Alone, Beautifully – Chapter 127

Bestowing Upon You the Realm (9)

This prince seems to… have deep feelings for her.

Xu Jiao was sitting on the couch, using a jade spoon to slowly scoop the medicinal soup from the bowl to her mouth.

            

Perhaps due to her poor health, her brows showed signs of weariness. As she leaned against the screen on the couch, she resembled a beautiful lady leaning on a balustrade, exuding an innate air of nobility.

Occasionally, the jade spoon would accidentally collide with the porcelain bowl, producing a crisp sound.

When the medicine bowl was empty, palace servants came forward to clear away her bowl and chopsticks on a wooden tray. Seeing her rise to walk towards the study, the servants, who had been frightened by Yu Ye’s threats earlier that morning, hurriedly grabbed fur cloaks and rushed to follow her. They seemed ready to hang curtains all along the corridor to shield her from the wind and snow in the courtyard.

            

Xu Jiao didn’t make things difficult for the servants. She knew her body was weak, and even though the cloak was a bit heavy and cumbersome to put on, she still stood and allowed them to fuss over her before walking to the study.

Perhaps Yu Ye’s actions of beating and killing earlier today had awakened some of the palace servants. They realized that, at least for now, they couldn’t neglect Xu Jiao. Otherwise, if news reached the ears of the unpredictable Regent, it might cost them their dog lives—

So when Xu Jiao sat down behind the desk as usual, she found that the servants around her, who normally just stood and breathed, pretending not to exist, suddenly seemed to have updated their system. They crowded around her, some lighting lamps and closing windows, others offering to grind ink and lay out paper, bustling about her.

            

Xu Jiao had barely read a few lines of the scroll in her hand when her attention was drawn away by the servants’ actions.

Meeting Xu Jiao’s gaze, a senior palace maid in emerald green clothing smiled at her, bowing slightly, and asked in a gentle tone Xu Jiao had rarely heard before:

“Does Your Highness have any preferences for lunch? This servant will instruct the kitchen to prepare accordingly.”

            

Xu Jiao glanced at her, distracted by her voice. Previously, these servants had shown little interest in conversing with her, so she naturally hadn’t bothered to pay attention to them. Now, due to the etiquette of conversation, she looked over and realized that the maids around her were actually quite attractive.

Though not exactly “beauties that could topple cities” (chengyu meaning extraordinarily beautiful women), they were of the “family’s jade” (idiom for a family’s treasure, often referring to a beloved daughter) and gentle, pleasing type, with features that were easy on the eyes.

Especially this senior maid.

            

Upon closer inspection… she actually bore a three-tenths resemblance to Yu Ye, with a mole at the corner of her eye, quite distinctive.

Xu Jiao pretended to forget these servants’ previous behavior of treating people according to their status, thought for a moment, and answered conventionally: “Just prepare as usual.”

The senior maid was not discouraged by her attitude. After some thought, she added: “The kitchen has raised some fat ducks. Duck meat is mild and nourishing. How about having duck soup for lunch?”

            

Xu Jiao originally didn’t have much appetite, but hearing this suggestion and looking at the snow-covered landscape outside the study, she suddenly craved hotpot. In this cold season, setting up a steaming “mandarin duck pot” (a type of hotpot with divided sections) with red soup on one side and white soup on the other, adding sliced beef and mutton, along with mushrooms and vegetables…

When scooped up, it would be enveloped in a white mist, with fragrance wafting all around.

As she imagined this, she lost interest in reading. She touched her throat, and finally just stared at the snowy scene outside, her expression showing a hint of barely noticeable loneliness.

            

The senior maid who had been speaking to her earlier, named Lü Luo, who was in charge of the Eastern Palace maids, noticed her expression and thought she might be unhappy about being confined to this courtyard. However, Yu Ye had already ordered that the Crown Prince was not to be allowed out until her cold was fully recovered.

Thinking of the scene Xu Jiao had missed when she went out last night, Lü Luo took the opportunity to retreat to instruct the kitchen. She called two servants outside the courtyard, whispered a few instructions in their ears, and then dismissed them.

Speaking of Lü Luo, she was also a thoroughly opportunistic type. Originally loyal to Yu Ye, she had been sent here partly for surveillance purposes. However, she wasn’t needed much because Xu Jiao was too well-behaved. Her attitude towards Xu Jiao was that when Yu Ye cared, she would have the servants attend to her more attentively; if Yu Ye disliked her, she would also let the servants be perfunctory towards Xu Jiao, just turning a blind eye as long as things didn’t go too far.

