Never mind the others, even Li Hong Yuan’s eyes all penetrated with a trace of confusion. Shu Consort had just taken a trip back from the gates of hell. Even if the first person she wanted to see wasn’t Le Cheng Emperor, it should still be her maiden family, so how could it be the two of them?

Jing Wan looked towards Li Hong Yuan, slightly lifting her brow. Not going to explain?

Li Hong Yuan placed a piece of crystal dumpling on Jing Wan’s plate, “Eat, afterwards, we can enter the palace for a look.”

This was having nothing to explain? Jing Wan understood, continuing to eat, though her speed increased quite a bit. She was already almost done eating to begin with. As such, it didn’t take that much time.

Because the people from Ganlu Palace were still waiting, and from the looks of it, also very anxious, Jing Wan didn’t dillydally, even urging Li Hong Yuan to hurry up a little.

Regardless of who, so long as Jing Wan cares a bit too much, Li Hong Yuan would certainly just become unhappy. As Jing Wan rushed him more and more, he instead just sat down directly, having Jing Wan pulled into his arms, his two arms slightly exerting strength, confining tightly. That meaning couldn’t be more obvious. Jing Wan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Alright, alright, let’s take it slowly, or how about, let’s just not enter the palace. In any case, the weather is quite cold. It’s still more comfortable to coop up at home.” Jing Wan quickly stroked his fur, even giving him two kisses.

Li Hong Yuan coldly watched her, “Wan Wan thinks this husband is this easy to fool? What you’re trying to do, you think I wouldn’t know?”

Jing Wan embraced his neck, leaning over to snuggle against him, acting coquettishly, “About that, some things, you just need to know inside, no need to expose. Once exposed, it won’t be fun anymore.”

Li Hong Yuan was still smiling, yet also still a bit cold, “Fine then, today, this husband will just nicely have fun with Wan Wan.”

Jing Wan hurriedly propped up against his shoulders. What are you joking about? If it continues like this, then they really won’t be able to go out today. The ‘completely insincere’ fur-stroking becoming ‘incomparably sincere’, to put it bluntly, it was just ‘dividing the land and paying reparations’, having a certain someone’s fur smoothed, while Jing Wan exhausted her energy. This originally didn’t have anything to do with her, so why should she ‘pay the price’? Jing Wan felt this way won’t do, and once Shu Consort Qin recovers, she needed to demand a bit of compensation from her.

The people of Ganlu Palace, upon seeing that Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan finally got ready, lightly relaxed a breath. Although it took some time, but fortunately, this ancestor didn’t quit on the spot. Didn’t one see that in the past, even when his Majesty and Noble Consort summoned him, it was all possible for him to not go? If they’d really encountered this kind of situation………………

Today was different from yesterday, the attire not needing to be that solemn, but it was still not a hair out of place.

Li Hong Yuan, this person, although his reputation was terrible in all kinds of ways, his mannerism and appearance had nothing to be nitpicked. Even in the manor, aside from when ‘messing around’ with Jing Wan, he was all like so. At certain times, Jing Wan even had a kind of illusion that this man was ascetic. Of course, an illusion was just an illusion, this man wasn’t the slightest bit ascetic.

Le Cheng Emperor had business at hand, so the two of them directly headed to Ganlu Palace.

It was actually Jing Wan and Li Hong Yuan’s first time entering Shu Consort Qin’s resting chamber. Alright, in reality, even Li Hong Yuan all didn’t come to Ganlu Palace more than a few times, let alone Jing Wan.

Shu Consort Qin wasn’t lying on the bed, but rather leaning against the beauty recliner facing the window, even having gone through careful grooming. Having gotten poisoned last night, the damage towards her should’ve been quite big. The healthy and rosy complexion in the past, this while, lacked the slightest drop of blood. Against the rays of light shining in from the window, her face even appeared somewhat transparent, seeming weak and fragile.

Originally, compared to the Empress and Noble Consort Su, Shu Consort Qin who’d never given birth to a child, while being close in age, had the best figure. And the three of them, in terms of bearing, all possessed their own distinguishing feature, each having their own strengths. But, these three all didn’t possess the characteristics of a sickly beauty[1]. However, Shu Consort Qin in this moment truly filled this role.

