Chapter 331: Floating on Air
Chapter 331: Chapter 331: Floating on Air
Zhi Wan had promised Shuang’er that she would arrange a wedding for her and Jiang Shi once she was further along in her pregnancy.
She hadn’t forgotten this promise and had asked Nanny Chen to select an auspicious date well in advance.
When the day arrived, Shuang’er and Jiang Shi were wed.
Although Shuang’er was her maid, Zhi Wan had long regarded her as a younger sister in private.
Likewise, even though Jiang Shi was Lu Zhan’s guard, the two had grown up together, and Lu Zhan considered him a brother.
So for their wedding, after consulting Lady Wei, Zhi Wan gave the couple a small courtyard to live in as newlyweds.
On the day of their wedding, the small courtyard was abuzz with celebration.
Zhi Wan and Lu Zhan came to join the wedding feast and celebrate with the couple.
While everyone was in high spirits, only Chen Jiu, holding Little Junze, wore a woeful expression.
’He wasn’t getting any younger. Even the Princely Heir and Jiang Shi were settled, yet here he was, still a bachelor.’
’Had the Princely Heir forgotten all about finding him a wife?’
"Your Highness, my lady, Princess Chang Le is here."
Just then, a servant came to report.
Upon hearing the news, Zhi Wan and Lu Zhan excused themselves.
Seeing this, Chen Jiu followed after them, still holding Little Junze.
’Hmph, the Princely Heir was just too much. When he needed a job done, he’d make all these wonderful promises. He’d swear to find me a wife once it was over. He said it again and again, but he never once kept his word.’
’And to think I worked so hard for him every time.’
’I even had to use seduction to get the job done. I even seduced Little Junze’s mother for a mission!’
’COUGH, COUGH, COUGH... I’m getting sidetracked.’
’Anyway, I have to go ask the Princely Heir if he’s forgotten his own words.’
Lu Zhan only had eyes for Zhi Wan. Now that she was further along in her pregnancy, he was exceedingly careful whenever she went out, terrified she might get bumped or hurt. As such, he had absolutely no idea that Chen Jiu was inwardly grumbling about him, much less did he recall any promise he had ever made to the man.
"Cousin, why has Her Highness come to see me so suddenly?" Zhi Wan asked, a little puzzled.
’She’d just had a meal with Princess Chang Le and Ouyang Zhenzhu two days ago. For the princess to suddenly visit her today, there must be a specific reason.’
"Let’s go and see," Lu Zhan said.
As they spoke, the husband and wife arrived at the front hall.
Princess Chang Le was already there, drinking tea.
"Your Highness, for you to visit so suddenly, is something the matter?"
They were all close friends, so Zhi Wan didn’t stand on ceremony when they met in private.
"There is something I need your help with," Princess Chang Le said, getting straight to the point.
Zhi Wan asked in surprise, "Help you? What could I possibly do to help Your Highness?"
Princess Chang Le didn’t answer. Instead, she looked toward the doorway, as if about to call someone in.
Before she could speak, however, a woman’s voice drifted in. "Is this your child?"
"Of course not!" a man’s voice replied.
When Zhi Wan saw Princess Chang Le looking toward the door, she turned her gaze that way as well.
Outside, Chen Jiu stood holding her younger cousin and talking with a young woman who appeared to be a palace maid.
Zhi Wan found her eyes drawn to the maid’s face.
When she had entered earlier, a maid had been standing by the door. At the time, she had simply assumed it was someone Princess Chang Le had brought and hadn’t paid her much mind.
Now, looking closely, she realized the maid looked vaguely familiar.
Zhi Wan was trying to place the familiar face when she heard Princess Chang Le call out, "Xi Ying, come inside."
"Xi Ying?" Zhi Wan paused, then looked at the maid in astonishment.
’She remembered now. Wasn’t this the Palace Maid from the Abandoned Crown Prince Consort’s side?’
At Princess Chang Le’s summons, Xi Ying gently touched the face of the child in Chen Jiu’s arms and smiled at him. "You take good care of the little one." With that, she turned and entered the hall.
Chen Jiu, still holding Little Junze, was completely dumbstruck.
’Why did she smile at me?’
’Is she trying to seduce me?’
’I remember this Palace Maid clearly.’
’She came looking for the Princely Heir late one night, and I was the one who escorted her back to the Eastern Palace afterward.’
’I thought I’d never see her again, yet here we are, meeting so unexpectedly.’
’Is this fate?’
Chen Jiu felt his own springtime had finally arrived.
Unable to help himself, he followed her inside, still carrying Little Junze.
Just as he stepped inside, he heard Princess Chang Le speaking to his master and mistress. "Zhi Wan, Mr. Lu, this is Xi Ying, a maid who served the Abandoned Crown Prince Consort. Now that the deposed Crown Prince is confined, Guo Yingrong, the Abandoned Crown Prince Consort, is also unable to leave. She entrusted me with bringing her maid out of the palace."
"However, Xi Ying says she no longer wishes to serve in the palace. She mentioned that she has met you a few times, Zhi Wan, and would like to come and serve you. What are your thoughts?"
Hearing this, Chen Jiu’s eyes lit up, and he looked at Xi Ying in surprise.
’She’s only met the Heir’s wife a few times. Why would she want to serve her?’
’Could it be...’
Chen Jiu felt his blood thrum with excitement.
’See? I’ve still got it. I’ve completely charmed this little Palace Maid.’
After listening to Princess Chang Le, Zhi Wan looked at Xi Ying, astonished. "You... want to come serve me?"
Xi Ying didn’t answer right away. She first shot a quick glance at Chen Jiu, then nodded. "I hope you can accept me, my lady. I am a diligent worker and will be sure to serve you well. I will not disappoint you."
Zhi Wan had found the request a bit strange.
’She’d only met Xi Ying twice. Why would the girl want to come serve her?’
But when she saw Xi Ying’s gaze dart toward Chen Jiu, she understood completely.
’So, Xi Ying has a crush on Chen Jiu. That’s why she’s making up an excuse to join my household.’
With this thought, Zhi Wan immediately looked over at Chen Jiu.
She found him gawking at Xi Ying like a lovestruck fool.
Seeing this, she smiled. Instead of agreeing right away, she said, "Xi Ying, serving me is actually quite tiring. There’s a lot of work, and I’m afraid you might not be used to it. How about I find you a more suitable position elsewhere?"
Xi Ying froze, thinking Zhi Wan was rejecting her and wanted to send her away. She grew anxious. "I... I’m not afraid of hard work! I only want to serve you, my lady. I don’t want to go anywhere else."
"Then... what about by Chen Jiu’s side? Would you like to go there?" Zhi Wan asked with a playful grin.
"Of course not—" Xi Ying started to shake her head out of instinct, but she quickly caught herself. She shot a quick look at Chen Jiu, then nodded. "I... I am willing."
At this, Princess Chang Le finally understood why Xi Ying had been so insistent on coming to serve Zhi Wan.
’So she’s taken a fancy to Lu Zhan’s guard, Chen Jiu?’
She looked at Xi Ying, a little stunned, then over at the big, burly Chen Jiu.
’Xi Ying certainly has... unique taste.’
When Chen Jiu heard Xi Ying say she was willing to be by his side, he felt like he was floating on air.
’Does this mean I’m about to have... a wife?’
Princess Chang Le cleared her throat and said, "Xi Ying, since this is your choice, I won’t say anything more. I wish you happiness."