Chapter 14

Everyone’s gazes converged on Tao Chuyi, filled with bewilderment. Even Nangong Yunshang had no idea what Tao Chuyi intended to do this time.

The prince consort rolled up her sleeves, revealing a string of jade beads on each wrist. The prince consort removed both strings and tossed them into the young woman’s coffin.

“Now she has these. Surely she’ll like them.”

Fendie immediately dropped to her knees, kowtowing to the prince consort over and over.

“Thank you, Prince Consort! Thank you, Prince Consort!”

Tao Chuyi was caught off guard by the sudden kowtowing and hurried to squat down and help Fendie up.

“Don’t cry. No kowtowing. It doesn’t look pretty.”

Nangong Yunshang stepped forward at that moment and pulled Tao Chuyi to her feet.

“Since you are now a servant of the Princess Mansion, it is only natural for the prince consort to show you some understanding. There is no need for such formalities.”

They not only buried the corpse along with the severed limbs but also placed the scrolls and vases made from human bones and skin into the coffin.

The Colorful Fragrance Tower was consigned to flames, the roaring blaze lighting up half the night sky over the Capital City and burying that horrific past alongside the tower.

Tao Chuyi had the chattiest mouth around. Having eaten around noon, hunger struck right on schedule in the afternoon.

Tao Chuyi and Nangong Yunshang were dining in the dining hall, attended by the maids at the side. Whenever Tao Chuyi wanted a dish, Xichan would clip some into the prince consort’s bowl ahead of time. The prince consort only needed to lower her head and eat.

When the third empty bowl was cleared away, Yinghong covered her mouth with a laugh. “The prince consort belongs at the Princess Mansion. Otherwise, no ordinary household could afford to keep up.”

It was meant as a joke, but someone took it seriously.

“Yes, the prince consort should eat a little less. Otherwise, turning into a big fatso would make you even less worthy of our princess.”

The maid who spoke was Min Qing, a newcomer to the Princess Mansion assigned directly to serve the main chambers. She was supposedly a distant relative of Yinghong’s, with connections, and carried herself with great arrogance.

At that moment, Fendie placed a piece of Dongpo pork into Tao Chuyi’s bowl.

“Our prince consort eats so much without gaining weight. He should eat more—it all builds strength, unlike some people whose gains are nothing but fat.”

Min Qing’s expression shifted slightly. She wanted to say something more but wilted under a single glance from Nangong Yunshang.

“No manners.”

With just those three words, Min Qing dropped to her knees with a thud. Her earlier bravado vanished as she began to grovel.

“Please forgive this servant, Princess. I dare not do it again.”

Nangong Yunshang gave her a look before turning to place a large drumstick into Tao Chuyi’s bowl. “The prince consort has performed great service this time and deserves to eat more. Yinghong, take her away and give her some proper instruction.”

Min Qing paled in horror but had no choice except to obey. She trailed after Yinghong as they left.

After finishing off the last drumstick, Tao Chuyi was finally full. Looking up, the prince consort noticed two people missing from the room and began glancing around.

“Did something happen?”

Ever since Tao Chuyi’s accomplishment, Nangong Yunshang’s attitude toward the prince consort had improved markedly.

The top of Tao Chuyi’s head was perfectly round, tempting to the touch. Nangong Yunshang wanted to pat it too, but the thought that the prince consort was a man made her abandon the idea.

“Nothing happened. Eat your food.”

Late autumn edged into early winter, the weather turning abruptly cold and catching everyone unprepared.

The Princess Mansion bustled with the making of winter garments. Nangong Yunshang had grown up in the Cold Palace, accompanied only by Yinghong. The two children had depended on each other for survival, little more than abandoned. She had fallen ill amid the freezing cold, and with every shift into autumn or winter, she inevitably caught a cold.

Even after the Emperor granted her the Princess Mansion and she had spent years recuperating, the problem persisted. Whenever Nangong Yunshang thought of the reason behind the Emperor’s gift, she could never let it go. Her low spirits only made her health worse.

