Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 37
Happy Valentine’s day everyone, here are a few extra chapters as a gift!
“No way! You have to play with me too!” Jiang Libai wobbled unsteadily through the snow, took two steps toward Gu Yun, grabbed her hand, and shoved her into the soft snow.
Gu Yun had no choice but to let her legs go weak, falling solidly into the snow.
With a mouthful of snow, she blinked, turned her head, and looked at the smiling Seventh Princess. “Do I look like a turtle now too?” she asked, and then stretched out her long limbs, imitating the Princess’s earlier motions, flailing them playfully.
Jiang Libai was amused by her antics. Smiling brightly, she threw herself over and grabbed Gu Yun’s right hand, digging into the snow together. “Little turtle, stop swimming! Hurry up and dig more snow so we can build a giant snowman later!”
The Princess had given her orders, and Gu Yun complied.
The two spent quite a while in the snow, shoveling a large pile of it.
As the sky darkened, Chunxi, who had been silently keeping watch nearby, discreetly signaled to a few servants behind her. She instructed them in a low voice to light more lanterns around the area.
In no time, the garden became much brighter.
Jiang Libai stood up straight, looking at the large pile of snow in front of her. “Quick, quick, quick! I want a snowman this big, and we’ll give her a warm hat…”
Listening to the Seventh Princess excitedly ramble about her requirements, Gu Yun smiled and started working. “Alright, I’ll build you a big, beautiful snowman, and we’ll dress her up to look pretty…”
The light snow fell gently, and the lantern flames flickered.
In the quiet garden, the Seventh Princess’s cheerful, bell-like laughter echoed everywhere.
Chunxi stood silently on the path, gazing at the picturesque scene in front of her. She couldn’t help but smile too.
Her Princess truly seemed to have found someone who could accompany her for the rest of her life.
At this moment, Chunxi felt genuinely happy for the Seventh Princess, glad that she had found her perfect match.
—
The sky had completely darkened.
In the vast expanse of snow, a round, plump snowman stood proudly.
Gu Yun carefully placed the final rounded head on top, securing it firmly. After patting her hands clean, she said, “All done. Now it’s time for the eyes, nose, and mouth.”
Jiang Libai looked at the big, round snowman and burst into laughter. She quickly handed Gu Yun the two black game pieces Chunxi had brought earlier. “Here, these are its eyes.”
After the eyes were set in place, Jiang Libai picked up a carrot lying at her feet. “This will be its nose.”
In no time, the eyes, nose, and mouth were completed, and the snowman’s shape was fully formed.
Jiang Libai cheerfully waved to Chunxi outside. “The hat! The hat!”
Chunxi hurried over and handed the red, gold-embroidered hat to the Seventh Princess.
With the final touch of the hat, the snowman was complete.
Under the faint candlelight, the snowman’s snowy white surface glistened. Its crooked hat and crossed arms placed in front of it made it look both comical and exaggerated.
Jiang Libai turned to look at Gu Yun and noticed beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Taking out a handkerchief, she wiped it for her. “You did well today!”
Gu Yun held her hand and chuckled softly. “Then will the Princess reward me for my efforts?”
The tall woman lowered her eyes slightly. Her long, narrow gaze, usually calm and restrained, now brimmed with tender affection, making her appear serene and gentle.
Jiang Libai glanced at Chunxi standing nearby and cleared her throat lightly. “What kind of reward do you want?”
The atmosphere grew increasingly warm, as if the surroundings were filling with a rosy hue.
Noticing this, Chunxi silently retreated, leaving the little world to the Seventh Princess and her consort.
Seeing this, Gu Yun pinched Jiang Libai’s soft pink cheeks, her rare mischievous smile surfacing. She then leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Look, Chunxi thought we were about to do something improper, so she tactfully left us alone.”
Jiang Libai raised her hand to pinch Gu Yun’s face in return, kneading it like dough. “I think it’s you who wants to do something improper!”
“That’s right,” Gu Yun replied with a smile in her eyes. She bent down, cupped the Seventh Princess’s upturned face, and gently pressed her lips to hers.
The snow fell heavier now.
The soft, willow-like snowflakes swirled in the air, landing on the two who held each other tightly.
Worried that the Seventh Princess might catch cold, Gu Yun ended the gentle kiss after a moment.
“The wind is strong; shall we head back inside?”
