The Prince Consort Is Also Pretending To Be Affectionate Today - Chapter 4

4: Firsthand News

Outside, the sunlight was bright, signaling clear and warm weather.

Ji Rongjin stared in disbelief, filled with annoyance and regret. Why hadn’t she waited a bit longer last night? After sleeping through the night, her entire body ached as if she’d been wrung out. To make matters worse, the person across from her acted as if it was perfectly natural, leaving her speechless.

Seeing Ji Rongjin’s colorful expressions, Shen Zhuwan didn’t interrupt. She quietly observed for a moment before saying, “Since the Consort has risen, shall we dine together?”

Ji Rongjin, who had been planning to go back to sleep after Shen Zhuwan left: “…”

She glanced out the window, her emotions shifting from shock to despair, and finally, she looked at Shen Zhuwan with a hesitant expression, as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.

Shen Zhuwan raised an eyebrow slightly. “Does the Consort have something to say?”

Ji Rongjin hesitated for a long moment before swallowing her words with a look of aggrieved indignation. She slowly began to dress, fumbling with her waistband. However, ancient clothing was rather complicated, and after struggling for a while, Ji Rongjin managed to put on her clothes, but they looked like a crumpled piece of discarded paper, utterly disheveled.

“Your Highness, shall I go wash up first?” Ji Rongjin tugged at her collar. Her jet-black hair intertwined with the white robe, creating a striking contrast, like a casually sketched landscape painting.

The girl’s dark eyes still carried a trace of sleepy haze, likely due to a restless night. Her face was pale as parchment, with faint dark circles under her eyes.

Shen Zhuwan hesitated for a moment before calling out, just as Ji Rongjin turned to leave, “Wait.”

Ji Rongjin stopped as instructed and turned around, only to be met with a familiar cold fragrance wafting toward her.

For a brief moment, she froze, then saw a slender, pale hand, delicate as an onion root, reaching toward her collar.

Instinctively, Ji Rongjin clutched her clothes and stepped back, eyeing Shen Zhuwan warily like a startled rabbit. “Your Highness, what are you doing? That’s a different price—er, I mean, in broad daylight, isn’t this inappropriate?”

Jinxi’s face flushed red instantly. She slipped out the door and thoughtfully closed it behind her.

Her speed was so swift that Shen Zhuwan didn’t even have a chance to call her back.

Moments later, Ji Rongjin watched as Shen Zhuwan slowly withdrew her hand, her expression growing colder. Only then did Ji Rongjin realize the gravity of the situation.

It dawned on her that Shen Zhuwan had likely intended to help straighten her disheveled clothes, not anything untoward as she had assumed.

And yet, she had dodged!

She had dodged!

Ji Rongjin wanted to pinch her own philtrum to revive herself, but seeing Shen Zhuwan’s icy expression, she decided it was best to keep quiet.

The atmosphere in the room grew oppressively heavy. Ji Rongjin looked at the woman whose expression was unreadable and, under mounting pressure, stammered, “Y-Your Highness, why don’t you go have breakfast first?”

After a long pause, Shen Zhuwan finally shifted her gaze away from Ji Rongjin’s face. She turned, her flowing dress slicing through the room’s tense air, her back radiating cold anger.

Ji Rongjin’s face was a picture of despair. She looked down at her messy clothes and called out, “Dongmei, come in.”

The door creaked open, and Dongmei appeared at the threshold. She hurried to Ji Rongjin’s side, anxiously asking, “Consort, did you clash with Her Highness again?”

Ji Rongjin scratched the back of her head awkwardly. “No, why would you say that?”

“No?” Dongmei looked skeptical. “Then why did I nearly catch a chill from Her Highness’s icy aura as she passed by me?”

Ji Rongjin: “…You sure know how to exaggerate.”

Not wanting to dwell on the topic, Ji Rongjin spread her arms and said, “Help me fix my clothes first. This blasted outfit never looks neat no matter how I wear it.”

Dongmei stepped forward skillfully to adjust her clothes, muttering under her breath, “Consort, are you sure you didn’t clash with Her Highness?”

Ji Rongjin: “…No.”

Dongmei gave her another distrustful glance but continued smoothing out her clothes.

Ji Rongjin felt guilty under her gaze but refrained from sharing her suspicions. What if she was overthinking it? What if Her Highness had no intention of helping her fix her clothes? Admitting that would be far too embarrassing.

On the other side, after Shen Zhuwan finished breakfast, Ji Rongjin arrived belatedly.

Seeing the girl in a pristine white robe, Shen Zhuwan glanced briefly before looking away and standing up. “Jinxi.”

