Chapter 8: A Frightening Dream, Growing Closer
At the palace gates, the Princess’s carriage waited. Mo Shuihan helped the Princess into the carriage and noticed two other carriages nearby. He paid attention to the Left Minister’s servants, particularly one guard.
The Princess, not seeing the Prince Consort for a while, lifted the carriage curtain, urging, “What are you dawdling for? Let’s go.”
The guard noticed someone watching him and looked back at Mo Shuihan, who smiled and nodded before joining the Princess in the carriage.
Noticing he was lost in thought, the Princess tilted her head inquisitively, “What’s on your mind?”
Mo Shuihan snapped back to attention, glanced at the Princess, his eyes twinkling, and playfully probed, “I was thinking about the Fifth Prince. He doesn’t seem to resemble His Majesty very much.”
Princess Jiu tapped her chin, “You noticed it too. I also think he doesn’t resemble Father at all, but those court officials are blind! They keep saying he’s the spitting image of Father. But he’s just a child. He might resemble him more as he grows older.”
Mo Shuihan didn’t dwell on the topic, instead asking, “What is the relationship between Consort Chen and the Left Minister?”
Knowing he would need this information for his future court life, Princess Jiu explained, “Consort Chen is the Left Minister’s cousin. Apparently, her family suffered misfortune, and she went to the Left Minister’s home for refuge. Father met her once at the Left Minister’s home, and later, Consort Chen became pregnant. Such a woman shouldn’t have entered the palace. But Father had no sons for many years, and the court’s foundation was unstable. The Empress Dowager and Empress were worried and desperate, so they disregarded palace rules and brought her in. Initially, she was only a concubine, but she gave birth to a son. Plus, she’s gentle and calm, and gradually gained Father’s favor, rising through the ranks.”
“Oh?” Mo Shuihan lowered his eyes, his tone peculiar, “Then Consort Chen must have a good relationship with the Left Minister.”
Princess Jiu shook her head, “That’s the strangest part. Consort Chen stayed at the Left Minister’s home for several years, and it was he who recommended her to enter the palace. Yet, somehow, Consort Chen is distant from the Left Minister’s family. The Left Minister’s wife, in particular, seems to dislike Consort Chen. As time went on, the Left Minister found himself caught in the middle, and his interaction with Consort Chen decreased.”
Princess Jiu then reminded him, “The Left Minister’s eldest son is now a court official in the Hanlin Academy. Unless something unexpected happens, you’ll probably be working together. This eldest son hates Consort Chen. Do not mention her in front of him.”
Mo Shuihan nodded. Princess Jiu found him distracted and asked curiously, “What are you thinking about again?”
Mo Shuihan smiled, “Nothing. I was thinking about that guard at the palace gate. He looks familiar. I seem to have… seen him somewhere before.”
Princess Jiu understood, “You mean An Feng, the Left Minister’s guard? He’s the Left Minister’s close guard. The Left Minister likes him very much and even adopted him… Actually, I find him familiar too.”
“Adopted son?” Mo Shuihan was startled, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Princess Jiu was puzzled, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing!” Mo Shuihan shook his head sarcastically. The Left Minister’s intentions are so obvious!
He’s so greedy, he’s not afraid of choking to death!
Summer nights are always moonlit and starry. Mo Shuihan lay on his bed, his forehead covered in sweat. The moonlight illuminated his face, revealing the pain and fear in his expression.
“…Father… no… Mother… don’t…”
Princess Jiu was roused from her sleep, hearing Mo Shuihan’s murmuring, the fear and despair in his voice palpable even to her.
“Prince Consort, Prince Consort, wake up…” Princess Jiu rushed to the bed and shook his arm.
“Ah!” Mo Shuihan sat up abruptly, his face still bearing the remnants of his nightmare, gasping for breath.
“Are you alright?” Princess Jiu’s voice startled him. He recoiled, his gaze sharp, “Why are you here?”
