Chapter 35: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" (Are You the One)

 FlamingoBees 

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

Home    :    Novels

 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 Chapter 35: 

 

However, Liu Mian Tang was known for her straightforward nature. Unless absolutely necessary, she would not speak insincerely.

At this moment, since Miss He was speaking privately with her, Liu Mian Tang felt it would be inappropriate to mislead her, potentially affecting the young lady's future.

So, she pondered for a moment and said honestly, "I do not know what Miss Lian's intentions are, but if she has become close to you and wants to share the company of one man... Forgive my ignorance, but I am unable to understand the reasoning behind it."

He Zhen, who had accompanied her father from a young age and had seen much of the world, was not naive. Yet, when one's heart becomes consumed by desire, it's easy to overlook the risks and consequences.

She had fallen deeply for Prince Huaiyang and had loved him alone ever since he rescued her. Initially, she believed they were destined never to meet due to their differences in status. But with fate suddenly offering her a chance, she was overwhelmed with joy, not caring much about the potential pitfalls of the situation.

She had originally intended to show off to Liu Mian Tang, to prove that her infatuation was not just a fleeting fancy. However, after Liu Mian Tang’s blunt response, she felt somewhat disheartened and awkwardly said, “Miss Lian, as a distinguished young lady from a noble family, her perspective and experience are far beyond that of common women. It is only natural for her to focus on maintaining harmony in the prince's household and ensuring he can devote himself to state affairs, rather than solely concerning herself with romantic matters…”

Liu Mian Tang felt she had spoken too much and gave a dry laugh, replying, “Indeed, someone like me, a common woman, is not suited to be a mistress of a grand household. Luckily, my husband is an ordinary man, so I don’t have to search far and wide for confidantes or devise schemes to get close to him… Here is the list I’ve compiled over the past few days. The improvements you mentioned last time have been made. If there are any further needs, please send word to my shop.”

The conversation had not gone well, and after finishing her words, Liu Mian Tang excused herself, stating she didn't want to delay Miss He’s time any further, and left the carriage.

Miss He was left alone in the carriage, feeling a mix of frustration and anger, yet she couldn't help but consider that Liu Mian Tang's words had some merit. Torn between conflicting emotions, she found herself deep in thought, unable to stay upset with Madam Cui, and instead focused on her own concerns.

As for Liu Mian Tang, after a busy day, she returned to the North Street residence, where everything was as usual.

Li Mama had purchased some tender venison from the hunter, thinly sliced and smoked over fruitwood to make delicious venison rolls. The soup was a rich, creamy beef and deer tendon broth, simmered to a milky white and topped with chopped green onions for extra flavor.

Since there was soup, Li Mama also baked large, eight-inch cakes of layered, flaky bread, perfect for pairing with the fresh broth.

During mealtime, the two little maids stood by the master's table holding books on their heads, a new idea Li Mama had come up with to ensure they stood straight. 

Seeing how pitiful the two maids looked as they struggled to keep their balance, Liu Mian Tang instructed them to remove the books and eat at a small table nearby first, and then resume their task afterward.

The two maids cautiously glanced at Li Mama's expression. Li Mama, in turn, looked at the prince.

In the end, it was Cui Xingzhou who spoke up: “This isn’t the inner palace. As long as the rules are followed properly, that’s enough.”

After Cui Xingzhou’s comment, Li Mama finally relaxed her stern expression, and the two little maids, visibly relieved, went to eat their meal.

During dinner, Liu Mian Tang remembered the strange story from earlier about Miss He’s suggestion that two sisters could share a husband. She casually mentioned it to her husband.

Cui Xingzhou initially listened with only half an ear, but as the story progressed, his expression grew increasingly serious, darkening with a hint of the same intensity as Li Mama’s demeanor.

While Liu Mian Tang focused on rolling the venison with the flatbread and enjoyed her meal with the side dishes, she wasn’t aware of her husband’s growing concern. She continued, “I was quite outspoken about it, but now I’m having second thoughts. If Miss He really does enter the Prince Regent's family, the He family will become a prominent clan in Zhenzhou. I previously pushed them away, but now they’re rising so quickly. Should I try to mend relations with the He family?”

“Ridiculous! How could Miss He behave in such a manner? Is it possible that the Third Miss of the He family is merely fantasizing or has lost her senses?” Cui Xingzhou put down his chopsticks, his tone reflecting his displeasure.

