Chapter Sixty: A Proposal Delivered in Person

Winter Warm led Consort Liu and Luo Shuqing to the side hall of the Zhiyu Pavilion. The maids served tea and pastries. Not to mention Consort Liu, even Luo Shuqing was astonished—how could the Princess of the Warrior King have them wait in a side hall... Consort Liu’s expression darkened, and Luo Shuqing looked pale as a ghost...

Ye Eleven approached the Zhiyu Pavilion with Aunt Weishao, Lu Yanran, and Lin Rui, the three of them together. Feng Jinye, pushing Weishao Qianyu, happened to run into them...

Weishao Qianyu saw the situation at a glance; they had come together. No wonder Ye Eleven hadn’t simply knocked them out and carried them back—he’d actually been considerate. Likely, having found a girl he liked, his heart had softened...

Feng Jinye noticed Weishao Qianyu repeatedly glancing at Ye Eleven and cleared his throat twice. Weishao Qianyu turned to look at Feng Jinye, while Ye Eleven shot his lord a look that all but wished him to vanish on the spot. In a flash, a shadow disappeared into thin air...

Hearing Feng Jinye’s cough, Lin Rui ran over at once, intending to throw himself into Weishao Qianyu’s arms, but just as he reached her feet, Feng Jinye grabbed the front of his clothes and lifted him up in one swift motion...

Lin Rui stared at Feng Jinye as if he were a child-eating monster, mouth agape and on the verge of tears. Feng Jinye frowned and said, “Wait a moment!”

Turning, Feng Jinye placed Lin Rui on a nearby tree: “Go on, cry, but don’t you dare fall down!”

All the hidden guards immediately understood: they must not let the little rascal fall...

Returning, Feng Jinye found Weishao Qianyu staring at him in horror—but he paid no mind to everyone’s stunned gaze.

“If he’s going to cry, and since I know you dislike noise...” Feng Jinye explained awkwardly.

Weishao Qianyu now felt not only startled but also a touch of concern...

“What’s happening outside?” Consort Liu raised her head to look out the window and asked.

“Your Ladyship, the second young lady of the Duke’s household has arrived with the young master. The young master was about to cry, so our prince, fearing it would disturb the princess, threw him onto a tree...” Winter Warm answered respectfully.

Luo Shuqing’s hand trembled as she held her teacup, her voice quavering: “Threw... up a tree?”

Luo Shuqing had a two-year-old son herself and wondered if the Warrior Prince was trying to intimidate her.

Consort Liu was indifferent to children and asked, “Is your princess coming to see me?”

Hearing Consort Liu, Weishao Qianyu said to Lu Yanran, “Push me inside!”

Lu Yanran clicked her tongue, having just heard Liu Xiangya’s voice herself, teeth grinding in frustration: “Why did you ask me to come?”

Weishao Qianyu sighed in exasperation, “To stand guard at the door—to ward off little imps!”

“She’s a consort!” Lu Yanran protested indignantly.

Weishao Qianyu smiled faintly. “Nothing but a concubine.”

She looked down at her bright red dress—if you came to vex me, I’d vex you right back!

“Keep an eye on Rui’er. Is he three, or are you three?” Weishao Qianyu shot Feng Jinye a sidelong glance. Feng Jinye was instantly lost for words...

Lu Yanran pushed Weishao Qianyu in, with Aunt Weishao following behind as they entered the side hall...

Meanwhile, the child perched on the tree was not crying at all; instead, he gazed at Feng Jinye in unabashed admiration, his eyes practically shining...

Feng Jinye watched until Weishao Qianyu’s figure disappeared from sight, then selected a comfortable tree, moved in a flash, and climbed up with ease...

Leaning against the trunk, he finally let out a long breath, his tense body relaxing at last. Closing his eyes, Weishao Qianyu’s image floated before him, and Feng Jinye’s heart seemed about to leap from his chest...

He remembered the moment he caught sight of her, how a surge of longing broke free inside him—like a flood overwhelming a long-standing dam...

What followed was the wild joy of regaining what he’d thought lost forever...

