Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 26

At this time, Jiang Libai was already two months pregnant, though it wasn’t noticeable yet.  

Noble Consort Yuan glanced at her flat belly, her emotions complicated. This child might be a stain from Jia Ning’s scandal, but it was also her own grandchild…  

“When the child is near full term, make proper preparations. Don’t let Gu Yun notice anything unusual,” Noble Consort Yuan said, having come to terms with the child’s arrival. However, she had another matter to address carefully: “Now that you two are truly husband and wife, though this child isn’t Gu Yun’s bloodline, once you recover, you should give him a few legitimate biological heirs.”  

Jiang Libai: “…”  

She should bear children for Gu Yun? And more than one?  

She silently turned her face away, unsure how to respond to this for a moment.  

Gu Yun was a woman. How could they possibly have children together? But her mother didn’t know that and still believed they were a loving couple…   

“You silly child, are you daydreaming again while I’m talking?” Noble Consort Yuan tapped her forehead, speaking seriously. “Did you hear me? For the sake of your marital harmony in the future, you must give Gu Yun some legitimate offspring.”  

Jiang Libai rubbed her forehead and reluctantly replied, “Got it… But this sort of thing is still far off. Mother, aren’t you being a little too anxious?”  

Noble Consort Yuan disagreed. “I’ve heard from Chunxi and Mingtao that Gu Yun treats you exceptionally well, always accommodating you. On the way here, when you felt sleepy, he held you the entire time, afraid of waking you. In short, he’s a good child. As your mother, I’m very satisfied with him.”  

…Was this the so-called phenomenon of a mother-in-law growing fonder of her “son-in-law” the more she looked at them?  

Jiang Libai felt a bit helpless but didn’t dare contradict her mother. She nodded repeatedly like a pecking chicken and replied with sweet words: “Mother is right. Gu Yun is a gentle and caring ‘husband.’ From now on, I’ll treat him well, live harmoniously with him, have lots of children, and grow old together.”  

Noble Consort Yuan: “…” Why did that sound so odd?  

“As long as you understand.” Seeing that her daughter also thought highly of Gu Yun, Noble Consort Yuan was relieved. Previously, she had worried that with her bad temper, she might push Gu Yun too far.  

Now it seemed that Jia Ning had matured quite a bit after marriage.  

“Since you plan to live a good life with Gu Yun, you should handle the matter of concubines properly,” Noble Consort Yuan advised. “The Liu family and the Yan family will be pacified by your father and me. You don’t need to worry about them. But you must talk things over with Gu Yun clearly so that no grudges arise between you two.”  

Speaking of this matter, Jiang Libai felt a headache coming on. “The Liu family isn’t an issue. However, Yan Qiao’er’s situation is troubling me. Her reputation suffered, and now she’s gone mad. I feel terrible about it, as if nothing I do can make up for it.”  

Knowing her daughter’s kind heart, Noble Consort Yuan felt a pang of emotion. She lovingly stroked her daughter’s head. “The Yan family’s situation will be handled by your father. For now, focus on taking care of yourself and the baby. Don’t let these matters trouble you. Understood?”  

“But…” Jiang Libai still couldn’t let it go.  

Seeing this, Noble Consort Yuan shook her head and revealed a little more. “This situation isn’t as simple as it seems. The Yan family… sent that illegitimate daughter to you and Gu Yun’s side with ulterior motives. Since Gu Yun doesn’t wish to take a concubine, you don’t need to concern yourself with them anymore.”  

What did that mean? Jiang Libai didn’t quite understand.  

“The Yan family wants to attach themselves to us. Now that things haven’t gone their way, of course, they’ll be unhappy… In short, you don’t need to think about it too much. Do you understand?”  

Jiang Libai bit her lip and didn’t ask further. “I understand.” Palace intrigue and power struggles—her mother had always kept her away from them. That had always been the case and would likely continue to be so.  

—

Inside Ganming Hall.  

Emperor Yu, a dignified man in his forties, sat in the upper seat. However, he showed no imperial intimidation when addressing Gu Yun, appearing instead approachable and amiable.  

“I’ve sent word to the Jin Kingdom about your marriage to Jia Ning, but they haven’t sent any reply.”  

