Chapter 37: Interesting Choice of Words.
Lin Zhengfeng brushed the guards’ hands away from him. "I can walk by myself!"
He didn’t even bother looking at Rong Shuyan or Lin Xueyi anymore, probably because he was too furious that his pride as the Grand General had just been trampled on.
[Well... what a shame.] Lin Xueyi sighed inwardly. [I finally met someone who looks just like my own late father, but it turns out their personalities aren’t that different.]
She would be lying if she said she had never wished there was a better version of her father somewhere in this world.
She never wished for a father who was richer or stronger. The only thing she had ever wanted was a father who would love his daughter without asking for anything in return.
Someone who didn’t believe that violence was the only way to raise and discipline his children.
But then again, the world would be far too perfect if she always got everything she wished for.
[Well, it’s not like Rong Shuyan has a great father either. So that’s make two of us.] Lin Xueyi thought to herself. [Come to think of it... why is he going so far to defend me like this? I’m not even sure I’ve done anything to make myself that likable.]
All this time, Lin Xueyi had only been focused on making sure Rong Shuyan wouldn’t get annoyed with her, so she never expected the Sixth Prince to defend her so fiercely.
She didn’t even know he could be this dramatic!
After all, the novel spent far more time talking about the tragedies he had gone through than showing what he was really thinking.
[Most of the emotions he ever showed in the book were anger, irritation, or giving people the cold shoulder.] She narrowed her eyes slightly. [But I don’t think... he’s actually that cold.]
Yes, he rarely spoke in a cheerful tone—maybe never—but it wasn’t like he spent every day looking sad or angry.
Lin Xueyi had even seen him smile and look proud of himself after he finished a beautiful piece of calligraphy.
[The author was trying way too hard to make him look emo!] She puffed out her cheeks. [Yanyan is so much more than that!]
Even though he didn’t know what "emo" meant, Rong Shuyan felt a little flustered after listening to all of her praise. However, there was something more important they needed to discuss, so he pushed those feelings aside.
"If you don’t want to see your father again until we return home, I can forbid him from meeting you," Rong Shuyan said suddenly. "There are plenty of witnesses who saw Lin Chenghao push you off the bridge. That alone is more than enough to bring him before the court."
Lin Xueyi cleared her throat to collect her thoughts. "Thank you for caring about this consort, Your Highness," she said. "But unfortunately, I don’t think it’s possible to completely avoid seeing my father. After all, I’m sure I’ll run into him at the banquet tonight."
"The banquet?" Rong Shuyan raised an eyebrow. "After today’s accident, I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to attend. I can tell His Majesty the Emperor that you need more time to rest."
[That actually sounds great! I honestly don’t want to go to the banquet either—no, wait! That’s not right!]
"But if this consort doesn’t attend the banquet, won’t that mean Your Highness has to go alone?" Lin Xueyi asked softly. "That wouldn’t be good..."
"I can stay here and take care of you instead," Rong Shuyan replied.
Lin Xueyi widened her eyes before quickly shaking her head. "No, no, no. That would be even worse." She leaned closer and whispered, "If you use that reason, the nobles might think I’m too clingy."
Rong Shuyan was about to respond, but he closed his mouth again. After thinking about it more carefully, he realized that was probably exactly what would happen to his wife.
He had seen many noblewomen become the target of criticism over the smallest inconveniences.
Everyone knew Lin Xueyi had just been in an accident, but that alone wouldn’t spare her from malicious gossip.
In the end, those people always followed whatever opinion was popular. If someone said they felt sorry for the Princess Consort, everyone else would pity her too. But if someone claimed the Princess Consort was too clingy and was ruining her husband’s reputation, they would quickly believe that as well.
"This consort only needs to stay warm for a few hours," Lin Xueyi said. "After that, I think I’ll be fine. I just probably won’t look as beautiful as before or be able to impress everyone at the banquet."
[I honestly don’t want to go out, but if I show up looking weak and fragile, people will probably think twice before gossiping about Yanyan and me.]
Lin Xueyi cheered inwardly. [Yes! That sounds like a good plan!]
"There’s no need for you to impress anyone," Rong Shuyan said. "Your presence alone is enough."
[He’s so understanding!] Lin Xueyi screamed inwardly. [I seriously want to curse the author for making him act like a basic bitch in the novel!]
Rong Shuyan, however, couldn’t understand how the words "basic" and "bitch" could possibly go together. All the ladies working in the brothels were glamorous from head to toe, so it seemed impossible for any of them to be called "basic" in the slightest.
The more he listened to her thoughts, the more he realized she had a surprisingly interesting way of describing things.
Some of the words she used made no sense to him at all, yet they somehow painted a vivid picture in his mind.
"Then... how about this consort takes a nap for about... two hours, and then Your Highness can wake me up?" Lin Xueyi asked. "This consort believes a little nap might help."
"Very well," Rong Shuyan said after a brief pause. "Sleep for two hours. I’ll wake you when it’s time."
Lin Xueyi let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Your Highness."