Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 24

Their gazes locked, staring into each other’s eyes.  

For a moment, time seemed to stand still.  

Caught completely off guard, a snow-white expanse filled Jiang Libai’s vision… It seemed Gu Yun had just stepped out of the bath, his fair and tender skin glistening with a faint pink hue, shining seductively under the candlelight.  

This sight made Jiang Libai’s heart race uncontrollably. Her gaze involuntarily lowered, but when her eyes fell upon a very obvious curve, she inhaled sharply.  

Th-that… what was that?  

Jiang Libai doubted her eyes. She blinked hard and then looked again carefully.  

…Although Gu Yun had covered himself with one hand, that softness was still unmistakable.  

In an instant, Jiang Libai felt her mind short-circuit. Why did she see the same contours on Gu Yun as on herself?!  

“…Gu… Gu Yun???”   

The face was Gu Yun’s, but why did the body appear to be that of a woman?! Jiang Libai was stunned, standing frozen in disbelief.  

Gu Yun’s ears turned a subtle shade of red. “…It’s me.”  

This was the first time anyone had seen her body uncovered. Although… although the Seventh Princess was now her wife, and they even had a child together, being stared at so directly still made Gu Yun’s heart fill with embarrassment.  

The familiar, gentle voice reached Jiang Libai’s ears, but she could only cover her mouth in disbelief, swallowing the scream that nearly escaped.  

“You… you…” She stammered, unable to string together a coherent sentence. Even now, she wondered if she was hallucinating—seeing Gu Yun’s chest bearing the softness of a woman.  

Gu Yun held one hand over her chest and the other over her lower body, her face burning with embarrassment. “Princess… how long do you intend to look?”  

“Ah—” With her consciousness returning, Jiang Libai could no longer suppress the terror within her. She let out a piercing scream, as if trying to shatter the shocking “illusion” before her with sheer volume.  

Gu Yun took a deep breath, unable to care about modesty anymore. She quickly wrapped her inner garment around her waist, covered herself tightly, then strode over, grabbing the Seventh Princess’s wrist and pinning her against the door. With her other hand, she covered Jiang Libai’s mouth.  

“…Princess, if you continue shouting, you’ll draw others here.”  

Her breath carried the fresh scent of the bath, brushing against Jiang Libai’s face, making the girl’s cheeks flush even more.  

Jiang Libai looked at the woman before her—delicate, white skin, rosy lips, long fluttering lashes… In Gu Yun’s almond-shaped eyes, she saw her own startled reflection. The sight sent ripples through her heart.  

“You… you’re a woman?!” At last, Jiang Libai pieced together the truth. Despite Gu Yun’s youthful, handsome demeanor, the softness of her features and fair skin left no doubt—this was a woman’s body.  

“…Yes.” Gu Yun saw that Jiang Libai’s voice had softened, so she let go of her hand.  

Hearing Gu Yun’s admission, Jiang Libai’s mind was in turmoil. There was only one thought circling in her head—  

Gu Yun… Gu Yun was actually a woman!  

Before long, a knock sounded on the door, drawn by Jiang Libai’s earlier scream. “Princess, is everything all right?”  

The strange tension shattered. Jiang Libai blushed furiously and tried to push Gu Yun away. “It’s nothing. You may leave.”  

But she forgot that Gu Yun still hadn’t dressed fully. Her hand accidentally landed on Gu Yun’s chest. The warmth under her palm amplified in her mind. She instinctively looked down, then hastily withdrew her hand.  

“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to…” Jiang Libai was still reeling from shock. Her mind felt like a tangled mess, unable to function properly.  

She dared not look down again, so she raised her eyes to Gu Yun’s face instead.  

For a moment, she thought she saw a complicated mix of emotions in Gu Yun’s gaze—resignation, restraint, and perhaps… a hint of shyness?  

The two stood so close their breaths intertwined. Gu Yun suppressed the heat rising within her and gently placed her hand over Jiang Libai’s eyes. Her low, raspy voice carried a hint of plea. “Princess, don’t look anymore.”  

