Transmigrated as the Princess's Scummy Wife - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Her Eyes Suddenly Flushed Pink

Xuan Zhaoci paid no mind to the mockery and sarcasm; her first instinct was to inconspicuously glance at Bai Xue. She rarely had the chance to meet with the Consort of Prince Yan, as Xuan Hengyan kept a strict watch over both of her wives, preventing outsiders from making contact unless absolutely necessary.

Bai Xue stood to Xuan Hengyan’s right, her back straight as a pine, her expression indifferent. A very slight curve played at the corner of her lips, making it impossible to tell if it was a genuine or forced smile. However, when Xuan Hengyan ridiculed Xuan Zhaoci and Nan Qing for “fading into the crowd,” Xuan Zhaoci caught a flash of fleeting annoyance in the depths of Bai Xue’s eyes.

The daughter of the Northwest General was straightforward by nature and clearly disdained such underhanded, petty tactics.

Xuan Zhaoci’s fingertips moved slightly. Donghe, who was supporting her, felt the signal against her palm and tightened her grip in silent understanding. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, master and servant completed a round of covert, rapid communication.

“Today is the Peach Banquet. This younger sister is but a guest; Second Royal Sister and Second Sister-in-law are the hosts. The peaches are the secondary hosts. I am well aware that a guest should not outshine the host, which is why I have made myself a laughingstock for Second Royal Sister.”

Having achieved her purpose, Xuan Zhaoci began to handle the situation. Her words were airtight, and those amber eyes unique to the imperial family welled with a bit of mist, making her look quite pitiful.

Originally, the crowd’s expressions had been varied after hearing the “fade into the crowd” comment, feeling the subtle barb. But upon seeing that cold, arrogant face turn so pathetic, they felt a sense of relief. It made sense; Princess Qinghe’s performance at the Imperial Academy before she married was mediocre, and she had always been submissive. It would have been strange if she could speak with such biting sarcasm.

Xuan Hengyan maintained a smile: “Qinghe, you certainly have a way with words.”

Xuan Zhaoci curtsied: “Second Royal Sister overpraises me. Lately, I have been frequently studying the classics with the Consort in the manor.”

Xuan Hengyan: “Oh? Then I shall have to test the Fifth Consort later.”

Xuan Zhaoci lowered her eyes, acting the part of a shy, devoted wife: “Second Royal Sister, please do not tease me further. The Consort and I have only picked up bits and pieces in the manor; how could such things be fit for public display?”

Xuan Hengyan laughed heartily. Once again, Xuan Zhaoci saw annoyance and disgust in Bai Xue’s eyes.

It was a very genuine kind of irritation. Xuan Zhaoci smiled inwardly, and her cold, frosty features were touched by a different color, leaving several unmarried noblewomen dazed. A princess so beautiful even if unfavored and of poor background could have married into any noble house. Why did she have to marry a mere farmer? Recalling Nan Qing’s rough appearance in the fields with her pant legs and sleeves rolled up, they sighed inwardly at such a waste of a celestial beauty.

“Princess Ning’an has arrived!” “The Crown Princess and the Crown Princess’s Consort have arrived!”

As they chatted, the gatekeeper announced a long list of names in one breath. Every imperial daughter and princess allowed out of the palace was on that list. Upon hearing the news, Xuan Hengyan’s eyes lit up. She led her two wives forward to meet Xuan Chengtian, kneeling and shouting: “Peace to the Crown Princess! Auspiciousness to the Crown Princess’s Consort!”

Everyone followed suit, kneeling and chanting in unison.

“Rise,” Xuan Chengtian said, sweeping her gaze over the crowd before looking away. “Why are you all gathered at the entrance? Are there peaches growing at the gate?”

“This younger sister was chatting with Qinghe at the entrance.” Xuan Hengyan immediately pushed a target forward, but Xuan Chengtian didn’t take the bait, saying simply: “Lead us to our seats.”

Word was that the Crown Princess had been busy with state affairs lately and suffered from lower back strain, making it difficult to stand for long. Xuan Hengyan didn’t dare delay and personally led her to her seat.

