Imperial Husband Chapter 29

Li Jin was ill for a full half month to recuperate. Wei Rong, having been warned by Gu Rushuang and intimidated by the attitude displayed when Ying Zhengjing later sent Yang Shaochuan to the mansion with gifts, did not dare to openly oppose Li Jin anymore. She simply ignored Li Jin entirely, sparing herself the annoyance.

Wei Shiwan, however, was diligent, taking time out every day to keep Li Jin company for a while.

Li Jin did not refuse this. If Wei Shiwan wanted to come, she could come; if she wanted to talk, she could talk. Li Jin simply treated her as a storyteller, occasionally responding when necessary, but nothing more.

Wei Shiwan was quite annoyed by this. How could she not see the perfunctory look in Li Jin's eyes? But her current status did not allow her to make any inappropriate moves, especially towards Li Jin.

Wei Shiwan could not understand it. This tactic had worked perfectly well with Li Yanchen and had shown initial results. So why did it become completely ineffective when used on Li Jin?

Seeing Wei Rong come to find her, Wei Shiwan seized the opportunity, holding a recently arrived letter from Li Shiyun and saying gently, "Mother, the Prince wrote that regarding Jin'er's affairs, as long as they do not affect the mansion, you need not concern yourself. Just act as if he does not exist."

"You don't need to tell me, I've long since done so," Wei Rong shot a glare at Wei Shiwan. "It's you I'm concerned about, always visiting that white eyed wolf. Aren't you afraid he might turn around and bite you when your back is turned?"

If there was one thing Wei Rong was most angry about, it was Wei Shiwan's daily visits to Li Jin.

Wei Shiwan smiled bitterly. "Mother, have you forgotten that I am only the Successor Princess Consort, while Jin'er is the child of the late Princess Consort? By both sentiment and propriety, I should go to see him."

Hearing this, Wei Rong realized her mistake and couldn't help but sigh. "Ah, it was foolish of me to forget that. Shiwan, you have suffered a grievance."

Yes.

Wei Shiwan had just recently become the Successor Princess Consort. If she were to neglect Li Jin, the heir apparent, she would undoubtedly be criticized by gossipers outside as being unkind.

Wei Shiwan lowered her head, a hint of grievance faintly detectable in her words. "As long as Mother understands that I am acting out of necessity, I am reassured."

"Shiwan, you must endure it for now," Wei Rong could not bear to see Wei Shiwan wronged and comfortingly patted her shoulder. "I, as your aunt, will not let you suffer grievances forever. Let Li Jin be proud for a while first."

"Yes."

Wei Shiwan responded softly.

"By the way, Shiwan, why haven't I seen Shen'er and Yan'er?"

Wei Rong frowned in confusion.

Usually, when Wei Rong came to talk with Wei Shiwan, Li Yanshen and Li Ruoyan would come to pay their respects to Wei Rong.

Could it be... they were ill?

Thinking of this, Wei Rong grew anxious and asked repeatedly, "Shiwan, tell me honestly, did Shen'er and the others catch the illness from that damned Li Jin?"

Wei Shiwan forcefully suppressed her dissatisfaction with Wei Rong. "Mother, have you forgotten that Shen'er is still with his tutor? As for Yan'er, didn't you arrange a female tutor for her just yesterday?"

Wealthy families would always arrange a momo to teach needlework and a female tutor to teach poetry and composition for unmarried girls and shuang'ers awaiting marriage.

"Ah, yes, that's right." Wei Rong immediately breathed a sigh of relief, then complained, "Shiwan, this is your fault. You should have told me about Shen'er's matters earlier. What if I hadn't asked today? Were you not planning to tell me at all?"

"Mother's lesson is correct. I will remember next time."

Although Wei Shiwan admitted her fault so easily, in reality, she was already irritated by Wei Rong's thoughtless actions. But due to their relative status, she could not show it and could only hold it in.

"Mm, I am tired, that is all." Since she couldn't see Li Yanshen and Li Ruoyan, Wei Rong did not wish to stay any longer and soon left.

