Chapter 16: Why Should I Give Her Face?
“My lord, were you not a bit too rude to Princess Qinghe just now?”
Feng Yi knew that his master was used to acting as he pleased in the Fox Clan. Even if it were the Jade Emperor himself, if you displeased him, he would ignore you all the same. But Princess Qinghe was, after all, the First Princess’s sister. For Lang Hua to show her such disrespect would inevitably cause her displeasure. If word of this reached Li Xuanyue’s ears, it was unavoidable that he would be lectured.
“You’re overthinking it, Feng Yi.”
Compared to Feng Yi’s worries, Lang Hua seemed completely unconcerned.
“Let’s not even talk about the relationship between our dear Princess Qinghe and Li Xuanyue. Just based on the fact that she was punished by the Phoenix Emperor to three months of closed-door reflection in Chaoren Hall after the wedding night three months ago, it’s clear that her relationship with Li Xuanyue isn’t as close as the rumors claim. That being the case, why should I give her any face?”
Giving Li Xuanyue face was because she was the First Princess of the Phoenix Clan, his wife-master. What was Li Qinghe?
“Alright, don’t think about it anymore.” Seeing the disapproving look on Feng Yi’s face, Lang Hua knew exactly what he was thinking. He waved his hand dismissively. “Even if she does go and complain to Li Xuanyue, I’m the one who will suffer the consequences. It has nothing to do with you.”
What’s the worst that could happen? Let her give him a good beating?
Feng Yi was speechless.
Fenghe Hall
Li Xuanyue had been feigning illness for three months. During this time, she hadn’t stepped out of the main hall or even passed through the inner gates, spending all her days within Fenghe Hall. The outside world only knew she was gravely ill, but no one knew the nature of her illness. The clan elders and powerful officials had heard about it as well, and as a result, they stopped voicing their opinions about her earlier dismissal of the shijun and xiaoshi in her palace, seemingly giving their tacit approval.
“Princess, Shijun Wen is here.”
Just as Xiao Han took the medicine bowl from Li Xuanyue’s hands, Yinxin walked in from outside the hall.
Li Xuanyue narrowed her eyes.
What is he doing here?
During her three months in Fenghe Hall, of the seven shijun in her palace, only Jun Shijun had come to see her once, just to confirm whether she was dead or not. The other six had been completely unperturbed, going about their daily routines in the palace as if her illness had nothing to do with them. It made Li Xuanyue wonder if she had been too lenient with these shijun in this life. Otherwise, how could they not even show a shred of concern when their wife-master was gravely ill?
“Let him in.”
After a moment’s thought, Li Xuanyue decided to let Yinxin admit him. Although she didn’t know why this Wen Shijun had come at this time, since he was here, she certainly wouldn’t turn him away.
“Wen Shuo greets Your Highness.”
Wen Shijun, dressed in a white brocade robe, bowed respectfully to Li Xuanyue. He had a refined and elegant posture, standing there like a celestial being, inviolable and graceful.
“Sit.”
Li Xuanyue’s gentle voice came from behind the curtain.
Wen Shijun did not stand on ceremony. The moment a maid brought a chair, he sat down gracefully.
“Is there something you need, Shijun Wen?” Li Xuanyue asked, her voice lacking strength. From time to time, a cough could be heard from behind the curtain, making her sound extremely weak.
Wen Shijun glanced over, clearly wanting to see through the curtain. However, the pink drapery completely obscured the view, preventing him from seeing anything at all.
Helpless, he had no choice but to stand up again.
“Your Highness has been ill for three months now.” Wen Shijun lowered his eyes, choosing his words carefully. “This subject was worried about the princess’s appetite, so I specially had the kitchen prepare some millet porridge. I hope the princess will try it.”
Bringing her millet porridge?
This was truly unexpected for Li Xuanyue. In that case, she would have to taste it properly!
“Bring it over.”
Li Xuanyue had Yinxin take the porridge from the maid beside Wen Shijun. A corner of the pink curtain was lifted by a long, fair finger. Although Wen Shijun couldn’t see clearly, he caught a glimpse of Li Xuanyue’s weak and pale face. He quickly lowered his head again.
His small movement and subtle thoughts were all seen by Li Xuanyue. A faint smile touched the corners of her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Not bad.” She stirred the millet porridge in the bowl, made a gesture of tasting it, and praised, “This millet porridge is sweet but not cloying, and it has a light fragrance of corn. Reward him!”
“Thank you, Princess.” Wen Shijun bowed, neither humble nor arrogant.
The person had been seen, and the porridge had been tasted. Yet, this Wen Shijun showed no intention of leaving. Li Xuanyue decided not to drag it out any longer.
“Is there something else, Shijun Wen?”
Can’t he see she wants to rest?
Wen Shijun’s expression stiffened. “There is a matter this subject is unsure whether to mention to the princess.” After much consideration, Wen Shijun finally spoke up.
“Oh?” Li Xuanyue raised an eyebrow. “What is it?” She seemed intrigued by his words, her tone full of interest.
“This subject heard that Shijun Lang was disrespectful to Princess Qinghe in the imperial garden today.”
Whenever Wen Shuo thought of the aggrieved and pained look on Li Qinghe’s face when he was in Chaoren Hall just now, he couldn’t help but complain on her behalf.
“The princess has always doted on Princess Qinghe, yet Shijun Lang, as the princess’s man, has an extremely poor attitude towards her. If word gets out, people might think that Shijun Lang is acting on the princess’s intentions.”
Li Xuanyue listened for a while and finally understood. Her Wen Shijun was here to stand up for Li Qinghe. No wonder he would suddenly think to bring her porridge. It turned out his true intentions were not what they seemed; he wanted to use the porridge as a pretext to complain about Shijun Lang.
When did the people in her palace learn to eat from her bowl while working for someone else? Did they think that because she had been claiming illness recently and hadn’t been causing them trouble, she was easy to talk to? Or was it that in the eyes of these shijun, Li Qinghe was their true wife-master?
For a moment, the hall was silent.
“In your opinion, Shijun Wen, what should I do?”
After a short while, Li Xuanyue’s voice came from behind the curtain. Her faint voice had a hint of ethereality and an indescribable undertone. However, Wen Shijun, lost in his own thoughts, didn’t notice. He continued to speak his mind.
“Princess Qinghe is your sister. In this subject’s opinion, perhaps the princess could verbally reprimand Shijun Lang.”
That way, it would appease Princess Qinghe without making Shijun Lang resent him too much.
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