Chapter 6: The Smiling Tiger At The Door
The Emperor had nine sons from different mothers. Competition for the throne among the princes was nothing unusual in the empire. It was a ruthless game that every royal family eventually had to face.
However, the princes born to the Empress were often the most ambitious of them all. Raised with the belief that they had the strongest claim to the throne, they were usually the fiercest competitors and, more often than not, the worst troublemakers among their brothers.
One of them was Rong Mingze, better known as Prince Jing. He was the third prince and one of the people Lin Xueyi hated the most in the entire novel.
[Yanyan, you absolutely cannot trust that smiling tiger!] Lin Xueyi continued complaining in her mind. [He’ll make you suffer! He’ll make you suffer for twenty whole Chapters! TWENTY ChapterS!]
"Your Highness?" Eunuch Shen spoke again when Rong Shuyan remained silent. "Are you awake, Your Highness?"
"I am. You may come in," Rong Shuyan finally answered.
The moment the door opened, Lin Xueyi immediately sat back on the bed and hurriedly tidied her messy hair with her fingers.
"Should I ask Prince Jing to wait for you, Your Highness?" Eunuch Shen asked.
His gaze briefly landed on Lin Xueyi. To his surprise, the scheming Princess Consort had not caused any trouble for Rong Shuyan throughout the entire night.
"Why is he here so early in the morning?" Rong Shuyan sighed. "He’s already ruined my morning."
"Should this servant tell Prince Jing that Your Highness is too ill to receive guests?" Eunuch Shen asked carefully.
"If I don’t meet him today, he will probably keep trying to see me or send his attendants every day," Rong Shuyan said. "That would be even more troublesome. Tell him to wait."
[Yanyan, don’t meet him!] Lin Xueyi screamed in her mind even louder than before. [He’s a bad, bad, bad, bad, ultra-bad person!]
Lin Xueyi desperately wanted to stop Rong Shuyan from meeting Rong Mingze, but she had no good reason to keep two imperial brothers from seeing each other. If she tried, it would only make her look rude and suspicious.
[What if I make him trip instead so he won’t be able to meet Yanyan?] Lin Xueyi thought.
The original Lin Xueyi had been kidnapped before Rong Shuyan ever met Rong Mingze, so nothing like this had happened in the novel. But every transmigrator knew one thing: the moment you stepped into the story, the plot could change.
[I hope I don’t change the plot too much,] Lin Xueyi thought. A moment later, she shook her head. [Ah, whatever! I just can’t sit here and watch Yanyan suffer for the next twenty Chapters!]
Actually, it would be much worse than twenty Chapters. For Rong Shuyan, that suffering would last an entire month. Just imagining it was enough to give her a headache.
"Since Your Highness will be meeting Third Imperial Brother, this consort shall take her leave," Lin Xueyi said.
[There’s still time! I’ll make Rong Mingze slip before he gets anywhere near Yanyan!]
Before she could climb off the bed, Rong Shuyan suddenly spoke. "You will stay."
Rong Shuyan cleared his throat. "It would be impolite if you did not welcome Third Imperial Brother as well."
Lin Xueyi blinked several times. That was kind of strange because Rong Shuyan had never cared about things like that before. In the novel, some of his brothers had visited him many times, and he never bothered defending his wife when others criticized her for being rude.
[Why does he suddenly care about his wife’s reputation?] Lin Xueyi wondered.
After thinking for a moment, she came to a conclusion. [Maybe he just wants someone to keep him company.]
Her heart softened immediately. [Poor Yanyan.]
[He’s always alone whenever his scheming brothers come to visit.]
[But if I don’t stop Rong Mingze from meeting him, then—]
"Princess Consort." Rong Shuyan’s voice cut through her thoughts. "You need to change your clothes and return after half an incense stick’s time." His eyes narrowed slightly. "I do not want you to be late, not even by a single minute."
Lin Xueyi stiffened. She thought that perhaps Rong Shuyan was giving her a second chance to prove that she could be a good wife to him.
[If I’m late, he’ll probably send kidnappers after me again!]
Of course, Rong Shuyan’s real reason was much simpler. He was afraid Lin Xueyi would do something reckless.
His imperial brothers were not easy people to deal with. Once offended, they could be extremely troublesome, so the safest option was to keep Lin Xueyi where he could see her.
Lin Xueyi bowed several times before hurrying out of the room.
A group of servants was already waiting outside. The moment they saw her, they quickly escorted her back to her chambers and helped her change into fresh clothes.
Meanwhile, Rong Shuyan was also getting dressed with Eunuch Shen’s help.
"Your Highness," Eunuch Shen said carefully, "Prince Jing is quite close to Princess Consort’s father. Wouldn’t it be better if—"
"I know what’s best for me, Eunuch Shen," Rong Shuyan interrupted calmly.
The eunuch immediately fell silent.
Rong Shuyan lowered his gaze and adjusted his sleeve. "If my wife and my Third Imperial Brother are plotting something behind my back, then it is better to keep one of them close to me at all times."
Eunuch Shen could hear the cold edge in his master’s voice, so he didn’t dare to provoke him any longer.
At once, he lowered his head. "This servant understands, Your Highness."
On the other hand, Lin Xueyi could hardly believe her eyes when she stepped into the original Lin Xueyi’s chamber. Even though her presence had always been like a thorn in Rong Shuyan’s side, he had still given her a proper chamber out of basic courtesy.
She knew that nobles lived in large rooms, but this was on an entirely different level!
The chamber was enormous that her old house might have fit inside this room several times over.
"Princess Consort, which robe would you like to wear today?" a young maid with rosy cheeks asked with a bright smile as she pushed over a clothing rack filled with dozens of colorful robes.
Lin Xueyi stared at the display in shock.
In her previous life, the only way she could afford nice clothes was by hunting for bargains at thrift stores. Now, dozens of beautiful robes were lined up in front of her for her to choose from.
At this rate, she felt like she was about to pass out.