Chapter 12: Isn’t This More Exciting Than a Play?
The streets were bustling, lined with shops. People of all sorts came and went, brushing past one another.
On the terrace of a teahouse, a figure leaned gently against the railing, their gaze slowly drifting over the crowd below.
"Roy... Sis, try this."
Xiao Jingyi held two skewers of candied hawthorns, handing one to Xiao Li.
Xiao Li merely glanced at it before pushing it away. "I have no appetite."
Xiao Jingyi had come to find her early this morning, begging and pleading to take her out.
Xiao Li was a mundane person. Having seen prosperity and technology, she had little interest in exploring this world.
’The culture and customs of ancient times are fine to admire as a tourist, but when they become your reality... The ’charm of the mortal world’ you witness is just people struggling desperately in lives they can never escape. For you to stand on high, look down upon them, and wax poetic about ’tranquil days’ and the ’charm of the mortal world’ is simply a cruel irony.’
’If you’re so tough, try becoming part of that ’charm’ and see if you can still appreciate it then.’
Xiao Li didn’t consider herself a pessimist, but she was by no means an optimist. She had been one of those insignificant specks in the vast mortal world, someone who had fought with everything she had to get what she wanted. But before she could even enjoy her achievements, she’d been trapped inside this book.
’Who the hell praises their prison cell, saying, ’My, what a lovely jail this is’?’
Xiao Jingyi, of course, had no idea her thoughts were so complex. If Xiao Li wasn’t going to eat her skewer, that just meant he could have two.
His gaze swept over Xiao Li’s hands, both of which were wrapped in bandages, and a complex emotion flickered in his eyes.
"Extra, extra! I hear Princess Xuanyang didn’t end up divorcing the Prince Consort! His Majesty held a banquet to get them to reconcile, so they’re definitely not splitting up now."
"Ha, that’s old news! The story’s already moved on. The Prince Consort and the Princess fought again! This time, she beat him so badly he’s disfigured. But it seems the Princess is hurt too—they even called for the Imperial Physician. It must be serious."
"Good heavens, a real fight?"
"Tch, you think that’s fake? The Prince Consort was beaten black and blue before and was still crying for a divorce. Now that he can’t get one, another fight is perfectly normal."
"But hold on. Isn’t Princess Xuanyang supposed to be a delicate, fragile lady? How can the Prince Consort, a grown man, not even be able to win a fight against her?"
Normally, the first assumption would be that the Princess is of such high status that the Prince Consort wouldn’t dare to lay a hand on her. But hearing this, the crowd let out a collective, mocking sigh.
"Haha, that Prince Consort is useless! He’s not even a real man. Is it any surprise he can’t win a fight against the Princess?"
"That’s not right. Wasn’t that rumor proven false? Didn’t the Imperial Physician confirm there’s nothing wrong with the Prince Consort’s health?"
The person who tried to argue for the truth was instantly swarmed.
"Hah, that’s just what the Imperial Physician *said*. Who’s to say the Lu family didn’t bribe him?"
"Exactly! A scholar values his reputation. How could he admit he’s useless? Of course he’d bribe the Imperial Physician to cover for him."
"If that Prince Consort were a real man, how could the Princess still be a virgin after three years of marriage? He’s definitely impotent."
"Hold on, everyone knows this. Why are you suddenly defending the Prince Consort? You didn’t take money from the Lu family, did you?"
"Quick, pull out your silver and buy everyone a round of drinks, or we’re not dropping this!"
The group descended into a raucous clamor. No matter how the man tried to explain that he hadn’t been bribed, no one believed him. In the end, he had no choice but to pay for the drinks.
From the building opposite, Xiao Li watched the entire farce unfold. A smile finally touched her usually impassive face.
’These people are just too precious.’
As one of the few who knew the truth, Xiao Jingyi sighed inwardly. ’Lu Yanzhi will never be able to clear his name of this stain.’
---
Having gotten his way, Xiao Jingyi had specifically brought Xiao Li out today to help her relax.
They drank tea, admired the scenery, went shopping, and watched a play. He tried to keep things simple, aiming only to put Xiao Li at ease.
