Chapter 25 (2/2): The First Request

Yun Ran felt as if she were floating on clouds, dazed and dreamy.

Occasionally letting out a silly laugh, she looked at the accounts, calculated with the abacus, and before she knew it, it was dusk with the sun setting in the west.

Discovering she could now freely control such wealth, Yun Ran’s mood brightened, and the earlier unhappiness from being turned away was long forgotten.

So when Langui Mama suggested again to invite Sima Jing for dinner, she happily agreed and immediately sent someone to the study to invite him.

Later—

She was rejected again.

“Y-Your Highness says he won’t come.”

The maid relayed the message cautiously, fearing to anger the princess consort.

Langui Mama stood nearby, frowning deeply.

His Highness was really going too far— how could he be so disrespectful to his new bride?

She tried to excuse him, asking the maid, “Is the prince busy with something important?”

“I don’t know.”

The maid answered nervously. “I didn’t see His Highness. I only heard him say ‘Not going’ from the study.”

Langui Mama: “…”

The girl was so clueless she didn’t even know to say polite words.

It was a mystery how she even got into the manor.

Despite her misgivings, Langui Mama quickly composed herself and looked toward the bedside.

Under the dim, yellow light, the delicate young princess consort sat silently on the couch, her long lashes lowered, lost in thought.

Langui Mama thought she must be upset and quickly softened her voice to comfort her. “Princess Consort, don’t take it to heart. His Highness has always been like this; perhaps he truly is busy.”

“No need to defend him.”

Yun Ran lifted her face, her delicate features relaxed, no hint of displeasure as expected. “He’s a difficult person. I guessed from the start that he probably wouldn’t come.”

Langui Mama was a little surprised. “You’re not upset?”

“No.”

Yun Ran shrugged. “If I got upset over something so small, he’d have driven me crazy by now. Besides, a person thrives by moving about. Rather than brood here and stew, it’s better to think about how to solve the problem.”

Langui Mama blinked. “How will you solve it?”

“That’s easy.”

Yun Ran smoothed her skirt and stood. “If the mountain won’t come to me, then I’ll go to the mountain.”

“Besides, I have something to discuss with him.”

She instructed Qingling, “Tell the kitchen to bring the food to Deep Willow Hall.”

Until that slender, elegant figure disappeared into the courtyard, Langui Mama was amazed by the young lady’s open-mindedness and optimism.

Like a seemingly fragile orchid grass, yet no matter the wind, rain, fire, or stone grind, as long as it receives a little sunshine and rain—

Even just a little—

It will stubbornly sprout from the cracks in the stone, tenacious and vigorous.

Langui Mama’s chest swelled with warmth.

Youth is truly admirable.

It seemed she and the Empress Dowager had underestimated this little princess consort.

***

Unlike the festive and joyous Zhanlu Hall where Yun Ran was, Sima Jing’s Deep Willow Hall remained as usual—calm, simple, and quiet.

Except for two lanterns bearing red double happiness characters hanging by the gate, stepping inside revealed no trace of wedding celebrations.

Yun Ran didn’t mind and walked in openly, waiting by the door to be announced.

When Sima Jing learned she had come in person, a flash of surprise passed through his black eyes.

He had assumed that after being rejected repeatedly, she would have given up.

Most young ladies were thin-skinned and proud.

But she…

Should he say she was thick-skinned, easygoing, or just plain stubborn?

Chang Chun watched his master’s expression and, after some thought, decided to say something in the princess consort’s favor.

“Today’s cold, and there’s wind outside. I see the princess consort is delicate and didn’t bring a cloak. It wouldn’t do if she got sick from the cold.”

Hearing this, Sima Jing lifted his eyelids.

His gaze passed over Chang Chun’s head and landed directly on the small, blurred figure outside the green gauze window.

After a moment of silence, he said, “Let her in.”

His Highness really does cherish the tender and delicate!

Chang Chun quickly responded, “Yes, I’ll go invite her at once.”

Soon, voices were heard outside— familiar tones like the tinkling of a spring.

“Thank you, Chang Eunuch.”

“Princess Consort is here.”

“Has the kitchen not sent the dishes? Hurry and remind them, I’m starving.”

“Yes, we’ll go at once.”

As the words faded, a coral red figure stepped through the threshold.

For a moment, the originally dim, rustic room seemed brighter.

Sima Jing sat quietly by the couch, watching the young lady in her red dress and cloud-like hair approach.

Up close, her features were even clearer in the candlelight.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Yun Ran had thought she wouldn’t get upset anymore, but seeing Sima Jing’s cool, cold face made her a little annoyed.

No matter how handsome he was, he couldn’t be so rude.

It was the first time Sima Jing had seen someone greet him formally with such a look of grievance.

“Stand up.”

He looked at her. “What do you want?”

Yun Ran said, “If there’s nothing, can’t I come see you?”

Sima Jing was about to say “No,” but at the sorrowful look in her small eyes, he swallowed the words.

Seeing this, Yun Ran snorted.

