Chapter 238: Volume 1_Chapter 238: Repairing the Relationship Between the Consort and the Princess (Part II)

Volume 1_Chapter 238: Repairing the Relationship Between the Consort and the Princess (Part II)

The Princess remained silent for a long time, not speaking for a moment.

Yun Qiyue listened quietly, not making a sound.

After a long while, the Princess finally spoke, "Actually, I shouldn't have vented my anger on you."

This was the first time Xuanyuan Rao had spoken to Yun Qiyue in such a calm tone.

Yun Qiyue looked at Xuanyuan Rao, meeting her calm gaze directly.

"Your mother was a very charming woman," Xuanyuan Rao began.

Although Yun Qiyue had not expected Xuanyuan Rao to start with this, she did not make a sound, waiting for Xuanyuan Rao to continue.

Xuanyuan Rao: "If I hadn't viewed her as a romantic rival, I might have become friends with her back then."

Yun Qiyue: "..."

She had guessed that the Princess did not like her having a connection to her mother, but she had not expected that her mother and the Princess actually had this layer of history.

But, a romantic rival? Could it be...

"You guessed correctly; the person the Consort likes is your mother."

Although Xuanyuan Rao's tone was very calm.

And although her mother had already married her father and had been for so many years.

Yet, from Xuanyuan Rao's face, she could still see Xuanyuan Rao's concern.

Her concern regarding the fact that the Consort liked her mother.

Yun Qiyue could also more or less understand why the Consort had been so good to her.

But, that wasn't right.

If the Consort truly could not forget her mother, he wouldn't have been at a stalemate with the Princess for so many years.

Because, if one person did not care about another, it would never be a stalemate between the two; rather, one would be in pain while the other remained indifferent.

But clearly, Qin Huaijing was absolutely not indifferent regarding this matter.

And she vaguely felt that Qin Huaijing was definitely not without feelings for the Princess.

"The man I love—for so many years, I have possessed his person but could not obtain his heart. I have never been able to let go, which is why I vented my anger on you. But today, I want to solemnly say thank you to you; thank you for saving A-Jing."

Xuanyuan Rao's eyes turned red.

But she did not want to show weakness to Yun Qiyue, so she looked away.

Because of this, Xuanyuan Rao did not see the figure that had appeared at the doorway.

Yun Qiyue looked at Qin Huaijing at the door, then looked at Xuanyuan Rao, thought for a moment, and said, "Is it possible that the Consort, he..."

Yun Qiyue stopped there and subconsciously glanced at Qin Huaijing again. Seeing that Qin Huaijing was staring at the Princess and had no intention of stopping her, she continued: "The Consort actually cares about the Princess; there might be other conflicts between you two."

As Yun Qiyue spoke, she stood up.

Repairing the relationship between the Consort and the Princess—as long as the goal was achieved, it should count as completing the Task, even if she wasn't present.

Yun Qiyue prepared to withdraw at any time so as not to be a third wheel.

When the Princess heard Yun Qiyue's words, she couldn't help but frown, "Yun Qiyue, don't think that I, the Princess..."

As soon as Xuanyuan Rao turned her head, she happened to see Qin Huaijing standing at the door and swallowed the rest of her words.

Then, thinking of what she had just said, her expression changed, and she turned her head away again.

"I think I really should have a proper talk with you," Qin Huaijing said calmly, looking at Xuanyuan Rao's figure.

Xuanyuan Rao did not speak, nor did she turn around; it was impossible to know what she was thinking at this moment.

Seeing this situation, Yun Qiyue very tactfully retreated.

Two people who had misunderstood each other for years truly needed to have a good talk.

After Yun Qiyue left, only the Princess, Xuanyuan Rao, and Qin Huaijing remained in the room.

Seeing that Xuanyuan Rao did not turn back for a long time, Qin Huaijing sighed slightly, said nothing, and sat down on the chair Yun Qiyue had just vacated.

