Сhаpter 18: Lеt the Prinсе Sее Сui Jin’s Тrue Fiсklе Nаture
Тhe сandles in thе Мain Сourtуаrd burnеd for mоst оf the night.
It wаs nоt until dауbrеаk thаt Qiu Huа entеrеd to attend to hеr duties.
Тhe blооdstаinеd white clоth on the bеd wаs раrticulаrly сonspiсuоus. Shе fеlt sаtisfied уet somewhаt dоubtful.
Хiао Lin had previоuslу rеfused sеverаl palасе mаids bestowеd bу Consоrt Shu for Lin Zhaо’s sаkе аnd had nеvеr been intimate with other womеn. Thе suddеn соnsummаtion tоday left hеr somеwhat unсonvinсed.
She lowered her gaze and bowed respectfully. “Congratulations to the Prince and Princess Consort on this joyous occasion.”
As she finished speaking, the maids in the room followed suit with their congratulations.
Cui Jin’s cheeks flushed crimson, and she nearly buried her face in the quilt.
Xiao Lin, however, rose from the bed with composure and dressed himself.
Cui Jin uneasily clutched the quilt before slowly getting up. As she moved, her collar slipped, revealing her snow-white right shoulder and the faint red marks trailing from her neck to her shoulder.
Qiu Hua’s eyes flickered as she watched Cui Jin, her legs unsteady, being helped to the dressing table.
With her discerning eye, she could tell how much force had been used to leave such extensive marks on Cui Jin’s body. Even behind her ears were deep traces, giving a glimpse of how uncontrollable Xiao Lin must have been.
Only then did her doubts dissipate, and she personally helped Cui Jin arrange her hair.
Gazing at the radiant, stunning face in the mirror, Qiu Hua smiled faintly.
Such unparalleled beauty—no wonder even Xiao Lin, who had never been swayed by allure, had lost his restraint.
Having risen later than usual, Xiao Lin was in a hurry to attend court and could only have his morning meal in the carriage. Before leaving, he turned and gently brushed Cui Jin’s hair.
Noticing the marks on her neck that even powder could not conceal, his throat tightened imperceptibly. “You must have been exhausted last night. Rest well today.”
Cui Jin glared at him, her face flushed, yet her gaze seemed to carry a subtle allure.
Xiao Lin’s heart stirred slightly. He chuckled softly and left in good spirits.
Only then did Qiu Hua smile and say, “This servant will go prepare nourishing soup for the Princess Consort.”
“Thank you, Nanny Qiu.”
After Qiu Hua left, Cui Jin finally relaxed, leaning weakly on Ru Chun’s arm as she made her way to the soft couch.
Ru Chun hesitated uncertainly. “Did you and the Prince truly consummate the marriage?”
Cui Jin shook her head, her mind involuntarily recalling the previous night.
She had thought the commotion would involve rocking the bed and a few soft moans, but she hadn’t expected Xiao Lin to go all the way, holding her and kissing her for a long time, his movements carrying a probing intent… She had nearly been tempted to relent.
Even though they hadn’t gone all the way, rocking for half the night had left her thoroughly exhausted.
Ru Chun glanced at the marks on her neck and whispered, “Even without consummation, he bit so hard… When it truly happens, you’ll suffer.”
“But his sudden change in attitude toward the Princess Consort is a good thing,” Ru Qiu remarked with a raised eyebrow. “He spoke so harshly on the wedding night, yet now he’s contradicting himself.”
This made Ru Chun laugh.
Cui Jin, however, shook her head with a smile. “His change in attitude toward me is only because Lin Zhao disappointed him, while my unwavering affection satisfies his male vanity.”
Over these two nights, Xiao Lin’s apparent intention to consummate the marriage was more a result of impulsive frustration from setbacks in both romance and court affairs.
If she agreed too readily, he would later regret breaking his promise to Lin Zhao once he came to his senses.
She wasn’t about to dig her own grave.
With this thought, she picked up the wooden fish beside her, closed her eyes, and began tapping it.
Before long, Qiu Hua entered with a fertility tonic. “Princess Consort, the medicine is ready. Please drink it while it’s hot.”
“Alright.” Cui Jin took the bowl.
Qiu Hua glanced at the wooden fish she had casually set aside, hesitating as if wanting to say something.Tapping a wooden fish while reciting Buddhist prayers requires reverence and sincerity. She had never seen someone casually reclining on a soft couch, eyes closed, tapping the wooden fish lazily and intermittently.
