The Prince Consort Is Also Pretending To Be Affectionate Today - Chapter 14

14

The cicadas chirped noisily in the height of summer, the moonlight thick and smooth like satin.

Crash!

The sound of shattering porcelain echoed from the Chancellor’s study, followed by a furious roar.

“A bunch of useless fools!” He Li’s face was terrifyingly dark. “You can’t even handle such a small matter—what use are you?”

The people kneeling before him were silent, trembling with fear.

He Li’s anger flared even more.

Lately, he had been plagued by misfortune. First, the entire family of the Minister of Revenue, his ally, had perished. Then, when he sent men to retrieve evidence that could incriminate him, they returned with news that it had vanished.

But compared to what happened in court today, those were trivial.

That cunning fox, Shen Zhuwan, had deftly shifted the blame onto the Xuange Organization with just a few words, manipulating him into investigating them. Not only did this cost him a valuable ally, but it also pitted him against a formidable force like Xuange.

How could he not be furious?

After a long while, He Li calmed slightly, closing his eyes in irritation. “Have you contacted Xuange?” he asked.

“Yes, sir. Their response was that they only take money for jobs—no partnerships.”

An expected answer, yet He Li’s chest heaved with anger. Finally, he waved a hand. “Get out.”

The man scurried away, leaving He Li alone, his expression shifting before settling into calm.

No rush. There was still time.

Not long after Ji Rongjin dressed and left, Shen Zhuwan, lying in bed, suddenly opened her eyes.

Outside, the moonlight glowed brightly. A shadow flashed past the window, and a cold arrow pierced through the paper pane, aimed straight at the bed.

Shen Zhuwan’s gaze turned icy. With a slight flick of her sleeve, a powerful gust halted the arrow mid-air, suspending it.

By the moonlight, she saw the Xuange emblem on it.

Half an hour later, in the water pavilion in the backyard of the Princess’s Mansion:

A figure in dark robes blended almost perfectly with the night. Hearing a sound behind them, they raised an eyebrow, caught the cold arrow with a swift motion, and tucked it into their sleeve before turning. “Your Highness.”

Under the moonlight, a black mask covered the upper half of the newcomer’s face. From their build, it was clear they were a woman.

“Care to sit?” the woman asked with a slight smile, inviting Shen Zhuwan.

Shen Zhuwan studied her for a long moment before speaking. “The leader of Xuange sneaking into my mansion in the dead of night to shoot arrows is quite surprising.”

Ye Lu paused, then smiled, countering, “When it comes to shooting arrows, Your Highness is the true expert.”

Their gazes met, sparks seeming to fly in the air.

Finally, Ye Lu looked away, pouting. “I only came to retrieve someone. Your Highness needn’t overthink it.”

Shen Zhuwan kept staring, silent.

Ye Lu frowned. “The person who came today—hand her over, and I’ll overlook everything you’ve done to me.”

“Xuange’s leader makes bold demands,” Shen Zhuwan replied. “Someone tries to assassinate me in my own mansion, and you expect to take them away with just a word? That’s rather presumptuous.”

“Presumptuous?” Ye Lu laughed, sizing Shen Zhuwan up. “It seems Your Highness has forgotten what you said in court. Need a reminder?”

Shen Zhuwan’s expression remained unchanged. “You’re well-informed.”

Ye Lu sneered. “Of course I am. I got the news firsthand—someone wanted to partner with Xuange.”

She said this deliberately, watching Shen Zhuwan’s reaction. But Shen Zhuwan’s face remained impassive, and Ye Lu gritted her teeth, cursing old fox in her mind.

“Fine, you can take the person.” Shen Zhuwan said, finally stepping forward to sit across from Ye Lu. “But only if you work with me.”

Ye Lu was stunned, then laughed. “What’s this? Your Highness had the Chancellor target Xuange during the day, and now you want to collaborate?”