For a time, the atmosphere in the room was somewhat quiet; neither spoke, and for some reason, Xuanyuan Rao did not turn around.

"Do you really want to waste time like this?" Qin Huaijing asked.

Xuanyuan Rao's figure stiffened slightly, but she did not turn around.

"We have already wasted over a dozen years, Rao'er," Qin Huaijing spoke again.

When Xuanyuan Rao heard the address "Rao'er," her body trembled.

However, very quickly, Xuanyuan Rao turned around.

There was no expression on Xuanyuan Rao's face, her eyes were slightly red, and the demeanor befitting a Princess had not faded, but it gave one the feeling that she was forcing herself to be strong.

Qin Huaijing stared at Xuanyuan Rao for a long time.

Finally, he sighed.

"Qingwan..."

Just as Qin Huaijing uttered these two words, Xuanyuan Rao looked toward him. Her sharp eyes seemed to carry a trace of grievance, as well as a hint of stubbornness.

"Long before she married, I had already let her go..."

"Then why did you..." Xuanyuan Rao couldn't help but want to press him.

But, only four words into her sentence, Xuanyuan Rao swallowed the words she was about to ask.

For so many years, she had long been accustomed to proudly being her Princess; there were some things she could not cast aside.

Of course, it hadn't been like this from the beginning.

Rather, after her heart was wounded, she had to have a protective membrane to shield herself.

Her pride was the thing that gave her the most sense of security.

"Do you remember that matter of you taking a concubine for me back then?" Qin Huaijing did not mind Xuanyuan Rao's hesitation.

Instead, she asked this question.

Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Rao's expression changed slightly.

That was a matter from fifteen years ago...

"Has the Prince Consort returned?"

Dressed in red, Xuanyuan Rao sat in the front hall of the Princess Mansion, her expression appearing somewhat anxious.

A maidservant at her side stepped forward and respectfully reported, "Not yet."

Xuanyuan Rao waved her hand, signaling the maidservant to withdraw.

However, Xuanyuan Rao's complexion was not very good.

At times she bit her lip, at times she was in pain, at times she was conflicted, and at other times she was resolute.

Until she heard a report from a servant.

"The Prince Consort has returned."

All of Xuanyuan Rao's emotions seemed to dissipate at this single report.

There was a glimmer of starlight in Xuanyuan Rao's eyes, and disregarding the decorum of a Princess, she ran toward the entrance.

That man in white, elegant and refined, with a cold aura yet gentle brows and eyes, just like that, collided with Xuanyuan Rao's gaze.

This man was none other than the Prince Consort Qin Huaijing, whom Xuanyuan Rao had been longing for and had gone to great lengths to force into the mansion.

"You're back!" Xuanyuan Rao greeted him with great joy; one could not see any of the decorum belonging to a royal princess in her, only the coquettishness of a young girl.

It was as if, in her eyes, there was only that man with the cold and gentle temperament.

Compared to Xuanyuan Rao's excitement, Qin Huaijing's expression was much more indifferent, even somewhat distant. "Mm."

Originally, having been married for two years, Xuanyuan Rao should have long been accustomed to Qin Huaijing's attitude.

But not knowing what she thought of, the smile on Xuanyuan Rao's face faded.

"A-Jing, are you still unable to forget Mu Qingwan?" Xuanyuan Rao's eyes were red-rimmed, her face full of accusation.

Because today was Mu Qingwan's birthday.

And he had gone out.

Was he trying to celebrate Mu Qingwan's birthday?

Then what did she count for?

Qin Huaijing frowned, looking at Xuanyuan Rao; the emotion in his eyes was something Xuanyuan Rao had never been able to understand.

"It has nothing to do with her."

After saying this, Qin Huaijing turned around. "If there is nothing else, I will head back first."

As Qin Huaijing spoke, he did not give Xuanyuan Rao a chance to speak, lifting his feet and walking toward his own residence within the Princess Mansion.

