into crescent moons. “Your Highness, come back early so we can go to bed early together.”
Gao Jingxi shot Lian Liejin a reproachful glance. This woman truly had no shame, saying such suggestive things in front of other people.
“Fine.”
Inside the study of the Princess’s Residence, tall red candles were replaced one after another. A-You held a stick of lacquer ink and continuously ground it.
Gao Jingxi concentrated on writing essay after essay on cotton paper, occasionally consulting the ancient books spread across the desk. At times she rested her cheek on one hand in thought, and at others she wrote rapidly.
Unfortunately, after writing for two shichen, there were still only a few lines on the cotton paper before her.
Seeing this, Gao Jingxi shook her head slightly, attempting to drive away Lian Liejin’s cool, jade-like smiling face and the soft words she had whispered inside the carriage.
“Your Highness, it will soon be the second watch. His Majesty ordered you to make up half a month’s lessons, but you don’t need to finish everything tonight.” A-You stopped grinding the ink, picked up a wooden pick, and adjusted the wick of the red candle. Her smile carried a trace of relief. “The Princess Consort has already sent someone to urge you three times. Shouldn’t you retire for the night?”
Gao Jingxi was lost in thought. A drop of ink fell from the Hu brush in her hand and nearly soaked through the cotton paper.
A-You called to her twice, but Gao Jingxi still showed no response. She had no choice but to pat the princess lightly.
“Your Highness, you’ve made the Princess Consort wait too long.”
Gao Jingxi finally returned to her senses and pressed her lips together. “Very well. I’ll finish reading this page, then return to the bedroom.”
“But Your Highness,” A-You said bluntly, “you’ve been staring at this same page all night.”
Seeing her princess left speechless, A-You quickly pressed her advantage. “Your Highness, what exactly is happening between you and the Princess Consort?”
“Nothing is happening between us. I merely think Lian Liejin is an interesting person.” Gao Jingxi hurriedly flipped several pages ahead and wrote down a few notes.
“You truly found the Princess Consort on Qingyue Mountain, didn’t you?” A-You suddenly understood. Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Could the Princess Consort possibly be… Physician Guan Xie?”
After receiving Gao Jingxi’s confirmation, A-You’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Your Highness, fortunately, the Princess Consort really is Guan Xie. You finally had one of your wishes fulfilled, and it was even something as important as marriage.”
A trace of gentleness appeared in Gao Jingxi’s eyes. She shook her head slightly. “There is no ‘fortunately’ about it. A-You, a name is merely a mark. The person I was searching for was never that name.”
“Your Highness, I don’t quite understand.”
“You don’t need to understand.” As though she had suddenly remembered something, Gao Jingxi looked half delighted and half troubled. “It isn’t as though I have no worries now.”
While A-You refilled the tea, another servant sent by Lian Liejin to hurry Gao Jingxi appeared outside and said softly, “Your Highness, the Princess Consort said that if you don’t return soon, the sky will already be bright.”
“Your Highness, the Princess Consort is still waiting for you.” A-You seemed to awaken from a dream. Wearing a foolish smile, she put away the book in Gao Jingxi’s hands.
The two left the study. Gao Jingxi looked around and saw that cloud-patterned gauze lanterns had been lit throughout the residence. The display was almost identical to the night of her wedding to Lian Liejin. Dim light filled the air, jade lanterns turned, and the glow resembled falling stars.
“Your Highness, the Princess Consort instructed them to light these lanterns. She said it was snowing and the path was slippery, so they should illuminate your way back to the room.”
Since when had Lian Liejin become so good with words? Gao Jingxi thought carefully. Could that blockheaded goose have somehow awakened after falling from the roof yesterday?
“Mm. It truly is not as dark here now.” Gao Jingxi stood beneath the eaves of the study and lifted her head slightly. A crystalline glow spread across her fair, delicate skin.
