Chu Yunge glanced at Xie Wangze. He had no interest now because he had not yet started that back-and-forth with the Chu Emperor. Who knew how their eyes would lock with that sticky intensity, playing push and pull later.
Thus, Chu Yunge said, “You don’t have what I have, but since you don’t care, we’ll coexist peacefully from now on. Just don’t scheme against people behind their backs.”
Xie Wangze’s gaze darkened upon hearing this. Scheme against people again?
Had the Princess discovered his schemes against her?
But if she had found out, with her personality, she would surely retaliate recklessly, maybe even force him with someone carrying a venereal disease.
Yet why was she so calm now, without going mad with revenge?
Xie Wangze looked up at Chu Yunge. The Princess really seemed to have changed, especially those eyes.
But rivers and mountains could change, yet one’s nature was hard to alter. How could a person change so much all of a sudden?
It seemed this Princess was far more complex than he had thought.
Chu Yunge did not yet know that her desire for peaceful coexistence had instead caught Xie Wangze’s eye, leading him to decide to observe her more closely.
Not hearing his response, she paid it no mind and continued,
“You have the rights of a Prince Consort. You can manage Princess Mansion matters and the pretty faces, but This Princess’s business ledgers must be handled by me personally.”
She had to keep a tight grip on her own businesses.
Not giving him any chance to meddle or fleece her without her knowing.
As for letting him manage the pretty faces and Princess Mansion affairs, those were no big deal. He would not make things hard for Pei Ji or Qingchen. He would not target Li Guangi specifically either; he might not even pay him any mind.
Xie Wangze looked at Chu Yunge and saw her resolve. In the end, he nodded.
But in his heart, he silently noted another tally. The Princess had never known hardship or lacked silver before and had not valued businesses or money. Now she had changed.
“Please inform Young Master Li on Your Highness’s behalf that he manages the ledgers but has no authority to interfere in household management.”
Chu Yunge nodded. “Got it, but his move to a new courtyard won’t change.”
His face as Prince Consort mattered, but her face as Princess mattered more.
Once spoken, there was no taking it back.
Xie Wangze gave a half-smile. Was Chu Yunge warning him? Telling him not to touch Li Guangi?
But why would he touch Li Guangi? He did not have that much idle time. As long as Li Guangi did not provoke him, why would he act without reason?
“Yes, it seems Your Highness quite likes Young Master Li.”
Chu Yunge gave Xie Wangze a strange look. “Yes, I do.” Li Guangi was so cute and obedient, good at accounting too. Most importantly, he cared for her and immediately simmered porridge and made side dishes when he knew her appetite was poor.
He provided maximum emotional fulfillment.
Xie Wangze did not respond to that. He simply bowed and took his leave.
Chu Yunge thought of how she had nearly transmigrated into a Princess riddled with venereal disease or even missing limbs, and she felt a lingering fear.
She wanted to investigate thoroughly and remove Xie Wangze’s people from her side.
But with so many servants in the Princess Mansion, she looked around and realized she did not even have a single trusted confidant.
In the end, Chu Yunge could only think of Yan Feng.
“Yan Feng.”
As soon as she called out, she suddenly remembered that Yan Feng had gone to rest.
But she shut her mouth, and Yan Feng appeared before her in an instant.
“You didn’t go rest?”
Yan Feng said, “…I’ve already rested, Your Highness. Just give your orders.”
He could sleep standing or lying down and stay vigilant at all times. The reward silver from the Princess gave him full motivation.
“On This Princess’s behalf, observe the people around. Any eating from inside while crawling outside, scheming against This Princess, or leaking This Princess’s itineraries—drag them out.”
Whoever they could catch, they would.
“Yes.”
That afternoon, Chu Yunge cooperated with Xie Wangze to solidify his rights as Prince Consort. She returned the invitations, and they watched the dragon boat race together.
By the time the performance ended and the invitations were returned, it was time for dinner.
“Your Highness, dinner…”
Ju An probed with a smile. Chu Yunge saw Xie Wangze’s indifferent expression and figured he did not welcome her, so she shook her head. “Young Master Xie must be tired today too. Have dinner early and rest.”
