Four Seasons Brocade – CH 154

Chapter 154 ☆、

Ah Wu had never known she was such an impatient person. She paced around the room for a while, and after confirming she definitely would not be able to sleep tonight, she immediately ordered Zi-Zhui to prepare a bowl of hangover soup and bring it to her. “Let’s go to Bingxue Forest.”

The stream outside Bingxue Forest was sprinkled with fragments of moonlight, but Ah Wu did not bother to admire the scenery. She lifted her skirt and walked straight up the steps, whispering to the eunuch guarding the door, “Is His Highness asleep?”

“His Highness just retired for the night. Eunuch Li is still inside. This servant will go in and inform him on behalf of the Princess.” With that, the eunuch went inside.

A short while later, Ah Wu heard footsteps coming from inside. “Why is the Princess here so late?” Li Yanguang came out, his sash not tied neatly; presumably, he had also retired for the night and had hurried out upon hearing Ah Wu’s arrival.

“I brought His Highness some hangover soup. Is His Highness asleep?”

Actually, Li Yanguang did not know if Prince Qi was asleep, but he at least knew that Prince Qi was in bed when he left; Li Yanguang himself had drawn the curtains.

“This servant will take the Princess to see him.” Li Yanguang stepped back, letting Ah Wu enter.

The young eunuch beside him was utterly dumbfounded. Was it not Eunuch Li who strictly forbade them from disturbing His Highness after he rested, even making him walk like a cat? Was it not Eunuch Li who said that if His Highness was woken up, he would not be able to sleep at night?

Li Yanguang glared at the clueless young eunuch beside him, led Ah Wu to Chu Mao’s bedroom, and at the door, he did not go in himself but just lowered his head and waited for Ah Wu to go in on her own.

Ah Wu’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Chu Mao was already asleep, and Li Yanguang, not daring to disturb him but also unwilling to refuse her, had sent her into this “dragon’s den”?

But having come this far, Ah Wu could not just back down. In her heart, however, she cursed Li Yanguang to death.

If Li Yanguang knew Ah Wu’s thoughts, he would surely cry foul. Was he the kind of person who would casually let anyone into Bingxue Forest, let alone the Prince’s bedchamber? The mere title of Princess Consort was nothing to him.

Actually, Ah Wu knew Chu Mao’s habit: once he fell asleep and was woken up, he could not fall back asleep. Usually, he would be a bit irritable at this time, and whoever was near him would be in trouble. Ah Wu hesitated, wondering if she should speak up and try to push Li Yanguang out, but then she thought that offending Li Yanguang would never do any good. If she returned to Bingxue Forest, things would not be so easy.

So, Ah Wu went around the screen and softly called to the motionless bed curtains, “Your Highness, are you asleep?”

There was no movement from inside the bed. Just as Ah Wu was about to pull her feet back, she heard Chu Mao’s deep, unique, and slightly hoarse voice say, “Why are you here?” Ah Wu could even picture his slightly furrowed brows.

Ah Wu’s heart sank to the bottom of a well. This was Chu Mao’s standard voice as he woke up. Looking at Li Yanguang, his neck was noticeably lower than before.

“I heard Your Highness drank a few more cups today, so I brought you some hangover soup,” Ah Wu said softly, her voice carrying a charm she herself did not realize.

Hearing movement from inside the bed, Li Yanguang swiftly and deftly rushed over to hang up the bed curtains for Chu Mao.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Li Yanguang even held his breath. Ah Wu was alright, just trying her best not to breathe too loudly. Only Chu Mao was now sitting up on the bed, pinching her brow with her fingers.

Then Chu Mao looked up at Li Yanguang, who silently retreated.

“Bring it here.”

“Huh?” Ah Wu did not react immediately.

“Did you not say you were bringing me hangover soup?” Chu Mao repeated, but his voice clearly carried a hint of impatience.

Ah Wu quickly took the blue-and-white porcelain bowl containing the hangover soup from the food box, poured a bowl, and handed it to Chu Mao. Chu Mao took it, downed it in one gulp, and then handed the bowl back to Ah Wu.

Ah Wu took the bowl blankly, still disoriented, when Chu Mao impatiently asked, “Is there anything else?”

“I cannot sleep. I wanted to talk to Your Highness; is that alright?” Ah Wu put down the bowl and said softly. Since she had already offended Chu Mao tonight, there was no reason to go back without saying anything.

Chu Mao turned to look at Ah Wu, his eyes sinister, as if a cold wind was blowing.

“My head feels a little sore. Come and massage it for me.” Chu Mao then lay down, making room for Ah Wu to sit.

Ah Wu hesitated slightly, weighed her options, and then sat on the edge of the bed, extending her middle finger and carefully and gently massaging Chu Mao’s temples.

Chu Mao gave a comfortable “Mmm” and said, “Go ahead.”

“I heard the Fifth Prince came today, too. Is he acting strangely?” Ah Wu carefully chose her words.

Chu Mao smiled slightly and said, “What do you think could be wrong with him?”

