Chapter 40

Jin Wang’s eyes glinted with interest as Yaoniang’s smile grew stiff.

They looked at each other in the eyes.

After a long while, Yaoniang gave in. She picked up a cherry with her slim fingers and put it between her lips. She hesitantly passed the cherry to Jin Wang with her mouth. 

Jin Wang ate the cherry, but he didn’t allow her lips to go free. Instead, her lips were caught in his mouth together alongside the cherry.

After some time, Yaoniang lowered her head and panted for air.

Jin Wang’s gaze darkened and his thin lips twitched. “Why haven’t you spit it out yet?” 

Her face immediately blushed. She quickly turned her head and spat out what was in her mouth. The cherry pit landed on the desk and rolled to the very edge before it stopped.

He reached out his hand and lifted her palm-sized face. He saw her eyelashes quivering and her glistening pink lips resembled rosy clouds. She looked mesmerizing.

As he thought of her moans from last night, Jin Wang’s gaze darkened. A large palm slid up along her slender waist. The fabric of the shirt felt soft and smooth like tofu.

He greedily kneaded her waist with his calloused fingers.

“Your highness, this servant will go back down.” Yaoniang panted as she pushed him away. Originally, she had come up to serve tea but was retained by Jin Wang with a plate of cherries.

Jin Wang ignored her. His large palm was already buried under her clothes.  

Fucheng, with his arms crossed over his chest, leaned against the door frame on the other side of the door. 

When he heard the movements inside, he couldn’t help but shake his head.

Once men taste the meat, they would be different from those who haven’t. After all, when had his highness ever acted like this before? He was like a cat who discovered a hole filled with fish. All he thought about during the day was to visit the hole. Then he would catch some fish to quench his insatiable appetite.  

To catch the fish, he learned to use snacks to coax people. Fucheng wondered to what degree was Nanny Su coaxed by his highness.  

Yet, Fucheng was very happy to see all this. Only when his highness interacted with women, would the manor have any hope of a little prince. Nanny Su also had a good figure for giving birth. Perhaps her first baby would even be a cute chubby boy! Within three years, she might even be able to have two babies!

As time passed, a light breeze blew by, and the gauze curtains swayed in the wind.

Yaoniang sat pitifully in Jin Wang’s lap. She was still wearing her cyan-coloured summer shirt. The hem of her skirt fell back down and her delicate white skin could no longer be seen. Yaoniang cleared her throat and said, “Your highness, this servant really needs to go back…”

She already repeated this phrase several times but was always ignored by Jin Wang.

Half an hour later, Jin Wang finally stopped.

Yaoniang laid in his embrace and rested for a while. When she tried to get down, she almost lost her footing. It was Jin Wang who lent her a hand and helped her to stand firm. She was too embarrassed to look at him. She hurriedly straightened her clothes and ran out. When she came out, she saw Fucheng standing by the side. Yaoniang became more self-conscious.

As she went down the stairs, she deliberately slowed down her steps. Her speed was like a crawling turtle. She wished that she had a mirror on hand so she could take a look at herself. With even a single mistake in her appearance, others would be aware of what had happened.

Fucheng stood outside the door for a little longer before he went in.

From behind the bookshelf, Jin Wang was no different than usual. He was reading the file in his hand. 

All of a sudden, he raised his head. Then he jerked his chin towards the porcelain plate left on the table and what remained of the cherries.

“Send some more of this to her.” As for who he was talking about, there was no need to say more.

Fucheng looked distressed and hesitated. Then he said, “There was only a basket of cherries. Since you don’t like to eat them, this servant only left two plates of it. One plate is here while the other was sent to Mammy Mu. The rest of the cherries were sent to Siyi Courtyard.”

When he saw the unpleasant expression on Jin Wang’s face, he further explained, “You had ordered for them to be sent.”

Jin Wang recalled with ease what he'd said.

As he thought up to here, he realized that he had given enough days of the cold shoulder to Siyi Courtyard. In his position, whether he favoured someone or not, it didn’t completely rely on whether he wished to. There were times where he does something simply because it must be done. Liuchun Pavilion was becoming more and more arrogant. It was time to suppress it.