The emperor observed Gu Yun’s expressionless demeanor, seemingly unbothered by this development.  

He nodded. “So many years have passed, and the Jin Kingdom hasn’t sent any word. It’s clear that your father doesn’t care about you. Now that you’ve married my daughter, live a peaceful life with her and forget your past identity. Do you understand?”  

Gu Yun, having absorbed the memories of her predecessor, knew all too well how her biological father and mother in the Jin Kingdom had completely ignored her over the years. Initially, the original Gu Yun had held out hope that one day they would take her back, but repeated disappointment had eventually killed that hope.  

For Gu Yun herself, there was no emotional attachment to this matter.  

Seeing that the prince consort had no objections, Emperor Yu felt reassured.  

Thinking of his youngest daughter, he hesitated for a moment before asking with concern, “Is Jia Ning’s pregnancy progressing well?”  

Gu Yun replied as per the plan she and Jiang Libai had discussed the previous night: “The princess is one month pregnant. Her health is good. Currently, aside from feeling drowsy, there are no other discomforts.”  

Hearing this, the emperor relaxed. “Take good care of Jia Ning, and I will not treat you poorly in return.”  

—  

Gu Yun was finally released after being reprimanded by her father-in-law.

Walking on the way back to Changchun Palace, she was still thinking about the words of Emperor Yu earlier. It seemed that he truly cared for the Seventh Princess, but he still refused to see her, leading people to believe that he no longer doted on the princess.

How peculiar.

As she passed the imperial garden, a corner of a pavilion obscured by branches came into view. The cold wind blew, and the sound of a guqin gradually filled the air.

Gu Yun turned her head to look. In the distant pavilion, someone seemed to be sitting and gently plucking the guqin strings, fully absorbed in the music.

Retracting her gaze, Gu Yun continued walking forward with Ming Tao. However, she faintly felt a scorching gaze following her from behind. Turning slightly, she caught a glimpse of the woman in the pavilion lifting her head to look in her direction. The distance made it impossible to discern the woman’s expression, but Gu Yun instinctively felt that her gaze carried a sharp intensity.

…What’s wrong with the people in this palace? They all seem so strange.

Gu Yun chose not to look back at the woman and left the imperial garden.

Before she even entered Changchun Palace, the joyful laughter of the Seventh Princess reached her ears. She paused briefly; the Seventh Princess had never appeared this happy in front of her before.

Stepping into the inner hall, the laughter softened.

Gu Yun scanned the room casually and saw the Fifth Prince joking with the Seventh Princess. However, upon seeing her arrival, the two of them stopped their conversation.

For some reason, Gu Yun felt a twinge of sourness in her heart.

The Imperial Consort Yuan noticed her and quickly beckoned, “Come over here. Why don’t you stay for lunch today with Jia Ning? The Fifth Prince is here too; we can have a meal together as a family.”

“Alright.” Knowing that the Seventh Princess missed the Imperial Consort Yuan, Gu Yun did not refuse, unwilling to spoil everyone’s mood.

After lunch, the Imperial Consort chatted with Jiang Libai and Gu Yun for a while longer before letting them leave.

Walking out of Changchun Palace together, Gu Yun noticed the Fifth Prince, Jiang Wei, trailing behind them like a little tail. She remarked in a neutral tone, “Doesn’t the Fifth Prince have lessons in the study today?”

This reminded Jiang Libai, who also spoke up, “I heard that Father recently assigned you to the Ministry of Rites. Now you have to manage both your studies and training there. Take care of yourself and don’t overexert. It’s getting late; you should head back and rest.”

Glancing at the sky, Jiang Wei realized it was indeed getting late. He stopped trailing behind them and said, “Then I won’t escort you two any further. I’ll head back.”

Without the “little tail” vying for the Seventh Princess’s attention, Gu Yun naturally walked alongside her.

As they passed the imperial garden, they encountered a woman in a wheelchair coming toward them.

Gu Yun instinctively stepped aside to make way, but the Seventh Princess spoke, addressing the woman, “Fifth Sister, it’s so cold. Why are you out?”

Looking up, Gu Yun saw the Fifth Princess being pushed closer to them.

With slightly furrowed brows and pale lips, the Fifth Princess appeared frail.

