Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 25

“Princess.” Gu Yun took her hand and calmly reassured her, “Don’t overthink it. You didn’t force her to enter the residence. If anyone is to blame… it’s me.” If she hadn’t sent the woman away without confirming her identity, things wouldn’t have escalated to this point.

Jiang Libai did not feel any relief from her words. Instead, she felt even guiltier. “How is it your fault? It’s my fault.”

Gu Yun didn’t continue the topic. After wrapping her cloak tightly around her, she held her small hand and said, “The wind is strong tonight. Let’s head back to the room.”

Jiang Libai glanced at her hand, which was held warmly, and felt a trace of warmth in her heart. “Alright.”

—

After dinner, it was Jiang Libai’s usual time to take a walk to aid digestion. 

But today, she wasn’t in the mood.

After a moment of silence, Gu Yun said, “You’re pregnant. Constantly blaming yourself and feeling down will harm your health.”

Jiang Libai leaned lazily against the back of her chair, her energy entirely drained. “But whenever I think of that lively girl now being mad and unstable, I feel terrible.”

The matter of Yan Qiao’er was like a thorn stuck in her heart, leaving her suffocated.

Gu Yun walked over to her side and extended her hand. “Stop thinking about it. Just accompany me for a walk.”

In Gu Yun’s heart, her wife was the most important. 

Moreover, Yan Qiao’er’s condition was a trivial matter to her. Madness was merely a problem of the mind, and her mental energy could detect issues through brain waves.

Once she identified the problem, her light-brain system could redirect energy into Yan Qiao’er’s brain and resolve the issue.

But for now, her system was not yet restarted, so she had to wait.

However, Jiang Libai didn’t know any of this. All she knew was that, because of her, two innocent women had been hurt.

So, she didn’t place her hand in Gu Yun’s palm and instead brushed it aside lightly. “You go by yourself.”

Seeing how exhausted she looked, Gu Yun didn’t press her. She thought to herself that pregnant women were indeed prone to overthinking and mood swings.

“Then let me help the princess back to her room to rest?”

Jiang Libai thought for a moment. “Alright.”

…

That night, after Gu Yun lay in bed and put the Seventh Princess to sleep, she quietly got up. Under the moonlight, she gazed at the girl sleeping on the bed.

The Seventh Princess was likely still thinking about Yan Qiao’er, as her sleep was restless, her brows slightly furrowed, which made Gu Yun’s heart ache.

She had planned to wait until her system restarted before going to the Yan residence to check on Yan Qiao’er. But seeing the Seventh Princess in this state, she couldn’t let it go.

Fortunately, her mental energy was sufficient now, and she believed she alone could heal Yan Qiao’er.

Silently leaving the room, Gu Yun stepped into the night.

Before sleeping, she had discreetly asked Mu Zhou about the location of the Yan residence. Even at night, she didn’t take long to find her way there.

Looking at the high walls of the Yan residence, she gracefully leaped over them, landing without a sound.

She made her way to the backyard, searching courtyard by courtyard.

The moon had hidden behind layers of clouds when Gu Yun finally found the small courtyard where Yan Qiao’er lived.

Noticing the faint candlelight still burning inside, she hid in the shadows beneath the window.

“…Miss, this medicinal dish is for nourishing your body. Please drink some before sleeping…” came a young maid’s voice from within.

Gu Yun listened closely, her heart filled with doubt. Wasn’t Yan Qiao’er supposed to be completely mad? Why was this maid speaking to her as if she could understand?

As her doubts grew, a soft and delicate voice came from inside: “I can’t drink it. Just throw it away.”

The maid seemed anxious. “But, Miss, your body has been unwell lately. How can you recover if you don’t take this medicinal dish?”

*Clang!* It was the sound of a bowl shattering.

“I told you I don’t want to drink it…”

Gu Yun didn’t listen further. The situation was clear enough: Yan Qiao’er wasn’t mad. She just didn’t want to see anyone.

On her way back, Gu Yun pondered why the Yan household would spread rumors of Yan Qiao’er’s madness. According to Chunxi, the Yan family had deliberately kept the matter under wraps. But if they didn’t want it known, how did the news reach the Princess’ residence?

It didn’t make sense. There was something odd about it.

However, now that she was certain Yan Qiao’er was fine, the Seventh Princess wouldn’t need to feel so guilty. Judging by the situation, the Yan family might not be as simple as they seemed…

Returning to the Princess’ residence, Gu Yun quietly opened the door and slipped back into the inner chamber.

After removing her outer robe, she slowly lifted the quilt and lay down.

The Seventh Princess’ breathing was steady; she was still asleep. Gu Yun turned on her side and gently embraced her.

The person in her arms murmured softly. Gu Yun thought she had woken her, but when she looked down, she saw that she was merely snuggling closer before falling back into a deep sleep.

Seeing this, Gu Yun gently stroked her fluffy hair, snuggled closer, and closed her eyes to sleep.

…

The next day.

After breakfast, the two boarded a carriage headed to the palace.

Jiang Libai, still drowsy, yawned several times and struggled to keep her eyes open.

Suddenly, a faint fragrance wafted by, and she looked up in confusion.

“What are you doing?”

Gu Yun’s hand passed behind her and rested on her shoulder. “If you’re sleepy, lean on me and rest for a while.”

