Chapter 23: The Cold-Hearted Prince with a White Moonlight 3

"Hiss... never mind, never mind. You were just loyally protecting your master."

Jing Yunluo handed another bottle of medicine to Mengyue. "Help me apply this."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Mengyue looked at the scratches on Jing Yunluo's neck, her delicate brows knitting together slightly.

"You know medicine?"

Situ Che’s gaze toward Jing Yunluo was filled with scrutiny.

"Yes, why?"

With the bandaging complete, Jing Yunluo looked at Situ Che with a calm and steady gaze.

"I know that the Grand Tutor’s daughter is well-versed in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but I never knew you were skilled in medicine."

Situ Che’s words were a blatant probe, without the slightest intention of masking his intent.

Jing Yunluo was momentarily stunned. Her medical knowledge was an innate skill from the Koi clan. The original host of this body had not possessed it, but if she wanted to justify having this ability, there was only one reason—and it was a reason she needed Situ Che to discover for himself.

"Your Highness, everyone has secrets. This is my secret."

Jing Yunluo did not answer directly; instead, she chose an response that took Situ Che by surprise.

She took a few steps in the direction she was heading. "However, Your Highness can rest assured that I will not do anything detrimental to you. I also know you have no feelings for me, and I have thought it through since last night. This marriage was decreed by His Majesty, and neither of us has the right to resist. Since that is the case, why not simply live this way? While growing old together in harmony might be impossible, surely we can manage to treat each other with the respect due to guests?"

To Jing Yunluo, the term "treating each other with the respect of guests" was not a particularly positive phrase in a marriage. After all, what couple truly in love would be so formal and distant with one another?

With Jing Yunluo having spoken so plainly, what more could Situ Che say? Moreover, she had just given him medicine to suppress his cough... Even if he wanted to turn against her, now was hardly the time.

Situ Che left Jing Yunluo's courtyard with Zhaoyun. Watching his retreating figure, Jing Yunluo walked to the gate and glanced at the plaque hanging above it, which read "Magnolia Courtyard."

She curled her lip, stepped back inside, and called out loudly, "Take that plaque down and replace it for me!"

"Yes!"

The people removing the magnolia trees in the courtyard had been brought by Mengyue from the Grand Tutor’s estate at Jing Yunluo’s request. Being servants from her maiden home, they naturally followed the instructions of their young mistress.

"My Lady, what should be written on the new plaque?"

The speaker was Yuan Lu, a guard from the Grand Tutor’s estate. He had previously served as a deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, but chose to become a guard at the Grand Tutor’s estate to repay a debt of gratitude.

"Brother Yuan, just write... 'Nianyun Courtyard'."

"Very well, I will have it written immediately."

"No need, your calligraphy is excellent, Brother Yuan. My father once told me that you were a talent in both literature and martial arts, personally titled as the top scholar in both by His Majesty."

"The Grand Tutor is too generous with his praise. Since you trust me, My Lady, I shall write it."

Yuan Lu no longer demurred and began inscribing the new plaque. Once finished, he began to carve the characters. Jing Yunluo watched from the side, and when he was done, she began to clap, offering her praise without reservation: "Brother Yuan, you are amazing!"

Yuan Lu merely smiled. "If it weren't for the Grand Tutor, where would I have acquired these skills?"

Yuan Lu was ten years older than Jing Yunluo. Having lost her mother at a young age and with her father preoccupied with state affairs, Jing Yunluo had essentially been raised by Yuan Lu from the age of five. Back then, before he joined the Jing household, Yuan Lu had been protecting the Emperor in the palace; with the Emperor’s permission, he would often bring Jing Yunluo into the palace with him.

The Emperor had been quite curious why the Grand Tutor’s daughter was being looked after by his deputy commander of the Imperial Guard. After some questioning, he learned why Yuan Lu was so devoted to her. Born into poverty, Yuan Lu’s parents had been beaten to death in the street by an official’s men after accidentally dirtying a carriage. Yuan Lu, only seven at the time, would have met the same fate had the Grand Tutor not saved him, buried his parents, and provided the funds for his education in both letters and arms. Later, due to a series of events involving assassination attempts, Yuan Lu could not rest easy and eventually explained the situation to the Emperor, resigning his post to join the Jing household.

"My Lady, it is all finished. Is there anything else you require of me?"

"Hmm... Brother Yuan, please help me get some bowl lotuses! I don't like magnolias; I prefer lotus flowers!"

Yuan Lu nodded. "Very well. It is rare for you to express a preference, My Lady. I will have it arranged immediately. It is a pity the courtyard is too small; otherwise, I could have created a lotus pond for you."

Jing Yunluo was stunned. The courtyard was small? This was the courtyard Situ Che had prepared for his beloved; it was the second largest in the entire Prince Jin estate, surpassed only by Situ Che’s own. It wasn't that Situ Che was being stingy, but rather that custom dictated the dimensions of the Princess Consort’s residence could not exceed those of the Prince.

Watching Yuan Lu and the others busily working, Jing Yunluo suddenly felt that life like this might not be so bad. She just wondered how hard a nut Situ Che would be to crack. In her previous world, Fu Chen had ultimately treated her as his most precious treasure, never resisting or refuting anything she said. Now that she was here, she found she was not quite used to this new dynamic.

In Nianyun Courtyard, the group had been so busy they hadn't even eaten lunch. Although Yuan Lu doted on Jing Yunluo, he knew that she was now a married woman, and it would be inappropriate for him to stay in the Prince Jin estate for too long with his men, especially with matters needing attention back home. Once he had arranged everything Jing Yunluo requested, he took his men and left.

"Your Highness, the Prince invites you to the front courtyard for dinner!" Mengyue announced as Jing Yunluo sat on the swing Yuan Lu had built, reading a book.

Jing Yunluo handed the book to Mengyue. "Very well, I am hungry anyway."

Mengyue put the book away and escorted Jing Yunluo to dine. Although she did not know why Situ Che had suddenly invited her to dinner, Jing Yunluo was certain it could not be anything good.

"Greetings, Your Highness!" Jing Yunluo bowed with a half-curtsey.

"No need for such formalities, Your Highness. Please, sit!" Situ Che appeared the picture of refined grace.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Once seated, Situ Che got straight to the point. "I heard that the people working for you today were all from the Grand Tutor’s estate?"

Jing Yunluo nodded. "Yes. I feared the people in this estate would not listen to my instructions, so I had Mengyue bring people from my own home."

Situ Che’s expression stiffened. "You joke, Your Highness. You are now the Princess Jin; you may command anyone in this estate as you please."

Jing Yunluo did not commit one way or the other, simply lowering her head to eat; after all, he had invited her here to dine.

"I wonder, Your Highness, why you invited me to dinner today?" Jing Yunluo asked just as she was nearly full, fearing that whatever Situ Che wanted to discuss might not be appropriate for a meal.

"It is like this... Yunlan... she is returning to the capital with her husband and will arrive tomorrow. I wish to hold a banquet to welcome her back..."

"Your Highness, I fear that would be inappropriate!"