Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 41
The lively courtyard was filled with guests attending the full-month banquet, all putting on polite smiles and offering congratulatory words to the Second Prince.
What they truly thought in their hearts, however, was anyone’s guess.
This was the royal family’s first grandson, and naturally, the emperor would place great importance on him.
The question was whether the emperor, now that the Second Prince had provided him with a royal grandson, might show him special favor.
After all, the royal family valued heirs above all else. Now that the Second Prince had a legitimate son, it might strengthen his chances of becoming the crown prince…
With such thoughts in mind, the guests’ smiles grew even warmer, and their words of praise became increasingly genuine, making the Second Prince feel elated, as if he had finally shaken off the frustration from his father’s previous reprimands.
Jiang Libai sat in her seat, watching the triumphant and jubilant Rong Wang (Second Prince) surrounded by the crowd. She pursed her lips and didn’t bother to join in the congratulations.
Gu Yun withdrew her gaze and noticed the Seventh Princess’s indifferent expression. After some thought, she leaned in and whispered, “Does the princess not like the Second Prince?”
Jiang Libai nodded and replied softly, “He’s not very bright and always acts like he’s the eldest son of the emperor, playing the role of an elder brother with authority. That would be tolerable, but he frequently behaves incompetently, which is downright annoying.”
This was one reason she had always kept her distance from her second brother.
Hearing this, Gu Yun looked up at the Second Prince, who was basking in attention. Hmm… indeed, he didn’t seem very reliable.
If that was the case, it was unlikely that the emperor would choose him as his successor.
The two of them idly watched the lively scene in front of them, passing the time and planning to leave this boring event after noon.
Not long after, a steady stream of rewards began arriving from the palace, flowing into Prince Rong’s residence.
Most of the items were ordinary, but when the guests noticed that among the emperor’s gifts was an Eight-Treasure Gold Amulet of Peace, they collectively gasped.
This peace amulet had been specially bestowed by the late emperor upon the current emperor at birth!
No one had expected the emperor to give such a significant item to the newly born grandson. What could this mean? Did it signify high hopes for the first grandson, suggesting he might shoulder great responsibilities in the future?
Before the guests could recover from their shock, the eunuch Sun Gonggong, who had brought the imperial decree, shook his whisk and announced with a cheerful smile, “The emperor says that the Second Prince is blessed to have given him the first royal grandson. Therefore, the emperor will personally grant him a name.”
The crowd’s expressions varied upon hearing this.
The Second Prince, overwhelmed with emotion, called for his consort to bring the child over. Together, they knelt respectfully. “I wonder what name my father has bestowed?”
“The emperor has named the royal grandson *Jin Gan* (锦干), wishing him a life of longevity, talent, and prosperity.”
It was already a rare honor to be granted a name directly by the emperor, but to everyone’s surprise, the name included the character *Gan* (干). (It jas many meanings, but my interpretation would be something related to a tree trunk or heavenly stem?) This character was rarely used for royal offspring, and its inclusion undoubtedly signified extraordinary expectations.
The Second Prince’s grin stretched to his ears, his excitement and pride written all over his face. “Thank you, Father, for bestowing the name! Jin Gan will surely live up to your expectations and serve to alleviate your burdens in the future.”
Sun Gonggong, looking at the royal grandson in the consort’s arms, also wore a pleased expression. “The emperor is occupied with state affairs today and cannot personally visit the royal grandson. He has sent me to drink a cup of celebratory tea on his behalf.”
“Thank you for the emperor’s favor.” The Second Prince stepped aside to lead Sun Gonggong toward the main hall, saying, “This way, Sun Gonggong, please.”
The banquet officially began, and the guests flocked toward the already well-prepared main hall.
Once the crowd had mostly dispersed, Jiang Libai finally stood up at a leisurely pace.
Now in the later stages of pregnancy, her body was heavy, and she had to support her belly carefully as she moved.
Gu Yun encircled her waist, helping her up with great care, and walked slowly with her toward the main hall.
They had just approached when they heard what sounded like a heated argument inside.
Seeing that the hall was crowded, Gu Yun became concerned that someone might accidentally bump into the Seventh Princess. She guided her to wait by the steps outside the door.
