After talking a lot with Consort Ye yesterday, she had a new understanding of the women in the Prince’s mansion.
The novel was written around the male and female leads, with very little mention of other people’s inner courts.
Yesterday, she heard Consort Ye mention some of her family’s business dealings, which reminded Bai Fei Wan of a detail from the book: the fifty-thousand-strong private army that the Third Prince, Prince Heng, and Shen Hong raised for their rebellion was funded by selling private salt.
And this matter of the private salt wouldn’t be exposed until the second month of next year.
But after the female lead was reborn, she told the male lead, Xiao Chengyu, about it.
Prince Rui coveted the profits from the private salt, but he also didn’t want to miss the chance to see his third imperial brother deposed.
So, Prince Rui planned ahead, pulling off a grand deception to move the majority of the private salt to a new location. He left behind only a small amount of evidence, just enough to convict the Third Prince when the matter was exposed in the second month.
The Third Prince, Prince Heng, was put under house arrest again because of the private salt trafficking, and this became the fuse that lit his and Shen Hong’s rebellion.
Seeing how heartless his imperial father was toward him, and egged on by the Shen family, the Third Prince launched a palace coup during the spring hunt in the third month.
The emperor, however, had long been prepared. He played along with their scheme, using the opportunity to completely eradicate the Shen family and place Prince Heng under house arrest for life.
With that, the Third Prince’s faction was eliminated, and Prince Rui began to slowly step into the limelight.
Bai Fei Wan estimated that the male lead, Xiao Chengyu, and his people were probably already making quiet contact with the private salt operations in Jiangnan.
How could she bring this up to Jin Wang without arousing suspicion? Besides, Jin Wang never came to her quarters, and she couldn’t take the initiative to seek him out. It was truly a vexing problem.
Sigh. She really didn’t want to get involved in their messy affairs. All she wanted was to live out her days peacefully in the Prince’s mansion. Why was even that so difficult?
The profits from private salt were too immense. If she didn’t stop Prince Rui, he would become the next Prince Heng, because Prince Rui also seized the throne by rebelling and killing his father.
The key point was, it would be one thing if he just took the throne, but he didn’t spare Jin Wang Manor after his ascension. For that reason, she couldn’t just sit by and do nothing.
Bai Fei Wan thought for a whole day but still couldn’t come up with a suitable excuse to talk to Jin Wang. Then, that evening, Jin Wang came to her quarters.
At that moment, Bai Fei Wan was doing her pre-bedtime yoga. She was startled by Jin Wang’s sudden appearance in her room.
She quickly rose to her feet and curtsied. “This servant greets Your Highness.”
The moment Jin Wang entered, he saw a woman in her underclothes performing strange poses on the floor. “What are you doing?”
Bai Fei Wan was a little embarrassed. “This servant is exercising. Otherwise, I just eat and sleep every day. It’s bad for digestion, and I’ll gain weight.”
“Where did you learn these strange poses? Are they effective?”
Bai Fei Wan shamelessly declared, “This servant created them myself. They’re quite effective. See? This servant isn’t fat at all.” As she spoke, she even spun around in front of Jin Wang.
Hearing this, Jin Wang’s tone was doting. “Your head is full of strange ideas. You’re too thin right now, you don’t need to lose weight. It would be better if you were a little plumper. You’d feel more comfortable to the touch.”
You rogue, Bai Fei Wan thought, but on her face, she acted shy and coquettish. “Your Highness, we’re still out in the open.”
Jin Wang loved the sound of her coquettish voice. He stepped forward, pulled her into his arms, and said bewitchingly in a low, magnetic voice, “I’m telling the truth. I like the feel of you when you’re a bit meatier.” As he spoke, his hand even gave her a squeeze.
Jin Wang’s actions made Bai Fei Wan’s face burn red. Still, she didn’t forget to ask why he was here.
“Why did Your Highness come to this servant’s quarters today?”
Hearing her question, Jin Wang grew angry and tightened his grip, his tone accusatory. “What, is this Prince not allowed to come? This entire Prince’s mansion belongs to me. I can go wherever I please.”
Jin Wang’s grip was a bit painful, and Bai Fei Wan let out a small “Ah.”
Seeing that he had misunderstood her, she ignored the pain and hurriedly explained, “Your Highness, that’s not what this servant meant. I’m very happy that you could come. This servant was just curious as to why you had the time to visit tonight. Aren’t you usually very busy?”
Hearing her explanation, Jin Wang’s expression softened, and he loosened his grip.
