Tsk, this Crown Princess really can’t hold her temper—she couldn’t even wait a little longer.
The Crown Prince had barely settled into his seat when he stood up again: “Wanwan isn’t feeling well. I’ll go check on her.”
Having just said he would stay, he was already leaving. The Crown Prince only felt slightly awkward, but in his heart, the Crown Princess was naturally far more important than Liu Fuyin, a concubine he had just warned.
In his eyes, merely informing her instead of storming off directly probably counted as showing her respect.
Liu Fuyin performed a bow, her expression troubled: “Your Highness, I should go as well, but tonight the Crown Princess must also be upset. She likely wouldn’t want to see me. Would Your Highness please explain on my behalf? Otherwise, wouldn’t it be improper for me not to go?”
The Crown Prince nodded and left without a hint of reluctance.
“Miss, please don’t be sad. What the Crown Princess did tonight was improper. Even as the principal wife, she shouldn’t have intercepted favor at such a time!”
Yun Tao felt rather distressed. Having stood guard outside earlier, she had seen someone from Guanju Hall come to deliver the message. Her young mistress, who had never suffered much humiliation since childhood, having to spend her wedding night alone—she must be feeling awful inside.
Yun Xing, however, shook her head disapprovingly. “A Tao, you should start calling her Liangdi or Mistress now. And it’s best to say less of such things. This is the Eastern Palace, not our own residence. If others overheard, wouldn’t it cause trouble for Liangdi?”
The two maids had served her since childhood and were naturally loyal. A Tao was younger and more straightforward in temperament, but she was obedient enough. She just liked to stand up for her mistress. As a house-born servant, her father was the residence physician, so she had learned some medical skills—not highly proficient, but enough to save lives.
As for A Xing, she had spent some time by her mother’s side as a child. Ever since the Empress took a liking to her, her mother had occasionally trained her, so she was quite meticulous and a good helper.
Liu Fuyin gave Yun Xing an approving look. “A Xing is right. We’re not in the residence anymore; we must be cautious in our words and actions. Although I admire His Highness, the Crown Princess is the mistress of this inner court. We should respect and honor her, and must not speak recklessly.”
Liu Fuyin’s eyes shifted, her voice tinged with a touch of sorrow. Even though the Crown Prince wasn’t present, what if someone was watching her?
Most importantly, if you pretend long enough, your heart starts to believe it’s real—that way, it’s harder to expose.
She had never stopped the rumors outside; even Yun Tao believed she was infatuated with the Crown Prince.
“Mistress…” Hearing Liu Fuyin speak this way and thinking of the rumors outside, Yun Tao felt even more distressed for her.
“Alright, it’s getting late. Mistress must rise early tomorrow for Morning Greetings.” At Yun Xing’s reminder, the two began quietly helping Liu Fuyin remove her hairpins, then had hot water brought for her bath before settling down for the night.
Liu Fuyin wasn’t fussy about beds and slept very soundly. It was Yun Xing who woke her at the appropriate time.
“Mistress, it’s time to rise.”
As the Liangdi personally selected by the Empress, Liu Fuyin was supposed to enter the palace for Morning Greetings on the second day after the wedding. But she was only a concubine; she couldn’t possibly bypass the Crown Princess. She still had to go to Guanju Hall first to pay her respects.
It is said that Guanju Hall was renovated after the Crown Princess entered the Eastern Palace. The entire hall was beautifully restored, with long corridors, waterside pavilions, terraces and towers, verdant pines and cypresses, and a clear koi pond with murmuring streams. Artificial hills and strange rocks complemented the fragrant grass, creating a picturesque scene.
Walking further, one could see the plaque “Guanju Hall” hanging high above the main hall, with its heavily lacquered glazed tile roof and resplendent, magnificent halls and pavilions.
At this time, the Crown Prince had already gone to the morning court, and the Crown Princess was seated in the upper position, dressed in dignified crimson palace attire.
“This humble concubine pays respects to the Crown Princess.”
Liu Fuyin’s delicate and timid voice carried a hint of reverence, with not a single flaw to be found. Chen Wanjun’s cold expression softened slightly, but she waited a long while before speaking: “Rise. Since you have entered the Eastern Palace, we are all sisters, one family. If you do not mind, you may address me as elder sister.”
“Yes, this humble concubine will follow elder sister’s words.”
Chen Wanjun deliberately waited a moment before allowing her to rise, clearly intending to assert dominance. But Liu Fuyin did not take the bait—after all, it was elder sister who said we are sisters~
“Crown Princess, the tea is ready.” Ying Chun spoke while holding a tray.
Liu Fuyin had kept her head lowered since entering the hall. It was only when she stepped forward to offer tea that the Crown Princess got a clear look at her appearance. A flash of admiration and envy crossed her eyes, followed by jealousy and unease.
