Chapter Twenty-Two: Flirting in Broad Daylight

It was indeed Xiao Yuanchi who had come. Had it not been for him, Gu Xuezhi would not have suddenly dropped her mask to test her.

Yin Jiaojiao turned back with a smile, “Oh my, Your Highness, you’ve come to visit Madam Sun!”

Xiao Yuanchi stood in the courtyard, his expression impassive. “Not as eager as you.”

The sycophantic words Yin Jiaojiao had prepared died in her throat.

“Your Highness.” Gu Xuezhi offered a faint, graceful smile and bowed.

Only then did Xiao Yuanchi’s expression soften. He spoke in a gentle tone, “Is your health any better?”

“Much better. Hanyan was just being foolish the other day, making such a fuss. I have already scolded her. These are just old ailments; it is nothing to worry about.”

“You have been frail since childhood. It does no harm for Hanyan to be a bit anxious; it is better to be safe than sorry.”

Gu Xuezhi blushed shyly. “His Highness is right. I have learned my lesson.”

Flirting in broad daylight—disgusting!

Yin Jiaojiao rolled her eyes. “Your Highness, you’ve come at just the right time. I was just discussing the birthday banquet with Madam Sun.”

“Birthday banquet?” Xiao Yuanchi stepped forward slowly, glancing at her sideways. “Your birthday isn't for another two months. Is there any need to prepare so early?”

He hadn't thought it was early when Gu Xuezhi’s birthday banquet was prepared six months in advance.

Yin Jiaojiao gritted her teeth and smiled. “It’s not mine, it’s Madam Sun’s. Your Highness, have you forgotten? Madam Sun’s birthday is in five days!”

The word “forgotten” caused Gu Xuezhi to frown.

Fortunately, Xiao Yuanchi did not disappoint her. “Didn't you say earlier that this year’s birthday should be kept low-key? Why the change of heart?”

“So you did remember that, Your Highness.” Gu Xuezhi breathed a sigh of relief. “I did think that, indeed. Last year’s celebration was too grand and not in accordance with protocol. If we held another large event this year, it would surely bring unnecessary gossip upon you. However… the Princess Consort did not seem to think so.”

Yin Jiaojiao had known all along that she wouldn't miss a chance to step on her, so she remained unruffled.

“Your Highness, I truly do not think so. Madam Sun is the orphaned daughter of General Gu, a Lady of the County personally conferred by the Emperor, and the widow of General Sun. It is a pity that such a noble person must be squeezed into our residence as a guest due to imperial decree. As a sister-in-law, I feel for her deeply in this struggle of living under another’s roof. After much thought, a birthday only comes once a year; it must be warm and harmonious to put Madam Sun at ease so she can enjoy her stay.”

Ever since she became the Princess Consort, Yin Jiaojiao had rarely used such biting, sarcastic tones to maintain her dignity. But after her rebirth, she had experienced an epiphany. She used it now with great satisfaction, hoping to anger the adulterous pair to death.

To her surprise, not only did Gu Xuezhi have no reaction, but Xiao Yuanchi even raised his eyebrows, looking rather intrigued.

“Jiaojiao is truly warm and hospitable.”

“Indeed, Your Highness.” Yin Jiaojiao tilted her head and smiled. “I have thought it through carefully. While we will hold the banquet, it need not be as grand as last year’s. A small, warm gathering within the manor will suffice. What do you think?”

Her eyes fluttered, and her red lips parted to reveal small, white teeth. After a few days, her complexion had become rosy—likely because she had been indulging those girls in Zhuying Garden to stir up trouble for him, and she had enjoyed it thoroughly.

Xiao Yuanchi did not answer, but instead reached out and hooked his arm around Yin Jiaojiao, pulling her abruptly toward him.

“Y-Your Highness!”

The Prince lowered his gaze slightly, a playful smirk on his lips. “The Princess Consort is so proactive—is it for the guest, or for me?”

Yin Jiaojiao stiffened and replied, “For the guest, and to please you.”

This was the truth. One banquet to resolve two problems—nothing could be more perfect. Thus, she spoke without a stutter, with complete sincerity.

“Good.” Xiao Yuanchi said aloud. “Xuezhi, a small gathering is not a bad idea. What do you think?”

Gu Xuezhi had intended to agree, but as she looked at the two standing so closely together, her voice sounded somewhat strained.

“If Your Highness thinks it is good, then I think it is good as well.”

The birthday banquet was thus settled, much more smoothly than Yin Jiaojiao had imagined.

Once the matter was concluded, she refused to linger. After exchanging a few polite words, she lifted her skirts and hurried away. Xiao Yuanchi and Gu Xuezhi naturally did not ask her to stay. As she left, she brushed past the nanny delivering medicine, and Yin Jiaojiao paused, quietly following her back.

