Chapter 28: The Cold-Hearted Prince with an Unattainable Beloved in His Heart, Part 8

Just as Zhaoyun was about to speak, Jin Yunlan interrupted her.

“Miss Jing is here too!”

“Yunlan, you don’t know, do you? Miss Jing is now the Princess Consort of Jin. You can’t just call her Miss Jing anymore!”

The one speaking was Wang, Jin Yunlan’s close childhood friend from the capital, daughter of the Minister of Rites.

“Ah?”

Jin Yunlan was momentarily stunned, then forced a smile. “Really? So His Highness has already married…”

Jing Yunluo frowned slightly. Why did this feel so much like gossip? And rather bitter gossip at that.

Ignoring Jin Yunlan, she sat down beside Situ Che and began sipping her tea.

“Why did you come?” Situ Che asked quietly.

Jing Yunluo rolled her eyes internally. “Your guard told me you wanted me here. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come. Do you think I came just to watch you chat with your old flame?”

“Old flame? Can you not speak so unpleasantly?” Situ Che was displeased.

Jing Yunluo snorted coldly and said nothing.

Jin Yunlan’s gaze flickered constantly between Jing Yunluo and Situ Che. She wasn’t unaware that they were already married; she was merely testing Situ Che’s reaction.

But even though she had just acted hurt, why did Situ Che show no response at all?

It wasn’t like this before. Previously, whenever she was wronged, Situ Che would stand up for her.

But now, Situ Che only seemed interested in flirting with Jing Yunluo?

No! Jin Yunlan absolutely would not allow this to happen!

In Situ Che’s eyes, there should only be room for her!

“I didn’t even know that His Highness had married Miss Jing. I’m sorry I haven’t prepared a wedding gift. I can only apologize with a toast.”

Jin Yunlan spoke sincerely and raised a cup of wine to drink.

Before Situ Che could take a sip, Jing Yunluo stopped him.

“Princess Consort of Jin, Yunlan only offered a toast. Is that really necessary? Besides, His Highness is already your husband now. What is there to fear?”

Miss Wang spoke up in defense, but Jing Yunluo ignored her.

“What are you doing? It’s just a drink.”

Situ Che was a little angry and tried to pull his hand away.

Unexpectedly, Jing Yunluo held on tightly.

“The medicine I gave you means you can’t drink. Otherwise, all the previous doses were for nothing!”

“Then what of it?”

“What?”

Jing Yunluo was surprised. Just because Jin Yunlan offered a single toast, Situ Che was willing to disregard his health?

Situ Che drained the cup in one gulp. Around them, people whispered and snickered, mostly mocking Jing Yunluo.

Jin Yunlan looked on triumphantly.

Jing Yunluo bit back her anger and didn’t leave immediately but began silently drinking to herself.

Thinking about it, her favorability rating was deeply negative now. She was even angrier.

“Princess Consort, drinking like this won’t do…”

Though Zhaoyun hadn’t fully accepted Jing Yunluo as the Princess Consort yet, her impression of her was still favorable.

Jing Yunluo waved her off. “It’s fine. You don’t need to worry.”

She took a pill from her medicine bottle and swallowed it.

“Princess Consort, what are you taking? You shouldn’t mix medicine with alcohol.”

Zhaoyun tried to stop her but failed.

“It’s fine, it’s a hangover remedy.”

Zhaoyun found it strange. If someone wanted to get drunk to drown their sorrows, why take a cure? But if they didn’t want to get drunk, why drink at all?

Yet this was something Zhaoyun didn’t understand—having never experienced such feelings.

Jing Yunluo didn’t want to get drunk because she didn’t want Jin Yunlan to mock her, but she also didn’t want to be too sober, as being fully aware would be too painful.

Watching Jing Yunluo drink on and on, Situ Che felt a twinge of anger, though he wasn’t sure why.

“So lively here?”

Situ Qing suddenly appeared.

“P-Prince Heir?”

Miss Wang looked at Situ Qing, startled and a bit guilty.

Not because of anything else, but everyone knew Jing Yunluo and Situ Qing were childhood friends. Anyone who bullied her wouldn’t fare well.

Moreover, those who had just teased, saying Situ Che and Jin Yunlan were a perfect match, were more than a few.

“Brother?”

Situ Qing sighed and nodded helplessly.

He truly had no solution for his younger brother.

“Brother, why are you here?”

Jing Yunluo’s cheeks flushed as she looked at Situ Qing.

To avoid suspicion, Situ Qing did not sit beside Jing Yunluo.

“Yunluo, Father will handle today’s matter, so don’t worry. But Grand Empress Dowager said she wants to eat your sweet and sour pork ribs. She asked me to bring you to the palace.”

Situ Qing spoke loudly, intending for everyone present to hear.

Jin Yunlan’s face instantly turned pale.

Situ Qing’s words were clear: the emperor knew everything that happened today and would support Jing Yunluo.

“All right, brother, please wait a moment.”

Jing Yunluo stood and looked at Situ Che.

“Lord Wang, I suppose this banquet is about over. If there’s nothing else, I will take my leave.”

Though it sounded like a request, Situ Che understood it as a warning.

“Mm.”

“Thank you, Lord Wang!”

Jing Yunluo bowed to Situ Che and then left.

Situ Qing bent down and patted Situ Che on the shoulder, whispering in his ear, “A Che, hearts grow cold—don’t go too far.”

——

Kunning Palace:

“Grand Empress Dowager!”

Before meeting the Empress Dowager, Jing Yunluo bathed and changed clothes. She didn’t want the elderly lady to see her in such a disheveled state, nor did she want to cause her sorrow.

“Oh, our Luo Luo is getting more and more beautiful!”

The Empress Dowager held Jing Yunluo in her arms, her eyes full of tenderness.

“Grand Empress Dowager, I’ll make you sweet and sour pork ribs right away!”

For an elderly person, having a favorite dish was rare, and Jing Yunluo wanted to fulfill this wish as much as possible.

“Oh, it’s not really about the sweet and sour pork ribs. Qing’er just used it as an excuse. Grandma just misses you!”

The Empress Dowager took Jing Yunluo’s hand and had her sit beside her.

“I know what Che’er did. I don’t know what to say. Qing’er and Che’er, I watched you grow up, and Che’er wasn’t like this when he was young. I don’t know what kind of spell that Jin Yunlan has cast on him to make him so obsessed that he can’t even see people’s true hearts.”

“It’s all right, Grandma. This is the path I chose, and no matter what, I have to keep going. If one day, I really can’t go on… Grandma, then you protect me.”

As she spoke, Jing Yunluo sent the blessing power of the koi fish into the Empress Dowager’s body.

The Empress Dowager’s health had been poor these years, and Jing Yunluo hoped the kind old lady could live a long, healthy life.