The Emperor lavished his other children with gifts out of affection. He had granted her mansion out of guilt, hoping wealth and glory would silence her.

“Princess, it’s time for your medicine.”

Yinghong stood vigil by the bed, bowl of freshly decocted medicinal soup in hand.

Nangong Yunshang frowned and turned away. “Too bitter. Just leave it there.”

Yinghong urged her anxiously. “Good medicine tastes bitter, but you must take it on time. Otherwise, when will your health improve?”

No matter how Yinghong coaxed her, Nangong Yunshang kept dodging the issue. She had zero interest in sampling that bitter brew.

Failing to persuade her, Yinghong had no choice but to set the medicine bowl on the low table beside the bed.

In a flash, something streaked into the room. Before Yinghong could make it out, she realized it was the prince consort.

Tao Chuyi carried two jars—one of honey, one of sugar. Squatting by the bed, the prince consort held them both up high.

“Time to drink your medicine!”

Nangong Yunshang was already drained of energy and lacked the strength to deal with Tao Chuyi. She half-closed her eyes, her face still pale.

“Bitter.”

Tao Chuyi spoke with the gravity of facing a formidable foe. “My father says that children afraid of medicine aren’t brave. I dare drink it when I’m sick, but if Your Highness the Princess doesn’t dare, then Your Highness isn’t as brave as me.”

Nangong Yunshang’s eyes snapped fully open at those words. She looked at Tao Chuyi in disbelief.

“I’ll drink it for Your Highness the Princess,” Tao Chuyi added.

With that, the prince consort reached for the bowl. Nangong Yunshang snatched it first and gulped the contents down.

Tao Chuyi immediately pulled out a piece of malt candy, unwrapped it, and held it out to Nangong Yunshang.

“Your Highness the Princess is a brave good child.”

Nangong Yunshang let out a self-mocking laugh. To think a fool like this had goaded her into it. The malt candy melted sweetly in her mouth, masking the bitterness as her brows relaxed.

Yinghong, standing at the doorway, smiled with relief. One thing subdues another—the ancients had not lied.

From then on, Tao Chuyi kept watch in the room, taking over the vital duty of supervising the Third Princess as she drank her medicine.

“I want another piece of candy.”

Nangong Yunshang held out her hand to Tao Chuyi.

The prince consort hugged the jar tightly and shook the head vigorously.

“Only one piece. Too many will make your teeth ache and your throat sore.”

Nangong Yunshang showed a rare streak of childishness. “Just one more.”

“No way.”

Tao Chuyi held the line until Nangong Yunshang huffed and turned away, ignoring the prince consort.

The two remained at an impasse for a while until Tao Chuyi suddenly broke into a silly grin.

Nangong Yunshang turned back in bewilderment. “What are you laughing at?”

Tao Chuyi pointed at her, then at herself. “Your Highness the Princess acts even more like a child than me.”

“Nonsense!”

Nangong Yunshang regretted the sharp rebuke the moment it left her lips. What was the point of squabbling with a fool?

She clutched her chest and coughed for a stretch before lying back down, her back once more to Tao Chuyi.

Since Nangong Yunshang was ignoring the prince consort again, Tao Chuyi had to coax her. The prince consort pulled out the tried-and-true method from the Tao Mansion, the one Daddy and Xichan always used on the prince consort.

“Your Highness, be good. The boogeyman won’t scare you.”

Nangong Yunshang stubbornly kept her back turned, showing no sign of compromise.

“Fine, then. Have a little more.”

Tao Chuyi had zero principles left and offered up the malt candy of his own accord.

A triumphant smile bloomed on Nangong Yunshang’s face. But when she turned, she saw Tao Chuyi pop the candy into the prince consort’s own mouth. She started in surprise and was about to scold when Tao Chuyi leaned in close, beaming brightly.

Tao Chuyi blinked a couple of times and licked her lips, where traces of sweetness lingered, before suddenly drawing nearer.

Older sisters shouldn’t eat too much sugar, but tasting the flavor is fine.

What a clever one she was.