She would not slap her hot face against his cold butt and dine with a reluctant Xie Wangze. Better to find Li Guangi.
She needed to tell Li Guangi about today’s events anyway.
Chu Yunge led her palace maids outward, her steps light and eager. Once out of Wild Goose Courtyard, she directly said, “Find Young Master Li to dine with This Princess. From now on, have the kitchen prepare more dishes Young Master Li likes.”
“Yes.”
Their voices were not loud, but Xie Wangze and Ju An still heard the commotion.
Ju An did not even dare to look at Xie Wangze’s expression.
Earlier, when he had found a moment to consult Xie Wangze, the latter had agreed to have the kitchen prepare the Princess’s portion. But now she had left.
However… Ju An felt it was partly because of his master. Just now, when the Princess looked at him, his expression had been indifferent, and he had not spoken to invite her.
In the end, the Princess left without surprise.
Of course she would leave. She had so many pretty faces; why wrong herself?
Ju An had a bit of a headache. He could not quite read the Princess now, nor his own master.
Before, his master had despised the Princess, and she leaving would only bring relief. But ever since she had detoxified him, Ju An could not quite grasp his master’s thoughts.
Despise… he still seemed to despise her, but there was also some indescribable feeling.
With his master like this, it really made things hard for servants like them.
Ju An’s troubles were most deeply felt by Wen Xin and Wu Kui, who served the Little Marquis next door in Nine Heavens Courtyard.
Pei Ji was born noble, a height many could not reach in a lifetime of striving.
But Pei Ji did not slack off just because he had everything from birth. On the contrary, he had his own goals from childhood, starting young to break through the Infinite Divine Art.
He worked hard for it, unafraid of hardship or fatigue. Noble-born, yet he roamed the jianghu instead of indulging in pleasure.
Carefree and unrestrained, righteousness dwelled in his heart. He righted all the injustices before his eyes, seeking a life without regret.
Thus, the two attendants who had served him since childhood were named Wen Xin and Wu Kui.
Pei Ji said that calling their names every day urged him onward. Everyone knew in their hearts if they had regrets.
Martial cultivation was never easy. In scorching summers or freezing winters, he would think of slacking or resting too. But each time he opened his eyes and called their names, he would persist in training. From age three to now, sixteen full years—except for special circumstances—Pei Ji had never slacked.
Wen Xin and Wu Kui had always been proud of the Little Marquis, but… lately, the Little Marquis was a bit off.
Not slacking, but training himself to death, practicing relentlessly deep into the night without sleep.
And this training differed from his previous pursuit of breakthroughs. It was as if he had pent-up anger, so it was venting through martial arts. His emotions had become especially unstable too. They accompanied him in sparring, bodies exhausted and hearts aching.
“Little Marquis, no more practice?”
“No more.” Pei Ji was drenched in sweat. Tonight, he would detoxify. He was going to detoxify.
After bathing, the Little Marquis seemed happy again. He even picked out clothes, then sneaked off from the rooftops to find the Princess.
“Finally gone.” Wen Xin and Wu Kui exchanged a glance, sharing mutual understanding.
Pei Ji sneaked over and briefly clashed hands with Yan Feng.
Yan Feng remembered Chu Yunge’s orders and eyed the furtive Pei Ji suspiciously for a moment.
Pei Ji knew Yan Feng had detoxified last night. For some reason, he found him unpleasant too, so the two inexplicably exchanged a few moves.
Their styles differed, and neither could gain the upper hand for the moment.
To avoid drawing attention, they quickly parted.
Pei Ji tapped the window and climbed in through it. The first thing he saw was not Chu Yunge, but Li Guangi.
Li Guangi sat on Chu Yunge’s exaggeratedly large bed. Seeing him, he panicked and tried to rise, but Chu Yunge pillowed her head on his leg and could not get up right away.
“What’s wrong?”
Chu Yunge opened her eyes, saw Pei Ji, and lay back down. “You’re here.”
Pei Ji saw their posture, and rage burned within him. “Knowing I’d come tonight, you still let him stay here? You deliberately found him to provoke me?”