The next day, Physician Tan came again to explain the matter in detail to Rong Li.
Physician Tan spoke with great thoroughness and even brought out the Spirit-Concentrating Pill, instructing Xieyue and Fuyun on how to use it.
Rong Li was somewhat puzzled. If there was a pill that could be taken, why was that… that method of intercourse necessary?
But then she heard Physician Tan say that the Spirit-Concentrating Pill only treated the symptoms, not the root cause. Moreover, with repeated use, not only would its effectiveness greatly diminish, but it would also make the next episode more severe. It was best not to use it except in extremely urgent situations.
Comparing the two options, the method of yin-yang intercourse was still more appropriate.
No matter how embarrassed and flustered she was, Rong Li had no choice but to accept the stacks of palace secret illustrations that Physician Tan had brought.
Seeing the princess’s almost resigned-to-death expression, Physician Tan couldn’t help but chuckle softly, smiling as she comforted her: “Your Highness need not be so anxious. According to my prediction, the symptoms of this poison progress from mild to severe. In the early stages, they are not frequent, and it is not necessarily required to use these items.”
Just as Rong Li breathed a sigh of relief, she heard Physician Tan say with a solemn expression: “However, Your Highness’s hair-pinning ceremony is approaching. After the ceremony, the episodes will become more intense. There is no harm in looking through these booklets in advance.”
The breath Rong Li had just released caught in her throat.
Physician Tan was very busy. Since she was to accompany and serve Rong Li, the task of regulating Emperor Shuntian’s health in the palace would be handed over to her disciples to familiarize themselves with. She had been carefully instructing those disciples these past few days and soon hurried away again.
Rong Li faced those palace secret illustrations that looked no different from proper books, as if trying to see a flower bloom from their covers.
After who knows how much self-encouragement in her heart, Rong Li finally picked up one from the top.
The beginning was just like other books, very businesslike with a series of contents listed, spanning several pages.
Rong Li glanced over it and saw entries like “A Patch of Cloud over Mount Wu,” “Whispers by the Flowered Window,” and “Breeze on the Bamboo Couch.” She felt relieved: “These are all quite elegant things. Perhaps I was thinking too vulgarly.”
However, after flipping a couple more pages, those vividly detailed illustrations suddenly leaped into Rong Li’s sight—a tangle of pink and white intimacy. Rong Li snapped the book shut as if scalded by fire and instantly threw it far away: “Put them away, put them away! How improper!”
Fuyun was still somewhat confused. It was just an erotic manual; she had also prepared some by the Emperor’s order. Could it be so repulsive? Unable to resist, she walked over and opened it. Even someone as calm and unflappable as her couldn’t help but choke on her breath.
This was no ordinary instructional manual for marital relations! Not only were the illustrations too lifelike, but they even included some dialogue and conversations. It was truly too excessive and indecent!
Fuyun couldn’t maintain her smile. Seeing Rong Li’s face red as a boiled shrimp, she didn’t dare say anything more, lest she make the princess even more embarrassed. She could only call Xieyue to quickly put all these books away, storing them at the very bottom of the chest.
Xieyue hadn’t seen the contents of the illustrations and was full of suspicion seeing Fuyun’s strange expression. When they reached the outer room, she couldn’t help but ask why. Fuyun could only awkwardly squeeze out a sentence: “Physician Tan is from Dian; it’s common for local customs to be open. That booklet is not commonly seen in Zhongyuan; it’s truly somewhat… bold and unrefined.”
"How could Lord Tan be so indiscreet?"
"It likely wasn't Lord Tan's idea…"
Both women had served Rong Li since childhood as palace officials, neither ever married. Now understanding exactly who had ordered the preparation of these booklets, they felt too embarrassed to discuss the matter further and fell into a silent understanding. Nevertheless, they properly stored the books in the trunks to be taken out of the palace.
Rong Li continued recuperating in the palace for two more days. Emperor Shuntian personally came to check on her and, seeing his daughter's complexion had indeed stabilized considerably, granted her request to return to the princess manor.
Rong Yan came to see her off as she left the palace, his delicate, pale face full of concern. Unfortunately, Rong Li was still deeply embarrassed and, after distractedly exchanging a few words with him, hurried back to her manor.
Holding his nanny's hand, Rong Yan asked in a soft, milky voice, "Has elder sister not fully recovered? Her voice sounded rather weak and listless to me."
The nanny dared not speculate carelessly and could only evade the question.
Returning to the princess manor, Rong Li instantly flew into her bedchamber like a young swallow returning to its nest.
Everything in the manor remained as before—luxurious and exquisite. As soon as Rong Li entered her bedchamber, a little creature fluttered onto her shoulder.
"Your Highness, blessings! Your Highness, blessings!" A plump, melodious little voice chirped by her ear. "Your Highness is good! Your Highness, kisses!"
