Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 36
After Gu Yun finished speaking, Jiang Libai’s heart suddenly began pounding wildly.
She said she didn’t mind… that she would take care of her and the child…
Jiang Libai turned her head and met Gu Yun’s gaze. “What you just said… you’re not lying to me, are you?”
“Of course not.” At this moment, Gu Yun no longer wanted to avoid the truth.
She decided that now was the time to tell the Seventh Princess everything.
No matter whether the princess would hate her afterward, sever ties with her, or never see her again, she no longer wanted to keep it from her.
Staring deeply into the misty eyes of the girl in front of her, Gu Yun began to speak, her voice steady and deliberate: “Princess…”
“Your child is my child. Actually, that night—”
*Knock, knock, knock!* The sound of knocking at the door interrupted Gu Yun just as she was about to confess everything.
Outside, Chunxi listened carefully to the movements in the room before speaking in confusion, “Princess? This servant has something to report.”
The two inside fell silent.
Jiang Libai held onto Gu Yun’s hand, her eyes sparkling. “Since you don’t mind, then what we said earlier still counts.”
With that, she wrapped her arms around Gu Yun’s neck, stood on tiptoes, and pressed her cherry-red lips to the corner of Gu Yun’s mouth.
The sweet fragrance lingered, leaving Gu Yun momentarily dazed.
Blushing, Jiang Libai ended the gentle kiss. “Chunxi has something to discuss with me. I’ll go see her first.”
It wasn’t until Jiang Libai’s figure disappeared from the room that Gu Yun raised her hand to touch the lingering warmth on the corner of her lips.
She hadn’t even confessed yet. The princess had only heard her one sentence and had already happily reconciled with her?
The Seventh Princess… seems to genuinely like her.
Realizing this, Gu Yun’s unease and guilt surged uncontrollably, spreading and gnawing at her from within.
The courage she had just summoned to confess crumbled once again.
—
“…That’s how it is. The Noble Consort knows you’ve been very concerned about the assassin who attacked Yan Qiao’er, so as soon as the investigation yielded results, she sent word to you.”
On the way to the study, Chunxi had already given the Seventh Princess a brief account of the newly received information.
Just earlier, the assassin who had attempted to kill Yan Qiao’er couldn’t withstand the torture and confessed.
Before his death, he uttered the word “second” and then took his last breath.
The moment this word was spoken, everyone became extremely cautious.
The interrogator wasted no time and went straight to the palace to report the matter to Noble Consort Yuan.
After hearing the report, the Noble Consort remained expressionless and said little, only dismissing the messenger.
Thus, it seemed this matter had come to an end.
After inviting the Emperor to dine at Changchun Palace, Noble Consort Yuan dispatched someone to deliver the news to the Seventh Princess’s residence.
The message was brief but included specific instructions.
“…Her Highness said she’s merely reminding you to pay closer attention to the Second Prince in the future. There’s no need to worry about anything else.”
Chunxi understood the Noble Consort’s intentions. She quietly added, “Her Highness doesn’t want you to get involved, but she’s worried the Second Prince might deceive you. She’s warning you to stay vigilant.”
…So it’s the Second Prince?
Jiang Libai’s mind raced through various possibilities.
Perhaps not everything was connected to her second elder brother, but if the assassin mentioned him before dying, he couldn’t be entirely innocent.
And what role did her second brother play in her incident of losing her chastity?
At that thought, Jiang Libai couldn’t help but laugh.
No wonder the people from the Anyang Earl household went to such lengths to tarnish Gu Yun’s reputation. It seemed highly likely they were mere lackeys of the Second Prince!
Did they hope that by forcing her to marry into the Anyang Earl household, all the power behind her would be handed over to the Second Prince?
But… would it really be that simple?
—
After Gu Yun missed the opportunity to confess that day, she never found another suitable moment.
Moreover, as she spent more time with the Seventh Princess, she became increasingly addicted to the deep affection and warmth the Princess showed her.
