Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 38

“It’s fine to eat a little,” Li Xue said, handing him the other chicken leg. “How can you recover your health without any meat for so many days? Luckily, my aunt anticipated this and secretly gave me some money to bring along. We can improve our meals occasionally in the future.”

Xiao Yunheng had indeed had a hard time these days. After hesitating for a moment, he took the chicken leg and ate it. Li Xue turned back and tore into the tender, stewed chicken meat. The more she ate, the more delicious it became. Before long, she had devoured most of the chicken.

Although women generally have small appetites, Li Xue had spent many days in the Dark Shadow Pavilion and stayed at the Xiao family’s residence for just one night before coming to the Princess’s Mansion. After several days of eating only green vegetables and cabbages, she really hadn’t had any meat for a long time. This time she couldn’t resist and ended up eating a little too much.

By the time Xiao Yunheng finished eating a chicken leg, only the bones remained in the paper wrapping.

He looked at Li Xue’s awkward expression, suppressed the complex emotions in his heart, and said lightly, “You have worked hard to take care of me these days. If you want to eat something, just have the kitchen prepare it. If that doesn’t work, just exchange some silver for it temporarily. When my injury gets better, I will definitely make it up to you.”

Li Xue hummed and said with emotion, “Brother Heng is still the best to me.”

“Did you go to see Yun Zishu today?” Looking at the obvious redness and swelling on her face, he knew that it was caused by the two strong female subordinates beside Yun Zishu.

Because Xiao Yunheng had also been beaten.

Li Xue froze and nodded slowly. “Yes, the princess has gone out of the mansion.”

“I’m lying here almost getting moldy, and she doesn’t even come to take care of me. She has the leisure to go out of the mansion to stroll around?” Xiao Yunheng gritted his teeth. “She really is a cold and heartless bitch!”

……

Yun Zishu had no intention of taking care of someone so fickle and ungrateful.

At this time, she was sitting in the carriage, lifting the curtain and leisurely watching the bustling streets filled with traffic and pedestrians, her expression as serene as a painting.

The Great Yong Dynasty had relatively open customs. Although men were superior to women, the restrictions on women were not overly harsh. Especially among noble women, it was common to go out to visit jewelry pavilions and jade shops on weekdays.

However, there seemed to be more people in the jewelry pavilion today.

The carriage stopped at Jewelry Street, which was lined with several jewelry shops. Yun Zishu looked through the carriage curtain and saw Princess Baozhu of the Rong Prince’s Mansion, Eighth Princess Yun Zirou, and several other noble ladies selecting jewelry together.

Leng Yue and Leng Shuang naturally saw them too. After a moment of contemplation, Leng Yue remembered something. She walked to the side of the carriage and said to Yun Zishu in a low voice, “The birthday of the Imperial Consort is approaching. These princesses and noble ladies are all selecting birthday gifts at this Imperial Treasure Pavilion.”

The birthday of the Imperial Concubine Wu?

Yun Zishu understood.

Then a congratulatory gift should be prepared carefully. After all, Consort Wu is now in charge of the inner palace, and her son is the current crown prince. Her status is already equivalent to that of the empress, lacking only the official title.

Yun Zishu got out of the carriage and stepped into the Imperial Treasure Pavilion. Several pairs of eyes in the hall looked over at the same time.

“Oh, what wind has blown the Ninth Princess to the Imperial Treasure Pavilion today?” Princess Baozhu took the lead to walk over and said jokingly, “Are you here to choose a gift for the Noble Consort?”

Yun Zishu smiled casually. “I’m just here to take a look.”

“If you’re here to select a gift, just say so. Why be shy about it?” The Eighth Princess chuckled. “But compared to picking out a thoughtful gift for Mother Consort, I think if Ninth Sister could go back to the Xiao family at this time, it would make Father Emperor and Mother Consort even happier. Making Father Emperor happy is more important than any gift.”

“That’s right, this time the ninth princess has completely humiliated the Xiao family. Even if you present the phoenix from the heavens to the imperial concubine, the imperial concubine will probably not be happy.”