The banquet was set in a raised clearing in the center of the peach orchard. A mountain of pale pink filled the vision, with various types of peaches hanging from the branches, meticulously pruned by gardeners to be in peak condition for viewing.

The Crown Princess took her seat, and no one dared to wander further; everyone sat in their designated places. The seats were arranged along a narrow, man-made stream. The Crown Princess sat at the head in the seat of honor, with her Consort beside her. Three other main seats nearby remained empty, reserved for Prince Yan and her two wives.

The stream curved and wound; aside from those five seats, there was no strict order of precedence. However, the placement was clever: the imperial daughters and princesses were closest to the head. Among them, Prince Xian (the 16th daughter) and Prince Yi (the 17th daughter) sat across the stream, directly facing the Crown Princess. They were both still minors.

The other royals and their wives sat on either side of the two young Princes. Xuan Zhaoci was placed in a somewhat peripheral royal position, with an even more peripheral seat beside her evidently reserved for her Consort.

When she received the seating arrangement, Nan Qing was busy stir-frying. Someone dressed as a servant of Prince Yan’s manor walked past her and, while no one was looking, secretly tucked a note into her belt. She read it and tossed it directly into the fire to burn, her expression solemn. How were the 16th and 17th daughters already enfeoffed as Princes before they even reached adulthood?

Just as a large pot of vegetables began to smell slightly burnt, Nan Qing snapped back to her senses.

“Fifth Consort! This pot of food is ruined!” The Chief Steward of Prince Yan’s manor frowned and pinched his nose.

Nan Qing looked at the portion meant for ten people, her face full of regret: “Isn’t this just a waste?”

The other man looked her up and down with disdain: “Fifth Consort, how can a dish with an ‘off’ smell be presented in a dignified setting? Besides, this food won’t be wasted. The Consort will handle it.”

“How does your Consort plan to handle it?” Nan Qing pressed.

The Chief Steward replied: “The banquet dishes are extremely luxurious and abundant. If the main flavor isn’t affected, it will be given to the servants as a reward. If the flavor is bad, it goes to the manor’s cats and dogs. If even they won’t eat it, it’s used as fertilizer for the soil. How else do you think Prince Yan’s peaches grow so lush and beautiful?”

“Which Consort?” Nan Qing asked persistently. She wanted to gather as much information as possible about the key characters.

But the Chief Steward grew angry: “Fifth Consort, watch your words!”

“Watch my words for what?” She looked genuinely confused.

“Is a Consort someone you can question!?”

She said speechlessly, “I am merely asking which Consort is handling it. Just tell me which one and be done with it.”

“For someone of your status as a Consort to inquire about the inner affairs of Prince Yan’s manor is a breach of etiquette!”

Nan Qing: Compared to the Imperial Consorts (the wives of Princes), a mere (Consort of a Princess) truly was a lowly rank.

“Qiaoyun, why the noisy bickering here?”

Speak of the Consort, and the Consort appears. Bai Xue walked over slowly, looking indifferently at the Chief Steward, Qiaoyun. Qiaoyun lowered her eyes and accused: “The Fifth Consort is inquiring about the inner affairs of the manor for no reason. This person is filthy and indecent; Your Highness must stand up for me.”

Nan Qing: “?” Fortunately, her ability to recount events was strong. Since it had just happened, she remembered every detail and repeated the conversation to Bai Xue. Bai Xue’s brows knit tighter as she listened.

“Qinghe Consort, you indeed overstepped,” Bai Xue said, closing her eyes for a moment. “I shall ask Prince Yan to inform Highness Qinghe. I hope the Fifth Consort will not be so undisciplined in the future.”

Their eyes met. Nan Qing’s gaze was full of speechlessness, while Bai Xue’s was filled with exhaustion. Nan Qing was momentarily stunned. After a pause, she nodded slightly: “Fine. I hope Your Highness tells her exactly what happened, so as not to cause a misunderstanding.”

She didn’t want word spreading that she was eyeing Prince Yan’s wife. In her position, even if she had no feelings for Xuan Zhaoci, she couldn’t show interest in anyone else, or the progress she had made with Xuan Zhaoci would be ruined.