……
Pearl Jade Courtyard.
“Crash—”
The sound of shattering porcelain rang out.
Lin Zhao’s face turned deathly pale, her nails digging deeply into her palms. “Did the Prince truly consummate the marriage with her?”
Qiu Wen lowered her head and replied cautiously, “Our people in the Main Courtyard saw it with their own eyes. They were at it for half the night last night, and that wretch was covered in marks…”
She glanced nervously at Lin Zhao. “Consort Shu can’t stand to see you doing well. Knowing the Prince was unwilling to consummate the marriage, she must have instructed that wretch in the Main Courtyard to use some despicable trick, drugging and seducing him. How could the Prince have guarded against it?”
“You’re right…” Lin Zhao gritted her teeth. “The Prince promised me. It must have been Cui Jin who seduced him!”
She kept trying to reassure herself, but her heart was in turmoil.
Ever since Xiao Lin left that day, he had not come to see her again.
In the past, whenever her old injuries flared up, he was the most concerned. Even on his wedding night, he had left Cui Jin to come see her.
Now, Xiao Lin’s drastically different attitude finally made her feel an unprecedented sense of crisis.
Ignoring the pain in her back, she quickly grabbed Qiu Wen and ordered, “Hurry, thoroughly investigate everyone in Pearl Jade Courtyard. Those who seized fertile farmland, oppressed commoners, or forcibly seized treasures—find them all and have them beaten to death!”
Qiu Wen was taken aback. “Secondary Consort, how did you know someone forcibly seized treasures?”
She and the other maids knew Lin Zhao was upright in character. But as a Secondary Consort, there were certain things beyond her status that she simply couldn’t use, which often made her feel inferior when out in public.
So, they had searched among the common people for treasures and jewelry, while also amassing wealth to bolster Lin Zhao’s standing. With the name of Prince Xin’s Manor behind them, no one could touch them.
But they had always told Lin Zhao these were tributes from subordinates. How did she know they had been seized by force?
“…Ever since Qiu Ming’s incident, I’ve been meaning to investigate thoroughly,” Lin Zhao said coldly. “Why aren’t you going yet?!”
Qiu Wen snapped back to reality and quickly nodded before retreating.
Though she was also anxious, she wasn’t as fretful as Lin Zhao.
It was just a wretch who had climbed into bed with the Prince. Hadn’t there been shameless maids like this before? Weren’t they all dealt with quietly, without Lin Zhao’s knowledge?
After instructing her most clever subordinate, Lian Qing, to conduct the investigation, she turned and returned to the room.
“Secondary Consort, we can’t just sit and wait for things to happen,” she said with a frown. “That wretch in the Main Courtyard has some tricks up her sleeve, and she has a powerful family backing her…”
“So what?” Lin Zhao’s expression turned icy. “I’m not like those parasites who rely on their families. I rely on myself!”
“You’re right. If they were thrown onto the battlefield, forget about strategizing and repelling the enemy like you did—they’d probably be scared out of their wits and wouldn’t even make decent deserters!”
After comforting her, Qiu Wen added, “But your father and brother have only been in the capital for two years. Their footing isn’t stable yet, so we should still be mindful of them.”
Lin Zhao clenched the bedding tightly for a long moment before asking, “What do you suggest?”
After a pause, she added, “I won’t engage in any underhanded schemes!”
“Don’t worry,” Qiu Wen smiled and lowered her voice. “We can seek out that Eldest Miss Cui… She often complains in public. I suspect the story about Cui Jin deliberately switching marriages might be true. If we can get Eldest Miss Cui to testify, Cui Jin will become a laughingstock!””She was even engaged to Scholar Song… Who knows what they did in private. As long as we find evidence of her improper dealings with Scholar Shen, she won’t even be able to keep her title as Princess Consort!”
Lin Zhao’s eyes flickered slightly.
Xiao Lin had been forced to go to the Main Courtyard and even consummate the marriage because Cui Jin was a daughter of the Cui family—someone he could not afford to slight.
But what if she was promiscuous and lost the support of the Cui family?
Her fingers tightened slightly as she said coldly, “She resorted to such despicable means just to come between the Prince and me, causing discord between us. I will make the Prince see her true, wanton nature!”
Xiao Lin detested the scheming and intrigue among women in the inner chambers the most, and he particularly disliked those with deep cunning!