Reborn Into A New Life, Everyone Loves Me Now (GL) - Chapter 13
Su Qishi said, “Very well, A’Li. Why were you meeting with my imperial brother alone in the pavilion?”
Liu Jiangli slowly began to speak. If one listened carefully, they could detect a faint sob in her voice.
“Yesterday, I originally intended to find you, A’Shi, but along the way, I encountered His Highness, Prince Chen. He told me that I could wait for you in the pavilion, and afterward, he told me about what happened to you in class yesterday.”
“Then you arrived and wouldn’t listen to my explanation — you simply assumed there was something between me and Prince Chen.”
Su Qishi wrapped his arms around Liu Jiangli. Her warmth nestled against him, yet his heart remained unnaturally calm.
“A’Li,” he said softly, “when did you become so familiar with my brother?”
He could clearly feel the slight tension in the body of the woman in his arms — proof that whatever she was about to say next would be a lie.
Su Qishi continued, “You’ve always had a cold temperament. For you to willingly have a private and pleasant conversation with someone, it must mean you view him as someone familiar — someone you trust.” After speaking, Su Qishi fell silent, waiting for Liu Jiangli’s response.
Liu Jiangli remained quiet for a long while. Her hands tightened around Su Qishi’s waist, as if trying to bury herself completely in his embrace. At last, she slowly opened her mouth.
“Each time I was summoned to the palace by Her Majesty the Empress, I would happen to encounter His Highness, Prince Chen.”
So, it began as early as this — or perhaps even earlier, in their previous lives.
The three of them seemed like a true family: a kind mother, a filial son, a virtuous wife — how utterly ironic.
Su Qishi said, “So that’s how it is. But A’Li, recently I’ve been having the same dream over and over. In the dream, on the day of your twentieth birthday, you told me yourself that you wished to marry my imperial brother. You said the one you loved was him. A’Li, in that dream, you were so cold. These past few days, I’ve kept thinking — if I lost you, what would I do? So, A’Li, tell me — that dream isn’t real, is it?”
Liu Jiangli stepped out of his embrace. Her beautiful eyes met Su Qishi’s red-rimmed ones, filled with tenderness and ache. Word by word, she declared, “A’Shi, the one I love is you. No matter what happens, remember — I will only ever love you.”
As soon as she spoke, Liu Jiangli’s soft, delicate hands gently curled around Su Qishi’s neck. Her moist, rosy lips pressed lightly against his, kissing him awkwardly, with a hint of longing to please. Her cheeks flushed scarlet, like a blooming peony, and her eyes shimmered with deep affection.
It was the first time she had ever taken the initiative to kiss A’Shi. Her heart trembled uncontrollably with nervous excitement.
Before Su Qishi could react, his cool lips had already been enveloped by her warmth. He could feel his own heartbeat quickening beyond his control.
During the entire exchange, Su Qishi did not respond — yet he did not push her away either. His heart was tangled in a web of indescribable emotions.
Liu Jiangli, nearly breathless, finally broke away, lowering her head in embarrassment, yet she couldn’t help stealing a glance at Su Qishi.
Her voice was soft as a whisper, barely audible. “A’Shi, I’ll be going now.”
Leaving those words behind, she quickly boarded the carriage, leaving Su Qishi frozen in place.
Moments later, Nian Qi approached and said in a low voice, “Your Highness, Miss Liu has departed. Do you truly wish to remain standing here?”
Su Qishi slowly returned to his senses. He glanced at Nian Qi, said nothing, and turned to walk into Yue Prince’s Manor.
In the study.
Su Qishi asked, “When will Xiao Mingxian next appear at Yaoxiang Pavilion?”
Nian Qi replied, “Your Highness, between the hours of Xu and Hai — that is, between 7 and 11 in the evening — Xiao Mingxian is always at Yaoxiang Pavilion.”
Su Qishi’s brush did not stop, endlessly repeating the same character on the xuan paper — “calm.”
