The Prince Consort Is Also Pretending To Be Affectionate Today - Chapter 37
37
Ji Rongjin had always found it difficult to discern what Princess Shen Zhuwan was thinking. For instance, at this moment, one second they were getting along just fine, and the next, the princess wouldn’t even allow her to smile.
Caught off guard for a moment, Ji Rongjin raised her eyes in confusion, but all she could read from Shen Zhuwan’s expression was the word “serious.” Nothing more could be gleaned.
Her gaze shifted to Jinxi, who stood nearby.
Unlike Shen Zhuwan, who could conceal all her emotions, Jinxi’s feelings were written plainly on her face.
Ji Rongjin caught a look from Jinxi that seemed to accuse her of being a heartless cad.
Blinking at her, Ji Rongjin silently asked, What’s wrong with the princess?
Jinxi glared back, as if to say, It’s all your fault.
Ji Rongjin, puzzled, thought, My fault?
Their silent exchange of glances ended there. Watching Jinxi lower her head, Ji Rongjin wondered what this had to do with her. Surely it couldn’t be that the princess was jealous just because she saw her walking with Miss Ye?
She stole another glance at Shen Zhuwan—Hmm, probably just in a bad mood.
After a brief silence, Ji Rongjin decided it was best not to provoke the princess further. With utmost respect, she said, “This humble official understands. I will keep Your Highness’s teachings in mind during the prayer ceremony.”
Shen Zhuwan gave her a fleeting glance, neither confirming nor denying, before turning to walk into the hall.
Ji Rongjin didn’t think much of it. If she had any thoughts at all, they were about her excitement over soon earning money to pay off her debts.
The prayer ceremony proceeded as smoothly as it had the previous day.
Afterward, Ji Rongjin took her scriptures and returned to her room, facing yet another exhausting afternoon of copying.
Meanwhile, after escorting the young emperor back to his room, Shen Zhuwan, who had also collected her scriptures, headed straight for the side hall.
Not long after, under a tree in the courtyard behind the side hall, a woman in dark robes sat at a stone table. She raised her chin slightly toward Shen Zhuwan. “Your Highness graces us with your presence. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner.”
Shen Zhuwan had no patience for such pleasantries, her gaze icy. “What’s the matter?”
Ye Lu smiled, her fingertips lightly tapping the stone table. “Nothing much. I merely wished to inform Your Highness that I’ve reached a cooperative agreement with Young Master Ji. We’ll inevitably be seeing each other often in the future.”
The princess’s expression remained impassive. She responded coolly, “This Princess only wishes to know why the Pavilion Master is going to such lengths to get close to my consort.”
“What does Your Highness think?” Ye Lu raised her eyes, her tone playful. “The Prince Consort has neither wealth nor power. What could I possibly want by approaching him?”
An invisible tension surged outward. Ye Lu lightly tapped her foot on the ground and leaped away just as, with a loud crack, the stone bench she had been sitting on split in two.
Standing on a tree branch, she looked at the distant princess with a teasing smile. “Your Highness’s reaction is more intense than I expected.”
Shen Zhuwan’s hand, hidden behind her back, twitched slightly as she raised her cold gaze.
Ye Lu’s smile faded a bit. “I thought, since Your Highness allowed him to ride in His Majesty’s carriage, you didn’t care about him at all.”
Shen Zhuwan’s expression grew even colder. “Was that your doing, the Pavilion?”
“Don’t misunderstand, Your Highness,” Ye Lu said, shifting her position to sit on the branch. “I value my promises and naturally wouldn’t meddle in your disputes. But when business comes knocking, I don’t turn it away.”
She jumped down from the tree, her lips curling as she stared at Shen Zhuwan. “Since we’ve met here, I’ll give Your Highness a piece of information for free.”
Fixing her gaze on Shen Zhuwan’s expression, Ye Lu said softly, “He and I had a past. We nearly got married, you know.”
As her words fell, the air around them seemed to freeze. In an instant, a sudden gust of wind sent the courtyard’s leaves trembling violently. Though they didn’t fall, the tips of the leaves eerily pointed toward the masked woman.
Ye Lu observed Shen Zhuwan, a flicker of contemplation in her eyes. It seemed the princess wasn’t entirely indifferent after all.
Having achieved her goal, Ye Lu dodged the flurry of leaves that came whistling toward her. With a flick of her sleeve, the leaves fell powerlessly to the ground.
With a parting smile, she said, “Until we meet again, Your Highness.”
After passing through the dense bamboo grove, Ye Lu suddenly looked in a certain direction, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. She saw a disheveled young girl approaching and said, “Why haven’t you left yet?”
The girl, Song Nan, was soaked through, her face unnaturally flushed. It was clear she hadn’t returned home last night and had instead spent it in the grove, drenched by the rain.
“Sister,” Song Nan said, managing a faint smile on her pale face. “I was waiting here to go back with you.”
Before Ye Lu could frown, Song Nan lowered her head and said softly, “I’ve thought it through. I won’t bother you anymore.”
The girl, thoroughly soaked, shivered as she spoke those cautious words.
Ye Lu’s hand twitched at her side, but she didn’t reach out. A fleeting look of pity and heartache passed through her eyes before they returned to calm.
After a long silence, Ye Lu let out a cold, “Mm.”
“Go back first,” she said, noting Song Nan’s trembling. “Change your clothes.”
“Alright.”
Song Nan followed her closely, keeping a careful distance—not too far, not too close. It seemed she had truly made up her mind.
