Chapter 5

With so many people ganging up to bully just one defenseless girl, no one spoke up for her, and no one came to her rescue.

Tao Chuyi saw what was happening, planted her hands on her hips, and bellowed, “You! All of you are big turtles!”

The Third Prince had no interest in bandying words with her. He immediately ordered his guards to get on with it. On the other side, an eunuch had already fetched a bow and arrows. The Third Prince took the bow, drew it back, and took a couple of practice aims at the target painted on the practice dummy, a mocking smirk curling his lips.

Tao Chuyi bolted around the garden, yelling at the top of her lungs as she ran, “Here comes the turtle to bite me! Big turtle bite me!”

When he saw her darting wildly through the Imperial Palace grounds, even the Third Prince couldn’t stay put any longer. He joined the guards in hot pursuit.

“Capture him for This Highness!”

After two laps around the garden, Tao Chuyi couldn’t outrun the pack after all. The guards grabbed her and pinned her wriggling form to the ground.

The Third Prince strode up, panting heavily. “I’ll let you run, huh? Just a fool like you, coming into the palace to be a plaything. Are you going to carry it or not?”

Even though she could barely move, Tao Chuyi’s voice didn’t waver in the slightest. She bellowed at the top of her lungs, “Not carrying any turtle shell!”

Fuming, the Third Prince immediately ordered the beating.

“Beat him for This Highness. Beat him until he agrees to carry it.”

She might be a prince consort, but she was a fool of one, so murky in her explanations that no one would hold anyone accountable. Besides, she was the Third Princess’s consort, and everyone knew His Majesty despised the Third Princess above all. Even the Third Princess had been bullied relentlessly as a child—no one would stir up trouble over her consort.

With no qualms whatsoever, the guards carried out the order. Fists soon rained down on Tao Chuyi’s face and belly.

Tao Chuyi yelped in pain. “Fairy Sister, save me! Your Highness the Princess, save me!”

The Third Prince stood there with arms folded, greatly amused. “Your Highness the Princess can’t save you. My Third Imperial Sister is barely keeping herself afloat these days—where would she find the strength to save you? Consider this a little welcome gift from This Highness to my brother-in-law. Don’t forget it.”

“Everyone, stop!”

The guards halted at once. Tao Chuyi struggled to her feet and scrambled toward Nangong Yunshang, ducking behind her and peeking out with half her head.

“Your Highness the Princess! They’re bullying me!”

The Third Prince’s expression shifted repeatedly. He waved his hand, sending his men back.

“Third Imperial Sister, I was just joking around with brother-in-law.”

Nangong Yunshang gave him a single glance. “This Palace wasn’t aware that little brother had such entertaining games. Why don’t I call some people to play a round with you as well?”

Having walked into that one, the Third Prince’s face darkened. He beat a hasty retreat with his entourage.

A quick look at Tao Chuyi revealed a gash on her forehead and her right cheek swollen massively—altogether a pitiful sight.

No one from the Third Princess Mansion lingered in the Imperial Palace. They left the grounds right away and returned to the Princess Mansion. Nangong Yunshang didn’t bother complaining to the Emperor; she knew he would side with his son, which would only invite more aggravation.

Back at the mansion, Xichan hurried to apply medicine and ice to Tao Chuyi’s injuries. Luckily, there were no other wounds, or she wouldn’t know how to explain it to the master.

“Hiss!”

Tao Chuyi obediently pressed the ice pack to her face.

Xichan looked at her with eyes full of heartache. Recalling the days she’d served the young master, she had always been scampering about and picking up scrapes and bruises of all sizes, but the master had never allowed anyone to lay a hand on her. Now, as prince consort, she had become a pitiful little thing bullied by others.

At that moment, Nangong Yunshang entered the room. When Xichan saw her return, she quickly paid her respects and withdrew.

Nangong Yunshang walked over to the round table. Seeing Tao Chuyi’s miserable state, she let out a soft sigh. She took a jar of ointment from her sleeve and tossed it onto the table.

“Wound salve. It’ll reduce the swelling and ease the pain.” With that, she turned to leave.

Tao Chuyi called out at once. “Your Highness the Princess! Princess! Your Highness!”

Perhaps worn down by the calling, Nangong Yunshang turned back—only to find that Tao Chuyi hadn’t so much as touched the jar.

