Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 42
Gu Yun’s nervousness was evident to Jiang Libai.
Jiang Libai held her hand and shook her head. “It shouldn’t be that.”
She could feel that it was just a slight disturbance of the fetus and not a sign of imminent labor.
“Smelling your scent, I feel much better.”
Hearing this, Gu Yun continued to release her pheromones.
Not long after, Imperial Physician Zhao rushed in with his medicine chest, accompanied by Chunxi.
“Princess, are you alright?” Chunxi was worried, fearing that the Princess might go into early labor.
She helped Imperial Physician Zhao set down the medicine chest, watched as he checked the Princess’s pulse, and then stood beside Jiang Libai.
Although Jiang Libai’s face was a bit pale, she didn’t appear to be in severe pain, which eased Chunxi’s concerns slightly.
“The Princess was startled and over-worried, which disturbed the fetus. With proper rest, she will recover.” Imperial Physician Zhao put away his medicine chest, sat at the round table, and began writing a prescription. “Later, Chunxi, have someone accompany me to fetch the medicine. Boil three bowls of water down to one bowl and give it to the Princess.”
Chunxi took the written prescription and nodded. “Alright. Thank you, Imperial Physician Zhao.”
Imperial Physician Zhao put down his pen and ink and spoke to Jiang Libai about the events outside. “Although last night’s incident came suddenly, the Second Prince didn’t have enough manpower. As soon as they entered the palace, they suffered one defeat after another.”
“The Emperor and the Noble Consort are safe and unharmed, so you can rest assured.”
For now, the Emperor was busy dealing with the remnants of the rebellion, the officials who participated in the coup, and the task of capturing the Second Prince, who had fled during the chaos.
“I understand. Thank you, sir.” Jiang Libai instructed Chunxi to give Imperial Physician Zhao some silver as a reward.
After everyone else left, Gu Yun sat beside the couch, massaging Jiang Libai’s slightly swollen hands. “Now you can be at ease, right? The Emperor and the Noble Consort are truly fine.”
Jiang Libai lowered her gaze and softly murmured, “Mm.”
Now that she was entirely calm, she had the energy to reflect on last night’s events.
In just one day and night, her Second Brother had staged a coup.
It all seemed so strange.
Although she had known before this that her Second Brother had ambitions for the throne, she never imagined he would one day launch a coup, and so aggressively at that.
Everything had been triggered by the discovery of that imperial robe.
It all felt too coincidental!
“How was the imperial robe discovered yesterday? Tell me the details,” Jiang Libai asked, suspecting something was amiss.
Gu Yun recounted everything she had seen in the main hall of Prince Rong’s residence in full detail.
“From the looks of it, the imperial robe was likely secretly made by the Second Prince himself. That’s why he was so desperate to get that person out of there,” Jiang Libai speculated.
No wonder he had been in such a hurry!
Thinking of this, she chuckled lightly. “I just don’t understand how, with his tendency to panic when things go wrong, he managed to come up with the idea of striking first with a coup.”
Gu Yun raised her hand to smooth the frown on Jiang Libai’s forehead and said softly, “The matter is over now. There’s no need for the Princess to dwell on it further.”
“Your health is what matters.”
Her voice was gentle, like a spring breeze that swept away Jiang Libai’s worries.
Jiang Libai raised her eyes to look at Gu Yun, tightly grasping her hand. “I’m just glad we’re both safe.”
Last night had been urgent and terrifying—she had thought the entire Princess’s residence would fall.
Fortunately, things hadn’t turned out too badly.
However, the Second Prince had already escaped, and she couldn’t question him about why he had ordered his soldiers to avoid attacking her residence.
But whether she questioned him or not didn’t matter; what mattered was that she and Gu Yun were both safe and sound.
She carefully observed Gu Yun’s face, watching her attentively massage her hand, and the joy in her heart slowly overflowed.
“Gu Yun.” Sitting up from the soft couch, she whispered, “Did you promise me last night that you’d marry me in the next life too?”
Gu Yun’s hands gradually stopped massaging.
Looking at the Seventh Princess with eyes full of tenderness, she was also moved by her emotions and softly replied, “Yes. If not you, then who else?”
As she said this, she gently touched the Seventh Princess’s round, soft face, speaking each word with clarity, “After all, I only like you.”
Was Gu Yun… confessing her feelings?!
Jiang Libai was momentarily stunned.
This was the first time she had clearly and unequivocally heard Gu Yun tell her she liked her!
Although she had already known her feelings, hearing such sweet words from her lips still made her heart race and filled her with joy.
She threw her arms around Gu Yun’s neck, brought her face close, kissed her lightly on her thin lips, and smiled with happiness in her eyes and brows. “Then I only like you, too!”