Ah Wu could not help but pout, “I know I was a bit rash this time. Your Highness, just give me a straight answer; otherwise, I definitely will not be able to sleep.”

“Hmm, massage my head again,” Chu Mao further requested.

Ah Wu wanted to scratch Chu Mao’s face raw, but she could only obediently rub and massage his head with her five fingers.

“Yuan-Chun did not kill him. I introduced him to a physician. He will be better in less than half a month,” Chu Mao said calmly. In reality, it would not take that long. As long as Yuan-Chun intervened, he could be cured immediately. But no husband would let someone who had slighted his wife off so easily.

Ah Wu paused, realizing her previous efforts had been in vain. She had not taught Chu Qin a lesson and had only given him leverage.

Chu Mao, currently enjoying Ah Wu’s massage with his eyes closed, opened them when he sensed she had stopped and said, “Do not worry, I will not let you suffer for nothing. I will get revenge for you tenfold, a hundredfold. I will put him at your feet and let you do whatever you want with him, alright?”

These words, this aura—Ah Wu looked at Chu Mao with surprise. Why was he not hiding his ambition from her anymore? Ah Wu wanted to probe further, but then thought that with someone as perceptive as Chu Mao, she should not be presumptuous.

“Alright, I will remember what Your Highness said.” Ah Wu continued massaging Chu Mao’s head.

“Your Highness, my fifth sister said some very strange things to me today,” Ah Wu said after a moment’s thought.

“Oh,” Chu Mao replied noncommittally.

“First, she mentioned Lady Xiangsi in the mansion, her words quite suggestive. Then she told me to wait patiently, that His Highness would eventually see my worth. I am wondering if the Sixth Prince knows about the Fifth Prince’s affair,” Ah Wu said worriedly.

Back in Yulan Hall, Ah Wu increasingly felt that the Sixth Prince must have realized she was still a virgin, and that was why he used Fifth Lady Rong to sow discord between the couple—something that had never happened before. The reason Ah Wu was so angry at the Fifth Prince’s words was that he implied he knew Ah Wu and Chu Mao had not consummated their marriage.

Although Ah Wu did not know how the Fifth Prince figured it out, it was clear he knew. And now that the Sixth Prince knew too, Ah Wu could not help but suspect that the Fifth Prince had told the Sixth Prince.

It just did not make sense. If the Fifth and Sixth Princes still had dealings with Chu Mao, then their relationship was practically irreconcilable, each seeing the other as their biggest rival for the throne. The Fifth Prince, for no apparent reason, was telling the Sixth Prince these things.

“Not surprising,” Chu Mao said, unsurprised. “The Sixth Prince has someone by the Fifth Prince’s side.” But then, Ah Wu saw Chu Mao sit up. “Xiangsi is not young anymore. The household has never had a mistress, and Nanny Hao could not go out to socialize, which is why things have been delayed until now. Now that you are in the household, you should help her find a match. Do not wrong her. Take her with you when you go out to visit guests.”

“Huh?” Ah Wu was even more surprised now. If she remembered correctly, was Xiangsi not going to be Chu Mao’s concubine? However, since Chu Mao was in no mood for this, Ah Wu was even less concerned about getting Xiangsi out. “Yes, I will keep this in mind.”

Ah Wu paused for a moment, then asked, “What trouble will the Sixth Prince cause if he finds out about this?” Ah Wu wondered if, if she were Chu Yu, she would definitely use this to her advantage. She wondered if Chu Mao had anticipated this when he introduced the physician to the Fifth Prince.

“Did you not already foresee a good show about to begin?” Chu Mao smiled. “Do not worry; it will not involve you.”

Hearing Chu Mao say this, Ah Wu was finally completely relieved. “Yes, thank you for relieving my worries, Your Highness. I will not disturb Your Highness’s rest any longer; I will go back now.”

Ah Wu had just stepped off the footstool by the bed when she heard a voice behind her: “Alright, you’ve kept me awake all this time. I will accompany you back to Yulan Hall now.”

“I will go call Li Yanguang.” Ah Wu made a move to leave.

“No need. If he does not see me tomorrow, he will naturally know to go to Yulan Hall.” Chu Mao got up, put on his shoes, and handed his outer robe to Ah Wu.

Ah Wu had no choice but to help Chu Mao dress. They were so close that she could smell the distinctive masculine scent emanating from him—not unpleasant, a refreshing fragrance of cold plum blossoms with a unique, indescribable aroma.

Zi-Shan and Chi-Jin, waiting outside Bingxue Forest, were surprised to see the two of them emerge and quickly stepped forward to greet Chu Mao.

Back at Yulan Hall, Ah Wu again helped Chu Mao undress and get into bed. She was becoming increasingly adept at this; in just one day, she had almost forgotten that these tasks were the maids’ responsibility.

With her worries gone, Ah Wu quickly drifted off to sleep. She had another dream: she was ascending the throne in Kunming Palace as Empress when suddenly the earth shook, and the throne began to sway. Then, the palace caught fire, and the heat was unbearable.