Jiang Libai slipped both hands into Gu Yun’s cloak and nodded. “Alright, I’m feeling sleepy too.”
She glanced back at the snowman they had built and hesitated. “Will it still be here tomorrow morning? Or will it melt away?”
Gu Yun wrapped the Princess snugly in her cloak and replied, “It probably won’t. The weather is still cold.”
Seeing that Jiang Libai still seemed a little uncertain, Gu Yun added, “If it melts, I’ll build you another one tomorrow.”
Only then did Jiang Libai feel reassured and leave the garden with Gu Yun.
—
Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve.
According to tradition, all members of the royal family are required to enter the palace and stay up late together on New Year’s Eve.
Fortunately, this banquet is exclusively for the royal family; other civil and military officials and their families are only allowed to enter the palace to pay their respects on the evening of the second day of the new year.
Thus, even though rumors about the Anyang Earl household are still circulating outside, Jiang Libai felt at ease bringing Gu Yun into the palace with her.
After all, the people from the Anyang Earl household couldn’t possibly drag Gu Yun out of the palace.
As long as they don’t cause any further commotion, everything will be fine.
“Tomorrow, we’ll first go see my mother consort. I need to ask her about the progress on the Anyang Earl household issue. We can’t just let this drag on endlessly.”
Gu Yun had also instructed Muzhou to keep an eye on the Anyang Earl household matter.
However, ever since Yan Qiao’er was nearly assassinated, the people at the Anyang Earl household had significantly increased their security, making it much harder to approach them.
She found it all quite unnecessary.
It was highly likely that Yan Qiao’er was nearly assassinated because the Second Prince and the Anyang Earl household wanted to silence her. But after their failure, they acted as though they were on the verge of a crisis.
It was hard to tell whether they were putting on a show or if the assassination attempt on Yan Qiao’er truly had nothing to do with them…
“Alright,” Gu Yun agreed. She also wanted to know if Noble Consort Yuan had uncovered anything.
—
New Year’s Eve had arrived, and joy filled every corner of the capital in celebration of the new year.
At the palace gates, numerous carriages were already lined up, as the royal family members were being escorted into the palace.
The carriage bearing the insignia of Princess Jia Ning approached slowly. Ming Tao, who was waiting at the gate, immediately stepped forward to greet them. “Princess, Her Majesty has instructed that you don’t need to disembark. Please proceed directly to the Changchun Palace.”
The weather was bitterly cold, and Noble Consort Yuan felt heartache for her precious daughter, who was expecting a child.
Upon entering the Changchun Palace, the inner hall, warmed by a heated floor system, felt like spring—cozy and comfortable.
Gu Yun carefully helped Jiang Libai out of her cloak and assisted her in taking a seat.
Noble Consort Yuan smiled warmly. “Why have you come so early today? I thought you might not arrive until evening.”
Holding a warm cup of milk, Jiang Libai took a small sip. Once the warmth spread through her body, she looked up, adopting a delicate and girlish demeanor. “I wanted to come early to accompany Mother Consort!”
“Gu Yun and I have already sent the gifts we prepared for you to the Changchun Palace, and the ones for Father Emperor have also been delivered to him…” Jiang Libai chatted casually, rambling on about various topics.
From the bright smile on her daughter’s face, Noble Consort Yuan could tell how happy and content she had been recently.
With a doting expression, she said to her daughter, “I see. In the future, don’t go overboard with expenses. You know I lack nothing.”
“You and Gu Yun have only been married for less than a year and just moved out of the palace to establish your own household. If you’re ever short of money, come ask me for it, understood?”
Jiang Libai obediently nodded. “Alright.”
After a brief and casual conversation, Jiang Libai cleared her throat softly and signaled Ming Tao to escort the other palace maids out of the hall.
Once only the three of them remained in the room, Jiang Libai turned her attention back to Noble Consort Yuan. “Mother Consort, there’s something I wish to ask you.”
“It’s about the Anyang Earl household, isn’t it?” Before Jiang Libai could say more, Noble Consort Yuan already guessed what she wanted to ask.
Jiang Libai smiled faintly. “In that case, could Mother Consort tell me about it?” She was slightly worried that her mother might refuse to let her get involved, as she had done in the past.
Noble Consort Yuan thought for a moment, her gaze briefly sweeping over Gu Yun, who stood silently by Jiang Libai’s side.
“Since the two of you are asking together, I suppose I shouldn’t keep it from you anymore.”
