GTB Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Entering the Palace to Serve Tea

Jiang Jiuchu suppressed the shock in her heart. Ever since she learned he disliked her last night, she did have this intention.

But how did this man know? Could it be that her performance was too obvious?

Looking at the handsome face so close, she tilted her head to one side, becoming even more wary of this Seventh Prince.

“How could that be? Why would Your Highness think that way? Could it be that you really intend to divorce me!”

She thought for a moment, then continued to explain herself, testing his intentions in passing, “Or is it that Your Highness thinks I am too generous, and therefore suspects I have someone I admire, wanting to divorce me?”

Shí Yan looked at the flustered expression on Jiang Jiuchu’s face, which didn’t seem like acting, but it was impossible to tell which words caused the fluster.

Looking at the slightly turned face in front of him, his eyes flickered slightly, then he leaned back against the carriage wall, casually saying:

“Don’t worry! Anyone who belongs to this Prince belongs to this Prince until death, whether I have someone I admire, or… suspect you have someone you admire, I will not divorce you.”

“Oh! That’s good, I’m relieved to hear Your Highness say that,” Jiang Jiuchu said woodenly, then looked out the window, her expression turning ugly.

She angrily thought that her brother was right, these men born into wealth and power were really so self-righteous and domineering, putting on such a condescending air.

Having three wives and four concubines, bah! If she couldn’t have a good life, then she would be a jealous head wife, making things difficult for his concubines every day, making his mansion restless.

Shí Yan looked at Jiang Jiuchu, who was turning her head to look out the window, feeling that even the back of her head was seething with anger.

He curled the corners of his lips into a slight smile, but his eyes became somewhat deep.

Inside the palace, after the Emperor and Empress finished drinking the tea presented by Jiang Jiuchu, they handed her the greeting gifts that had been prepared.

The Emperor looked at the pair of newlyweds in front of him, feeling that they were extremely well-matched, and couldn’t help but think of what Celestial Master Zhang had said.

He smiled at Shí Yan, “Now that you are married, you should be made a Prince. Use your character ‘Yan’ as your title. I will issue an edict to the Ministry of Rites officials to confer the title on an auspicious day.”

The Empress’s expression paused upon hearing this. “I thought he wasn’t conferring the title because he had other ideas, but now it seems that’s not the case. After all, he’s even too lazy to think of a new title.”

“Thank you, Father Emperor, for the conferment,” Shí Yan said without any emotion, only cupping his hands in thanks.

“Good, quickly go to the Empress Dowager’s place!”

“Yes, your son/subject takes his leave.” Shí Yan and Jiang Jiuchu performed a farewell ceremony and then left.

In Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager, dressed in a bright yellow phoenix robe, was sitting in the hall, a small maidservant beside her massaging her shoulders.

Her expression was thoughtful, but suddenly her eyes flashed, and she said to Li *momo* beside her:

“Like this, you go over tomorrow morning. If there is still only one pillow on the bed, then regardless of whether there is a maiden’s bloodstain on the Yuan silk, don’t come back. You like this…”

Upon hearing this, Li *momo* couldn’t help but laugh, “Is the Empress Dowager worried that the young couple will play tricks to deceive you?”

“Of course, Yan’er is very cunning! I have to be careful. However, he has his Zhang Liang’s plan, and I have my own ladder to climb over the wall.” The Empress Dowager said with an air of superiority.

Li *momo* nodded. The Empress Dowager’s move was really clever, but this old servant didn’t quite understand. Wasn’t this Miss Jiang chosen by the Seventh Prince himself? Why is he still unwilling to consummate the marriage?

“He chose her, that’s right, but mostly because he knew the Emperor was going to bestow a marriage on him, so he reluctantly chose someone who was slightly pleasing to the eye from my side.”

Li *momo* was still a little confused upon hearing this. If she was pleasing to the eye, why not consummate the marriage?

“This old servant really doesn’t understand. This morning, the Seventh Imperial Princess looked truly naturally beautiful and stunning even without makeup on the bed. This old servant couldn’t take her eyes off of her. How can the Seventh Prince bear to resist?”