Liu Mian Tang, serving her husband a large piece of venison, said, “Is it really that she’s lost her senses? She seemed perfectly normal to me. I’m more puzzled about what this high-born lady is thinking. Even if she wants to secure her position as the main wife, this seems overly hasty, don’t you think?”

Cui Xingzhou furrowed his brows deeply. After some thought, he realized that his cousin’s intentions were probably influenced by a misunderstanding. It must be that his inquiry about Miss He had somehow reached his cousin’s ears, leading her to believe that he was looking for a concubine.

Liu Mian Tang continued, “But it’s rather pitiable for that prince. People say he was close with his cousin from childhood, and I thought they had a deep and affectionate relationship. It turns out it’s just a matter of political marriage.”

Cui Xingzhou, drawing out his words, said, “You’re not a part of the Prince's family, how could you know?”

Liu Mian Tang replied while drinking her soup, “She’s not even married yet, but she’s already eager to offer her husband a concubine. Isn’t that just like the sycophants and flatterers in high offices? I can’t see any genuine emotion; all I see is a man being flattered daily. Doesn’t it bother him at all?”

Before she could finish, Cui Xingzhou slammed his bowl onto the table, shattering it into pieces.

Liu Mian Tang, startled, looked up at her husband's pale face with confusion. She had thought their conversation was just casual talk between them, so she couldn’t understand why he suddenly got angry.

Cui Xingzhou, clearly agitated, slammed his bowl down, causing it to shatter, and his tone was harsh as he said, “The sound of your drinking is quite loud. Perhaps you should learn some manners from Li Mama!”

With that, he stormed out, pulling up his robes as he went.

Mo Ru, not even pausing to swallow a bite of the bread stuck in his throat, hurried after the prince.

Liu Mian Tang was left holding her bowl in stunned silence, her eyes wide with bewilderment as she turned to Li Mama for some explanation.

Li Mama, experienced in handling crises, let out a deep sigh and said to Liu Mian Tang, “Madam, the sound of your drinking... was indeed a bit loud.”

-----

Prince Huaiyang, frustrated by what he perceived as a slight from a naive woman, returned to the Zhenzhou Prince Regent Mansion in the middle of the night, his face cold and stern. His sudden arrival caught everyone in the manor off guard, and servants hurriedly went about preparing water, changing clothes, making the bed, and lighting incense.

However, the prince waved them all away and only retained the head steward.

The head steward, long accustomed to serving in the manor, was apprehensive at the sight of the prince’s uncharacteristic demeanor. He listened attentively as the prince methodically inquired about the manor's daily affairs. 

The prince’s questions were about routine matters, such as whether Miss Lian had hosted any recent tea parties and who had attended. 

The steward responded honestly, mentioning that Miss Lian had gotten along very well with the third miss of the He family, who had been invited to the tea parties.

To the steward's surprise, the prince’s expression grew increasingly impassive. Eventually, the prince began to tap his fingers on the table and continued, “Since my father’s time, you have been the steward of this manor. Do you know why?”

The head steward listened attentively, his face respectful, as Prince Huaiyang continued, “This is because both my father and I value you, knowing that you understand the importance of discretion. You have never passed on orders recklessly and are well aware of who truly holds the authority in this manor. You never associate with those who flatter and curry favor.”

The head steward broke into a cold sweat upon hearing these words. He knew the prince was referencing past events when many had mistreated the current Princess Consort and the prince. Fortunately, he had been warned by his father at the time and had refrained from participating in those injustices. As a result, he had survived the purges when the prince took charge and had been promoted to his current position.

Observing the steward's reaction, the prince was satisfied that he understood the implication. He continued, “Investigate who was present during our previous conversations and find out who might have spread information that shouldn’t have been shared.”

The steward, given this directive, quickly departed, his mind racing as he reflected on recent discussions. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he began to sweat again, understanding the full extent of the prince's concern.

The Prince's inquiries were so direct that there was no need for anyone to guess his intentions. Moreover, it was puzzling why Miss Lian would suddenly become close with a merchant woman who had no apparent connection to her. Was it possible that this information had somehow leaked from his own side, causing the Prince's displeasure?

Realizing this, the head steward couldn't sleep that night. He immediately began interrogating his servants. These servants, who were accustomed to watching each other and climbing the ranks, quickly provided all the details within a couple of hours.

The steward issued orders to detain any servant who had access to the inner court and had spread information. Throughout the night, the outer courtyard was filled with the sounds of beatings. To avoid disturbing the masters, those gossipy servants had their mouths gagged with rags and were thoroughly punished before being expelled from the estate.