Gu Yun licked the corner of her lips, where Jiang Libai’s sweet scent seemed to linger.
Lowering her gaze, she smiled, wrapped her arms around Jiang Libai’s waist, and leaned in to gently and tenderly kiss her lips again.
“Princess, the medicine is ready…” Chunxi approached with the bowl of medicine, only to lift her head and see the Princess and the Consort in the middle of an affectionate kiss!
Her eyes widened in shock, and she dared not make a sound. She quickly turned and hurried away, fleeing the scene.
Interrupted, the two reluctantly ended their lingering kiss.
Jiang Libai’s cheeks were flushed red. She poked Gu Yun’s chest with her finger and scolded, “In broad daylight, why are you kissing me? See, Chunxi saw us now!”
“This is so embarrassing…”
Gu Yun took hold of her finger and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Chunxi won’t say anything.”
Although Chunxi could be a little scatterbrained at times, she was trustworthy and discreet.
Jiang Libai huffed softly. “I don’t care. I’m punishing you—no more kisses for the rest of the day!”
The girl’s pouty, playful demeanor was utterly adorable. Gu Yun couldn’t help but smile, nodding as she said, “Alright. Whatever the Princess says goes.”
—
It had been more than half a month since Prince Rong’s failed coup to seize the throne.
During this time, the capital was shrouded in an atmosphere of unease and apprehension.
With many officials involved in the rebellion having their families executed or exiled to the frontier, the remaining civil and military officials kept their heads down, fearing any association with the matter.
In court today, Emperor Yu once again issued a strict order to capture the traitor at all costs.
He also commanded the confiscation of Prince Rong’s estate, demoted his family to commoners, and had them imprisoned in the ancestral temple.
The capital was gripped with anxiety, and the Second Prince, Jiang Shen, who was on the run, was faring no better.
Nearly all of his soldiers had died in battle, sacrificing themselves to ensure his retreat.
Now, he had only a few thousand men left, and even his most trusted aide, Mr. Yu, had perished for him. Acknowledging his inability to resist any longer, he could only lead his men northward, constantly on the run and hiding along the way.
When he heard of Emperor Yu’s decree, Jiang Shen was both regretful and furious.
Beside him, Xu Songyan, heir to the Duke of An, was equally bitter.
He should have been living comfortably in the capital, enjoying his privileged life. Yet, by boarding the Second Prince’s doomed ship, he had been dragged into becoming a fugitive.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Duke of An’s estate had been seized by the emperor, leaving no hope of recovery.
And then there was his sister and nephew…
Thinking of them, Xu Songyan approached the Second Prince and tentatively said, “Your Highness, now that the rebellion has failed, the emperor won’t tolerate us any longer. Your family has also been imprisoned… Do you know how he plans to deal with them?”
It was pitiful. His sister had just given birth to her son less than two months ago, only to face such a devastating disaster.
Hearing this, Jiang Shen grew both anxious and irritated.
Of course, he wanted to rescue his son, but given that he couldn’t even protect himself now, how could he manage a rescue?
Knowing the Second Prince’s temperament, Xu Songyan offered a suggestion: “If we cannot rescue them directly, then we must find a more indirect approach.”
“What do you mean?” The Second Prince turned his head to look at him.
“Consort Yuan has deep roots in the palace and a powerful maternal family. Why not have her secure the release of your family?”
The Second Prince nearly laughed. “Are you out of your mind?! You think she would do that for me?!” If Consort Yuan had been willing to help him, he would’ve been crown prince long ago!
Xu Songyan wasn’t bothered by the Second Prince’s ridicule. Leaning close to his ear, he began to whisper his plan.
—
Once the capital had somewhat stabilized, Consort Yuan finally found the time to send a letter to her daughter.
In the letter, she detailed the individuals who had been dealt with in the palace over the past few days and carefully reminded her to take extra precautions, not to worry, and to focus on awaiting the birth of her child.
Holding the letter, Jiang Libai sighed.
Although the rebellion had largely been resolved, it was clear that her mother still had to share her father’s concerns about how to ultimately handle Jiang Shen’s family members.
“The Consort also has a message for the Prince Consort,” said Mu Jiang, the servant who had delivered the letter. Lowering her head, she relayed Consort Yuan’s instruction: “The Consort asks that the Prince Consort come to the palace tomorrow.”
Hearing this, Gu Yun was somewhat surprised.
She turned to Jiang Libai, who also looked puzzled, then back to Mu Jiang. “Did the Consort mention the reason for this?”
Mu Jiang shook her head. “I don’t know. The Consort only said that you should enter the palace tomorrow.”
Jiang Libai waved her hand, dismissing Mu Jiang after she had finished delivering the message.
“Why would Mother ask for you?”
