Chapter 3

Gu Nanjin gave a lukewarm “Yes,” and an awkward silence immediately settled over Jiangxue Pavilion. Jun Mo's irritation grew with every passing moment, and he kept glancing at Gu Nanjin. In the past, whether he responded to her or not, she always had endless things to say. Yet now, she was actually this quiet. Why? Was it because of what had happened when she fell into the water? But when had she ever been so petty? Jun Mo only felt that the Gu Nanjin before him was somehow different. He rubbed his forehead and soon lost any desire to remain. Cui Ping had just finished giving instructions to the kitchen when she turned around and saw Jun Mo walking out. She immediately looked anxiously at Gu Nanjin twice, but Gu Nanjin merely watched everything unfold with an indifferent expression. She looked almost as though she was hoping Jun Mo would leave. Cui Ping could not help but frown. Once Jun Mo was out of sight, she lowered her voice and asked, “Miss, why did His Highness leave?” “Wasn't he allowed to leave?” Gu Nanjin answered with a question of her own. Seeing how completely unconcerned she looked, Cui Ping was both confused and worried. “Miss, haven't you always loved having meals with His Highness? Besides, you still haven't conceived a child. You should at least think of something.” It had already been a year since their marriage, yet Miss still had not become pregnant. Although His Highness and Princess Dowager Chen had never said anything about it, there were plenty of people outside the residence waiting to make a joke of them. Cui Ping truly did not want Miss to be hurt by all those malicious rumors. Gu Nanjin immediately understood what she meant. In her previous life, she had also desperately longed for a child. But now, she no longer felt the need to force the matter. She simply wanted to let nature take its course. “I've announced that I'm ill, so His Highness certainly won't stay the night. Instead of worrying about that, you'd be better off quickly preparing several courtyards.” Cui Ping had already heard the gist of things from Su Yuan and knew that the courtyards were being prepared for the Prince's aunt and her daughters. She was thinking of finding a few courtyards near Welcoming Pine Hall. Before she could leave, however, Gu Nanjin spoke up. “Remember, choose ones closer to Hanhui Courtyard.” Whenever Jun Mo did not stay at Jiangxue Pavilion, he would usually stay at Hanhui Courtyard, which was next to his study. Cui Ping immediately froze. After a long moment, she looked at Gu Nanjin in confusion. “Miss, Madam Wang is bringing the two young ladies with her.” The implication was obvious: they should avoid any appearance of impropriety. Gu Nanjin had thought the same way in her previous life, which was why she had arranged for Madam Wang and her two daughters to stay near Welcoming Pine Hall. But she had underestimated their intentions. Back then, the sisters, Wang Yarong and Wang Pei, had constantly looked for opportunities to “accidentally” run into Jun Mo, and Gu Nanjin had suffered quite a few setbacks because of it. This time, she would not be so foolish again. She might as well make things more convenient for them. That way, they would have no reason to cause trouble for her. With that thought, Gu Nanjin's tone became even more resolute. “Mother isn't feeling well. No matter how close their relationship is, we mustn't disturb her peace and quiet. Besides, I've heard that my two cousins have been by His Highness's side since childhood. They only grew distant after leaving the capital. Now that they've finally returned, we naturally shouldn't get in the way of their reunion.” “But...” Cui Ping wanted to say more, but Gu Nanjin pushed her out of the room. With no choice, Cui Ping could only follow her orders. The Prince's residence was full of people and gossip, so the news quickly reached Yun Tan. When she heard that the mother and her two daughters had actually been placed near Hanhui Courtyard, Yun Tan was so furious that she almost lost the calm and composed demeanor she normally took great pride in maintaining. Her maid, Ziyu, hurriedly brought her a cup of tea. “Miss, please calm down first.” After drinking the tea, Yun Tan's expression eased slightly, but the anger in her heart remained. Lowering her voice, she snapped, “What on earth is she thinking? Normally, she won't even let a female insect get anywhere near His Highness. How could she be foolish enough to place two delicate young ladies right beside Hanhui Courtyard?” “Miss, I actually think