The next morning, when the Prince went to pay his respects to his mother, the Old Princess Consort Chu learned about the commotion from the previous night through her servants.

"Steward Gao, what on earth caused such chaos in the courtyard last night? The servants are already in a bad state, and there's no need to interrogate them in the middle of the night. It makes it seem like our estate is being run by tyrannical officials!" Old Princess Consort Chu scolded the steward lightly while serving food to her son.

Steward Gao, who hadn't slept all night and was now being reprimanded early in the morning, was distressed but had to maintain a polite smile. He was contemplating how to respond when the Prince spoke up, "Although we're not an official court, there are still people who are reckless enough to probe into my affairs. While it might be acceptable for minor matters such as daily preferences, if someone with ulterior motives were to use my servants to gather sensitive information about military matters, it would lead to serious consequences. Thus, it's necessary for the steward to ensure the servants are discreet and follow the rules."

The Prince’s face had remained serious since the previous day. It only softened slightly when he looked at his mother. While saying this, he kept his gaze fixed on his bowl.

Seated at the table, Lian Binglan, his cousin, couldn’t help but glance up at him. Despite her composure, her face paled slightly after the quick glance. 

Old Princess Consort Chu, unaware of the underlying issues, was content to accept whatever her son said. She decided to drop the subject of the steward and instead started recounting amusing events from a recent garden outing.

Cui Xingzhou smiled as he listened to his mother. After finishing breakfast with her, he took the opportunity to leave the dining hall with his cousin, Lian Binglan.

His cousin, Lian Binglan, was indeed very well-behaved. Although some had seen her maid listening near the courtyard wall during the commotion the previous night, Lian Binglan remained entirely silent about it today, as if she were genuinely disinterested.

Cui Xingzhou had intended to admonish his cousin. As his future princess, her focus should be on proper matters. Instead, she had been preoccupied with making connections and trying to gain favor from potential concubines, which was completely inappropriate.

Unexpectedly, it was his cousin who spoke first. "I've been feeling troubled these days, so I went to Lingquan Town with my family to pick out some porcelain for the wedding. I ended up meeting some new acquaintances whom I felt a good rapport with, so I invited them to the residence. I hope they haven't disturbed you, Mother."

Prince Xingzhou replied with a curt "Mm," and she continued, "It wasn't my intention to cause any trouble. I thought it would be nice to host them, but I hope it hasn’t caused any inconvenience."

Prince Xingzhou's gaze remained steady. He looked back at her and said, "Mother enjoys lively gatherings, so hosting more events is fine. However, as a young lady in an official family, you should focus on making connections with like-minded individuals. There's no need to be overly familiar with those who aren't relevant."

Lian Binglan understood his admonition and became even more convinced that her cousin had some private connection with that Miss He. How else would this information have reached him so quickly?

"Cousin, Mother has always taught me to respect my husband. I only wanted to make sure you had someone to look after you while you were away at the military camp. I may have overstepped my bounds, so please forgive me if I have caused any trouble."

As Lian Binglan spoke, her eyes grew moist, and she appeared quite vulnerable, reminiscent of how Old Princess Consort Chu might have looked in her youth.

In the past, Cui Jiu would have been more understanding of his cousin’s intentions, feeling appreciative of her efforts.

However, having been derided by a common woman on North Street the previous day, he found it hard to feel any warmth towards his cousin’s “thoughtful” gestures. The sting of being mocked still lingered, and now, every word from his cousin sounded more like an irritation.

He thought to himself: If she truly cared for him, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths to arrange for concubines. He was no longer moved by her actions and felt a growing sense of disinterest.

Yet, he didn’t see himself as a saintly figure. Since he was already contemplating setting up a separate residence for Miss Liu, he couldn't harshly condemn his cousin for her misguided attempts to arrange concubines for him. With the punishment meted out to the servants, ensuring no one would pry into his preferences again, that was sufficient.

His cousin was clever enough; after today’s rebuke, she would likely reconsider her meddlesome efforts.

Thus, he replied indifferently, “You haven’t done anything wrong, so there’s nothing to forgive. Cousin needn’t worry about it.”

After they walked a few paces apart in silence, they parted ways.

Lian Binglan watched the Prince’s retreating figure, a pang of sorrow suddenly gripping her heart. She felt she had acted with sincerity, yet she couldn't understand why she had offended Miss He so much that her cousin was now being used to embarrass her.