Before long, Lian Liejin, who had received the news, hurried from the other side of the Princess’s Residence while holding a blue paper umbrella. “Your Highness, hurry. I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”
“Nonsense. It has only been two shichen.” Seeing the teasing smiles on the surrounding servants’ faces, Gao Jingxi hurriedly pulled Lian Liejin closer, rose lightly onto her toes, and whispered beside her ear, “Lower your voice. They’re especially fond of reporting everything to Empress Mother.”
Lian Liejin cooperatively bent down and, while doing so, secretly glanced at Gao Jingxi’s slender waist. She suppressed the impulse to hoist the princess over her shoulder and run back to the bedroom. Instead, she properly took Gao Jingxi’s hand, and the two slowly walked across the fallen snow.
Beneath the lightly snowing night sky, the two chatted as they walked. Gao Jingxi took out a handkerchief embroidered with stars and wiped the faint sweat from Lian Liejin’s forehead. “Did you eat dinner?”
“I did. I had fermented goose feet, hot-and-sour radish, pumpkin and taro pastries, and black rice.” Lian Liejin’s eyes shone, and her steps grew increasingly large. “Your Highness, I prepared sunflower seeds, pastries, and Zhuyeqing wine. Walk faster, walk faster.”
“You ate all that and can still manage a late-night snack?”
“Seeing Your Highness is already a feast for the eyes.”
Everyone in the Princess’s Residence seemed infected by Lian Liejin’s happiness. When they arrived before the bedroom, the servants tactfully withdrew, leaving only the princess and her consort together.
The moment Gao Jingxi entered, she smelled a faint sweetness. However, the sight inside immediately erased her smile.
On the small table beside the daybed were three plates of white, sticky pastries, two cups of green liquor, and two brown dice cups placed in the center.
A perfectly respectable bedroom had somehow acquired the atmosphere of a third-rate gambling den.
“Your Highness, I asked everyone, but not one of them knows how to play mahjong. This isn’t Qingyue Mountain, so we can’t gather enough people. Why don’t we reluctantly play a couple of rounds and have a few drinks?”
Seeing Gao Jingxi frozen in place, Lian Liejin grinned and pushed the Seventh Princess by the shoulders, leading her farther into the bedroom.
“Your Highness won twenty jin of white-jade radishes, more than two hundred strips of dried sweet potato, and ten jin of free-range eggs from me last time. This time, I’m definitely winning them back.”
“You kept urging me to return just so you could play dice with me?” Gao Jingxi covered her chest and struggled to reorganize the smile on her face. “Is there nothing else you wanted to say to me?”
“Of course not. What else did you think we were going to do? The main problem is that we can’t play mahjong.” Lian Liejin ingratiatingly handed Gao Jingxi a cup of milk tea. “Your Highness, drink some hot milk tea first. Shall we play a few rounds?”
Gao Jingxi looked utterly helpless. She genuinely wanted to split open Lian Liejin’s head and see what it contained. Why did this woman think about nothing but such things every day?
“But how can you guarantee that you won’t lose to me? If you lose again, what will you give me? After all, you already lost an entire year’s supply of dried sweet potatoes and free-range eggs from the Stellar Medicine Sect.” On second thought, Gao Jingxi decided that the child was still young and had to be cultivated slowly. However, sometimes a little forced growth was necessary…
“Um, that’s true. In that case, I’ll give you thirty percent of my annual dividends from Guanxie Residence.”
“Liejin, I am not a princess who lacks money.” Gao Jingxi leaned against the daybed and took a shallow sip of wine. Seemingly casually, she suggested, “How about this? If you lose, then no matter what I do tonight, you are not allowed to resist.”
“If I win everything back,” Lian Liejin said with a proud smile, “Your Highness must also agree to one request of mine.”
Gao Jingxi gave a charming smile and lightly picked up a die with her jade-like fingers. “Naturally. I have always kept my word. Whatever you desire, I will give you.”