Li *momo* had another thought in her mind, suspecting that this Seventh Prince might have some hidden ailment! But she didn’t dare say it.

But she had lived for most of her life and had never heard of any man who could be so indifferent to the point.

The Empress Dowager adjusted her sitting posture and said helplessly, “Yan’er is not someone who can be moved by just being pleasing to the eye. If he doesn’t have her in his heart, then I’m afraid this marriage cannot be consummated. However, he is still a man after all. As long as we push things along and let them have more contact, it’s only a matter of time.”

The Empress Dowager had a look of confidence on her face, thinking that she had already married her into the household, and that she was close at hand. She wasn’t afraid of not being able to subdue him.

“Empress Dowager, the Seventh Prince has arrived,” Li *momo* reminded, looking at the two red figures appearing outside.

The Empress Dowager looked out upon hearing this, then raised her hand, signaling the little palace maid behind her massaging her shoulders to step down.

Shí Yan and Jiang Jiuchu walked closer and saluted the Empress Dowager, “Grandson and Granddaughter-in-law greet Imperial Grandmother.”

“Rise,” the Empress Dowager said, looking at the two people in red, feeling very festive.

Li *momo* quickly carried a tray and walked to Jiang Jiuchu’s side. Upon seeing this, Jiang Jiuchu immediately picked up the tea on the tray, knelt down, and raised it to her eyebrows, “Please have tea, Imperial Grandmother, may Imperial Grandmother enjoy good fortune and longevity.”

The Empress Dowager took the teacup from Jiang Jiuchu’s hand, took a sip, and put it down, saying, “Get up!”

As she spoke, she took off a translucent jade bracelet from her wrist and beckoned to Jiang Jiuchu, “Come closer.”

Jiang Jiuchu was slightly startled, recognizing the Empress Dowager’s gesture, and then took a step forward. The next moment, her hand was taken by the Empress Dowager, who personally put the jade bracelet on her wrist.

“Look at how fair and tender this hand is, wearing it is really much better-looking than when Imperial Grandmother wears it.”

Jiang Jiuchu felt that the rumors were true, this Empress Dowager was simply too doting on the Seventh Prince.

She quickly thanked her, flattered and surprised, “Thank you for the reward, Imperial Grandmother.”

“No need for formalities, come, come, come, sit here,” the Empress Dowager said, pulling Jiang Jiuchu to sit beside her, and said softly:

“I heard that Yan’er got drunk yesterday, you must have felt wronged.” As she spoke, she didn’t forget to glance sideways at Shí Yan, who had already taken a seat on his own.

Jiang Jiuchu felt a little guilty, “No… not wronged, Your Highness was just happy and accidentally drank too much.”

“Oh my! Such a good child, still speaking up for him.”

Jiang Jiuchu twitched the corners of her mouth, revealing an awkward smile, feeling that she was deceiving a loving old woman.

Shí Yan leaned back in his chair, looking at the two women, one old and one young, listening to them piling one accusation after another on him.

However, this woman was obviously no match for his grandmother, being coaxed by her grandmother into a daze.

Half an hour passed, and Shí Yan couldn’t sit still any longer, so he took Jiang Jiuchu to bid farewell and leave.

As the two walked on the palace road, a voice suddenly came from behind, “Seventh Brother, wait for me.”

Jiang Jiuchu turned her head upon hearing the sound, and when she looked at the person running towards them, her expression changed. This, this, this… wasn’t this the person she tricked into buying melon seeds and peanuts?

She quickly turned her head back and followed Shí Yan’s unceasing footsteps.

Shí Yuanchen ran to the two of them in one breath, panting heavily, “Seventh Brother, why didn’t you wait for me?”

Seeing that Shí Yan didn’t pay attention to him, he shouted at Jiang Jiuchu, “Hello, Seventh Sister-in-law.”

Jiang Jiuchu was stunned by the shout, and quickly smiled and nodded, “Hello.”

Shí Yuanchen looked at Jiang Jiuchu with a silly smile, “Seventh Sister-in-law can call me Yuanchen or Eighth Brother.”