The Female Psychology PhD Who Time Traveled to the Royal Harem-Chapter 541
“Sss——”
“Miss, The Elder Princess is really too much. She claimed to apologize to you, yet she made you kneel and wouldn’t let you rise. Your knees are swollen—she clearly did it on purpose.”
On the only path out of the palace, Lin Jingru found a pavilion to sit down in. She lifted her skirt and trousers, revealing her swollen knees.
“Lvluo, stop talking.”
The young girl’s eyes were red as she gently touched the injured area with her fingers: “We’re in the palace. What if this reaches The Elder Princess’s ears…”
She shook her head, suppressing her emotions: “Lvluo, The Elder Princess simply admires Cousin and can’t stand seeing any woman getting too close to him. I’ll just stay away from Cousin from now on.”
“But…”
“I said, no more talking.”
Her swollen knees made it difficult for her to walk, and the pitiful and aggrieved tone in her voice would make any man’s heart ache.
Pei Ji’s gaze was indifferent, not lingering on her for long, but the coldness in his eyes made Lin Jingru feel as if she had been completely exposed.
“The Elder Princess wouldn’t deliberately make things difficult for you. Are you waiting here to complain, hoping I’ll misunderstand her?”
“Cousin, I didn’t…”
“Fine!”
Pei Ji’s lips curled coldly: “Then come with me to Tinglan Palace to see the Princess. If she punished you without reason, I’ll go to the Censorate to seek justice for you.”
But if Lin Jingru was lying and slandering the Princess, Pei Ji wouldn’t let her off easily either.
The Princess was innocent and kind, just as her name suggested—bright and generous. She was nothing like the petty and jealous person Lvluo had described.
Lin Jingru panicked, but the resentment in her heart grew stronger: “How long have you known the Princess, Cousin? It’s only been a month at most. How can you be so sure of her character? I’ve grown up with you since childhood. Do you trust her over me?”
The coldness in Pei Ji’s eyes deepened: “You’re the one who wants to marry me and can’t stand seeing other women around me. I know exactly what kind of person you are.”
He didn’t like Lin Jingru—not just now, but ever since they were children.
“Let me tell you one more time: I don’t like you, and I will never marry you. Even if my mother forces me, I’d rather become a monk than marry you. So please, stop trying to drive away the people around me, and stop harming the Princess.”
The weather in May was unpredictable, sometimes cold, sometimes hot. The Jiang Family’s ancestral home had received a piece of high-quality blood jade that was warm in winter and cool in summer. Eldest Uncle had it sent to the palace for me.
But since Eldest Uncle had been feeling unwell recently, he had my cousin deliver it instead.
I heard my cousin’s childhood name was Dong, given to him by Mother back then.
He bore some resemblance to Eldest Uncle, but the Jiang Family was known for its beauty, regardless of gender. Cousin had inherited more of Grandfather’s dashing looks, though his temperament was more rebellious, much like Little Uncle.
At that moment, he peeled a lychee and handed it to me with a pleading look: “Good sister, I’m begging you, can you give me that golden-tailed parrot you’ve been raising? I really like it.”
I sighed, pushing his hand away, and even my favorite lychee didn’t seem appealing anymore: “I just taught my little parrot to speak, and now you want me to give it to you? I can’t bear to part with it.”
Most importantly, the parrot was originally meant for Pei Ji, but he had refused it.
If Cousin ever found out it was something Pei Ji didn’t want, he’d throw a tantrum and give me a headache.
I couldn’t understand how Eldest Uncle, who had been honest and loyal all his life, could have raised such a “slippery eel.”
I was feeling disinterested these days and stopped going to the Hanlin Academy to create chances to run into Pei Ji.
But life is full of ironic twists. When I wanted to see Pei Ji, I had to go out of my way to create opportunities. Now that I didn’t want to see him, he appeared right in front of me.
“Your humble servant… greets The Elder Princess.”
Having promised Lin Jingru to stay away from her so-called fiancé, I couldn’t shamelessly approach him again. That would be too degrading.
So this time, unlike before, I didn’t smile and tell him to rise, nor did I tease him.
Instead, I walked past him without a glance, hurrying through his world.
The pain was fleeting, but better to endure a short pain than a long one. I couldn’t let people say that a Princess of the nation was trying to steal a lonely girl’s husband.
The news that The Elder Princess no longer liked Pei Ji sent ripples through the noble families of Great Yan.
Mother recently reminded me that it was time for me to choose a husband.
“Sigh…”
“Sigh…”
My brother, the Emperor, and I sat on the steps of the Eastern Palace, sighing in unison.
He was being pressured by his ministers to hold a grand selection for the imperial harem, while I was being shown countless portraits of young men.
He sighed because his heart belonged only to the Empress, and I sighed because none of those young men could compare to Pei Ji.
None of them were as handsome as Pei Ji. How could I possibly choose?
“The selection has been postponed for three years. The ministers are dissatisfied. I… have no choice but to proceed.”
My brother, the Emperor, hadn’t yet achieved the same political accomplishments as our father, and he was still young, so it was natural that he couldn’t suppress the old ministers.
As for me… I was just a useless Princess.
“I know how you feel, little sister. Don’t worry. If I can’t have what I want, I’ll make sure you get your heart’s desire.”
I looked up at his furrowed face and suppressed the urge to ask what he meant.
What did he know?
On my way back to Tinglan Palace, I ran into Pei Ji again.
It had been months since I last saw him, and he looked much more haggard.
He greeted me as usual, his voice restrained yet filled with emotion.
I sensed something was off and wanted to ask if he was facing any difficulties, but the words stuck in my throat.
“Is Your Highness avoiding me?”
This time, he overstepped and grabbed my sleeve.
“Why?”
I widened my eyes, shocked by his audacity: “You already have a fiancée, and you’re asking me why? Can’t you have some self-respect?”
A man without virtue is truly repulsive.
“Who said I have a fiancée? Lin Jingru? There’s no romantic relationship between us. My heart… belongs only to Your Highness.”
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He was quick to explain, pulling out the portrait I had given him when we first met: “The painting Your Highness gave me, I’ve treasured it like a precious gem. The one I love is only you.”
He must have heard about my upcoming selection of a husband and was genuinely anxious.
Damn it, Lin Jingru had lied to me.
There was no engagement between Pei Ji and her.
She knew I had my pride and wouldn’t pursue a man who was already taken, so she tricked me.
But she didn’t expect that the reserved and introverted Pei Ji had already fallen deeply in love with the incomparably beautiful Princess and had exposed her lies himself.
In that case, I suppose I could reluctantly add Pei Ji’s name to the list of potential husbands.
I had thought it would take some effort, given that Pei Ji was the top scholar. If he married a Princess, he would have to give up his career in the court.
The Pei Family might not agree to it.
Ten days after Pei Ji and I reconciled, the imperial decree of our betrothal was issued.
It turned out that when my brother, the Emperor, said he would make sure I got my heart’s desire, he had struck a deal with the Pei Family.
In this life, I have a father and mother who treasure me like pearls, and siblings who protect and dote on me.
After marriage, I have a husband who is completely devoted and loves me dearly.
Ah, this life of mine!
There are no regrets.
I am the Mary Sue Princess that Mother spoke of.