When Lian Binglan's maid, Lian Xiang, brought Miss He's invitation, Lian Binglan snatched it from her hand and tore it into pieces. Coldly, she said, "Tell her I am ill and cannot see her!"

-----

After returning home and stopping his cousin from seeking to expand his harem, Prince Xingzhou made another trip to the military camp.

The imperial edict on reducing troops had been issued, mandating that all military forces and weaponry be reported to the court. Apart from necessary defense forces, all other troops were to be disbanded and sent back to civilian life, with no unauthorized military formations allowed.

The reduction of troops in Zhenzhou was imminent. Once the rebels in Yangshan were pacified, the elite soldiers he had meticulously trained over the years would no longer be needed.

However, Prince Xingzhou felt reassured and instructed his civil officials to proceed with the reports and weapon inventory in accordance with the court’s directives, demonstrating a cooperative stance with the imperial order.

After handling routine business at the military camp, Prince Xingzhou planned to return to the North Street residence for a midday rest.

However, upon arriving at the gate, he immediately sensed something was amiss.

The courtyard was as usual—dried chili peppers spread out on the walls, gourds under the grapevine being prepared for drying, and an overall atmosphere of a long, steady life. But there was a notable absence of the usual warm welcome from Miss Liu.

He looked up at Li Mama, about to inquire if Liu Mian Tang was out. At that moment, the maid Bi Cao emerged from the house and, seeing Cui Jiu, called out, “Madam, the master has returned!”

But despite her call, no one came out to greet him.

Prince Xingzhou stepped inside and found Liu Mian Tang practicing calligraphy by the window in the inner room.

Perhaps she was feeling lazy upon waking, as she hadn’t used any hair oil to smooth her hair into an updo. Instead, her loose hair was left cascading around her, with the back of her head tied up in a butterfly knot with a blue ribbon. Since she was indoors, she wore a short-sleeved, slim-waisted top and paired it with a wide-skirted homewear, draped with an outer garment over her shoulders. Her slender arm extended as she held a brush, slowly writing. There was an air of casual neglect about her appearance, as if she had just woken up and hadn’t bothered with her grooming.

However, her beauty was so striking that she never seemed too disheveled; rather, this kind of casualness only added to her charm and allure.

Cui Xingzhou admired the elegant sight of the woman seated sideways for a while before walking over to her.

Mian Tang was using a thin tracing paper to copy large characters. However, the copybook she was using was not the “Li Quan Ming” that Cui Xingzhou had personally written some days ago, but rather a common book bought from a calligraphy and painting shop.

Cui Xingzhou looked down for a moment, noticing that although the writing was a bit shaky, it was somewhat recognizable. He then spoke, offering his praise: “It’s well done, showing some improvement…”

On usual days, if he praised her in such a manner, Miss Liu would have lifted her head, raised her brows in surprise, and said with delight, “Husband, do you really mean it?”

But today, Liu Mian Tang was like a statue carved from ice and frost, not even glancing at Cui Xingzhou.

Cui Xingzhou noticed the difference right away. After standing there for a moment, seeing that she was unresponsive, he furrowed his brow and asked, “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you speaking?”

He was accustomed to speaking and acting according to his own whims. In the past, whenever he lost his temper in the Prince's residence, people would always flatter and appease him once his anger subsided. Who would dare show him a sour face?

Having been out all day, Cui Xingzhou had long forgotten the incident where he had smashed a bowl in the courtyard on the northern street.

However, for Mian Tang, not only had he smashed a bowl, but he had also shown disdain for her soup and stayed out all night. This was simply too much for her to bear; it felt like a reason to end their marriage!

So, after Cui Xingzhou left, she closed the door and silently shed a few tears. She felt that her husband’s anger must have been irrational; he clearly couldn’t forgive her past interactions with Young Master Zi Yu.

If it were anything else, she could have tried to seek his forgiveness. But when it came to a grievance that even the man himself couldn't resolve, she felt powerless. It was better to face it calmly to avoid any lingering bitterness in their future interactions.

So, if her husband, Cui Xingzhou, cooled down and returned as if nothing had happened, she had no desire to witness more of his bowl-smashing and scolding in the future. She chose to ignore him and focus on her own affairs.

However, Prince Huaiyang couldn't tolerate this. After standing silently behind Mian Tang for a while, his expression darkened, and he swept out with a flick of his sleeve.

At that moment, Mama Li was waiting at the door. Seeing the prince emerge with a displeased look, she quickly composed herself, ready to receive his instructions.