Shen Zhuwan raised an eyebrow. “That’s my only offer.”

Ye Lu’s smile faded. “Work with you? Tsk, then I don’t want the person.”

She stood to leave. “I’m off. We’ll talk about ransom another time.”

Shen Zhuwan said calmly, “The person isn’t in the Princess’s Mansion. Even if you tried to break in, you wouldn’t find them.”

Her thoughts exposed, Ye Lu’s expression didn’t change, but her steps paused. “I wouldn’t dare work with Your Highness, but I can promise not to collaborate with anyone else for a year.”

A sign of negotiation.

Shen Zhuwan remained silent, as if her only condition was cooperation.

Ye Lu smirked. “Your Highness planned for this moment from the start, didn’t you?”

She studied Shen Zhuwan casually. “From the moment you made a deal with Xuange, you foresaw all this. Guiding the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to investigate us, forcing the Right Chancellor to stand against us in court, and now my offer not to work with others…” Ye Lu paused, staring deeply at Shen Zhuwan. “Your Highness is truly cunning.”

The only threats to Shen Zhuwan were the Chancellor, Prince Ning, and the rising Xuange. To prevent Xuange from allying with either, she had orchestrated this, bringing Xuange into the public eye and weakening the Chancellor’s faction.

But…

Ye Lu raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you worried Xuange might get desperate and side with the Chancellor or Prince Ning?”

Shen Zhuwan replied, “If you trusted them, you wouldn’t hesitate to trust me.”

Indeed, Ye Lu trusted none of them—neither He Li, Prince Ning, nor Shen Zhuwan. She couldn’t be sure that, after victory, any of them wouldn’t turn on Xuange.

Xuange’s existence was a latent threat to those in power.

Ye Lu grew serious. “Three years. For three years, Xuange won’t interfere in your conflicts.”

Three years was enough time.

Shen Zhuwan’s lips curved slightly. “I didn’t expect tonight’s assassin to be so important to you.”

Ye Lu’s face darkened. “That idiot deserves to die for being so incompetent.”

Shen Zhuwan didn’t comment, only giving an address. “The third woodshed on the left in the backyard.”

Ye Lu’s forehead twitched. “Didn’t you say they weren’t in the mansion?”

Shen Zhuwan gave her a look as if she were an idiot and left without a word.

Ye Lu: “…” She hated old foxes.

The next day, the guard watching the woodshed confessed in panic that the assassin had vanished.

Shen Zhuwan, impartial as ever, punished the guard and strengthened the mansion’s security.

By evening, the sun had finally dipped lower.

In a courtyard of the Princess’s Mansion, under a lush tree, a figure was pulling weeds while muttering, “Apologize to her, don’t apologize, apologize, don’t apologize, apologize, don’t…”

After repeated muttering, the final weed left was “don’t.”

Ji Rongjin angrily yanked out the last weed and slumped to the ground.

It had been a week—a whole week of avoiding Shen Zhuwan. After being kicked out of her room that day, Ji Rongjin had an epiphany, realizing she’d been terribly wrong.

She’d thought the Princess was angry because she’d been hesitant about that, but now, thinking back, that wasn’t it. As for why Shen Zhuwan was upset, Ji Rongjin chalked it up to those few days women have each month.

But a week had passed; those days should be over. Ji Rongjin was torn about whether to apologize.

If she went, she didn’t know what she’d done wrong. If she didn’t, every morning at court felt like dancing on her own grave.

It was chilling.

After much deliberation, Ji Rongjin gave up.

Fine. The Princess’s birthday was approaching. She’d prepare a surprise, then offer a sincere apology. Surely Shen Zhuwan would forgive her then?

Pleased with her plan, Ji Rongjin was soon interrupted by Dongmei, who whispered, “Young Master Lin is here. He says he’s here to teach you martial arts.”

Ji Rongjin’s face darkened. “His intentions are as clear as day.”

Dongmei: “?”