A comfortable chair was brought over by Muzhou, allowing the Seventh Princess to sit down and rest.
“Princess, I’ll go see what’s happening inside.”
Jiang Libai had no interest in the commotion and waved her hand dismissively at Gu Yun. “Go ahead, check it out.”
Gu Yun walked to the entrance of the main hall, found an inconspicuous corner, and stood there. Just as she steadied herself, someone up front shouted, “What’s this person doing sneaking around here?”
Fortunately, nothing blocked her line of sight. Looking ahead, she saw a trembling figure kneeling at the center of attention.
The man huddled on the ground, clutching something tightly in his arms.
The Second Prince stood before him, his expression cold and his tone harsh. “Get out of here! Stop embarrassing yourself and ruining everyone’s mood!”
This man was a second-tier servant responsible for cleaning the courtyard. Normally obedient and quiet, he had unexpectedly caused a scene today. He had failed to properly clean the main hall and, upon seeing the gathering crowd, became so flustered that he fell from the platform.
Such clumsy and unreliable behavior was utterly disgraceful!
Upon hearing the Second Prince’s rebuke, the servant trembled as he got to his feet and prepared to leave the main hall.
Some guests frowned at him before turning their faces away in disdain.
The Second Prince ignored the servant, preparing to usher everyone to their seats. But suddenly, a cry rang out from behind. “What’s that in your hands?!”
The Second Prince turned his head with a frown and saw the servant panicking as he tried to rush out of the hall. The man tripped over the threshold and fell to the ground, dropping the item he had been holding.
“What is that?!” someone exclaimed, quickly picking up the fallen object.
The item was a golden-yellow robe embroidered with a magnificent five-clawed dragon surrounded by auspicious clouds—clearly the emperor’s dragon robe!
Everyone froze in place.
How could an emperor’s dragon robe appear in the Second Prince’s residence?!
Eunuch Sun’s expression turned grim as he carefully took the dragon robe and inspected it closely. With every glance, his face grew darker.
Holding the robe, he looked at the stunned Second Prince. “Your Highness Rong Wang, this item…”
All eyes turned to the Second Prince.
“This… this…” The Second Prince’s mind went blank; he couldn’t form a coherent explanation.
Eunuch Sun, seeing this, dared not handle the matter lightly. He hurriedly instructed his young apprentice to report the incident to the palace immediately.
In an unnoticed corner, Gu Yun observed the varied expressions of those present. After a moment, she calmly retracted her gaze, dusted off her sleeves, and turned to leave the main hall.
The courtyard, once bustling with excitement, had fallen silent.
Gu Yun walked over to the Seventh Princess, who was resting in the chair, lightly patting her arm. “Princess, we can leave now.”
With such an incident occurring at Rong Wang’s residence, it certainly didn’t seem simple. There was bound to be more drama to come!
Jiang Libai opened her eyes, still a bit drowsy. Taking Gu Yun’s outstretched hand, she slowly stood up. “What happened?”
Without paying further attention to the commotion behind them, the two silently left Rong Wang’s residence.
As they walked, Gu Yun briefly recounted the events in the main hall to Jiang Libai.
After boarding the carriage, Gu Yun noticed the Seventh Princess’s somber expression. She gently rubbed the princess’s hand and said, “Hiding a dragon robe—this is no small matter. It all depends on how His Majesty chooses to handle it.”
Jiang Libai suddenly laughed, but her smile was icy. “Whether or not that dragon robe is related to him, he has long harbored ambitions for the throne.”
“However, Father Emperor will likely try to smooth things over.”
Yet, what followed exceeded Jiang Libai’s expectations.
As night fell, the Emperor ordered the Second Prince and his household to be placed under house arrest. Imperial guards were stationed around Rong Wang’s residence, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving.
That very night, guards sent by the Crown Prince searched the main hall of Rong Wang’s residence and discovered a complete set of dragon robes and a seal hidden in a gap above the hall’s plaque.
When these items were presented to the Crown Prince, even though he had long suspected Rong Wang’s ambition for the throne, he still erupted in fury.
He immediately issued a decree to thoroughly investigate Rong Wang’s plot to usurp the throne.
The night grew darker.
The once-lively Rong Wang residence now lay shrouded in a heavy, oppressive silence.
