The oil-paper umbrella was moved aside, revealing Xiang Ming’s face, and Jiang Rongyin could no longer smile.
Once Xiang Ming arrived at Guanghua Hall, apart from Jiang Yun’s orders, no one else could command him.
“Ninth Princess, His Highness requests your presence at the East Palace.”
Hearing Xiang Ming’s words, Jiang Rongyin sat up straight: “I understand.”
She was a hundred times unwilling, but if she didn’t go, Jiang Yun would come.
If he comes, he won’t try to hide it.
Jiang Rongyin sighed and took off all the hairpins and headdresses from her hair.
If any of these things were to fall into the Eastern Palace, Jiang Rongyin would die.
The rain outside wasn’t too heavy. Bao Yin held an umbrella for Jiang Rongyin, and the three of them walked towards the East Palace.
Upon arriving at the East Palace, Xiang Ming and Bao Yin stood guard outside the hall while Jiang Rongyin went inside.
Inside the bedchamber, a cool breeze blew in through the open window, and Jiang Yun was sitting on a small couch reading memorials.
“Your Highness.”
After Jiang Rongyin bowed in greeting, Jiang Yun merely glanced at her sideways.
In the silence, the only sounds were the rain outside and the sound of Jiang Yun’s vermilion brushstrokes as he reviewed the memorials.
Jiang Rongyin’s legs were numb from standing, and she looked out the window with some boredom. Then she heard Jiang Yun’s words: “Are you made of wood?”
“ah?”
“Did I summon you here because you intend to stand in the Eastern Palace until nightfall?”
Jiang Yun raised her hand to support her head and looked at Jiang Rongyin.
“Or is it that Xiao Jiu has been having too much of a comfortable time in Guanghua Palace these past two days?”
Hearing Jiang Yun’s words, Jiang Rongyin didn’t dare to reply. He must be angry because she thought he hadn’t taken the initiative to come to the East Palace to find him.
“I just noticed that Your Highness has been busy with state affairs these past few days.”
Jiang Rongyin considered her words carefully before replying to him.
Jiang Yun chuckled, his gaze sweeping over her from head to toe: “Who’s busier, me or you?”
If he doesn’t contact her, she wishes he would never remember her again.
Jiang Rongyin’s days in Guanghua Palace were incredibly carefree.
“Come and grind the ink.”
Jiang Yun withdrew her hand, sat up straight again, and left only this sentence.
Jiang Rongyin took a deep breath and stepped forward to grind ink for him.
Everything in the Eastern Palace is the best; even this ink has a hint of pine resin.
“My father told me today that he will arrange another marriage for you.”
Jiang Yun was busy with official business, but he managed to say something that made Jiang Rongyin’s heart race.
“What did His Highness say?”
Jiang Rongyin swallowed, while Jiang Yun’s gaze remained impassive as he looked at her hand grinding ink.
“He really cares about you. The people he picks out are all from excellent families, no less than Qin Shiyan.”
“You’re asking me about your own affairs?”
Jiang Yun stopped what he was doing and reached out to grasp Jiang Rongyin’s wrist.
Jiang Rongyin paused, spilling some ink which splashed onto the memorial in front of Jiang Yun.
“Your Highness shall naturally decide on Rongyin’s marriage.”
Besides, she has no right to choose her own husband.
“You spilled ink, you were distracted, Xiao Jiu.”
Jiang Yun held her hand and used a handkerchief to wipe the ink off her fingers.
My thoughts drifted back to an hour earlier.
In the Zichen Palace, the Emperor and Jiang Yun had just finished discussing matters when they heard the Grand Eunuch Guo Guangyi announce that the Empress had arrived.
Empress Wei and the Emperor had a somewhat delicate relationship because of Jiang Rongyin’s matter.
Now that Jiang Yun is involved, Empress Wei is more willing to get close to the Emperor.
She came to Zichen Palace for Jiang Rongyin’s marriage.
The implication was that now that Qin Shiyan and Chu Qingyin were engaged, if Jiang Rongyin delayed her marriage, it would inevitably lead outsiders to suspect that Jiang Rongyin did not want to get married because Qin Shiyan did not want to marry her.
Why not take this opportunity to find a marriage partner for Jiang Rongyin as well?
The emperor looked through the roster brought by Empress Wei, but couldn’t find any mistakes, so he casually asked Jiang Yun a question.
Jiang Yun didn’t say anything, letting them decide for themselves.
