Chapter 9 – Ungrateful

Because he was worried that the assassination attempt from earlier tonight might have left a lingering shadow in her heart, Xiao Che stayed until the early hours of the morning and still hadn’t left.

He stood by the window like an iceberg, his gaze cold as he looked out. A chill seemed to radiate from his body.

Shu Ruohua, however, truly couldn’t hold on any longer. Her eyelids were on the verge of needing tiny sticks to keep them propped open.

She didn’t know how much time had passed.

Eventually, she fell asleep sitting upright. But a sudden shiver jerked her awake again.

Forcing her eyes open, she saw Xiao Che still standing there. “So sleepy… don’t you need to sleep?”

Xiao Che cast a cold glance at her. “…”

He had just been dismissed.

An indescribable feeling surged in his chest.

He—Crown Prince of Tianqi Kingdom—had actually been given a dismissal order by his little wife!

His expression darkened instinctively.

But…

Forget it.

Shu Ruohua really did seem to have lost her memory.

Considering that she no longer remembered her identity, he said nothing and turned to leave.

“Ungrateful!” he muttered gloomily in his heart.

The moment he stepped out of the room, Shu Ruohua collapsed with a thud and immediately entered dreamland.

…

The Next Day

Because she had gone to bed so late the night before, even by the time it was late morning (around 9–11am), Shu Ruohua still hadn’t woken up.

Qian Ning had watched the Crown Prince leave the previous night and knew Shu Ruohua had gone to bed late, so she didn’t try to wake her.

But it was nearing lunchtime.

Even though Shu Ruohua had skipped breakfast, she still needed to eat lunch.

Qian Ning brought the dishes into Shu Ruohua’s room.

Early in the morning, Zhong Zihan had sent over a carp, saying it was for Shu Ruohua to nourish her body.

So, Qian Ning made a large pot of fish soup.

The milky white broth gave off a fragrant aroma that was mouthwateringly delicious.

Shu Ruohua hadn’t eaten anything meaty for quite some time, and even while still half-asleep, the scent wafted into her dreams.

Sniffing a few times, she slowly opened her eyes, following the aroma.

When she saw the big bowl of fish soup on the round table, her eyes lit up—there was actually real fish!

Her groggy mind immediately cleared. Not even checking if her hands were clean, she darted straight toward the table.

Luckily, Qian Ning had prepared ahead. She had already set out a basin of water and helped Shu Ruohua wash up before letting her eat.

…

Meanwhile, at the garden pavilion in the back courtyard—

Consort Yang liked to come sit at the garden pavilion around noon every day. Who knew—maybe one day she might run into the Crown Prince.

Today, Lady Ning came to the garden dressed in a light yellow robe.

Upon seeing Consort Yang, she respectfully greeted her. “Greetings, Elder Sister.”

Consort Yang wore a pale blue gown, her hair adorned with ruby and gold hairpins. Her fair, delicate skin glowed like dewy egg white.

She smiled and gestured for Lady Ning to sit.

“You look well today, Elder Sister!”

Lady Ning was quite the chatterbox. As soon as she sat down, she started chatting with Consort Yang.

Consort Yang gave her a faint smile.

She came here at this time every day—it was no secret. That Lady Ning just happened to appear here today? She didn’t believe it was a coincidence.

“If you have something to say, speak plainly.”

After all, she was a consort, and Lady Ning was merely a concubine of lower rank. She had no need to beat around the bush.

Lady Ning’s face froze momentarily but quickly recovered.

With a coquettish smile, she said, “Oh my, so Elder Sister already knows about Shu Ruohua taking a sword for the Crown Prince last night?”

Consort Yang’s expression changed instantly. Without thinking, she blurted, “The Crown Prince went to Cold Maple Pavilion?”

…

If Lady Ning had been born in modern times, she would have been a paparazzo. Anything that happened in the Eastern Palace—she always found out right away.

If it was true that Shu Ruohua had shielded the Crown Prince from a sword, then that meant he must have gone to Cold Maple Pavilion.

Because Shu Ruohua, confined to the Cold Palace, couldn’t possibly leave it.

“Oh? So Elder Sister didn’t know?” Lady Ning said with an exaggerated look of surprise.

She had come today just to stir things up, hoping to enjoy a good show between Consort Yang and Shu Ruohua.

Consort Yang quickly realized that she had just overreacted. She forced a smile. “Ah, silly me. I completely forgot about that.”

As she spoke, she glanced at her personal maid, Liuxu, and gave her a signal to help her up.

Liuxu hurried over to support her.

“It’s getting late. I’ll head back now. Sister, feel free to stay.”

Leaving those words behind, Consort Yang walked off.

She bit her lower lip hard, her eyes filled with venomous rage.

That little slut Shu Ruohua had already been thrown into the Cold Palace, and she still managed to seduce the Crown Prince?!

…

In Cold Maple Pavilion

Shu Ruohua was now full and satisfied.

Since her left arm had been injured by the assassin’s blade yesterday, she gingerly supported it with her right hand, intending to go check on her potato plants.

Qian Ning quickly came forward to help her walk.

The two of them strolled leisurely into the courtyard. But when they saw what was before them—

Shu Ruohua’s black eyes widened several times over in sheer shock…

…

(End of Chapter)