Scent Of Time

Chapter 10

It was already late when I returned to the mansion. Mama Li had already prepared dinner, but I had lost my appetite because of that dude.

I barely managed to eat several spoons and wanted to order them to clean the table, but an unexpected person came.

Zhong Yelan, dressed in navy blue civilian clothes, lifts his steps and walks in, his slender body casting a shadow under the light.

I couldn’t help but be stunned because he had rarely come to this courtyard of mine these past few months, and I was used to it, let alone that he would come over at night.

I stood up to curtsy, but he pulled me up.

“Didn’t I tell Ah Qian to be less formal toward me?” A low voice rang out.

My body couldn’t help but tremble. This person is my nominal husband, and I still feel awkward about it.

“Empress Dowager said that I shouldn’t neglect etiquette.” I maintained my smile.

Zhong Yelan smiled and shook his head. He said nothing but sidled up and sat down, “I just returned to the Mansion and haven’t had my dinner yet, so I’ll catch up with it here with you.”

I, who didn’t want to eat anymore, could only sit down again to eat with him.

“Why is your appetite so small?”

Perhaps seeing my poor appetite, Zhong Yelan asked.

“When His Highness had not come yet, I had eaten some of the evening meal,” I replied.

I only felt that there was something wrong. In the past, he and Mu Yao always stayed in the study. Why did he run to me today? I think carefully about what’s different today. The only difference is that my loser brother is in trouble. Is he here to inquire about it?

Sure enough, he put down his chopsticks and looked at me with extra solemn eyes.

Did the little Emperor have approached him with a complaint?

As I imagined things, I heard him say, “During this period, have I been too negligent towards you?”

What is the meaning of these clueless words? I couldn’t help but frown. Was it a compliment or a criticism?

Then he added, “Why didn’t you come to me today regarding your brother?”

This tone was too odd, not like an accusation. I couldn’t figure out what was on his mind. I could only speak cautiously, “Your Highness already has a lot of business to deal with every day, so I won’t trouble Your Highness with the things I can deal with on my own.”

My earnest words of consideration did not win his favor, and he still spoke without expression, “Husband and wife are the same. Why are you so distant from me now?”

Well, this was a fart. Is he blaming me for being too independent? Come to think of it, the previous Hua Qian relied on him for everything. Now that I have suddenly changed so much, it’s inevitable that he will feel a sense of difference.

“My elder brother’s matter is too ridiculous. It’s not suitable for the King to step in. Otherwise, others will say that we are bullying others. Well, at least my elder brother can still listen to me. I can solve it myself.” I explained in kind words.

Zhong Yelan looked at me and saw my palms sweating as he said, “Ah Qian, I found out why you started to be distant to me since we got married.”

This person — doesn’t know what’s good for him! I kindly refrain from bothering you and Mu Yao. Why are you repeatedly talking about me alienating you instead?

“Your Highness is overly concerned.” I picked up a cup of tea and smiled awkwardly.

“Since we’ve gotten married, I should be responsible for you. It was my fault. I’ve treated you coldly since we got married. I’ll treat you well in the future.” Zhong Yelan said solemnly.

“Cough cough ……”

A mouthful of tea immediately choked in my throat. Taking the handkerchief handed over by Qian Zhi, I inadvertently dodged Zhong Yelan’s hand that reached out to me to pat my back.

When did Zhong Yelan get a sense of responsibility? I was so scared that I almost wanted to tell the truth about Hua Qian substituting for Mu Yao’s identity when they were young.

But the desire to survive made me shut my mouth. Not yet. The chips I have in my hand now are not enough to bear the thunderous wrath of Zhong Yelan.

Tossing and turning, I spoke, “What about Mu Yao? How will the King deal with her?”

Watching his body stiffen, he hesitated for a long time before seeming to make up his mind, “Since I married you, I won’t neglect you.”

So now he’s choosing me between me and Mu Yao?

This novel is known as an abuse novel because Zhong Yelan doesn’t want to embrace the right and left like other scummy men do. After he marries Hua Qian, he doesn’t think of taking Mu Yao into his room. Before he realized Hua Qian’s true nature, Zhong Yelan treated her well, preferring to keep his love for the female lead hidden in his heart. It’s just that maybe the aura of the male lead and female lead is too heavy. He tries hard to let go but falls deeper into it. As a result, the novel gets more abusive.