Jinxi had sensed her mistress’s frosty demeanor ever since she left the room. Throughout the entire meal, she hadn’t dared utter a word. Having misunderstood her mistress’s intentions and caused a blunder—then fleeing the scene—Jinxi was riddled with guilt.

Now that Her Highness finally called her, Jinxi immediately responded, “Princess, the carriage is ready.”

Shen Zhuwan nodded and turned to leave.

Ji Rongjin hurriedly called out, “Your Highness.”

Shen Zhuwan paused, glancing at her with a tight expression, her half-lowered lashes betraying a trace of impatience, as if she’d turn to ice if Ji Rongjin didn’t have something worthwhile to say.

Feeling a bit guilty, Ji Rongjin offered an apologetic smile. “I’m truly sorry about this morning, Your Highness. It was my misunderstanding.”

The girl’s features were refined, her eyes gentle. A breeze stirred her white robe and black hair, and her apologetic smile came alive, like reeds by the shore, rippling in the spring wind.

Shen Zhuwan looked into the depths of the girl’s eyes. They were clear and pure, free of complicated thoughts or impure intentions, filled only with sincere remorse.

After a long moment, Shen Zhuwan looked away and continued walking. A faint, almost imperceptible “mm” escaped her throat.

Ji Rongjin didn’t catch it. Staring at Shen Zhuwan’s retreating figure, she was utterly confused. “Dongmei, do you think the Princess forgave me or not?”

She looked up to see Dongmei staring at her with a resentful expression. Dongmei sighed faintly, “So, Consort, you did clash with Her Highness this morning, didn’t you?”

Ji Rongjin: “…”

Under Dongmei’s ghostly gaze, Ji Rongjin reluctantly recounted the morning’s events.

“What? You’re saying Her Highness wanted to help you fix your clothes?!”

Dongmei’s eyes sparkled with a rainbow of colors, brimming with excitement. “That’s wonderful, wonderful! If the Master and Mistress knew the Young… Master was so favored, they’d be overjoyed.”

After her excitement, Dongmei looked at Ji Rongjin with a sigh. “If only you could stay amnesiac forever.”

Ji Rongjin: “?”

Sensing something, she asked, “Was I not favored before?”

Dongmei paused before replying, “Of course not. You were favored before too, but something like today is a first. That’s the only Princess of our Daqian Dynasty!”

Ji Rongjin didn’t understand Dongmei’s sudden enthusiasm but played along with a long “Oh” before quickly changing the subject. “Let’s eat.”

Dongmei: “…”

After a hearty meal, Ji Rongjin lounged on a recliner, playing the part of an invalid on paid leave. Compared to Shen Zhuwan, who had to attend court and govern daily, she was far too idle.

But idle minds wander. For instance, why did the original Ji Rongjin, knowing she couldn’t beat Lin Changcun, keep challenging him? From others’ reactions, the original Ji seemed reserved. How did she interact with the Princess daily? Did her family know she was disguised as a man? And was the so-called deep love between her and the Princess real?

She hadn’t thought deeply about it before, but now, the more she pondered, the more questions arose.

Lost in thought, Ji Rongjin suddenly sat up from the recliner. Startled, Dongmei asked, “Consort, what are you doing?”

Ji Rongjin: “Nothing, just going out for a bit.”

Moments later, Ji Rongjin, fully dressed, boarded a carriage and set off leisurely.

“Consort, where are you going?” Dongmei asked, puzzled.

“Nowhere specific, just wandering.” Ji Rongjin addressed the coachman outside, “Drop me off at the market. I’ll stroll around.”

The coachman responded affirmatively.

Dongmei fell silent, assuming her Consort was simply bored and wanted to explore.

The carriage soon reached the market. It was still early, and the crowd was sparse. Ji Rongjin visited shop after shop, Dongmei trailing behind. She noticed her master lingering in each store, nodding and fiddling with items, chatting with shopkeepers—but never buying anything.

After a while, Dongmei grew tired. Ji Rongjin kindly sent her back to the carriage to rest. After some back-and-forth, Dongmei relented, and Ji Rongjin began wandering freely, asking everyone she met: “I’ve heard the Daqian Consort and Princess are deeply in love. Is it true?”

Most people affirmed the rumor. A few, either smitten with the Princess or envious of Ji Rongjin, denied it, some even claiming, “They’ll definitely divorce within three years!”

Ji Rongjin was thrilled and pressed, “Really? Is that true?”

The person scratched their nose. “Just a guess.”

Ji Rongjin: “…”

Soon, she arrived at a pastry shop and joined the queue. After asking around all morning, she’d heard nothing beyond what Dongmei had told her—no new leads.

Just then, a cautious voice came from behind. “Is that the Consort?”

Ji Rongjin turned, surprised, to see a young man in servant attire eyeing her warily.