“Since there’s nothing to do, I thought a stroll might do me some good. Maybe being around people will help improve my condition,” Jiang Ying, the Fifth Princess, swept her gaze over Gu Yun before focusing on Jiang Libai. “What a coincidence to run into you here, Seventh Sister.”

Standing silently beside the Seventh Princess, Gu Yun played the role of a background character. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of familiarity with the way the Fifth Princess had looked at her earlier. Could it be… the person in the pavilion earlier was the Fifth Princess?

“The wind in the garden is strong, Fifth Sister. You should wear thicker clothes to avoid catching a cold,” Jiang Libai advised with genuine concern, one of the few siblings she could converse with being Jiang Ying.

Jiang Ying smiled faintly, the pale hue of her face softening into something more pleasant. “No need to worry, Seventh Sister. I understand my own body.”

Then, as if remembering something, her smile faded slightly. “But Seventh Sister… now that you’re with child, you should be even more careful.” Her gaze flitted briefly to Jiang Li Bai’s still-flat stomach, her voice almost inaudible. “…It’s been about a month, hasn’t it?”

Jiang Libai placed a hand on her belly, keeping her composure as she made up a response. “Yes, it’s been a month.” She then tugged Gu Yun closer, introducing her, “You weren’t at my wedding, Fifth Sister, so let me introduce you now. This is Gu Yun, my husband.”

“Gu Yun, hello. I am Seventh Sister’s Fifth Sister, Jiang Ying.” Jiang Ying cast a glance at Gu Yun, nodded faintly, and then withdrew her gaze.

She coughed lightly, her pale face showing a hint of weariness. “I’ve been out for a while. I’ll take my leave now, Seventh Sister.”

“Take care, Fifth Sister,” Jiang Libai replied before turning to Gu Yun. “Let’s head back.”

Once on the carriage, Gu Yun asked, “The Fifth Princess hasn’t married yet?” It was unusual in this era for someone over twenty to remain unmarried, especially for a princess.

Hearing this, Jiang Libai, who had just closed her eyes, opened them again. “That’s right, but… why are you asking?”

Gu Yun didn’t notice the slight jealousy in the Seventh Princess’s tone. “The Fifth Princess is older than you by a few years. Why hasn’t she married?”

Jiang Libai twisted her handkerchief, displeased. “Why are you so concerned about Fifth Sister?”

Only then did Gu Yun notice the discontent in the Seventh Princess’s tone. She looked at her for a moment, then leaned closer. “I’m just curious, that’s all. I don’t have any other thoughts.” 

Jiang Libai turned her face away, not wanting to meet Gu Yun’s eyes. “Talking is fine, but don’t get so close to me.”

Gu Yun sat properly as instructed, and the other woman continued, “Fifth Sister isn’t in good health, and she has a condition with her leg. That’s why she’s never married. But this doesn’t seem to have anything to do with you, does it? Don’t forget your status. Even if Fifth Sister is a peerless beauty, you can’t bring her happiness, so stop thinking about her…”

Gu Yun: “…”

Did she ever show any fondness for that Fifth Princess?

“Your Highness, you’re mistaken. I don’t have any feelings for the Fifth Princess.” Gu Yun wanted to lean closer to Jiang Libai, but seeing her turn her face away, seemingly unwilling to look at her, she could only continue explaining, “I haven’t forgotten my status. I’ve already married you; you’re my wife. How could I have thoughts about anyone else?”

Hearing this, Jiang Libai pressed her lips together and turned to look at her. “When I mentioned your ‘status,’ I meant…” She glanced briefly at Gu Yun’s flat chest and added ambiguously, “Do you understand now? Even if we weren’t nominally married, and even if you hadn’t married me yet, you still couldn’t have feelings for Fifth Sister.”

Gu Yun’s eyelid twitched under the heat of Jiang Libai’s gaze directed at her chest. She subtly shifted her position and asked calmly, “Your Highness, why do you care so much about whether or not I have feelings for the Fifth Princess?”

This question caught Jiang Libai off guard. After a brief pause, she pouted, “She’s my blood sister. Naturally, I’d care about her. Besides, you can’t bring her happiness, so of course, I wouldn’t want you to like her.”

