Both of them soaked in the bath, occasionally rubbing their temples together, and sometimes snacking on fruits and pastries by the pool.
It was utterly delightful.
While An Jing and Xiao Changyi indulged in their leisurely baths, the Pingjun Prince’s Mansion received news that Xiao Changyi and An Jing had arrived in the Capital. The Pingjun Princess’s older cousin was Imperial Consort Yu, who lived within the palace. Upon hearing that Xiao Changyi and An Jing were staying at Fenghua Palace, Consort Yu sent a message to the Pingjun Prince’s Mansion.
As soon as the Prince of Pingjun heard that Xiao Changyi had returned to the Capital, he was stunned and then questioned his youngest daughter Linghe, "Didn’t you tell me that he would not return unless there was a war?"
Linghe was both angry and aggrieved, "It was Li Wuyu who told me that!"
"So you believed her?" The Prince of Pingjun snorted coldly. "You went running off, and I lost face for a while, but I won’t blame you for that. I just hoped you could make him take you as his consort, so when you bear children to inherit the title of King of Eternal Victory, it would recover the face I lost. But look at you now, returning in disgrace without achieving anything. Don’t you know that people in the Capital are still laughing at your father?!"
Linghe felt even more wronged, "Li Wuyu went with me, so why do people only laugh at our Duke Mansion?"
"Who in the Imperial Capital doesn’t know about Li Wuyu’s unconventional behavior and lack of maidenly demeanor? Her running away from home has become all too common. How many years has Prime Minister Li been the butt of jokes? Don’t you know? Li Wuyu is used to being laughed at and has grown a thick skin; she doesn’t care. Can you compare yourself to her? You are, after all, a Commandery Princess!" The Prince of Pingjun was livid, "You also snuck out without telling anyone at home, just one person running off secretly. How is that any different from those lowly women sneaking off to meet with men?!"
The Prince of Pingjun’s words were harsh, and Linghe couldn’t help but burst into tears.
"Enough, stop crying! What good will crying do?" The Prince of Pingjun was visibly irritated. "Go back to your room; I don’t want to see you right now!"
Linghe had no choice but to run back to her room, crying.
After crying on her bed for a while, her grief became insufferable, and eventually, she wiped away her tears, her eyes filled with hatred.
It was all Li Wuyu’s fault!
If it weren’t for Li Wuyu, telling her that Xiao Changyi would not return unless there was a war, she would have stayed in Hecheng County until she could cling to Xiao Changyi! Perhaps by now, she would already have become Xiao Changyi’s consort!
Thinking this way, Linghe stood up, took her two maidservants, and stormed out of the Duke Mansion to confront Li Wuyu at the Prime Minister’s residence.
Li Wuyu was in the stable, gazing fondly at the brown horse Wang Youbao had bought for her, reminiscing about a person. She had been back for a while now and, to be honest, she missed her precious Youbao dearly.
But her precious Youbao was too foolish; she didn’t expect him to understand the significance of her giving him her personal jade pendant. She simply wanted to give him that piece of jade.
"Miss, the Commandery Princess has come to look for you!" The maidservant hurriedly ran in to inform her.
But before the maidservant finished speaking, Linghe arrived in a fury, shouting, "Li Wuyu, come out to face me! How dare you deceive me! Have you no sense of propriety or respect, Li Wuyu!"
Li Wuyu slightly furrowed her brows and curtsied to Linghe before asking with confusion, "Why would the Commandery Princess say such a thing?"
Linghe pointed at her nose and scolded, "Why? Didn’t you tell me that the King of Eternal Victory would not return without a war? He has come to the Capital today, and he’s now in the palace!"
Inside, Li Wuyu was thrilled. If Xiao Changyi had arrived, then surely her master had as well. Her master had previously mentioned that they would come to the Capital for the Emperor’s birthday. She had expected that they still had a few days to go before arriving but had not foreseen their early arrival.