Chapter 16: She Was Almost Drowning

She was proud and provocative.

Wen Changying was silent for a moment. "I bet he won't come back, at least not within three days."

At the first part of her words, Concubine Mei’s expression changed. Upon hearing the latter half, her interest waned.

"What did he say to you?"

Wen Changying’s face was expressionless. "Nothing."

She couldn’t leave the Eastern Palace now, nor could any news be delivered inside. If it weren’t for some people in the palace “kindly” talking to her, Wen Changying would know nothing at all.

Concubine Mei clicked her tongue twice. "Wen Changying, oh Wen Changying, you say you love the Crown Prince so deeply, yet how did you ruin everything between you two like this?"

Wen Changying lowered her eyes.

Did she ruin it? If so, then she deserved to die.

Better to be consumed by raging flames, whipped down to the deepest hell.

Seeing Wen Changying silent, Concubine Mei lost interest herself.

The two stared at each other, waiting.

Bored, Wen Changying got up to leave.

“Stop.”

Concubine Mei challenged, “I want an answer tonight. We’ll wait together.”

Wen Changying frowned. “Such a tedious game, you wait by yourself.”

She was tired and wanted to sleep.

Only by sleeping could she escape these troubling thoughts.

Wen Changying stepped forward again, but the palace door was shut by Taohong.

In the dim light, Concubine Mei smiled like a wild beast showing its claws.

“I said, we’ll wait right here!”

Wen Changying paused. “I bet on three days. Are you going to sit here for three days?”

Concubine Mei raised her brow. “Why not?”

“I have no objection, just curious whose bed you’ll sleep on in this inner hall.”

She wouldn’t sleep on the floor and absolutely wouldn’t squeeze into another room with Taohong.

Concubine Mei was particular about cleanliness and hated sharing things.

She gritted her teeth. “Then you go back and wait! After three days, I want to see who wins or loses.”

Wen Changying turned and left.

Before she stepped out, Concubine Mei called out again, “There has to be a bet, right?”

“The Xiufang Garden you’ve always wanted.”

Originally, the Crown Prince had prepared clothes for her that amazed many concubines in the palace.

Most wanted to commission Xiufang Garden for a dress.

But Xie Genghe refused all requests.

He said Xiufang Garden would only make clothes for Aying.

But then things changed.

So Wen Changying would no longer uphold the old agreement.

Since the Xiufang Garden workshop was registered under her name from the start, she could give it to whoever she wished.

“Are you crazy? Isn’t Xiufang Garden your precious treasure?”

Concubine Mei shouted from behind, “Wen Changying, have you really given up?”

Wen Changying, already outside Weiyang Palace, didn’t respond.

No matter how many times she said she wanted a divorce, others only thought she was trying to manipulate Xie Genghe.

Only Wen Changying herself knew.

This time was real.

She couldn’t keep trapping herself in Xie Genghe’s past love anymore.

She was drowning.

Eastern Palace.

The first night without a magpie nearby, Wen Changying didn’t sleep well.

She drifted in a daze all night, always fearing something might happen to the bird.

Fortunately, early the next morning, she saw the magpie rubbing its head.

At first, it looked dazed, but upon seeing Wen Changying, it quickly approached.

“Your Highness, it’s my fault. I actually fell asleep.”

Originally intending to keep a close watch on Cheng Yu, she had unexpectedly dozed off.

“Yesterday, I followed the Crown Prince to the Cheng residence, but the matter was urgent and I wasn’t allowed to listen. So I stayed behind the screen. Lord Cheng was inside, and I could see his silhouette.”

“But later, I… fell asleep. When I woke up, the Crown Prince was gone.”

The magpie was full of regret.

Wen Changying smoothed the bird’s ruffled head. “It doesn’t matter. He’ll break his promise sooner or later.”

They didn’t need to do anything.

Cheng Yu alone was enough to force Xie Genghe to hand over the divorce papers.

The magpie pursed its lips. “Your Highness, has the Crown Prince returned?”

Wen Changying looked quietly toward the guards outside the Eastern Palace, her heart sinking.

No.

If Xie Genghe had returned, the first to eagerly rush over demanding spoils would have been Zhu Meimei.

“Don’t wait for him. Go to the imperial kitchen and get breakfast.”

The magpie nodded and hurried to prepare herself and fetch the food.

But when she returned, it wasn’t smooth.

She covered the corner of her mouth.

Wen Changying noticed—the magpie had been slapped.

She found the healing ointment, her eyes cold. “Who hit you?”

The magpie lowered her gaze. “Your Highness, I’m fine.”

“Who was it?” Wen Changying insisted on an answer.

After a long pause, the magpie said, “It was a chef from the imperial kitchen who serves the Empress Dowager. He deliberately delayed your meal, saying he had to prepare sweets for the Empress Dowager. When I urged him twice, he slapped me.”

Wen Changying lowered her eyes and carefully applied the medicine.

“From now on, avoid quarrels with them. If you lose out, hit back. I’ll handle the trouble.”

“Magpie, I don’t want to drag anyone else down anymore.”

The magpie whispered, “I understand.”

After applying the ointment, the two ate.

When they finished, Wen Changying tossed the leftovers to the guards.

“Find a man named Du Baofu from the imperial kitchen and teach him a lesson.”

The captain hesitated. “Your Highness, the Crown Prince instructed that before he returns, you must not cause trouble.”

Wen Changying slanted him a look. “If you can’t do it, I’ll whip him myself.”

“...Yes!”

Perhaps because of the hostility inside the palace, the magpie had rarely gone out recently.

The two shut themselves indoors, eating and sleeping, almost as if they were fattening up for winter.

Three days passed, and Xie Genghe still hadn’t returned.

Concubine Mei came again, wearing a face full of sympathy.

“Looks like you’re becoming less and less important to the Crown Prince.”

Wen Changying trimmed a flower branch calmly. “I think that’s quite fine.”

If it weren’t for urgent matters concerning her brother, she could live quietly like this forever.

Concubine Mei’s face darkened further. “Why aren’t you worried at all? Wen Changying, when the Crown Prince really brings another woman back, you won’t even have a place to cry!”

The magpie couldn’t help but say, “Our lady wouldn’t cry! It’s the Crown Prince who won’t let go now.”

Concubine Mei sneered, “Exactly. He won’t let go now, but after keeping a few concubines for some days, it will be the revered Crown Princess crying and begging for the Crown Prince’s favor!”

The magpie replied firmly, “Our lady won’t!”

The two acted as if they had never quarreled.

One was determined to kick someone when they were down; the other was fiercely defending her lady.

Their argument left them parched and exhausted until Concubine Mei suddenly realized.

“I’m speaking to your lady. What are you, a lowly servant, butting in for? Taohong, slap her! Teach her to remember her place!”

Taohong rolled up her sleeves, ready to strike.

But a pair of scissors flew and stabbed in front of her.

“Zhu Meimei, don’t get cocky.”

Wen Changying’s face darkened. “You can target me all you want, but don’t lay a hand on Magpie.”

Concubine Mei was stunned for a long time.

Then she sneered coldly, “Wen Changying, do you think you still have the arrogance you once did? Today, I will punish her for disrespect!”

She stepped forward, intending to strike.

Wen Changying gripped her wrist tightly, eyes fierce.

“I’m barefoot and not afraid of shoes now. Before I die, I might as well bring someone down with me. Mei, want to try?”