“Consort Liang.” Fu Rou caught up to her. “I saw that you were not looking good. Did Grand Prince Liang…”
Lu Yingying lowered her eyes and cut her off. “There are many things to do after getting married. It is natural to be tired.”
Fu Rou lowered her voice. “On the day that you rescued me when we were at Cangshan Mountain, did Yan Zifang…”
“Fu Siyan!” Lu Yingying’s expression suddenly became fierce. “When you meet a consort, you should be greeting me. Without my permission, you may not speak so boldly.”
Fu Rou looked silently at Lu Yingying and bowed. “Greetings, Consort.”
However, Lu Yingying did not say a second word and walked past Fu Rou.
Fu Rou stood up and looked up. She felt that the figure in front of her was extremely weak. It was as if she was a falling leaf that had been ravaged by the autumn wind. However, after her multiple meetings with Lu Yingying, she knew that Lu Yingying was a tenacious woman. She was a woman that dared to love and hate. She was smart and no matter how many obstacles there were in her way, she could calmly get through them.
Three days later, Lu Yingying went to visit her maiden home. Naturally, Grand Prince Liang was not willing to accompany her but she did not care. As she faced her father and brother’s concern, she assured them that everything was alright. She did not mention anything about Grand Prince Liang abusing her. When she returned to the Liang Residence in the evening, there was no one to welcome her. The servants in the Liang Residence had always known how to read their master’s mood. As they saw him shout at her for the past three days and even hit her easily, no one saw her as the female master in the residence.
As she walked past the garden, she heard the sound of a bamboo flute. She saw Grand Prince Liang drink and entertain himself with Ruji, whom he favoured. Lu Yingying’s expression did not change as she continued forward until she reached the most deserted corner of the residence. Her living quarters had been shifted here. There was a pavilion filled with cobwebs, a house that had been left unused, a bed, a table and some daily necessities. If all the daily necessities were to be collected, it would not even fill a basket.
Lu Yingying changed her clothes before entering the pavilion and getting to work herself. She started a fire, boiled water and made tea. The Liang Residence’s Madam Situ brought two maids into the house. Madam Situ lifted her head and looked scornfully at Lu Yingying down her nose.
“His Highness said that we have to take your jewellery and clothes once you return from your maiden home.”
Lu Yingying pointed to a corner of the room as she flipped open a book and sipped some tea.
When Madam Situ entered the room, she saw that the clothes and jewellery had already been placed neatly in a tray. She ordered the maids to take them before walking out. Her expression was still filled with contempt. “It will be the best if Consort has a clear view of things. Oh right, His Highness is still waiting for you to attend to him. You don’t have the leisure to read and drink tea.”
Lu Yingying sighed. She did not even have a moment of rest as she returned to the garden that she had walked past.
The music and laughter had stopped. Ruji was seated on Grand Prince Liang’s leg as she fed him with her mouth. Her soft bosom was half-exposed as she behaved charmingly and flirtatiously.
Grand Prince Liang glanced at Lu Yingying and tightened his grip on Ruyi’s waist inappropriately. “You are like a chunk of wood and still need me to spell things out exactly. Quickly pour wine.”
Lu Yingying saw the ambiguous scene in front of her but did not seem to care as she stepped up to pour wine. Grand Prince Liang took hold of the wine cup and suddenly pushed Ruyi away as he threw the cup at Lu Yingying. At the same time, he stood up and kicked her to the ground.
“How dare you serve me cold wine, bitch!”
Lu Yingying was disheveled as she crawled up. Her tone was cold. “The previous time, you said that you did not like to drink warm wine.” No matter what she did, it was always wrong because he deeply despised her.
“How dare you talk back!” Grand Prince Liang took out a whip and started to hit her. He would hit her entire body except for her face.
Even Ruji could not stand watching and persuaded him. “Please calm down, Your Highness. If you injure Her Highness…”
Grand Prince Liang spat at Lu Yingying. “Peh! I don’t see a consort here. All I see is a shameless bitch!”
Lu Yingying suffered his hits silently. The more she did not cry out, the angrier Grand Prince Liang got. He did not stop and continued hitting her until her clothes tore from the whip and exposed numerous bloody scars.
He bellowed, “Get lost! Tomorrow, I will be attending a banquet at the Eastern Palace. I will ask Lu Qi if he knows of your shameful deed. I want to murder you entire family!”
“I will take responsibility for my actions. My father and brother do not know about this. If they knew, how would they have allowed me to marry into the Liang Residence? I only wish to fulfil my promise to you and repay you for the help you gave my father and brother.” She spoke expressionlessly. She hugged her arms and staggered off.
Grand Prince Liang’s heart palpitated. Did she really intend to repay his kindness?
Chapter 59.1: Undercurrent
Concubine Yan woke up from her afternoon nap. Yu He presented a letter to her.
After reading the letter, she spoke plainly. “Prince Zhao despised Qian Wenjing for his strict teaching method and collaborated with others to kill Qian Wenjing. Qian Wenjing found out about the plan and captured the person who instigated Prince Zhao. However, he helped Prince Zhao to hide it and did not report it to the Emperor.”
Yu He replied, “Tutor Qian’s personality is upright and fiery but his heart is soft.”
“He is a compassionate teacher, that is why Ge’er respects him so much.” Concubine Yan smiled. “It is Prince Zhao’s good fortune to receive Qian Wenjing’s assistance. My relationship with Concubine Xi is pretty good, I cannot use her son as a weakness. Hopefully, Prince Zhao knows what is best for him.” She returned the letter to Yu He.
An internal attendant came in to report that Concubine Xi had come to visit. Yu He frowned as he heard this and Concubine Yan saw his reaction.
At this moment, Concubine Xi walked in smiling brightly. Concubine Yan smiled as well. “Sister, how come you are free to visit me today?”
“My elder cousin, Wang Zuozhong, has arrived in Chang’an to report for duty. He has received the Emperor’s grace and was allowed to enter the palace to meet me.” Concubine Xi took a gift box from her personal maid. “In the past, I had Prince Zhao to talk to, to relieve my boredom. Ever since he has gone to Zhao County, it is much quieter at my place. It was rare to have a family member visit and I was naturally excited. My elder cousin brought a few boxes of almond biscuits for me. Sister, you might have seen a lot of these and don’t care for them. But these still carry the flavour of being brought from afar. Hence, I brought some for you to try.”
“This is such a rare item. You should present them to the Empress first.”
“I already sent two sets to Her Majesty. This box is for you.”
“Thank you.” It was only then did Concubine Yan nod and accept the biscuits.
Yu He stepped forward to receive the almond biscuits. Concubine Xi looked at Yu He.
“Is there something wrong?” Concubine Yan asked.
Concubine Xi replied, “My elder cousin saw Chief Yu when he visited the palace and said that Chief Yu looked like someone he had met before. I have never thought so but now that I hear him say it, I do think that Chief Yu does look familiar.”
Concubine Yan’s expression changed slightly as she put on a smile. “Sister, you are really funny. He is always moving about in the harem. Of course you would find him familiar after seeing him so many times. It would be weird if you did not recognise him.”