Just as the two of them were getting absorbed in the play, a commotion erupted downstairs. Soon, the other audience members were all running outside.
Xiao Jingyi’s guard went to take a look and ran back up a moment later. "Prince, it was Zhao Yuan and Li You. They were harassing a young woman, but it turns out she’s Princess Chen. So they’re getting beaten up by the Heir of Pingnan Marquis and Young Master Liu."
"Princess Chen?" Xiao Jingyi thought he must have misheard.
Xiao Li, who had been paying little attention, finally turned her head. She vaguely recalled a plot point like this.
Xiao Jingyi asked, "Sis, want to go take a look?"
Xiao Li stood up, a wicked smile playing on her lips as she raised an eyebrow. "Let’s go. Isn’t this more exciting than any play?"
The corner of Xiao Jingyi’s mouth twitched. ’Indeed,’ he thought.
The scene of the incident wasn’t far, just through a nearby alley.
A large crowd had gathered. Protected by their attendants, the two of them squeezed through. The first thing they saw was two men being forced to kneel on the ground and apologize.
Xiao Jingyi explained to Xiao Li that the fat one, who looked like an over-proofed steamed bun, was Zhao Yuan, and the skinny one, who was built like a bamboo pole, was Li You. They were both from families of middling status and spent their days idling about, making them notorious troublemakers in the Capital City.
’Xiao Li couldn’t care less about their family backgrounds; she just found the contrast between their figures truly striking.’
’They had both been beaten up and were covered in bruises. It felt wrong to think it, but the sight was undeniably comical.’
The skinny one was prostrated on the ground, babbling apologies and begging for mercy.
"We’re sorry! We were blind and failed to recognize our betters! It was our mistake, we didn’t recognize Her Highness the Princess Consort! We beg for your forgiveness, Your Highness! Forgive us, Princely Heir!"
"We’ll turn over a new leaf, we swear we’ll never do it again! Please, Princess Consort, Princely Heir, Mr. Liu, just give us one more chance!"
The fat one lay on the ground, whimpering and nodding, his face so swollen he couldn’t utter a single word.
In front of them stood two men in bright, expensive-looking robes, protectively shielding a delicate woman dressed in white. This was, of course, Princess Chen, Liu Xueyin.
One was Young Master Liu, Liu Xueyin’s brother. The other was the Heir of Pingnan Marquis. Xiao Li knew him—he was the third male lead of the story, Gu Ling.
Three years ago, Gu Ling had been nothing more than the illegitimate son of Marquis Pingyang. Hunted by Lady Pingyang, he was injured and took refuge with the Liu Family, where he was saved and nursed back to health by Liu Xueyin. Later, he managed to turn the tables and bring about Lady Pingyang’s downfall, installing his own mother—a former mistress—in the main household and becoming the Princely Heir himself.
Grateful for the Liu Family’s kindness and harboring a secret love for Liu Xueyin, he now protected her at every turn.
Later in the story, after Liu Xueyin became Empress, Lu Yanzhi would continue to watch over her from afar as the Prince Consort. Meanwhile, Gu Ling, seeing that she had found happiness, would choose to travel to the distant border, protecting the common people—and, by extension, protecting her.
’What a beautiful love story. Too bad she was Princess Xuanyang, a mere cannon fodder character, unworthy of appreciating such a noble romance.’
"Xuanyang!" Liu Xueyin suddenly cried out. She strode quickly to stand before Xiao Li, her gaze sharp and reproachful.
The two men behind her also glared at Xiao Li with hostile expressions.
Liu Changge offered a perfunctory, insincere salute. "Prince, Princess."
Gu Ling was clearly less courteous. His handsome, severe face was filled with sarcasm. "Princess Xuanyang. I’ve heard so much about you."
’And it clearly wasn’t a good reputation he was referring to.’
Xiao Li shot him a sidelong glance, gave a dismissive nod, and said nothing further.
’The show’s over.’ She turned to leave, but Liu Xueyin grabbed her wrist, her tone firm. "Xuanyang, I need to talk to you."