Chapter 246: Is It You Who Misses Me, or Her?

Chapter 246: Chapter 201: Is It You Who Misses Me, or Her?

He was intimately familiar with Zhaoyang Palace. Whenever he came to play, Noble Princess Consort Rong never restricted him. She wasn’t worried he would break her valuables; her only fear was that if he shattered some porcelain or gold, he might cut his small, tender hands. Thus, Xie Zhao picked a spot on the palace wall closest to the garden swing and, using the Light Body Technique his uncle Sikong Rui had taught him, easily leaped over.

…

「Inside Zhaoyang Palace’s garden.」

Since they parted on bad terms that night, the Emperor hadn’t set foot in Zhaoyang Palace for over half a month. Other than the times he’d been sent away on assignment by the late Emperor, this was the longest Noble Princess Consort Rong had gone without seeing him since their marriage. She sat on the swing for a moment before feeling dizzy. ‘This thing’s rocking is giving me a headache. I have no idea why that little fatty loves sitting on it so much…’ “Bring me a rocking chair.”

Most of the rocking chairs used by the concubines in the harem were made of leather or wood.

But her Zhaoyang Palace alone boasted a crystal rocking chair and another of white jade. Her father and brother had even promised that once she bore a son or daughter, they would send a rocking chair forged from solid gold to the palace for her pleasure.

The rocking chair’s sway was gentler than the swing’s. She lay back, gazing quietly at the swing set.

Qiu Tang couldn’t resist. “Your Highness, if you’re not fond of the swing, why not have it dismantled? We could build a small pond and raise some fish.”

“I don’t like fish either.”

Noble Princess Consort Rong propped her chin on one hand, utterly exasperated.

She was well-informed, understanding the entire situation far better than the smug Guo Xiao Yi. And though she resented the Emperor for turning on her so callously and disregarding their history, she couldn’t bring herself to blame Jiang Xian.

The problem, however, stemmed from matters of the court, which had made things awkward between her and the Pure Consort.

Noble Princess Consort Rong’s mood soured again. For the past week, she had refused to see anyone. Now she desperately wanted to see the Pure Consort, but she couldn’t possibly go to her in person. The situation was at an impasse, and she was left to wallow in self-pity.

Her family’s backing had collapsed.

She fought with the Emperor whenever they met.

She was in a cold war with her best friend.

And she could only imagine what that pack of bitches in the harem were saying behind her back. It was infuriating!

—These four debuffs stacked so high that Noble Princess Consort Rong lost her appetite completely. She locked herself away, withering until she was little more than skin and bones, and would occasionally think, ‘What’s the point of living like this? I might as well have joined my father and brother…’

Qiu Tang exclaimed, “Your Highness, how can you say such a thing!”

Noble Princess Consort Rong retorted, “And why can’t I?”

Qiu Tang looked troubled. “Because… the Master and the Young Master are still alive and well.”

Noble Princess Consort Rong was speechless. “…”

‘Now that she mentioned it, that was true.’

Noble Princess Consort Rong felt listless. She was born to a life of luxury and had never known a day of hardship. The greatest injustice she had ever endured was losing the position of principal wife to Chu Siyun because her beauty was deemed too seductive. But now, the entire harem could treat her as a laughingstock.

Ma Ronghua had tried to deny it, but the Empress had forbidden anyone from speaking of it.

“In the end, I have to rely on Chu Siyun to preserve my dignity. What’s the point of living?” Noble Princess Consort Rong fumed, then added, “And what about the Pure Consort? Is she just going to stand by and watch others bully me?”

Qiu Tang replied, “Your Highness, the Pure Consort is still in her postpartum confinement. She cannot take a single step outside of Bihua Palace.”

“So that’s her excuse for not coming to see me?”

A flicker of anger crossed Noble Princess Consort Rong’s radiant face.

She knew she was being unreasonable—it was she who had shut her doors, claimed illness, and refused all visitors, yet now she was blaming the Pure Consort for not coming. The Pure Consort wasn’t Ma Ronghua; she wouldn’t come groveling to appease her. Noble Princess Consort Rong belatedly realized she had no idea how to handle friendships. Faced with conflict and misunderstanding, her only two responses were to either throw a massive tantrum or lock herself away in avoidance.

One in Bihua Palace, the other in Zhaoyang Palace, the two women had arrived at the exact same conclusion.

The more Noble Princess Consort Rong thought about it, the angrier she became. “Forget the Emperor, but how could the Pure Consort not come see me!? Does she expect *me* to go to *her*? I haven’t even held the Little Princess yet!”

Qiu Tang hung her head low.

Just as Noble Princess Consort Rong was in the throes of her temper tantrum, there was a THUD right in front of her.

—The little fatty who loved the swing had dropped from the sky.

The Light Body Technique his uncle Sikong Rui had taught him was quite effective. Xie Zhao did a somersault where he landed. Other than getting grass stains all over his clothes and his bottom being a bit sore from the impact, he was uninjured. The nearby palace maids and eunuchs barely managed to suppress their screams. Qiu Tang cried out in alarm, “Your Highness! How did you come this way? It’s so dangerous!”

The little fatty patted his bottom, stood up, and shamelessly squatted beside the rocking chair. “Nanny Rong, Zhao’er missed you.”

Noble Princess Consort Rong stared at him for a long moment.

‘Right,’ she thought. ‘I’ve spent all this time cursing Jiang Xian for not visiting, but I completely forgot about the Eldest Prince. He deserves a scolding, too.’ “What do you miss me for?” she snapped. “I don’t need you to miss me.”

“Even if Nanny Rong doesn’t want Zhao’er to miss her, Zhao’er still will.”

In private, Xie Zhao rarely referred to himself as “Zhao’er” anymore.

But he was a clever child and had instinctively figured out the best way to deal with Noble Princess Consort Rong.

“Oh?”

Noble Princess Consort Rong arched a cool eyebrow. “Is it you who misses me, or is it the Pure Consort?”