Jiang Libai perked up her ears eagerly.
In the main hall of Changchun Palace, the low murmurs of conversation began to drift through the air as Noble Consort Yuan shared the findings from recent investigations. These secrets, uncovered bit by bit over the past few days, were revealed before fading into the quiet atmosphere.
In truth, neither Noble Consort Yuan nor General Zhao’s people had discovered anything definitive. However, the assassin who attempted to kill Yan Qiao’er did reveal one critical piece of information before his death.
He claimed that the mastermind behind the attempt was none other than the Second Prince.
Yet, Noble Consort Yuan and Emperor Yu didn’t consider this sufficient evidence.
After repeated verifications, they had only managed to confirm that individuals under the Second Prince’s command did have dealings with people from the Anyang Earl household.
“…But since the accusations made by Yun Yan and Yan Qiao’er remain unresolved, your father has decided to delay addressing the matter. His intention is to wait until after the New Year celebrations before handling it…”
Hearing this, Jiang Libai sighed inwardly.
Her father, as expected, was once again trying to smooth things over.
“Don’t lose heart,” Noble Consort Yuan said, noticing her daughter lowering her head in disappointment. She comforted her, “Over the years, your brothers have fought fiercely in private, but none of their conflicts have involved you. That’s why your father has turned a blind eye.”
“But now, their actions have directly affected you. Your father won’t be as lenient as before. It’s just that to launch a thorough investigation, he needs the right pretext…”
Jiang Libai squeezed Gu Yun’s hand, clearly not placing much hope in her father’s resolve. “Let’s hope so.”
—
Night had fallen.
The Ronghua Palace was already filled with arranged seats. Nobles dressed in luxurious attire had taken their places, exchanging polite smiles and casual greetings with acquaintances as they waited for the emperor’s arrival.
The sound of string and bamboo instruments echoed as Emperor Yu appeared in the Ronghua Palace, perfectly on time.
He entered alongside Noble Consort Yuan, taking the seat of honor. Following closely behind them, Jiang Libai and Gu Yun settled into their seats below.
The weather was bitterly cold, and most of the dishes on the table had already cooled.
Fortunately, Jiang Libai and Gu Yun had dined earlier at the Changchun Palace, so they were only here to make an appearance.
Unbothered by the curious and unusual gazes from others, Gu Yun calmly poured a cup of warm milk for Jiang Libai and placed it in her hands.
Jiang Libai maintained her regal demeanor as a princess, quietly sipping the milk.
The harmonious interaction between the two naturally caught the attention of those around them.
Third Prince Jiang Heng raised his cup from afar toward Jiang Libai and Gu Yun. “Princess Jia Ning and her consort truly share a loving bond, envied by all!”
Suddenly addressed, Jiang Libai froze for a moment. Turning her head, she saw it was her third brother and, giving him some face, raised her cup and took a small sip of the milk.
Her lukewarm response didn’t embarrass or deter the Third Prince. Instead, he laughed heartily and turned to toast the Fifth Princess seated beside him.
—
The vigil for New Year’s Eve typically lasted only until midnight. Those unable to stay awake could rest in the designated palace chambers.
Noble Consort Yuan, mindful of Jiang Libai’s pregnancy and tendency to tire easily, dismissed her and Gu Yun to rest well before midnight.
“…The Qingyang Palace is cleaned daily, so the princess and her consort can sleep there without concern,” Ming Tao said, holding a lantern to light the dim pathway.
“I’m so sleepy,” Jiang Libai mumbled, already clinging to Gu Yun like a lazy kitten.
She let out a delicate yawn, her eyes barely staying open.
Seeing her unsteady on her feet, Gu Yun wrapped an arm around her waist and simply scooped her up into a bridal carry. “Go to sleep. I’ll carry you there.”
Half-asleep, Jiang Libai instinctively nestled against Gu Yun’s warm shoulder, murmuring softly, “Okay.”
Walking ahead, Ming Tao glanced back briefly, then refocused her attention forward.
It was clear the consort genuinely cherished the princess.
Returning to the Qingyang Palace, where Jiang Libai had lived before her marriage, Gu Yun carried her into the bedroom.
Chunxi lifted the bed’s gauzy canopy as Gu Yun gently placed the already-sleeping princess onto the bed.
“Bring in the hot water later. I’ll handle the princess’s washing,” Gu Yun instructed Chunxi in a low voice while unfastening Jiang Libai’s cloak.
