PNB Chapter 207 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (111)
Chapter 207 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (111)
The warm spring breeze and the lingering smell of wine made people feel lightheaded. Peach petals swirled like rain, landing on people's hair and skirts. The ladies and wives raised their sleeves to shield themselves, or had their maids open small umbrellas to block the view.
The wind also lifted the curtain of the carriage, and the curtain with silver tassels swayed and suddenly lifted from one corner, revealing a pair of figures inside.
Lu Liruan's moon-white dress was eye-catching, but at this moment the moon-white was covered by a black color, and at a glance, all that could be seen was that the white and black colors were closely related.
Those with sharper eyes could see that gold thread was embroidered on the black fabric, and a hand with distinct knuckles emerged from the sleeve, meticulously plucking a petal from the hair of the girl beside him who had her eyes downcast.
As the wind passed, the curtain fell silently again, leaving only the tassels swaying and the bells hanging on the corner of the carriage ringing "ding-a-ling" as it drove away, elegant and ethereal.
Those who witnessed it were momentarily stunned; the two figures were so graceful and beautiful that it seemed as if they were seeing a painting amidst the peach blossom rain.
The Fourth Prince's wife also witnessed this scene. She was just about to say goodbye to the person next to her when she turned her head and saw it all at once!
"Just……"
She instinctively opened her mouth to ask who was in the car, but before she could say anything, she swallowed the words back. Wasn't that asking a question she already knew the answer to?
Who else could be the one to pick up Lu Liruan? It would naturally be His Highness the Third Prince, who had disappeared from everyone's sight for who knows how long.
Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but Lu Yuhua, who was annoyed by the beautiful scenery at the flower viewing banquet and whose mind was entirely focused on looking at others, was stopped a little ahead of Lu Liruan's carriage.
She glanced at him, still angry, and saw a man's profile.
Pale and thin, yet beautiful as a sturdy bamboo joint, his eyes, like those in a fine brush painting, were lowered, which should have given him a sense of disdain, but he only saw tenderness in them, as gentle as water and as light as flower petals.
In that fleeting moment, Lu Yuhua had no time to react and just stood there, frozen, until the sound of the bells faded into the hazy fragrance of spring before she could hear the chatter of the ladies and young women around her.
She heard Lu Liruan's name.
"His Highness the Third Prince... has he come in person to fetch His Highness the Third Prince's Consort?"
"Isn't that right?"
I don't know who spread the rumor that the young couple's relationship wasn't good. But if you ask me, the Third Prince and his consort have a deep and abiding love. Back then, the Empress disregarded all objections and insisted on marrying the Third Prince. How could the Third Prince not remember her kindness?
"After being married for so long, His Highness the Third Prince has not even been heard of having a concubine, let alone a secondary wife... Doesn't that show how much he loves His Highness the Princess Consort?"
The crowd was buzzing with discussion, as if the earlier words about Lu Liruan's hardships and difficult life had vanished like smoke, never to be mentioned again.
Presumably, this matter will reach the ears of even more people tomorrow. Lu Yuhua didn't know how she felt. Her face was grim. She stepped heavily onto the carriage, pulled back the curtain, and ordered it to move forward quickly, leaving all the gossip behind.
"Why did you go out today? Aren't you digging holes in the mansion?" Lu Liruan asked teasingly.
“Li Ruan is not here. I was bored at home, so I came out to look for her. I was afraid that Li Ruan was having so much fun outside that she forgot to come home.” Ji Shumin crushed the flower petals he had plucked from Lu Li Ruan’s hair with his fingertips.
The subtle, sweet and slightly astringent scent of the flower juice permeated the carriage, and the feeling of spring seemed to have spread to him as well, making him look much more vibrant than in winter.
The harsh and unbearable winter has finally passed... With the sound of bells, Lu Liruan finally felt at ease and this thought came to mind.
For some reason, Lu Liruan really liked the sound of the bell that day. Once, when she and Lu Wanyun were strolling around an old jewelry shop in the capital, she saw a bracelet with a bell on it and bought it for some reason.
The waiter assumed that Lu Liruan liked it herself, so he earnestly asked her if she wanted the tailor to make the size smaller.
Lu Liruan gestured on her wrist, shook her head, and told the waiter to wrap it up.
The bracelet was indeed too big for Lu Liruan; she could easily shake it off after putting it on.
This bracelet is exquisite and beautiful, with delicate patterns carved on it, several strands of silver wire twisted together, and two bells hanging on it.
It was clearly a style for women to wear. After returning home, Lu Liruan held the bracelet and pondered it for a moment, then sighed and put it back.
The wooden box was placed on a small table next to the soft chair. It wasn't until after dinner that Ji Shumin leaned against it, picked it up, and opened it.
"Did Li Ruan buy too big a bracelet?" Ji Shumin asked her.