Feng Jinye wanted to laugh—wantonly, exuberantly—but tried to restrain himself, though he couldn’t keep the corners of his mouth from rising...

Consort Liu watched as Lu Yanran pushed Weishao Qianyu into the side hall. Her gaze swept over them, and she sneered inwardly: Hah, sitting in a wheelchair—let her be crippled for good!

Though Lu Yanran was clearly the one pushing Weishao Qianyu, the princess deliberately emphasized “Yanran” as she said, “Yanran, push this princess over.”

The mere sound of Lu Yanran’s name made Consort Liu shudder. Of all people in the world, she least wished to see Lu Yanran...

In her youth, Liu Xiangya was the most dazzling legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s estate, entering the palace and being named consort soon after her coming-of-age. Her glory was unmatched.

But three years ago, her father Liu, the Prime Minister, was exposed as a spy from the Western Yan Kingdom, the estate was confiscated, and her entire family imprisoned. Her brilliant life was thus brought to a ruinous end...

Marrying into the royal family spared her, but she lived each day under scorn and derision, no longer protected inside or outside the palace. Even the lowest servants mocked her behind her back, questioning how she could still show her face.

Years passed, and the scandal faded, but today, seeing Lu Yanran again, all those old humiliations surged back into Liu Xiangya’s heart...

Consort Liu glanced at Lu Yanran with deep resentment...

Lu Yanran’s very existence was a constant reminder to Liu Xiangya that she belonged in the dirt.

The feud between the Lu and Liu families was longer than a bolt of cloth, yet it was, in truth, settled; Weishao Qianyu had no reason to torment a woman so alone and helpless...

But if others wrong me, I must repay them tenfold!

Consort Liu did her best to ignore Lu Yanran’s presence and looked directly at Weishao Qianyu as she approached, saying bluntly, “So the Princess of the Warrior King has finally arrived. I’ve been kept waiting.”

“What did the Empress Dowager send over?” Weishao Qianyu ignored Liu Xiangya completely, asking instead.

Consort Liu was momentarily taken aback, not expecting Weishao Qianyu to skip all greetings and formalities, and to cut straight to business...

Another one who can’t play the game. The princess and the consort held equal rank, and any bowing in the palace was only for the royal family’s sake; in private, it was completely unnecessary!

To Weishao Qianyu, there was no need to maintain any relationship that required extra effort. Liu Xiangya had brought Luo Shuqing to vex her; in return, she’d brought Lu Yanran to vex Liu Xiangya. There was no point in dragging this out...

Consort Liu instructed her maid to fetch the medicinal herbs the Empress Dowager had sent...

“These on the left are for the Princess of the Warrior King. Those on the right, the Empress Dowager prepared for Prince Yun!” Luo Shuqing spoke up at just the right moment, seeing that neither Weishao Qianyu nor Consort Liu was planning to speak.

Reminded by Luo Shuqing, Liu Xiangya passed along the Empress Dowager’s message: “Winter is nearly over, but it seems Prince Yun may not survive another. If the princess heeds the Empress Dowager’s words, perhaps she can save his life.”

Weishao Qianyu froze; the Empress Dowager was using Yun Ming to threaten her. Did she already have the antidote?

Seeing Weishao Qianyu’s face change, Consort Liu felt a surge of satisfaction. “I merely came to chat with the princess. Why be so distant?”

Weishao Qianyu laughed. “You’re right. My prince grew up alongside His Majesty—they’re like family. Consort, don’t hide it from me: how did your family go about abducting children?”

Consort Liu’s face turned livid. Weishao Qianyu, however, wasn’t finished: “You’re childless, but don’t force it. Best not to go snatching other people’s children from the streets!”

Lu Yanran, standing at Weishao Qianyu’s side, was stunned: You really dare to say that!

After Weishao Qianyu finished, the hall fell into a heavy silence. Weishao Qianyu raised her hand, and Winter Warm promptly brought her a cup of tea—a clear signal that the conversation was over and the guests should take their leave...

She took a sip; it was the finest Biluochun. What a waste!

Consort Liu clutched her handkerchief so tightly her face flushed red with anger, but she could not retort.