“Then Your Highness may not use stellar power to cheat. That would be far too unfair.”
“Fine. I’ll listen to you.” Gao Jingxi nodded with a smile, picked up the dice cup with one hand, tilted it, and continuously shook it through the air.
…
“Liejin, you lost again.” Gao Jingxi leaned over her, once more looking down steadily from above. Her fingers rested lightly on the collar of Lian Liejin’s clothes before slowly slipping inside.
Lian Liejin caught Gao Jingxi’s hand and asked nervously, “Your Highness, what are you planning to do?”
“Shh.” Gao Jingxi removed her dark-red hair ribbon and covered Lian Liejin’s eyes with it. “No matter what I do tonight, you are not allowed to resist.” She pulled open Lian Liejin’s outer clothes, then removed her own robe. The two garments were casually thrown aside.
Darkness filled Lian Liejin’s vision, reminding her of that night at the Stellar Medicine Sect. Had the princess suffered some new provocation? However, she had lost the wager and had to accept the consequences. She could only allow Gao Jingxi to lead her slowly toward the inner chamber.
Because a hot-water bottle had been placed in the bed, the quilt was extremely warm. Gao Jingxi had Lian Liejin lie down wearing only her inner garments, then lay beside her and covered them both with the brocade quilt.
Were they simply going to sleep? Lian Liejin was completely confused and asked nervously, “Your Highness, what exactly are you doing?”
Gao Jingxi remained silent. Her long black hair flowed like a waterfall, and her rich, intoxicating fragrance surged around Lian Liejin. The clothing over Lian Liejin’s chest was opened, exposing her skin to the air. Fingers as smooth as soft jade wandered across her body, gradually moving lower.
Before long, Lian Liejin had been completely stripped, while Gao Jingxi still lay beside her fully dressed and gave a soft laugh. “Are you cold?”
The Seventh Princess propped herself halfway upright. Her fingers moved repeatedly from Lian Liejin’s shoulder along her arm before slowly enclosing Lian Liejin’s fingers.
“Your Highness, could you remove the ribbon?” Lian Liejin tried several times to pull it away, but each time, Gao Jingxi caught the two fingers she extended between her lips. After several attempts, the damp sensation became too unbearable, and Lian Liejin immediately stopped moving.
Watching Lian Liejin’s breathing gradually quicken, Gao Jingxi narrowed her eyes in satisfaction and slowly lay down beside her, leaning close to her ear. “Are you uncomfortable?”
Gao Jingxi’s long lashes lightly brushed Lian Liejin’s cheek, as though sweeping directly across her heart. Her entire body felt as though it were burning. She slowly tried to turn aside, but the princess pressed her back down.
Gao Jingxi’s voice was hoarse as she moved even closer. “When you said last time that I was the most beautiful, was that true or false?”
Lian Liejin shook her head, a faint smile curving her lips. “I need to look again now before I can know.”
At those words, Gao Jingxi sat upright. Her red lips parted slightly, and seductive light filled her eyes. She bent down and caught the dark-red ribbon between her teeth.
When the darkness finally disappeared, Lian Liejin looked up and saw the beauty dressed in thin sleepwear. Her cloudlike black hair was adorned by a jade-and-gold hairpin, her eyes resembled the stars and moon, translucent gauze covered her body, and the ribbon rested half-held, half-bitten between her red lips.
For a moment, it was impossible to tell whether the color of the ribbon had quietly stained those luscious lips or whether they were naturally as tender and full as spring cherries.
“Your Highness, aren’t you cold wearing so little?” Lian Liejin also sat up uncontrollably. Meeting Gao Jingxi’s gaze, she gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
Gao Jingxi tilted her head and smiled faintly. Then she suddenly flicked a spark of stellar light from her fingers, extinguishing every candle in the room.
In the darkness, Gao Jingxi covered Lian Liejin’s eyes with one hand, guided her back down, and wrapped the brocade quilt around them both once again.
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