The Princess Who Divorced Her Husband - Chapter 3.3

Zuo Shengxing had been quietly observing Yan Mei for some time.

This was the fifth night. For the past five nights, she had shown up every evening and quietly occupied herself—sometimes reading, sometimes writing, and sometimes painting. She was painting now.

She never disturbed him unless he initiated a conversation. She wouldn’t make a sound. This quiet, obedient version of Yan Mei left Zuo Shengxing completely confused. Which version of her was the real one?

It had been over two weeks since their marriage. As far as he knew, nearly all the servants disliked this proud and arrogant princess, and they had valid reasons for their feelings—many of them had approached him with complaints.

Uncle Ren, the old steward, said she always ignored him like he didn’t exist. Maid Meixi said she had accidentally bumped into Yan Mei and got slapped for it. The kitchen staff claimed she stomped on their pastries with her foot right in front of them because she didn’t like them. Even Haitang, who served Yan Mei directly, often had red, swollen cheeks from being hit. When he asked her about the situation, she cried and begged him not to confront Yan Mei.

Good heavens! What kind of woman was she? Did she enjoy bullying the servants? If she was unhappy, why not direct it at him instead of taking it out on others?

And then there was poor Xiao Xue. How many times had Yan Mei visited Haoyan Pavilion to see Xiao Xue behind his back? Even if Xiao Xue didn’t say anything, he could tell. If she hadn’t stopped him, he would’ve gone to confront Yan Mei long ago.

He hadn’t gone to her—yet she came to him. What exactly was this woman planning? Was she trying to get closer to him and win his favor?

If so, it was pointless. All he felt for her now was disgust and loathing. Her actions had long destroyed whatever guilt or budding affection he once had.

Maybe he had gotten too lost in thought—without realizing it, Zuo Shengxing had walked over to Yan Mei’s side.

His sudden approach startled her. She turned to him with a bright smile. “Shengxing, what do you think of my painting?”

Zuo Shengxing focused on the artwork. It was a snow scene, with a plum tree in full bloom amid the white snow. The red petals stood out starkly against the white, beautiful in a proud, pure, and isolated way.

“It’s beautiful. Very well done,” he praised sincerely.

“Really?” Yan Mei softly recited, “Do you remember Lu Meipo’s poem Snow and Plum?
‘Plum and snow vie for spring, neither yielding;
Poets hesitate, unable to judge.
The plum loses three shades of white,
But snow lacks the plum’s fragrance’.
He thought the snow was whiter, but plum blossoms had scent—each with its own strengths, no clear winner. What do you think?” She smiled charmingly at him.

Zuo Shengxing looked at her radiant smile—more beautiful than the flower—and once again admired her beauty. But sadly, beneath that beauty was a heart as venomous as a viper’s.

When he didn’t answer, Yan Mei asked again, “Which do you think is better, snow or plum?”

Zuo Shengxing’s expression turned serious. “Yan Mei, what are you really trying to find out?”

Yan Mei glared at him. How infuriating—he clearly knew what she meant! “Plum” referred to her, “snow” clearly to Xiao Xue. Wasn’t it obvious?

“I’m going back!” she snapped, not wanting to waste more words. She turned toward the door.

“Wait—you forgot something!” Zuo Shengxing picked up a bundle. The cloth wrapping slipped off, revealing a brand-new garment.

“What’s this…?” He unfolded it. The garment was made of fine silk, with exquisitely stitched cuffs, collar, and seams. Under the candlelight, the silver-white fabric glowed brilliantly.

“This is… a gift for me?” Zuo Shengxing asked, stunned.

“Yes,” Yan Mei said softly. “I spent five days and nights making it.”

“You made this?” He recalled how carefully she had carried it when she came in, as if it were something precious. So she had made it herself…

“Don’t underestimate me.” Yan Mei lifted her chin. “I may not know how to cook or do laundry, but my needlework isn’t bad. If you don’t believe me, ask my nursemaid. She taught me.”

Zuo Shengxing smiled. “I never said I didn’t believe you. I’m just surprised… that you’d do this for me.” A warm feeling spread through him from the new clothes.

Yan Mei gazed at his smile, mesmerized. It was the first time he had smiled just for her.

“It’s nothing,” she murmured shyly. “I’d only do this… for someone important.”

Important? Zuo Shengxing looked quietly at her bashful, lovely face, filled with mixed emotions he couldn’t describe.

Just as the two gazed at each other in silence, a knock came at the door.

“Young Master, it’s me. May I come in?”

