The Male Lead's Harem Belongs to Me (GL) - Chapter 5

After Liu Shuwei left, Jiang Han couldn’t wait to get out of bed and have something to eat. Chun Zhu, her maid, was filled with apprehension and quickly stopped Jiang Han who was about to eat.

Jiang Han, interrupted midway through her meal, could only look at Chun Zhu with a puzzled expression, “What is it?”

Chun Zhu lowered her voice, “Princess, do you really dare to eat what Miss Liu sent over?”

Jiang Han was confused, “Why not? So many people saw her give it to me. Could she possibly poison me?”

Chun Zhu thought about it and felt that it made sense, so she let Jiang Han go. Jiang Han sat down and opened the food box. Seeing the delicious dishes, she was instantly moved to tears and exclaimed, “Miss Liu is such a good person.”

With that, she began to eat voraciously. Chun Zhu watched her Princess’s eating habits and couldn’t help but wonder, “Princess, when did you become so fond of Miss Liu? Didn’t you used to…”

Chun Zhu paused, not continuing.

Jiang Han was eating when she was suddenly interrupted, and her heart skipped a beat. She swallowed the food in her mouth and made an excuse, “I didn’t like Miss Liu before because of the Prince, but since I was nearly strangled to death by the Prince that day, I’ve realized that men are all big pigs. Their love is not reliable at all, just like the Prince. Although he says he likes Miss Liu, doesn’t he have so many concubines?”

“So,” Jiang Han looked at Chun Zhu meaningfully, “A man’s love is the least reliable thing in this world. Instead of hoping to get their love, it’s better to fill your stomach first.”

Chun Zhu felt sorry for her Princess because of the Prince’s actions, but she was also shocked by her Princess’s surprising remarks. However, when Jiang Han finished speaking, she felt that there was some truth to it.

But in the end, she only said, “Princess, be careful what you say.”

Jiang Han waved her hand indifferently. Seeing that Chun Zhu didn’t look suspicious, she finally relaxed and continued to eat happily.

••••

On the other side, Gu Hanyun, who was also punished without food, lay on the bed like a salted fish. Dan Ju, her maid, came to ask her how she was, but she just waved her hand weakly and dismissed her.

Dan Ju sighed helplessly. She dared not disobey the Prince’s orders, so she could only watch her young mistress go hungry. And Gu Hanyun, after seeing everyone leave, immediately got out of bed and rummaged in a inconspicuous box in the corner, eventually finding some of her favorite foods.

She had long known the prince’s tricks for punishing people, and as someone who often walked a tightrope, she couldn’t possibly not have prepared some countermeasures.

While Qi Ze was busy outside, he thought of the two rebellious women in his mansion and couldn’t help but snort. He wondered if the two women had repented. Who told them to do such scandalous things? It was only right to starve them.

••••

Sleeping until noon, Jiang Han got up slowly at Chun Zhu’s urging. Feeling well-rested was simply delightful.

She yawned and asked, “Is it time for lunch now?”

Chun Zhu, while dressing her, said, “Miss Liu has sent someone over. She said the lunch is already ready. If Princess doesn’t go now, you’ll only get cold food.”

Hearing this, Jiang Han quickly got up, washed up casually, and went to Liu Shuwei’s courtyard.

When she arrived, Liu Shuwei clearly looked like she was waiting for her. Jiang Han felt a little embarrassed and sat beside Liu Shuwei, stopping the servant who wanted to bow and curtsy. She said, “No need. It’s just you and me today, so let’s skip all the formalities.”

A flash of surprise crossed Liu Shuwei’s eyes, but she finally agreed with Jiang Han and obediently sat beside her.

The maids served the food for the two of them. As she ate, Jiang Han said, “Thanks to my sister today, I can enjoy such delicious food.”

Liu Shuwei was slightly startled, then her eyes darkened slightly. She said, “You’re too kind. The prince naturally prepares the best for the princess.”

Jiang Han ate happily, not noticing anything wrong with these words. She even said sincerely, “I still have to thank you. If it weren’t for you today, I would probably be starving.”

Jiang Han spoke so sincerely that Liu Shuwei couldn’t figure out what Jiang Han was trying to do. She just smiled and said, “Without me, the prince wouldn’t have the heart to let the princess go hungry.”

Liu Shuwei’s words were very artful. If it were the old Jiang Han, she might have been happy because of her words, but the current Jiang Han just sighed softly, turned to look at Liu Shuwei’s beautiful and thin face, and said, “Sister Liu, you should eat more. Look how thin you are.”

With that, she picked up a piece of meat.

Liu Shuwei frowned slightly at Jiang Han’s gesture of picking up food for her. However, the next second, she saw Jiang Han put the piece of meat into her own bowl, took a big bite, and then turned to urge her in a muffled voice, “Eat, sister. Don’t waste all this food.”

Liu Shuwei: “…”

Liu Shuwei looked at Jiang Han’s bright black eyes. Her expression was so sincere, as if she just wanted her to eat a few more bites. Her lips were full and shiny from the oil, and her red color was even more pronounced.

She ate so happily that Liu Shuwei couldn’t help but feel a little hungry, so she smiled and nodded, lowering her head to eat.

After the meal, Jiang Han patted her bottom and returned to her room. Shui Lu looked at her young mistress’s empty plate today and a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, followed by a hint of happiness. She said, “Miss, you finally finished a bowl of rice today.”

Liu Shuwei had been sickly for many years, and her appetite was naturally poor. She usually ate no more than half a bowl each day, and she rarely ate vegetables. Often, whatever was brought over was sent back in the same way. However, today, looking at the almost empty plates on the table and feeling full, Liu Shuwei suddenly thought of Jiang Han, who had “defended against thousands” at the dinner table.