When Jiang Libai had accidentally touched her, a strange sensation had coursed through Gu Yun, nearly causing her to lose composure. Now, even a single glance from the princess felt like it could set her body aflame.  

Jiang Libai quickly shut her eyes. “I… I won’t look anymore. Please… just get dressed.”  

The princess’s long, delicate lashes trembled lightly against Gu Yun’s palm, sending a subtle tingling sensation down her spine. Gu Yun exhaled deeply, slowly withdrawing her hand. Seeing Jiang Libai’s tightly shut eyes, she let out a small cough. “I’ll go get dressed.”  

As soft footsteps moved away, Jiang Libai pressed a hand to her wildly thumping heart. She squinted open her eyes just slightly.  

Through the gap, she saw Gu Yun’s slender back, pale skin, and long, graceful legs. The thin inner garment wrapped snugly around her slim waist, accentuating its delicate curve.  

At that moment, Jiang Libai finally accepted the truth.  

Gu Yun was, undeniably, a woman.  

A mix of emotions churned within her. She turned away, no longer daring to look at the figure that made her face burn and her heart race.  

By the time Gu Yun had fully dressed, confirming every detail to ensure nothing was amiss, she stepped toward Jiang Libai again.  

The princess leaned against the door, her whole demeanor radiating dejection.  

Gu Yun gently patted her shoulder. “Princess.”  

Jiang Libai turned to look at her. Gu Yun’s long hair was loose, her features soft and familiar. But when Jiang Libai’s eyes flicked downward, she noticed the telltale rise and fall was now concealed, just as before.  

“Are you wearing a chest binder?” Jiang Libai asked, recalling descriptions she’d read about women disguising themselves as men in stories.  

Gu Yun hadn’t expected such a blunt question. Though Jiang Libai didn’t seem repulsed, the straightforwardness of her inquiry still made Gu Yun’s face flush. “…Yes.”  

Jiang Libai stared at her for a long moment, a sense of loss flickering in her chest. She found herself mourning the faint, unspoken feelings she once had for Gu Yun.  

 

Now that Gu Yun was revealed to be a woman, those feelings could no longer exist. Before, she’d suspected Gu Yun harbored some special affection for her, which had made her defensive and guarded. But now… it seemed she had been overthinking it all along.  

Between two women… how could such feelings arise?  

Of course, there were exceptions—like Liu Qin and her female tutor. But such cases were rare, and such relationships would never be accepted by the world.  

“Gu Yun,” she called softly, her tone tinged with resignation. “Let’s talk, shall we?”  

Gu Yun also wanted to have a proper conversation with Jiang Libai. “Alright.”  

The humid air in the room offered no comfort, and there were no seats available. Jiang Libai pointed to Gu Yun’s damp hair. “Dry your hair and tie it up first. We can talk somewhere else.” When Gu Yun had her hair tied, she looked more boyish, concealing her feminine features.  

Gu Yun nodded, understanding.  

—

The two finished tidying up and stepped out of the side room. By then, the sky had completely darkened.

There was no moon in the sky tonight; the surroundings were dim and heavy, illuminated only by the faint light of a lantern.

Watching the Seventh Princess walk toward the main house, Gu Yun furrowed her brows tightly and called out, “Princess.”

Jiang Libai stopped in her tracks. “What is it?”

Gu Yun couldn’t forget the scene earlier that evening when a woman had playfully thrown herself into her arms. The memory made her heart feel a bit repulsed.

“That woman… she’s been to my room,” she said, trying to sound as tactful as possible. “Her scent is still there. I don’t like it.”

This was the first time Jiang Libai had seen Gu Yun appear slightly out of sorts. She was surprised and found it somewhat amusing. Pressing her lips together, she didn’t object. “Then shall we go to your study?”

“Alright.”

