Alone, Beautifully – Chapter 129

Bestowing Upon You the Realm (11)

“What are you doing?!”

Xu Jiao was seriously considering whether directly telling Yu Ye that she had no feelings for her would cause this Lord Yu to become enraged with embarrassment and immediately execute her with a sword in the Eastern Palace.

            

If it had been a few days ago, when Yu Ye was constantly probing her, Xu Jiao might have lost her patience and “smash a cracked pot” (meaning to give up completely), directly choosing to go to the next new world. After all, her current mission completion was just so-so. However, recently, she had gradually adapted to the way of survival in this world. She felt that waiting for Yu Ye to ascend to the throne wasn’t a very difficult task, and moreover, she didn’t need to follow the romantic storyline. Xu Jiao felt as light as a feather.

So after hesitating for a long time—

She expressed her view diplomatically:

            

“Lord Yu, is there… some misunderstanding here?”

Seeing her somewhat hesitant appearance and her hurried attempt to clear things up, Yu Ye guessed that her own overly direct attitude had flustered the young girl. She thought to herself that she had seen everything Xu Jiao had done, from trying to get close to palace maids who resembled herself to wanting her to eat from her bowl.

She understood it all.

            

Yu Ye just assumed Xu Jiao was a bit shy, but since she had already decided to “cut through a tangled mess with a sharp knife” (meaning to take decisive action) today, she couldn’t let herself soften again. She was determined to nip this budding relationship in the bud.

“There is no misunderstanding, Your Highness need not say more—”

“It’s just that our statuses are ultimately different. I hope Your Highness will take back these thoughts. I have carefully considered it. Your Highness has already learned most of what the teachers have to offer. In a few days, I will have people present appropriate government affairs to you. From now on, you must also attend the morning court sessions and be present to discuss important matters. As the heir apparent, Your Highness should focus more on state affairs.”

            

She spoke seriously, giving Xu Jiao no chance to clear up this misunderstanding, as if no matter how Xu Jiao tried to explain, she had already seen through Xu Jiao’s deep love for her.

Xu Jiao never expected the other party to be so narcissistic. She was now like “a mute eating bitter herbs (meaning suffering in silence), unable to express her frustration.

Finally, when Yu Ye’s long speech came to an end, she quickly interjected: “Lord Yu speaks wisely! I was young and reckless, please rest assured, Lord Yu. If I dare to harbor any improper thoughts towards you again, may I be struck by “five thunderbolts” (meaning to suffer a calamity) and not—”

            

Liking Yu Ye was impossible.

Please, would this self-important Regent also wake up a bit.

Yu Ye’s expression changed slightly, and she instinctively interrupted her unfinished vicious oath:

            

“Your Highness, mind your words!”

There was no need to be so dramatic about being struck by thunderbolts and not dying well.

She looked at Xu Jiao’s determined expression and felt for a moment that something wasn’t quite right. But in this moment of silence, she truly couldn’t think of what it was. She only softened her tone and added:

            

“Your Highness has always been intelligent. There’s no need for me to say more. You know what’s appropriate in your heart.”

“But I must add one more thing. That Nie Yunyue from Da Liang is not easy to deal with. Being sent as a hostage to an enemy country at nearly twenty years old, he must feel resentment and anger. If Your Highness gets close to him, I fear he might do something harmful to you.”

She was still concerned about that male protagonist from the main story.

            

Xu Jiao understood her meaning. She originally had no interest in this male protagonist, and to some extent, since this side story focused on Yu Ye, Xu Jiao was even worried that the male protagonist’s halo might have some adverse effect on Yu Ye. She wondered if it would be more convenient to kill the male protagonist in advance to eliminate future troubles.

“Lord Yu can rest assured, I know what I’m doing.”

“I see the sky has darkened again. I’m afraid there will be another heavy snowfall later. Lord Yu, please be careful when you leave the palace later.”

            

Fearing that Yu Ye might stay a few more seconds and imagine some more earth-shattering love stories, Xu Jiao quickly looked at the sky outside the window and subtly tried to send her guest away.

Before leaving, Yu Ye looked at her suspiciously several times.

It seemed she was observing whether Xu Jiao was just putting on a brave face.

            

For example, she might still be thinking about her, but because of being rejected face-to-face, she felt sad and had to send her away early to avoid being seen crying later.

Even after leaving the Eastern Palace.