In a dim study, only a single flickering candle burned faintly. The flame danced like a menacing specter, adding an eerie chill to the space.
Jiang Shen sat alone at the head of the room, his face grim.
Behind him, a large bookshelf that covered most of the wall suddenly shifted. He turned his head to look and said in a low voice, “No one is there.”
The bookshelf slowly slid open, revealing a narrow gap. As the gap widened, a figure cloaked in black emerged.
“What’s the situation outside now?” Ever since Jiang Shen had been placed under house arrest, he had lost all access to external information.
Thankfully, he had prepared in advance by digging an underground tunnel beneath his study.
However, the situation remained unclear, and he was not yet ready to flee through the tunnel. First, he needed to consult with his trusted advisor, Mr. Yu.
Mr. Yu removed his hood, revealing an ordinary-looking face.
“After the dragon robe and seal were discovered, His Majesty ordered a full investigation into Rong Wang’s residence. Many of your subordinates are trembling with fear and are on the verge of confessing everything to His Majesty.”
Hearing this, Jiang Shen clenched his fists and slammed one onto the desk.
“Moments like this reveal who truly supports me!” he said coldly, glaring at Mr. Yu. “Who are the ones planning to betray me?”
Mr. Yu listed a series of names.
Finally, he lowered his voice and asked the Second Prince, “Although the remaining men are loyal, if this situation drags on, they will inevitably be implicated.”
“Furthermore, with the Third Prince working behind the scenes, it won’t be long before all our plans are thwarted. If that happens and Your Highness is held accountable, those of us who serve you will also…”
Jiang Shen understood Mr. Yu’s implication.
“You’re suggesting that I strike first?!”
“Exactly.” Mr. Yu began analyzing the situation for him. “Right now, Your Highness is under house arrest. His Majesty’s fury and the discovery of the dragon robe and seal will serve as evidence of your intent to rebel.”
Treason was no small crime. If such charges were confirmed, the Second Prince would never recover.
“It would be better to act now, while everyone is still focused on the investigation. Your Highness should launch a coup immediately. As long as you ascend to the throne, no one will dare accuse you of anything!”
Hearing this, Jiang Shen’s previously anxious heart was suddenly ignited with fervor.
That’s right! If he became the emperor, he would no longer have to endure humiliation!
However…
“My forces are limited. I’m afraid I won’t succeed…” Jiang Shen hesitated.
Mr. Yu waved his hand dismissively. “Speed is crucial in warfare. The troops you currently command are sufficient for a nighttime coup. As long as you force His Majesty to issue an abdication edict before dawn, everything will be settled!”
“Victory belongs to the winner. Once you are seated on the throne, Your Highness, history will be written however you dictate…”
Under Mr. Yu’s persuasive guidance, the Second Prince’s already wavering heart fully embraced the idea of a coup.
“Very well!” Jiang Shen rose to his feet, his expression resolute. “This is our one chance to succeed! If we succeed, I will appoint you as Grand Chancellor to assist me in ruling the empire!”
With his decision made, there was no time to waste.
Without sparing another glance at his wife and children left in the residence, Jiang Shen followed Mr. Yu and slipped out through the hidden tunnel at the back.
—
Just past midnight, the sounds of shouting and fighting echoed through the capital, waking everyone from their sleep.
In the Princess’s residence, Jiang Libai, who was usually a sound sleeper with Gu Yun by her side, was startled awake by the noise.
She groggily opened her eyes and faintly heard the sound of galloping horses outside.
“What’s going on out there?”
Gu Yun, as an alpha with exceptional hearing, listened quietly for a moment before speaking. “There are many people riding fast on horseback, and…” She heard the sounds of soldiers charging and her expression grew serious. “Princess, someone is leading troops into the capital.”
Leading troops into the capital?!
Wouldn’t that mean rebellion?!
In an instant, Jiang Libai clutched the quilt tightly, her face turning pale. “Mother Consort and Father Emperor are in the palace!”
“Who would dare to rebel?!” The incessant shouting from outside made her increasingly uneasy.
Gu Yun quickly got up, dressed herself, and then carefully helped the Seventh Princess into her clothes. “The situation is unclear now, and the capital is not safe. Princess, you should immediately gather all the guards in the residence.”
