Chapter Seventeen: “How do you know it is what I desire?”
Pei Xuanlin said he would take Ling Zhenli to a side hall so she could rest for a while and have the palace maids redo her makeup. Ling Zhenli sensed nothing amiss and followed him out of the bamboo grove to a side hall.
As they neared the hall, they heard faint rustling sounds from inside—two people talking, a man and a woman, though the words were unclear.
Even without hearing what was being said, a man and a woman alone together in a room hardly inspired wholesome thoughts.
Ling Zhenli did not want to draw any closer, but seeing that Pei Xuanlin continued forward as if he had heard nothing, she sensed that this might be deliberate on his part. She said nothing and followed along.
At the doorway, the voices inside became clearer.
“I must keep this child. I might as well go and confess everything to Father and Mother.”
“Shang’er, you have to think carefully. Once you give birth to this child, there’s no turning back. His Majesty and Her Majesty will be heartbroken.”
“Do they only care about themselves and not about whether I’m heartbroken? They owe me so much—can’t they even agree to this small matter?”
“Marriage is not child’s play. One day, if you grow tired of me, you’ll regret today’s decision. And the child—I don’t want the child to be dragged down by me in the future, ignored by the Grand Princess like Yang Chongzheng was…”
“How could I ever be like that wretch Pei Shen’ai? Chengxiu, I love you. Don’t you love me? Don’t you want to marry me? You never abandoned me back then—how could I abandon you and our child now? Touch him—he’s growing in my womb. Can you really bear to give him up?”
It was Princess Jin’an and the former Crown Grandson.
They had conceived a child in secret?
Ling Zhenli listened in stunned disbelief. The palace maids following behind her had all heard it as well, each of them shocked beyond belief.
Only Pei Xuanlin seemed completely unaffected, pushing the door open straightaway.
The two people inside were startled by Pei Xuanlin’s sudden entrance.
Yang Chengxiu immediately sensed danger. Before anyone could clearly see Pei Shang’er, he grabbed a cloak from nearby and wrapped it around her, then stood in front of her to shield her from view.
The palace maids tactfully stayed outside. Only Pei Xuanlin led Ling Zhenli into the side hall.
Behind the screen, Pei Shang’er clutched the cloak over her face and peeked out from behind Yang Chengxiu, her sharp, fox-like eyes fixed on the pair.
She finally realized she had been set up by Pei Xuanlin.
Yang Chengxiu shot Pei Xuanlin a cold look, warning him with his eyes to leave.
In the past, when Yang Chengxiu was Crown Grandson—outstanding and highly favored by Emperor Wen, wielding real power—he had never shown such disrespect toward Pei Xuanlin.
Pei Xuanlin narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly and curled his lips into a smile. “I heard my imperial sister was unwell and resting in this side hall, so I came especially to check on you. I didn’t expect to find you here secretly meeting with the Prince of Huainan. What refined interests.”
“You wretch—”
Pei Shang’er was about to curse when Yang Chengxiu pulled her back and stepped forward himself, sneering at Pei Xuanlin.
“The princess is still as temperamental as ever. I thank the Crown Prince on her behalf for his concern and ask that the Crown Prince give me a little consideration and refrain from publicizing this matter.”
Pei Xuanlin frowned at Yang Chengxiu’s half-respectful, half-threatening demeanor. Standing to the side, Ling Zhenli’s eyes flicked with calculation—he had only asked the Crown Prince not to spread the matter.
“Husband, I’m a little tired. I don’t want to stay here.”
Ling Zhenli tugged lightly at the hand Pei Xuanlin was holding. She was confident that he indulged her spoiled manner and would not refuse her any request, even now.
Pei Xuanlin lowered his head to look at her, then smiled gently. “All right. I’ll take you somewhere else.”
He then glanced at Pei Shang’er. “Imperial sister, take care of yourself.”
After Ling Zhenli led Pei Xuanlin out, she heard Princess Jin’an’s curses and Yang Chengxiu’s soothing words from inside, her sense of vengeance growing even stronger.
Once her makeup was redone, Ling Zhenli summoned her maids. She instructed Yingchun to mingle more with the other noble ladies’ maids, and had Taoxia make a show of telling her about the princess’s pregnancy. This way, the curious maids would ask Yingchun what had happened, then report back to their own ladies, who would in turn tell their families—soon the entire capital would know.
With the plan set, Ling Zhenli calmly returned to the banquet with Pei Xuanlin, appearing utterly unconcerned by what she had just witnessed.
On Pei Shen’ai’s side, seeing her son neglecting his wife Pei Chanlian like a wooden post, she grew anxious. Suddenly, she thought of a clever idea. She ordered someone to bring out the pavilion-figure golden hairpin that Emperor Wen had once worn as Empress, to be used as the prize for the next match. To create opportunities for her son and daughter-in-law to interact, she specifically decreed that only mixed male-female teams could compete.
Once the item was displayed, the crowd rushed forward to admire it. Such a delicate piece, once worn by Emperor Wen and bestowed upon the Grand Princess—everyone quietly plotted how to win it.
“Chongheng, I originally intended this hairpin for Roujia. Why don’t you go and win it back for her?” Pei Shen’ai reminded him, issuing a thinly veiled command.
Xiao Chongheng clasped his hands and replied helplessly, “Your son understands.”
Pei Chanlian, meanwhile, found her gaze drifting uncontrollably toward the Crown Princess, who had just returned to the banquet.
