The Prince Consort Is Also Pretending To Be Affectionate Today - Chapter 6

6: Watch and Watch

Ji Rongjin asked Jiang Nanyu for two books, and Jiang Nanyu’s eyes immediately lit—with excitement as she introduced them, praising Ji Rongjin for finally coming to her senses and then boasting about how amazing the books’ author was.

After a flurry of exaggerated chatter, both fell silent.

Jiang Nanyu cleared her throat, cautiously glancing at Ji Rongjin and asked, “How are things between you and Her Highness the Princess?”

Ji Rongjin didn’t catch on immediately. “Hm? They’re fine.”

“What’s her stance on the matter of you being beaten?”

Ji Rongjin blinked, her long lashes fluttering. “The Princess sought justice for me. The Great General personally escorted Lin Changcun to offer a formal apology with a rod on his back.”

Jiang Nanyu looked at her, hesitant to speak, and after a long pause, she sighed softly, “Her Highness is really good to you. She lets you act recklessly without complaint, and when something happens, she even blames others for it.”

Ji Rongjin: “…” So you also think the original host deserved the beating, don’t you?

She gave Jiang Nanyu a deep look, then glanced to the side and said, “My mother’s here.”

The girl, who had been lounging carelessly a moment ago, immediately sat up straight upon hearing this, a polite smile on her face. “A’Jin, does your injury still hurt?”

Ji Rongjin shook her head with a sigh, marveling at how quickly her friend could change her demeanor, rivaling a master of face-changing performance.

Jiang Nanyu put on a prim and proper act, but after a few seconds, realizing no one was at the door, she caught on that Ji Rongjin had tricked her. Puffing up with mock indignation, she put her hands on her hips and said, “Ji Rongjin, you’ve learned to lie now? Did losing your memory also strip away your fine character?”

Ji Rongjin coughed lightly, giving her a pointed look, but Jiang Nanyu didn’t catch the hint. Still fuming, she stepped forward to “deal with” Ji Rongjin, only to freeze after two steps.

The Jiang and Ji families had always been on good terms. Jiang, the Imperial Physician, had only one daughter, whom he spoiled, resulting in her lack of decorum. Thus, he entrusted Lady Ji to teach her manners and etiquette, making Lady Ji the person Jiang Nanyu feared most—not her father, but Lady Ji, who could scold her with a single raised eyebrow.

“Nanyu, have you already forgotten what I taught you just a few days ago?”

Lady Ji’s tone was stern, causing the girl in the lotus-colored skirt to immediately stand tall, chest out, and stomach in. But it was too late—Lady Ji wasn’t swayed. “Your posture needs retraining.”

Jiang Nanyu was on the verge of tears. “Auntie Ji, wasn’t I just excited because… Brother Ji came back?”

Unmoved, Lady Ji remained firm, and Jiang Nanyu, with no other choice, went off to accept her punishment, whimpering.

After Jiang Nanyu left, Lady Ji’s expression softened. Sitting beside Ji Rongjin, she asked the same two questions Jiang Nanyu had, and Ji Rongjin answered truthfully.

After listening, Lady Ji wore the same hesitant expression as Jiang Nanyu. After a long pause, she sighed, “The Princess is indeed very tolerant of you.”

“And you?” Before Ji Rongjin could respond, Lady Ji cautiously added, “Do you still feel the same about the Princess as you did before?”

Ji Rongjin: “…Mother, I’ve lost my memory.”

Lady Ji let out two “ohs” and then said, “Never mind. Whether you like the Princess or not, the most important thing now is to get along well with her and avoid clashing with her, understand?”

Ji Rongjin gave an awkward smile, vaguely feeling something was off but also reasonable. Having chatted with Jiang Nanyu for too long, she decided it was time to return to the residence and didn’t dwell on it further.

Lady Ji didn’t press her to stay, but as they parted, she still reminded her, “Jin’er, treat the Princess well. She’s truly pitiful, all alone.”

The soft sigh scattered in the breeze, only to echo suddenly in Ji Rongjin’s mind later. She woke from the jostling of the carriage and looked outside—it was almost time to arrive at the residence.