Yu Ye, still not entirely at ease, instructed those around her: “Pay more attention to the movements in the Eastern Palace these days. If anything happens, report to me immediately.”

            

The subordinate beside her looked confused but, fearing Yu Ye would despise him for being slow-witted, could only lower his head and earnestly comply.

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Yu Ye had been busy lately with next year’s spring imperial examination.

The civil officials at court had drafted several essay topics, but they were all intentionally or unintentionally touching on sensitive subjects, discussing either the relationship between the monarch and her ministers or the checks and balances on imperial power in ancient times. All of them were alluding to her relationship with Xu Jiao.

            

Yu Ye was busy engaging in a battle of wits with these court officials.

After two or three days passed like this, she remembered that it was time for her promise to let Xu Jiao attend court and listen to state affairs. Recalling the conversation in the Eastern Palace a few days ago, she glanced at the subordinate beside her and suddenly asked:

“These days… has there been any news from the Eastern Palace?”

            

The subordinate reported truthfully: “Everything is normal. No assassins have succeeded in their attempts. They were all dealt with by us outside the palace.”

Yu Ye nodded with a profound look, but said: “That’s not what I meant. I mean… has there been anything unusual about the Crown Prince’s eating and living habits recently?”

After being rejected by her like that, she should be unable to eat or sleep for a few days, right? I wonder if the little girl’s weak constitution can withstand wasting away for two days like this. Won’t the flesh she had just put on be lost again?

            

She unconsciously moved her fingertips, as if measuring Xu Jiao’s waist size from their last meeting.

The subordinate answering her hadn’t expected her to ask about this aspect. He was stunned for a few seconds before relying on his good memory to answer the question: “We… we haven’t heard of Her Highness having a poor appetite. In fact, yesterday, because the kitchen brought in some excellent mutton, Her Highness had a better appetite than usual and drank three bowls of mutton soup.”

Yu Ye: “…”

            

Things didn’t seem to be going the way she thought.

No.

Xu Jiao must be…

            

She must be turning her sorrow into appetite!

After all, as a person in a high position, if her sadness was too obvious and noticed by those around her, it would certainly be inappropriate. This young Crown Prince, having grown up in the deep palace, might not be deeply scheming or have many strategies, but hiding one’s temporary joys and sorrows should be easy.

Yu Ye convinced herself and asked again: “Does the Crown Prince have insomnia or oversleeping problems? Has the Eastern Palace summoned any imperial physicians recently?”

            

She thought, eating can deceive people, but if one’s mind is heavy, sleep definitely can’t be hidden. It’s either insomnia, tossing and turning in the deep night, secretly crying, or oversleeping, immersed in beautiful dreams, unwilling to face this cruel reality.

After all, she’s just a fifteen or sixteen-year-old little girl.

Thinking this way, Yu Ye sighed inwardly, but the subordinate immediately answered: “The Eastern Palace hasn’t summoned any imperial physicians these days, nor have we noticed any sleep problems with Her Highness. Every day, she goes to sleep at the “hai shi” (9-11 pm) and wakes up at the “yin shi” (3-5 am) to read books. Her schedule is extremely regular.”

            

Yu Ye: “…”

She’s hiding it too well! This must be hiding it too deeply!

She didn’t expect that the young girl, despite her age, would be so steady in facing heartbreak, not revealing even a trace of sadness.

            

Yu Ye suddenly didn’t know where to start asking about this matter.

The room fell silent for a moment.

The subordinate maintained his reporting posture, but when Yu Ye’s next words didn’t come for a long time, his waist, bent too low, began to ache. The pain crawled up his back, but not knowing Yu Ye’s thoughts, he didn’t dare make a sound. He silently endured, sweating, until the steward of the Yu Mansion entered the room, calling Yu Ye’s attention back.

            

She waved her hand, signaling the subordinate to withdraw, looked at the old steward, and asked what the matter was.

The old steward smiled and said to her: “Tomorrow is your birthday. I’ve had the servants in the mansion make some preparations. If there’s nothing urgent, could you return to the mansion earlier tomorrow evening?”

Yu Ye then realized that she had been so busy that she had completely forgotten about her own birthday.

            

She narrowed her eyes, involuntarily recalling her childhood birthdays.

At that time, no matter whose birthday it was in the Yu family, the old steward and her mother would remember clearly, preparing things a month or half a month in advance. On the day of the birthday, everyone in the family would revolve around the birthday person, fulfilling whatever requests they made.