He knew that Empress Wei disliked Jiang Rongyin and had always wanted to marry her off.
But Jiang Rongyin was his pet bird; if he didn’t let go, how could she dare to fly high?
Jiang Yun had naturally read the booklet. They were all from prominent families, each with its own strengths. The only thing they had in common was that none of them lived in the capital.
Empress Wei wished that Jiang Rongyin would marry far away and never return to the capital.
Jiang Rongyin probably also wished she could stay far away from him.
If it is to be refused, it cannot be Jiang Yun who makes the refusal.
“If your father asks you a question, how will you answer?”
Jiang Rongyin frowned, her delicate white fingers already bearing red marks from Jiang Yun’s rubbing, and tried to pull her hand away.
Jiang Yun looked up at her, his eyes seeming to want to devour her.
“Rongyin does not want to get married; she only wants to serve her father.”
Jiang Rongyin’s hand was held tightly by him, and she couldn’t break free even a little.
“Little Jiu, be good and don’t do anything to make me unhappy.”
“Even if you are not being honest, I don’t know, so I’ll take it as you being sincere. But if you want to use this opportunity to escape…”
Jiang Yun suddenly tugged at her, and Jiang Rongyin was pulled so hard that she fell face down on the table.
“I don’t mind locking you up for a lifetime.”
He felt uneasy, so uneasy that he felt as if Jiang Rongyin would disappear at any moment.
Jiang Yun knew how much Jiang Rongyin resisted him.
But she didn’t say it aloud, so he could pretend nothing had happened.
Jiang Rongyin looked up at her wrist, which was being held by Jiang Yun. He was gripping it very tightly, and it hurt so much that she wanted to cry.
“I…I understand.”
She was terrified. Ying’er hadn’t even gotten married yet, and Jiang Yun was already so displeased.
If she really runs away on the day of the archery banquet, what will happen to Jiang Yun?
Jiang Rongyin dared not think about it, but she would not give up. She would never stay by Jiang Yun’s side as his mistress for the rest of her life.
The woman’s eyes were slightly red and filled with tears. Jiang Yun raised his hand to wipe away her tears and released his grip on her wrist.
He got up, stepped off the small couch, and picked her up.
The freshly ground ink stained her entire body, and Jiang Rongyin nestled in his arms without saying a word.
Outside the window, rain was drizzling, and wisps of white steam rose from the bathtub. Jiang Yun pinned her against the edge and pinched her leg with one hand.
“Little Jiu, what are you calling me for?”
He finished speaking, tightened his grip, and then received a trembling “Huizhi” from her.
Huizhi? Jiang Rongyin was somewhat puzzled.
But in the past, wasn’t the courtesy name she used for Jiang Yun Chengyun?
However, before Jiang Rongyin could think about it carefully, her thoughts were pulled away by him again.
On the bed, Jiang Yun only allowed Jiang Rongyin to call him by his courtesy name.
Jiang Yun’s eyes darkened, and a drop of sweat fell onto Jiang Rongyin’s collarbone.
He disliked the title “Imperial Brother” and also disliked “Your Highness”.
They’re too distant, as if they could disappear in an instant.
But the courtesy name is different; it’s the two most intimate words that are not shared with outsiders.
When the rain outside the window gradually subsided, Jiang Yun finally let Jiang Rongyin go to sleep.
Jiang Rongyin did not sleep well that night in the Eastern Palace.
She dreamed that she ran away from the banquet and went through the Yuheng Mountains to Tingzhou.
Then, there was Jiang Yun’s furious face, rain streaming down his cheeks, holding an iron chain in his hand, saying she was disobedient.
So he decided to lock her in the other courtyard for the rest of his life.
She could no longer escape.
Jiang Rongyin suddenly opened her eyes, gasping for breath.
Bao Yin, who was standing guard nearby, immediately stepped forward: “Princess, you’re awake?”
The curtains were familiar, but they weren’t the sleeping quarters of the Guanghua Hall.
“His Highness has gone to the morning court session.”
Bao Yin noticed Jiang Rongyin’s wandering gaze and replied to her.
But when she reached out to help Jiang Rongyin up, she exclaimed, “Princess, you are burning up!”
Jiang Rongyin reached out and touched her forehead; it was burning hot, almost like it was cooked through.
Last night, Jiang Yun had been tossing and turning with her in the bath for a long time, and with the rain, she probably caught a chill.
He’s always like this; when he’s in the mood, he never cares about her.