She found it hard to let go.
Now, with the Lunar New Year approaching, the capital had grown colder.
Today, another heavy snowfall had blanketed the city, turning it into a vast expanse of white.
Every household had hung up festive red lanterns and pasted beautiful paper-cut decorations on their windows, eagerly awaiting the New Year.
The Princess’s residence was no exception; it was adorned with red lanterns that, under the daylight, contrasted beautifully with the snow-covered ground.
It had been over a month since Gu Yun was injured. At the insistence of the Seventh Princess, she only started leaving the inner chambers a few days ago to walk around.
Today, with the snow easing slightly, she looked through the half-open window at the icy, crystal-clear world outside, yearning for a walk.
“Princess, after dinner, shall I accompany you on a stroll to aid digestion?”
Jiang Libai was now more than four months pregnant. Her belly was faintly showing, but with the cold weather requiring thick clothing, it was not particularly noticeable. Outsiders assumed she was only about three months along.
Since she and Gu Yun began sharing a room, her nausea, vomiting, and fatigue had almost disappeared, though her drowsiness remained unshaken.
At the moment, she was reclining on a soft chaise, resting her eyes. Hearing Gu Yun’s soft voice tinged with anticipation, she smiled and opened her eyes. “Sure. By now, you’re almost ‘fully recovered’ and ready to go out anytime.”
The matter with the Anyang Earl household had yet to be resolved. Because of this, Jiang Libai had refrained from allowing Gu Yun to “fully recover,” opting instead for a gradual recovery to avoid giving the Earl household any opportunity to harass her father, the Emperor, into re-imprisoning Gu Yun.
After closing the half-open window to block the cold, Gu Yun walked over to sit beside the Seventh Princess.
“You’ve slept all afternoon. Do you still feel tired?”
Jiang Libai had just woken up, her eyes still misty with a soft, sleepy confusion.
Taking Gu Yun’s extended hand, she slowly sat up. “Still a bit drowsy.”
“Maybe you slept too much,” Gu Yun replied, gently squeezing her hand. It was still warm.
Her gaze drifted to the Princess’s abdomen, where a faint curve was beginning to show.
Her heart softened. Supporting the Princess, she helped her put on an overcoat and cloak.
As the evening deepened, the two finally left the room at a leisurely pace.
Sitting at the dinner table, Jiang Libai glanced at the dishes before her. She felt no appetite, pouting slightly as she spoke in a soft, tender voice. “I don’t want to eat these.”
Gu Yun, who had been about to serve her food, put down her chopsticks.
“What would the Princess like to eat?”
Jiang Libai’s eyes sparkled as she replied, “I want the dishes you’ve made for me before.”
Since her wife had made a request, Gu Yun would not refuse.
Rolling up her sleeves, she stood up. “Then, Princess, please wait a moment.” With that, she left the dining room.
Watching Gu Yun leave, Jiang Libai quickly added, “Add more chili peppers…”
There was an old saying among the common folk: “Sour for a boy, spicy for a girl.”
Every time she craved something spicy, she would wonder if her love for chili meant she was carrying a daughter…
Although she had initially rejected this child, over the past four months, she had gradually become aware of the little one’s presence. The resistance in her heart had significantly diminished.
After all, as Gu Yun had said, this child belonged to both of them. She wouldn’t resent the child but would cherish and love her deeply.
Now, she even began to feel a bit of anticipation.
Once the baby was born, they would become a happy “family of three”…
About half an hour later, footsteps echoed from outside.
Gu Yun returned, carrying the scent of cooking, followed by Muzhou, who held a tray of dishes.
After placing the small dishes on the table, Muzhou bowed respectfully and left.
Gu Yun sat back down beside the Seventh Princess, pushing the freshly made dishes toward her. “See if these suit your taste.”
The aroma of the food wafted over, and Jiang Libai bit her lip before picking up a piece of fish with her chopsticks.
The moment she tasted it, her appetite surged, and her eyes lit up.
