Chapter 120: Virtuous and Gentle

  Thank you for the reward of 2 peace symbols from 风过留香01...

  “…This princess doesn't understand others, but if it's about you, I still have some understanding. You didn't come out of the bridal chamber again after that day, and in the following days, you didn't go over there either. Although I don't know what you're thinking, since you can tolerate her, it means you also have a bottom line for her. No matter if you're observing or whatever, this princess must not let your interest in her last long…”

  "What does the princess want to do?" asked Le Jiajia after hearing Murong's words.

  "Let's just keep an eye on her as before, and also have someone investigate the matter of her ex-fiancé. Speaking of which, she's a pitiful person too - a legitimate daughter of the Marquis Hou, yet she was only married off to be a secondary wife, while her uncle's daughter got to marry as the primary wife. Anyone would feel unwell about it in their heart!" Madam Mù Róng said, her tone revealing a hint of sympathy for Qing Jin.

  The woman beside her heard the sympathy in Murong's words and thought she had softened, but before she could say anything, Murong's tone suddenly changed: "If you were married to someone else, I would have some sympathy for you, unfortunately... You just happened to marry into the Jing Wang Fu, threatening my position. I really can't muster up any sympathy for you, and instead I almost hate you..."

  The queen mother understood the hidden meaning in Murong's words and opened her mouth to comfort Murong: "If the princess can think so, I am at ease."

  Murong picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip, and put it down, saying: "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. We're almost at the middle of the month. Nanny, are the preparations for entering the palace to pay respects ready?"

  "Don't worry, Princess. Everything has been prepared."

  Cloudy Temple

  Ever since the big wedding, Qingjin and Long Han had a falling out, and for several days afterwards, Long Han did not come to Liuyun Courtyard. The people in the mansion were all curious about this secondary wife who was married with honors second only to those of the first wife, yet still had not been favored by Master.

  However, Qing Jin only went to the main courtyard to pay respects to Wang Fei Murong Shi on the second day of their marriage. After that, she stayed in Liuyun Courtyard and didn't cause any trouble. Although everyone was curious, they couldn't see Qing Jin, and since she had been conferred the title of Ce Fei, as time passed, people stopped paying attention to what went on in Liuyun Courtyard.

  Qing Jin was lounging on a specially made recliner by the window in the Liuyun courtyard, comfortably half-closing her eyes as she drifted off to sleep.

  From the day of their wedding, after a quarrel with Long Han-Yuan in the bridal chamber, on the second and third days, Long Han-Yuan did not come again. Qing Jin was also happy to not have to face Long Han-Yuan. Yuanyang, because of her previous conversation with Qing Jin, knew that Qing Jin didn't like Long Han-Yuan. So when Long Han-Yuan didn't come on the second and third days, which he should have spent in Liuyun Hall, she didn't pay much attention to it either.

  Looking at Qing Jin bathing in the warm sunlight, leisurely and comfortably, Yuanyang's mouth curled up with a hint of a smile. Originally, she was still somewhat dissatisfied that Jing Wang hadn't come over, but seeing her master unaffected by it all, she let go of her worries. These past few days, she had also come to understand, perhaps this kind of life is what her master wanted after all!

  It's fine this way, as long as the mistress thinks it's good and she's happy too. Finally, she glanced at Qingjin on the chaise lounge, Yuanyang lowered her head and seriously started working on the embroidery in her hands.

  Just as Qingjin was about to fall asleep and Yuanyang was seriously embroidering, a small maid rushed in from outside.

  Yuanyang saw Xiaoyan come in, glanced at Qingjin on the chaise longue, made a gesture to Xiaoyan, put down her needlework and was about to go out to listen to Xiaoyan's report.

  Qing Jin opened her eyes from the chaise longue, facing the standing Yuanyang and said: "No need to go out, I didn't fall asleep." Then she looked at the little maid and said: "What's your business, speak up!"

  Upon hearing Qing Jin's words, the little maid calmly looked over and bowed to Qing Jin, saying: "Reporting to Master, it is Zhu Yun from the Wang Fei's residence who has arrived."

  "Someone from the queen's palace? Oh, then let her in!" Upon hearing the little maid's words, Qing Jin was stunned for a moment. These days, she had been staying in the Flowing Clouds Palace all day because as a concubine, there was a small kitchen in the palace and she could take care of herself with food, clothing, and shelter, just like when she was at the Anji Marquis's residence. If it wasn't for the little maid saying that someone from the queen's side had come today, she would have almost forgotten that she was already married.

  Just as Qing Jin was thinking about these things, a seventeen or eighteen year old maid-like person walked in and slightly bowed to Qing Jin: "Slave servant Zhu Yun greets Concubine Gu!"

  "Zhu Yun, is it? No need for formalities. Does the princess have any instructions for me?" Qing Jin asked lazily from her reclining chair to a maid named Zhu Yun.

  Upon hearing Qing Jin's words, Zhu Yun raised her head and looked at Qing Jin lying on the couch. She said to Qing Jin in a neither arrogant nor humble tone: "It's like this, in a few more days it will be the day to go to the palace to pay respects. The Wang Fei had me come inform Ce Fei that at that time Ce Fei will also have to follow along with Wang Fei into the palace. So she had me bring over several batches of fabric for Ce Fei, so that Ce Fei can make a few sets of clothes."

  "Is that so? Please tell the queen, this consort has learned of it. Thank you for the queen's reward, this consort will prepare to go with the queen."

