What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 429 - 425: Dawn to Dusk—Empress Side Story (Part 4)
Upon exiting the north gate of the Imperial Palace and passing through the Western Inner Garden, one would arrive at the Yong’an Palace where the former emperor’s consorts resided. Next to Yong’an Palace was the Forbidden Garden.
In the mild March spring, the scenery was charming.
The esteemed Empress was tremblingly stopped by a few Imperial Guards at the entrance of the Forbidden Garden.
"His, His Majesty said that the Empress... is not, is not allowed to enter!" The guards braced themselves to finish their statement.
Is this something that should be done to someone?
They themselves dared not offend the Empress, yet they pushed these small soldiers to offend her?
"Did His Majesty really say that?" Tang Xuabai was both amused and infuriated.
With a smile from her, the guards at the gate trembled even more: "Really! His Majesty instructed personally! This humble servant dare not lie!"
Tang Xiaobai chuckled: "Forget it." She turned her horse and left.
When she had requested to watch the training yesterday, Li Mu had declined, saying that it wasn’t ready yet and he didn’t want her to see it.
Tang Xiaobai thought he was just saying it in passing, little did she expect that this fellow would directly instruct the guards to block her from entering—
...
"These two, quite bold!" Tang Jiaojiao sneered.
After being stopped outside the Forbidden Garden, Tang Xiaobai thought since she was already out of the palace, she might as well visit her sister at the West Ping Prince Mansion.
Listening to what Miss Tang said, Tang Xiaobai was moved and asked, "Does your husband also not let you see?"
Are men’s self-esteem all so strong these days?
Tang Jiaojiao gave her a sidelong glance: "Li Xingyuan said that your esteemed husband wouldn’t let me go, lest he leave you out!"
Tang Xiaobai laughed awkwardly: "Then why did you say the two of them are bold?"
"Can’t resist even such a small matter, isn’t that bold?"
"What resist or not resist—" Tang Xiaobai shook her arm, "It’s true, I can’t go, how could good sister leave me behind?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
Tang Jiaojiao shrugged her off and stood up coldly: "I never intended to watch anyway, what’s there to see?"
But Tang Xiaobai still felt that there should be something worth seeing.
In the past, when Li Mu had not yet taken the field, she had watched her big brother, brother-in-law, and cousin, all of whom were extraordinarily handsome with varying temperaments, racing on the kicking field—truly a paradise for beauty enthusiasts.
If her husband were to be added to the scene...
Click, click!
Tang Jiaojiao disdainfully glanced at her and pulled her towards the house: "Come on!"
"For what?" Tang Xiaobai muttered as she followed.
Tang Jiaojiao, having been married for less than a month, had already filled the West Ping Prince Mansion with the high-profile luxury style that Miss Tang particularly loved.
Gold and jade adorned the walls, and the floors were covered with brocade, making Tang Xiaobai feel very at home: "If I ever lack money, I’ll come to scrape some from your place."
Tang Jiaojiao rolled her eyes at her: "Is your dowry less than mine?"
"It is a little less," Tang Xiaobai said, "you still had the share I added when you got married!"
As a dignified Empress, could her contribution be any less?
Tang Jiaojiao muttered something like "poor stingy" before turning to instruct the maid: "Bring out those new sets I made!"
Displayed were two sets of riding outfits in contrasting red and black.
One was embroidered with a Flying Phoenix Pattern, and the other was adorned with crabapple branches.
Tang Jiaojiao tilted her chin: "Put it on!"
Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help reaching for the crabapple set: "This one looks good—"
"Slap!" Her hand was batted away.
"Even if it’s pretty, it’s not yours!" Tang Jiaojiao said irritably.
The Flying Phoenix Pattern was exclusively for the Empress, Crown Princess Consort, and Princess, and the two riding outfits had long been designated.
"Where are we going to ride?" Tang Xiaobai asked, taking her designated set.
"Riding is boring," Tang Jiaojiao raised an eyebrow, "Let’s go kicking!"
"Who cares to watch them? We’ll play ourselves!"
...
There were quite a few noble women in the capital proficient in riding, and Tang Jiaojiao was an outstanding one among them.
She was someone who refused to be left behind in anything. Tang Miss had already played this noble sport of kicking.
Tang Miss’s decisiveness was also remarkable; not only had she prepared riding outfits ahead of time, but the grounds had also been arranged, in Tang Jiaojiao’s dowry estate at Le You Garden.