“This is delicious! I love it!”
Gu Yun was infected by her cheerful mood, smiling as she placed another piece of fish into the Princess’s bowl. “I’m glad you like it.”
—
After finishing two bowls of rice, Jiang Libai looked at the table filled with leftover dishes, rubbed her stomach, and sighed contentedly, “That was so delicious!”
After expressing her satisfaction, she grabbed Gu Yun’s hand and shook it. “Next time I crave this, will you make it for me again?”
The rare moment of playfulness from the girl, paired with her eyes filled with starlike brightness, captivated Gu Yun’s gaze.
Gu Yun held her hand in return and smiled gently. “Of course.”
After dinner, it was time for the Seventh Princess to take a walk to aid digestion.
Gu Yun held her hand, walking slowly along the small path toward the garden.
The surrounding branches and leaves were withered, and snow that hadn’t yet melted was piled on them, occasionally dripping tiny droplets of water onto the snowy ground, adding to the quiet and serene atmosphere.
The snow on the path had been swept aside by the servants. Gu Yun carefully helped the Seventh Princess into the garden.
By now, it was nearing dusk, and the sky was gradually darkening.
Perhaps because dinner had given them some free time, three or four little maids were laughing and throwing snowballs at each other in an inconspicuous corner of the garden.
Jiang Libai glanced at them indifferently but paid them no further attention.
She was a generous and considerate master and didn’t mind small indulgences like this.
After walking a few steps, she suddenly stopped.
Gu Yun thought the cold wind had made her feel chilly, so she prepared to take off her cloak to wrap it around her. “Are you cold?”
Jiang Libai stopped her. “No.”
She looked around at the vast white expanse and then smiled mischievously. “Shall we build a snowman and have a snowball fight?”
She had wanted to play in the snow with Gu Yun for a while now, but ever since the incident with the Anyang Earl household, this wish had remained unfulfilled.
Seeing the little maids joyfully throwing snowballs earlier reignited her desire.
Gu Yun glanced at the Seventh Princess’s belly. Though concealed under the cloak and not visibly rounded, she was still more than four months pregnant.
If the Princess accidentally fell or got hurt, Gu Yun knew she would feel deeply distressed.
However, the eager anticipation in the Princess’s eyes was hard to ignore, and Gu Yun didn’t want to dampen her spirits.
After all, as long as she was by her side, nothing could go wrong.
“Alright,” Gu Yun said, scanning the area before pointing to a flat patch of snow. “How about we build a snowman over there?”
Once decided, the playful Seventh Princess lifted the hem of her dress and ran with a grin to the thick snow.
The snow was deep, reaching past her calves. After taking two exaggerated steps, she suddenly dove into the snow.
“Careful!” Gu Yun, walking right behind her, quickly reached out and grabbed her wrist as she fell into the snow.
Jiang Libai poked her head out of the snow, her hair and eyebrows dusted with white, and smiled brightly. “This is so much fun!”
Then, she spread her arms and dived into the snow again.
It was only then that Gu Yun realized she was doing it on purpose.
Watching the girl flail her limbs in the snow like a turtle swimming in the ocean, Gu Yun lowered her head and laughed. “Princess, you look so funny like this!”
Hearing this, Jiang Libai got up from the snow using both hands and feet. Seeing the delight in Gu Yun’s eyes, she squinted mischievously, grabbed a handful of snow, and smacked it onto Gu Yun.
In an instant, Gu Yun’s hair and eyebrows were also covered in sparkling white snow.
Jiang Libai tilted her head back and laughed. “Now you look just like me! You look so funny, too!”
Gu Yun stood still, wiping her face with one hand. Seeing the girl laughing so freely, she smiled as well and shook her head helplessly.
“But I didn’t roll around in the snow like *someone* did…”
For this novel one Kofi is two extra chapters. I’ll be updating 3-4 chapters a week for free. Ko-fi link: ko-fi.com/mitake55760
