The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 62
Xiao Lin and Xiao Wanqi arrived late with their wives.
After Yuwen Yue and Yuwen Yuan left, most of the interested guests had gone boating. The Imperial Lake was not a place they could frequent, and the chance to go boating upon it was considered a great honor.
“Why don’t we go too?” Xiao Lin suggested with a smile.
Xiao Wanqi agreed, “That sounds good.”
Xiao Lin then asked, “Your Highness, aren’t you coming?”
She responded coolly, “You go ahead.”
Sensing something was off, Xiao Lin and Xiao Wanqi didn’t press the matter and left on their own.
Zhang Dingqing remained seated, upright and composed, her gaze occasionally drifting toward Song Qingqian. Yet today, Song Qingqian seemed to barely look at her at all.
Xiao Beitang rose to her feet, and Song Qingqian followed suit.
Xiao Beitang spoke in a calm voice, “General Zhang, I’m feeling a bit unwell today. Since this is your and the Crown Princess Consort’s first visit here, and the others are already out boating, why don’t you accompany her on the lake?”
Zhang Dingqing accepted respectfully.
Song Qingqian pursed her lips and looked at her. What did this mean? Her tone was frighteningly flat—neither sarcastic nor probing—just a straightforward command to Zhang Dingqing.
Xiao Beitang walked toward the palace chambers behind the pavilion without offering Song Qingqian a word or even a glance.
Zhang Dingqing invited her along with a smile. Song Qingqian gave a strained smile and said, “I’m not feeling well. Aqing, I won’t be joining you today.”
Zhang Dingqing asked with concern, “Qingqian, what’s wrong? Are you feeling ill?”
“It’s nothing serious. I just didn’t sleep well last night and have a bit of a headache. You don’t need to worry about me—go enjoy the lake.”
Zhang Dingqing looked disappointed. She had hesitated to bring it up herself, but Xiao Beitang had surprisingly taken the initiative—only for Song Qingqian to decline. Her enthusiasm instantly faded.
“Then I’ll stay here and keep you company.”
“Aqing, there’s no need. It’s rare for you to come here—go enjoy the boat ride and the scenery. I’ll rest for a bit and be fine.”
“…Alright.” Zhang Dingqing could hear the polite refusal in her voice.
Song Qingqian also walked toward the rear of the pavilion.
Xiao Beitang sat alone in the hall, casually picking up a book to read. She never imagined that one day, instead of boating on the lake, she would resort to reading to pass the time.
Song Qingqian entered slowly and gazed at her, lips slightly parted.
Xiao Beitang didn’t even lift her eyes, calmly flipping through the pages of her book.
In the end, Song Qingqian said nothing—she didn’t know what to say. She sat down to one side, took a book, and pretended to read, though she didn’t absorb a single word.
Was she truly heartbroken? From yesterday to today, she had changed entirely. The words spoken yesterday echoed in her mind—divorce—a word that should have come from Song Qingqian’s lips.
The hall was quiet. There weren’t many attendants here. Liuzi poured her tea. She took a small sip while staring blankly at the book, her long, thick lashes trembling slightly. Song Qingqian often thought Xiao
Beitang must have been carefully sculpted by Nüwa herself—so perfect, with a beauty no less than any man’s. When she was silent, she seemed like an aloof flower on a high mountain, only to be admired from afar.
But at times, when she smiled radiantly at her, Song Qingqian would feel deeply warmed. When she was clingy, Song Qingqian didn’t mind—it even felt endearing.
Unknowingly, Song Qingqian had been staring at her for a long time, lost in these thoughts.
Xiao Beitang finally looked up—expressionless, without lingering—just because she had noticed she was being watched.
One glance, then she looked back down and continued reading.
Eventually, the others returned from boating. Not finding them in the pavilion, they came looking in the back.
The two women sat reading in silence. Yuwen Yue entered with a smile and said, “The scenery on the lake is ever-changing—truly magnificent.”
“As long as the Princess Yuwen Yue enjoyed it,” Xiao Beitang said, closing her book and rising to her feet.
Song Qingqian followed suit.
“I’ve had lunch prepared, including fresh fish from the lake. Please do try some, Your Highness.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
She had become more meticulous in her hosting. Everything had been arranged personally—perhaps she was truly doing her best to live up to her promise not to let her down.
The rest of the group gradually returned.
At the banquet table—
“Why didn’t Your Highness go boating?” Yuwen Yuan asked.
“I’ve gone every time I’ve visited before, but today, I just wasn’t in the mood,” Xiao Beitang replied with a faint smile.
She really wasn’t in the mood. It would’ve been uncomfortable to sit in the same boat as Song Qingqian, both silent. She hadn’t expected Song Qingqian to not go either.
“Mirror Lake truly lives up to its name—its surface is like one vast, perfect mirror,” Yuwen Yue sighed in admiration.
Xiao Beitang asked, “This kind of scenery must be rare in Northern Liang, yes?”