In the Zizai Mountain Temple, after returning the hairpin that Ji Shuqin had personally made and given to the Empress as a gift, he discovered that Ji Shumin could also make jewelry.
Lu Liruan sometimes finds it strange that although the two brothers did not grow up together, they are sometimes very similar, even sharing the common trait of loving to do handicrafts and being very skillful with their hands.
Lu Liruan didn't know what Ji Shuqin was best at, but Ji Shumin was proficient in everything. He even tailored Lu Liruan's wedding dress himself. Later, he took even better care of choosing Lu Liruan's fabrics and jewelry than Lu Liruan herself did.
He was skilled in calligraphy and painting, and could apply makeup. He also enjoyed playing with clay. Although the room was clean and tidy, there was a special storeroom in the back to store the various pottery pieces sculpted and fired by the Third Prince.
Lu Liruan was sometimes curious about where Ji Shumin got so much energy and leisure, as he was quite proficient in everything.
"Shall I make it smaller for Li Ruan?" Ji Shumin fiddled with the bracelet, saying casually, "It's not very delicate, but if Li Ruan likes it..."
Halfway through his sentence, Lu Liruan pondered for a moment, then shook her head, a strange look in her eyes. For some reason, Ji Shumin became even more focused, staring at the bracelet in his hand.
"I will not change the fact that I wear the pear blossom hat..."
Ji Shumin slowly fell silent, his relaxed and languid expression turning into one of amusement. He straightened his back slightly, glancing sideways at Lu Liruan, his eyebrows raised: "Liruan was a gift to me?"
He guessed it from Lu Liruan's rather conflicted expression.
When Lu Liruan saw that he had said it, she didn't hide it anymore. She nodded and said with a hint of regret, "When I looked at it more closely after I got back, I found that you couldn't wear it."
"Why?"
"This is a women's style, and the pattern doesn't suit you."
Ji Shumin ran his fingertips along the silver threads on the bracelet and brought it closer to his wrist: "Upon closer inspection, it's not bad."
As he spoke, he slowly slipped the bracelet onto his wrist. The size was surprisingly perfect. Lu Liruan had become very familiar with Ji Shumin's body without even realizing it.
"And who set the rules about what patterns women can use and what patterns men cannot use?" He shook his hand to adjust the bracelet, and with his movement, the two silver bells made a crisp and delicate sound.
Lu Liruan blinked, her gaze drawn to the direction.
Ji Shumin shook his head again, raising an eyebrow as if he understood something.
"Does Li Ruan like the sound?" he said, keeping the silver bells ringing, a slight smile playing on his lips, his voice trailing off.
Lu Liruan nodded. Ji Shumin did look good wearing it. There was no trace of the affectedness of a man using a woman's item. Instead, it had an indescribable elegance.
Later, Lu Liruan heard the sound of the silver bell several times. When she heard it again, what came to mind was no longer the spring scene of that day, but the red silk and soft rope intertwined with the silver bell. The sound of the bell trembled in her ears, making her heart pound.
Later, Lu Liruan asked Ji Shumin to take the small ball out of the silver bell, and she wore it without making a sound.
After all, the Third Prince can't possibly make such a fuss wherever he goes, can he?
A faint red, friction mark was still visible on Ji Shumin's wrist, which looked rather alarming against his pale skin.
His sleeves were wide, offering no concealment whatsoever. As he removed the bracelet to retrieve the beads, he tilted his head and asked in a soft, teasing voice, "What, is Li Ruan tired of hearing this?"
"Or...is there some other new trick up his sleeve?"
Lu Liruan knew he was teasing her. Ji Shumin's mouth was usually sharp and unforgiving. When he said things that made people blush, he didn't hold back at all, and it was as natural as ordinary talk.
Whether it was my imagination or not, Ji Shumin's health had indeed improved a lot.
From his intimate behavior with Lu Liruan, one can see that he loves to be with Lu Liruan. The so-called gentleman's self-discipline is completely absent in him. Sometimes Lu Liruan even finds it absurd and too gorgeous.
"Hiss—" Lu Liruan gasped and covered Ji Shumin's mouth.
Ji Shumin didn't flinch, but just stared at Lu Liruan, the look in his eyes even more gentle and subtle than the spring breeze.
As expected, soon no one in the capital spoke of any discord between the Third Prince and his consort. Instead, everyone was saying that the two were a perfect couple, and that the Third Prince was extremely gentle with his consort...
The scene of the spring banquet that day was talked about with great interest, and the story was told in great detail, as if they had all seen it with their own eyes!
Ji Shuqin came to visit a few days later.
He looked somewhat depressed. He had come several times in the winter but was turned away at the door. Even when he visited during the New Year holidays, no one opened the door.
He initially thought Ji Shumin was unwell and had a capricious nature, so he didn't want to see anyone. However, he was surprised to find out that Ji Shumin was able to go out and fetch his wife to return to the mansion. He learned about this from other people.
