He gritted his teeth and endured silently, not daring to show even the slightest hint of dissatisfaction.
Seeing Rong Xun wear a somewhat uncomfortable expression, she slowly said, “Truly a peerless beauty.”
The Grand Empress Dowager gave a faint smile and then waved her hand. A palace maid waiting on the side immediately stepped forward carrying an exquisite box.
The Grand Empress Dowager took it and handed it to Rong Xun. “This is a small token I have prepared for you. Since you have already married into Prince Chen’s estate, you must serve Prince Chen with all your heart. Prince Chen has suffered through a lot staying at the border for many years, so you must put more effort into taking care of him from now on.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Rong Xun received the box with both hands and bowed to the Grand Empress Dowager once more. “This subject obeys Mother’s teachings.”
While expressing his gratitude with his mouth, Rong Xun cursed these people in his heart for being out of their minds.
Madam Chen was like that, the Marquis of Yong’an was like that, and now the Grand Empress Dowager was too! Prince Chen was a fully functioning, healthy adult male. What on earth did he need looking after? He was not a disabled person unable to care for himself.
“That is good.”
The Grand Empress Dowager did not seem ready to let Rong Xun off just yet. “You are a man, so you must pay even closer attention to the affairs of the inner courtyard. If concubines are brought into the estate later on, do not harbor jealousy and create turmoil in the household.”
Madam Chen had said those exact words, and the instruction matrons had said them too. Now the Grand Empress Dowager was saying them again!
He was practically sick of hearing it. Rong Xun rolled his eyes inwardly, one after another, desperately wanting to tell these people not to worry. Even if Tan Taisi brought ten or twenty concubines into the estate later, he would not feel jealous in the least.
On a nearby seat, Tan Taisi had long since put down his pastry. Supporting his head with one hand, he watched Rong Xun’s face with amused interest.
This fellow. Could he be concocting some complaints against someone in his mind again?
Sitting right here were his nominal mother-in-law on one side and his husband on the other, yet he still dared to curse people in his head. He was truly quite bold.
Tan Taisi unconsciously curved the corners of his lips. He had seen plenty of treacherous, shameless fools, but this was the first time he had ever encountered such a simple-minded fool with virtually zero restraint. It was rather refreshing.
Paying his respects to the Grand Empress Dowager had netted Rong Xun zero food, but had instead earned him an entire earful of nonsense.
Stepping out of the Qifeng Pavilion, Rong Xun genuinely felt even more exhausted than he had on his wedding day.
Looking at the large pile of precious items in his hands, and recalling the Grand Empress Dowager’s parting words telling him to drop by the imperial palace more often to keep her company, he let out a soft sigh.
His stomach was so empty, and his legs felt completely numb.
Tan Taisi glanced back at the large box in Rong Xun’s hands, easily concealing the emotions welling up in the depths of his eyes. He casually asked, “Aren’t you going to look and see what is inside?”
“I. Your subject will open it and look once we reach the carriage.”
Tan Taisi did not pursue the matter of Rong Xun using the wrong pronoun. He stood on the main avenue, his deep gaze fixed on the endless stretch of flagstone paving ahead. Duo Fu and the others still needed some time to drive the carriage over.
Rong Xun stood beside Tan Taisi holding the large box, waiting right along with him.
They did not wait for Duo Fu. Instead, they ended up waiting for someone else entirely.
A group of people suddenly appeared around the corner of the long street. A woman dressed in luxurious court robes led several palace maids walking gracefully toward the two of them.
Her target was entirely clear: Tan Taisi.
“Imperial Elder Brother!”
Before she had even drawn close, her voice rang out ahead of her. It was bouncing and joyful, not quite the sort of sound that usually belonged within the solemn and dignified imperial palace.
Rong Xun could not help turning his head to look as a youthful maiden hurried over, lifting the hem of her skirt. Her facial features bore a striking resemblance to Tan Taisi’s. Although young, she had already blossomed into a graceful and striking figure, as fresh and refined as a water lily emerging from the clear depths.
As the beauty drew near, she first offered a proper bow and greeting to both Tan Taisi and Rong Xun. “Greetings, Imperial Elder Brother, Imperial Sister-in-law.”
Rong Xun smiled and nodded toward the young woman.
After paying her respects, the young woman looked at Tan Taisi with visible excitement. “Imperial Elder Brother, you have finally returned! Shuhua has missed you so much!”
Rong Xun understood instantly.
So she was Princess Shuhua, the Emperor’s only daughter.
Upon seeing Princess Shuhua, Tan Taisi revealed the first genuinely heartfelt smile of the day. He reached out and affectionately patted Shuhua’s head. “When I last saw you, you barely reached my shoulder. In the blink of an eye, you have grown up.”
