The two of them carried on in the bathing chamber for a full hour before it finally ended. When they came out, Shen Jingyi was carried out in Prince Xuan’s arms—her whole body felt soft and weak, utterly drained of strength.
Seeing her like this, Prince Xuan teased her,“You really don’t exercise enough. You should move around more and train your body.”
“Forget it,” Shen Jingyi replied weakly. “I can’t possibly compare with Your Highness.”
“All right then. Let’s talk for a bit.”
“What does Your Highness want to talk about?”
“There were two people involved in today’s poisoning. The one who placed the mutually counteracting drugs was an old woman working at the main kitchen stove. She’s already dead—and so is her entire family. That lead is cut off.
“The other person was Xue Xue, the youngest daughter of the Vice Minister of Justice.”
Shen Jingyi absentmindedly traced circles on Prince Xuan’s chest with her fingers while saying,“Your Highness, let me share my thoughts—but please don’t get angry.”
Prince Xuan caught her wandering hand and held it firmly.“Say whatever you want.”
“I think the person who used the sterilizing drug must be a woman from the inner quarters of the prince’s residence. But since the trail is broken, we don’t know who it was.
“As for this Xue Xue… I don’t know her at all. I’ve never even met her. I really don’t understand why she wanted to kill me.”
Prince Xuan felt a little guilty, but he answered honestly,“Possibly because of me.”
This time, Shen Jingyi was shocked. She looked up at him as he continued,“When my mother chose a side consort for me, she actually selected two women for me to choose from—one was you, and the other was Xue Xue.
“She probably thought that if you were gone, she’d be able to enter the residence instead.”
Shen Jingyi fell silent.
Damn—what kind of logic is that?
She really wanted to curse. If she hadn’t been chosen, she’d still be lazing around at home right now, or married into a simpler household. With her dowry alone, she could’ve lived comfortably without all this trouble.
But no matter how annoyed she felt inside, her face showed only deep emotion.
“Then why did Your Highness choose me back then?”
Prince Xuan had no idea what she was thinking. In a good mood, he gently pinched her cheek and replied,“The moment I saw your portrait, I knew it was you.
“It felt like someone I had been waiting for for a long time had finally appeared. I was just… very happy. I recognized you at first sight.”
After thinking for a moment, he added,“Actually, I saw you once last year at Qingshan Temple. But I didn’t feel that way then. I don’t know why—two months ago, when I saw your portrait again at my mother’s palace, that feeling suddenly appeared.”
This time, Shen Jingyi was truly stunned.
She had only arrived in this world three months ago, and the portrait had been painted after her arrival.
Could it be that she transmigrated for Prince Xuan?
She couldn’t figure it out anymore—this fate felt far too complicated.
She could only laugh awkwardly and reply,“Hehe… could it be that I was still young back then, so when Your Highness saw me, it felt like looking at a little girl?”
The original body had gone to Qingshan Temple early last year—more than a year ago. That explanation would have to do.
“Perhaps,” Prince Xuan said lightly, unclear whether he believed it or not.
“Then how did Your Highness deal with Xue Xue?” Shen Jingyi quickly changed the subject. She didn’t dare linger on that topic.
“Her father claimed she has seen through worldly matters and decided to become a nun at Shuiyue Convent. She’ll leave tonight.
“Well? Are you satisfied with this outcome, Side Consort?”
“Of course I am. I just worry that Minister Xue may hold a grudge against you.”
“Don’t worry. He wouldn’t dare. His daughter poisoned and attempted to murder a prince’s side consort—there’s solid evidence. That’s a capital crime. If it reached my father, even he wouldn’t escape punishment.”
Suddenly, Shen Jingyi thought of something. Her eyes lit up as she looked at him.“Then… do I get compensation?”
Prince Xuan looked at her money-loving expression and deliberately teased her.“That depends on your sincerity.”
Sincerity, huh?
Shen Jingyi’s eyes shifted, and her little hand began to misbehave again.