Shu Consort Qin just left one person by her side to serve, her eyes closed, appearing to be asleep. Just, her eyelids were shaking, and her eyeballs below also appeared to be turning slightly. It was obvious, her sleep wasn’t peaceful.

Seeing Jing Wan and them enter, that palace maid hurriedly got up to greet, and after receiving permission, got back up.

Jing Wan was still thinking, with Shu Consort Qin asleep, what should they do, but that palace maid had already leaned towards Shu Consort Qin, softly opening her mouth, “Your Highness, Jin Qinwang and Jin Wangfei have arrived.” Clearly worried that if her voice was too loud, it would startle Shu Consort Qin.

Jing Wan originally was still thinking of stopping that palace maid. At this time, naturally it was the patient that was more important.

But unexpectedly, as soon as the palace maid’s voice dropped, Shu Consort Qin immediately just opened her eyes. Shu Consort Qin’s line of sight landed on the two of them, unexpectedly feeling as if, in her eyes, between the heaven and earth, only the two of them existed.

The tip of Jing Wan’s heart somewhat went numb, to the extent that she somewhat didn’t dare to continue going forward. Although Shu Consort Qin didn’t do anything either, Jing Wan couldn’t help but feel that there was something abnormal about her. Moreover, how to put it, even though she was looking at the two of them, Jing Wan kept feeling that she should just be looking at a certain someone next to her, seemingly having nothing to do with her. Jing Wan wanted to turn her head to ask Li Hong Yuan, what was this situation, but getting stared at this fixedly by Shu Consort Qin, doing that seemingly wasn’t good.

As time elapsed little by little, Shu Consort Qin’s gaze became increasingly strange, just like as if staring at her own child, incomparably warm. Jing Wan strangely recalled, prior to marrying, or perhaps at an even earlier time, Shu Consort Qin’s gaze towards her seemingly was also somewhat off. Although it wasn’t too obvious, and it wasn’t like that every time, but carrying a trace of curiosity was a hundred percent certain.

Shu Consort Qin, towards Le Cheng Emperor’s children, was actually more or less all the same. It can be said to be truly viewing everyone equally. Although in the dark, she stood on Li Hong Yuan’s side, but she seemingly was very optimistic towards Li Hong Yuan’s abilities, never considering herself as an elder, and towards Li Hong Yuan’s conduct, she never tries to interfere. As such, Shu Consort Qin’s gaze, Li Hong Yuan actually had an even deeper sense of than Jing Wan.

Compared to Jing Wan, however, Li Hong Yuan was completely unmoved, still neither slowly nor quickly going forward. Jing Wan closely followed by his side, falling behind half a step. When the two of them reached an appropriate position, “Greetings your Highness Shu Consort.”

Shu Consort Qin was like as if getting woken suddenly, revealing a gentle smile that was no different from usual. Just, compared to the neither close nor estranged sense of distance at that time, right now clearly felt much closer. “Quickly rise. ———Prepare a seat for Jin Qinwang and Jin Wangfei.”

The palace maid quickly moved over seats and served the tea. Afterwards, she just withdrew, leaving only the three of them.

Li Hong Yuan didn’t sit down, and Jing Wan also just stood there.

Li Hong Yuan directly stared at Shu Consort Qin. Speaking of which, she ultimately was still his shu consort mother, so Li Hong Yuan doing this certainly was rude, and in the past, one had never seen him do this kind of thing before.

“Wan Wan, why don’t you go out first, I have a few words to say to her Highness Shu Consort.” Li Hong Yuan suddenly turned towards Jing Wan and said.

Jing Wan was surprised, lifting her head and glancing at him. His face was expressionless, his eyes serene, hiding away all his emotions. Even the sharpest psychologist, or minute facial expression decipherer, afraid all won’t be able to make out his current thoughts. There weren’t many times where Li Hong Yuan was like this, but it’s not like Jing Wan has never seen before. Just, every time it was like this, it was possible that things were a bit abnormal.

“Alright.” Jing Wan lightly smiled and curtsied, retreating a few steps as she turned to leave.

Although it was retreating out, in reality, one can completely have the situation inside viewed clearly. It was still that reasoning, avoiding suspicion was necessary.