“Did he behave unusually today?” Su Qishi asked.
Nian Qi thought for a moment, then seemed to recall something. “Your Highness, lately he seems to be trying to gain favor with Miss Wenxin of Yaoxiang Pavilion.”
“Wenxin?” Su Qishi echoed.
Nian Qi quickly explained, “Miss Wenxin and Miss Yun are known as the Twin Flowers of Yaoxiang Pavilion. Both sell only their talents, never their bodies. If Miss Yun is as pure as still lake water, then Miss Wenxin is a blazing fire.”
Su Qishi paused his writing and said in a low voice, “Find out what Miss Wenxin likes.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Nian Qi replied immediately.
Su Qishi quietly stared at the sheet of paper, now completely covered with the word ‘calm.’ After a long while, he let out a weary sigh.
The next day, after class.
Su Qishi and Nian Qi wandered along the bustling street, aimlessly observing their surroundings in search of entertainment.
Nian Qi said, “Your Highness, I’ve found some clues about the matter you asked me to investigate.”
Su Qishi gave him a sidelong glance. “Let’s hear it.”
Nian Qi carefully recounted what he had uncovered. “It’s said to be connected to Miss Wenxin’s childhood. She was originally the daughter of a wealthy household, but one stormy night, her entire family was slaughtered. She alone survived, hidden in a secret tunnel. After enduring many hardships, she was eventually sold to Yaoxiang Pavilion.”
Nian Qi reported, “Miss Wenxin developed insomnia due to the trauma she experienced in her youth. As she has grown older, her condition has only worsened. It’s said that sandalwood pearls can aid with sleep, but they are incredibly rare — none are available on the market.”
A faint smile appeared in Prince Yue’s eyes. “Yue Manor doesn’t have any sandalwood pearls, but there is someone who likely does.”
Murong’s Treasure Pavilion, reputed as the finest jewelry shop in the capital, was bustling with people. Most of the patrons were housekeepers or young ladies from wealthy merchant families.
Murong Tanduo, the owner of the shop, sat in a private room on the second floor, dressed in a light violet gown, watching the lively scene below with satisfaction.
She smiled and murmured, “Good business makes for a good mood.”
Suddenly, she caught sight of a figure clad in red, and her heart skipped a beat. She quickly instructed the servant beside her, “Go down at once and tell the woman in red with the Nine-Infant Pearl at her waist that I’m not in the shop — tell her I’ve gone abroad on business.”
The servant nodded promptly and went downstairs.
Murong Tanduo shut the window, leaving only a narrow slit to peek through as she observed the scene below.
After entering Murong’s Treasure Pavilion, Prince Yue immediately began looking for Murong Tanduo.
A servant stepped forward and asked, “Miss, is there anything I can help you with?”
Prince Yue asked, “Where is your shopkeeper?”
The servant replied without hesitation, “Our mistress left a few days ago to conduct business in another country. She is not in the shop at the moment.”
Prince Yue glanced upstairs, then feigned belief in the servant’s words. Raising her voice deliberately, as if intending someone to hear, she said, “Is that so? Then I shall take my leave.”
The servant politely replied, “Take care, miss.”
As soon as Prince Yue left, the servant rushed upstairs to report, “Mistress, I’ve informed her as you instructed.”
Murong Tanduo nodded in satisfaction. “Well done. You may go.”
She then poured herself a cup of fine tea, savoring it happily. Yet just as the first sip touched her lips, a cold wind swept over her back, and her heart sank with dread.
I’m doomed!
Prince Yue placed a hand firmly on Murong Tanduo’s shoulder, her voice icy and low. “Murong Tanduo, weren’t you supposed to be abroad on business? How are you here now?”
Startled, Murong Tanduo gasped, “How did you find out?!”
Prince Yue scoffed, taking a seat and pouring herself a cup of tea. “The tea is fine, but the person who brewed it lacks skill — it’s rather bitter.”
