The Prince Consort Is Also Pretending To Be Affectionate Today - Chapter 9
9: Embrace
Under the coaxing of the two, the little emperor naively believed that the rules for adults and children were different. Thus, for the rest of the time, the little emperor reverted to his previous state of refined courtesy, though his occasional glances at Ji Rongjin were still filled with envy.
The afternoon heat lingered, mixed with an unknown fragrance, lulling one into a drowsy haze.
Shen Chi should have been napping, but he wasn’t the least bit sleepy. Instead, he was brimming with energy and deeply curious about Ji Rongjin. He eagerly pleaded with Shen Zhuwan, wanting to play with his “brother-in-law.”
Shen Zhuwan, looking somewhat tired, propped her chin with her fair, lotus-white wrist, her cloud-like sleeves cascading like flower buds around it. Hearing his request, she lazily glanced at the little emperor and asked, “Have you finished reviewing your lessons?”
Shen Chi, looking at the woman reclining in the chair with half-closed eyes, nodded nervously.
In the past, no matter how he answered this question, his sister’s next words would inevitably be, “What did you learn today? Recite it for me.”
Heaven knows, he dreaded these daily questioning sessions the most.
Indeed, Shen Zhuwan was about to ask Shen Chi to recite what he had learned that day. But just as Shen Chi nodded anxiously, another glossy head poked over.
“Wow, that’s amazing!” Ji Rongjin gave Shen Chi a thumbs-up, praising, “Since you’ve finished reviewing, let’s play for a bit.”
Ji Rongjin had no desire to deal with cases, especially since this was a real ancient palace—her first time seeing one! She had to explore it properly.
Two pairs of expectant eyes, one big and one small, fixed on Shen Zhuwan, their dark, shining gazes identical, brimming with anticipation—like two idle brothers who only wanted to play and shirk their studies.
Jinxi, standing behind Shen Zhuwan, found the harmonious scene adorable. While massaging Shen Zhuwan’s shoulders, she couldn’t help but smile secretly.
Shen Zhuwan glanced at the two, a faint, amused smile on her lips. “Does the consort have nothing to do?”
Ji Rongjin averted her gaze, somewhat guilty. “Playing for a bit won’t hurt. Besides, I haven’t seen His Majesty in a while, so I’d like to bond a little.”
Bond a little? Those words didn’t sound like something she’d say.
Shen Zhuwan remained unmoved. “No.”
The faces of the big and small pair instantly fell, their eyes dimming, resembling two drenched dogs with drooping, bald tails, looking utterly dejected.
“Fine.” Shen Zhuwan lowered her eyes to hide her amusement, saying softly, “Just for a little while.”
The two heads, previously idle and eager to play, shot up instantly, their eyes sparkling with excitement as if by magic.
“Thank you, Sister!”
“Thank you, My lady!”
Though she had been called by this casual title many times before, hearing it now in front of her younger brother stirred something in Shen Zhuwan’s heart. It was like a spring breeze rippling across Lugu Lake, stirring faint waves that quickly subsided.
Shen Zhuwan looked away. “Go on.”
The two cheerful figures gradually moved farther away. Ji Rongjin held Shen Chi’s hand, her eyes curving gently as she spoke, radiating warmth and patience. They looked, inexplicably, like a father and son—strangely harmonious.
Jinxi watched them and couldn’t help but say, “The consort and His Majesty seem truly close now. His Majesty seems to really like the consort, and the consort appears much gentler and more patient than before.”
Indeed, Ji Rongjin had visited the palace once before, but during that meeting, she had strictly adhered to etiquette, never overstepping or showing closeness to the siblings.
A person might lose their memories through amnesia, but some things ingrained in their nature—like personality, common sense, or propriety—wouldn’t change.
Once you start scrutinizing certain things, you begin to notice many inconsistencies.
Shen Chi and Ji Rongjin arrived at the imperial garden, where a towering ancient tree cast a vast shade. Beneath it was a swing, Shen Chi’s favorite spot to relax after studying.
Ji Rongjin held the little emperor on the swing as the wind chased them, swooshing back and forth. The air was filled with Shen Chi’s joyful laughter.
When Shen Chi usually played on the swing, the palace maids, fearing he might fall, never dared push too high. Shen Zhuwan, with her temperament, wouldn’t play with him either. But now, in Ji Rongjin’s arms, he soared to unprecedented heights, his little heart pounding with excitement.
The nearby maids watched with bated breath, yet the two on the swing laughed with unrestrained joy.
Ji Rongjin asked, “Your Majesty, doesn’t the princess ever play with you?”
Shen Chi shook his head, disappointed. “Sister is busy with many things every day and can’t play with me.”
It was the answer Ji Rongjin expected, so she said, “Then how about your brother-in-law plays with you from now on?”
“Really?” The little emperor’s voice was filled with astonishment. “Does Consort Brother have nothing to do every day?”
