Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 44

Si Cang’s words gave Yun Zishu a clearer understanding of the current situation and a more defined vision of her goals.

For two days in a row, she stayed in the mansion without going out or seeing any visitors. She only received updates about Qingchen Yard from Matron Ren three times a day.

During the two days, Li Xue had exchanged a lot of silver for food. Being a woman who never did any housework, she was completely unaware of market prices. When she wanted to eat roast chicken, the cook asked her to give one tael of silver, and she gave it away without hesitation.

If she wanted to eat fish and shrimp, one tael of silver.

If she wanted to eat honey-glazed pigeon, one tael of silver.

In short, whenever she desired a specific dish, she would pay with silver. After the kitchen manager and the cook reported to the princess, they divided the money among themselves, and everyone was beaming with joy.

During this period, Li Xue inevitably had some disagreements with Xiao Yunheng over food. For example, fish and shrimp are considered ‘trigger foods,’ and Xiao Yunheng, who was seriously injured, could not consume them. However, Li Xue wanted to eat them and overlooked this point.

When she later realized that Xiao Yunheng could not eat such foods, she could only look at him with a guilty expression and say, “Brother Heng, I’m sorry, I… I didn’t know…”

The concubine, who had always been known for her gentleness, consideration, and understanding, did not even know what her husband could eat and what he could not eat when he was seriously injured. Xiao Yunheng could not help but feel disappointed in her.

Thinking about how Li Xue had been taking care of him in a perfunctory manner these days and how she only cared about herself when it came to food, Xiao Yunheng’s disappointment grew, and his attitude became a little cold towards her.

After entering the mansion, he had been resting in bed for nearly ten days. The physician never missed a day of changing his medicine and decocting it. Xiao Yunheng was getting better day by day. Although he still needed to rest, he could get a little out of bed and walk around.

One day, supported by Li Xue, Xiao Yunheng walked out of Qingchen Yard and went straight to Qifeng Hall to see Yun Zishu.

“I want to see Yun Zishu.” Xiao Yunheng stood at the foot of the stone steps, looking at the maids guarding outside. His tone carried a natural command: “Go inside and announce my arrival.”

The maids standing outside the door acted as if they had not heard anything.

Xiao Yunheng frowned and looked at them with displeasure: “Are you all mute?”

“Young Master Xiao’s injuries haven’t fully healed, yet he can’t wait to throw his weight around?” Leng Yue walked out of the hall and looked at Xiao Yunheng calmly. “Why are you taking your anger out on the maids for no reason?”

Xiao Yunheng looked at her coldly: “I, the Prince Consort, wish to see Yun Zishu.”

He deliberately emphasized the words “this prince consort,” aiming to stress that he and Yun Zishu were still husband and wife. Even if he was seriously injured, even if he was temporarily living in the princess’s mansion, he was still the master here.

“The consort has come at the wrong time.” Leng Yue looked at the sky. It was just past noon. “Her Highness the Princess is taking a nap. If the consort is willing to wait, he can stand here and wait for a while. If he is not willing to wait, he can go back to Qingchen Yard first. When Her Highness the Princess wakes up, she will summon the consort.”

The implication was very clear: the master of the Princess’s Mansion was the legitimate Princess Yun Zishu. Whether you were the Imperial Consort or Young Master Xiao, it would not be easy to see the princess. The rules must be obeyed.

Whether she is willing to see him or not depends on the mood of the princess.

“How can you, a maid, be so rule-bound?” Li Xue was indignant. “Yun Zishu—”

As soon as the words left her mouth, remembering the slap she had received last time, Li Xue paused and quickly changed her tone: “What I mean is that Her Highness and Brother Heng are husband and wife after all. Even if Brother Heng did something wrong before, he is now sincerely apologizing. I hope Her Highness will be magnanimous and not hold it against him. Wouldn’t it be better for the couple to respect each other and live in harmony in the future?”

“Treat each other with respect and harmony?” Leng Yue smiled faintly. “Haven’t you and Young Master Xiao been doing quite well? It truly looks harmonious. My princess doesn’t want to disturb the love between the two of you, so she had the concubine brought into the mansion. From now on, the two of you can cultivate your relationship well without any interruptions.”

Li Xue’s face changed color; she too wished to live in marital harmony with Brother Heng, undisturbed.

But Qingchen Yard was too shabby, lacking a lot. She had already endured such conditions for many days; must she continue to endure longer?

“Her Highness is taking a nap; no one is allowed to disturb her,” Leng Yue said. “You two should go back first.”

Xiao Yunheng glared at the audacious maid. Return to the Qingchen Yard and wait for Yun Zishu to summon him?

Was Yun Zishu treating him as a subject or a subordinate?

“I’m here to make peace with her.” Xiao Yunheng had no choice but to lower his voice. “Please go and inform her that I come with sincerity, and I have words I wish to speak to her in person.”

“Her Highness is taking a nap; can’t you understand that?” Leng Yue frowned, her attitude cold and distant. “If you insist on seeing Her Highness now, does that mean you want me to wake her up? Is not even allowing her to rest your idea of ‘sincerity’?”

Xiao Yunheng was left speechless by her, a breath stuck in his chest, nearly suffocating him.

Leng Yue ignored him and went inside the hall.

Li Xue spoke weakly, “Brother Heng.”

Xiao Yunheng stared coldly at Leng Yue’s retreating figure and hesitated for a moment. “Yun Zishu’s afternoon nap is at most half an hour; we’ll wait here for a while.”

The journey back to Qingchen Yard from here was not short, and the round trip was a little strenuous for his current body.

Standing here and waiting can show his sincerity.

Although standing like this was not comfortable, he could endure it. He had survived the most painful period, and this little bit of pain was nothing.

Seeing this, Li Xue had no choice but to nod.

Although the spring season is comfortable, standing under the bright sun was clearly unpleasant, especially as the weather had been growing warmer lately, giving a distinct feeling of early summer.

After standing for a while, Li Xue felt that she could not bear it any longer. She had been taking care of Xiao Yunheng during this period of time, and she had been doing everything herself. She was already quite tired. Her skin looked duller and more haggard than before. If she were exposed to the sun any longer, it would likely further affect her appearance.

So Li Xue turned her head and looked at Xiao Yunheng hesitantly, “Brother Heng.”

Xiao Yunheng looked at her. 

“Let me help you go over there and sit down,” Li Xue said, pointing to the corridor. “Let’s sit there for a while so that the sun won’t make you dizzy.”

Xiao Yunheng looked at the direction she was pointing and said flatly, “Sit on the ground?”

Li Xue choked. “I…”

“I’m still a young master of the Xiao family. Do you expect me to sit on the ground like a beggar?” His tone was slightly cold. “How would that look if someone saw?”

Li Xue’s eyes were slightly red, and she lowered her head and said, “I… I’m just worried that Brother Heng won’t be able to stand this for too long…”

“Okay, why are you crying? What did I say to you?” Xiao Yunheng was impatient. She cried at the slightest thing, which was annoying to watch. “When standing, you should be steady and respectful; when sitting, you should be upright and correct. The ancient sages taught us to stand and sit properly. I’m just telling you some principles of behavior, not criticizing you.”

Li Xue bit her lip, with a hint of grievance in her tone, “I… I know, Brother Heng; don’t be angry with me.”

If it had been in the past, Xiao Yunheng would have been swayed by this. As long as her eyes turned red and she showed a wronged and forbearing expression, he would immediately feel sorry for her and would almost grant her every request.

Li Xue had always used this trick to charm Xiao Yunheng, keeping him happy and devoted to her.