Her eyes flickered, and she shook her head. “Who’s the Consort? I don’t know them. Who are you?”

“…” The servant studied her, his gaze lingering on the gauze on her head before saying, “It’s me! I’m Young Master Lin’s attendant. We’ve met a few times at the General’s Mansion.”

Ji Rongjin: “Oh—you’ve got the wrong person. I’m not some Consort. My surname’s Ji. You can call me Young Master Ji.”

The servant scrutinized her, his brows knitting together, but her confident demeanor left him uncertain. “Oh, my mistake then. Sorry, Young Master Ji.”

“No worries. Do you know the Daqian Consort?” Ji Rongjin glanced at the long queue ahead and cleared her throat. “I’ve heard the Consort and the Princess are very close. Is that true?”

The servant, now at ease, sized her up. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

Ji Rongjin smiled. “What makes you say that?”

Convinced she was a newcomer, the servant rubbed his fingers together, winking. “Want to know?”

Ji Rongjin noticed his gesture but pretended not to. “Of course I do.”

The servant, nearly sparking from rubbing his hands, gritted his teeth. “Young Master, aren’t you going to offer something?”

Ji Rongjin feigned surprise, then used her fan to push his hand down, lowering her voice. “I’ve got some news about the Consort too. We can trade—exclusive information.”

“Really?” The servant eyed her skeptically. “I’m Young Master Lin’s attendant. You must know about the business between our Young Master and the Consort. I’ve got detailed, firsthand news.”

Ji Rongjin: “Mine’s firsthand too, guaranteed to interest your Young Master.”

The servant looked dubious but said, “Fine, you go first. I don’t trust you’re not bluffing.”

Ji Rongjin agreed readily, leaning in to whisper, “You probably don’t know this, but the Consort has a preference for men.”

The servant’s eyes widened in shock, and he immediately refuted, “Impossible! I’ve seen the Consort at the General’s Mansion a few times. She always came to spar with our Young Master, all to prove she’s worthy of the Princess. How could she have such inclinations?”

Ji Rongjin: “…” So that’s why the original Ji kept challenging Lin Changcun.

“Maybe the news was wrong.” Ji Rongjin said, rubbing her chin, undeterred. “So, are the Princess and Consort really as loving as the rumors say?”

Though reluctant, the servant admitted, “Yes, it’s true. Otherwise, she wouldn’t keep challenging our Young Master.”

“And is it true she knelt for three days and nights to beg for the marriage decree?”

“Yes.”

“And snatched the marriage from your Young Master?”

The servant’s teeth ached. “Yes. Our Young Master was depressed for days, only to learn the Princess never intended to marry him in the first place.”

Ji Rongjin was stunned. “Who was it then? Not the Consort, surely?”

“Yes,” the servant said through gritted teeth. “The Princess had her heart set on the Consort from the start. But rumors got twisted, making it seem like it was our Young Master. The Consort, unaware, thought the Princess was to marry him, so she knelt for three days and nights to beg her to reconsider.”

Ji Rongjin sighed, her teeth aching too.

She’d thought Dongmei’s stories were exaggerated, but now it seemed they were entirely true. The original Ji and the Princess were truly devoted to each other.

Ji Rongjin stopped asking, but the servant kept prattling on, mostly cursing the “Consort.” As Lin Changcun’s servant, his loyalty was unsurprising.

Ji Rongjin graciously didn’t argue, even joining in to curse the so-called Consort. By the end, the servant treated her like a confidant, nearly swearing brotherhood with her.

Finally, it was Ji Rongjin’s turn at the counter. The shopkeeper greeted her warmly. “Well, if it isn’t Young Master Ji! Here to buy peach blossom pastries for your wife again?”

Ji Rongjin’s eyes darted. “Yes, the usual amount.”

“Got it.”

As the shopkeeper weighed the pastries, the servant behind her piped up, “Your wife likes peach blossom pastries too?”

Ji Rongjin didn’t bat an eye. “Yes, she loves them.”

“What a coincidence!” The servant beamed. “Our Young Master loves them too.”

“Quite a coincidence.” Ji Rongjin said casually. The shopkeeper handed her the pastries, she paid, bid the servant farewell, and left.

Dongmei, who’d been sent back to the carriage earlier, had been waiting for a while. When she saw Ji Rongjin return, holding something, she hurried to take it and helped her onto the carriage. Recognizing the package as Li’s pastries, she asked, “Does the Consort like these?”

Exhausted from her morning inquiries, Ji Rongjin was resting her eyes. She replied offhandedly, “They’re for the Princess.”

Instantly, Dongmei’s eyes lit up like searchlights. “Consort, you’re too much… I’m tearing up…”

Ji Rongjin opened her eyes. “…”

Speak properly. And turn off those searchlights.