Ji Rongjin stretched lazily. In just a short while, she had fallen asleep.

Recalling her mother’s advice, she sighed.

Well, since she was here, she might as well play the part.

As evening approached, Dongmei finally informed her that the Princess had returned.

Ji Rongjin had been preparing for this moment all day. She hurriedly retrieved the white fungus and lotus seed soup she had spent the afternoon cooking and rushed toward the Princess’s courtyard.

Dongmei followed silently, her eyes glinting with excitement.

The Consort had finally come around!

Ji Rongjin stood outside Shen Zhuwan’s door, holding her dish. Jinxi gave her a quick glance before hurrying inside to announce her arrival.

Soon, Shen Zhuwan’s cool, clear voice came from within: “Enter.”

Ji Rongjin walked in, carrying the small bowl.

A woman in a light cyan dress was writing at her desk, her features cold and elegant, her brushstrokes fluid. She glanced up briefly as Ji Rongjin entered, then lowered her head again and said, “What brings the Consort here?”

Ji Rongjin, addressed directly, carefully carried the bowl to her side. “My lady, the weather is hot. Take care to stay cool. Try this white fungus and lotus seed soup I made for you.”

With a soft clink, the bowl touched the table. Shen Zhuwan’s brush paused, and she glanced at the bowl.

The delicate white fungus gleamed with a milky sheen, the broth clear, adorned with a few lotus seeds—a pleasing presentation.

But…

Shen Zhuwan looked up at her.

The girl’s gaze was earnest, her dark eyes bright. Up close, one could see a smudge of ash on her fair skin, from who-knows-where. Noticing Shen Zhuwan’s look, she silently urged her with her eyes to try the soup.

After a long silence, Shen Zhuwan looked away, a faint blush creeping up her ears. She said softly, “Understood. The Consort may leave it here.”

Ji Rongjin blinked and nudged the bowl closer. “Won’t my lady try it?”

Shen Zhuwan glanced at the bowl, then at the girl beside her, whose eyes held a subtle eagerness. Finally, she set down her brush, picked up the bowl, and took a small sip. The moment it touched her tongue, her movements paused, but she swallowed it with an unchanged expression.

Setting the bowl down, she found Ji Rongjin’s gaze still fixed on her. “How is it, my lady? Is it good?”

Shen Zhuwan pressed her lips together. “Passable.”

Ji Rongjin let out a relieved breath. She knew she had some culinary skills after all.

She grinned. “As long as my lady likes it.”

“Hm.” Shen Zhuwan subtly pushed the bowl farther away. “The Consort has worked hard.”

Ji Rongjin quickly said, “Not hard at all, not hard at all.”

Shen Zhuwan: “In the future, leave such tasks to the servants. The Consort’s injury hasn’t fully healed—don’t overexert yourself.”

“It’s no trouble, no trouble at all. If it makes the Princess happy, I’m happy.”

Shen Zhuwan gave her a deep look but said nothing more, picking up her brush again. Ji Rongjin, at a loss for words, felt the air grow silent.

After a while, standing awkwardly, she said, “Then I’ll take my leave?”

Shen Zhuwan looked up suddenly. “The Consort should look in a mirror when you get back.”

Ji Rongjin: “?”

Shen Zhuwan offered no further explanation, resuming her work on the memorials.

Ji Rongjin returned to her room, puzzled, and immediately grabbed a mirror. One look revealed disheveled hair and smudges of ash on her face—she looked like a tabby cat.

Her face flushed red. No wonder Shen Zhuwan had stared at her for so long—she’d gone to see her looking like this!

She covered her face, letting out a few anguished wails, then furiously scrubbed her face before slumping dejectedly in front of the mirror.

Meanwhile, after Ji Rongjin left, Jinxi was summoned.

The woman at the desk had a calm expression, yet it inexplicably made Jinxi nervous. “Your Highness.”

Shen Zhuwan said coolly, “What did you say to the Consort?”

Catching the implication, Jinxi hesitantly recounted her conversation with Ji Rongjin.

Shen Zhuwan listened in silence for a long time before saying, “You may go. In the future, inform me first if the Consort does anything unusual.”

Jinxi: “Yes.”