Her expression was cold and firm. “Safety is the priority.”
Jiang Libai, now dressed, stood up from the bed and tightly gripped Gu Yun’s hand. “Alright, I’ll summon everyone in the residence to the main courtyard.”
At a time like this, unity was the only way to overcome the crisis.
As the two stepped out of the room, Chunxi’s urgent voice reached them. “Princess! There’s fighting outside!”
Panting heavily, she ran over. “It’s the Second Prince! He’s rebelling and trying to seize the throne! Some soldiers attempted to break into our residence, but fortunately, the guards arrived in time to hold them off.”
“But there are more soldiers coming. I’m afraid someone might take advantage of the chaos and force their way into the residence!”
Hearing that the Second Prince was leading a coup, Jiang Libai’s heart sank.
Her royal brother, unreliable as he always was, had actually chosen to rebel?! She couldn’t help but wonder—would he succeed? If he did, what would happen to her Mother Consort and Father Emperor…
Jiang Libai dared not think further.
She tightened her grip on Gu Yun’s hand and instructed Chunxi to summon everyone in the residence.
“Leave some guards to defend the front and back gates. The rest should guard the main courtyard.”
Even after making all the preparations, Jiang Libai’s nerves remained taut.
She was terrified that Jiang Shen, that incompetent fool, might actually succeed in his coup. Even more so, she feared he wouldn’t spare her Mother Consort.
But there was nothing she could do now.
Perhaps, in the end, her residence would also fall. She might become a prisoner, and no one in the residence would escape a grim fate.
“Princess,” Gu Yun held her hand tightly, offering a faint sense of reassurance. “The Second Prince’s midnight coup is already a disgraceful act. If he succeeds, he likely won’t dare harm those in the palace. So, you don’t need to worry too much about the lives of your Mother Consort and Father Emperor.”
“What we need to guard against now are opportunistic soldiers trying to force their way into the residence.”
Jiang Libai closed her eyes. She didn’t know if she or the people in her residence would survive if it came to that.
Thinking about this, she stared at Gu Yun under the glow of the distant flames, as if trying to etch her features deeply into her memory.
“If the soldiers break in and the guards can’t hold them off…” She tightened her grip on Gu Yun’s hand, leaned close to her ear, and whispered softly, “Gu Jie, in my next life, I’ll still marry you. Alright?”
The shouting and fighting outside grew louder and more intense.
Under the flickering firelight, Gu Yun intertwined her fingers with Jiang Libai’s. “Alright.”
But no matter what happened tonight, she vowed to protect the Seventh Princess with all her strength.
Looking at the gathered people in the courtyard, all with varying expressions but united in their fear, Gu Yun made up her mind.
If it came to that, she could only apologize to these people.
Her abilities were limited—she could only protect the Seventh Princess.
And yet… with the Second Prince leading soldiers, she wasn’t entirely sure. What if, in the end, she failed to protect…
She quickly dismissed those dark thoughts.
“General, there are many soldiers outside, and there are more at the city gates.” Yixing, unable to avoid it, used his star power to expand its range several times over, scouting the number of people involved in the coup for Gu Yun.
“There’s something strange… Aside from some opportunists, most of the soldiers seem to be deliberately avoiding the Princess’s residence!” Observing the soldiers’ movements, Yixing was deeply surprised.
Avoiding the Princess’s residence?
Gu Yun glanced at the tense Seventh Princess beside her. Thinking of her distant relationship with the Second Prince, she asked, “Princess, does Jiang Shen have any connection with you?”
Jiang Libai looked up in confusion. “No.”
“We hardly speak, and when we meet, it’s just a brief greeting.”
That’s odd.
The Second Prince had the audacity to rebel and seize the throne, yet he ordered his soldiers to avoid the Princess’s residence?!
She looked at Jiang Libai with a meaningful expression. “The soldiers outside… most of them have no intention of entering the Princess’s residence.”
What… does that mean?
Jiang Libai didn’t understand. “You’re saying… the soldiers don’t want to touch me?!”
But how could that be possible?!
She was the Noble Consort’s only daughter and the Zhao family’s granddaughter. Given Jiang Shen’s personality, wouldn’t he have taken her hostage as leverage?