Besides, Jin Wang felt that it was enough. Although he hated Xu Yanru, he had no plans to do anything like pampering the concubine and neglecting the wife. 

Yet, it was out of his expectations that Yaoniang likes to eat cherries. But since she likes it, he will give it to her. For Jin Wang, there was nothing that he was afraid to do.

“Go personally and ask for some. Say that this prince needs it to reward people.” The entire Jin Manor belonged to him. Jin Wang didn’t think that this move was inappropriate at all. According to Jin Wang, if he wished to give something he could. If he wished to take something back, that was also within his rights.

Fucheng looked miserable. When the master makes a mistake, it’s the servants who have to clean up after. Then he thought further. If a servant didn’t clean up after his master, what use would the servant be?

At Siyi Courtyard, Cuizhu finished conveying her message then left. Zi Yan hesitated. Then she said, “Your highness if you refused Liuchun Pavilion, would anything bad happen?” 

“What’s wrong with refusing?” said Consort Jin indifferently.

“But the little princess…”

Consort Jin sneered and set aside the book in her hands. “She only sent that servant girl with an excuse. Does she think that his highness would be unaware? Recently, she has been too arrogant so Jin Wang would want to suppress her. There’s no way he would agree to her request.” 

This basket of cherries was a sign. Even if her heart was filled with discontent, Consort Jin still had to accept it.

What Jin Wang gave to her was dignity. So long as she wished to sit in the high position of Consort Jin, she must accept it. She would even need to smile and say thank you. 

But her heart felt stifled inside and she desperately wished to vent her anger. Anyways, Jin Wang’s side wouldn’t touch her for now.

It was because Consort Jin understood the game too well that she felt especially humiliated. This sense of humiliation eroded her confidence over time. As time went on, she felt less and less like the proud daughter of the Xu family she originally was, before marriage.

“After Cuizhu returns from this trip, she will suffer,” said Zi Yan with a slight sigh.

Cuizhu, herself, was also aware of this. When she left Siyi Courtyard, her face was pale and her eyes were filled with resentment.

Zi Yan had served at Consort Jin’s side for many years. She naturally understood the look on Cuizhu’s face. This chess piece of Consort Jin was now completely useless. 

“She chose this path herself. This consort already gave her a choice. She dared to reach for things out of her reach. With her status and qualifications, she should’ve been more self-aware.”

Wasn’t reality like so? Whatever consequences happen, they were only caused by ourselves.

Zi Yan stopped talking. At this moment, someone outside the door announced that Eunuch Fu was here.

After Fucheng came inside, he greeted Consort Jin. Then he explained the purpose behind this visit.

The weather was hot outside, but Consort Jin had a weak constitution, so she never used ice. This meant that those who served alongside her also had to suffer through the heat. Once Fucheng finished explaining, the room was silent. It was so quiet and the air was completely still.

Fucheng also noticed the ugly expression on Consort Jin’s face, and he was rather puzzled. But he couldn’t be bothered to guess the other’s thoughts. He simply stood there with a smile on his face as he waited for them to get the cherries.

But in the eyes of Consort Jin, it was that bitch, Side Consort Hu, who was wearing that smile.

So what if you didn’t plan on giving any? I’ll still send people over. Now even if you didn’t want to give any, you still have to hand them over.

“Zi Yan, have someone go fetch them for Eunuch Fu. Give them all to him.” 

“Your Highness…” Zi Yan hesitated a little but she still followed her orders.

Fucheng smiled and politely said, “Consort, there’s no need to give everything. I only need…” He paused and thought for a while. Since Jin Wang had ordered it, they were probably for Nanny Su. His highness values her and only thinks about coaxing her all day long. If he only gave a little, it wouldn’t be presentable and his highness would lose face. For Jin Wang to look good, Fucheng said, “Half of it should be enough.”

Half?!