Her fingers were smooth and soft like silk, lightly brushing across his chest and slowly moving downward. When they reached his lower abdomen, waves of tingling, itching, and numbness spread—
Before her hand could go any further, Prince Xuan caught it, flipped her over, and pinned her beneath him.“You brought this on yourself.”
Before she could even react, his lips covered hers. The bed curtains fell, the red quilt rolled like waves, and the night became one of lingering passion.
In truth, Shen Jingyi had misunderstood him. When he said “sincerity,” he only meant a kiss and a few sweet words.
He hadn’t expected her thoughts to go elsewhere—but once the meat was delivered to his mouth, how could he not eat it?
This time, she truly dug her own pit and fell right in.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating Shen Jingyi’s delicate face. She slowly climbed out of bed and lazily stretched.
Hearing movement, the maids entered one by one with washing supplies.
“What time is it?” Shen Jingyi asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
Dong Mei hurried forward, helping her dress as she replied,“Reporting to Side Consort, it’s already mid-si hour (10 a.m.).”
“So late? Why didn’t anyone wake me?”
Chun Tao smiled knowingly and said softly,“His Highness specifically instructed us not to disturb you, saying he wanted you to rest more.”
Xia Zhu chimed in,“His Highness truly cherishes Side Consort.”
“Well, at least he has a conscience. Oh—did His Highness leave anything for me this morning?”
She hadn’t forgotten her “compensation.”
“Yes.” As Chun Tao spoke, she quickly went to the table, picked up two exquisite boxes, and opened them.
“His Highness said that the one thousand taels of silver are an apology for Side Consort, and this box of pearls is for you to make jewelry.”
Shen Jingyi grabbed a handful of pearls, examined them briefly, then tossed them back casually.
She muttered with a faint smile,“At least it wasn’t for nothing—I almost broke my waist last night…”
“Side Consort, what did you say?” Dong Mei hadn’t heard clearly and thought it was an order.
Shen Jingyi’s face reddened slightly. She hurriedly covered it up.“Nothing. Put everything away.”
After washing and dressing, Shen Jingyi went straight to the dining hall.
Inside, Qiu Ju had already set out a bowl of medicinal porridge and two small plates of appetizing side dishes.
Seeing her enter, Qiu Ju smiled.“Side Consort, please eat a little to tide yourself over. Lunch will be ready shortly.”
Shen Jingyi sat down and asked curiously,“Can we use the small kitchen now?”
“Yes. Chu Jiu brought over ingredients early this morning. I’ve checked everything—there are no problems.”
“That’s good.”
She slowly drank her porridge, thinking as she ate.
After breakfast, Shen Jingyi summoned Nanny Qin and several trusted maids to the study and told them the results of the poisoning investigation and Xue Xue’s motive.
Nanny Qin said bitterly,“I never expected Xue Xue to be so vicious. Being sent to Shuiyue Convent is her retribution. Only paying a thousand taels is letting her off too easily.”
Chun Tao agreed,“Exactly. An unmarried girl plotting her own marriage like that—how shameless.”
Shen Jingyi wasn’t angry anymore. Seeing how furious they were, she reminded them calmly,“Her father should be aligned with the prince now. Don’t bring this matter up again in the future.”
Since the Side Consort had spoken, everyone could only let it go.“Yes, we understand.”
“Side Consort,” Nanny Qin said worriedly, “we still need to be cautious of people within the residence. The person who used the sterilizing drug hasn’t been found yet.”
“Yes,” Shen Jingyi nodded. “Everyone must stay alert and be careful at all times—especially with items brought in.”
“Yes, we will guard the gates and strictly inspect all incoming items.”
“All right. You may go. Chun Tao, go to my room and bring me the book I was reading yesterday.”
“Yes, Side Consort.”
Prince Xuan didn’t come by at all that day. Shen Jingyi spent the entire day leisurely in the study—reading, practicing calligraphy, completely at ease.
She actually didn’t like practicing calligraphy at all. She disliked the soft, floppy brush, but she had no choice—she couldn’t avoid writing forever.
Fortunately, the original owner wasn’t a famed “talented woman.” Otherwise, she’d really be in trouble.