Chapter 57: The Princess is Rescued

Gu Ci clenched his hands tightly, with enough force to seemingly snap his bones.

Amidst the surging blood and qi, a familiar stinging pain radiated from his chest.

"Now that things have come to this, to preserve the dignity of both the Xuan Prince's Mansion and the Marquis of Zhongyong's Estate, we can only fulfill the desires of these two. A single brocade quilt will cover it all," Consort Han said, her eyes brimming with triumph. "The General of the Cavalry is truly fortunate; not only is the Princess his legal wife, but the only daughter of a Marquis is even scrambling to be his concubine!"

The phrase "scrambling to be" struck the Marchioness of Zhongyong like a sharp blade in her heart. She let out a roar like a provoked lioness: "No! How could my Rouyin ever be a concubine!"

After the engagement with the Xuan Prince's Mansion was dissolved, even when the Grand Imperial Grandson wanted to take Rouyin as a side consort, the couple had been unwilling, moving their entire family to the Northwest just to avoid the marriage. How could they now allow their precious pearl to become Gu Ci's concubine!

Bai Rouyin wanted to agree, but seeing her mother's frantic expression and the mocking, disdainful, and sarcastic gazes and whispers of the crowd, the confidence she had felt while plotting earlier receded like a retreating tide.

Only then did she realize how naive her initial thoughts had been! The ladies and daughters of great aristocratic families would not associate with someone caught in a secret tryst, nor would the Xuan Prince's Mansion allow someone who practically forced her way into the family to become a noble concubine. In fact, even the elders of the Marquis of Zhongyong's estate, for the sake of the clan's reputation, would likely demand she prove her innocence through death!

Trembling all over, Bai Rouyin shrank into the Marchioness's arms, wishing she could faint immediately.

"Not a concubine? Then how shall this matter be resolved?" Consort Han's tone was laced with undisguised mockery. "If a lowly woman caught in a tryst with a married man refuses to be a concubine, is the dignified Princess expected to request her own divorce?!"

*Pfft!* Someone couldn't hold back a laugh.

The Marchioness of Zhongyong was speechless, looking toward the Princess Consort of Xuan with a pleading gaze.

The Princess Consort of Xuan took a deep breath, preparing to speak, when a gentle yet unmistakable light chuckle rang out. "I did not expect Consort Han to be so concerned for this Princess."

"Since you are so concerned, why is a person as significant as I standing right here, yet I fail to catch even a glance from you?"

The crowd fell into an uproar, turning their heads one by one. There, standing gracefully under a ginkgo tree by the arched bridge, was a woman in light blue brocade robes, smiling beautifully with an air of immense elegance.

Watching the woman under the tree winking at him with a smile, Gu Ci's hands relaxed slightly, and the stinging pain in his chest seemed to dissipate as well.

He was stunned.

Consort Han spoke word by word, "Princess Zhaoshan!"

The crowd snapped out of it and bowed in unison, "Greetings, Princess Zhaoshan!"

"There is no need for such formality," Tang Zhao walked along the small path the crowd instinctively cleared for her, stepping forward to personally help the Marchioness and her daughter up. "This Princess has failed to host you properly and has caused you both distress."

The Marchioness's eyes lit up. She had been stealing glances at the rumored Princess Zhaoshan during the banquet, finding her appearance breathtaking and her temperament cool and refined, showing none of the petty mannerisms of someone raised on a farm.

At this moment, the Princess felt as if Guci was a Bodhisattva descended to earth to lead them out of their sea of misery. Her heart was filled with gratitude. "Your Highness overstates it."

Seeing her carefully orchestrated scene disrupted, Consort Han was unwilling to let it go and shot a sidelong glance at Shen Linian.

Shen Linian spoke loudly, "Your Highness truly has great magnanimity. To see the person who had a secret tryst with your own husband, instead of rebuking or scolding them, you actually offer apologies."

"Is it perhaps that Your Highness feels apologetic for stealing Miss Bai's fiancé, and is even willing to turn a blind eye to their secret meeting?"

Tang Zhao narrowed her eyes, observing her for a moment before asking, "And who might this be?"

Seeing her daughter-in-law, the Princess Consort of Xuan's furrowed brows instantly smoothed out. She said good-naturedly, "The fifth Miss from the Shen family, born of Auntie Han, Consort Han's niece."