Gu Yun shrugged. “I have no idea what it could be about.”
It was indeed curious.
Jiang Libai gently rubbed her belly, thinking that it had been quite some time since she last saw her mother. She said to Gu Yun, “Then tomorrow, I’ll accompany you into the palace.”
Gu Yun frowned in disapproval. “Since the Consort didn’t summon you, I’m sure it’s because she’s mindful that you’re about to give birth and shouldn’t be moving around unnecessarily. It’s better if I go alone.”
Jiang Libai supported her belly as she slowly stood up from her chair. She brushed aside Gu Yun’s attempt to help her and leisurely turned in a circle. “Look, I’m not incapable of moving. Besides, I still have more than half a month before the baby is due. Going into the palace tomorrow won’t be a problem.”
Seeing that Gu Yun still wasn’t convinced, Jiang Libai pouted, her lips trembling as she tugged at Gu Yun’s sleeve, swaying it pitifully. “I haven’t seen Mother in so long. Let me come with you, please!”
“Besides, with you accompanying me, nothing bad will happen.”
Faced with the pleading in her eyes, Gu Yun ultimately couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
“Alright,” she relented.
Jiang Libai beamed with joy and immediately began pulling her toward their room to prepare for their visit to the palace the next day.
—
**The next morning.**
It was early summer, and the wind carried a touch of warmth.
After Jiang Libai and Gu Yun finished getting ready, they boarded the carriage heading to the palace.
Mu Jiang, keeping in mind the Princess Consort’s instructions, carefully drove the carriage at a steady but slow pace toward the imperial palace.
When they arrived at the palace gates, it seemed that since Consort Yuan had only summoned Gu Yun, there was no one from Changchun Palace to greet them.
Jiang Libai, feeling too lazy to step out of the carriage, directly used her status and instructed Mu Jiang to drive the carriage into the palace grounds.
The guards at the gate watched as the Seventh Princess’s carriage gradually disappeared into the distance. One of them scratched the back of his head. “Why are Princess Jia Ning and the Prince Consort entering the palace?”
The other guard glanced at the sky and shook his head. “That’s Princess Jia Ning! Even without a summons, she’s allowed to enter the palace.”
Unaware of the guards’ chatter, Jiang Libai, sitting inside the carriage, began to feel drowsy.
Before long, the carriage came to a halt.
Jiang Libai opened her sleepy eyes, lifted the curtain, and asked, “What’s going on?” According to the timing, they hadn’t yet reached Changchun Palace.
Mu Jiang shifted slightly, allowing Jiang Libai to see the figure standing beside the carriage.
It was Eunuch Sun.
She looked at him in confusion. “Eunuch Sun, what brings you here?”
“The Emperor has learned that the Prince Consort has entered the palace and wishes to ask for his opinion on a matter.”
Why was her father also looking for Gu Yun?
Jiang Libai was even more surprised, but judging by Eunuch Sun’s expression, it seemed to be an urgent matter. She turned to Gu Yun and said, “You’d better go see Father first.”
Gu Yun had already met Emperor Yu several times before, so she didn’t think much of it. She hopped down from the carriage without hesitation. “Then, Princess, wait for me at Changchun Palace.”
The two parted ways—one following Eunuch Sun to Ganming Hall, the other continuing by carriage to Changchun Palace.
—
“I wonder why His Majesty is looking for me?”
As she walked toward Ganming Hall, Gu Yun asked Eunuch Sun in a calm voice.
“This servant is not sure either. It seems to be related to the Kingdom of Jin…” Eunuch Sun truly did not know, having only heard the Emperor mention it in passing.
The Kingdom of Jin…
Wasn’t that the original body’s homeland?
More than a decade had passed, and the Kingdom of Jin was actually sending word now? That was quite unexpected.
But Gu Yun didn’t take this matter to heart.
The Kingdom of Jin was the original body’s home, but it was not hers.
Moreover, in these past ten-plus years, no one from the Kingdom of Jin had cared whether the original body was alive or dead.
If the original soul were still in this body at this moment, she probably wouldn’t care about the Kingdom of Jin either.
She had already given up on them long ago.
Upon reaching Ganming Hall, Gu Yun saw Emperor Yu seated at the head of the hall.
“You’ve arrived?” Hearing movement, Emperor Yu put down his brush and lifted his gaze to look at Gu Yun, who was standing in the middle of the hall and saluting him. “Sit there.”
To be honest, ever since Gu Yun married Jia Ning, his conduct had been very satisfactory. He had gradually accepted him as Jia Ning’s husband.
But…
Thinking of the message from the Kingdom of Jin, Emperor Yu rubbed his temples.