Bai Xue shot her a surprised look. “Please lead the maids and begin serving the dishes. This un-fried dish can be remade when you return.”

Nan Qing: “Wait a moment. Let me change my clothes.”

“I heard the Head Chef today is the Fifth Consort? Why would she be willing to cook?” “I heard she stood up for the Princess a few days ago and beat several maids. Such a powerful stance! Who would have thought that before Prince Yan, she can only bow her head and act like a grandson? If she’s told to cook, she cooks.” “That couple only dares to act big inside their own manor. Didn’t you see how the Fifth Princess was currying favor with Prince Yan at the gate? Outside, they are just meat on a chopping block.”

At the banquet, several groups far from the royal seats were whispering.

“Exactly. My sister scolded Princess Qinghe before, and she didn’t even dare talk back, just kept saying ‘yes, yes.’ It’s actually boring to bully someone like that. Her Consort, on the other hand, has a bit of a temper.” “How so?” “Just watch Prince Yan’s attitude later and follow suit. This Consort is much more interesting than a Princess who just nods and agrees with everything you say. A commoner with the guts to be bold that’s good fun.” They rubbed their hands in anticipation.

“Serve the dishes!” the maid at the foot of the hill shouted.

A long line of people carrying dishes walked steadily up the stone steps. Leading them was Bai Xue, dressed in her formal Consort attire, walking with a dignified gait. Following closely behind was someone in a pale pink Consort’s outfit Nan Qing. Holding a wooden tray with both hands, her Consort’s attire was unexpectedly a perfect match for Princess Qinghe’s gown.

However, she was wearing a mask. The mask was the image of a local dog, with two high-pointed ears the craftsmanship was lifelike and utterly comical. The crowd burst into laughter, their attention instantly captured by this sight. Xuan Chengtian and Xuan Hengyan looked on with great interest.

Amidst the joy, only Xuan Zhaoci kept her lips tightly pressed. Her brows were knit into a straight line, her face full of displeasure and even a hint of anger.

Facing the intense curiosity of the crowd, Bai Xue said warmly: “The Fifth Consort unfortunately injured her face during the cooking process. Afraid of affecting everyone’s appetite, she proactively put on a mask.”

Xuan Zhaoci’s breath hitched. Bai Xue waved her hand for the maids to distribute the appetizers.

Xuan Hengyan grew excited, shouting across the stream: “Did the Consort also injure her throat?” Her playful expression made it clear she was asking on purpose.

Bai Xue sighed: “Your Highness is truly perceptive. The Fifth Consort drank a cup of hot tea and scalded her throat; she cannot speak for the time being.”

Xuan Chengtian: “Has the Imperial Physician seen it?” Bai Xue: “The Physician has seen both injuries and prescribed medicine.”

Nan Qing feigned a deaf-mute state, ignoring everyone else. She simply knelt beside Xuan Zhaoci with the appetizer and began to serve her unhurriedly. In a moment no one noticed, she raised an eyebrow at her.

Am I not impressive? This way we don’t have to fear meeting.

The fresh, sweet scent of this person wafted over. The scent had been masked, the face covered, and not a single word was spoken it was a level of meticulous consideration.

But Xuan Zhaoci bit her lip, her hands at her side clenching until her knuckles turned white. “This Palace commands you to take off that mask.”

Nan Qing blinked, shook her head, and disobeyed. To her horror, the pale skin around Xuan Zhaoci’s eyes suddenly flushed pink. Nan Qing had never seen her show weakness like this; her heart rose into her throat. A sharp, dense pain, like being pricked by needles, flooded her chest.

Using her old method, Nan Qing dipped her finger into the stream and wrote: Your subject is injured, it is not fit for show.

“Do not make me repeat myself. Take it off.” The usually gentle voice had turned cold.

Nan Qing was stubborn. She knelt in place, eyes lowered, more obstinate than the dog on her mask. Xuan Zhaoci’s nose felt sour, and she bit her tongue until the sharp taste of blood filled her mouth.

Xuan Zhaoci: Stubborn fool furious.

Nan Qing: Pitying.

Support Transmigrated as the Princess’s Scummy Wife