Tang Zhao: "Oh." *Don't know her, never heard of her.*

*Pfft!* Someone laughed again.

This Princess Zhaoshan was quite literally slapping Miss Shen and Consort Han in the face.

Shen Linian grew furious. "You—" But under Consort Han's glare, she immediately fell silent.

Consort Han said unhurriedly, "Miss Shen's question is also the question of everyone here. We ask that Your Highness enlighten us."

"Naturally," Tang Zhao was even more composed than her. "As for the first question: my marriage to my husband was a match bestowed by the late Emperor. The Imperial Preceptor performed the divination, the Ministry of Rites handled the arrangements, and all the traditional rites and ceremonies were strictly followed. I have acted with propriety and integrity; how can there be talk of 'stealing' a husband?"

"Could Miss Shen's words be implying that the late Emperor was muddled and incompetent, forcing a separation between two lovers just to favor me?"

*Hiss!* This Princess Zhaoshan was incredibly bold! She even dared to call the late Emperor incompetent!

As expected of a woman who had once struck the Drum of Denunciation to appeal directly to the throne!

"Of course not!" Shen Linian retorted. "The late Emperor was wise and mighty, and the marriage he bestowed was a match made in heaven!"

Tang Zhao nodded. "What do the rest of you think?"

"Naturally, naturally," the crowd echoed.

The Marchioness of Zhongyong looked slightly unwell, but she did not dare suggest otherwise.

Tang Zhao smiled. "Since it is a match made in heaven, where is this talk of 'stealing'? And to feel apologetic is even more nonsensical."

Shen Linian was at a loss for words, but she hurriedly added, "But that secret tryst..."

Tang Zhao interrupted her. "Miss Shen, what constitutes a secret tryst? A man and a woman meeting alone away from others is a tryst. But as for me, I was there the whole time."

She pointed to the small boat and asked rhetorically, "Miss Shen, have you ever seen someone bring their wife along to a secret tryst?"

Shen Linian was speechless.

The other areas around the perimeter of the lake island had long been controlled by Consort Han and her maids to prevent Gu Ci from escaping. Shen Linian naturally knew that it was impossible for Tang Zhao to have arrived on the island only after she had received Consort Han's message.

It must have been earlier, but how did she know about today's events?

Consort Han narrowed her eyes slightly. "When did the Princess arrive on the island?"

"Naturally, when it all began," Tang Zhao's words were seventy percent false and thirty percent true. "I had been sitting at the banquet for so long that my bones felt stiff, so I returned to Bidan Courtyard to rest. It just so happened that my husband was there, so I thought I would come out for a walk to get some exercise."

Gu Ci looked up at her.

"My husband told me there was a lotus lake in the mansion with boats on it. I have never been on a boat before; I wanted to, but I was afraid, so I begged my husband to accompany me."

Tang Zhao gave a shy smile. "My husband indulged me and accompanied me along the small path to the back lake, personally rowing me to the lake island."

Gu Ci listened to her fabrications with an expressionless face.

"My husband and I were admiring the withered lotuses across the lake when, from a distance, we saw Miss Zhongyong sitting alone by the shore with her maid. Thinking that my husband and Miss Zhongyong had known each other for a long time and had not seen each other in so long, they must have much to say, I invited Miss Zhongyong to the lake island for a small gathering."

Qiu Yu stepped forward. "It was indeed this servant who went to invite Miss Zhongyong."

Consort Han's plan to have Bai Rouyin identify them died in the womb.

"I acted out of goodwill. However, just as Miss Shen said, it is indeed awkward for a former fiancée and a current wife to meet. Thus, I took the initiative to leave, giving them space and returning to my boat to admire the withered lotuses myself."

Miss Shen said disdainfully, "What is there to admire about withered lotuses?"

Tang Zhao pulled a withered, yellow lotus pod from her sleeve. "'The bamboo pavilion is dustless, the water threshold is clear; longing reaches across the heavy city walls. Autumn shadows do not disperse, frost flies in the evening; leaving the withered lotuses to listen to the sound of the rain.'"

Shen Linian:? The crowd:?

*What was that?*

Zhaozhao: *I was well-prepared.*

*Please support me!* *I hope my results in March keep getting better and better!*

(End of Chapter)