Though it seemed unbelievable, Jiang Libai finally felt a bit of relief.
If he didn’t want to harm her, it seemed he wouldn’t harm her Mother Consort and Father Emperor either.
Relaxing slightly, Jiang Libai wiped the sweat from her forehead.
But then she wondered—how did Gu Yun know the soldiers wouldn’t target her?
She looked at Gu Yun suspiciously. “How… how do you know?”
Gu Yun had expected this question once Jiang Libai calmed down.
Her expression remained unchanged as she explained calmly, “The fighting outside has been going on for some time, but no one has tried to break in. That shows they don’t dare enter.”
“In this situation, it’s clear that Jiang Shen must have ordered them not to harm you. That’s the only explanation.”
Even so, Jiang Libai still found it hard to believe.
After all, she and Jiang Shen really didn’t have any connection!
The doubt and confusion in the girl’s eyes were obvious. Gu Yun patted her shoulder gently, comforting her. “When all this is over, you can ask him in the dungeon.”
Hearing this, Jiang Libai’s fear from the entire night faded, and she almost laughed. “You’re that certain Jiang Shen won’t succeed?”
Gu Yun nodded. “He’s too incompetent to sit on the throne.” Someone as arrogant and self-absorbed as him could never take the place of the current ruler.
Jiang Libai agreed wholeheartedly. “You’re right. If he actually succeeded, it would mean heaven had abandoned our nation.”
—
Just as the two had anticipated, the situation unfolded as expected.
As dawn approached, news came from the palace that the Second Prince had been defeated and had fled the capital amidst the chaos.
At that moment, the worry that had gripped Jiang Libai throughout the night finally dissipated entirely.
After dismissing the people in the residence, she tidied herself up, preparing to head to the palace to check on her Mother Consort.
Gu Yun grabbed her hand. “Princess, now is not the right time to visit the palace.”
Jiang Libai paused. “But I’m very worried about Mother Consort. I want to see with my own eyes that she’s safe.”
“The Noble Consort and the Emperor should be fine,” Gu Yun reassured her, pulling her to sit back down on the soft couch. “If anything had happened to them, the news of their injuries would have accompanied the report of the Second Prince’s defeat.”
Since there was no such news, they were likely unharmed.
“Right now, with the rebellion just suppressed, the palace must be in chaos. The Noble Consort and the Emperor are surely busy handling the aftermath.”
Gu Yun gently pinched her cheek and touched her swollen belly. “I doubt the Noble Consort would want you to rush to the palace right now.”
Jiang Libai lowered her gaze to Gu Yun’s warm hand resting on her rounded belly, her heart softening. “Alright. I’ll wait until Mother Consort and Father Emperor have finished addressing the matters before going to the palace.”
Although she couldn’t visit the palace herself, she decided to send a message.
After thinking it through, Jiang Libai summoned Chunxi and instructed her to send Mu Jiang to the palace to deliver a message to Changchun Palace, informing them that she was safe and sound.
With everything arranged, Jiang Libai finally realized she was feeling unwell.
She rested her hand on her belly, enduring the discomfort for a while, but the pain persisted.
“Princess?” Gu Yun noticed her complexion growing pale and quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Is your stomach hurting?”
Jiang Libai nodded. “Have Muzhou summon Imperial Physician Zhao.”
Gu Yun immediately helped her lie down on the soft couch, covering her with a thin blanket before striding out of the room to call for Muzhou.
“Hurry and fetch Imperial Physician Zhao!”
Seeing the usually composed Prince Consort looking so anxious, Muzhou took the order without hesitation and sprinted off.
Gu Yun quickly returned to the room.
She knelt by the side of the couch, brushing away the loose strands of hair from the Seventh Princess’s face and releasing a soothing wave of pheromones.
“Princess, how are you feeling now?”
The familiar scent eased Jiang Libai’s discomfort slightly, but the pain in her stomach didn’t fully subside.
Gu Yun’s thin lips pressed into a firm line as she hesitated for a moment, her expression filled with uncertainty. “Could it be… are you going into labor?”
Her pheromones weren’t helping—could the Princess be about to give birth?!
But… she was only eight months along. It was far too early!
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
