10 – Will You Be Jealous?
The next day, the horizon gradually lightened with the first hint of dawn. After the rain, the air was filled with the scent of damp earth. The lingering warmth of late summer had been thoroughly washed away by the autumn rain, leaving the temperature much cooler.
Whether from anger or from being caught in the rain, Li Yue genuinely fell seriously ill the following day. Her memories were hazy, and in her delirium, she even accepted the blame for the large pot Shi Sui had thrown at her—the one about shattering quite a few jade pendants.
Having smoothly resolved the issue of the jade pendant, Shi Sui was in a much better mood and had even managed to trick the little white lotus in the process.
When Wen Nian heard about what had happened the previous night, he couldn’t stop laughing. It was said that Li Yue had been so angered by the incident that she fell ill, and after recovering, she would take detours to avoid Shi Sui whenever they crossed paths. Her gaze was full of resentment, and she looked utterly haggard, appearing several years older at first glance. Wen Nian, however, thought Shi Sui was quite clever.
In the past, no matter whether he used soft or hard tactics, Li Yue had clung to him like a stubborn piece of adhesive plaster that couldn’t be shaken off. The reason he kept her around was that, although she was foolish, she was also willful, had backing from influential forces, and was intensely jealous. At the time, the Emperor had sent many maidservants to serve as spies, but Li Yue mistakenly believed they were all there to seduce the Young Master.
Thus, without Wen Nian needing to lift a finger, Li Yue would find various excuses to dispose of them indiscriminately.
Who would have thought that the newly arrived Crown Princess would give her such a firm rebuff?
Moreover, as time went on, Wen Nian gradually realized that Shi Sui wasn’t particularly clingy. If Li Yue was like adhesive plaster, then Shi Sui was the type who wouldn’t even think of him unless it was mealtime. She showed no interest in competing for favor or engaging in harem intrigues. In short, Young Master Wen increasingly felt that the Crown Princess didn’t seem to be here to fulfill the role of a Crown Princess—it was more like she was here on vacation or to retire in peace.
Wen Nian, feeling ignored: Cat cat aggrieved.jpg
After laughing his fill while listening to Yuan Youdao’s secondhand account, Wen Nian asked, “You said she likes reading storybooks?”
Yuan Youdao choked for a moment. He hadn’t expected Wen Nian to grasp the key point so adeptly, but the storybooks Shi Sui enjoyed were certainly not the proper kind. Worried that the Young Master might be led astray, he replied, “I don’t know.”
Wen Nian tossed a grape into his mouth, curled his lips into a smile, and then beckoned to Yuan Youdao, saying, “Come here.”
Yuan Youdao was momentarily stunned before obediently leaning closer, only to hear the Young Master say earnestly, “Go find out what kind of storybooks she reads.”
Yuan Youdao: “…”
Yuan Youdao remained silent as Wen Nian carefully pondered the story he had just recounted, naturally picking up on something peculiar in the tale. “You said Li Yue shattered the jade pendant I gave her?”
Yuan Youdao replied, “Yes, I heard she shattered more than one.”
The Youth’s eyes were bright and clear as he gazed into the distance, almost as if speaking to himself. “Relying on her family’s influence to bully our little glutinous rice ball?”
Yuan Youdao mulled over these words, feeling something was off. Upon further reflection, he realized that when Wen Nian mentioned Li Yue, he referred to “their family’s influence,” but when speaking of the Crown Princess, he said “our family.” This clearly indicated that Wen Nian had never regarded Li Yue as his own consort.
“This won’t do,” the Youth said slowly as he stood up and strode out.
Yuan Youdao asked, “Your Highness, where are you going?”
The Youth replied, “To seek justice for the little glutinous rice ball.”
Shi Sui was lying in bed when she suddenly heard that Consort Li had been issued a ban with a rather peculiar name—
It is forbidden to come within nine feet of the Crown Princess. (Note: Three feet equals one meter.)
Shi Sui: “??”
Shi Sui had no idea where this ban came from, and it was just too bizarre. She simply assumed Li Yue must have done something again to upset the Little Princess. The Little Princess’s thoughts were hard to guess, so this seemed reasonable enough. So, she continued to laze around in bed like a salted fish.
Another day passed, and Wen Nian sent her another large chest of gold and silver jewelry. Shi Sui wasn’t particularly interested in such worldly possessions, so she just gave it a quick glance and continued her zen-like state of lying lifelessly in bed.
That evening, as soon as Wen Nian entered the room and saw Shi Sui lying in bed reading, he asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t you like those pieces of jewelry?”
Shi Sui: “?” What the heck? Don’t go putting words in my mouth, okay?
In the following days, Wen Nian almost always joined Shi Sui for every meal. He had heard that when Shi Sui was in Guyu County, her appetite was tiny—she could only eat half a bowl of rice per meal and just a few bites of each dish, like a little kitten, making her quite difficult to care for.
But ever since Shi Sui arrived here, her appetite had surprisingly improved. She could now eat two large bowls of white rice per meal and often snacked on candied fruits and preserves afterward. Wen Nian had never seen her stop eating, yet he still treated her remark, “I can’t eat without the Young Master’s company,” as nothing more than a joke.
Then one day, Shi Sui got an upset stomach from eating recklessly. Coincidentally, Wen Nian had gone to the palace that day and didn’t join her for lunch. When he returned and saw the barely touched dishes on the table, he raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly surprised that Shi Sui was so difficult to please. He asked, “If you’re this delicate, how can I ever feel at ease leaving you alone in the future?”