When they arrived, the court beside the estate’s field was already gathered with many invited lady guests.
During team formation, the inexperienced Tang Xiaobai clung to Miss Tang’s leg, while Commandery Princess Li Huaiyue, being her little aunt, naturally joined their team.
For the last member, Tang Jiaojiao scanned the crowd and unexpectedly pointed: "Gu Qinglan!"
Immediately, nearby, someone with a lively temperament shouted out: "Jiaojiao! Didn’t you say you’d take me?"
Tang Jiaojiao gave the girl a sideways glance: "Who said that to you?" She then urged Gu Qinglan, "Why aren’t you stepping forward!"
Gu Qinglan stepped out in silence under the envious gazes of the crowd.
Actually, ever since Tang Xiaobai was pushed into the water by Gu Yulan as a child, Tang Jiaojiao had disfavored the entire Third Uncle Gu’s family, and had little contact with Gu Qinglan.
Until last summer.
Last summer, after discovering that An Family instructed Gu Wan to commit suicide, and after investigating further, eventually Wang Maozhao was also implicated.
In summary, it was a long-standing melodramatic story.
The beginning was when Third Uncle Gu was smitten at first sight with the younger daughter of Han Family’s concubine, then went through many classic plots such as mistaken identity, proxy marriage, stand-in, and undercover.
After An Family’s background was exposed, people realized something was also amiss with Third Aunt Gu, Han Family.
Han Family had long discovered issues with An Family but, due to resentment towards Third Uncle Gu, she chose to stand by idly, even giving An Family opportunities for various petty maneuvers.
After the matter was revealed, Han Family and Third Uncle Gu separated.
Only Gu Qinglan from Gu family’s third house was truly innocent.
Gu Qinglan and Gu Yulan were less than half a year apart, and when Han Family was pregnant with her, she was under the heaviest emotional strain. By the time she gave birth, all her feelings for Third Uncle Gu had turned to hatred.
Her resentment spilled over, and she wasn’t particularly fond of her biological daughter either.
Gu Qinglan was actually raised by Gu Family’s eldest Miss.
On the day Han Family left Gu Family, she took away all her dowry without so much as a backward glance at Gu Qinglan.
Later, Tang Xiaobai visited her a few times, only to feel that she had become so silent.
She also reminded Tang Jiaojiao to look after her, only to be blocked by Miss Tang’s "Do I look idle to you?".
To her surprise, Miss Tang, although sharp-tongued, had a soft heart, and was indeed taking care of Gu Qinglan.
Seeing Gu Qinglan this time, like last time, it was evident she had lost even more weight.
As they prepared to take the field, Tang Jiaojiao frowned and assessed Gu Qinglan: "Are you planning to slim down to become Gu Yulan?"
This statement not only silenced Tang Xiaobai’s greetings but also made Gu Qinglan touch her face, startled and introspective.
"Can you still ride a horse?" Tang Jiaojiao surveyed her with skepticism.
Gu Qinglan nodded silently.
"Can you still play kicking?"
Gu Qinglan nodded silently again.
Tang Xiaobai felt ashamed.
Li Huaiyue could play as well, and it turned out she was the only one who couldn’t.
"Make sure you practice well! In case we have to compete with the Tibetans—"
"Does Tibet have a women’s team?" Tang Xiaobai asked.
How come she hadn’t heard of it?
"I don’t know, maybe they do?" Tang Jiaojiao wasn’t fazed, "No one said the Tibetan delegation brought a kicking team; their men still formed a dozen or so teams to play, didn’t they?"
Miss Tang was always reasonable.
Besides, whether or not the Tibetan delegation had a kicking team, is playing really something that needs a reason?
...
Tang Xiaobai, having some experience with riding and archery, didn’t find it difficult to get started.
Once she got the hang of it, she played recklessly.
If it weren’t for the approaching darkness, she wouldn’t have thought of heading back to the palace.
After playing a whole afternoon of ball, drenched in sweat, she took a bath in the estate and changed her clothes before hurriedly returning to the palace.
By the time she returned, dusk had fallen deeply, and the lights were as bright as day inside and outside Liangyi Palace.
As Tang Xiaobai entered the palace, the announcement from the palace attendant echoed throughout the hall, but the emperor at the desk, engrossed in his review of the memorials, seemed not to hear.
