The Prince Can Do Divination-Chapter 160 - 138: A Beauty’s Sword Dance, The Sister-in-law’s Gratitude, Noble Consort Wan’s Plea
Lu Mingyuan had a good idea of what she was thinking and comforted her, "My older brother did indeed do many terrible things to you. He acted despicably for a man. You don’t need to be sad or feel wronged. Things will get better. I can also understand the things you’ve done. I don’t blame you, Sister-in-law. It’s truly not easy for a helpless woman to survive in the Harem."
"Brother-in-law..."
Yang Yingchan felt both touched and pained. For a moment, a whirlwind of complex emotions churned within her.
She was touched, of course, because Lu Mingyuan had spoken up for her. The pain came from the sudden thought that with her humble station, there was no possibility of a future with Prince Huai’an. ’How wonderful it would have been if I had met the Sixth Prince, Lu Mingyuan, and married him instead of Prince Zhao, Lu Changfeng.’
Yang Yingchan clutched her heavy chest. The more she thought about it, the more her heart ached.
It felt even worse than all the times she had been wronged before.
But she quickly suppressed this surge of emotion.
’I can’t think about these things. It’s wrong!’
At that moment, with her thoughts in a tangled mess, she asked to take her leave.
"I am feeling weary today, Your Highness. I beg your leave to return and rest."
Lu Mingyuan didn’t think much of it and waved his hand in agreement.
"You’ve worked hard tonight, Sister-in-law, helping me tidy up the study. You should get some rest."
Watching Yang Yingchan’s graceful, curvaceous back as she departed, Qi Muxue turned her clear eyes to Lu Mingyuan and said irritably,
"Princess Consort Zhao is so obedient to you, even needing to ask your permission to leave. She doesn’t have the slightest air of a princess consort, as docile as a lamb. What did you do to her?"
"I didn’t do anything," Lu Mingyuan said, looking the very picture of innocence. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
"I don’t believe you."
Qi Muxue pouted.
"Husband."
Then, she took a soft breath, leaned in a little closer, and looked Lu Mingyuan in the eye, saying seriously,
"I know that in the future, no matter how many other women you have by your side, it will be difficult for me to control you. But there is one thing you must remember, one thing you must never forget and must always abide by."
Lu Mingyuan chuckled. "That you’re my principal wife. I know."
Qi Muxue’s cheeks reddened at his words. "That’s not it."
Her tone was solemn. "Remember this: for any woman you get involved with, you must be responsible for them. You cannot let them be wronged. If they are willing to be with you, they must have summoned the greatest courage in the world."
"I understand."
Lu Mingyuan nodded firmly, his expression also very serious.
"With a wife like you, what more could a husband ask for?"
Thick-skinned as ever, Lu Mingyuan took another step toward her until they were only a finger’s breadth apart. Qi Muxue tried to dodge, but Lu Mingyuan closed the distance again. After this repeated a few times, Qi Muxue gave up struggling and let him press close against her.
Taking a mile for the inch he was given, Lu Mingyuan grabbed her hand and gently tickled her palm with his finger, a wide smile on his face.
Qi Muxue blushed and, fighting back her shyness, scolded, "Behave yourself!"
Lu Mingyuan looked completely innocent.
’This is just a little gesture to deepen our affection. How is that not behaving?’
Then, a smirk played on his lips.
"Ah!"
A moment later, Qi Muxue couldn’t help but let out a cry of surprise.
Because Lu Mingyuan had suddenly, without any warning, swept her up in a princess carry.
"Put me down!"
Qi Muxue was both shocked and mortified; no one had ever held her like this in her entire life. Her eyes immediately darted around, terrified someone might see them, but deep down, she wasn’t angry.
"My dear wife, didn’t you want me to behave? Your husband will now show you exactly how he behaves."
The room grew exceptionally lively. The moonlight rippled, and the shadows cast by the candlelight swayed and danced in the courtyard.
Huo Hongling had just finished changing. She wore a simple, long dress, which had its own unique charm, especially since the only clothes available in the palace were those of a Palace Maid.
Just as she stepped into the courtyard, she heard strange noises.
She saw Zi Yun and Hong Wan standing guard stealthily outside the door, their eyes occasionally darting toward the room.
"What are you two looking at?"
Before she could process what was happening, she pushed the door open without a second thought and walked in. Her eyes widened in shock.
She regretted it the very next second.
She wanted to turn and run.
But alas, a ruthless iron hand grabbed her by the collar, like a little white rabbit stumbling into a wolf’s den.
Outside, Zi Yun and Hong Wan were just about to close the door, but they too could not escape the might of that iron grip. In its grasp, their bodies went limp and soft, unable to muster any strength to resist.
Clearly, tonight was destined to be a night of passion.
...
「The next morning.」
Having bathed and changed, Lu Mingyuan walked out of his bedchamber feeling refreshed and invigorated, filled with an indescribable sense of ease and satisfaction. Every woman gave him a different experience.
’Oh, right. I almost forgot about that.’
Lu Mingyuan slapped his forehead, just now remembering an unfulfilled promise.