Not long after Tan Taisi had been conferred the title of Prince, he had led his troops away from the capital. At that time, Shuhua was only eleven years old. Although they did not share the same birth mother, it did nothing to diminish their sibling bond. Ever since she was little, Shuhua had deeply idolized Tan Taisi. When he returned to the capital this time, she had spent days brimming with excitement within her own palace quarters, eagerly anticipating the day Tan Taisi would enter the palace to pay his respects.
“Imperial Elder Brother, I have prepared many gifts for you.”
After saying that, Shuhua did not forget to look at Rong Xun. “I originally wanted to go to your wedding with the Imperial Sister-in-law, but Mother wouldn’t allow it. I will instruct the palace maids to go fetch the gifts later; you and the Imperial Sister-in-law must accept them.”
Seemingly afraid that Tan Taisi might refuse, Shuhua blinked at Rong Xun, looking rather pitiful and making it impossible for anyone to harden their heart against her.
Shuhua looked so much like Tan Taisi. When she made that expression, Rong Xun could not help picturing Tan Taisi blinking and acting coquettishly toward him in his mind.
No, no, that mental image was far too horrifying.
What kind of person was Tan Taisi? How could he possibly act coquettishly toward anyone?
Rong Xun shook his head, forcefully banishing those chaotic thoughts from his mind, and instinctively nodded at Shuhua. “Since the Princess has taken the trouble to prepare them, of course we will accept. Thank you, Your Highness.”
“That is wonderful!”
A royal princess, usually known for her poise and proper etiquette, was acting just like an ordinary young maiden right now, clapping her hands gleefully and letting out a string of silvery, crisp laughs.
However, that laughter did not last long, given that they were still standing right outside the Grand Empress Dowager’s palace gates.
Shuhua instructed a palace maid to go back and retrieve the congratulatory gifts, turning back to the two of them with an apologetic look. “I originally wanted to chat longer with my Imperial Elder Brother and Sister-in-law, but the time for my greeting to Mother has arrived.”
Shuhua looked genuinely reluctant to leave, a shadow of disappointment crossing her face. “Shuhua takes her leave of Imperial Elder Brother and Sister-in-law.”
With that, she turned and walked back toward the Qifeng Pavilion, looking back three times with every step she took.
“Shuhua.”
Tan Taisi called out to the figure just about to vanish around the corner of the wall.
“Imperial Elder Brother?” Shuhua spun around eagerly.
“Do you have any other matters?”
“None at all. Whenever you want to leave the palace and visit Prince Chen’s estate, just send someone to let me know, and I will have you brought out.”
Tan Taisi’s tone was entirely calm. The way he spoke of fetching Shuhua out of the palace sounded as casual as saying he was going out for a meal.
Rong Xun even began to suspect he was hallucinating. In the original owner’s memories, according to the laws of the Jing Dynasty, unmarried princesses were not permitted to leave the imperial palace casually. Did Tan Taisi truly possess enough clout to make the Emperor and Grand Empress Dowager nod and grant permission?
Princess Shuhua did not overthink things the way Rong Xun did. The moment she heard that Tan Taisi intended to bring her out of the imperial palace to visit Prince Chen’s estate, she became too overjoyed to care about anything else.
With a beaming smile, she replied, “Thank you, Imperial Elder Brother!”
On the way back to the estate, the carriage wheels rumbled heavily against the paving stones of the grand avenue.
For the third time, Rong Xun stole a sideways glance to appraise Tan Taisi.
You certainly could not tell by looking at him, but while Tan Taisi’s attitude toward the Emperor and the Grand Empress Dowager was rather lukewarm, he was actually quite good to Princess Shuhua. He had even personally instructed Duo Fu to retrieve the congratulatory gifts from Princess Shuhua’s palace quarters.
The bond between these siblings was not bad at all.
So Tan Taisi was not completely insufferable to everyone after all.
“The Consort has been staring at this Prince for quite a while now. Have you had your fill of looking?”
Rong Xun sheepishly withdrew his gaze and sat up straight. True to his words, he replied, “I have seen enough.”
Tan Taisi had not expected Rong Xun to answer so bluntly. Just as he was about to say something to tease the person before him, the carriage came to a sudden halt.
It stopped quite abruptly, causing Rong Xun’s body to lurch forward uncontrollably.
Tan Taisi glanced sideways at Rong Xun and asked toward the front, “What is going on?”
“Your Highness, it is Grand Councilor Song.”
Tang Jiu’s voice came from outside the carriage, speaking in a low tone to Tan Taisi. “Grand Councilor Song wishes to come forward and pay his respects to Your Highness.”
Song Yingshan?
Tan Taisi pondered for a moment, his slender fingers unconsciously tapping against the small side table. “Let him approach.”
“Understood.”
Receiving his orders, Tang Jiu stepped away from the carriage.
