Chapter 997 - 425: Banquet (Part 1)
Princess Wanhe also did not speak, merely looked at Nanny Li.
Shu Zhu, upon seeing the expression on Princess Wanhe’s face, was startled and immediately knelt down, saying, "Princess, this servant is also thinking for your good." Shu Zhu had been attending to Princess Wanhe for several years and understood the Princess’s temperament well. But this Nanny Li was the one who was always picking bones from eggs.
Princess Wanhe waved her hand, signaling Shu Zhu to leave: "Nanny, although Shu Zhu misspoke, it was not a grave mistake." Princess Wanhe was chiding Nanny Li for overstepping.
Nanny Li, however, was unfazed and said, "Princess, if it were others, you naturally would not bother. But Madam Lian is different; she is the Princely Heir’s life-saver. The grace of saving one’s life is greater than the heavens. If you truly heed this girl’s words, you will certainly become estranged from the Heir in the future."
Princess Wanhe was somewhat agitated.
Nanny Li knew that Princess Wanhe actually still harbored resentment over the Heir’s refusal of the royal proposal that day in favor of proposing to Madam Lian: "Princess, this old servant knows that you still feel wronged, but in life, nine out of ten things do not go as one wishes. Since you chose the Heir that day, you should let those things go." The Princely Heir was not a fool; on the contrary, he was a Civil and Military Imperial Scholar of the Great Yuan Dynasty. Even if the Princess was of noble birth, she could not act rashly in front of such a person.
Princess Wanhe, since childhood, always got her way, but it was in the matter of marriage that things did not go smoothly. She did not wish to marry a decorative "embroidered pillow" nor a pedantic scholar. She set her sights on Guan Jingshuo, but Guan Jingshuo did not reciprocate. Although she later married Guan Jingshuo, she tried hard to ignore this matter; otherwise, she would not have taken the initiative to befriend Yueyao. But this matter was like a thorn; not mentioning it was fine, but once someone brought it up, her heart felt uncomfortable.
Nanny Li sighed and said, "Princess, do you remember what the Princess Consort told you when you were getting married? If you remember, you should lay those matters to rest." After Guan Jingshuo refused the proposal, Prince Duan and Princess Consort Duan gave up on the idea of a marriage alliance. Later, when the marriage was brought up again, it was because of Princess Wanhe’s own wish.
Before the wedding, Princess Consort Duan told Wanhe that since she herself wanted to marry into the Marquis Yongding’s Family, if she acted as a Royal Princess and behaved willfully, Guan Jingshuo might not do anything to her, but mutual love and affection as a couple would be out of the question. If she wanted harmony as a married couple, she would have to make concessions in many matters.
Princess Wanhe also wanted to let it go, but saying it is easier than doing it. She could not completely ignore it, so she asked Nanny Li: "Nanny, why do you think Yueyao refused the marriage proposal in the first place? Why was she so sure that the Heir proposed only out of gratitude?"
Upon hearing this, Nanny Li realized that her previous words had been in vain; she could not completely unlock this complex. The person who tied the knot is the one to untie it; only the Heir could resolve this heart’s knot. Nanny Li suggested, "Princess, why don’t you have the Heir agree to attend together with you?" If the Heir truly harbors feelings for Madam Lian, they will surely become apparent at the banquet, so the Princess will not have to dwell in constant suspicion. If the Heir has no feelings for Madam Lian, all the better, as it would dispel Princess Wanhe’s inner demons directly.
Princess Wanhe pondered for a long time before finally nodding. Over the past few years, she had been restraining herself from mentioning this matter, but the more she restrained herself, the more her mind wandered.
In the evening, Princess Wanhe deliberately took a brightly-colored invitation card with gold embossing to show Guan Jingshuo and said, "Sister Yueyao invited us over; will you have time, husband?"
Guan Jingshuo was somewhat surprised. If he remembered correctly, his wife and Yueyao should have little interaction, yet her tone suggested a close relationship. Guan Jingshuo did not think much more of it; the dealings of women were beyond his understanding: "Since we were invited, we should certainly go."
Hearing his definitive response, Princess Wanhe felt a pang in her heart. Her thoughts whirled endlessly, and she finally decided to take a leap of faith, lest her heart remain restless all the time: "Husband, I heard Sister Yueyao say that she saved your life. But she only mentioned this and was unwilling to say more. Husband, is what Sister Yueyao said true?"
This time, Guan Jingshuo was genuinely surprised. Yueyao shared this matter with his wife; evidently, they truly had a good relationship: "It is true."
Princess Wanhe was full of curiosity: "Husband, can you tell me how Sister Yueyao saved you?" In truth, Princess Wanhe was indeed very curious about how Yueyao became Guan Jingshuo’s savior.
Guan Jingshuo did not hide it from Princess Wanhe; he felt there was no need to conceal it: "When I visited Zhaohua Temple that day, I inadvertently encountered Zichang. At the time, seeing my frail appearance, she recommended a doctor to me. After descending the mountain, I sought out that doctor, who had exceptional medical skills and cured my illness within six months. Without Zichang’s guidance, I would not be alive today."
Princess Wanhe had imagined many possibilities but had not thought of this one: "Husband, what illness did you have back then?"
Guan Jingshuo’s face darkened: "The doctor said I was not ill at all; I just consumed too many fine things since childhood, eating my way into illness."
Princess Wanhe was speechless with shock, having heard enough of flattery or criticism, yet never having heard that tonic could be consumed to death.
Guan Jingshuo’s expression turned cold: "It was then that I realized my dear aunt wanted to nurture me to death, though I treated her like my own mother."
Princess Wanhe recovered, feeling somewhat relieved: "Fortunately, you encountered Sister Yueyao; otherwise, you would have fallen right into her hands."
Guan Jingshuo, however, looked out of the house and after a long while said: "Zichang recommended the doctor for my mother’s sake. I think it must have been my mother’s spirit in heaven watching over me." He had encountered Yueyao at Zhaohua Temple just when he went to offer incense and light a perpetual lamp for his mother.
Princess Wanhe was very surprised inside but did not show it on her face.
After the couple talked for a while, Guan Jingshuo went out.
Princess Wanhe watched her husband’s departing figure, feeling much relieved in her heart. From the Heir’s words, she sensed his gratitude toward Yueyao, yet did not perceive any feelings akin to romantic affection. Princess Wanhe mused aloud, "Perhaps I was overthinking it." The more one cares, the more they suffer from gain and loss.
Putting her worries aside, Princess Wanhe summoned Nanny Li and recounted what had happened: "Nanny Li, does Yueyao have any relationship with my mother-in-law?"
Nanny Li thought for a moment before replying: "The late Madam and Madam Lian’s mother were once as close as sisters."
Princess Wanhe felt much more at ease upon hearing this.