Shi Sui: “…” Huh? What are you talking about? I don’t understand.
So, Wen Nian simply canceled all his appointments during mealtimes. Once, when the Emperor summoned him to the palace at noon, he waved his hand dismissively and told the little eunuch who came to deliver the message, “I’m not going.”
The little eunuch was so frightened he immediately knelt on the ground, daring to ask for the reason.
Wen Nian didn’t want to waste words on the little eunuch and said indifferently, “What do you expect me to do? The Crown Princess is delicate. If no one accompanies her, she can’t eat. What if she starves?”
Shi Sui: “…” Damn, won’t you die acting like this? If I were the Emperor, I’d strangle you, you rebellious son.
At the time, Shi Sui truly thought disaster was imminent. Forget the Emperor—who wouldn’t be furious hearing something like that?
That noon, when the Emperor heard this news, he was indeed furious. But no matter how angry he was, he didn’t issue any decree to punish Wen Nian or anything of the sort. He merely scolded him verbally. Shi Sui gradually realized that Wen Nian’s madness had its reasons—after all, the Emperor genuinely doted on him.
At noon that day, while Wen Nian was accompanying Shi Sui for a meal, he seemed to hesitate several times, occasionally sighing. In recent days, Wen Nian’s appetite had been decent, and he ate relatively well. Even though it was all vegetarian dishes, Shi Sui was already quite satisfied. Putting on weight couldn’t be rushed; it had to be done gradually.
Wen Nian: “Glutinous rice ball.”
Shi Sui glanced up at him but ignored him out of spite.
Seeing that Shi Sui wasn’t paying him any attention, Wen Nian became even more amused: “Little dumpling?”
Shi Sui: “…” I don’t want to talk to him. This guy must be sick.
Wen Nian: “Little Princess Shi.”
Shi Sui continued to ignore him. Why is he being so sarcastic?
Wen Nian: “Shi Sui.”
This time, Shi Sui was about to respond, but before she could speak, she saw Wen Nian sigh, tap his fingers lightly on the table, and say softly, “As expected, a little beauty is hard to please. Do I really have to call you Crown Princess?”
Shi Sui: “…”
Shi Sui put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and asked him, “Does Young Master have something to say?”
“Nothing much,” Wen Nian asked with a smile, “Are you done eating?”
Shi Sui looked at the table full of delicious food and calmly shook her head.
So Wen Nian said, “Then eat.”
Shi Sui: “…Oh.”
Shi Sui ate slowly and deliberately, never wasting food. Because she had a difficult childhood, she always saved her favorite dishes for last, eating them bit by bit. When she got tired, she would rest for a while before continuing.
At this moment, Shi Sui was in the middle of a break, staring blankly. Her eyes were unfocused as she bit her chopsticks and gazed at the food in front of her.
Wen Nian had already put down his chopsticks earlier. Seeing Shi Sui lost in thought, he called out to her again, “Glutinous Rice Ball.”
Shi Sui was exasperated, truly afraid he would pull another trick like before. She looked up, met Wen Nian’s beautiful eyes, and simply asked, “Hmm?”
Wen Nian said cheerfully, “Are you done eating?”
Shi Sui shook her head, “Not yet.”
Wen Nian: “…Alright, then eat.”
So Shi Sui ate for a while longer. Wen Nian seemed to want to speak but hesitated again. Shi Sui felt numb and simply placed her chopsticks on the table, resigning herself to fate, “I’m done eating… Is there something you want to ask me?”
Wen Nian didn’t deny it, “Yes.”
Shi Sui: “…Then why didn’t you ask earlier?”
The Youth finally waited for Shi Sui to say this. His watery eyes fixed on her, and his two little canine teeth looked playful and cute, “No talking during meals.”
Shi Sui nodded, thinking to herself, How considerate of you.
The Youth lazily propped his head with his hand, blinked, and asked leisurely, “It’s nothing major. I just wanted to ask, when you found out about Li Yue’s existence, did you feel any discomfort?”
Shi Sui: “…?”
Wait, what kind of reaction are you expecting? Could it be that you’re here to hold me accountable for what happened that night?
As the saying goes, the more you say, the more mistakes you make. So Shi Sui wisely lowered her head, pretending to think seriously, and didn’t answer Wen Nian’s question for the moment.
Seeing Shi Sui silent, Wen Nian thought she didn’t understand the question and added, “What I mean is, did you find her annoying? Did you not want her to appear by my side?”
Shi Sui: “…Young Master is asking if I would be jealous, right?”
Wen Nian: “Yes, you could say that.”
Shi Sui vaguely felt that if she answered “no,” this Young Master Wen would make a fuss all afternoon. So, swallowing her pride, she said earnestly, “I was really jealous… Every time I saw Consort Li, I was filled with envy.”
Wen Nian raised an eyebrow, seemingly quite satisfied with Shi Sui’s words, and said, “So, you think Li Yue is annoying?”
Shi Sui: “…” Whatever you say.
Then, Young Master Wen comfortingly reached out and ruffled Shi Sui’s head, smiling, “How about this? Let’s have Li Yue confined for another half month. Out of sight, out of mind.”
Shi Sui: “…Huh?”
Brother, what’s the reason?
Wen Nian seemed to sense Shi Sui’s confusion and explained, “Because you find her annoying, and didn’t she break several of your jade pieces last time?”
“…”
That’s a perfectly valid reason for confinement.