            

From Yu Ye’s handling of some unsavory characters this morning, she could glimpse that this Regent master seemed to still care about this Crown Prince, so she began to pay attention to Xu Jiao again.

Thinking of Xu Jiao’s earlier statement to Lord Yu about “not liking men”…

Lü Luo turned back to look at the study door, never feeling that being assigned to serve a woman in the Eastern Palace could be such a wonderful task.

            

She could hear her own heart pounding with excitement.

If this were in Qi Kingdom, a cultural capital and land of propriety, perhaps these bold thoughts would be unthinkable. But this Da Yan was known for producing lunatics in the royal family, just like Chu Kingdom. Who knows if Xu Jiao might become emperor one day?

Since Her Highness doesn’t like men, she must prefer women.

            

If she could…

A strange light flashed in Lü Luo’s eyes, but she quickly composed herself and walked back into the study.

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Xu Jiao felt that the palace servants around her had become a bit too enthusiastic lately.

            

Although she hadn’t been paying much attention to these people, she was observant by nature. From her previous self-reliant state to now, where she only needed to slightly raise her hand and someone would place what she wanted in her hand, this meticulous care was hard to ignore.

This time, Xu Jiao seriously noticed this personal attendant.

Lü Luo.

            

She remembered this name.

Because the senior maid’s palace attire was green, it was easy for her to recall the name based on the color of the clothing. Similarly, the names of the lower-ranking servants in peach, pink, and blue clothes were also mostly related to their clothing colors. Of course, some refined masters in the palace liked to rename their servants, but Xu Jiao had never bothered with this, so the palace servants in the Eastern Palace all kept their original names, which were easiest for the masters to remember when they were sent.

Now, looking at her face that somewhat resembled Yu Ye’s, and the small mole at the corner of her eye, Xu Jiao seriously remembered her appearance for the first time.

            

Now, Lü Luo had somehow procured some sweet snacks from somewhere. After Xu Jiao finished drinking the bitter cold medicine, she brought these snacks and fruits to her, allowing her to get rid of the lingering bitterness of the herbal medicine in her mouth.

Xu Jiao had been recovering well these past two days, and her cold wasn’t too severe, so her symptoms were almost gone. After eating these snacks, Lü Luo clapped her hands, and servants from outside the courtyard entered in a line, each carrying wooden trays with various exquisitely made dishes. There were fresh fish slices on ice, various red meats, vegetables, and wild mushrooms.

The servant at the front was carrying a large copper pot, from which wisps of steam could be faintly seen.

            

Xu Jiao’s eyes widened immediately—

Wasn’t this the hotpot she had been craving for the past couple of days?

She instinctively looked at Lü Luo beside her, who smiled and took the initiative to explain: “Previously, a cook in the imperial kitchen invented this pot for cooking various ingredients to avoid laziness in the cold weather. Later, it was seen by the palace masters and has gradually spread recently. I thought Your Highness might like it, so I took the liberty of presenting it. If Your Highness doesn’t like it, I’ll have them take it away immediately.”

            

Xu Jiao raised an eyebrow—

Alternate history is good, alternate history is wonderful, alternate history is fantastic.

Whatever she wanted to eat, it appeared.

            

She just loved this unscientific setting of alternate history.

Smiling at Lü Luo, Xu Jiao said softly: “Since that’s the case, I’ll try this new way of eating.”

Hearing the happiness in her tone, Lü Luo raised her hand to have the servants set out the dishes. She personally helped Xu Jiao prepare the dipping sauces, making four or five bowls with different flavors. Even if there was spice, it was only mildly spicy. Then she helped Xu Jiao cook the meat and vegetables in an orderly manner, mastering the freshness of the ingredients perfectly, without saying much, just attentively serving.

            

Xu Jiao suddenly felt as if she was eating at Haidilao (a popular hotpot chain) with a thoughtful server who came with the meal, but not the type that would start chatting with her to relieve boredom. She thoroughly enjoyed this ancient version of hotpot.

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Last night’s heavy snow had weighed down the pine trees in the palace and turned the black glazed tiles covering the palace walls completely white.

Yu Ye walked between the red palace walls, catching a whiff of food from afar.

            

She looked at the direction and realized it was coming from the palace where Xu Jiao was staying.

A light “crack” sound was heard.

It was the sound of Yu Ye stepping on a dried twig. She stood still, looking towards the Eastern Palace, her mind recalling the scene of Xu Jiao telling her that she didn’t like men.

            

Yu Ye originally didn’t want to see her, not wanting to give Xu Jiao any ideas, fearing that the little Crown Prince might misunderstand something. But she also wanted to know about Xu Jiao’s recent activities. After hesitating repeatedly, she still stepped towards that direction.