Xiao Xue? Yan Mei’s face stiffened as she saw Zuo Shengxing go open the door.

“Young Master, you must be hungry. I made some snacks…” Xiao Xue, carrying a bamboo basket, paused in surprise when she saw Yan Mei.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know the Princess was here…” She quickly set the basket on the table and turned to leave.

“Xiao Xue, where are you going?” Zuo Shengxing grabbed her wrist.

Xiao Xue glanced uneasily at Yan Mei. “Since the Princess is here, I think I should…”

Zuo Shengxing immediately said, “No one is trying to make you leave! Since you’re here, stay and keep me company for a while!”
He didn’t want Xiao Xue to feel inferior or less important in front of Yanmei.

Xiao Xue gave a sweet smile. “Yes, Young Master.”

Yanmei, who hadn’t had the chance to speak at all, looked at them one by one. Her face turned extremely unpleasant.

“Ah, Young Master, this piece of clothing is…”

“Yanmei made it,” Zuo Shengxing said. Then he gave Yanmei a deep look. That gentle look made Yanmei’s furious expression soften.

Xiao Xue saw everything clearly.

“So the princess made it! Young Master, can I take a look at it?” Xiao Xue smiled as she asked for Zuo Shengxing’s permission.

“Sure!” Zuo Shengxing handed the clothes that Yanmei had personally made for him to Xiao Xue without hesitation.

“It’s gorgeous! So well made!”

Xiao Xue kept praising it while running toward Yanmei with the clothes in her hands.
“Princess, you’re so amazing! Can you also teach me how to make clothes like this?

Xiao Xue accidentally bumped into the table. They watched as the ink spilled and stained the new clothes Yanmei had made by hand for Shengxing.

“I-I’m sorry…” Xiao Xue stood there, frozen in panic. She was still holding the now-ruined clothes.

The stain on the clothes looked bigger and bigger in Yanmei’s eyes. Her anger rose with it. She clenched her teeth and glared at Xiao Xue’s seemingly innocent face. Finally, she couldn’t hold back her anger anymore.

“You did it on purpose!” she shouted. She was so mad that she raised her right hand, ready to slap Xiao Xue.

“Stop!” Zuo Shengxing blocked her and grabbed her angry hand.
“This habit of hitting people—can’t you stop it?”

“Who has a habit of hitting people?” Yanmei shouted back, not even thinking about what he meant. What she cared about was that Zuo Shengxing was “once again” defending someone else.

“Are you blind? Can’t you see she spilled the ink on purpose?” she said, full of anger.

Zuo Shengxing instinctively held Xiao Xue’s trembling shoulders tighter.

“Xiao Xue would never do it on purpose. I can guarantee that.”

“You can guarantee it?” Yanmei bit her lip in anger.
This was her husband! He never considered her perspective and consistently stood up for others!

“In your eyes, no matter what Xiao Xue does, she’s always right. And no matter what I do, I’m always wrong, right?”
Maybe because she was too frustrated, her voice became strangely calm.

Zuo Shengxing shook his head. “I didn’t say that.”
But the disappointed and hopeless look in Yanmei’s eyes made his chest feel tight and heavy.

Yanmei gave him a cold look. Suddenly, she snatched the clothes from Xiao Xue’s hands and grabbed the scissors on the tea table.

“Yanmei…” Zuo Shengxing stood there in shock as the clothes were cut into pieces under her scissors.

“No one wants them, so it’s better to destroy them!” she said coldly. Then she ran out of the room.

When she returned to Yongmei Garden, she was out of breath. Her face was wet—no one could tell if it was tears or sweat.

“Princess, you’re back! Eh? Wh-what happened?” The nursemaid waiting in the bedroom was frightened by Yanmei’s appearance.
She quickly supported Yanmei and asked, “Princess, are you crying? What happened? Weren’t you smiling when you left just now?”

“Nanny!” Yanmei cried and fell into her nursemaid’s arms like a drowning person grabbing a lifeline.

“There, there, Princess, don’t cry…” The nursemaid tried her best to comfort her, feeling both anxious and heartbroken.

“He doesn’t want me! He doesn’t have me in his heart at all!” Yanmei cried out loud.

“Princess…”

“Nanny—” Yanmei held the nursemaid’s arms tightly.

“It’s useless! No matter what I do, I can’t compare to Xiao Xue. No matter how much I like him,

he won’t even look at me. I feel like such a fool. From the start, I’ve just been imagining everything on my own! Wuuu…”

“Princess…”

The nursemaid was heartbroken when she saw how sad Yanmei was. She didn’t know what to say. She could only cry with her.