Princess Jiu was startled and stepped back, cautiously asking, “Prince Consort, what’s wrong?”
Mo Shuihan gradually regained his composure, rubbing his forehead, his voice apologetic, “I had a nightmare. I’m sorry, I startled you.”
Princess Jiu didn’t blame him but moved closer, gently wiping the sweat from his face, her expression unexpectedly tender, “It was just a dream. Don’t be afraid, Prince Consort. With me, your protective princess, by your side, no ghosts or demons will dare approach you!”
Mo Shuihan laughed, looking seriously at the supposedly capricious and spoiled Princess Jiu for the first time, teasing, “Are you sure those ghosts and demons aren’t scared away by your capriciousness?”
Princess Jiu playfully hit him, “Annoying. I’m comforting you, and you don’t appreciate it.”
Mo Shuihan caught her fist, “I was joking.” His tone was gentle, his gaze adoring.
Princess Jiu suddenly lowered her head, blushing slightly. Mo Shuihan didn’t react at first, but after a while, he realized he was holding her hand and awkwardly let go. An awkward silence fell between them.
Mo Shuihan cleared his throat, “I want some water…”
Princess Jiu quickly responded, “Oh! I’ll get it for you!”
Her clumsy movements led to spilled water. Mo Shuihan chuckled, the awkwardness fading. He went behind her, taking the teapot, “Let me do it.”
Princess Jiu was embarrassed, “I… I’m just not used to it. I’m not clumsy.”
Mo Shuihan smiled indulgently, “It’s alright. You’re a princess. You shouldn’t do these things.”
“But I’m also your wife,” Princess Jiu looked seriously at Mo Shuihan.
Mo Shuihan froze, perhaps because of the vulnerability of the night, both of them were somewhat agitated.
He sighed, “It’s late. Go to sleep.”
Princess Jiu held him, her gaze stubborn, “Do you… really hate me that much?”
Mo Shuihan shook his head. Beyond her status as his wife, Princess Jiu was a stranger to him. How could he hate her?
“Then why won’t you admit it?” Princess Jiu demanded an answer.
Mo Shuihan frowned, his mind filled with the corpses and blood-soaked ground from his dream…
Seeing his silence, Princess Jiu angrily pushed him, “Stinky scholar, you’re infuriating me!”
Mo Shuihan was puzzled. Why was she suddenly angry again?
The next morning, Princess Jiu was still sulking. She even gave the eunuch delivering an imperial decree a bad reception.
The eunuch came to inform Mo Shuihan of his official post. As Princess Jiu had expected, Mo Shuihan was assigned to the Hanlin Academy.
The eunuch chatted amiably with Mo Shuihan, who responded politely, while Princess Jiu was impatient, occasionally glaring at Mo Shuihan.
After the eunuch returned to the palace, he reported the situation to the Emperor. The Emperor was having dinner in the Empress Dowager’s palace and was somewhat worried, “Could the Prince Consort still be unhappy with the marriage and bullying Jiu’er?”
The Empress Dowager smiled, “I doubt it. When they returned to the palace that day, Jiu’er twisted her ankle, and I deliberately prevented the palace servants from approaching to see the Prince Consort’s reaction. He is quite good, you know. On such a hot day, he carried Jiu’er all the way out of the palace without showing any impatience. In my opinion, it must be Jiu’er acting up again!”
The Emperor also sighed, “That’s why I didn’t dare marry her into a prominent family. The rules of those families would drive her mad! Only someone like the Prince Consort, without family support, can tolerate her antics.”
The Empress Dowager shook her head, “It’s a pity for the child.”
The Emperor said, “I’ll take extra care of him at court to compensate.”
The Empress Dowager thought of the Fifth Princess and sighed, “Don’t just worry about Jiu’er. The Fifth Princess’s matter… It’s not going to work out like this. Consort Ying has been crying to me for several days.”
The Emperor was also worried, “The Qing’an Gong family has been powerful for generations and controls a substantial military force. Even I have to be cautious.”
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