Chapter 38

Following Nangong Yunshang’s instructions, the kitchen had long been left unattended. Tao Chuyi sneaked into the kitchen like a thief, casually lifted a pot lid, and discovered something tasty inside.

Roast duck, roast chicken, date cakes—all Tao Chuyi’s favorites.

Why were there so many leftovers in the kitchen these days? Tao Chuyi wondered, gnawing on a duck leg.

Little did Tao Chuyi know that Nangong Yunshang had arranged all of this. She had instructed the kitchen staff that the Prince Consort was young and brimming with energy, prone to hunger, so they should keep food ready at all times and clear out after noon without anyone standing guard. As a result, the kitchen had become Tao Chuyi’s private dining hall.

Five meals a day, new dishes every time.

Tao Chuyi sat behind the stove, having just polished off a duck leg and reaching for a date cake, when she caught sight of Nangong Yunshang standing right in front of the stove, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Tao Chuyi nearly jumped out of her skin. She frantically tried to destroy the evidence and backed away several steps.

“I didn’t steal any food.”

Tao Chuyi’s mouth was still slick with duck grease, and she kept chewing away—a dead giveaway if there ever was one.

“Look at you, your mouth’s covered in oil.”

Nangong Yunshang stepped forward. Far from scolding Tao Chuyi, she pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the corner of her lips.

Seeing that Fairy Sister wasn’t angry, Tao Chuyi grew even bolder.

“Sister, that duck leg was so heavy—my hand’s tired. Rub it for me?”

Pushing her luck.

Nangong Yunshang flicked her forehead. “I never knew the Prince Consort got tired just from holding a duck leg.”

Tao Chuyi beamed even after the flick and promptly held up a date cake. “Sister, you eat.”

“I’m not hungry. You eat it.”

No one else would want a snack just an hour after lunch like Tao Chuyi did.

Tao Chuyi assumed everyone else felt the same and kept holding it out insistently.

“Eat!”

Helpless, Nangong Yunshang took a piece. She ate slowly, managing only two bites and leaving most of it.

Tao Chuyi eyed the date cake in her own hand, then stared at the one in Sister’s mouth. That half-bitten piece looked way tastier.

Quick as a flash, Tao Chuyi darted forward and sank her teeth into the remaining half before it could reach Nangong Yunshang’s lips.

Their lips brushed softly. Both of them froze.

Sister’s lips are so soft.

Tao Chuyi gulped down the pastry in three quick bites but was reluctant to pull away. Instead, she went right for Nangong Yunshang’s lips, treating them like candy.

Nangong Yunshang snapped out of it and shoved her away in a fluster. She fished out a piece of malt candy and popped it into Tao Chuyi’s mouth, finally putting a stop to this little troublemaker’s lip-nibbling.

It was just a silly little fool—and a girl, no less. What was she getting so worked up about?

Tao Chuyi, delighted by the malt candy, didn’t notice the figure beat a hasty retreat behind her.

That evening, back in the bedroom, Tao Chuyi flung herself onto Nangong Yunshang’s bed and claimed most of it. By the time Nangong Yunshang walked in, Tao Chuyi had already dozed off for a short nap.

“Sister, you’re back!”

Tao Chuyi rolled over like she owned the place and patted the bed. “Sister, come on up.”

Nangong Yunshang sighed. She wasn’t sure whose bed this even was, with Tao Chuyi acting so bold about it.

Once Nangong Yunshang climbed in, Tao Chuyi rolled right over her. Her arms looped around Nangong Yunshang’s waist, and her legs tangled up too.

Sister’s waist was so slim. Pressed close, Tao Chuyi could hear Sister’s heart pounding wildly, as if it might leap right out.

“Chuyi, be good and let go of me.”

Nangong Yunshang didn’t dare move a muscle. Something felt off with her—why was she so hot?

Tao Chuyi ignored her and only hugged tighter. Her head dipped lower until she found the perfect pillow, and she said happily, “So soft.”