About to storm out, Luo Shuqing stepped in with a smile to smooth things over. “The princess certainly has a way with words...”

Weishao Qianyu set her teacup down. Even after being dismissed, they still lingered—such thick skin.

Her gaze settled on Luo Shuqing, and Weishao Qianyu couldn’t help but think of Luo Yanqing. Was Luo Shuqing, like her, fond of scheming?

She seemed more composed than Luo Yanqing; at least, Weishao Qianyu detected no trace of resentment on her face...

Open conflict was preferable—what Weishao Qianyu despised most was veiled malice...

Luo Shuqing was the wife of the commander of the imperial guards, the eldest legitimate daughter-in-law of the Qu family. Weishao Qianyu considered: perhaps the commander was after military authority, perhaps Luo Shuqing was here for the military tally, or perhaps to ally with the Warrior King’s household—or even to avenge Luo Yanqing?

Luo Shuqing, sensing Weishao Qianyu’s thoughtful gaze, remained unflustered and went on, “Our Dingyuan Marquisate and the Warrior King’s household truly are fated. Five years ago, my sister Yanqing nearly married into the Warrior King’s family. Alas, it was not meant to be...”

She sighed.

Weishao Qianyu frowned. Luo Yanqing was tied to Feng Jinye? There was such a backstory?

Why did Luo Yanqing haunt her so?

Weishao Qianyu couldn’t figure out Luo Shuqing’s motivation—was she implying that the position of princess was one the Luo family had refused? Or was she trying to sow discord between her and Feng Jinye?

But Luo Yanqing was already dead—killed by Feng Jinye himself. Using her as a wedge seemed pointless.

Still, Weishao Qianyu was curious about the connection between Luo Yanqing and Feng Jinye, but he had lost his memory...

After a long pause, unable to discern Luo Shuqing’s purpose, Weishao Qianyu followed her lead and replied, “I’ve never heard of such a matter, Madam Qu.”

Luo Shuqing chuckled. “It’s all in the past. Yanqing was headstrong; when she heard the prince would marry her, she refused. Then the heir of the Huangfu family came with a proposal, and so the match with the Warrior King’s family was dropped...”

The more Weishao Qianyu listened, the clearer it became—Luo Shuqing was implying that the position of princess was one the Luo family had declined!

“I see. Then on behalf of my prince, I must thank your family for not marrying her to us,” Weishao Qianyu replied coolly.

“The girls of the Luo family have had many marriage proposals—the Warrior Prince, the Heir of Huangfu, Prince Yun. Madam Qu, how many engagements did you have before your own wedding?” Weishao Qianyu asked offhandedly.

Luo Shuqing was unconcerned and laughed. “I’ve always liked your candidness, Princess. There’s nothing to hide. Before I married, I was indeed choosy—picked and picked again!”

“Today, I’m here at the Warrior King’s residence to discuss a marriage proposal!” Luo Shuqing finally revealed her true purpose...

A proposal?

Weishao Qianyu was taken aback. What marriage was there to discuss—did she mean to arrange a concubine for Feng Jinye?

Was Luo Shuqing looking to join Luo Yanqing in the afterlife?

Weishao Qianyu’s demeanor turned forceful as she stared at Luo Shuqing. “This house does not welcome matchmakers. The door is there—see yourself out!”

“Don’t be hasty, Princess. It’s for my husband’s younger brother, who’s taken a liking to your maid, Xuechun. I’m here to see if you’d consider it!”

“If you agree, our Qu family will do everything properly—three letters and six rites, an open and honorable marriage. We’ll welcome Xuechun as a true wife!”

Both Weishao Qianyu and Winter Warm were incredulous—Ye Eleven had only just awakened to love, and now he already had a rival?

The Qu family was a notable clan, and Luo Shuqing’s brother-in-law was their legitimate second son. If Xuechun married him, it would be a most advantageous match.

But Xuechun had past grievances with the Luo family—Luo Shuqing was unlikely to treat her kindly...

Marriage was a significant matter. Weishao Qianyu could not make the decision alone; it was ultimately up to Xuechun...