GTB Chapter 245

Chapter 247: If You’re Sick, Return to the Palace for Medicine

After the meal, Shí Yuánchén couldn’t extract a single useful word from Sūn Cè.

However, he was certain that Sūn Cè definitely harbored feelings for his seventh sister-in-law.

Looking at the two politely conversing at the doorway, he thought Sūn Cè was quite daring, even daring to have thoughts about the emperor’s former woman.

“Miss Jiang, there’s no need to feel embarrassed. If there’s another opportunity, you can treat me next time.” Sūn Cè looked at Jiāng Jiǔchū, the smile in his eyes as gentle as a spring breeze and soft rain.

“Alright, then I won’t stand on ceremony with Master Sūn. I’ll take my leave first.” Upon hearing this, Jiāng Jiǔchū didn’t engage in further pleasantries.

Seeing this, Xiāo Lì, who had been suppressing her curiosity for a long time, couldn’t hold back any longer. She reached out, hooked arms with Jiāng Jiǔchū, and took a few steps before eagerly asking, “Jiǔchū, when did you two meet? This Master Sūn seems to be interested in you.”

“I say, Princess Xiāo, can you not jump to conclusions about every man you see? My relationship with him is merely based on a small act of kindness.”

Xiāo Lì wanted to retort, but upon hearing the word “kindness,” she became even more curious.

“What act of kindness? Tell me all about it.”

Jiāng Jiǔchū glanced at Shí Yuánchén, who was following beside them. “It’s nothing, just a small act. Not worth mentioning.”

“Alright, if you don’t want to say, then don’t. By the way, I heard from someone that the emperor is always looking for you, clearly with the intention of pursuing his wife. What do you think about that?”

“Xiāo Lì, if you have so much free time to gossip about other people’s affairs, you might as well worry about yourself. The time for you to choose a husband for the sake of peace negotiations is approaching, right? You can’t just keep dragging it on like this.”

As Jiāng Jiǔchū spoke, she leaned closer to Xiāo Lì’s ear and whispered, “I heard that recently, many daughters from noble families are coveting Shí Yuánchén’s consort position.”

Hearing this, Xiāo Lì’s expression changed slightly, and her gaze couldn’t help but dart to Shí Yuánchén beside them.

She had forgotten that the current Shí Yuánchén, due to his good relationship with the emperor, was a top-tier figure in Kyoto, so it was not surprising that daughters from noble families were vying for him.

Moreover, his delicate appearance was also very attractive to young girls, especially the younger ones.

She rolled her eyes and then put on an extremely bored expression, sighing, “Ah, staying in this capital all day is really boring.” As she spoke, she winked at Jiāng Jiǔchū and asked, “By the way, Jiǔchū, are there any beautiful and fun places outside the city?”

Jiāng Jiǔchū received Xiāo Lì’s look and then cooperated by saying, “This… I’m not too sure.”

She then looked at Shí Yuánchén and asked, “You’ve lived in Kyoto since you were little, so you must know which places near Kyoto are fun, right?”

Although Shí Yuánchén was a native of Kyoto, he rarely left the city, but that was not a problem.

He immediately made a confident guarantee: “Of course, I know. It’s just the right time for the flowers to bloom in the spring, so this young master will fulfill his duty as a host and take you out of the capital for a few days.”

Xiāo Lì suppressed the corners of her mouth from turning upward and replied, “Alright, let me know when you’ve picked a sunny day.”

Seeing that Xiāo Lì had agreed, the smile in Shí Yuánchén’s eyes contained a hidden anticipation.

Inside the imperial palace, in the imperial study, Eunuch Dé came in carrying a bowl of bitter medicinal soup. Seeing that Shí Yǎn was actually only wearing a thin shirt, he quickly stepped forward, put down the soup, and said, “Your Majesty, you’ve already caught a cold. You can’t wear so little.” As he spoke, he picked up the cloak from the side. “Your Majesty, quickly put it on, and be careful not to ruin the Dragon Body.”

“No need.” Shí Yǎn refused the cloak that Eunuch Dé was about to put on him. He quickly finished the last memorial at hand, picked up the little fire fox that was sneezing from time to time, and got up to walk outside.

Seeing this, Eunuch Dé quickly and anxiously called out, “Your Majesty, where are you going? You haven’t drunk your medicine yet!”