A quiet scowl with such a pretty mouth.

She sat down on the other side of the long couch, lifting her skirt. “You like quiet, but I’m not just sitting idle, coming to bother you. I’m busy too, okay?”

She raised both hands. “Look, I’ve been counting accounts all afternoon. My hands are swollen!”

“Langui Mama said some shop stewards and farm stewards will visit me later. If possible, I should also visit the shops and farms to understand things firsthand. That way, even without ledgers, I’ll have a clear picture.”

She glanced at Sima Jing and, seeing no reaction, continued. “I came to see you this afternoon to apologize for getting drunk yesterday and to thank you for carrying me back.”

Mentioning this earlier had made her a bit embarrassed.

Now, after two refusals, that embarrassment was completely gone—

He helped her but also scolded her, so it was even.

“Besides the drunkenness, I want to ask if you’ve thought about the three requests you made earlier? I have, I have…”

Yun Ran pressed her lips, hesitated, then said, “My second brother and sister-in-law will return to Yuzhou the day after tomorrow. I want to see them off.”

At these words, Sima Jing’s calm black eyes finally stirred.

He looked at the little lady sitting quietly beneath the flickering lights.

So she really came with a purpose.

Not, as he had thought, just an excuse.

“If you want to go, then go.”

He said, “As long as you don’t drag me along, I won’t restrict your leaving the manor.”

Yun Ran: “…”

Who wants to drag you along?

“I’m not the kind to force others. If you don’t like going out, then don’t go.”

Muttering annoyedly, she noticed his faint sideways glance and immediately cleared her throat, speaking seriously, “Don’t worry. I won’t ask you to go out unless absolutely necessary.”

Her voice was sincere, and her gaze clear.

But for some reason, Sima Jing felt a tightness in his chest.

“Your Highness?”

Yun Ran called twice before the man in the cloud-patterned dark robe looked back.

She stared into his eyes to confirm, “You mean I can go see off my brother and sister-in-law the day after tomorrow, right?”

Sima Jing: “Mm.”

Yun Ran: “In the future, do I have to report to you before going out?”

The term ‘report’ wasn’t unfamiliar to Sima Jing.

But in his mind, reporting was something subordinates did.

He had no commands for Yun Ran, so she didn’t need to report to him.

Where she went and what she did was none of his business—

“No need to report.”

After a pause, Sima Jing said, “There are some things you should understand today.”

It was rare for him to speak first. Yun Ran’s eyes widened slightly, and she sat up straight. “Say it.”

Sima Jing said, “Although you are married, this marriage was never something you agreed to or desired from the start. For your sake, it’s best that outwardly you remain husband and wife, but behind closed doors, you each live your own lives without interference.”

He paused, lifting his eyes to hers. “What do you think?”

Yun Ran hadn’t expected this.

She furrowed her brows, looking troubled. “Living separate lives isn’t impossible, but there’s one thing that might be difficult.”

Sima Jing: “What is it?”

Yun Ran bit her lip, then looked up. “The formal wedding ceremony.”

Sima Jing: “…”

“Don’t misunderstand—I’m not saying I want to do it!”

Yun Ran’s ears turned red, and she hurriedly explained, “We’re not very close, and it would be strange to be all cozy like the two little kids Mother has. But Mother and Langui Mama both think this is important. You know, Langui Mama speaks for the Empress Dowager. Mother can handle it, but the Empress Dowager’s side… I’m afraid I can’t.”

Yun Ran asked seriously, “Can you handle it? If you can, then all the other things you mentioned won’t be a problem.”

Living separate lives, no interference, that was exactly what she had hoped for before marriage.

She hadn’t expected their ideas to align so well—such a lucky coincidence.

Sima Jing, hearing her talk about the ‘naked little kids,’ didn’t flinch in the slightest; his gaze grew complicated.

But he also knew the bridal chamber was a big obstacle between them—

After all, the palace had just sent Langui Mama here for this very reason.

He understood the Empress Dowager’s methods—when she wanted something done, she stopped at nothing.

Now she was playing soft.

If soft didn’t work, there would be harsher measures…

Looking at the innocent little lady sitting across from him, Sima Jing pressed his lips together.

She was going to suffer.

But if he consummated with her now—

His lips tightened further, and a strange guilt welled up inside.

She probably didn’t even know what consummation entailed.

“Why aren’t you saying anything, Your Highness? Is it difficult?”

Yun Ran saw his serious expression and rested her cheek on her hand, sighing. “Well, the Empress Dowager and Langui Mama are clever. It won’t be easy to fool them.”

As she frowned, deep in thought about how to handle the bridal chamber issue, the man’s calm voice suddenly broke the silence.

“Do you remember the three promises you made?”

“Hm? Of course.”

Yun Ran blinked, puzzled by the sudden topic change.

“Your first request was—”

Facing her clear, bright gaze, Sima Jing’s throat tightened strangely. His usually calm voice turned hoarse as he said, “To get me to no longer resist your touch.”