After carefully removing her outer dress, Gu Yun pulled the quilt up, tucking it snugly around Jiang Libai.
Before long, the hot water arrived.
Gu Yun meticulously cleaned Jiang Libai’s face, hands, and feet before tucking her back into the warm blankets.
After tidying up, Gu Yun lay down beside her.
Once the warmth enveloped her body, she turned to her side and gently embraced Jiang Libai, the two of them drifting into a peaceful slumber together.
—
The new year had arrived.
Early in the morning, Jiang Libai and Gu Yun shared a harmonious breakfast in the palace with Noble Consort Yuan, Emperor Yu, and the Fifth Prince.
After listening to endless admonitions, Gu Yun was finally pulled out of the palace by Jiang Libai.
The moment they boarded the carriage back home, Jiang Libai pursed her lips and began to laugh. “Father isn’t scary at all. Why do you act like a complete pushover in front of him, nodding non-stop and not even daring to speak?”
Gu Yun replied seriously, “Perhaps it’s the natural suppression from a father-in-law.”
Hearing this, Jiang Libai’s face instantly flushed red.
“What father-in-law…” She shyly fiddled with her fingers. “You’re not even my husband.”
Gu Yun: “?”
At this stage, was the Seventh Princess still denying their relationship?!
Seeing Gu Yun’s brows slowly knit together, Jiang Libai leaned closer to her and whispered, “You’re a girl, so you’re my wife.”
As she said this, Jiang Libai lightly nibbled Gu Yun’s ear. “So my father is your father-in-law, understand?”
Father-in-law…?
Gu Yun’s expression grew complicated. For a moment, she felt a pang in her chest, completely missing Jiang Libai’s teasing.
“You mean to say that I married you, rather than you marrying me?” Gu Yun asked.
Jiang Libai stuck out her tongue and gently licked Gu Yun’s earlobe, smiling mischievously. “Of course! You live in my estate, eat and use my things, and even bear the title of my consort. Naturally, you married me!”
Fine.
The always “kept” Gu Yun decided not to argue.
She pulled Jiang Libai into her arms and kissed the corner of her lips. “Yes, Princess, you’re right. I married you. Please take good care of me in the future…”
Jiang Libai squinted her eyes, just about to say something more, when a commotion came from outside the carriage.
“Princess!” A stern-faced Mu Jiang approached the halted carriage. “Princess, Yun Yan from the Anyang Earl household… she’s dead.”
This sudden news left everyone stunned.
“Officials from the Ministry of Justice are already there. Lord Li says the consort…”
Jiang Libai’s face turned cold. She gritted her teeth and said, “Head directly to the Anyang Earl household right now!”
What were those scoundrels from the Anyang Earl household up to now, failing to keep a living person safe?!
Yun Yan’s death was suspicious. There was no doubt they’d use it as another excuse to target Gu Yun!
She wouldn’t let them succeed.
Mu Jiang leapt onto the carriage and, together with Muzhou, drove them swiftly toward the Anyang Earl household.
About an hour later, the carriage came to a halt outside the estate’s gates.
At that moment, the gates stood wide open, and sounds of weeping and shouting could be heard from within.
With Gu Yun supporting her by the arm, Jiang Libai alighted from the carriage, her face darkened as she strode into the estate.
She immediately grabbed a servant girl stationed near the gate, questioned her, and learned that the Ministry of Justice officials were in Yun yYan’s courtyard. Jiang Libai ordered the girl to lead them there at once.
Before they even reached Yun Yan’s courtyard, loud voices could already be heard coming from inside.
“…The person is already dead! What more do you want?!” This was the voice of Zhou Ran, heir of the Anyang Earl household.
“Yun Yan’s death is highly suspicious. We must investigate thoroughly,” replied Li Chongxian, Minister of Justice.
“No! You can’t take Cousin Yun Yan’s body away! If you destroy the evidence, won’t the claims about the consort having an affair and murdering my younger brother be completely unprovable?!”
Hearing this, Jiang Libai raised her foot and kicked the courtyard door open.
“Well, isn’t this interesting? Your cousin’s cause of death is unclear, yet you’re refusing to let the Ministry of Justice investigate. Feeling guilty about something, are we?!”
Yuu
Happy Valentine’s Day to you too, TL-san!! Thanks for the extra chaps!!!
(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) .ᐟ.ᐟ