“I’m not drinking it.” As soon as Shí Yǎn stepped out of the imperial study, he saw Shí Yuánchén walking towards him in the sunset.

“Seventh Brother, are you going… to find Seventh Sister-in-law?”

“Mm.” Shí Yǎn responded softly and continued walking outwards without stopping.

Seeing this, Shí Yuánchén immediately followed Shí Yǎn’s steps. “I was originally planning to invite you out for a drink, but it seems that it’s not going to happen.”

As he spoke, he suddenly thought of something and asked Shí Yǎn, “Seventh Brother, I remember that you’ve been out of the city quite a bit. You should know what fun places there are outside the city.”

“I’m planning to take Xiāo Lì out to play. Why don’t I have Xiāo Lì invite Seventh Sister-in-law along, and then you can secretly follow them?”

Hearing this, Shí Yǎn’s expression paused for a moment. After pondering for a while, he said, “Are you sure she’ll go with you on your date?”

Shí Yuánchén thought for a moment and felt that it was indeed not certain that he could get her to come, but he felt that it wasn’t as if there was no chance at all. “Then we’ll know if we try. What if she goes?”

“There’s no need to try. She won’t go.” Shí Yǎn felt that even if Jiāng Jiǔchū went, the chances of him secretly following them wouldn’t be great.

“Alright, if she doesn’t go, then she doesn’t go, but don’t blame me for not reminding you. If you don’t act quickly, I won’t have the chance to call her Seventh Sister-in-law in this lifetime.” Shí Yuánchén felt that his seventh brother was probably busy himself, so he couldn’t leave the city.

Hearing this, Shí Yǎn paused and looked at Shí Yuánchén with a cold expression, asking, “What do you mean by that?”

Seeing Shí Yǎn’s serious expression, Shí Yuánchén immediately started tattling. “Of course, it means that Seventh Sister-in-law has great charm. Although she’s divorced, she’s still admired by many men. See, I even met one today.”

Shí Yǎn’s expression changed, and he immediately stopped and looked at Shí Yuánchén, asking, “Who?”

“Uh… it’s Sūn Cè, the Lord Sūn who helped you eliminate the Empress’s spies this time.”

“Sūn Cè?” Shí Yǎn’s expression fell into thought, not understanding when Jiāng Jiǔchū had come into contact with Sūn Cè.

As he lifted his foot to continue forward, he asked, “You only found out today? How did you find out?”

“We had lunch together today, but that Sūn Cè came later. Because the Immortal Delicacies Restaurant was full, he came over to ask if he could share a table, and Seventh Sister-in-law readily agreed.”

As Shí Yuánchén spoke, he raised his chin. “Ah, to help you keep an eye on those two, I didn’t even enjoy my meal properly. However, after a meal, I can confirm that Sūn Cè definitely has feelings for Seventh Sister-in-law.”

“Calling her Miss Jiāng, Miss Jiāng, from beginning to end, how should I describe it?”

Shí Yuánchén thought for a moment, then said, “His behavior was polite, and his eyes were gentle. Yes, that’s the feeling.”

“So, Seventh Brother, you have to be careful. Although he doesn’t have as noble a status as you, and his appearance isn’t as good as yours, he’s fresh. He’s not like you, who’s recycled.”

Hearing this, Shí Yǎn glanced at Shí Yuánchén, coldly boarded the carriage that had been waiting on the palace road.

“Hey, hey, give me a ride.” Looking at the carriage leaving him behind, Shí Yuánchén angrily curled his lips. What was he running over here for?

In the Jiāng residence, after Jiāng Jiǔchū finished dinner with her older brother and sister-in-law at the Cheya Courtyard, she played with her soft and fragrant little niece for a while before returning to her Crabapple Courtyard.

However, before she even stepped into the Crabapple Courtyard’s door, she heard the sound of someone and a fox sneezing coming from the courtyard.

Walking into the courtyard, looking at the person and fox sitting under the porch in front of her room, she thought, could it be that they were caught in the rain last night? Otherwise, why were this person and fox sneezing?

As she thought this, she glanced past Shí Yǎn without looking sideways, pushed open the door, and closed it in the sight of the person and the fox.

The little fox stared at the closed door and whimpered sadly, as if not understanding why it and its master could not enter the room.