Gu Yun’s eyes deepened, though her expression remained neutral. “By ‘happiness,’ Your Highness means…”

Jiang Libai, oblivious to the change in Gu Yun’s tone, replied casually, “The kind of thing that happens after marriage. What else could it mean…”

Feeling underestimated by the Seventh Princess, Gu Yun’s temple throbbed. “Actually, I can.”

Jiang Libai’s mind suddenly flashed to scenes from a novel she’d read. It seemed that two women could indeed… do such things.

As her thoughts wandered to the methods described in the book, she couldn’t help but glance at Gu Yun’s hands—long, slender fingers with neatly trimmed nails, looking quite… capable? 

TL: oh my, Your Highness, what are you thinking about?

Realizing what she was thinking, Jiang Libai quickly averted her gaze and stammered, “Even if you could, it’s still unacceptable. In the eyes of others, you’re my husband, so you mustn’t tarnish the royal family’s reputation.”

Silence fell in the carriage, making Jiang Libai uneasy. She turned to see Gu Yun gazing at her intently, her expression inscrutable.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Gu Yun’s gaze held a depth that made Jiang Libai uncomfortable, as if she were being devoured. After a long moment, Gu Yun closed her eyes and suppressed the throbbing in her glands, her voice calm. “You’re my wife. I won’t have feelings for anyone else.”

Seeing her return to normal, Jiang Libai nodded slowly. “Alright, alright.”

The moment the carriage stopped, Jiang Libai leaped out hastily. Gu Yun’s earlier demeanor had unsettled her, leaving her unable to calm down.

Watching Jiang Libai stand firmly on the ground, Gu Yun withdrew the hand she’d intended to offer in assistance.

—

That evening, Chunxi entered the study with the latest information.

“…The Yan family refused, so Imperial Physician Zhao had no choice but to leave.”

After reporting, Chunxi added softly, “This servant found the Yan family’s reaction odd and secretly investigated. It turns out that Yan Qiao’er isn’t mad at all; she’s perfectly fine in her room. The Yan family likely spread rumors of her madness to gain sympathy and benefits from Your Highness.”

Hearing this, Jiang Libai sat up straight. “Yan Qiao’er isn’t mad?”

“Yes.” Chunxi took a folded note from her sleeve and placed it before Jiang Libai. “This was an anonymous note received by the guards this morning, stating that Yan Qiao’er was faking her madness. The guards wasted no time investigating, and the contents of the note were confirmed to be true.”

With this confirmation, Jiang Libai felt some of her long-held guilt dissipate. She waved a hand. “It’s good that Yan Qiao’er is fine. Whatever compensation the Yan family wants, give it to them. Beyond that, don’t worry about it. Mother Consort said she’d handle this.”

Knowing that Consort Yuan would intervene, Chunxi breathed a sigh of relief. The Seventh Princess was good-natured but spoiled by Consort Yuan and the Emperor. She rarely delved deeply into conflicts and was ill-equipped to handle them.

“With the Consort involved, Your Highness can rest assured.”

With the matter mostly resolved, Jiang Libai felt a weight lift from her shoulders. “Finally, I can sleep peacefully tonight.”

—

Night fell, and the moonlight was enchanting.

Back in the main room, Jiang Libai ordered the servants to bring hot water. Entering the inner chamber, the sound of splashing water reminded her that someone else shared the room.

It seemed Gu Yun was bathing.

Recalling an afternoon at Jinping Prince’s Manor, a blush spread across her cheeks. Sitting on the soft couch, she listened to the water and couldn’t help but glance toward the screen.

The blurred silhouette in the bathtub was slender, water droplets sliding down her arms…

Unbidden, Jiang Libai remembered a scene from a book describing two women in a steamy bath… engaging in unspeakable acts.

Flustered, she patted her cheeks. Why was she imagining herself and Gu Yun in such a scenario? Stop it! That’s too strange!

—

Gu Yun stepped out of the bath, dried herself off, put on her inner robe and undergarments, and walked out from behind the screen, only to see the Seventh Princess patting her face and muttering to herself.

She approached, bent down, and leaned closer, “Princess?”

A cool, fresh scent wafted over, and Jiang Libai instinctively opened her eyes, only to find herself staring at a patch of fair skin.

