Chapter 14: What Trick Is Being Played Here?

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It was unknown how the gardener of the Yunmeng Pavilion managed the flowers. Various precious blooms such as roses and peonies competed to blossom, filling the garden with the vibrant hues of spring—an overwhelming beauty to behold.

Upon entering the Yunmeng Pavilion, the first sight was the blooming peonies, their delicate blossoms like splendid dancers. The red ones blazed with passion and fervor, the white ones exuded elegance and purity; anyone passing by would be compelled to pause and admire them.

Before the prince returned, the women of the inner court, idling without much to do, would often come here to sit and gaze. Sometimes, they would pluck a few fresh flowers to tuck into their hairpins.

Chen Qinghe stared intently at a red peony before her, suddenly reminded of a past event.

One day, bored and restless, she had brought along Dragonfly to pass the time. On a whim, Dragonfly picked two half-bloomed red peonies and tucked them into Chen Qinghe’s temple.

As they frolicked among the flowers, the prince unexpectedly appeared.

Seeing her like this, he was captivated and praised, “Indeed, the person is more delicate than the flowers. Qinghe truly is a rare beauty in this world.”

“Madam, look at this one; it’s so lovely,” Dragonfly said, pointing to a pink peony. “Let me pick it for you to wear.”

“I was up all night, so tired,” Chen Qinghe deliberately raised her voice. “Let’s rest for a while in the pavilion ahead.”

The pavilion stood before Madam Chang Yuniang’s chamber. She lay on her couch, sulking, but upon hearing the voices, she sat up abruptly.

At the sheltered pavilion, Dragonfly helped her sit down. “Madam, you look tired. Rest here. If you want any flowers, I’ll pick them for you.”

Chen Qinghe wiped the fine beads of sweat from her brow with a handkerchief.

“I’m no young girl—why bother pinning flowers? Breakfast was full of bird’s nest and sea cucumber porridge, but it was just an excuse to step out and walk off the meal,” she said.

Dragonfly seemed to understand and quickly knelt to massage her legs.

Bird’s nest and sea cucumber? Since entering the mansion, Madam Chang had eaten little of anything good.

Thinking back to that morning’s tasteless steamed buns and watery meat soup, she was infuriated.

Was that even fit for human consumption?

She had said the grand Liang Prince’s mansion wouldn’t serve such meager fare.

It turned out that others had bird’s nest and sea cucumber, while she was given only radishes and cabbage!

Yet the cook had clearly told her that aside from the dowager consort, the prince, and the concubines, all the other ladies ate the same as she did.

So they had been deceiving her, the fool!

Looking at this lady’s figure, she didn’t seem pregnant. How could someone not with child eat better than her, who was carrying twins?

Chang Yuniang peeked furtively through the window crack.

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Outside the window, a tree in full bloom of roses blocked her view.

She beckoned, and Yu Zhu, standing nearby, immediately bowed and asked, “Madam, what are your orders?”

“Go see who that is outside,” she whispered. “Don’t alert her.”

“I don’t need to look to know it’s Madam Chen,” Yu Zhu replied softly. “Madam Chen is as beautiful as a goddess. Though she’s been here less than two years, the prince has always favored her greatly.”

To praise someone’s beauty right in her presence…

Chang Yuniang shot her a sharp look. “Come on, I want to see how beautiful she really is!”

Yu Zhu wanted to protest but seeing her resolve, she followed silently.

Chang Yuniang only now came to her senses. Yesterday, she had been overly joyful and urged the prince to demand a bride price.

She had assumed the princess would be weak-willed and that the prince’s harsh words would make her relent—but who could have guessed she would insist on a divorce?

It was all the fault of that damned Ning Junruo!

One day, she swore, she would tear that woman to pieces beyond recognition!

And that Madam Chen!

Last night, she monopolized the prince; today, she wouldn’t allow it!

Chang Yuniang touched her swollen belly, grinding her teeth and vowing silently, “Don’t think I’m easy to bully. One day, I will make you pay!”

Chen Qinghe was turned away, admiring the flowers. Chang Yuniang approached the doorway, smiling sweetly, “Oh, who is this elder sister? Such a lovely face!”

Dragonfly wasn’t wrong—she truly was a shameless siren.

Chen Qinghe slowly turned her head, the faint curve of her lips carrying either disdain or mockery.

Chang Yuniang’s smile instantly froze. Could there really be such a beauty in this world?

Her earlier teasing words had been just that—a joke.

In all these years, what beauties hadn’t she seen?

She refused to believe the mansion could harbor such a goddess.

Besides, if such a beauty truly lived there, would the prince be so flirtatious?

“Are you Chang Yuniang?” Chen Qinghe asked quietly.

Chang Yuniang snapped out of her daze. “Yes, I am Chang Yuniang. The wind outside is strong. Elder sister, why not come inside and have a chat?”

“I wouldn’t dare to trouble you,” Chen Qinghe replied.

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A distant chill lingered in Chen Qinghe’s clear, detached eyes. “The hibiscus cake is a bit cloying. I ate too much today. I’m just here to walk off the meal.”

Hibiscus cake?

She hadn’t even had any. Chang Yuniang’s hunger gnawed at her, and hearing this only made her angrier.

Still, she feigned a smile. “I’ve long heard you are as beautiful as a goddess. Seeing you today, it’s true. I would love to learn your secret to maintaining such beauty.”

Heh, so eager to cozy up to her?

Recalling how she had told the prince that he had no medical skill and that any heart ailment should be treated by the mansion’s physician, Chen Qinghe’s mood soured.

“There really is one,” Chen Qinghe said, fixing her gaze on a dark spot near Chang Yuniang’s cheekbone. “The reason my skin is so good is because I use a secret jade beauty cream. This cream can remove all dark spots on the face.”

She hadn’t expected the woman to have a secret remedy.

Since becoming pregnant, Chang Yuniang’s face had been marred with spots. She had tried many remedies to no avail. Her eyes lit up instantly.

“Elder sister, you really have such a treasure? From now on, we are family. I dare to ask—”

“This secret remedy depends on fate,” Chen Qinghe interrupted, rising with Dragonfly. “The wind is picking up; we should head back.”

“Depends on fate?”

Chang Yuniang was taken aback. What game was she playing?

Watching their figures disappear into the distance, she suddenly devised a plan. As long as she could win the prince’s heart, there was nothing she couldn’t have.

West Liangzhou City.

Ning Junruo and her party, under the pretense of shopping, visited several shops.

Usually, their visits were brief, but this time they noticed the west side of Liangzhou City, famed for its gold and silver jewelry and scholarly supplies, was surprisingly deserted, business bleak.

Known as “West is noble, East is wealthy, South is poor, North is lowly,” the west of Liangzhou was no exception.

Compared to the bustling alleys full of life, the wide, smooth stone streets were desolate and quiet.

Liangzhou’s residents were not wealthy. With instability at the border and poor harvests these years, many rich families had moved away, leaving many shops vacant—no wonder business was suffering.

“Eh? Isn’t that Master Xu?” Madam Wei asked, noticing someone inside the Liangzhou Bookstore as they passed by.