Upon entering Gu Yun’s study, the servants who had followed were dismissed, leaving Jiang Libai and Gu Yun alone at the table.

Gu Yun poured a cup of warm water and placed it in front of the Seventh Princess before pouring one for herself. She took a light sip.

Jiang Libai froze momentarily as she watched her movements. Then, silently, she picked up the warm water Gu Yun had poured for her, taking a small sip. Warmth spread throughout her body.

She thought to herself, *Gu Yun truly is a remarkable person, always looking out for me.* In the past, she had instinctively overlooked these gestures and even viewed Gu Yun’s actions with suspicion.

However, no matter what, she still needed to clarify Gu Yun’s true identity.

Setting down her cup, she gazed at Gu Yun’s elegant and handsome face and asked, “Are you really the legitimate crown prince of Jin Kingdom?” Gu Yun was a woman, so how could she possibly be a crown prince? Could it be that the Emperor of Jin had randomly sent someone to Yu Kingdom as a hostage? Or perhaps the real crown prince had been swapped on the way?

Faced with the question, Gu Yun pondered for a moment and decided to tell the truth. While admitting that she wasn’t the legitimate crown prince could cause trouble for Jin Kingdom, Gu Yun didn’t want to keep secrets from Jiang Libai. Besides, based on Jiang Libai’s personality, she might not report this to the Emperor of Yu.

“I am a prince of Jin Kingdom, but not the legitimate crown prince.”

She explained further: “After I was born, my mother consort, seeking favor, announced to the world that I was a prince. Thus, only my mother consort and my wet nurse know my true gender. Now, Princess, you know as well.”

For some reason, Jiang Libai felt a subtle… joy when Gu Yun said that last part.

She shook her head, dismissing the odd feeling, and asked, “And then?”

Gu Yun continued, “Later, when the two countries went to war and we were defeated, Jin Kingdom had to send the legitimate crown prince to your kingdom as a hostage. However, my father doted on the legitimate prince and couldn’t bear to send him to suffer. So, he swapped him with me, as I was of a similar age.”

Jiang Libai frowned, her expression tinged with sympathy. “I remember you were only a child then…” At such a young age, suffering alone in a foreign land—it was hard to imagine how Gu Yun had endured it.

Though the original person had endured much hardship, those memories didn’t belong to Gu Yun. She couldn’t empathize fully. Besides, she was content with her current situation. With the princess by her side and a child connecting them by blood, she already had a lot.

“Now that I have the princess, my life is wonderful.”

These words brought a flush to Jiang Libai’s cheeks.

If she didn’t already know Gu Yun was a woman, she might have thought, as she had before, that Gu Yun harbored feelings for her.

“Still,” Gu Yun said, her tone serious, “this is a matter of great importance. I hope you won’t tell anyone.” While Gu Yun wasn’t overly concerned about others, she didn’t want to cause a war between Jin and Yu because of this secret. After all, in any conflict, it was the innocent civilians who suffered most.

Jiang Libai, as a princess of Yu Kingdom, was expected to report such matters to her father. 

But she didn’t want to.

“Don’t worry. I won’t say a word about this,” she promised.

In fact, Gu Yun’s identity as a woman was actually advantageous to her. It meant she could play the role of a loving couple with Gu Yun without any mental burden.

As she studied Gu Yun carefully, Jiang Libai thought this might be the perfect time to reveal her own secret.

Her mother consort had once suggested threatening or persuading Gu Yun to accept the child, but Jiang Libai had hesitated because she was starting to have feelings for Gu Yun.

But things were different now. Given Gu Yun’s need to maintain her male identity, she might accept the news of the pregnancy more easily, right?

The room fell silent again.

Noticing Jiang Libai’s hesitation, Gu Yun leaned forward slightly and asked, “Princess, is there something you’d like to say?”

Her soft expression and calm demeanor eased Jiang Libai’s nerves.

“Gu Yun, there’s something…”

Gu Yun tilted her head. “Hmm?”