this is a good thing.” Ziyu lowered her gaze and spoke in a quiet voice. Yun Tan shot her a sidelong glance. “How so?” “Miss, think about it. His Highness has always preferred peace and quiet, yet the Princess Consort deliberately arranged for those two young ladies to stay right beside him. If the two cousins end up annoying His Highness, given his temperament, who do you think he'll resent?” After thinking it over, a slow smile spread across Yun Tan's lips. “The two cousins have traveled all this way. His Highness naturally won't treat them poorly. Instead, he'll vent all his anger on that foolish Gu Nanjin.” “Then what are you worried about?” Ziyu gestured for her to put her mind at ease and simply wait for the spectacle to unfold. Yun Tan nodded, and the gloom in her heart instantly disappeared. Time passed in the blink of an eye. Wang Qinshi, Jun Mo's maternal aunt, sent another letter, saying that she would arrive in the capital the following day. Gu Nanjin had claimed to be ill for three days. If she continued pretending, it would begin to seem unnatural, so that day she went to Welcoming Pine Hall to discuss the welcoming banquet with Princess Dowager Chen. Worried about her health, Princess Dowager Chen assigned her most capable attendant, Mama Zhao, to assist her. In her previous life, Gu Nanjin would never have missed an opportunity to prove herself in front of Jun Mo, and she would have politely declined her mother-in-law's kindness. But now, she could not be bothered to spend any more effort on Jun Mo. She was more than happy to let Mama Zhao help and immediately thanked her mother-in-law. Seeing her agree so readily, Princess Dowager Chen felt that she was no longer trying to handle everything herself as she had in the past. Instead, she seemed to have gained more of the bearing expected of the mistress of the household. Princess Dowager Chen happily pulled her into a long, intimate conversation. It was not until half an hour later, when she began yawning, that she finally let Gu Nanjin leave. When Gu Nanjin returned to Jiangxue Pavilion, she was surprised to find Jun Mo sitting inside. “Why are you here, Your Highness?” There was none of her usual delight in her voice. Instead, it sounded more like a question, as though she were not particularly pleased to see him. Fortunately, Jun Mo had something else on his mind and did not notice her tone. He merely asked, “You went to see Mother?” Gu Nanjin nodded. She was just about to tell him about the welcoming banquet the next day when she suddenly heard him mention Yun Tan. “I've finished investigating what happened at Lotus Garden. It was indeed Yun Tan's fault.” Gu Nanjin suddenly felt a lump in her throat. In both her previous and present lives, this was the first time she had ever heard Jun Mo admit that Yun Tan was in the wrong. Although she no longer cared about it as much as she once had, she was still relieved that she had finally obtained the truth. “Thank you, Your Highness.” Gu Nanjin's voice softened considerably, and a faint mist gathered in her clear eyes. Jun Mo suddenly had the urge to pull her into his arms. But as reserved as he had always been, he merely entertained the thought without acting on it. His expression remained stern as he said, “According to the law, anyone who dares show disrespect toward the Princess Consort is guilty of a serious offense. However, since this is her first offense, I was thinking of sending her to a convent to repent for more than a month. What do you think?” Even after the truth had come to light, Gu Nanjin had never expected Jun Mo to punish Yun Tan. After all, no one knew better than she did just how important Yun Tan was to him. That was why, after hearing what Jun Mo had said, Gu Nanjin remained silent for a long time. Only when Jun Mo asked her again did she finally speak softly. “If she is going to the convent to observe a vegetarian retreat and repent, she should be properly supervised as well. Why don't we ask Mother to send a senior maid to accompany her?” Under normal circumstances, Jun Mo would certainly have been reluctant to punish Yun Tan. In her previous life, Gu Nanjin would have known when to stop. At this point, she would have said a few words on Yun Tan's behalf, making Jun Mo think that she was a generous and forgiving woman. But now, she simply refused to make herself suffer like that again. She had been so helpless when she was struggling in the water. Compared to that, making Yun Tan spend some time in a convent was already letting her off far too easily.