Dressed As a Consort in Ancient Times - Chapter 46

Perhaps because Jiang Libai’s words were too blunt, Gu Yun, though feeling that she was being contradictory, still felt a bit hurt.  

She didn’t say anything else to invite further rejection and silently averted her gaze.  

Watching Gu Yun, who no longer looked at her, Jiang Libai kept feeling that she had been acting strangely lately. From time to time, she would reveal expressions that Jiang Libai couldn’t understand, as if… she was hiding something from her.  

At times like these, Jiang Libai felt as if she was being shut out, never truly allowed into Gu Yun’s heart. It was as if Gu Yun was unwilling to show her those complex emotions at all.  

Thinking about this, Jiang Libai found it even more frustrating and infuriating.  

She even started to doubt whether all the kindness Gu Yun had shown her before had been a lie—whether it was only because Gu Yun knew that the person from that night was her and that she had carried her child…  

Postpartum thoughts ran wild, and Jiang Libai grew increasingly irritated.  

She simply stopped paying attention to that silent person.  

Neither of them spoke again.  

Even though it was already early summer, the temperature in the room seemed to plummet, colder than the peak of a snowy mountain.  

In the following days, because of Xingxing, Gu Yun remained in Jiang Libai’s bedroom, interacting with her in a distant but civil manner.  

Just as Gu Yun’s cold was about to heal on its own, an urgent message from the northwest arrived in Yu Emperor’s hands at top speed.  

The Second Prince had already established contact with the Yun Kingdom in the northwest and was leading a group of men in preparation to head there. General Gao’s troops had been caught in a trap set by the Second Prince, causing a delay that made them miss the best opportunity for pursuit.  

Even worse, General Gao had been caught off guard and struck by a poisoned arrow. Now, he was gravely injured and unable to rise.  

Upon reading this report, Yu Emperor’s face darkened, and he grabbed a paperweight, slamming it onto the ground.  

“That bastard! He actually dared to collude with the Yun Kingdom!”

What a brainless fool! Did he really think that allying with the Yun Kingdom would give him a chance to rise again? He had no idea what kind of sinister schemes the Yun Kingdom was plotting!  

He must not be allowed to reach the Yun Kingdom!  

Otherwise, with that bastard’s understanding of their imperial family, who knew how he might betray Yu Kingdom and lead it to its downfall!  

However, what worried the Yu Emperor the most was which military general should be sent to pursue that traitor.  

Because Yu Kingdom had been at peace for over a decade, the older generation of generals had gradually retired, while the newer ones had yet to truly mature.  

And this mission to capture Jiang Shen might even lead to a confrontation with the Yun Kingdom in the northwest.  

This meant they needed a battle-hardened general with extensive real-world combat experience.  

Yet, the only capable generals in Yu Kingdom now were from Noble Consort Yuan’s maternal family.  

However, the Zhao family was stationed in the south, constantly monitoring Jin Kingdom’s movements.  

Thus, deploying them was not an easy option.  

After much deliberation, Yu Emperor still couldn’t decide on a suitable candidate and finally decided to summon the cabinet ministers for discussion.

—

The early June breeze already carried a hint of heat. As sunlight poured down and filtered through the swaying branches and leaves, it left behind scattered dappled imprints.

After nearly recovering from her cold, Gu Yun watched the shifting shadows of the trees outside the window, listening to the rustling leaves, and suddenly spoke, “Princess, I want to go out for a walk.”

These past few days, whether out of concern for Xingxing or for some other reason, she had not stepped past the threshold.  

Now, catching the warm scent in the wind, she suddenly felt like going out for a look.  

Her calm voice, as always, carried the carefree air of youth. But Jiang Libai felt that something was different.  

Beneath that carefree tone, there seemed to be an unseen trace of disappointment.  

She didn’t quite understand.  

Gu Yun was the one who had hurt her, the one who had deceived her.  

So why did Gu Yun now look as if she were the one who had been wronged?  

But she wouldn’t ask.  

Gu Yun could do as she pleased—Jiang Libai didn’t want to talk to her anymore.  

“The legs are yours. If you want to go out, then go,” Jiang Libai said, her peripheral vision catching sight of Gu Yun rising from the soft couch.  

Hmm…  

Until Gu Yun draped an outer robe over herself and walked all the way outside, not once did her gaze linger on Jiang Libai.  

The now-empty room felt suffocating.  

Gu Yun… truly seemed like a different person.  

But why?  

She was the one who had done something hurtful first!  

So why did it now seem like she was the one bullying Gu Yun instead?!  

Jiang Libai felt stifled.  

She had thought that threatening Gu Yun with separation would make her realize the gravity of her deception. Yet, for some unknown reason, Gu Yun had been listless these past few days, her entire demeanor drained and spiritless.  

She hadn’t even taken their relationship seriously enough to reflect on it.  

The sound of Xingxing crying interrupted Jiang Libai’s restless thoughts.  

These past days, she had been personally taking care of Xingxing and had grown familiar with her routine.  

At this time, she figured, Xingxing was probably hungry.  

Jiang Libai had no choice but to set aside her other thoughts and gently pick up the baby.

—

Gu Yun had rested for more than ten days, yet her spirit and energy had only worsened.  

She looked at the serene greenery filling the garden, at the vibrant blossoms in shades of purple and red, yet none of it brought her any comfort.  

For days, she had been hesitating over one matter.  

But because she couldn’t bear to part with Xingxing and… the princess, she had never been able to make up her mind.  

However, seeing how the princess had remained cold toward her these past days—clearly despising her to the extreme—her heart, already dejected from Xingxing’s growing independence, ached even more.  