“Didn’t I tell you before? After you married Jianing, I sent word to the Kingdom of Jin, but they remained silent, showing no response…”
Gu Yun nodded slightly.
“But this morning, I finally received a message from them.” Emperor Yu had just finished dealing with a rebellion and had not yet had a chance to rest when the letter from the Kingdom of Jin arrived.
“Your father wrote to say that you have an existing engagement in the Kingdom of Jin, so the wife you have married here cannot be recorded in the Kingdom of Jin’s royal jade registry.” At this point, Emperor Yu suppressed his anger. “How do you plan to respond to this matter?”
Although Gu Yun had been sent as a political hostage, she was still a prince of the Kingdom of Jin, and all her identity records were there.
This meant that her wife’s status also needed to be registered in the Kingdom of Jin to be officially recognized.
If the Kingdom of Jin refused to record Jia Ning’s name in the jade registry, then she would not be considered Gu Yun’s legitimate wife.
This was something Emperor Yu had never considered before.
“Your Majesty, the princess and I are already married, so she is my wife. Whether the Kingdom of Jin acknowledges it or not, the fact remains unchanged.”
Gu Yun had not expected the Kingdom of Jin to object to her marrying the Seventh Princess. How infuriating!
“I have been away for so long that I can no longer remember what that home was like.” She stood up and respectfully addressed Emperor Yu, “Since the Kingdom of Jin insists on using the jade registry as an excuse, then I ask Your Majesty to grant me an identity in the Kingdom of Yu.”
“Let me take on the status of a citizen of Yu.”
If the Kingdom of Jin refused to allow her to marry the Seventh Princess, then she would simply marry into the Yu royal family instead.
This way, once she had an official identity in the Kingdom of Yu, the Kingdom of Jin would be completely cut off.
Emperor Yu was visibly moved and utterly surprised.
He had never expected Gu Yun to be willing to marry into the family.
In this world, women married into their husband’s family—men did not marry into theirs.
Men who did so were often looked down upon, ridiculed, and criticized.
Even when Gu Yun’s status in the capital had been low, he was still a prince of the Kingdom of Jin. Emperor Yu had never considered having him marry into the Yu family.
But now, it seemed that this was the best solution.
“If that is what you wish, then I will grant you an identity in the Kingdom of Yu and record your name in our royal jade registry.”
Looking at the tall, dignified figure standing before him, Emperor Yu found himself increasingly pleased.
“From this day forward, you are no longer a citizen of the Kingdom of Jin. You are a citizen of Yu.”
Gu Yun cupped her hands and saluted. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting this favor.”
With this troublesome matter resolved, Gu Yun took her leave and prepared to head to Changchun Palace.
—
Elsewhere.
Jiang Libai had already stepped down from the carriage and entered Changchun Palace.
The young palace maid standing at the entrance saw her and quickly curtsied. “Why has the princess come?” She was about to go inside to announce her arrival.
Jiang Libai waved her hand. “No need. I’ll go in myself.”
The palace of Changchun had never restricted the Seventh Princess’s entry, so the palace maid simply stepped aside to make way.
Jiang Libai supported her belly with one hand and held onto Chunxi’s arm with the other, strolling leisurely toward the inner hall.
Crossing through the garden, she arrived outside the inner chamber.
Before she could enter, she heard the voices of her mother and Ming Tao, the head maidservant, from inside.
A bright smile spread across her face as she prepared to walk in.
But then, she heard Ming Tao sigh.
“…It’s a good thing the princess doesn’t know. Otherwise, who knows what kind of disaster it would cause…”
She doesn’t know?
She doesn’t know what?
Confused, Jiang Libai stopped in her tracks and stood at the door with Chunxi.
Inside, Ming Tao gently rubbed the Noble Consort Yuan’s back as she spoke.
“In truth, this may be for the best… At least the child in the princess’s belly belongs to Gu Yun. When he finds out, he will feel guilty and treat the princess and the little prince even more sincerely…”
Noble Consort Yuan shook her head. “So, tell me, what should we do? Should we just let him go unpunished?”
At this, her eyes turned cold in an instant.
“But that night, she took Jia Ning’s innocence and left her pregnant, causing her to suffer for so long. How could I possibly let him go so easily?!”
She had never imagined that the one who had violated Jia Ning was Gu Yun!
After searching for so long, she had only learned the truth yesterday.
The revelation had both shocked and enraged her.
“But, Your Highness, the princess has already been married to him for nearly a year. If you want to punish him now, how will you explain it to the princess? Will you tell her the truth?”
Noble Consort Yuan refused without hesitation.
“Jia Ning must not know. I cannot let her suffer again.”
For this novel one Kofi is two extra chapters. Ko-fi link: ko-fi.com/mitake55760
cool kiz
Jia Ning must be having a biology error in her mind