Now or never, Jiang Libai thought. She bit her lip, closed her eyes, and quickly confessed, “I’m actually nearly two months pregnant. Marrying you was just to provide a legitimate status for my child. I didn’t tell you before because I was afraid you wouldn’t accept it. But now, I don’t want to keep it from you any longer…”

The room fell silent.

Jiang Libai’s heart raced as she slowly opened her eyes. Gu Yun seemed deep in thought, not showing any sign of disgust. Jiang Libai felt a flicker of hope and hurriedly added, “Think of it as… a secret exchange, okay? I’ll keep your secret, and you help me with this. Is that alright?”

For a moment, Gu Yun didn’t know what to say.

Should she tell the princess that she already knew about the pregnancy and was, in fact, the other parent? That she had been the one with Jiang Libai that night?

Gu Yun decided against it. If she told the truth now, Jiang Libai might react with disbelief—or worse, panic. After all, concepts like sex changes and gender fluidity from her futuristic life would seem like sheer fantasy in this ancient world.

Jiang Libai, anxious from the silence, moved closer and grabbed Gu Yun’s hand. “Say something! If you refuse, then… then I’ll…”

But even as she said it, she realized she had no leverage. She couldn’t bring herself to reveal Gu Yun’s secret to her father.

Seeing the princess revert to her usual haughty demeanor, Gu Yun chuckled softly. Her gentle laugh calmed Jiang Libai’s nerves.

“Alright,” Gu Yun finally said. She glanced at Jiang Libai’s stomach and added softly, “This is our child.”

Hearing this, Jiang Libai felt relieved and even happy. She squeezed Gu Yun’s hand and said, “Good. Then from now on, you’ll be the child’s aunt.”

Gu Yun coughed lightly. An aunt? Well, an aunt could also be considered a mother, right?

Now that the weight in her heart was lifted, Jiang Libai felt much lighter.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer either. If you ever meet a man you like, I’ll support you and make sure you have a good future together,” she promised sincerely.

But her words made Gu Yun stiffen. She clasped the princess’s hand tightly. “Princess, I won’t fall for a man.”

Jiang Libai didn’t notice the movement, puzzled by her response. “Why not? Don’t you want a normal life in the future?”

Gu Yun took a deep breath. “I won’t fall for anyone. Be it man or woman.”

As an alpha from a futuristic era, falling for a man was impossible. Moreover, now that she had a family, she had no intention of entangling herself with anyone else.

But her words made Jiang Libai narrow her eyes, scrutinizing her closely.

Suppressing a surge of joy she couldn’t quite understand, Jiang Libai bit her lip and said, “If that’s what you want, I won’t object. After all, the princess’s estate is wealthy. Supporting one idle person isn’t a problem.”

Gu Yun smiled faintly, testing the waters. “In that case, Princess, shall I move into the princess’s estate?”

Jiang Libai panicked momentarily. What did Gu Yun mean? Did she want to live with her?

“You want to live with me?”

Gu Yun smiled. “Yes. My room here already has someone else’s scent, and I’m not comfortable with that. I’d prefer not to stay here anymore.”

So that was the reason.

Jiang Libai’s initial embarrassment faded, replaced by a faint disappointment. Still, she didn’t refuse Gu Yun’s request. After all, she had arranged for that woman to come here.

“Then come with me,” she said. As she stood, Jiang Libai realized Gu Yun was still holding her hand. Feeling flustered, she glared at Gu Yun. But then she thought, *We’re both women. Holding hands isn’t a big deal, right?*

With that thought, she withdrew her hand, only to take Gu Yun’s hand herself. Tilting her chin slightly, she said, “Let’s go. Or are you waiting for me to carry you?”

Gu Yun chuckled lightly as she stood. “I wouldn’t dare trouble the princess.”

—

Under the cover of the not-too-late evening, the two boarded the carriage back to the Princess’s residence.