“Tao Chuyi!”

Nangong Yunshang’s cheeks burned crimson. When had anyone ever manhandled her like this?

“Let go this instant, or I’ll call for the servants.”

At first, such threats would startle Tao Chuyi. But she’d grown bolder with time—Sister always bluffed and never followed through.

Knowing she had the upper hand, Tao Chuyi refused to budge. She just wriggled into a comfy spot and settled in, heedless of Nangong Yunshang’s comfort.

“Night-night. See you tomorrow.”

Nangong Yunshang: “……”

Calling for help wasn’t an option, nor was staying silent. In the end, Nangong Yunshang endured the suffocating embrace until exhaustion dragged her into sleep.

Tao Chuyi woke up full of energy, while Nangong Yunshang looked utterly drained. Her dark circles had deepened, her steps were wobbly, and she seemed perpetually dizzy.

Yinghong took one look and fretted, “This servant will have a word with the Prince Consort later. How can he be so lacking in restraint?”

She caught Nangong Yunshang’s pointed glance and clammed up. What had she said wrong?

Meanwhile, after breakfast, Tao Chuyi happily wandered the grounds of the Princess Mansion, greeting everyone she passed. Her mood couldn’t be better.

“Young Master, why are you in such a good mood today?”

Xichan had been trailing along for quite a while before asking curiously.

Tao Chuyi dashed back and whispered in her ear, “Last night, I slept in the same bed as Your Highness the Princess—and I hugged her.”

Xichan nearly choked. Her mind raced through every romance novel she’d read, and she recalled how “hugging” in the ones about women often meant something steamy. Her face turned beet red.

“Young Master, you can’t go blabbing that everywhere.”

The pair strolled from the long corridor to the rockery. Tao Chuyi faintly heard someone calling her name and drifted toward the sound without thinking.

Sure enough, behind the rocks sat a cluster of young maids, with one older maid holding court and chattering nonstop.

“That Tao Chuyi is a total dimwit. How does someone that goofy end up as Prince Consort? The Princess doesn’t really care for him. She’ll just toss him out with a divorce decree one day.”

“Exactly. He’s nothing but a shield. Without him propping things up, could the Princess control the Dali Temple? Our Princess has no real power, and the whole mansion gets looked down on for it.”

Master and servant heard every word. Xichan fumed and started forward to give them a piece of her mind, only to turn and find her young master had bolted.

Tao Chuyi ran back to the main chamber teary-eyed and threw herself straight into Nangong Yunshang’s arms, burrowing in and refusing to emerge.

“Sister! Waa… Sister.”

Nangong Yunshang barely had time to react before the full-grown Prince Consort crashed into her embrace, whimpering pitifully.

“What’s wrong? Who bullied you?”

Tao Chuyi looked up, her face streaked with tears. “They called me stupid. Am I really stupid? Aren’t I supposed to be super smart?”

“Who said that?” Who dared wag their tongue in the Princess Mansion?

Nangong Yunshang held and soothed her for ages until she finally calmed down. Then she summoned Xichan for the full story. That very day, the gossiping maids were booted from the Princess Mansion, and a new rule went into effect: no one was to call the Prince Consort stupid.

The dismissed maids were new hires, too green to know better. To make amends, Yinghong apologized profusely and swore to keep a tighter leash on the staff from then on.

With the Princess’s full backing, whatever Tao Chuyi said went—no one dared contradict her. She cut quite the figure. Even so, a stubborn few in the household wouldn’t learn until it was too late.

Because of the infamous fish-choking incident, Tao Chuyi had been banned from feeding the fish. So now she watched Xichan do it while chatting with the fish herself.

“Do the fishies want to come out and sunbathe?”

Fearing another mishap, Xichan quickly assured her it wasn’t necessary.

“Oh.”

Tao Chuyi stayed quiet only briefly before she started splashing around at the pond’s edge. Unlike outdoor ponds, this one never froze over, though the water felt refreshingly cool to the touch.