Ye Lu lowered her gaze, thinking this was for the best. Getting too attached to her never ended well.
Her thoughts drifted to her past, circling back to Ji Rongjin.
What she had told Shen Zhuwan wasn’t entirely a lie.
At least before she had “died,” Grand Tutor Ji and his wife had indeed considered betrothing her to Ji Rongjin as a childhood bride. But back then, they were young, and their bond was pure—part familial, part friendly.
That ambiguous statement was merely a test to gauge how much Shen Zhuwan truly cared for Ji Rongjin.
Lost in thought, Ye Lu was startled by a dull thud behind her—the sound of something collapsing.
Turning, she saw Song Nan sprawled on the ground, unconscious.
Without hesitation, Ye Lu rushed to her side, lifting her up. Her hand brushed the girl’s forehead, feeling an alarming heat. Quickly, she hoisted Song Nan onto her back and headed toward the city.
On her back, Song Nan, sensing the familiar warmth, managed a faint smile.
By nightfall, the weather, clear for half the day, turned rainy again. As evening deepened, the rain grew heavier, accompanied by relentless thunder.
Ji Rongjin, having bathed early, wrapped herself in a blanket and slipped over to Shen Zhuwan’s door, just as she had the previous night.
She knocked softly. “Princess, open the door. Your humble official is here.”
The door opened quickly, revealing Shen Zhuwan in a pristine white inner robe.
Ji Rongjin slipped inside, glancing nervously outside several times before closing the door. Clutching her blanket, she rolled over to Shen Zhuwan’s side.
“Princess?”
The room’s candlelight still flickered. Ji Rongjin looked at the princess, who had laid down with her back to her, and hesitated. “Are we sleeping together tonight?”
Shen Zhuwan didn’t turn or respond.
Ji Rongjin touched her nose, thinking she might not get to sleep beside the princess tonight. A strange pang of disappointment hit her.
She got up to extinguish the candle, then lay back down beside Shen Zhuwan, quietly wrapping herself in her blanket.
“Princess, are you tired today?”
Her sincere, puzzled words reached Shen Zhuwan’s ears. The princess sighed softly in her heart, shifted slightly, and said quietly, “This Princess feels a bit cold.”
“Cold?” Ji Rongjin echoed, testing the waters. “Shall I warm you up, Princess?”
Shen Zhuwan didn’t reply.
Assuming this meant refusal, Ji Rongjin felt a mix of embarrassment and confusion. Could the princess truly be exhausted? Copying scriptures wasn’t exactly humane work—her arms were practically turning into qilin arms from the effort.
Grumbling silently to herself, Ji Rongjin noticed the princess shift again, seemingly restless.
Ever considerate, she offered, “Princess, how about I warm you up until you’re comfortable, then I’ll sleep on my side?”
Hearing the girl’s words, Shen Zhuwan closed her eyes, her emotions tangled. If she didn’t speak up, this girl would likely never cross the line to get closer.
“Come here.” Shen Zhuwan finally said.
Soon, she heard rustling, and a warm body settled behind her.
Not too close, but the warmth from the blanket grew cozy with her presence.
Harboring unspoken thoughts, Shen Zhuwan said softly, “This Princess is still a bit cold.”
Moments later, the girl pressed fully against her back, her hand resting on Shen Zhuwan’s waist. “Princess, I’ve got nowhere else to put my hand, so it’s here.”
Shen Zhuwan: “…”
There was no need to announce it.
Just then, a clap of thunder roared outside, and Shen Zhuwan’s body trembled slightly.
The girl spoke up, “Still cold, Princess?”
Without waiting for a response, Ji Rongjin slid her leg between Shen Zhuwan’s, entwining them. “This should keep you warm, right?”
The sudden closeness and unexpected action made Shen Zhuwan’s brows furrow, her ears warming. “It’s a bit hot now.”
“Oh,” the girl said lightly, loosening her hold on Shen Zhuwan’s waist.
Shen Zhuwan: “…”
She said nothing more, enduring the heat in her ears, and closed her eyes.
Behind her, seeing no further response, Ji Rongjin’s lips curved into a triumphant smile. Sleeping with the princess is definitely more comfortable.
In the confined space, their bodies pressed close.
Legs entwined, backs against chests, their breaths mingled, intertwining with one another.
In such an intimate setting, even the slightest sound was magnified a hundredfold.
Ji Rongjin softened her breathing, her heart inexplicably racing with a mix of nerves and excitement.
She wasn’t sure why, but perhaps it was because they were in a temple? With gods and Buddhas watching, their closeness felt thrillingly taboo, like a widow sneaking off with a monk in a monastery.
Ji Rongjin mentally critiqued their actions. Moments later, the woman in her arms shifted, disentangling their legs and turning to face her.
Initially confused, Ji Rongjin’s heart raced when she met those serene, deep eyes.
When the princess’s back was to her, Ji Rongjin could be bolder. But now, face-to-face, her hand on the princess’s waist suddenly felt out of place.
“P-Princess?” she stammered, then steadied herself. “Can’t sleep?”
Shen Zhuwan gazed into the girl’s clear, guileless eyes, her thoughts drifting to Ye Lu’s words from that afternoon.
“She and I had a past. We nearly got married, you know.”
Her gaze darkened.
As the quiet night stretched on without a response, Ji Rongjin was about to find an excuse to back off when the princess’s soft voice finally broke the silence.
“When did my consort meet that Miss Ye?”