Inside the carriage, a faint candle illuminated the space. Under this dim light, Jiang Libai stared at Gu Yun intently for a long time.

Suddenly, she shifted closer to Gu Yun and asked in a hushed tone, “Why did you tell me before that Concubine Yan served you well?” When she heard that Gu Yun had already favored Concubine Yan, her heart had felt a pang of jealousy…

The girl’s small face was close to Gu Yun, and her sparkling eyes reflected the candlelight like fragments of the Milky Way, making it hard for Gu Yun to look away.

Gu Yun raised her hand to wrap gently around Jiang Libai’s slender waist, steadying her. Her voice carried a faint note of concern: “Sit properly, don’t fall.”

Jiang Libai blinked her eyes and obediently sat upright beside her. “You haven’t answered my question yet.”

Only then did Gu Yun explain, “I thought that person was a palace maid sent by you, so I let steward Liu settle her in the residence. But what you said this afternoon made me suspicious, so when I returned to the residence, I asked steward Liu to bring her before me. Instead, he directly sent her to my bed…”

Jiang Libai gave a sheepish smile, not daring to continue the conversation.

“I’ve already asked steward Liu to send her back. Will this cause any trouble later?” That woman was chosen by the Seventh Princess as Gu Yun’s concubine, and sending her back like this might create issues.

Jiang Libai had also considered this possibility.

Since Gu Yun was a woman, she could no longer take concubines. Doing so would ruin reputations and lives. But since Yan Qiao’er had already entered Jinping Prince’s mansion, in the eyes of others, she was Gu Yun’s concubine. Sending her back now would be more than just tarnishing her reputation.

“Tomorrow morning, I’ll have Chunxi visit the Yan family.” Jiang Libai thought, if Yan Qiao’er was willing to accept compensation, she would satisfy any of her requests. Additionally, some reparations would have to be made to the Yan family, but this matter would require her to enter the palace to seek help from her mother.

After discussing the matter, the carriage swayed its way into the Princess’s residence.

As soon as they entered, Chunxi beamed as she directed the servants to move Gu Yun’s luggage into the Seventh Princess’s bedroom.

After everything was arranged, she grinned and said, “Princess, the consort’s belongings have been placed in your room.”

The moment Jiang Libai stepped into her inner chamber and saw some of Gu Yun’s things already there, she stared at Chunxi in disbelief. “Why did you put the things in my bedroom?!” Although she agreed to Gu Yun living in the Princess’s residence, how could they possibly share a room?

Chunxi looked puzzled. “Didn’t you say to move the consort’s belongings into the residence so he could live with you?”

Did she mean that?! Jiang Libai almost fainted from anger.

Gu Yun, who had been observing, stepped forward silently to support the Seventh Princess. “If the Princess doesn’t want to share a room with me, then let Chunxi move my belongings out.”

Looking at Chunxi’s dumbfounded expression and hearing Gu Yun’s calm tone, Jiang Libai closed her eyes. “Forget it, now that everything’s been moved in, it’d look ridiculous to move it all out.”

“Go fetch water. The consort and I will wash up and retire for the night.”

After sending Chunxi off, Jiang Libai closed the door, turned, and pulled Gu Yun to the soft couch. “You’ll sleep here, like last time.”

Looking at the small couch, Gu Yun visibly resisted. She remembered the uncomfortable night she’d spent cramped there before, waking up sore and unrested.

“Princess, this couch is too small,” Gu Yun said, glancing meaningfully at the nearby large bed.

Jiang Libai sized her up. Though she was slender, her height was above average for a woman, so the couch would indeed be uncomfortable for her.

But would Gu Yun share the same bed with her?

Jiang Libai hesitated.

Gu Yun was indeed a woman, but the idea of sharing a bed with her made Jiang Libai’s heart race uneasily. Something about it felt strange.

“Princess, can I sleep with you?” Gu Yun asked casually, her tone devoid of ulterior motives.