Chen Wanjun had long heard of the Liu Family daughter’s reputation in Jingcheng for beauty. Her virtue and talent were secondary; those who had seen her said her looks were first-rate.
Back in Jiangzhou, Chen Wanjun herself had been widely admired as a great beauty. Even among the many noble ladies in Jingcheng, she was considered superior. Yet, she never expected that in the presence of this woman, she would appear like a flower that had lost its luster.
Chen Wanjun’s fingers clenched tightly. The Crown Prince had said he loved only her. However, given the current situation, he needed to win over ministers, which was why he had brought this woman into the palace.
The Crown Prince was not a shallow man. He had also said he would not touch her for now, as she first needed to pass his own assessment.
“Crown Princess, please have some tea.”
Liu Fuyin spoke again. The teacup was scalding hot, and her fingers were reddened from the heat, yet her movements remained steady, every gesture showing utmost respect. But now it was Chen Wanjun’s turn to be troubled, as the tea was extremely hot.
She had planned to drop the teacup the moment she touched it and then accuse Liangdi Liu of disrespect. Unexpectedly, just as her fingertips brushed the teacup, Liangdi Liu stumbled backward.
The scalding hot water from the cup splashed onto Liu Fuyin’s hand, immediately raising blisters. At that moment, the Crown Prince suddenly entered.
He had just returned from court and heard that Lady Liu had come to pay morning greetings to Wanwan. Originally, he intended to come and support Wanwan, but he happened to witness Wanwan pouring tea onto Liangdi Liu.
“What happened?”
Chen Wanjun remained unperturbed, as if she had nothing to fear. Watching Liu Fuyin tear up from the scalding pain, she only thought how unfortunate it was that the tea had not splashed onto her face—what a pity it hadn’t ruined that seductive face!
“Your Highness, please forgive this humble concubine. It was my fault for not holding the teacup steady.” Liu Fuyin knelt timidly, speaking words of apology, yet her eyes fixed directly on the man, her eyes red and tears still streaming.
The Crown Prince’s attitude toward Lady Liu softened somewhat due to her understanding of the situation. After all, he had just witnessed with his own eyes Wanwan pouring water onto her. Seeing the blisters, it must have been scalding hot water. He felt slightly displeased, but punishing Wanwan for this was out of the question. He only hoped she would continue to be this understanding in the future.
“Since you’re injured, change your clothes to cover it up and apply some medicine. After all, you still need to go pay morning greetings to Mother Empress later. Tian Zhongshun, go summon Imperial Physician Chen to examine her.” These words were deliberately meant to threaten her not to speak carelessly in front of the Empress.
Initially, Chen Wanjun suspected that Liu Fuyin had intentionally framed her like this. However, judging by the situation, it seemed likely that she had genuinely dropped it because it was too hot. Given this, hearing such a resolution undoubtedly displeased her. “Your Highness, Liu Fuyin dropping the tea while serving it shows disrespect toward me as the principal wife. Are you going to let it go so lightly?”
Upon hearing Chen Wanjun’s words, the Crown Prince’s brow instantly furrowed. “Wanwan, I saw it myself when I entered just now. Let this matter end here today, and never bring it up again.”
Naturally, the Crown Prince was dissatisfied with Liu Fuyin. He had originally planned to return and support Wanwan first, then warn this Liu woman. But after witnessing the incident, he found himself unable to utter those warnings.
He then glanced at Liu Fuyin, who quickly curtsied, holding back tears without complaining, and retreated to tend to her injury.
“Wanwan, you acted impulsively today.” The Crown Prince meant no harm; he wouldn’t blame Chen Wanjun over such a minor matter. However, it wouldn’t look good if Mother Empress noticed during the morning greetings later.
But Chen Wanjun deeply resented Liu Fuyin’s presence. Not only did she fail to understand his intentions, but she also believed he was protecting the other woman. “What do you mean by this? Are you actually scolding me for the sake of a concubine? Your Highness, she has only been here for a day! Are you already changing your heart?”
Hearing this, the Crown Prince felt a pang of anxiety but could only patiently coax her. “Wanwan, how could I ever change my heart? You must understand, I don’t want this either. I don’t want to take in concubines I don’t love and ruin our relationship! But I am the Crown Prince. To secure that position, I need the support of noble families, and marriage alliances are the most effective means. Wanwan, can you understand me?”
With the Crown Prince speaking like this, what else could Chen Wanjun do? In the end, she stubbornly replied, “I can accept it, but Your Highness must not be bewitched by her. You cannot touch her now—only when I am ready to accept it.”
“Wanwan, isn’t my love for you sincere enough? You must believe in me!”