Li Hong Yuan had his line of sight placed on Shu Consort Qin’s face again, “Shu Consort seemingly is very nervous?”

Shu Consort Qin admit, when Li Hong Yuan had Jing Wan suddenly sent away, she was indeed nervous, because she wasn’t certain whether or not Li Hong Yuan discovered something. She’d been doing her best to conceal, yet in the end, still wasn’t able to escape from his eyes. However, just based on this bit, it still further made one relieved, no? Her mind also relaxed a little, “Don’t know what this consort has to be nervous about?”

Li Hong Yuan finally sat down, “This, will have to ask your Highness yourself. If your Highness insist on making this prince explain clearly, then one will just say it directly, who are you?”

‘Shu Consort Qin’ just felt her heart beating madly, her blood rushing through her body, causing her face to even gain a trace of blood. Her hand also unconsciously clenched into a fist.

Li Hong Yuan quietly observed it all. A trace of emotion called ‘as expected’ flashed through his eyes. In reality, he wasn’t certain. It was largely just sounding out.

“These words of wangye’s, this consort doesn’t understand.” ‘Shu Conort Qin’s’ voice was somewhat trembling.

“You wanted to meet this prince, yet unwilling to be open and direct, then there’s nothing to say. This prince will just take one’s leave.” Li Hong Yuan said, even about to get up.

“Yuan’er……..” ‘Shu Consort Qin’ however could no longer hold it in, instantly breaking down, her tears tumbling down. The affection and longing in her eyes could no longer be concealed.

Li Hong Yuan’s complexion was heavy, slightly knitting his brows. This situation was one that even he didn’t expect. “Don’t cry, what you’re condition is like currently, you yourself should be the most clear.”

“Yuan’er, you know, I’m, I’m…………” The following words were stuck in her throat, seemingly unable to come out, because she was scared.

“Behaving that obviously, what else is there to not know.” After understanding the cause, Li Hong Yuan returned to being calm and tranquil like a ripple-less old well.

(T/N: LHY is a character that likes to bluff a lot, but it’s also quite subtle lol. Literally two lines ago, he was all ‘what is this situation’, and now, he’s just, ‘yep I knew all along’.)

She knew, he won’t have any feelings towards her, and originally, she was already mentally prepared, but when really facing, it was still like a blade stabbing into her heart, especially when recalling the mother-son relationship between him and Noble Consort Su, the pain making her nearly suffocate. This clearly was her son, growing up little by little in her stomach, in the beginning, just sensing him stretch his arms and kick his feet in her stomach, but she wasn’t able to see him be born, further unable to participate in his growth. Actually, she has never once blamed the heavens or the people for her misfortunes. Even if at the time, she got abandoned by her family, she was also just heartbroken, accepting the fate that she was unable to oppose, because she believed, one’s days ultimately was lived by oneself. That man that was her husband, misunderstood her, hurt her, and even killed her, but she also didn’t think anything of it, instead feeling as if it was a kind of release. In any case, she didn’t have any feelings towards him. Since he didn’t believe her, she also didn’t want to explain anything, because once that man becomes stubborn, it was just like as if completely sealing off himself. No matter what you say, it was all useless. Only this child, only him……………

However, what was worth rejoicing was that he didn’t suspect her, and didn’t feel that she was a demon or evil spirit, and thus, scared of her, “Yuan’er believes me, right?”

“Shu Consort died last night, and you took over her body?” Li Hong Yuan replied with a question.

“This isn’t the case. I’ve been inside younger sister Qin’s body for several years already. Just, I’m too weak, so majority of the times, I’m asleep inside her body. Because of the accident this time, I temporarily gained control of the body.”

“Several years? How many years?”

“That year when you were ten.”

[1] Sickly beauty is just someone that looks beautiful when ill. There’s a particular story I remember about it. I believe it was about Xi Shi. In the story, Xi Shi was very delicate and weak, so whenever she felt nauseous or lightheaded, she would cover her mouth or hold her forehead, and that image of her was very beautiful and captivating. The story however is actually about another woman that tried to copy Xi Shi’s actions to look beautiful, but ended up looking like a fool. I can’t remember if this was an idiom story or just a historical anecdote.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com