Shortly after Jinxi left, Shen Zhuwan set down her brush, and the large study fell quiet.

“Keep an eye on her.” Shen Zhuwan’s voice suddenly rang out in the silent room. “Record her daily activities in detail, no matter how small.”

“…Yes.”

From then on, the usually serene Princess’s residence descended into chaos.

The kitchen staff, aside from their regular duties, had to constantly fend off the Consort’s attempts to cook, using every excuse to keep her out. The added workload was practically an occupational hazard.

Ji Rongjin, oblivious to their plight, made three trips a day to the kitchen, constantly saying things like, “Make sure the food suits my lady’s taste,” “Why don’t I just cook it myself?” and “My lady loves the food I make.”

Over time, not only were the kitchen staff exhausted, but even Shen Zhuwan, who kept receiving notes beginning with “my lady,” began to frown.

This chaotic routine continued for a long time. Half a month later, Imperial Physician Jiang visited the residence again to remove the bandage from Ji Rongjin’s head.

He examined the healed wound with great satisfaction, stroking his beard. “Well, the Consort’s injury has almost fully recovered.”

Then, with a kind smile, he asked Ji Rongjin, “How does the Consort feel now?”

Ji Rongjin: “I feel a bit… bald all of a sudden.”

Imperial Physician Jiang grew serious. “How so?”

Ji Rongjin thought carefully. “It feels suddenly cooler.”

Imperial Physician Jiang nodded knowingly, radiating benevolence. “Silly child, that’s because there’s no hair there.”

Ji Rongjin: “…”

She rushed to a mirror, tilting her head to see the back of her scalp. Her silky black hair cascaded over her shoulders, but she couldn’t see the wound. Dongmei silently held up another mirror behind her.

With the two mirrors aligned, Ji Rongjin finally saw her head. Amid the glossy black hair, a stark white patch stood out like a dyed black egg with a small piece of shell peeled off, glaringly obvious against the dark.

Ji Rongjin was devastated. “How am I supposed to go out looking like this?”

Dongmei said faintly, “The Consort wears an official hat for court and doesn’t need one at home.”

Ji Rongjin refused to accept it, throwing a tantrum. “No way! This will ruin my image in the Princess’s eyes!”

Dongmei, unfazed: “Your image wasn’t exactly pristine with the bandage either.”

Over time, Dongmei had grown accustomed to the Consort’s post-amnesia personality. Sometimes, she spoke a bit too freely, but Ji Rongjin never minded, so their conversations were often unrestrained.

However, Imperial Physician Jiang, overhearing this, furrowed his brow slightly, waiting for Ji Rongjin’s reaction.

Ji Rongjin let out a couple of whimpers. “The bandage still looked better than a bald spot!”

Dongmei suggested, “Why doesn’t the Consort buy a hat to cover it?”

“Good idea.”

Imperial Physician Jiang, having listened to their entire exchange, went from frowning to utterly perplexed. The Consort had always been meticulous about propriety, never neglecting decorum in any matter. Could losing her memory have made her forget even that?

He thought it over and decided it wasn’t impossible.

Ji Rongjin turned and saw the old man’s expression shift from grim to bright to neutral. Unsure of what internal journey he’d been on, she looked at his thick hair with sparkling eyes and said, “Imperial Physician Jiang, you must have some medicine to make hair grow faster, right?”

Imperial Physician Jiang snapped back to reality. “No.”

Ji Rongjin let out a disappointed “oh” and said, “Then thank you for making the trip.”

Imperial Physician Jiang: “…”

Dongmei sighed, stepping forward to sincerely thank Imperial Physician Jiang with kind words before respectfully seeing him out.

Not long after this incident, Shen Zhuwan received a detailed report in an envelope.

For the past half-month, everything Ji Rongjin had done—whom she met, what she said—was meticulously recorded and delivered to Shen Zhuwan. The person keeping watch even included a thoughtful summary:

The Consort enjoys leisure and loves fawning over Her Highness. She is simple-minded, acts bizarrely, and poses an extremely low threat.

Shen Zhuwan quickly skimmed the contents of the envelope and then burned it.

The flames flickered in her eyes. After a long pause, she said, “Keep watching.”