She stared blankly for a long moment.

Following her gaze, Gu Yun looked down and realized her robe’s neckline had opened slightly. She quickly straightened up and adjusted the neckline to cover herself.

The captivating view disappeared. Jiang Libai blinked, cleared her throat softly, and covered up her momentary loss of composure with a question: “It’s so cold. Why are you wearing so little?”

Gu Yun used a towel to dry her long hair, then sat down on the bed and wrapped herself tightly in the blanket. “It’s bedtime. Wearing too much now means I’d just have to take it off again soon.”

After drying her hair, she prepared to lie down and rest, but Jiang Libai quickly stood up and walked to the bedside. “Tonight… tonight, you can’t sleep here.”

Already tucked under the blanket, Gu Yun asked, “?”

What new tantrum was the Seventh Princess throwing now?

Jiang Libai bit her lip. “In any case… I don’t want to sleep with you tonight.” She would never admit that she had been unsettled by Gu Yun’s gaze earlier in the carriage, and that hearing her bathing just now had conjured up some strange and embarrassing thoughts.

These thoughts made her feel flustered. She worried that if she fell asleep and got too comfortable, she might unconsciously act on those thoughts and completely embarrass herself.

Seeing that Gu Yun showed no intention of getting up, Jiang Libai let out a soft snort, reached out, and tried to pull her out of bed.

Gu Yun was quicker. She caught the Seventh Princess’s outstretched hand, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her onto the bed.

In one fluid motion, Gu Yun tucked her into the warm blanket and pinned both of her hands.

The sequence of actions was so seamless that Jiang Libai had no time to react.

By the time she came to her senses, she was already tightly embraced by Gu Yun. Watching Gu Yun attentively help tuck the blanket around her, she ground her teeth and growled, “You scoundrel! Let me go!”

Gu Yun’s grip didn’t loosen. “If you don’t kick me out, I’ll let you go.”

Jiang Libai, realizing her hands were immobilized, started moving her feet under the blanket, intending to kick Gu Yun as she had done before. But Gu Yun seemed to anticipate this and slightly parted her knees, trapping Jiang Libai’s leg as it moved.

Now completely restrained, Jiang Libai panicked. She squirmed and shouted anxiously, “You rascal! Let me go!”

Her squirming movements against Gu Yun’s body caused her breathing to grow heavier. The gland at the back of her neck began to pulse, and a faint scent of sandalwood gradually filled the air.

It felt as if a fire had ignited under the blanket. Gu Yun’s body grew hotter, but the girl in her arms kept struggling. She let out a low gasp, flipped over, and gazed down at the stunned Seventh Princess.

“What are you doing?!” Jiang Libai’s eyes widened in alarm.

Suppressing the surge of desire within her, Gu Yun’s voice turned husky. “Didn’t the Princess call me a scoundrel?” she said, her long, narrow eyes fixed on the girl’s cherry-red lips. “Then I’ll show you what a scoundrel does.”

She leaned down, her warm lips moving closer to Jiang Libai’s.

The oppressive aura of an alpha descended, combined with the heat and desire radiating from her, frightening Jiang Libai. She let out a sharp cry, turned her head to the side, and pleaded, “I won’t call you that anymore… I won’t!”

The girl’s voice carried a hint of sobbing, which brought Gu Yun back to her senses. She stopped her actions, steadied her breathing, and slowly sat up.

Jiang Libai was genuinely frightened, her eyes brimming with tears. “Aren’t you going to let go of me?”

The sight of her teary eyes flustered Gu Yun. Fully sobered, she quickly released the restraints on her wrists. “I’m sorry. Please don’t cry.”

Jiang Libai rubbed her slightly reddened wrists, then clenched her fists and hit Gu Yun a few times, sniffling as she complained, “You jerk… You scared me…”

Gu Yun gently held her small fists, rubbing them softly while speaking in a low, soothing tone. “I’m sorry. I lost control earlier.”

Perhaps it was because Gu Yun’s tone had returned to its usual gentle self, but Jiang Libai started crying even more pitifully.

Gu Yun panicked. She hurriedly embraced her, patting her back lightly as she comforted her. “It was my fault. I’m sorry. Please don’t cry. It hurts me to see you like this.”