This cleared Jiang Libai’s thoughts. They were both women; sharing a bed should be perfectly normal, right? After all, there was no need for women to be guarded around one another…

“Alright,” Jiang Libai replied softly. But when she looked up at Gu Yun, she accidentally met her narrow, captivating eyes. Feeling nervous, she quickly averted her gaze. Remembering another matter, she spoke gently, “In a few days, we’ll summon the imperial physician to announce my pregnancy. Is that alright?”

Gu Yun had no objections. “That’s fine.”

It had been a month since their marriage, and announcing the Princess’s pregnancy now wouldn’t raise any suspicions.

—

Under the service of the maid, the two washed up and lay down on the soft bed.  

The candlelight was extinguished, and there was no moonlight outside.  

In the darkness, though their eyes couldn’t see clearly, their other senses became sharper.  

For instance, at this moment, Jiang Libai could smell the faint scent of agarwood from the person beside her and hear her slightly heavy breathing.  

She wanted to turn over and face away from Gu Yun, but under the quilt, her hand accidentally touched something warm and soft.  

Hurriedly withdrawing her hand, she pulled the quilt over herself and mumbled from beneath it, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that.”  

The glands at the back of Gu Yun’s neck twitched slightly. After a moment’s pause, she replied calmly, “It’s very late, Princess. Please rest.”  

However, Jiang Libai was feeling very warm all over. She thought it might be because the quilt was too thick, so she poked her head out, but her heart continued to pound uncontrollably, making her uncomfortable.  

But with that familiar agarwood scent surrounding her, her discomfort lessened a bit.  

Recalling that Gu Yun had once mentioned she could use a secret technique and that her scent could ease discomfort, Jiang Libai shifted slightly closer under the quilt. Her small hand groped around and gradually climbed onto Gu Yun’s wrist. “Gu Yun, can I get a little closer to you?”  

Gu Yun: “???” Could such a good thing really happen?!  

She said nothing, merely moved silently to the inner side of the bed, turned over, and pulled the Seventh Princess into her arms.  

Jiang Libai froze. Her head seemed to sink into Gu Yun’s shoulder nook. The smooth skin emitted a faint fragrance, and the heat made her blush slightly.  

“This princess… didn’t mean for you to hold me…”  

The warm breath tickled Gu Yun’s neck, like hundreds of ants nibbling at her, making her whole body tingle. This caused her to tighten her embrace on the Seventh Princess. “Princess, don’t move.”  

The distance between them was very close. Jiang Libai felt that if she moved just a little closer, she might kiss Gu Yun’s delicate collarbone…  

The realization made her panic even more.  

“But if you hold me like this, I can’t sleep…” She tentatively pushed Gu Yun again. This time, she didn’t touch something soft but bumped into something hard.  

Subconsciously, she asked, “What is this?”  

Gu Yun’s jawline tightened. “My stomach.”  

Jiang Libai hadn’t expected a woman’s stomach to be so firm, making her momentarily curious.  

After a while.  

“Princess,” Gu Yun said in a low and slightly hoarse voice, “how much longer are you going to touch?”  

Jiang Libai paused for a moment and quickly withdrew her hand.  

The sudden silence made the room feel strangely tense.  

Jiang Libai bit her lower lip, wondering if touching Gu Yun’s stomach just now counted as inappropriate behavior.  

Meanwhile, Gu Yun was doing her best to restrain herself. Knowing that the Seventh Princess might touch anywhere, she subtly shifted her lower body away to prevent her from touching places she shouldn’t…  

As dawn approached, neither of the two on the bed felt sleepy.  

Jiang Libai wanted to turn over, but Gu Yun’s arms were tightly wrapped around her, leaving her afraid to move.  

Helpless, she nudged Gu Yun with her foot. “I want to turn over. Don’t hold me so tight.”  

Hearing this, Gu Yun loosened her grip slightly. After Jiang Libai turned to face away, she moved closer again, wrapping an arm around her waist.  

Jiang Libai: “…Do you have to hold me like this?”  