As soon as she approached the courtyard, servants who noticed her arrival bowed to her, then wanted to go announce her presence. Yu Ye waved her hand to have someone stop them, not making any noise, and went straight into the hall—

Her black cloak fluttered behind her as she moved, like raven feathers sweeping across the land.

            

Inside the hall.

Xu Jiao didn’t expect to taste sesame sauce here. She accidentally got some sauce on the corner of her lips. Seeing this, Lü Luo immediately took out a handkerchief from her side, intending to help her wipe it off. Xu Jiao, unaccustomed to being served like this, reflexively grabbed her wrist to stop her, then licked the corner of her lips herself, removing the delicious taste.

But because Lü Luo had leaned in too close, bending over, with her fingertips holding the handkerchief so close to Xu Jiao’s lips…

            

From the doorway’s perspective.

It looked as if… she was teasing the other’s fingertips with her lips and teeth.

Yu Ye happened to see this scene.

            

Her brow twitched, and she instinctively spoke out: “What is Your Highness doing?”

The servants who saw her approach instinctively lowered their heads, and the atmosphere in the hall immediately became solemn. Xu Jiao was startled by her strong voice, released Lü Luo’s wrist, frowned slightly and looked over. After a pause, she finally spoke:

“Lord Yu has arrived, why didn’t anyone announce it?”

            

Yu Ye’s attention was all on the maid beside Xu Jiao.

She didn’t quite understand. The person who had just shown affection towards her, how could she be so fickle, now flirting with her subordinate? It seemed that this Crown Prince’s feelings were not as sincere as they appeared.

Hearing Yu Ye’s arrival, Lü Luo instinctively lowered her head and bowed towards Yu Ye’s direction.

            

Yu Ye’s gaze focused on her, but she was answering Xu Jiao’s question: “This subject feared disturbing Your Highness’s pleasure, so I didn’t allow anyone to announce. It seems Your Highness indeed has a good appetite today.”

Xu Jiao couldn’t be bothered with the fact that a lower official was roaming freely in the Crown Prince’s palace.

She just casually said: “Indeed, this pot has a unique flavor. Would Lord Yu like to stay for a meal?”

            

She was just being polite in inviting her to stay.

Unexpectedly, Yu Ye looked at the servant beside her and sat down directly. Xu Jiao was stunned by her casual action, and after a delay, reminded Lü Luo, who was still bowing her head beside her:

“Prepare a set of bowls and chopsticks for Lord Yu.”

            

Lü Luo responded with a soft “Yes” before raising her head.

At the moment she raised her head—

Yu Ye clearly saw her appearance.

            

Her first reaction was:

She looks decent, it seems Xu Jiao is quite picky.

Her second reaction was…

            

Why does this face look somewhat familiar?

Yu Ye thought absent-mindedly as she casually lifted the lid of the hot tea presented by the servants, blew on the floating tea leaves, intending to drink some tea before starting the meal. Unexpectedly, in the next moment, she saw her own reflection in the clear tea.

She paused.

            

Then, she nonchalantly looked towards Lü Luo’s direction.

— So that’s how it is.

Yu Ye noticed that among all the servants in the room, only Lü Luo was serving Xu Jiao closely, probably due to Xu Jiao’s special favor. Her mood became somewhat complicated.

            

This Crown Prince’s feelings for her…

Seemed unexpectedly deep.

Even for a servant, she only favored someone who looked somewhat like her.

            

It seemed a bit pitiful.

Under this complex mood, Yu Ye unconsciously wanted to compensate Xu Jiao in other ways. After the bowls and chopsticks were presented, she instinctively put a piece of duck blood from the side into the pot to cook, then scooped it into Xu Jiao’s bowl.

Xu Jiao, with the sudden duck blood in her bowl: “…?”

            

She looked bewilderedly at this piece of still uncooked duck blood in her bowl, which seemed to still have a slight smell of blood. She looked at Yu Ye with disbelief, not knowing what she had done recently to offend her so greatly that she would bear such a grudge.

Seeing her surprised expression, Yu Ye awkwardly curved her lips, as if smiling, then quickly pressed her lips together, pretending to casually remind Xu Jiao:

“Counting the days, Your Highness will have your monthly period soon. You should supplement your blood in advance.”

            

Xu Jiao: “…”

Let’s not discuss whether eating duck blood can actually supplement blood.

The current problem is—

            

Should she also smash the sauce bowl contaminated by this raw duck blood onto Yu Ye’s face?

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