As soon as a fish poked its head up, Tao Chuyi poked it right back under. The koi erupted in fury and swarmed the shore, gaping at her.

Tao Chuyi thought they adored her and clapped in delight.

“Greetings, Prince Consort.”

Tao Chuyi turned to find Min Qing standing there. It had been ages since she’d last seen this pest.

Min Qing had toned down her arrogance since last time and now seemed detached from worldly concerns.

“This servant can teach the Prince Consort how to feed the fish.”

Tao Chuyi turned her down flat. “Sister told me not to feed the fish, so I won’t.”

In the odd flicker of Min Qing’s gaze, Tao Chuyi sensed something off. Her instincts told her she still despised this woman.

Min Qing stepped up to the pond’s edge, slipped off her shoes and socks, and dipped her feet into the water.

“Prince Consort, just watch—this is how you tease the fish.”

Tao Chuyi blinked. “What if you stink them to death?”

“How could I?”

Min Qing’s brows furrowed, then smoothed out as she forced a smile.

“My feet don’t stink. Why doesn’t the Prince Consort give it a try?”

Her fingers dug into the muddy bank, veins bulging on the back of her hand, as if poised for action. It was a slippery slope—easy to tumble in.

Tao Chuyi cocked her head and stared blankly for a moment before ambling toward the pond. Accepting Min Qing’s “invitation,” she suddenly charged forward and kicked her straight into the water.

“That was fun!”

Min Qing flailed in the pond like a drowned rat, slapping the surface in a rage. “Help! Somebody help!”

The master-servant duo on shore laughed mercilessly. Tao Chuyi doubled over, barely able to stand.

Min Qing clambered out in a sodden mess just as Nangong Yunshang arrived with attendants. She rushed forward and dropped to her knees at the Princess’s feet.

“Your Highness, you must stand up for this servant!”

Tao Chuyi wouldn’t be outdone. She dashed behind Nangong Yunshang. “Sister!”

After hearing Min Qing’s side, Nangong Yunshang patted Tao Chuyi’s hand. “No more of these pranks from now on, understand?”

“Got it!”

When Nangong Yunshang turned back to Min Qing, her expression had hardened.

“Effective immediately, you’re relieved of duties in the Princess Mansion. Return to your original post. Do not enter without a summons.”

Min Qing’s eyes bulged in disbelief. “Your Highness, the Prince Consort clearly pushed this servant!”

“The Prince Consort wouldn’t push anyone without cause.”

Nangong Yunshang didn’t spare her another glance after that. With Tao Chuyi in tow, she turned and left.

Before they departed, Tao Chuyi deliberately twisted around and stuck out her tongue at her, enraging Min Qing to the point that she ground her teeth nearly to dust.

Yinghong walked up to Min Qing, exasperated by her failure to seize the opportunity.

“You’re hopeless,” she said. “Do you even know your place? Even without the Prince Consort, Your Highness wouldn’t give you a second glance.”

Min Qing shed silent tears. She simply couldn’t stomach it—the perfect princess in her heart ending up in the hands of a fool. If a fool could have her, why couldn’t she?

Buoyed by triumph, Tao Chuyi returned happily with Nangong Yunshang for lunch.

Her elder sister treated her so kindly that she wanted to give her a surprise gift in return. But she had no idea what her sister liked, so she needed to do some inquiring.

Tao Chuyi’s eyes darted this way and that before landing on Yinghong. Asking her should be perfectly fine.

Seizing the moment while Nangong Yunshang napped in the afternoon, she secretly pulled Yinghong aside.

“What does Your Highness the Princess like?”

Yinghong arched a brow, her smile rich with meaning. “Is the Prince Consort trying to learn the Princess’s preferences to win her favor? In that case… wouldn’t it be rude to ask empty-handed?”

Tao Chuyi patted herself down thoroughly and finally pulled out a precious item.