Chapter 31: The Cold Prince Whose Heart Belongs to a Pure Love

As soon as Jing Yunluo returned to the Prince’s residence and entered the courtyard, Mengyue hurried to greet her.

"Your Highness, you have finally returned!"

"Yes. Oh, that’s right—give instructions for tomorrow. From now on, no one in the residence is to call me 'Your Highness.' Just address me as Miss Jing."

Jing Yunluo had made up her mind. She would distance herself from Situ Che bit by bit, and every step of that distancing would be solely because of Jin Yunlan.

"Ah?" Mengyue was caught off guard, but seeing the seriousness and determination in Jing Yunluo’s expression, she nodded in agreement.

"Never mind that for now. How was today? Did Elder Zhang say anything?"

"Oh, the old gentleman wrote a letter for me to bring to Your... to bring to you, Miss."

Jing Yunluo took the letter and told Mengyue to lock the door. The contents were simple: Zhang Zhiru was currently researching those medicines and asked if Jing Yunluo had any other pills she could bring him.

Jing Yunluo smiled and sighed, "This old gentleman is even more impatient than I am!"

"Miss..." After locking the door, Mengyue looked at Jing Yunluo and spoke hesitantly.

"What is it?"

"When I came back earlier, I heard about what happened on the street. Are you... are you alright?"

"I’m fine." Jing Yunluo walked over and gently pinched Mengyue’s cheek. "Don’t worry. I am slowly letting go—letting go of the past feelings and letting go of Situ Che as a person."

"But... the Prince is your husband after all. Doing this is truly somewhat improper."

Jing Yunluo looked at the teenage girl and couldn't help but laugh. "What is improper about it?"

"Well..." Mengyue thought for a moment. "Husband and wife should be of one heart and mind, and they should be loyal and responsible toward their other half. Even if a man is allowed to have multiple wives and concubines, he should still show respect to his first wife!"

Jing Yunluo smiled. "Exactly. Even you, a young girl in your teens, understand this principle. Does Situ Che not understand it? It’s not that he doesn't understand; he just doesn't want to, and he is even less willing to. But it doesn't matter. I knew from the very beginning that the person Situ Che loves is Jin Yunlan, not me."

"Miss..." Mengyue looked at Jing Yunluo with eyes full of sympathy.

"Don't look at me like that. Him not loving me is not my loss—it is his!"

Jing Yunluo walked to the doorway with her hands behind her back, watching the setting sun. "Yue'er, you must remember that a woman's life is already difficult enough; there is no need to make it harder on yourself. Since it is clear that you cannot obtain something, or that the price of obtaining it would be too high, then don't be persistent. This is something I have only just realized, but I hope you will remember it from now on!"

Mengyue nodded earnestly. "Yes, Miss, rest assured, Yue'er will certainly remember!"

Elsewhere, the Gu household was in complete chaos. Situ Che had used force to take Jin Yunlan away and send her to the Prime Minister’s residence. Naturally, Young Master Gu would not sit idly by, but under Situ Che’s orders, he was beaten by Zhaoyun until he couldn't even stand.

In an instant, the gossip in the capital regarding the Prince of Jin intensified, and, unsurprisingly, most of it was far from flattering. People whispered that Situ Che was a bully and that he was coveting another man's wife. Rumors flew, and even Jing Yunluo was dragged into the mess. Some of the so-called noble ladies in the capital mocked her for being unable to hold onto her husband’s heart, while some of the dissolute young men spoke even more shamelessly and vilely when discussing her.

Situ Che did not return that night, nor the next day. Jing Yunluo heard from the servants that he was busy setting up a residence for Jin Yunlan. The staff in the residence spoke to Jing Yunluo with extreme caution, fearing she would be heartbroken or enraged. But Jing Yunluo did not care; after all, this was well within her expectations.

"In the future, there is no need to report the Prince’s whereabouts to me." Jing Yunluo was busy sorting medicinal herbs and didn't even look up.

"Yes..." The servant retreated, looking dejected. He dared not say this directly to the Prince, but he certainly dared to tell Zhaoyun.

By the time Zhaoyun heard this, two days had passed. Situ Che was busy for three full days before finally returning. As for who he was busy for and what he was doing, everyone knew perfectly well. What the household found most strange was that the Princess, who had previously been so clingy toward the Prince, was now completely indifferent, even though she clearly knew he was with Jin Yunlan. It seemed... this time, the Princess was truly disappointed in the Prince.

Zhaoyun relayed the report to Situ Che. The Prince suddenly felt a sense of panic; he did not understand why Jing Yunluo had suddenly changed. Although he hadn't spent any time alone with Jin Yunlan over the past few days, after much thought, he decided he needed to offer an explanation.

With that in mind, Situ Che took a set of gemstone jewelry from his private treasury and went to the Nianyun Courtyard. As he reached the entrance, he saw Jing Yunluo tending to the herbs drying in the yard.

"What are you doing?"

Hearing his voice, Jing Yunluo looked up and seemed surprised to see him. "So, the Prince has finally deigned to return?" Her tone was undeniably acerbic.

Situ Che knew she must be feeling uncomfortable. "I haven't spent any time alone with Yunlan these past few days. I merely set up a house for her because I was worried her husband would cause her trouble again, so I hired a few martial servants to look after her."

Situ Che assumed that as long as he explained clearly, Jing Yunluo would no longer be angry. However, after hearing his words, she showed no reaction other than a simple nod. "I see. As long as the Prince is happy."

"Jing Yunluo, did you not hear what I just said?" Situ Che was becoming annoyed; after all, he was a Prince, and no one had ever treated him this way before.

Jing Yunluo sighed, put down her work, wiped her hands, and looked at him. "I heard you very clearly."

"Then why..." Situ Che wanted to ask why she was still unhappy after his explanation, but he felt that if he asked, she would only be more displeased, so he swallowed the question.

Yet, Jing Yunluo could guess what he wanted to say.

"Prince, when that little maid blocked the carriage that day, I tried to advise you, but you wouldn't listen. It doesn't matter; after all, you are the Prince, and you have the final say in this residence. I can also choose not to care. Since you say you and Jin Yunlan are innocent, very well—from now on, I will believe you. It makes no difference to me anyway; whether I believe you or not is of no importance to you. I will not go complaining to the Emperor, the Empress, or the Empress Dowager—you can rest assured of that. But I have one request."

Jing Yunluo walked up to Situ Che and shoved a bottle of cough medicine—identical to the one from before—into his arms.

"I only ask that before you do anything for Madam Gu, you consider whether I, your so-called Princess of Jin, will become a laughingstock in this capital!"

Having said that, Jing Yunluo turned and walked away.