Gu Yun closed her eyes in satisfaction. “Didn’t you want to be close to me? This way, we’re even closer.”  

Fine, she thought, I’ll accept my own words. In any case, surrounded by the soothing scent of agarwood, her body felt much more at ease. After some inner struggle, Jiang Libai resigned herself.  

—

A peaceful night passed.  

Jiang Libai, who had slept exceptionally well, slowly woke up to a noise.  

She rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up in bed.  

Gu Yun, with her back to her, sat at the edge of the bed, wrapping a long strip of fabric tightly around herself. Jiang Libai’s eyes widened.  

“Are you binding your chest?” she asked curiously, leaning closer to observe Gu Yun’s half-wrapped torso.  

Her fluffy head peeked over, and Gu Yun’s hands paused. She gently pushed the Seventh Princess back. “Almost done.”  

Jiang Libai watched as she continued to wrap the fabric layer by layer. “Binding it so tight, doesn’t it hurt?”  

When Gu Yun didn’t reply, Jiang Libai looked up and noticed that her ears were already red, like the evening glow in the sky.  

She blinked. “Are you… embarrassed?” It was hard to believe! Last night, this person insisted on holding her, yet now she was shy?  

Gu Yun finished binding the last layer, put on her clothes, and stood up. She replied seriously, “No.”  

Jiang Libai didn’t believe her! Those flushed ears had already betrayed her. However, she decided to spare Gu Yun some dignity and didn’t bring up the topic again.  

—

From the moment Gu Yun moved into the Seventh Princess’s residence, rumors of their closeness began to spread.  

While people wondered why, despite their love, the Princess had recently taken a concubine for her consort, news broke from the residence that the Seventh Princess was one month pregnant.  

The capital was abuzz. Noble ladies and prominent families flocked to send their congratulations.

Jiang Libai, uninterested in entertaining visitors, simply shut the gates to refuse them all.  

At the moment, she was enjoying the scenery in her courtyard, leisurely eating a pear Gu Yun had peeled for her.  

“Princess, Concubine Yuan has sent word that she wishes to see you and the consort tomorrow,” said Mu Jiang, bowing as he entered the courtyard.  

Jiang Libai swallowed a mouthful of pear and waved him off. “Got it. You may leave.” She dismissed both him and Chunxi, who stood nearby.  

The courtyard, adorned with fallen leaves, was now left with just Jiang Libai and Gu Yun.  

“My mother likely wishes to ask about my pregnancy,” Jiang Libai said, detailing the nuances of meeting the Imperial Consort tomorrow. “She doesn’t know your identity and still assumes we consummated the marriage on our wedding night. However, since we’ve been living separately, she might struggle to believe the child is yours. On that day, she may try to pressure you into acknowledging the child.”  

“But I… I felt it wasn’t appropriate, so Mother eventually stopped pressing you about it.” Jiang Libai’s tone carried a hint of unease.  

“Now that we’ve released the news, Mother is probably curious about how I convinced you. But our secret can’t be revealed…”  

Gu Yun understood the Princess’s concerns. She continued cutting the pear into smaller pieces and placed them neatly on a jade plate. Her voice was calm as she said, “The child is ours. To anyone who asks, that’s all they need to know.”  

Jiang Libai mulled over this. Gu Yun’s reasoning seemed sound. There was no need to overexplain to her mother. She decided she would simply tell her that Gu Yun believed the child was conceived on their wedding night.  

With this worry resolved, Jiang Libai picked up a piece of pear Gu Yun had cut and popped it into her mouth. Then, taking another piece, she held it up to Gu Yun’s lips. “You should eat too.”  

The delicate fragrance of the pear filled the air. Gu Yun paused her work and looked up, seeing the Seventh Princess tilting her head and looking at her expectantly.  

A wave of warmth spread through her heart. Gu Yun smiled faintly and took the piece of pear directly from Jiang Libai’s hand.  