Watching Qin Huaijing's back, Xuanyuan Rao's eyes held a look of pain.

And after Qin Huaijing returned to his own residence, things were not much better there.

Qin Huaijing held his book, but for a long time, he did not turn a page, clearly distracted.

It was also at this moment that Qin Huaijing's door was knocked upon.

"Enter."

Qin Huaijing put down his book and looked toward the door.

The door was only lightly closed and not bolted.

And when the door was pushed open, Qin Huaijing saw that the ones who had entered were two good-looking, yet somewhat familiar women, and the expression on Qin Huaijing's face sank.

The two women stepped forward and bowed to Qin Huaijing. "Prince Consort, we are the ones bestowed upon the Prince Consort by Her Highness the Princess; we will certainly serve the Prince Consort well."

"Get out—" The veins on Qin Huaijing's forehead throbbed as he suppressed his anger.

This was the first time Qin Huaijing had ever said a word like "get out."

Upon hearing this, the two women's bodies stiffened, then they looked at Qin Huaijing with pitiful expressions. "Prince Consort, we..."

However, Qin Huaijing did not give them a chance to speak, rising directly and, before the two women could react, storming out the door.

At this time, Xuanyuan Rao was lying on her bed, burying her head in her pillow, and those who served her had all withdrawn.

No one could tell what kind of mood Xuanyuan Rao was in now.

Just at this moment, footsteps came from the room.

Xuanyuan Rao: "Did this Princess not say not to come and disturb this Princess?"

Xuanyuan Rao's tone was very poor.

However, no one answered Xuanyuan Rao's words.

Xuanyuan Rao's figure startled, as if she had thought of something, and she rose from the bed, meeting exactly Qin Huaijing's gaze filled with anger.

Xuanyuan Rao felt somewhat guilty and a bit cowering, but in the end, she still curled her lips. "This Princess knows you like Mu Qingwan, so I specially found two women who look very much like her to be your concubines; you need not thank this Princess too much."

Xuanyuan Rao's body was slightly stiff, but her tone was very relaxed.

"Xuanyuan Rao!" Qin Huaijing gritted his teeth. "What do you take me for?"

Xuanyuan Rao's eyes were filled with tears, yet her face was smiling. "Naturally, I take you as my Prince Consort."

Qin Huaijing, "Prince Consort? I have never known that a Prince Consort could take concubines."

In Qin Huaijing's voice, there was a sense of mockery.

Xuanyuan Rao felt her heart dripping blood, yet she had to force a smile. "This is the privilege this Princess gives you, Prince Consort, as long as you, Prince Consort, stay properly in the Princess Mansion..."

"Xuanyuan Rao, that's enough!" Qin Huaijing's voice coldly interrupted. "I do not want concubines; you had best have those two women taken away."

Qin Huaijing's tone was not very good.

Xuanyuan Rao looked at Qin Huaijing, and for some reason, she said, "What? Is my Prince Consort trying to remain chaste for someone? Prince Consort, do not forget, you are already my person..."

Xuanyuan Rao's words could not be finished, because Qin Huaijing had already turned and left.

From then on, the two of them lived under the same roof, yet they almost never met again.

Qin Huaijing's health also went from bad to worse.

The two of them remained in this stalemate for over a decade.

For Xuanyuan Rao, this memory was an eternal pain.

But for Qin Huaijing, how could it be any different?

"I remember telling you that I don't like the complexities of the inner courtyard," Qin Huaijing said, seeing that Xuanyuan Rao's expression was not very good.

"I remember," Xuanyuan Rao said these two words with great difficulty.

"Back then, I knew long ago that you were scouting for women," Qin Huaijing began, "I also reminded you that what I need is one person for a lifetime."

Xuanyuan Rao did not speak.

She remembered.

At the time, when Qin Huaijing said those words, she was very sad.