  "That's all for now, I won't disturb the imperial concubine anymore. Zhu Yun bids farewell!" Upon hearing Qing Jin's words, Zhu Yun bowed and bid farewell to her.

  "Let's send off Pearl Cloud Maiden!" Qing Jin said to Yuanyang.

  "Yes, Master." Yuanyang heard Qingjin's words and followed Zhuyun out.

  A few days passed quickly, and the day of entering the palace to pay respects arrived.

  This morning, Qingjin got up early and dressed under the service of Yuanyang, with her long hair lightly combed and a pair of intertwined flower hairpins inserted. She wore a green shirt with sleeves and hem embroidered with beautiful beads, looking elegant and calm but not simple, standing beside the carriage at the entrance of the Jingwang Mansion, waiting for Princess Muyong.

  Long Han carried his personal guard out of the Jing Wang Fu when he saw Qing Jin, his black eyes glanced over Qing Jin's body, a deep and profound light flashed at the bottom of his eyes, then walked towards Qing Jin.

  Qing Jin saw Long Han Yuan appear, and her body stiffened immediately. When she saw him walking towards her, she subconsciously became vigilant and took a defensive stance. As the distance between them grew closer, Qing Jin couldn't help but furrow her brow, wanting to shout at Long Han Yuan to stop. But thinking that they were outside and her current identity was his concubine, Qing Jin tried her best to suppress her temper. Behind her was the horse carriage, perhaps Long Han Yuan wanted to get in? Just as she thought this, Long Han Yuan stopped in front of her.

  Long Han Yuan stopped in front of her, Qing Jin could no longer deceive herself. She raised her head and was about to ask him what he wanted when Long Han Yuan just paused and brushed past her shoulder.

  Qing Jin's mouth was still open, but before she could say anything, he brushed past her. Qing Jin immediately realized that Long Han Yuan did it on purpose, and he was intentionally teasing her. Qing Jin couldn't help but want to retort a few words at Long Han Yuan.

  At this time, footsteps came from behind, Qingjin knew that it should be Princess Wang Muyong coming out. She swallowed the words she was about to say and turned around, and indeed saw the figure of Muyong walking out of the Jingwang Mansion.

  Murong wore a crimson peony skirt, accompanied by her personal maid Le Jiao and Zhu Yun who had visited Liuyun Courtyard that day.

  Qing Jin smiled and curtsied: "Qing Jin pays her respects to the princess."

  "Gu sister, no need to be so polite..." Murong's elegant opening words were directed at Qingjin, but when she saw Long Han Yuan not far behind Qingjin, her eyes flashed and a warm smile spread across her face as she spoke to Long Han Yuan: "Sir has also come out, I see!"

  "Hmm." Long Han Yan heard Wang Fei Murong Shi's words and replied to her.

  Upon hearing Long Han's brief response, Murong seemed to have gotten used to it and smiled at Long Han and Qing Jin: "It seems that Benfei is late, has Gu sister been waiting for a while? Letting Gu sister wait for too long." Murong said, looking at Qing Jin.

  "Qing Jin has just come out too, can't say it's been a long wait." Qing Jin replied faintly to Murong Shi's words.

  Upon hearing Qing Jin's words, Murong Shi smiled warmly and then noticed something, furrowing her brow at Qing Jin: "Gu Mei Mei, why are you dressed so plainly? You should know that you and your husband are newlyweds, and this is the first time entering the palace. You should dress more festively, don't you think?"

  "The princess smiled and said, Qing Jin is just a concubine, and Qing Jin likes Qing Yi very much. Besides, there are flowers on top, Qing Jin doesn't think it's too plain!" Qing Jin adjusted her wide sleeves and gave Mu Rong Shi a bright smile before speaking.

  Long Han saw Qing Jin's bright and beautiful smile, his eyes stared at Qing Jin's smile for a moment, and quickly returned to normal.

  Qing Jin did not notice Long Han Yuan's momentary distraction, but Wang Fei Murong Shi, who had been paying attention to Long Han Yuan, noticed his brief lapse and her hands under her sleeves clenched involuntarily. It seemed that Master indeed...

  Relaxing her clenched fists, the smile on Murong's face became even warmer as she smiled brightly at Qingjin and said: "Sister Gu said so, and I also found that Sister Gu's clothes are not plain, but they look great."

  "Thank you, Princess, for your praise. Qingjin's clothes are all made by a shop called Liuyun Pavilion in the capital. If the princess likes them, she can also ask someone from Liuyun Pavilion to make a few pieces for her to try on. Additionally, thank you, Princess, for having someone send over fabric for Qingjin."

  "It turns out that's the case, then another day I'll have Flowing Clouds Pavilion make two more for me to give to you. As for thanking you, Sister Gu, I absolutely can't accept it. You've entered the Quiet King's Manor, you're our master's woman, these things are all his, they just happen to be delivered to your hands through mine. If you want to thank someone, you should thank Master instead!" The last sentence, Murong Shi looked at Long Han Yan and said jokingly to Qing Jin.

  Qing Jin heard Murong's words and lowered her head without speaking.

  "It seems that Gu sister is shy, okay, I won't tease her anymore. Husband, I and Gu sister will get on the carriage now, we can't keep Father Emperor and Mother Empress waiting." Seeing Qing Jin lower her head, Mu Rong Shi took the opportunity to speak to Long Han Yuan, then got on the horse-drawn carriage with Qing Jin.