“What’s wrong with her?” Cui Xingzhou asked with a frown.

Mama Li, understanding the prince's tendency to forget, replied cautiously, “Since you left, the madam seems to have been frightened by your anger. She cried for a while and has been quite reticent ever since.”

Cui Xingzhou paused, then recalled his earlier behavior. Reflecting on it now, he realized that reprimanding Mian Tang in front of the servants and criticizing her eating habits must have been quite hard for any woman to endure.

She was, after all, the visible mistress of the North Street residence, so her momentary resentment and sulkiness were somewhat understandable. Mama Li’s observation that her eyes were a bit red from crying made sense now.

Cui Xingzhou furrowed his brow. He had originally intended to return to the military camp, but as he reached the entrance of the residence, he paused and decided to turn back inside.

He didn’t plan to comfort her, as he had never had to console a woman apart from his mother. However, he couldn’t tolerate her silence. Moreover, with the matter of the Yangshan estate unresolved, he needed her—finding a sufficient reason, Cui Xingzhou's steps back into the room were noticeably lighter.

Yet, how to comfort Mian Tang proved quite challenging. He lifted the curtain and re-entered the room, and after a moment's thought, he took her delicate wrist and pulled her into his embrace, softly asking, “Have you finished crying?”

Mian Tang remained silent, only pressing her pink lips together, looking as enticing as flower petals after rain.

Cui Xingzhou gazed down at her. Despite initially feeling at a loss for words, he found himself speaking: “I was in a bad mood at the time, but it wasn’t your fault. Did I scare you?”

Mian Tang then looked up at him with her large eyes and said, “You have always been gentle and polite, never raising your voice at me. Yesterday, I felt like you were angry with me. I didn’t know what I did wrong or how to fix it. When you didn’t come home for the night, I couldn’t sleep, worrying whether you were warm and comfortable outside. So…”

Mian Tang paused and then, with concern, added, “If you ever find me displeasing again, you can stay at home while I go out. That way, I won’t have to worry about you being comfortable and will have one less thing to worry about…”

Cui Xingzhou found her suggestion amusing. Where could a lone, helpless woman like her go? To an inn?

But to his surprise, Liu Mian Tang continued earnestly, “I still have some money left from my dowry, so I was thinking of buying a small courtyard in the next few days—just a simple and narrow house where I can stay. If you feel that I’m unwelcome, I’ll move there… It would also save you from breaking bowls. Although our family sells porcelain, with this kind of behavior, we’d run out of stock in the shop…”

Cui Xingzhou felt somewhat uncomfortable upon hearing this.

This woman had too many ideas! He had only broken a bowl, and she was already thinking about buying a house and leaving. With such a temperament, who could have a long-term relationship with her?

But recalling her past of being abducted to the mountains and not having the experience of being a proper wife, he felt he needed to be more patient and teach her. So, Cui Xingzhou furrowed his brow and said, “In the world, which couple doesn’t argue? Just look at the households in the North Street residence—who lives in perfect harmony? If everyone acted like you, buying a house every time there was a quarrel, there wouldn’t be enough houses to sell in Lingquan Town, and the land prices would rise even higher.”

He had not been familiar with the ways of the world before, and didn’t fully understand marital dynamics. But after spending some time in North Street and witnessing the chaos in various households, he had seen a bit of how ordinary couples lived. Compared to those men, he considered himself much better.

Breaking a bowl was not such a big deal!

Mian Tang listened to his words and found them reasonable. She had initially believed that her own household would be free from such mundane quarrels, only to realize that wasn’t the case. As she thought about this, her eyes reddened again, and she said, “In other households, women argue with conviction and are naturally able to speak their minds. But in front of you, my arguments always seem to fall short. How can I argue freely?”

Cui Xingzhou raised an eyebrow and said, “Nonsense! Do you think buying a house will make it easier to argue?”

Mian Tang thought seriously for a moment and replied, “It wouldn’t make arguing easier, but it would allow us to each step back and avoid having to compromise…”

Seeing her earnest and sincere expression, Cui Xingzhou felt a sudden urge to break another bowl. Annoyed, he said, “If you avoid discussing local officials like He Zhen in the future, I won’t break bowls and scold you, and you won’t need to use your dowry to buy a house!”

Mian Tang had spent the whole night trying to figure out why her husband was angry, and she never imagined that the root cause was her criticism of Prince Huaiyang. She widened her eyes in shock and looked at Cui Jiu, confused.