His tone gentler, Jin Wang said, “I’m not busy now. I have time, so I came to see you.”
Then he added, “I came secretly. No one knows.”
Bai Fei Wan felt the pressure on her chest ease, and the air instantly felt fresher. It’s definitely going to be bruised, she thought. That beast.
Just as she finished cursing Jin Wang in her head, she heard him ask, “Are the two maids I gave you working out well? If not, this Prince can replace them for you.”
Thinking of Qingtan and Qing Huai, Bai Fei Wan felt that Jin Wang was actually quite a good person after all, and she silently took back the curse she had just uttered.
Bai Fei Wan nodded. “The two of them are very good. This servant likes them a lot. There’s no need to replace them. Thank you, Your Highness.”
Jin Wang gave a casual “en” in response, not paying it much mind. He had only asked on a whim, and seeing that she was satisfied, he said no more.
Through her clothes, the sensation in his hand felt a bit off. Jin Wang asked, “What are you wearing underneath?” As he spoke, he reached out to pull at her clothes.
Bai Fei Wan quickly stopped him. She was wearing a modern-style bra she had made herself. She didn’t know Jin Wang would be coming today, or she definitely wouldn’t have worn it.
Her tone was urgent as she replied, “It’s nothing, just my undergarments.”
“If it’s nothing, then why are you stopping me? Don’t move.”
Hearing this, Bai Fei Wan didn’t dare to resist his actions any longer. Jin Wang smoothly pulled open her clothes.
At the sight before him, Jin Wang’s pupils dilated. He swallowed hard, then brought a fist to his lips and coughed lightly. “If you want to lose weight, you don’t need to go to so much trouble. This Prince will help you.” With that, he pulled Bai Fei Wan toward the bed.
Tonight, Jin Wang was exceptionally passionate. Ignoring Bai Fei Wan’s protests, he insisted on battling until Chou Shi before finally ceasing.
The next day, Bai Fei Wan didn’t wake up until it was almost Wu Shi. Hearing movement in the room, Zi Zhu quickly opened the door and entered.
Coming to the bedside, she saw her lady wrapped up like a silkworm cocoon, her eyes closed as she said in a lazy voice, “Zi Zhu, what do I do? I don’t want to get up.” As she spoke, she even wriggled.
Zi Zhu was a little speechless. “Miss, it’s almost Wu Shi. Lunch will be served soon.” She hadn’t even had a chance to add that His Highness was still here.
She just saw her lady roll over in the bed. “I’ll just close my eyes for a little while longer, just a little while.”
Jin Wang had been handling his affairs in Bai Fei Wan’s study since morning. Seeing that it was so late and Bai Fei Wan still wasn’t up, he came over to check on her, walking in on this very scene.
Hearing a noise at the door, Zi Zhu turned and saw His Highness standing in the doorway. She was about to perform Qing An but was stopped by Jin Wang, who gestured for her to withdraw.
Zi Zhu had no choice but to leave. As she went out, she cast a helpless look at her lady, who was still wrapped up like a cocoon.
Jin Wang came to the bedside and sat down. He reached for the person on the inner side of the bed. Just as his hand touched the quilt, before he could speak, he heard Bai Fei Wan’s sleepy voice. “Mmm~ you won’t even let me close my eyes for a bit. Zi Zhu, you big meanie.”
After speaking, Bai Fei Wan, with her eyes still closed, rolled toward the outer edge of the bed and stretched out her arms.
Seeing her outstretched arms, Jin Wang thought she wanted a hug, so he bent down and lifted her up.
The sudden feeling of being airborne startled Bai Fei Wan. Her sleepiness vanished in an instant. She opened her eyes and saw Jin Wang. Bai Fei Wan rubbed her eyes and looked again—it was still Jin Wang. She suspected she was dreaming.
Seeing her actions, Jin Wang found it amusing. “No need to rub your eyes. You’re not mistaken, and you’re not dreaming. It’s me.”
Hearing this, Bai Fei Wan said, “Why is Your Highness still here? Did you not go to the morning court session?”
“This Prince is on leave today, so I don’t have to attend court. I can spend the whole day with you. What do you think? Are you happy?”
At his words, Bai Fei Wan nodded joyfully. “Happy, very happy. Your Highness is so good.”
Jin Wang dotingly tapped Bai Fei Wan’s nose. “It’s good that you know. So you must be obedient. Now, get up, wash up, and eat.”
“Mhm, okay. This servant will definitely be obedient.”
Jin Wang beckoned toward the outside. Zi Zhu immediately entered to help Bai Fei Wan wash up.