By now, Xingxing had grown accustomed to being nursed by the princess and likely no longer needed her pheromones. And as for the princess… perhaps without her presence as an eyesore, she would be able to live more comfortably.  

Thinking of this, Gu Yun finally made her decision.  

She beckoned to a passing servant and instructed, “I want to enter the palace. Prepare a carriage for me.”  

Though the servant didn’t know why she suddenly wished to go to the palace, they still dutifully arranged for a carriage.  

As soon as Gu Yun left the residence for the palace, news of it quickly reached Jiang Libai’s ears.  

She was shocked, unable to understand what business Gu Yun could have in the palace.  

In that instant, panic surged within her.  

Could it be that Gu Yun was going to speak to her father, the emperor, and her mother, the consort, about their separation?!  

Her hands clenched tightly around the blanket, a trace of humiliation and frustration flashing across her face.  

Seeing the Seventh Princess like this, Chunxi immediately knew she was overthinking again.  

She hurriedly reassured her, “Princess, don’t dwell on it too much! You’re still in your postpartum period—you mustn’t overexert yourself with worry!”  

Jiang Libai desperately wanted to go to the palace to ask in person.  

But clearly, no matter how much she wanted to, she was powerless to do so—she simply couldn’t leave for the palace in her current state.

—

On the Other Side  

The Yu Emperor was reviewing memorials when a palace attendant came to report that the Seventh Prince Consort had an urgent matter to discuss.  

He thought he had misheard.  

After confirming once again that it was indeed Gu Yun who had requested the audience, he set down his brush and ordered Gu Yun to be brought in.  

“It’s rare for you to take the initiative to see me,” the Yu Emperor said, his tone still somewhat warm, as he had yet to learn what Noble Consort Yuan had uncovered. “How is Jia Ning? Is she recovering well? Has little Xing’er put on some weight?”  

“The princess is recovering well. She can now hold Xingxing and walk a few steps.”  

“Xingxing has been nursed by the princess herself these days, so she looks plumper than before. The princess even said that she feels heavier when carrying her.”  

As she spoke earnestly, a rare softness appeared on Gu Yun’s face.  

The Yu Emperor had yet to meet his little granddaughter. Hearing Gu Yun’s words, he couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He immediately rewarded Xingxing with a number of rare treasures.  

After chatting about family matters, the Yu Emperor noticed that Gu Yun showed no intention of leaving and asked, “You came to see me today—do you have another matter to discuss?”  

Gu Yun pressed her lips together, then stood up and cupped her hands in a formal salute. “Yes. Recently, I heard from the princess that Father Emperor has been troubled over selecting the right person to capture the Second Prince, Jiang Shen…”  

The vast hall was quiet and empty, and Gu Yun’s clear voice, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, suddenly rang in the Yu Emperor’s ears.  

His gaze flickered. “You… want me to send you?”  

Gu Yun knelt on one knee, her voice carrying a hint of sincerity. “I humbly ask Father Emperor to grant this request.”  

This was what she had been thinking about for days.  

The princess no longer wished to see her, and she herself had been lost in sorrow over Xingxing’s growing independence for some time now. She was in a poor state.  

She could not continue facing the Seventh Princess like this.  

If they stayed together, their relationship would only grow colder.  

Rather than that, it would be better for her to stay far away from the princess, giving them both time and space to calm down.  

Besides, that fool Jiang Shen had kidnapped the Seventh Princess, causing her to suffer a premature birth—she had to settle this debt with him.  

…Alright, to be honest, she was most afraid of hearing those two words from the princess again: “divorce.”  

When it came to matters of the heart, she didn’t know how to handle things perfectly.  

But she knew one thing—she did not want to divorce the princess.  

She liked the princess—liked her occasional arrogance and occasional softness, liked the way she would hold her hand and sway while calling her “Sister Gu” in a soft voice, and also liked… the way she would gaze at her with tearful eyes, completely dazed after being kissed breathless.  

No matter what the princess was like, she liked her.  

Except for when she spoke of divorce with a cold expression—she did not like that at all.  

So now, she wanted to use this opportunity to leave the princess’s side.  

This way, she could deal with the Second Prince and also avoid hearing those two dreaded words from the princess’s lips.  

Of course, Gu Yun wouldn’t reveal any of these thoughts to anyone.  

At this moment, the Yu Emperor looked at Gu Yun, kneeling in the center of the hall, his expression dark and unreadable, somewhat suspicious of his intentions.  

After all, in the Yu Emperor’s eyes, although Gu Yun had obtained Yu Kingdom citizenship and had even married into the imperial family, his blood was still that of Jin Kingdom’s people.  

It was fine in ordinary times, but when it came to military matters, the Yu Emperor couldn’t afford not to be cautious.  

“Why do you want to go? Do you understand that leading troops is not child’s play?” At this moment, his voice was colder than ever. “You’ve never led an army before—do you realize how ruthless the battlefield is? A single misstep, and you could lose your life!”  

A few days ago, General Gao had suffered a serious injury. Though he had narrowly survived, the arm struck by the poisoned arrow was now useless—he would be disabled for life.  

The Yu Emperor carefully explained this to Gu Yun, hoping to dissuade the prince consort.  

But Gu Yun had thought this through carefully before making her decision.  

So the Yu Emperor’s words did not shake her resolve.  

After all, in her past life in the interstellar world, she had witnessed battlefields far more brutal than this.  

It was just that here, in this ancient era, she had no starships, no AI, no advanced weaponry. She wasn’t entirely sure whether she could succeed.  

However, military strategy should be largely the same. If there were discrepancies, she could adjust accordingly.  

That was why she had the confidence to make this request of the Yu Emperor.  

Seeing Gu Yun’s stubborn determination, the Yu Emperor chuckled coldly. “Why the sudden interest in leading troops?”

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