Originally, Consort Jin said those insincere words only for him to hear. Yet, he actually dared to take it seriously?

Fucheng left with a basket of cherries and a smile on his face. It wasn’t that he didn’t notice Consort Jin’s faux pas, but he simply couldn’t be bothered to care. He was a trusted servant of his highness Jin Wang and he only served him. Whether Consort Jin was happy or not, it had nothing to do with him.   

Besides, deep within Fucheng’s heart was a sense of disgust towards Consort Jin.

Fucheng was the only one who worked for Jin Wang that knew what happened from the beginning to the end. That lonely, cold, stubborn young man finally had colour in his life after much difficulty. But what resulted was resistance, revulsion, despise, and even betrayal. 

Now, that young man had grown up into a fine and upright mature man. The things that he once cared about, no longer weighed on his mind. Yet, the other party changed their attitude again. 

What a pity. It’s too late.

In this world, everything was like so. If you miss the opportunity, you miss it. You won’t be able to turn back and people rarely wish to turn back. 

Moreover, Fucheng didn’t think that Consort Jin truly wanted to repent. This was simply another method used by the women of nobility to consolidate their status. They would trample the men’s dignity to fulfill their wishes.

Fucheng believed that Nanny Su was much better. She was a gentle, kind, and simple woman. Yet, she could make his highness happy and improve his mood. There was also no need for his highness to be wary or apprehensive around her.

This was pretty good.

Once Fucheng was gone, Consort Jin lost her composure for the first time during her conflicts with Side Consort Hu. She smashed the teacup beside her onto the ground.

“This bitch!”

~

In the evening, after a tiresome day, Yaoniang returned to her room.

The ice was already placed in her ice kettle. Since the three wet nurses had different shifts for work, the internal affairs office ordered the ice to be delivered at a specific time each day. So whenever Yaoniang returned to her room, it would always be nice and cool. 

She rubbed her waist and was about to wash her face before going to eat dinner when she noticed something. She turned towards her ice kettle and saw a basket with stuff inside, placed on top of it.  

The basket was covered with a layer of cloth. She walked over, lifted up the piece of cloth, and saw bright, red, and delicious cherries smiling back at her.

For some reason, she remembered Jin Wang’s stern face.

She snorted inside, yet she couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows. 

It was because of this basket of cherries that Consort Jin and Side Consort Hu were fighting recently.

Consort Jin always valued her appearance and paid attention to propriety. So even when she suppressed Side Consort Hu, it wasn't too obvious. But now, her previous style had changed. She had adopted more ploys. 

Actually, she only used the normal methods that legal wives used to mess with the concubines. For example, she would leave them to hang during morning greetings. Or she would ask for them to stay behind and fan her. The fanning may even take up the majority of the day. Recently, Consort Jin liked to summon Side Consort Hu. But she wouldn't give any orders or instructions. Instead, Side Consider Hu would be forced to stand there and wait.

Side Consort Hu suffered from Consort Jin's ploys several times. Finally, she had enough and went to look for Jin Wang for support. Yet, he couldn't be bothered by her and completely ignored her. She was filled with anger and hatred. Sadly, in front of Consort Jin, she could only bow down before her. But, in private, Side Consort Hu would curse her and scheme for ways to fight back.  

With the two masters above fighting like a raging fire, their subordinates couldn't stay out of it. The maids of Siyi Courtyard and the maids of Liuchun Pavilion fought with each other often. Both sides suffered wins and losses. Their fights almost left the manor in shambles

Yaoniang usually stays within the courtyard and doesn’t go out to mingle. These were all gossip that she heard from those who also worked in her courtyard. This topic was discussed every day within the courtyard and it was like listening to a drama.

But instead of being the protagonist in her previous life, Yaoniang watched the show as a bystander in this life.

As an onlooker watching the drama unfold, Yaoniang sighed and wondered what was the point to all this. Indeed, for onlookers, there really was no point in all this drama. But for those that stood in the centre of the conflict, it was a matter of life and death.

From her experiences in her past life, Yaoniang also understood this point clearly.