Jiang Libai hesitated for a moment but was too tired. She followed Gu Yun’s guiding hand and leaned against the warm shoulder.

The familiar warmth and scent relaxed her. Closing her eyes, she quickly fell asleep.

The carriage moved slowly, and the bustling early market on both sides of the street, with vendors shouting and people coming and going, didn’t disturb the Seventh Princess. It wasn’t until the carriage stopped at the palace gates that Gu Yun gently shook her.

“Princess, it’s time to wake up.”

Jiang Libai was a heavy sleeper. Not wanting to open her eyes, she frowned slightly and hugged Gu Yun’s waist, refusing to get up.

Gu Yun paused, looking down at the girl clinging tightly to her, her face buried against her chest as she slept soundly without any care.

…Pregnant women truly are extra sleepy.

Looking helplessly up at the sky, Gu Yun steadied the Seventh Princess in her arms. Lifting a corner of the curtain, she saw Ming Tao waiting outside and said softly, “The Princess is still sleeping. Please wait a bit longer.”

Ming Tao glanced through the lifted curtain and saw the Seventh Princess nestled in Gu Yun’s arms. She quickly averted her gaze. “Since the Princess hasn’t woken, let the carriage go directly to Changchun Palace.”

This was the best solution—saving time and avoiding disturbing the Princess.

Gu Yun nodded slightly and lowered the curtain.

It seemed the Seventh Princess was truly favored, as she could ride her carriage directly into the palace.

But… if the Princess was so well-loved, why had the Emperor not seen her even once in the month since their marriage? Could it really just be because he was angry at her?

Gu Yun shook her head. These weren’t matters for her to ponder. For now, she just needed to stay by the Seventh Princess’ side and keep her company.

About half an hour later, the carriage wobbled its way into Changchun Palace.

Just as Jiang Libai woke up, a clear voice rang out above her. “Awake?”

She rubbed her eyes and realized she had fallen asleep hugging Gu Yun.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, she withdrew from the warm embrace. Seeing Gu Yun rubbing her arm, a trace of shyness flashed in her watery eyes. “…Is your arm sore? Am I that heavy?”

Gu Yun glanced at her. “Not at all. You’re light.” She said this while lifting the curtain and stepping off the carriage.

Jiang Libai bit her lip and followed, noticing Gu Yun extending a hand to her. She lifted her chin slightly, held her skirt, and stepped steadily onto the wooden step.

Gu Yun hadn’t expected the Seventh Princess to be displeased by this. Hastily following her, she whispered an explanation near her ear, “My arm is numb because I held you carefully. I didn’t dare hold you too tightly, afraid of disturbing your sleep. But if I held you too loosely, I worried you might fall, so I had to exert strength gently…”

Jiang Libai paused in her steps. “I didn’t say anything. Why are you explaining so much?”

Indeed, pregnancy made emotions unpredictable. Gu Yun now fully understood this.

She reached out, her fingers hooking onto the Seventh Princess’ small hand, and patiently reassured her. “The Princess is very slender, not heavy at all. It’s my fault for being weak.”

Hearing this, Jiang Libai turned to glance at her, her low spirits finally lifting a bit. “That’s right. You’re too weak.”

Gu Yun: “…”

Their exchange was interrupted as they entered the hall where the Noble Consort was waiting. 

The scene with the two interacting affectionately fell into Noble Consort Yuan’s gaze, and she looked at them with satisfaction. “You’ve come late. Have you had breakfast?”

After they greeted her, she beckoned them closer. “Come, both of you, sit with me.”

Watching their sweet and harmonious demeanor, Noble Consort Yuan smiled. “It seems the Emperor and I were right. You two are truly a perfect match.”

Jiang Libai’s smile stiffened slightly, and she looked at the Noble Consort timidly. “Mother, you summoned us today. Is there something you need?”

Noble Consort Yuan’s gaze subtly fell on Gu Yun before speaking warmly. “A few days ago, the Imperial Physician mentioned that you’re a month pregnant. Such a significant matter, yet you didn’t inform your father and me.”

Gu Yun discreetly looked away, unsure of how to play along with the Noble Consort’s act, feeling a bit awkward.

Jiang Libai picked up the conversation. “We had planned to wait until three months to inform you and Father. But word spread among the servants, and eventually, it reached you. It’s our fault for keeping you and Father the last to know.”

—

The three of them continued the act of “I thought you didn’t know, and you thought I didn’t know” for a while. When the timing seemed right, Noble Consort Yuan smiled and said to Gu Yun, “The Emperor just mentioned wanting to see you. Please go with Ming Tao.”

Gu Yun noticed Jiang Libai signaling her with a look and understood that the following matters would be handled by the Seventh Princess.

As Gu Yun’s figure disappeared, Noble Consort Yuan’s expression turned to concern. “What’s going on? Has Gu Yun accepted the child?”

Jiang Libai’s expression didn’t change. “Gu Yun believes the child is his, conceived on the wedding night.”

Noble Consort Yuan fell silent for a moment.

After a while, she held Jiang Libai’s hand and sighed. “If he thinks the child is his, then let it be. Just… treat Gu Yun well in the future. Don’t always put on a stern face, understood?”