“Speaking of which, the things in the Imperial Treasure Pavilion are very expensive. Can the Ninth Princess afford them?”

Several noble ladies smiled meaningfully. “The Ninth Princess has her own mansion and is now the mistress of her own household. How could she not be able to afford some jewelry?”

Leng Yue and Leng Shuang frowned deeply as they listened to the crowd’s ridicule.

“Your Highness, the Ninth Princess.” A young man walked out of the inner room of the Imperial Treasure Pavilion and bowed respectfully to Yun Zishu. “I was unaware of Your Highness’ arrival and failed to greet you in time. I hope Your Highness will forgive me.”

Yun Zishu said lightly, “No need to be so polite.”

“The Imperial Treasure Pavilion has several new styles today. Would the princess like to take a look?” The man’s tone grew even more polite and respectful. “There is a particularly exquisite phoenix crown and hairpin set. If the Ninth Princess is interested, this humble servant can bring it for your inspection.”

Phoenix crown and hairpin set?

The expressions of the noble ladies shifted slightly. Only the empress was qualified to wear the phoenix-shaped headdress…

Yun Zishu nodded. “Bring it over.”

“Yes.”

Yun Zirou, Princess Baozhu, and several other noble ladies exchanged puzzled glances, all wondering about the attitude of this man towards Yun Zishu.

“Can the Ninth Princess afford it?” Princess Baozhu sneered. “Don’t just enjoy the sight of it. When the shopkeeper takes the item out, if the Ninth Princess can’t afford it, she will be laughed at.”

Leng Yue looked at her with displeasure. “Princess Baozhu has repeatedly mocked the Ninth Princess. Does she think her life is too long, or are the children of the Rongwang Mansion so ill-mannered?”

“You—”

“The crime of insubordination was demonstrated not long ago, but some people seem to have forgotten it.” Leng Yue’s expression suddenly turned cold. “Leng Shuang, if anyone dares to disrespect the legitimate princess again, don’t hold back. Slap them directly across the face.”

Princess Baozhu’s face turned ashen. “How dare you?”

“You can try to see if we dare.” Leng Yue’s tone was tough. “If anything happens, the commander will take the responsibility. Anyway, the Rong Wang Mansion wouldn’t dare to punish us!”

A faint smile played on Yun Zishu’s lips. “Leng Yue, don’t bring up the Dark Shadow Pavilion at every turn. People might think I am relying on the power of the Dark Shadow Pavilion to bully others. In fact, I am the legitimate princess. Even without the Dark Shadow Pavilion, according to the rules of the imperial family, those who disrespect their superiors should be severely punished. Princess Baozhu is probably used to being lawless by Prince Rong, so she forgot this.”

Princess Baozhu sneered. A princess of the first rank?

A princess with an empress mother protecting her is a legitimate princess. Without an empress mother, she is just an orphaned princess. Does she really think she is untouchable?

However, in front of outsiders, she didn’t dare to voice these words. After all, some things could be done but not said aloud—uttering them would be a grave taboo.

“Ninth sister, don’t be angry.” Yun Zirou smiled faintly, playing the peacemaker. “Baozhu is just a little too straightforward and doesn’t have any malicious intent. On the contrary, these two maids of yours keep threatening the royal princess with the Dark Shadow Pavilion. It’s really not appropriate.”

Yun Zishu replied, “Oh? Well, there is no helping it. I’m currently vulnerable and isolated. If I don’t have Leng Yue and Leng Shuang to protect me, I’m afraid I’ll be bullied to death.”

Yun Zirou’s face stiffened. “Who would dare to bully you?”

“There have always been many people who dare to bully me.” Yun Zishu looked at her calmly. “I don’t consider myself someone who enjoys verbal sparring. In the future, as long as there are people who take the initiative to offend and ridicule me with hostility, I will simply reward them with a few slaps. Let those with sharp tongues experience the consequences of their words. What does the eighth sister think of that?”