Yuwen Yue sighed again, “Indeed. Northern Liang is remote, full of desert and solitary smoke—this is a rare sight for us.”
“If Your Highness enjoys it, please stay a few more days,” Xiao Beitang offered politely.
“I’d love to, but my father’s health is declining by the day. I’m afraid I won’t be able to remain long.”
“There will be other opportunities,” Xiao Beitang said lightly.
After lunch, they returned to the pavilion, chatted over tea, and enjoyed a moment of cultured leisure.
As the sky darkened, the group returned to the capital.
On the way back, Xiao Beitang kept her eyes closed, resting, saying not a word.
The next day, Xiao Beitang planned to take Yuwen Yue and the others hunting at the imperial hunting grounds in the suburbs. Xiao Lin and Xiao Wanqi accompanied them. As a military officer, Zhang Dingqing naturally joined as well.
Xiao Beitang didn’t ask much. Women were allowed at the hunting grounds; and if there were safety concerns, they could simply avoid entering the main hunting area. She got up as usual—so did Song Qingqian.
It seemed she intended to go too.
Xiao Beitang didn’t speak to her. She walked ahead, leaving it to Song Qingqian whether she followed or not.
At the palace gates, the group was already assembled. Xiao Beitang mounted her horse and led the way to the hunting grounds.
These grounds were typically used by the emperor and royal family for biannual spring and autumn hunts—grand occasions. This time, the event was smaller, arranged specially for Yuwen Yue’s visit.
The grounds were vast, with forested areas housing dangerous predators like tigers and bears. The outer areas held smaller game such as rabbits.
The hunt would last about three days. Everyone settled in first, with the hunting to begin in the afternoon.
Everyone changed into appropriate attire. Song Qingqian and Yuwen Yuan were among them. Xiao Beitang had earlier ordered her horse, Treading Snow, to be brought to her. Song Qingqian immediately recognized the horse and glanced at Xiao Beitang, who was gently stroking her own steed, Gale, clearly fond of it.
Xiao Beitang mounted and pulled the reins taut. “Everyone, I’ll go on ahead,” she said.
With a tug of the reins, she turned her horse and galloped into the forest. The others eagerly followed, hoofbeats pounding in chorus.
The birds scattered. The quiet forest suddenly became lively. This place teemed with game, and before long, the hunters began to make their catches.
Xiao Beitang never lingered in the outskirts. She headed straight into the dense woods—Yuwen Yue followed suit.
Thick grass and brambles filled the forest. Wild beasts roamed. They searched cautiously, alert to danger.
That day, Xiao Beitang returned empty-handed.
At the evening banquet, the group feasted on wild pheasants and rabbits caught during the day.
Yuwen Yue looked at the delicacies before her and asked, “Your Highness, there’s something I don’t understand.”
“You saw plenty of wild pheasants and rabbits today, yet you didn’t hunt them. Why?”
“Boring,” Xiao Beitang replied curtly. She raised her cup and took a drink, then added calmly, “If we’re hunting, let’s hunt something fierce or rare—otherwise, what’s the point?”
Yuwen Yue laughed. “I see.”
“This rabbit dish was hunted by the Crown Princess Consort herself,” Liuzi chimed in with a smile, helping her to a piece.
Xiao Beitang glanced at it but did not move.
Song Qingqian sat beside her, stunned to see her not even touch the wild game she had caught.
Yuwen Yue asked again, “But what if Your Highness doesn’t find any fierce game? Wouldn’t you end up empty-handed and disappointed?”
Xiao Beitang replied, “If you settle for less, how can you call it satisfying?”
“Well said,” Yuwen Yue agreed with a smile.
Only the dishes before Song Qingqian and Xiao Beitang had meat she personally hunted. Yet Xiao Beitang never touched the rabbit—despite it being her favorite.
After the banquet, Xiao Beitang returned to her tent. Song Qingqian, not being a concubine and the only legal wife, was not assigned a separate tent.
Xiao Beitang only learned of this at night. Song Qingqian hadn’t entered her tent but had instructed the attendants to prepare a separate one.
It was set up next to Xiao Beitang’s. Hearing a commotion outside, she asked, “What’s going on?”
Liuzi answered in a low voice, “The steward was just scolded by Xiaotao. The Crown Princess Consort wasn’t given her own tent, so she had to wait in the main tent for a long time. It’s cold, and even with the braziers, the large tent was freezing.
They’re setting up her tent now.”Xiao Beitang froze for a moment, then composed herself again. In the past, even when the late Emperor and Empress came together, they shared one tent. By custom, the Crown Princess Consort was meant to stay with the heir apparent. The steward hadn’t technically done anything wrong.
Her heart ached. She would rather freeze in the main tent than share a space with her.
How ridiculous.
Outside, it was pitch black. Winter nights were long and damp. After some bustling, quiet finally returned. Xiao Beitang let out a long breath.