Cui Xingzhou continued his pompous talk, “Prince Huaiyang pays close attention to public opinion and has informants everywhere. If you speak so loudly and recklessly about local officials, and if it reaches the ears of the officials, wouldn’t that be uncomfortable for you?”

Hearing this, Mian Tang suddenly understood why her usually gentle husband had been so angry that day.

Her father and brother had been implicated in a bribery case involving political factions. Besides their own greed and faults, they were also betrayed and reported by those around them. She had heard that her husband had spent a considerable amount of money and effort to help her family and almost got involved himself, making it difficult for him to intervene further.

Having been bitten by a snake once, one is afraid of ropes for ten years. Her husband had once worried and struggled on her behalf, negotiating with corrupt officials. Yet, she had spoken carelessly and criticized the local officials in her own home. She certainly deserved to be scolded!

Realizing her mistake, Mian Tang immediately softened her demeanor and regretted her earlier neglect of properly welcoming her husband.

She bit her lip, disregarding her pretense of writing, and hurried behind the screen to fetch water and a cloth to warm his face, as well as change his clothes.

Cui Xingzhou hadn’t expected that she would be so easily appeased by a bit of official authority. Seeing her immediately stop being difficult, he accepted the cloth, wiped his face, and allowed her to help him change. After changing into comfortable shoes and socks, he felt much more relaxed.

He was busy with military affairs, and if he had to constantly appease her every time he came to North Street, it would be quite intolerable. His initial intention to keep her had been out of rare compassion, fearing that she might fall back into the hands of the Yangshan bandits, so he protected her.

He only hoped that this little wife would always be understanding and, when she knew the full truth in the future, would remember his act of saving her and the care he had shown.

Mian Tang also came to understand that marriage, like lips and teeth, involves occasional friction. As long as her husband wasn’t breaking bowls and cursing out of disdain for her, other issues could be resolved through communication.

However, her husband still seemed somewhat unsettled. He glanced at the table and asked why she wasn’t using the calligraphy paper he had written for her.

Mian Tang couldn’t admit that she had been upset earlier and feared using his paper would diminish her resolve. So, she sat close to Cui Xingzhou, pretending to measure his shoulder width, and said, “The paper you wrote with so much effort is so precious! I’m reluctant to use it right away. I thought I’d practice with some paper bought from the shop, and once my calligraphy improves, I’ll copy your beautiful characters.”

Cui Xingzhou found her amusing. Complaints about others were often coupled with flattery, but her flattery was particularly overt.

He listened absentmindedly but was distracted by her hand moving on his shoulder. He reached out, took her delicate hand, and pulled her into his embrace. Holding her wrist, he asked softly, “After writing for so long, does your wrist hurt?”

Mian Tang, nestled close to him and looking at his ink-dark eyebrows and eyes, felt her face flush and her heart race. She obediently snuggled into his embrace and said, “It’s a bit sore…”

Cui Xingzhou looked at her shy, blushing face and suddenly felt a pang of irritation. He was troubled by the unresolved issues with the Yangshan bandits and wished for their conclusion. Once that was settled, he hoped to be open with his little wife and share more of their lives together…

His thoughts became somewhat vague and unfocused. Meanwhile, Mian Tang was still concerned about another matter and sniffled, asking, “Husband, did I really make a loud noise while drinking soup?”

Cui Xingzhou massaged her wrist to relieve the pain and, feeling the need to reciprocate with flattery, praised her dining etiquette.

For a moment, the conflicts in the North Street residence seemed to be resolved, turning into a scene of warmth and affection.

Outside, Li Mama held her breath, waiting for the commotion from inside the room. To her surprise, the prince, who had been angered by the unruly wife, did not leave as expected. Instead, after some heated exchanges, they had quieted down.

When they finally emerged, it was nearly time for dinner. The prince was seen holding Mian Tang’s hand as they left the room. Mian Tang gazed at him with affectionate eyes, showing no signs of anger.

It was unclear how the prince had managed to pacify her, but the scene certainly suggested a "quarrel at the head of the bed, and reconciliation at the foot" scenario.

Li Mama shook her head and waved her spatula vigorously. She realized she had probably overthought things. The relationship between Miss Liu and the prince was hardly an ideal match. She decided that tomorrow, she would add another volume of scriptures to her study to accumulate merit and, while she was at it, pray for Miss Liu’s blessings as well.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

•••

Prev  :  TOC :  Next

https://ko-fi.com/flamingobeestranslations

https://twitter.com/FlamingoBee2009

Thank You For Reading <3