Lately, he has been so busy that he has no time to spare. When he heard that Ji Shumin's story was all related to elegance, he couldn't help but smile wryly.
This time, he finally met his younger brother.
In the late spring weather, everyone else was wearing only a single layer of clothing, but Ji Shumin was still wearing two layers, with a thin blanket covering his legs.
He clasped his hands together, resting his chin on them, his sleeves hanging down, revealing a glint of silver on his wrist where he used to wear Buddhist prayer beads.
Seeing Ji Shuqin looking at his wrist, Ji Shumin casually flicked the silver bell that was no longer ringing with his fingertips.
He seemed somewhat smug as he said, "It was a gift from Li Ruan."
"Why does it look like a women's style?" Ji Shuqin, who was also familiar with jewelry patterns, looked at it carefully and said.
"So what if it is?" Ji Shumin didn't care at all: "Perhaps this is the kind of person I am suited to in Li Ruan's heart."
Ji Shumin sat up straight, pulled his sleeves together, and covered the bracelet.
"The original..." Ji Shuqin couldn't help but ask.
“It’s broken,” Ji Shumin said frankly.
Seeing that Ji Shuqin remained silent, Ji Shumin knew what he was thinking. However, at this moment, Ji Shumin was no longer ashamed or angry about the lie that had been exposed last time.
He took a box from a shelf under the bookshelf, opened it, and inside was the broken Buddhist prayer beads.
Ji Shumin picked up the thin rope and examined it; it was indeed very old.
Actually, these prayer beads were something Ji Shumin didn't want to make a sound and disturb Lu Liruan, who had just fallen asleep, when he was in unbearable pain.
He was drenched in cold sweat, his teeth chattering, and the excruciating pain in his internal organs made him unsure whether he was even making a sound.
A sudden, overwhelming pain struck him. In his panic, he hastily pressed the string of prayer beads between his teeth, biting down hard until he tasted the sweet, metallic taste of blood.
With a "snap," the string of the prayer beads was ripped off by him. His whole body trembled as if in spasm, and his long hair, which Lu Liruan had carefully combed during the day, became messy, covering his pale face.
Lu Liruan was awakened by the sound of the Buddhist beads scattering and bouncing. Before her mind could even process it, she had already rushed to Ji Shumin's side to check on him.
Helpless and unsure how to save Ji Shumin, she could only tremble as she reached out to brush the hair from his face, touching the dampness at the corner of his eyes, unsure whether it was cold sweat or physiological tears.
That night, Lu Liruan laid a mat on the ground, curled up on it, and sat there until dawn, never daring to let go of Ji Shumin's hand.
It wasn't until Ji Shumin had endured this wave of pain that Lu Liruan had the mind to search the room for the scattered Buddhist beads, but some of them had long since disappeared into some nook or cranny.
Lu Liruan swept with a broom several times, but still only found a little over half.
Just as Lu Liruan was about to let Xiao Xizi and the others come in to continue searching, Ji Shumin shook his head: "No need, if we can't find it, then forget it. I won't wear it anymore..."
"why?"
Lu Liruan didn't ask at that time because she knew Ji Shumin's heart, but now Ji Shuqin asked.
“That was just a past obsession; I’ve let it go now.” Ji Shumin pushed the box forward.
"I had forgotten about it, but now that I've remembered, I'm going to throw it away. Or, brother, would you like to take it back and return it to me?"
“Li Ruan gave it to me. It’s much prettier and more exquisite than these old Buddhist beads. I have nowhere to wear this thing anymore.” Ji Shumin pursed his lips and gave a gentle smile.
Ji Shuqin knew this was his excuse. After a long silence, he raised his hand, closed the box, and pushed it back to Ji Shumin: "Min'er, this is your thing. You decide whether to keep it or not. If you don't like it, you can't wear it anymore. It's fine to throw it away."
Ji Shumin showed a hint of surprise, but quickly concealed it.
"Are you feeling any better?" Ji Shumin noticed that Ji Shumin seemed to have gained some weight; at least his cheeks weren't pitifully thin anymore.
"I'm feeling much better. Li Ruan has taken good care of me."
Ji Shuqin was surprised that he couldn't stop talking about his wife, but no matter how he listened, he could tell from Ji Shumin's tone that he loved and cared for Lu Liruan.
He originally thought that his younger brother would never be close to or trust others in his entire life.
"Father is going to release my second brother," Ji Shuqin said to him, discussing matters of the court.
"Is that so? Did you put pressure on the Second Prince in court by being close to him?" Ji Shumin pointed out precisely.
Now that the Seventh Prince has lost his chance to compete, the First Prince is all-powerful, and those who have long been attached to the Second Prince naturally cannot stand by and watch Ji Shuqin smoothly reap the benefits and sit on the throne of the Crown Prince.