Unexpectedly, the first time she was able to eat so much was thanks to the princess.

••••

After a filling lunch, Jiang Han went back for a nap and slept until late afternoon. Just as she was about to get up and go to Liu Shuwei’s place for dinner, Chun Zhu informed her that Liu Shuwei had been summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager half an hour ago.

Jiang Han sat up abruptly. The Empress Dowager summoning Liu Shuwei? She remembered that the two of them shouldn’t have met so early in the original plot. Could it be…

Jiang Han instantly understood. In the original book, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t summon Liu Shuwei for another month or two because Jiang Han had strongly opposed Qi Ze marrying Liu Shuwei and had been obstructing it for a long time, causing Qi Ze to ask the Empress Dowager to postpone the marriage. Now, not only was Jiang Han not stopping it, but she had also agreed so early.

From this, it could be seen that the current situation was probably because the male lead, after getting Jiang Han’s agreement, had eagerly gone to the Empress Dowager to tell her about it.

Naturally, the Empress Dowager would not agree. Not to mention that the current trend was to value agriculture over commerce, and Liu Shuwei was of low status. Qi Ze wanted to ask for a concubine position for Liu Shuwei, but his other concubines were all daughters of officials. If Liu Shuwei were truly made a concubine, how would those officials feel?

There was more to the Empress Dowager’s disagreement than just that. Of course, part of it was because of her niece, Jiang Han. In the original book, Jiang Han had hated Liu Shuwei so much that she naturally had nothing good to say about Liu Shuwei in front of the Empress Dowager.

Jiang Han quickly got up and began to primp. She said, “Send someone to the palace now and tell my aunt that I will be going to see her soon.”

Jiang Han had a token that allowed her to freely enter and exit the palace, so she could see anyone as long as she gave advance notice.

Seeing her Princess in such a flustered state, Chun Zhu quickly stepped forward to help and asked puzzled, “What is Princess doing?”

Jiang Han said, “Going to see my aunt. Oh, and get me the glazed phoenix hairpin I bought a few days ago.”

After getting ready, Jiang Han immediately went to the palace.

Outside the Cining Palace, the sun was still quite strong, and the scorching sun baked the earth unbearably hot. The surrounding green shrubs were all a little wilted, listlessly drooping their heads, and the air was distorted by the heat.

Liu Shuwei stood in the scorching sun without any cover, and large beads of sweat slid down her forehead. Her face was pale, and she was biting her lip tightly, as if she was enduring something. The sweat never stopped, and soon it soaked her back. Her already pale lips were now cracked and almost bleeding.

Liu Shuwei had known since the Empress Dowager summoned her that this would happen. This was the Empress Dowager’s way of giving her a warning, telling her that not everyone could climb the royal family tree.

This was something she had to endure.

She had already prepared herself to be exposed to the sun for an hour, but soon, she heard hurried footsteps behind her. Liu Shuwei didn’t take it seriously, thinking it was just a eunuch or maid who had urgent business with the Empress Dowager.

Those hurried footsteps soon reached her, followed by a sweet, refreshing fruity scent and a cool shade. For no reason, Liu Shuwei felt that this person was coming towards her.

Sure enough, a voice came from beside her, “Sister, why are you standing in the hot sun?”

Liu Shuwei turned her head and saw an overly beautiful face. She was stunned for a moment before realizing it was Jiang Han.

“Princess,” Liu Shuwei called out to her. Her voice was slightly hoarse, perhaps from not speaking for a long time. “The Empress Dowager is resting. I’m waiting for her summons.”

Jiang Han naturally knew what was going on. What rest? It was just an excuse to torment Liu Shuwei in a different way.

Seeing Liu Shuwei’s paper-white complexion, Jiang Han couldn’t help but feel a little heartache. How could the old Empress Dowager be so heartless? Jiang Han handed Liu Shuwei a handkerchief and leaned the umbrella closer to her, then said to Chun Zhu, “Inform my aunt and say that I’m here.”

Chun Zhu accepted the order and went in, leaving Jiang Han standing beside Liu Shuwei, holding an umbrella for her.

With the shade provided by the umbrella, Liu Shuwei finally felt a little more comfortable. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with Jiang Han’s handkerchief and looked at the person beside her with beautiful eyes, “Thank you, Princess.”

A cool breeze blew by, and the woman’s sweet fruity scent became even more distinct as she approached. Jiang Han waved her hand and whispered in her ear, “Of course, I didn’t eat your food for free.”

Liu Shuwei immediately thought of Jiang Han’s energetic eating at noon. She wanted to laugh, but because they were in the palace, she didn’t. Instead, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

The scorching hot weather seemed to cool down a little at that moment.

Soon, Chun Zhu returned with a message. With Jiang Han there, the Empress Dowager naturally wouldn’t pretend to be asleep and leave her waiting outside.

Holding the umbrella, Jiang Han turned to Liu Shuwei and said, “Let’s go, sister. It’s time to go in.”

Liu Shuwei nodded. “Thank you, Princess. I can walk on my own from now on.”

Jiang Han knew that Liu Shuwei couldn’t stay under her umbrella anymore, so she nodded and handed the umbrella to Chun Zhu. Liu Shuwei and Jiang Han, accompanied by the maids holding umbrellas, walked to the front of the Cining Palace.

As soon as she entered the Cining Palace, Jiang Han felt a wave of coolness. Unlike the heat outside, the Cining Palace was warm in winter and cool in summer. Even though it was so hot outside, it was still cool inside.

As soon as she walked in, she heard a majestic female voice slowly say, “Han’er, why did you think of coming to see your aunt today?”

Author’s Note: Thank you everyone!