A moment later, an old man’s trembling voice drifted in from outside. “This humble minister, Song Yingshan, pays his respects to Prince Chen and the Prince’s Consort.”
Rong Xun remained silent, instinctively looking toward Tan Taisi.
“Grand Councilor Song, please rise. You are a pillar of three reigns; there is no need for such formalities.”
Tan Taisi remained seated without moving, raising his voice slightly to converse with the person outside. “Today is a day of rest, so why is Grand Councilor Song out here?”
“Replying to Your Highness, this humble minister has matters to report to His Majesty.”
“Grand Councilor Song remains as diligent as ever.” Tan Taisi let out a light chuckle. “Since that is the case, you should hurry along and not delay official business.”
Song Yingshan did not leave. Through the carriage wall, he addressed the person inside, “Your Highness, you have been back in the capital for half a month now. This humble minister has attempted to invite you on several occasions, but never found the right opportunity. Today, I am so bold as to intercept Your Highness’s carriage in hopes of inviting Your Highness to my residence tomorrow to view the plum blossoms together. I sincerely hope Your Highness will grace us with your presence.”
At this time of year, the plum blossoms were in full bloom.
Regardless of what Song Yingshan’s true motive might be for inviting Tan Taisi to the Song residence, his reason for the invitation left no room for suspicion.
Yet Tan Taisi showed no leisurely inclination toward flower viewing. “This Prince is afraid he lacks the affinity to admire the plum blossoms at Grand Councilor Song’s residence.”
As he spoke, he suddenly turned his head to stare intently at Rong Xun. “This Prince was newly married yesterday, and tomorrow I must accompany the Consort back to visit his family. I am afraid I will not have the time.”
Rong Xun had almost forgotten about the tradition of returning home for a formal visit on the third day of marriage.
Outside the carriage, Song Yingshan paused for a moment before saying, “This humble minister was negligent and actually forgot such an important matter. Please forgive this oversight, Your Highness, Consort.”
“Very well, Grand Councilor Song should hurry along to see the Emperor. As for the matter of viewing plum blossoms, we can discuss it another time.”
“Understood. This humble minister respectfully bids farewell to Your Highness and the Consort.”
Rong Xun heard Tang Jiu instructing the coachman outside to resume driving.
The carriage slowly lurched back into motion.
Outside, the cold winter wind fluttered the curtain. Through the narrow gap that occasionally opened up, Rong Xun looked outside.
They were just about to leave the imperial palace grounds.
Thinking about tomorrow’s return visit to the Marquis’s estate instantly filled Rong Xun with a wave of annoyance.
The original owner had grown up living outside in a remote country estate and was completely unfamiliar with the people of the Yong’an Marquis’s residence. He only hoped nothing would give away his identity to Tan Taisi tomorrow.
Half an hour later, the carriage came to a steady halt before the grand gates of Prince Chen’s estate.
Rong Xun consciously waited for Tan Taisi to step down from the carriage first.
Outside the gates, the attendants stood quietly waiting to unload the items the two had brought back from the imperial palace.
Rong Xun lifted the curtain and saw Tan Taisi standing with his hands behind his back beside the carriage. It looked as though he was waiting for him.
Rong Xun felt a mild surge of pleasant surprise. Surely Tan Taisi was not planning to help him down from the carriage, was he?
“Your Highness, this subject can manage down by himself, so there is no need to trouble Your Highness.”
Despite saying that, Rong Xun still extended his hand outward. Secretly, he felt a flicker of amusement. Tan Taisi was a striking beauty after all, so holding hands briefly would not count as a loss for him.
Tan Taisi raised an eyebrow, looking with mild bewilderment at the hand extended toward him.
A second later, he chuckled. “The Consort is overthinking. This Prince merely wanted to remind you not to forget the book left on the bookshelf.”
Rong Xun: “………”
He silently pulled back his extended hand.
Ah, right. He had almost forgotten.
This remarkable Prince Chen had quite generously bestowed upon him a book that he could not make heads or tails of!
Rong Xun forced out a rigid, stiff smile. “Of course your subject has not forgotten.”
He turned back inside to snatch up the copy of the Xia Yu Records, clutching it tightly in his grip. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, “Many thanks, Your Highness.”
“The Consort is far too polite.”
Tan Taisi flicked his sleeves and strode ahead into the estate.
Rong Xun took a deep breath, clenched his teeth, and followed right behind him.
Tang Jiu instructed the servants to lead the carriage away, then silently trailed behind the two masters.
Following their wedding night, Rong Xun had routinely moved into the Southern Courtyard, which was closest to Tan Taisi’s Eastern Courtyard.
Normally, newlywed couples rarely moved back to their separate quarters right on the second day, and Rong Xun wondered whether Tan Taisi would wander over to his courtyard tonight.