He was implying that he wanted to be with Mu Qingwan for a lifetime, and she had always been the superfluous one.

He was someone she had snatched away.

"Long before you snatched me to be your consort, I had already let go of Qingwan. You kept bringing her up; don't you believe that someone else had already taken up residence in my heart long ago?"

These words were not a question, yet they carried a trace of helplessness and a face full of bitter smiles.

Back then, he had actually made it very obvious, with both explicit and implicit hints.

But she stubbornly believed that he liked Mu Qingwan.

If he truly liked Mu Qingwan, how could he have shared a bed with her?

Although he was angry that she did not believe him, what he was most angry about was that she had actually found two women similar to Mu Qingwan to be his concubines.

From that day on, the two of them drifted further and further apart.

Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Rao opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to ask something, but in the end, she said nothing.

Seeing Xuanyuan Rao like this, Qin Huaijing also fell silent.

In fact, over a decade ago, it was not that he hadn't thought about communicating, but she had been stuck in a dead end.

Later, he discovered his health was failing, and gradually, he lived in seclusion, only thinking that if she were willing, it would be better for her to forget him and find someone else.

After all, his body was broken, and he did not know when he would no longer be in this world.

Originally, his body should have given out over a decade ago, but she used medicine to keep him alive until now.

Time has been wasted, and now, he does not want to leave any regrets in his life.

"Whether you believe it or not, what I have cared about most all these years is that you took concubines for me, yet I have never blamed you for snatching me to the Princess Mansion."

After speaking, Qin Huaijing stood up, "If the Princess has no place for me in her heart, you may well give me a letter of separation."

Having said that, Qin Huaijing turned and left.

He was not a person good at explaining, especially after being ill for over a decade and living in seclusion for over a decade; he disliked explaining even more.

But, after Yun Qiyue left, he thought for a long time.

Time is limited; he could not go on like that. Since he could not move forward, then moving backward would also do.

Or perhaps, if the two separated, some things would be different.

"You stop right there!"

Xuanyuan Rao finally spoke.

"You were snatched by this Princess; don't even think about me giving you a letter of separation. Qin Huaijing, in this life, you are my person alive, and you will be my ghost dead; don't even think about escaping from my palm."

Xuanyuan Rao's words were very overbearing, but her voice carried a few traces of a sob.

Qin Huaijing turned his head to look at Xuanyuan Rao.

As Qin Huaijing turned his head, Xuanyuan Rao suddenly broke down, "Do you think I was willing to take concubines for you back then? Someone as golden and precious as me, how could I endure sharing a husband with others? If I hadn't injured my body back then and been unable to bear you children, do you think I would have given you concubines?"

"Qin Huaijing, you are ungrateful. The people I specially found for you, the people I found with such difficulty..."

Xuanyuan Rao could not go on, because she could no longer maintain the demeanor of a Princess and cried.

No matter how strong a woman is, she is fragile in front of the person she loves.

Xuanyuan Rao was just like that.

And this time, Xuanyuan Rao did not cry silently by herself; soon, a long-lost, warm embrace pulled her into his arms.

Xuanyuan Rao seized the opportunity to grab Qin Huaijing's collar, "Qin Huaijing, I can bear children now. I want to bear you a litter of children; until I've had eight or ten, don't even think about leaving my bed..."

After Yun Qiyue left the Princess Mansion, she returned directly to her General's Mansion.

Halfway there, Yun Qiyue received the message from the system that the Task was successful.

Of course, the points for treating the consort and the Princess were sent along with it.

Yun Qiyue was in a very good mood.

However, just as she opened the gate of the General's Mansion, she saw Yun Yajie standing there smiling and looking at her.

Yun Qiyue: "..."

She suddenly felt that the two mansions should be sealed off; otherwise, what was the point if anyone from next door could just walk over?

Seeing Yun Qiyue, Yun Yajie's face was full of smiles, "Qiyue, you're back. Big sister has something she needs to find you for."