“I don’t know how to apply it.”

Tao Chuyi stated it as plain fact.

Nangong Yunshang took a deep breath. “Come here.”

At her words, Tao Chuyi scooted right over. Her face might have been swollen, but her big eyes remained bright as ever. Nangong Yunshang dipped her fingers into the ointment and gently touched them to Tao Chuyi’s cheek.

It stung sharply at first contact, making her grimace. But the pain faded quickly. The ointment felt cool, and Fairy Sister’s fingers were soft.

With that thought, she grinned dopily.

Once the medicine was applied, Nangong Yunshang eyed her suspiciously. “Your face is swollen like a pig’s head. And you’re smiling?”

Tao Chuyi blinked her big eyes innocently. “Your Highness the Princess smells nice, feels soft, looks pretty. I wanna eat.”

Nangong Yunshang’s expression changed. The next moment, Tao Chuyi found herself tossed out the door, left to squat there.

Tao Chuyi clung to the doorframe and peered inside. “Your Highness the Princess!”

“Call out again, and I’ll throw you right out of the Princess Mansion.”

“Oh.”

Tao Chuyi fell silent. She plopped down by the door like a guardian statue, closed her eyes with perfect composure, and was soon fast asleep.

When Nangong Yunshang opened the door, that was the sight that greeted her: Tao Chuyi sprawled flat on the ground on her back, her feet twitching now and then.

“…Tao Chuyi! Tao Chuyi, get up!”

Tao Chuyi fumbled her way upright, prying her eyes open with difficulty. Bleary with sleep, she tilted her head and spotted Fairy Sister standing beside her. “Is it time to eat?”

Nangong Yunshang: “…”

Seeing that she wasn’t being scolded anymore, Tao Chuyi seized the chance. She sidled up, hugged her, and clung to her leg like a koala.

Nangong Yunshang furrowed her brow. “Get off. I’m taking you somewhere.”

The two climbed into a carriage. In a daze, Tao Chuyi let herself be carried off to an unfamiliar place. The carriage halted in front of a grand pavilion with red bricks and green tiles, where voices buzzed and guests streamed in and out. It turned out to be a restaurant.

A familiar carriage sat at the entrance, clearly belonging to someone of wealth and status.

Neither of them got out. Tao Chuyi craned her neck out the window, peering around curiously.

At Nangong Yunshang’s signal, several guards swiftly approached the familiar carriage and, taking advantage of the moment when no one was watching, removed its wheels.

Now Tao Chuyi perked right up. She even started clapping and cheering them on.

The guards made off with the wheels and unhitched the horse before retreating quickly. When the carriage’s owner emerged, Tao Chuyi recognized him immediately—the big turtle who’d bullied her.

“Who dares to dismantle This Highness’s carriage!”

The Third Prince’s furious roar echoed down the street, drawing a crowd of commoners who blocked the restaurant entrance tight.

The Princess Mansion’s carriage sped off in the opposite direction. Tao Chuyi was over the moon, tumbling about gleefully inside.

Nangong Yunshang remained seated primly throughout, unmoved no matter how much Tao Chuyi cavorted.

“Are you happy?”

“Happy!”

Tao Chuyi nodded earnestly, the cloth bundle still on her head.

Nangong Yunshang’s lips curved. She smiled at her with uncharacteristic gentleness. “If you’re happy, then you have to behave from now on. No more causing trouble.”

Tao Chuyi promised readily. Then she started playing with the cloth bundle, and soon forgot what she’d just agreed to.

The salve worked quickly. In just a few days, Tao Chuyi was full of vim and vigor again. To wear down her boundless energy, Nangong Yunshang arranged all sorts of games for her and assigned a bunch of servants to keep her company.

Lately, Tao Chuyi had become obsessed with cuju. Led by Liuzi—with even Xichan joining in—they formed a team of thirty-two and romped wildly in the courtyard.

As the clamor died down a bit, Nangong Yunshang happened to glimpse them from her window.

The maid Yinghong stood by, serving tea. Noticing the princess’s gaze, she too looked out the window.

“Ever since the prince consort arrived, the mansion has been so much livelier.”

Nangong Yunshang lifted her teacup and took a delicate sip. “Nothing but noise.”

Yinghong covered her mouth with a light laugh. “This servant has heard something amusing too.”