If not for the fact that Zhong Yelan later learned the truth, coupled with the exposure of Hua Qian’s true colors, I’m afraid he would still prefer to feel bad about himself and would not repudiate his wife to run to Mu Yao.

Although the previous Hua Qian was evil, her eye for picking men was still good.

It’s just that lovers will eventually become lovers, and Hua Qian, the evil female supporting character, will only fall sadly. What a clichéd plot.

What Hua Qian did before is a piece of sh*t, making me unable to accept Zhong Yelan’s good intentions with peace of mind.

“What I want is that you won’t be negative towards me. Your Highness might as well give yourself some time to think clearly. Otherwise, making a hasty decision might not be fair to everyone.” I lowered my eyebrows and said.

I need time. When the Ancestor Sacrifice Ceremony takes place in three months, that’s my chance to build up leverage for myself.

Zhong Yelan was silent for a long time but left eventually. I tiredly asked the maid to remove the evening meal.

Mama Li and Qian Zhi exchanged glances several times and couldn’t help but open their mouths again, “Princess Consort, just now the King wanted to stay. Why did you ……”

“Can’t you see it, Mama? His heart is no longer with me at this time.” I rubbed my temples and spoke.

Mama Li froze, sighed, and continued, “Since Princess Consort married over, you are already a wife. How can a wife ask her husband’s heart to be by her side at all times? Living a life after marriage is not like being a daughter before. Princess Consort should weigh the pros and cons instead of relying on feelings.”

“I understand your reasoning.” I barely hooked the corners of my mouth, “But, I am unwilling to ……”

Mama Li shook her head and said no more. She was Hua Qian’s accompanying granny and had watched Hua Qian grow up, and her feelings were deep. At this time, she only thought that I was still young and waited for me to understand these truths, so she did not force me.

The courtyard quickly quieted down, and I lay on the bed, staring blankly at the top of the bed.

Zhong Yelan, don’t come to annoy me. One wouldn’t have to suffer the pain of losing things if one never obtained them in the first place.

In the next month or so, Zhong Yelan was no longer busy with his business but came to seek me out occasionally, as if he was practicing what he had said about treating me seriously.

At the same time, Mu Yao’s eyes on me became uglier than ever, and in order not to widen our conflict, I began to avoid Zhong Yelan.

It’s just that the King Jin Mansion is only so big. After hiding around, I finally chose to go into the palace to find the Empress Dowager to nag me. Rather than return to the Hua Mansion, I still want to chat more with the Empress Dowager, the last Palace Champion. No matter what, mingling with a familiar face will benefit me in the future, and this method can help me effectively avoid Zhong Yelan.

The Empress Dowager was extraordinarily wary of my attentiveness at first. But anyway, I just wanted to observe the legendary palace drama with my own eyes, so I didn’t care if she gave me the cold shoulder.

Now and then, I played in the name of filial piety and entered the palace. The Empress Dowager slowly found that I just wanted to see her and had no other plans. Thus, she finally began to warm up.

This old lady only felt cold and unapproachable at first sight. After getting in touch with her, I found that although she would throw her temper occasionally, she was not mean. So I ran to the palace more often, one after another, and became familiar with the concubines in the harem.

They fought with each other every day. When suddenly this outsider arrived, they seemed to have found a place to vent, pulling me to talk for a long time. At first, they were concerned about my relationship with Hua Meiren. But after I ignored Hua Meiren several times, her position in the harem dropped. The other concubines, whether they wanted to win over me or to find someone to chat with, got along nicely with me.

Watching them stabbing each other in front of the Empress Dowager or inviting the Emperor’s favor raised my speaking ability and brightened my monotonous days.

It was more legit than the Legend of Zhen Huan palace fighting scene. I was only short of melon seeds.

So, every day, I see Zhong Xiwu come to visit the Empress Dowager. Then numerous dazzling beauties with all kinds of excuses sucking his attention. I am thrilled to see these scenes, silently learning several skills.

My heart silently admired the Empress Dowager’s fluency and Zhong Xiwu’s gentle and well-mannered personality. The two of them are worthy of being mother and son. Both of them are Tarzan — Oh no, it’s ‘the beauty fall before him, but his face remained still.’