All the worries and anxieties in Rong Li's heart instantly vanished into thin air. A smile blossomed on her cheeks, faint dimples appearing as she reached up to guide the little creature from her shoulder onto the back of her hand, ruffling its neat feathers. "No acting spoiled now. I've only been in the palace a few days, and you've already grown so glib. Surely no one dared to short your rations?"
"Getting this plump—no more treats from now on." Though she said this, Rong Li still deftly took out a tray of fine silver rice and hung it on the bird stand.
Seeing the rice, the parrot immediately forgot about the "kisses" from Her Highness the Eldest Princess and swooped over to eat.
"This little thing!" Rong Li was amused by its adorable antics and began complaining to Fuyun and Xieyue.
Seeing Rong Li finally acting like her usual self, Fuyun and Xieyue felt relieved.
However, after feeding the bird, changing into casual attire, and settling onto the soft couch, Rong Li's first question was: "Where is the Imperial Consort?"
The parrot, still eating, immediately chimed in with "Bad Imperial Consort! Bad Imperial Consort!" prompting Rong Li to gently pat its head.
"I've returned from the palace, and the Imperial Consort didn't even come to greet me?" Rong Li's phoenix eyes widened slightly in pure confusion.
Though reluctant, Xieyue had anticipated this. Just as she was about to recite the Imperial Consort's schedule for the day, Rong Li clapped her hands together: "The Imperial Consort has newly taken up the post of Jinwu Guard Commander. Though he no longer needs to patrol daily, he must have many documents to handle at the Jinwu Guard office. He must be too busy."
Seeing she no longer spoke of the Imperial Consort with the same clingy, infatuated tone as in previous days, Xieyue finally felt a weight lift and nodded. "Exactly so. There was an important case in the capital these past two days. The Imperial Consort has been extremely busy."
"Hmm." Rong Li nodded.
As long as she wasn't obsessing over the Imperial Consort, Xieyue's face brightened with a smile. She was about to ask what Her Highness wished for the midday meal when Rong Li wiped the fine sweat from her neck and frowned slightly. "It's already September, yet it's still so hot around noon."
Xieyue surmised that Rong Li was likely craving something cool and sweet, when she saw Rong Li smiling at her with eyes curved like crescent moons: "Auntie, please go to the ice room and have them prepare some Sushan. Make plenty."
"Acknowledged. However, though Sushan is delicious, Your Highness has a weak stomach and must not eat too much." Just as Xieyue was about to go out to give the order, she saw Rong Li beckoning Fuyun to follow her into the inner chamber.
Xieyue had a slight inkling of what was coming when she heard Rong Li's voice from inside: "Prepare six portions in total. Also, have the small kitchen make more red and green bean soup, and keep it chilled in an ice chest."
…So this was the real plan all along!
At such a young age, Her Highness already knows how to reveal her true intentions at the last moment!
Apart from the Commander who was regularly on duty, the Jinwu Guard headquarters also required four colonels to remain on duty each day, while the rest patrolled according to schedule and were not permanently stationed.
It turned out Her Highness not only hadn't stopped thinking about the Imperial Consort day and night, but she also intended to personally pay him a visit.
Xieyue left with a stern expression.
Inside the inner chamber, Fuyun helped Rong Li change clothes, noticing the faint dimples that never quite faded from Rong Li's face, knowing her mood was genuinely cheerful.
Though unfamiliar… what could be wrong with it?
Her Highness had already endured so much hardship.
Before long, six portions of exquisitely translucent Sushan, along with several large bowls of red and green bean soup chilled with crushed ice, were prepared and placed into a sturdy ice chest.
Rong Li had always been sensitive to heat since childhood. Fuyun dressed her in a lightweight goose-yellow ruqun skirt, with an outer cloak draped over it. A pair of golden butterfly hairpins adorned her temples, trembling with each step Rong Li took as if ready to take flight, making her look delicate and charming.
When the princess's carriage arrived at the headquarters gate, naturally no one dared to stop it. The guards at the gate, seeing that it was Her Highness the Eldest Princess herself, hurriedly saluted and announced her arrival, leading her inside.
The Jinwu Guard headquarters differed from the princess's residence in its refined elegance; everywhere exuded a cold, stern, and imposing atmosphere. Even the majestic stone lions at the entrance probably never imagined they would one day welcome a procession adorned with pearls, jade, and fragrant breezes.
Rong Li's heart fluttered with excitement, eager to see Zhan Qin as soon as possible.
Over the past two days, she had secretly consulted many romantic novels and had come to realize that there should be no barriers between husband and wife. Moreover, she and the Imperial Consort were not the kind of couple who maintained a respectful distance but rather a harmonious pair deeply in love.
It was just a temporary quarrel. She had already overcome her own inner obstacles, realizing she had been in the wrong, and now she was seizing this opportunity to make amends.
Though a canopy shielded her from the sun during the walk, she still worked up a light sweat.
The main hall of the headquarters was empty. The guard leading the way, upon seeing the princess in person, could not hide his astonishment but dared not conceal anything, immediately reporting: "The Commander is currently handling official business in the study at the rear hall."