In the blink of an eye.

            

Only she was left in the Yu family.

Yu Ye inexplicably felt a sense of melancholy in her chest. After a long time, she slowly responded: “…Alright.”

After thinking for a moment, she added: “There’s no need for grand preparations, nor to invite court officials to offer birthday wishes. Just a casual celebration at home will do.”

            

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The next day.

“Your Highness.”

In the Eastern Palace.

            

Xu Jiao was painting the red plum blossom by the window. As she put down her brush, she looked down at the painting, which seemed to lack three parts of its spirit, unsatisfied. She heard Lü Luo quietly calling her from the side.

Today, she wore a light-colored gauze dress, but the dress was embroidered with four-clawed “jiao long” (a mythical dragon-like creature) in gold thread, showing authority amidst the softness. This was a dress specially made for her by the imperial tailors at Yu Ye’s request, unique in all of Da Yan.

She turned her head to look, indicating that Lü Luo should speak if she had something to say.

            

Lü Luo then said directly: “I heard from people in the palace that today is Lord Yu’s birthday.”

Yu Ye herself wanted to keep a low profile, but her status was what it was. Even though there were many people in the court who disliked her, there were even more who wanted to curry favor with her. Almost the entire Da Yan knew about her birthday.

Xu Jiao raised an eyebrow, and Lü Luo gathered her courage to remind her: “What gift should the Eastern Palace send?”

            

Xu Jiao thought for a moment. Although Yu Ye had narcissistically thought that she liked her, at this time, she couldn’t completely disregard their relationship and not even perform this superficial gesture. So she casually said: “Whatever treasures are in the storehouse, you pick something suitable and send it.”

Lü Luo had thought she would do something special, but didn’t expect to receive such an instruction. She was stunned for a moment before bowing: “Yes.”

Xu Jiao was about to pick up her brush to continue painting when she suddenly remembered that in the previous world, when Zheng Zhiyu celebrated her birthday, she had personally kneaded noodles and simmered bone broth for half a day to make her a bowl of longevity noodles.

            

The red ink from the tip of her brush dripped down.

It spread into a large red stain on the paper.

“Your Highness?”

            

After a long while, Lü Luo saw her ruin this painting with her own eyes. She looked at her blankly and called out, seeing no response from Xu Jiao. She boldly approached, her breath falling on Xu Jiao’s ear.

Xu Jiao was suddenly approached by someone. Coming back to her senses and seeing Lü Luo’s face, she didn’t know why, but she threw down the brush in her hand and gently cupped Lü Luo’s chin.

Lü Luo was stunned for a moment, hiding the joy in her heart. She tried to steady herself and called out again with a trembling voice: “Your Highness…”

            

But this time, the call was much lower, as if hiding some coquettishness.

Xu Jiao said softly: “Don’t move.”

Lü Luo’s lowered head and profile looked exactly like Yu Ye, and also exactly like the lover she had been reminiscing about earlier.

            

For the first time, Xu Jiao regretted giving all the female protagonists this appearance.

To the extent that when she wanted to reminisce, she seemed unable to pick out the unique features of her beloved.

She gradually moved closer to Lü Luo.

            

As if this way, she could carefully distinguish through the other person’s facial features—

Actually, they’re not alike.

This person’s demeanor is humble, completely different from Zheng Zhiyu’s arrogance.

            

Zheng Zhiyu’s nose bridge seems a bit higher, and her eyes are a bit larger…

Lü Luo thought she was going to kiss her and instinctively closed her eyes. But after waiting for a long time, she only heard an angry rebuke from outside:

“What is the Crown Prince doing?!”

            

Xu Jiao released her hand, and Lü Luo was so frightened that she had already knelt down. She then turned to look towards the door.

She saw today’s birthday celebrant, Yu Ye, standing at the door of the study.

Yu Ye had originally wanted to see how Xu Jiao had been doing lately. If she wasn’t doing well, she would give her an opportunity to show concern for herself. After all, today was her birthday, and Xu Jiao should very much want to help her celebrate. Who knew that upon arriving, she would see such a scene!

            

She let the palace maid casually pick a gift for her!

She was even flirting with the palace maid in the sacred place of the study!

This was simply… simply indecent!

            

Yu Ye couldn’t say why she was so angry. She didn’t even notice that her eyes were blazing with fire as she looked at Xu Jiao, as if she were the main wife catching her husband secretly eating wild grass!

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