Chapter 11

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“The best way is to persuade Jiaying to go back to Su Province and nurse her baby there. After all, the current situation can not be changed overnight,” Li Baojia thought silently in her heart.

When she thought about Zhang Jian and his mistress, she only felt disgusted.

Jiaying had been a gentle and kind character since she was a child, and at the moment, she didn’t even think to fight back when she had suffered so many grievances.

Li Baojia sighed.

Chunxin saw her get up. So, she stood up and stammered, “Miss Baojia, what I told you today…”

Li Baojia said, “I understand. I know Jiaying must have her own judgment. I will keep it between you and me. I won’t let others know about this.”

Chunxin put her mind at ease.

A figure, wearing a maid’s bun with a red rope tied on each side, emerged from the right side of the pavilion, looking quite festive.

It was Taotao who came over, and she was quite a bit surprised to see Li Baojia.

She beamed and asked, “Miss, what are you doing here? Miss Jiaying has woken up. She is looking for you.”

Li Baojia laughed. “Who was napping at the door? I’m really surprised at how I wasn’t noticed when I went out.”

Taotao stuck out her tongue. Li Baojia did not waste any time. They followed their way back.

As soon as they reached the courtyard, Li Jiaying saw her coming. She was quite embarrassed. “Oh, how careless of me. I really didn’t notice you. I actually slept until this time. You must be bored waiting, right? Where have you been?”

Li Baojia bounded her way to her while holding her hand, looking like everything was normal. “I just went outside to let Chunxin take me for a walk. The assistant minister’s garden is really nice.”

Then, she rubbed her belly. “I can’t believe it has been so long. I am hungry now. I’ve made up my mind to have my dinner here before going back.”

Li Jiaying laughed heartily at this. “You are still as naughty as before.”

She turned her head and said to Chunxin with a bit of a teasing tone, “We’ve got a naughty and hungry kitten here. Let’s get dinner ready.”

The two of them started laughing again. Before long, the dinner was ready and the table was full of dishes.

The dinner lady of Li Jiaying’s family was brought from their hometown and was well aware of their preferences in food. Many dishes were put on the table, mostly the specialties of Su Province and the Imperial City.

The braised duck feet with osmanthus were particularly popular with their bright red luster, soft texture, and perfect harmony with the ingredients. The cook thoughtfully got rid of the bones in them so that the ladies didn’t have to personally do it, or else, it might make them look vulgar.

After a pleasing dinner, Li Jiaying thought of the Lantern Festival which was two days away and said, “The Lantern Festival is two days away, isn’t it? You will go down to the street and watch the lanterns, right?”

When she said this, she was actually a little envious.

Since her marriage, she had not experienced a lively and dynamic festival for a long time.

The Lantern Festival was a festival for young men and unmarried girls. People of this era were quite open-minded. Before the festival came, many young men and women would light up lanterns on the street and exchange beaded flowers and handkerchiefs.

When a man or woman accepted a handkerchief or beaded flower from the other party, he or she would be considered agreeing to his or her request of starting a relationship.

At this point, they could inform their parents, and if everything worked out, they could choose an auspicious date for a wedding.

In fact, most people would not directly give their handkerchiefs or beaded flowers because it was very embarrassing to be rejected.

The case for noble women was a lot worse than that for men. The year before last year, the daughter of the feudal provincial in Yang Province gave her handkerchief to Zhou Ji’nan but was rejected. Up to now, it was still a funny story to tell among the noblewomen.

The girl was so ashamed that she hastily set up a marriage a few months later, vowing to never come back to the Lantern Festival.

Therefore, it was mostly those who were already in love or those newly in love who would choose to exchange the items. They were more of a symbol of establishing a relationship.

Li Baojia became bored. “I don’t want to go. I feel that there is nothing to see.”

The main reason was that the Lantern Festival was one of the most important festivals in the dynasty except for New Year’s Eve.

Every year, the crown prince would come to the palace gate on the occasion to scatter pomegranates at the entrance of the city so he could show his sincerity to the people and worship God for the prosperity of the country and the wellness of his fellow countrymen.

Since she married into the East Palace, she and the prince would pray together. Every year, she would see a sea of upturned faces from where she stood. She’d grown tired of it.

Li Jiaying said in surprise, “Didn’t you use to look forward to this festival the most in past years? What happened now?”

Then, she asked, “Is it because you had an unpleasant time with His Highness last time?”

Li Baojia was already full and was poking at the bowls with her chopsticks out of boredom. She froze upon hearing this. “We didn’t have an unpleasant time… Who told you that?”

Li Jiaying said, “I heard from the wife of the governor. She told me about what happened back there. She said you were scolded by His Highness and then, you cried on your way out. But you know what? I don’t buy it. How can such a noble man as His Highness have to give you a hard time by scolding you?”

The City Imperial’s noblewomen usually did not have much to do. Most of their daily activities consisted of going to banquets, commenting on flowers, and drinking tea. They were no different from wenches in their spare time.

Gossip had spread fast. What was more, before one knew it, there were already several versions of the story.

She didn’t know if her aunt Madam Qin had taken part in this campaign.

But she decided not to care.

She did not want to get involved with the prince again in this life, and the worse their relationship appeared in the eyes of outsiders, the better it was for her.

So, she said, “It was a little unpleasant. People were telling me how I’m destined to be His Highness’s concubine, which is not true. Now I have come around. His Highness is not interested in me. I better get out of his way. It’s good for both.”

Li Jiaying was shocked for a while before coming back to her senses. “His Highness is not interested in you? How come? Also, this is not about you and him. Did uncle know about this? His mind has been only on you being His Highness’s concubine.”

Li Baojia said, “I am not lying. His Highness has someone else in his heart and that woman is Su Ruhui. Just in case somebody asks you at the next banquet, just say so. She’s bound to be His Highness’s concubine.”

In fact, she was quite a mean and vindictive person. In her previous life, she snuck around behind her back but blamed her for taking her position. Therefore, she decided to let her be His Highness’s concubine and spend the rest of her life with him.

Li Jiaying frowned as she said, “Did His Highness say this to you? How… how about the Su family? Her father is nothing more than a third-class official. She will be less than enough to be His Highness’s concubine…”

Li Baojia interrupted her, “As long as His Highness likes her, that’s possible. A third-class official also has a certain level of power. Although my father is a first-class official and is quite popular among his students, the emperor has the final say. I don’t think my family is any better than hers.”

Li Jiaying was still frowning. She obviously didn’t understand what she just said.

Li Baojia said, “Forget about me. Let’s talk about you, Jiaying.”

Li Jiaying suddenly froze. “Me? What do you mean?”