Jiang Libai froze, her gaze fixed on the spot where Gu Yun had just taken the pear… and on the two fingers Gu Yun had momentarily held with her lips.  

The sensation lingered—a soft, warm tongue brushing lightly over her fingertips. Jiang Libai stiffened completely. This feeling… this heat… How could such a thing happen between two women?!  

She jerked her hand back, frantically rubbing it against her sleeve. “You! Don’t think just because you’re my consort, you can take advantage of me like this!”  

Gu Yun swallowed the pear and raised her eyes, her lips curling slightly. “My apologies. I was eager to eat the pear and acted rashly.”  

Seeing her sincere apology, Jiang Libai couldn’t find it in herself to keep nagging, lest she appear petty.  

“…Just be more careful next time,” she muttered, awkwardly turning her head away.  

Gu Yun resumed peeling the pear, her expression calm, though a faint smile lingered at the corners of her mouth.  

—

As the sky darkened and dinnertime approached, Gu Yun called for Mu Jiang to clear the table in the stone pavilion.  

Extending a hand to the languid Seventh Princess sprawled in her chair, Gu Yun said, “Princess, it’s time for dinner.”  

Jiang Libai shot her a sideways glance, her expression subtly resigned, and placed her hand in Gu Yun’s. Allowing herself to be pulled to her feet, she followed Gu Yun’s lead.  

Before they could leave the courtyard, Chunxi came rushing over, panic written all over her face. “Princess, something terrible has happened!”  

“What is it?”  

Chunxi glanced cautiously at Gu Yun beside the Princess, hesitating to speak.  

Jiang Libai followed her gaze, then looked back at Chunxi. “What’s going on?”  

Clenching her teeth, Chunxi finally divulged the information she had gathered. “It’s about Yan Qiao’er… She’s gone mad!”  

“What did you say?!”  

Chunxi elaborated, “The Yan family has kept their mouths tightly shut, so I only just heard about it from Qin’er. After the consort sent Yan Qiao’er back to her family, she attempted to hang herself the next night. Fortunately, she was discovered in time and survived. But since then, she’s been acting erratically, as if possessed.”  

“The Yan family invited several renowned doctors, but none could diagnose her condition. A few days ago, she completely lost her mind…”  

“The Yan family has kept this news under strict wraps, so it only leaked out now. No one else knows. It’s only because Qin’er has acquaintances in the Yan household that she heard this news…”

Jiang Libai felt a bit of a headache. “Didn’t you go to the Yan household earlier to reassure them?”

This was also what Chunxi couldn’t figure out. When she visited Yan Qiao’er at the Yan household, Yan Qiao’er had appeared calm and showed no sign of having any suicidal thoughts! At that time, her mental state seemed normal, not like someone on the verge of madness…

“…I did my best to carry out the task of reassuring them and told Master Yan to take good care of Yan Qiao’er. I also hinted that they would benefit from it in the future…”

Jiang Libai pressed her aching forehead and instructed Chunxi, “Since the Yan family hasn’t made this matter public, quietly invite an imperial physician to examine Yan Qiao’er and see if she can be treated.”

Chunxi accepted the order and left.

Gu Yun, who had been silently acting as a background figure, stepped forward and supported the Seventh Princess.

“I didn’t do anything to her.”

Jiang Libai, of course, knew that Gu Yun couldn’t have done anything to Yan Qiao’er. However, now that Yan Qiao’er might have gone mad due to damage to her reputation, she couldn’t ignore the situation.

“A woman’s reputation is extremely important. Even if Yan Qiao’er is still pure, in the eyes of others, she is already a concubine who has been sent back… This is also why I want to make it up to her.”

If she hadn’t acted on her own accord and chosen a concubine for Gu Yun, Liu Qin wouldn’t have been forced to leave her home, and Yan Qiao’er wouldn’t have gone mad due to the damage to her reputation…

At that moment, Jiang Libai was consumed by boundless self-reproach.