"Yes."

Wei Shiwan promptly saw Wei Rong out.

Suddenly, not long after Wei Rong left, there came a knock at the door.

"Who is it?"

"Mother, it's me."

Li Siyuan carefully entered and bowed to Wei Shiwan.

"What are you doing here?" Wei Shiwan frowned displeased. "Didn't I tell you your grandmother was coming today and that you should stay properly in your room learning needlework from the momo, and not come out to displease your grandmother?"

"No, Mother, I... I came only after I saw Grandmother had left." Li Siyuan swallowed and mustered up his courage. "And I heard that you arranged for sister to study characters with a female tutor. Can I... can I also..."

"Also what?" Wei Shiwan interrupted impatiently. "You can't even learn needlework properly, and you still want a female tutor to teach you characters? Dream on."

"Mother..."

"Did you not understand what I said?" Wei Shiwan's displeasure deepened. "Li Siyuan, when you have properly learned needlework, then you can bring it up again. Until then, don't even think about it."

"Yes..."

The courage Li Siyuan had mustered with difficulty vanished completely due to Wei Shiwan's words, and he timidly withdrew.

"How did I give birth to such a useless coward."

Wei Shiwan was absolutely furious as she looked at Li Siyuan.

Wei Shiwan could not understand how this shuang'er she gave birth to, who was a twin with Li Ruoyan (Li Ruoyan was only born a little before Li Siyuan), could be so different? Li Ruoyan was poised and gracious in everything she did, while Li Siyuan was always so timid and hesitant, and petty-minded, completely unfit for any proper occasion.

Wei Shiwan, sulking in her anger, did not notice that Li Yanchen had been eavesdropping from the shadows just moments before.

Heaven is truly unjust, to think Li Jin escaped disaster.

Li Yanchen left, clenching his fists and raising his head to glare fiercely at the sky. Ever since he learned Li Jin was gravely ill, Li Yanchen had secretly wished for Li Jin to just die. Unfortunately, Li Jin's life was tough, and he survived.

If only I had been born from Princess Consort Wei's womb.

This sentence involuntarily surfaced in Li Yanchen's mind, and it was not the first time it had appeared.

A maid came running, out of breath, to report to Li Yanchen, "Eldest Young Master, Concubine Zhou just said she is ill, feeling very unwell, and wishes for you to go see her."

Li Yanchen's face darkened. "If she's sick, she should find a doctor. Will seeing me cure her illness?"

"..."

The maid was stumped, momentarily unsure how to respond.

She was not close to Zhou Xiaoru at all, she had only come to pass the message because of the silver Zhou Xiaoru gave her.

Li Yanchen quickly remembered Zhou Xiaoru's troublesome nature. If he ignored her, she might do something unpredictable. He had no choice but to take a deep breath and give a perfunctory response for the maid to relay, intending to temporarily placate Zhou Xiaoru. "Forget it. Tell her I will find her when I have time."

"Yes, Eldest Young Master."

Having received a reply, the maid immediately withdrew and ran towards Zhou Xiaoru's courtyard.

Zhou Xiaoru had promised to give more silver if she successfully delivered that message to Li Yanchen. Not only had she delivered the message, but she had also gotten a reply from Li Yanchen. The reward from Zhou Xiaoru was sure to be even greater.

____

Today was the auspicious day for Li Jin to enter the palace and serve as the Seventh Prince's study companion. Originally, he should have gone half a month ago, but he was recuperating from his illness at that time, so it was postponed until now.

"Your Highness, the weather is cold, please wear more."

Ping'an, before Li Jin entered the palace, specially brought a fur coat for Li Jin to wear.

"Alright." Li Jin readily accepted Ping'an's kindness, picked up the fur coat, draped it over his shoulders, and slowly walked through the palace gates.

"Your Highness, this servant will wait for you outside."

Watching Li Jin's retreating figure, Ping'an waved vigorously.

"Li Jin, you're here."

"Seventh Prince?"