Murong Tanduo snapped, “Enough! Prince Yue, I can hear the hidden meaning in your words.”
Prince Yue replied bluntly, “Oh? Then let me ask — what exactly did you mean by avoiding me?”
Knowing she was in the wrong, Murong Tanduo didn’t argue and instead changed the subject. “I wasn’t ready to meet Your Highness — look at me, how could I appear before you like this?”
Prince Yue had had enough. “Don’t forget — if I hadn’t saved you back then, would you be sitting here today? And as for this shop’s success, who do you think you owe the most?”
She lightly patted Murong Tanduo’s left shoulder, then leaned in close and whispered by her ear, “Shall I remind you of what happened back then, when you…”
Murong Tanduo immediately interrupted, flustered. “No need, no need! Your Highness, just tell me what you want.”
Prince Yue’s tone turned serious. “I’ve heard there’s a particular pearl in your possession.”
Murong Tanduo tried to stall. “There are many pearls in this shop, Your Highness. Which one are you referring to?” She picked up her tea again, but before she could swallow, she heard Prince Yue say, “The sandalwood pearl.”
Startled, Murong Tanduo choked, spraying tea all over Prince Yue’s face.
“What?! Your Highness, surely you jest! That sandalwood pearl is the prized treasure of my entire shop!”
Prince Yue calmly took out a handkerchief and wiped her face. “I know you have it, and I’m not asking for it for free. On my eighteenth birthday, the Emperor gifted me a luminous night pearl. Trading that for your sandalwood pearl should be more than fair — don’t you agree?”
Murong Tanduo reluctantly took out the sandalwood pearl. As Prince Yue held it in her slender, elegant fingers, she gently ran them across the surface of the bead. The pearl seemed to carry a natural warmth, exuding a faint, soothing fragrance that calmed the turbulence within one’s heart.
After tucking the bead away, Prince Yue smiled and said, “I’ll be taking the pearl. As for the luminous night pearl, it’s of no use to me, but it may serve you well. Tomorrow, I’ll have Nian Qi deliver it to you.”
With a single step, Prince Yue leapt out of the second-floor window, the red ribbon in her hair fluttering in the wind. Behind her, Murong Tanduo’s voice still echoed in her ears.
“Your Highness! There are stairs!”
Nian Qi had been waiting below for quite some time. As soon as Prince Yue landed, he hurried forward. “Your Highness!”
Prince Yue instructed, “Take the night pearl to Murong Tanduo tomorrow.”
“Yes, Your Highness!” Nian Qi responded firmly.
Night fell, and most of the shops along the streets had closed. Yet in a certain quarter of the eastern city, the lights still blazed brightly. The dim, alluring glow of the lamps stirred hidden desires in the hearts of all who entered.
—Yaoxiang Pavilion.
As darkness deepened, officials, nobles, and scholars of every kind came and went in an endless stream.
In a private room on the second floor, Prince Yue lightly pushed open the window, waiting for Xiao Mingxian’s arrival.
Yun Shouyue gazed at Prince Yue’s back, a tender warmth flickering in his eyes. “A’Shi, have some water.”
Prince Yue took the cup hastily and drank deeply. “Good water. Excellent.”
Yun Shouyue chuckled softly. “A’Shi, what are you watching so intently?”
Prince Yue replied, “I’ll tell you everything shortly, Shouyue.”
Hearing this, Yun Shouyue said no more. He quietly took a seat nearby, silently watching Prince Yue. His hidden affection shimmered in his eyes, only to vanish when their gazes met.
Prince Yue stood up. “Shouyue, I need to step out for a moment. I’ll return to you shortly.” With that, she strode out the door.
Yun Shouyue walked over to the spot where Prince Yue had just stood. A faint trace of her cool fragrance still lingered in the air.
Their shoulders collided. Xiao Mingxian furrowed his brows and barked, “Which blind fool dares bump into me?!”