Ji Rongjin: “…”
She coughed lightly, correcting him. “I have things to do, but I can make time to play with you.”
The little emperor hesitated, then shook his head. “No, I should study hard. Otherwise, Sister will have to work too hard alone.”
Ji Rongjin felt a pang of admiration and patted his head, praising, “Well done. Your sister would be touched to know you care for her so much.”
“Of course!” Shen Chi said proudly. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he patted his little head. “Oh no, I almost forgot! Next month, on the fifteenth, is Sister’s birthday. Consort Brother, what should I give her as a gift?”
The fifteenth of next month? Ji Rongjin was suddenly grateful she had come out to play with Shen Chi today. Otherwise, as the princess’s husband, not knowing her birthday would have been awkward.
But on second thought, the princess’s birthday was surely a national celebration. Even if she didn’t know today, she’d find out when the palace began preparations.
The wind blew gently, and Ji Rongjin slowed the swing, leisurely swaying with Shen Chi in her arms.
Before she could respond, the little emperor’s face fell. “Forget it, I won’t give her anything.”
Ji Rongjin was taken aback and asked instinctively, “Why not?”
As the swing came to a stop, Shen Chi hopped out of her arms, turned to look at her, and blinked. “Consort Brother, let me ask you quietly—what did you give Sister last year?”
Ji Rongjin: “…I don’t remember.”
“And how did Sister react?”
“…I don’t remember that either.”
Shen Chi sighed like an old soul, giving her a look that said, “How do you know nothing?” He sighed faintly, “Last year, I gave Sister a wooden figurine, but she didn’t seem happy at all. I thought brother-in-law would be different, but you don’t remember anything either.”
Ji Rongjin held back for a moment before asking, “What did others give her?”
Now it was Shen Chi’s turn to be surprised. “No one else gave her anything. Sister’s birthday has never been celebrated, and she’s always very busy around that time.”
Fair enough. Considering Shen Zhuwan oversaw the entire nation, being busy was understandable.
The big and small pair squatted on the ground, lost in thought for a long time. Finally, prompted by a maid, they returned to the palace, both deep in contemplation.
Seeing their expressions, Shen Zhuwan didn’t ask much, only saying, “Consort, it’s time to go.”
Ji Rongjin responded but remained lost in thought as she followed Shen Zhuwan out of the palace. The two walked in silence. Shen Zhuwan glanced back at her with a sidelong look, noticing Ji Rongjin’s unchanged expression and posture, as if lost in deep thought.
Shen Zhuwan paused her steps.
Unaware, Ji Rongjin continued pondering until she bumped into the person in front of her.
A familiar cool fragrance filled her nose. Ji Rongjin let out an “ouch” and instinctively stepped back, only to trip over her own feet. As she tilted backward at a forty-five-degree angle, about to embrace the earth, a cool hand grabbed her.
The hand was soft and delicate. Before Ji Rongjin could savor the sensation, its strength pulled her forward.
Shen Zhuwan’s calm, unruffled face loomed closer, then shifted as their bodies collided. Ji Rongjin heard a muffled grunt from the person in her arms before she snapped back to reality.
Early summer greenery surrounded them, and a breeze stirred, sending countless gardenia petals fluttering down like a grand petal rain, landing on their shoulders.
For a moment, Ji Rongjin couldn’t distinguish whether the scent she inhaled was the cool fragrance of the woman in her arms or the floral aroma in the air. Just as the wind moved the flowers and she held Shen Zhuwan, she couldn’t tell if it was the wind stirring—or her heart.
But later, she concluded it was probably fear that kept her frozen.
After a long moment, Shen Zhuwan’s voice, tinged with cold annoyance, broke the silence. “How long do you plan to hold me?”
Snapping back, Ji Rongjin hurriedly stepped back, her face flushing red, too embarrassed to look at Shen Zhuwan’s expression.
After another pause, the woman’s voice returned to its usual calm. “What were you thinking about so deeply just now?”
Still reeling, Ji Rongjin blurted out, “I was thinking about Your Highness, the princess…”
Halfway through, she caught herself. If she said it now, there’d be no surprise on the birthday. She swallowed the rest, leaving only that ambiguous sentence hanging in the air.
The silence was deafening.
Ji Rongjin froze, mentally replaying her life in a few seconds, preparing for her demise.
Then she lowered her head, refusing to look up.
It felt like seconds, or perhaps a century, before Shen Zhuwan’s cool voice came again. “The consort should think about how to solve the case within ten days.”
The chilly words drifted to her ears with the wind. It took Ji Rongjin a long time to dare look up at the retreating figure. Was it her imagination, or were the princess’s ears redder than usual?
Ji Rongjin convinced herself she was mistaken.
Turning, she saw Dongmei, her eyes wide like searchlights, her face glowing as red as a tomato, murmuring with a mix of awe and emotion, “So sweet.”