Since that woman came back, Xiao Chongheng’s eyes had repeatedly landed on her. Pei Chanlian recalled the day she accompanied Xiao Chongheng into the palace—his attitude toward the Crown Princess had been anything but ordinary. The way he spoke to her was practically flirtatious, far beyond that of normal relations between men and women.
Moreover, he usually never went to the palace to pay respects, yet that day, when everyone knew the Crown Prince would bring the Crown Princess to the palace, he suddenly insisted on going as well, claiming it had been a long time since they had paid respects together—when in truth, he was likely there to see the Crown Princess.
After encountering the Crown Princess in the Imperial Garden, Xiao Chongheng had even coaxed her to return to the Duke’s residence first, saying he still had matters to discuss with His Majesty. Now it seemed he had gone to find the Crown Princess instead…
The more Pei Chanlian thought about it, the more wrong it felt. She could no longer sit still and rose to seek out the Crown Princess.
Ling Zhenli had originally planned to sit with Pei Xuanlin to watch the upcoming polo match. But she saw Xiao Yuzhen clinging to Xie Daojian again. Xiao Yuzhen also wanted the hairpin offered as the prize by the Grand Princess. She had tried to find Xue Haoting as a partner but was refused, so she was now pleading with Xie Daojian to team up with her to win it.
Xie Daojian glanced her way several times, but could do nothing against Xiao Yuzhen’s persistence. Seeing that he was on the verge of agreeing, Ling Zhenli could not remain seated. An inexplicable jealousy surged within her. To prevent Xie Daojian from partnering with Xiao Yuzhen, she took the initiative to seek out Xue Haoting.
…
Xue Haoting was gambling with friends over drinks. When Ling Zhenli arrived, the young men who had been playing with him were perceptive enough to withdraw at once.
Seeing Ling Zhenli, Xue Haoting felt a secret thrill, though he pretended indifference on the surface.
“Oh? I thought if I didn’t come looking for you, you wouldn’t come looking for me.”
After speaking, he ignored Ling Zhenli entirely and continued eating.
Ling Zhenli rolled her eyes. Remembering she needed his help, she swallowed her displeasure. “I need you to help me with something.”
Xue Haoting rarely softened his tone. “What is it?”
“Go keep County Princess Yongtai company. Stay with her—do whatever you like.”
As soon as the words fell, Xue Haoting’s expression changed. He looked up at Ling Zhenli, irritation filling his eyes.
“No.” He refused outright.
Even after being rejected, Ling Zhenli refused to give up. She truly could not bear to see another woman clinging to the man she loved. Her mind was completely occupied by this one matter.
“If you agree to keep County Princess Yongtai company, I’ll do as you wish and return alone to the Chancellor’s residence to see you.”
Ling Zhenli’s gaze was firm, her tone solemn and unquestionable.
“How do you know it is what I desire?”
Ling Zhenli avoided answering directly. “I will satisfy you.”
Seeing that she was willing to use herself as a bargaining chip, Xue Haoting realized she truly wanted to push him toward Xiao Yuzhen.
Since she was willing to give herself, why not accept it?
“Fine. A deal.”
Though unwilling, Xue Haoting still rose and went to find Xiao Yuzhen, asking her to show him around the princess’s residence.
Xiao Yuzhen wanted the hairpin very much, but to her, the man she liked was far more important.
Seeing that Xie Daojian was finally free of another woman’s clinging, Ling Zhenli let out a long sigh of relief.
She had succeeded.
After using Xue Haoting, Ling Zhenli’s mood improved considerably. She prepared to return to watch the polo match.
That hairpin truly was beautiful. She wanted to see just how many women would go mad over it.
Just as she returned to Pei Xuanlin’s side and had not yet steadied her heart, she saw the woman Xiao Chongheng had married—County Princess Roujia—approaching her.
County Princess Roujia was perhaps the woman Ling Zhenli least wanted to see, even more irritating than Princess Wuyang, yet she had no choice but to deal with her.
Upon arriving, Pei Chanlian gave a slight curtsy.
“I wonder if the Crown Princess still remembers me. We met in the Imperial Garden that day. I am County Princess Roujia.”
Her voice was gentle and sweet, yet her eyes were filled with scrutiny and arrogance.
Ling Zhenli sensed the malice emanating from Pei Chanlian. She disliked her just as much, but still pulled her lips into a polite smile. “The county princess’s beauty is unforgettable at first sight.”
“Does the Crown Princess have any interest in polo?”
Pei Chanlian’s gaze was provocative—she clearly meant trouble.
“I have no particular interest,” Ling Zhenli replied coolly, returning her disdain with equal indifference.
At this point, there was no need for euphemisms. Pei Chanlian stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the point. “Every member of the imperial clan excels at horsemanship. Now that the Crown Princess is also part of the imperial family, I would like to take this polo match to see just how skilled the Crown Princess’s riding is. Would the Crown Princess do me the honor?”
With the provocation laid bare, Ling Zhenli no longer bothered to save face. “Leaving aside my status as Crown Princess, even noble ladies outside the capital rarely lack riding skills. Your words suggest you are unaware that beyond heaven there is heaven, and beyond people there are always others.”
“I merely wish to see the Crown Princess’s skills. When we met in the Imperial Garden last time, I felt a sense of affinity. The upcoming match requires mixed pairs…” Pei Chanlian shifted her tone and turned toward Pei Xuanlin. “Why doesn’t imperial brother take imperial sister-in-law onto the field to spar with us? The prize for this match is the highlight of the banquet. If imperial brother wins it for imperial sister-in-law, wouldn’t that make a beauty smile?”