Rong Li nodded, signaling him to lead the way.
The study door was slightly ajar. After the guard announced her, a deep voice from inside responded, "Enter."
Rong Li instructed her attendants to wait outside, personally retrieved a portion of Sushan from the ice chest, and with a radiant smile, pushed the door open.
"Imperial Consort!" Her voice was sweet and clear, like the chirping of an oriole. "It's been so long since you came to the princess's residence. What has kept you so occupied?"
But her words caught in her throat.
The atmosphere in the study was tense and solemn. Zhan Qin was not seated behind the desk but stood with his hands clasped behind his back by the window. His dark official robe accentuated his tall, straight figure like a pine tree.
Three or four armored generals with swords at their waists stood solemnly to the side. On the floor knelt two men, bound with hemp ropes and their clothes stained with dust, clearly having just undergone interrogation.
The sudden silence was broken by Rong Li's intrusion.
All eyes instantly focused on her, the generals especially astonished, each unable to believe that the Princess Royal, rumored to be deeply at odds with the newly appointed superior, would come seeking him with such a pleasant expression. They immediately lowered their gazes, not daring to look directly.
Zhan Qin turned at the sound and saw Rong Li holding an ice bowl, her smiling face radiant as a flower. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
When his gaze swept over the bowl of Sushan in her hand, so incongruous with the chilly atmosphere of the room, Zhan Qin felt a twitch at his temples. "Why has Your Highness come here?"
"I saw the sun was scorching, so I brought some chilled treats for you…" Rong Li's voice unconsciously softened.
"Military affairs are not yet concluded; there is no time for distractions." With that, Zhan Qin turned to Fuyun. "First, escort Her Highness back to the residence."
Such a blunt rejection and dismissal felt like cold water splashed in her face.
In the past, Rong Li would certainly have been ashamed and angry, turning to leave and never returning.
But these past few days, she had consulted so many storybooks and pondered all the way here. After all, it was she who had offended her deeply affectionate husband, so receiving his cold shoulder was only natural.
Moreover, as the esteemed Princess Royal of Jinyang, she was certainly not one to retreat at the first sign of difficulty. Winning her husband back was a long-term endeavor—how could it be achieved overnight?
Besides, there was an even more pressing "matter" at hand.
If she didn't win over the Imperial Consort, who would help her detoxify the poison?
So Rong Li simply placed the Sushan in her hand on the desk and ordered the rest to be set aside as well.
"All of you, my lords, have exhausted yourselves in safeguarding the imperial city. I originally thought that the autumn noon was scorching and you all were toiling hard, so I specially prepared some chilled drinks and soups for the Imperial Consort and the other lords on duty at the yamen." Rong Li's gaze shifted lightly, a smile curling at the corners of her lips as she nodded slightly toward the generals. "I didn’t expect to arrive at an inopportune time, just as you were discussing important matters. It was my intrusion."
Her tone was crisp and still carried a hint of childishness, yet her every movement was gentle and composed.
Rong Li’s gaze swept past Zhan Qin standing nearby, and she smiled again. "Please, all of you, continue your discussions at ease."
"I will simply find a side room or pavilion and wait for the Imperial Consort to finish his duties."
Rong Li’s words still lingered in the air, yet she had already left the study without any further entanglement.
—Wait, what she had just said was… wait for the Imperial Consort to finish his duties?
Zhan Qin’s matter was already nearing its conclusion, with little left to discuss or deliberate.
Moreover, after witnessing such an unimaginable scene, the generals were eager to return home, and the study soon emptied. Among them was one particularly bold and fearless fellow who actually scooped a bowl from the ice chest set aside and happily departed, completely oblivious to the icy glare Zhan Qin shot at his back.
Zhan Qin stared at the bowl of Sushan Rong Li had deliberately placed on his desk, his eyes unreadable. After a long while, he finally summoned someone to inquire where Rong Li was currently waiting and headed in that direction.
The guard who had witnessed it all today—the Princess Royal personally coming to seek her husband, and Lord Zhan now seeking her out in return—was already brimming with gossip and excitement, eagerly awaiting his shift change to dive back into the crowd and share the tale.
When Zhan Qin arrived at the small pavilion where Rong Li was waiting, she was seated at a table, eating Sushan and flipping through a storybook, so engrossed that she didn’t notice him.
From his angle, the young girl’s eyelashes curved gently, her face small and delicate, sitting there like a wisp of soft, drifting cloud.
Whether it was due to the heat or not, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue as she intermittently pressed the chilled cup in her hands against her face and neck.
A faint, elusive fragrance, its source unknown, lingered persistently around Zhan Qin’s nose.
Author’s Note:
Xieyue: I really have no tricks left.
Today, I’ve fiercely updated with a hefty chapter! Hope you all enjoy it, babies!
Kisses to everyone! Kisses to all the babies! [Throws confetti]