Gu Xuezhi had returned to her zither. The nanny set the medicine down as she was instructed.

“This medicine is very bitter.”

“Bitter medicine is good for the illness; only then can you recover.” Xiao Yuanchi’s attention was on the zither. “This instrument looks familiar.”

“It is the one you gave me on my fourteenth birthday, Seventh Brother.”

Xiao Yuanchi suddenly realized, “So it was that zither…”

Gu Xuezhi said gloomily, “Could it be that you forgot, Seventh Brother?”

“How could I? Of all things, I would never forget that.”

Usually, when he said such things, she would feel at ease. But now, for some reason, she could not settle her heart. Xiao Yuanchi had never shown any intimacy with Yin Jiaojiao in front of her. Whether intentional or accidental, Gu Xuezhi had always assumed he was being considerate of her feelings.

But today, he had lost his restraint.

Gu Xuezhi stroked the medicine bowl and said slowly, “Seventh Brother, the prescription for this medicine is complicated and the ingredients are rare. I always have to trouble the Princess Consort to arrange it, and I feel quite guilty. Now, to trouble her with my birthday banquet as well, I feel even more embarrassed.”

“Although she is the Princess Consort, she does not manage the domestic affairs of the manor. You need not feel guilty.”

“Seventh Brother, she is the Princess Consort after all. Even if she says she doesn't manage internal affairs, if she really wanted to, could Master Zhang stop her?”

Xiao Yuanchi pressed a string, and the zither gave a sharp twang.

“Is there something you wish to say, Xuezhi?”

Gu Xuezhi drank the medicine and said slowly, “Nothing much, I just felt that today’s medicine was exceptionally bitter. By the way, Seventh Brother, you will come to my birthday banquet, won’t you?”

“Of course. What would you like for your birthday this time?”

“Seventh Brother…” Gu Xuezhi hesitated. “Every year on my birthday, you always ask what I want, and you give me whatever I say. This time, could you… think of it yourself?”

She spoke so softly that Yin Jiaojiao could not hear clearly, but judging by Xiao Yuanchi’s demeanor, they were likely not discussing the medicine. In truth, with Gu Xuezhi’s cleverness, she would not lay all her cards on the table here. Like her, her eyes were fixed on the birthday banquet.

Thinking of this, Yin Jiaojiao turned and left.

Over the next five days, she was as busy as a spinning top from morning till night. To ensure she had a legitimate reason, she even sent invitations into the palace, inviting Consort Shu and Lady Gu without exception.

This obedient behavior earned her much praise from Consort Shu, and even the palace servants in Qingning Hall became much more respectful when they saw her.

Four days passed in a flash, and everything was ready.

The Prince of Qin’s manor had originally been the ancestral home of a prosperous family from a hundred years ago. As that family declined and completely disappeared over a decade ago, the ancestral home changed hands several times before being selected by Xiao Yuanchi to be renovated into a princely residence. Because of the century of accumulation by that family, the original layout was already quite impressive. Xiao Yuanchi had not made major changes, preserving much of the original scenery. He was considered the most frugal among the princes who had established their own manors, a gesture that left even the usually hypercritical Censorate with nothing to say.

Yin Jiaojiao’s favorite spot was the island in the middle of the lake.

The island was not large, but the scenery was beautifully crafted, with pavilions, winding corridors, rockeries, flowers, and birds—everything one could wish for. Sometimes when she was hurt by Xiao Yuanchi, she would go to the island to stay for a few days, ignoring everyone. Therefore, everyone in the manor knew it was the Princess Consort’s favorite place. The fact that she was now using it to host Gu Xuezhi’s birthday banquet showed her sincerity.

“Tomorrow, you will perform second-to-last, and Madam Sun’s zither piece will follow. Practice well; you must outshine everyone!”

Yin Jiaojiao patted Luo Xiang on the shoulder with great anticipation. “Especially you, Luo Xiang. I have the highest hopes for you. Tomorrow, the Prince will be sitting right there watching. You must aim true and seize the opportunity to make him never forget you!”

Luo Xiang’s mouth twitched; for a moment, she didn’t know whether to be grateful or bewildered.

“Do not worry, Princess Consort. Luo Xiang will surely use all her skill to repay your kindness in recognizing my talent.”

Yin Jiaojiao looked at the irrepressible murderous intent in Luo Xiang’s eyes and felt greatly comforted.

After finishing her instructions there, she whispered to Qiu Ming, “How is it going on that side?”

“Everything is proceeding according to your arrangements, but…” Qiu Ming hesitated. “Princess Consort, why must you expose it at the birthday banquet? I always feel that doing so is not appropriate. It will only put the Prince in a difficult position, and after weighing his options, the final result may not be what you wish.”

“Heh.” Yin Jiaojiao looked at the busy servants. “He’ll have to have the chance to be in a difficult position first.”