He had promised to have the Imperial Capital’s Water Goddess recorded in the annals of Great Yan, to be immortalized in history, but he had completely forgotten about it after returning.
The matter was neither difficult nor simple.
He would need to inform his maternal grandfather.
Offending a True God of the mountains and waters was undoubtedly unwise.
He had to make it happen as soon as possible.
Lu Mingyuan changed into his martial training attire, strapped on his saber, and headed out, planning to go to the Harem to find his mother first.
However, just after leaving his residence and passing through a covered walkway, he saw Yang Yingchan strolling along a palace path, dressed in a fiery, pleated skirt.
"Good morning, Sister-in-law."
Lu Mingyuan greeted her first.
Seeing him, Yang Yingchan also nodded lightly. "Good morning, Brother-in-law."
"Did you rest well last night?"
Lu Mingyuan asked with a broad smile.
Yang Yingchan was at a loss for words for a moment, then forced a smile. "It was alright."
In truth, she hadn’t slept a wink all night.
The noises from Qingzhu Hall in the latter half of the night had been so loud that she had stayed awake until dawn. All sleepiness gone, her only option was to get up and take a walk to clear her head.
She never expected to run into Lu Mingyuan right around the corner.
"Sister-in-law, we’ll talk again when we have time. I have something to attend to."
Lu Mingyuan quickly waved goodbye and headed in the direction of Yaoguang Palace.
Yang Yingchan watched his departing back and sighed.
「Yaoguang Palace.」
Palace Maids bustled in and out. When Lu Mingyuan arrived outside the hall, he saw a sedan chair parked there, clearly belonging to another Consort.
’Is Mother receiving a guest right now?’
Regardless, Lu Mingyuan walked straight into Yaoguang Palace.
"Please, Elder Sister, you have to help me. I truly have no other choice, which is why I came to beg you."
"This matter has such wide-reaching implications, and even Princess Jin Wu has come to cause a scene. I’m afraid my hands are tied."
The two women’s clear voices were jarring.
Lu Mingyuan walked closer and saw his mother, Wang Zhaoyan, with another mature, beautiful woman. She was dressed in an intricate crimson and purple palace gown with an embroidered violet shawl. Her hips were full, a mandarin duck hairpin adorned her hair, and her skin was snow-white. Her magnificent chest was on full display as they sat on chairs, talking.
"His Highness, Prince Huai’an, has arrived!"
"My son is here?"
As soon as Wang Zhaoyan saw Lu Mingyuan, her eyes lit up with joy.
"Your son has come to pay his respects."
With an outsider present, Lu Mingyuan’s address was more formal. He gave a slight bow with clasped hands.
"Greetings, Mother."
Lu Mingyuan then looked at the other mature beauty, then to his mother with a questioning gaze.
Wang Zhaoyan smiled. "Oh, I forgot to introduce you. This is Noble Consort Wan, a dear friend of mine from my youth. She came to visit me this morning."
"Greetings, Noble Consort."
Lu Mingyuan greeted her with a bow.
Inwardly, however, he was rather surprised.
He knew all too well who this Noble Consort Wan was.
Noble Consort Wan was the birth mother of the Seventh Prince, Lu Yunwan. She came from an extremely prominent noble family of Great Yan.
Noble Consort Wan said with a charming smile, "Your mother and I are very close. Addressing me as ’Noble Consort’ is too distant. You can just call me ’Elder Sister.’"
Hearing this, Wang Zhaoyan’s brow furrowed slightly.
’No matter how you look at it, Noble Consort Wan is still a high-ranking consort of the court. How improper would it be for him to call her ’Elder Sister’? It seems she hasn’t given up. She’s still lowering her own status to try and win over my son.’
Noble Consort Wan’s gaze fell upon Lu Mingyuan’s face, and she froze, stunned. It took her a long moment to recover before she turned to Wang Zhaoyan and praised,
"Your son truly is a dragon among men, so remarkably handsome. Just one look was enough to make my little heart flutter."
Wang Zhaoyan, of course, knew her son was handsome. She assumed Noble Consort Wan was joking and replied with a dismissive air, "Not at all, not at all. Don’t flatter him too much. He gets a big head quite easily."
Even though Noble Consort Wan was a woman of a certain age, she put on a coquettish air, tugging at Wang Zhaoyan’s sleeve and saying pitifully,
"Dearest sister, you must save my son! He’s being detained by the Court right now. I’m afraid the blow will be too much for him to bear. If he breaks down, it will all be over."
Wang Zhaoyan sighed. "It’s not that I’m unwilling to help you, sister, but the risk is too great. It would put the Cabinet in a difficult position, and I cannot let my father go against the grain like this. He is on a meteoric rise. In a few decades, he could very well be the next Chief Minister."
Noble Consort Wan’s large eyes glistened with unshed tears. Her oval face was flushed, and her eyes seemed to be veiled in mist. "I’ll do anything you ask, sister, as long as you can preserve a glimmer of hope for him."
"Noble Consort, I happen to know a certain master. If you were to seek his help, you might be able to turn this disaster into a blessing."
At this moment, Lu Mingyuan seemed to have thought of something. He gave a faint smile and spoke up.
...