Ji Rongjin: “No invitation, no meeting. Tell him I’m not here.”

Before she finished, a voice came from the courtyard gate. “Tsk, if you’re scared, just say so. Don’t blame it on a lack of invitation.”

Ji Rongjin looked up to see Lin Changcun, head held high as if he were immune to neck pain.

“Scared? Scared you’re not skilled enough to teach me?” she retorted.

Lin Changcun choked, then snorted. “Not skilled? If I’m not skilled, how’d you end up with that bald patch on the back of your head?”

Ji Rongjin: “…”

It was too hot to wear a hat, so after court, Ji Rongjin had gone without one. The bald spot was, conveniently, quite cooling.

But his words infuriated her. His fault, and he dared mock her?

Ji Rongjin gritted her teeth. “Want to spar?”

Lin Changcun raised an eyebrow. “Bring it.”

Moments later, Ji Rongjin, unsteady after being pushed back, fell hard on her rear, staring blankly at the blue sky… until a smug face appeared above her.

Lin Changcun frowned, disdainful. “Trying to fake an injury again? No rocks to hit your head on this time.”

“?” Ji Rongjin sat up. “I didn’t fake it last time!”

Lin Changcun stepped back, wary of her touching him. “Not faking? I’d already stopped, but you insisted on showing off, fell, and hit your head on a rock. Got me a beating from my dad.”

Ji Rongjin’s eyes flickered. So that’s how the original owner died?

She squinted, about to speak, when Lin Changcun’s eyes lit up, and he bolted.

A bad feeling crept up. Ji Rongjin turned and saw Shen Zhuwan, just back from the palace.

Her heart skipped a beat. She whipped her head back, a mix of embarrassment and inexplicable anticipation.

After a long moment, someone cheerfully kicked her. Ji Rongjin looked up to see Lin Changcun grinning widely, his face oddly flushed. “Get up. Let’s keep practicing.”

Ji Rongjin found his enthusiasm baffling. As she stood and brushed off dirt, she glanced back discreetly.

But where Shen Zhuwan had stood was empty, as if she’d never been there. Only the lush green leaves hinted at something.

Her anticipation fizzled.

“Yo, had a fight, huh?” Lin Changcun teased, his smile all teeth. “Does that mean I’ve got a better shot now?”

Ji Rongjin: “…”

She narrowed her eyes, sneering. “So you like the Princess that much?”

Lin Changcun tilted his head, noncommittal.

Ji Rongjin raised her chin, eyeing him slyly. “Let’s test you.”

“Question one: If the Princess and your dad both fell into the water, who’d you save? No hesitating—answer fast!”

Lin Changcun blinked, then said firmly, “The Princess. My dad can swim.”

“Good. Question two: If the Princess and your dad got into a fight, who’d you help?”

Lin Changcun stepped forward. “The Princess! Whoever I help, I’d just be a burden.”

“Good. Question three.” Ji Rongjin stepped closer, staring him down. “If the Princess fell into a latrine and needed someone to jump in to save her, would you?”

“I’d—” Lin Changcun paused, his face turning green. “What kind of question is that?”

Ji Rongjin: “You hesitated.”

Lin Changcun: “I didn’t! I’d—gag.”

His sudden retching made Ji Rongjin step back in disgust. She looked at his ashen face, shaking her head. “Tsk, seems Young Master Lin doesn’t like the Princess that much.”

As Lin Changcun opened his mouth to retort, Ji Rongjin continued, “If it were me, I’d jump in without hesitation. After all, I’m the Princess’s one and only, chosen, most beloved husband.”

She emphasized each word with venom, finishing with a pitying yet affectionate look, certain she’d stunned Lin Changcun.

After all, he was now staring, slack-jawed, behind her.

Behind her.

Ji Rongjin slowly turned to see Shen Zhuwan standing expressionless below the platform, having overheard who-knows-how-much.

Ji Rongjin: “…”