Chapter 76: She Has Become a True Lady

Because Jiang Ye was holding a wedding in his palace, most people had gone to offer their congratulations, leaving the path to Cuiwei Palace unusually deserted. The chill of the wind seemed to make the cold even sharper.

I followed behind Jiang Xuan, hugging myself with my arms.

“Put this on.” As Jiang Xuan spoke, a hand suddenly touched my arm. Startled, I pulled away, my eyes filled with fear and wariness.

I knew it was because of what had just happened with Jiang Ye, but I hadn’t expected my reaction to be so sensitive.

I saw that Jiang Xuan was holding his own cloak, and his gaze froze for a moment as he looked at me.

In the next instant, I regained my composure, realizing that it was Jiang Xuan standing before me, not Jiang Ye. At least, I believed Jiang Xuan wouldn’t treat me as Jiang Ye had.

Hurriedly, I knelt down. “This servant deserves death for startling Your Highness.”

“Rise.” Jiang Xuan replied, draping the cloak over himself. “Hurry and follow me back to the palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” Just as I was about to stand, I suddenly felt a warm sensation beneath me.

Did I wet myself?

That can’t be. I didn’t even wet myself during Jiang Ye’s ordeal—why now, in Jiang Xuan’s presence?

Jiang Xuan looked at me, his tone cool. “Why are you still kneeling?”

I wanted to rise, but if I did, and he saw I’d wet myself, what would he think of me? That would be more humiliating than when I discovered his nocturnal emission!

“Your Highness, please go ahead. I’ll catch up right away.”

Jiang Xuan’s gaze remained indifferent, but seeing me insist, he turned and walked ahead. I stayed kneeling, discreetly feeling my backside, hoping that the thick winter trousers hadn’t let anything seep through. But as I touched, I nearly jumped in fright. It wasn’t colorless—it was bright red.

I was bleeding?

How could I be bleeding? Jiang Ye hadn’t even touched me just now!

Jiang Xuan suddenly turned around. I quickly hid my hand behind my back, my eyes tense as I looked at him.

He sighed softly. “Go change your clothes and come with me out of the palace.”

Out of the palace?

Changing clothes I welcomed, but out of the palace?

“Your servant—”

“Do you object?”

“I dare not.”

“Then why are you still on the ground?”

“Yes, Your Highness!” There was no way to delay further, so I had to stand. Fortunately, my clothes were dark, so perhaps it wasn’t obvious. There were few people on the road, and with Jiang Xuan ahead of me, he wouldn’t suddenly turn around just to scrutinize my back. With that, I felt slightly more at ease.

Even so, I felt uneasy following Jiang Xuan.

We were nearly at Cuiwei Palace when I finally relaxed.

“Come inside with me,” he said.

“What?” Weren’t we going back to Cuiwei Palace? But I had no spare clothes suitable for leaving the palace here. My last set had probably been left with Jiang Xuan.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Now I was doomed. Surely the eunuchs and maids in Jiang Xuan’s palace hadn’t all gone to join the festivities at Jiang Ye’s place?

Just as I was thinking this, I saw Jiang Xuan stumble over the threshold as he entered.

“Your Highness, be careful!” I quickly reached out to steady him.

“I’m fine,” Jiang Xuan said as he stepped inside.

“Yes, Your Highness.” I withdrew my hand, but he suddenly fixed his gaze on my fingers and seized my wrist.

I panicked, not knowing what was wrong. Following his gaze, I noticed blood on my fingertips—the blood I’d wiped from my backside and forgotten to clean off.

“You’re injured?” Jiang Xuan’s eyes narrowed.

“No, no, I’m not hurt,” I stammered, trying to pull my hand back, but he didn’t let go.

I shouldn’t be hurt—there was no pain. But why was I bleeding? Suddenly, I realized the reason.

It must be my monthly courses.

I remembered last summer, when Xiao Ruo came to play in a pale yellow skirt. After a while, she began to cry and showed me her hand, and only then did I notice the blood on the back of her skirt. I was frightened and hurried to fetch the doctor for her. Only when Auntie came in did we realize Xiao Ruo had started her period.

I recalled Auntie’s careful instructions to Xiao Ruo then. Now, I had become a woman myself, yet there was no mother to guide me. Everything I knew, I had to recall from what I’d overheard back then.

How could I tell Jiang Xuan about this? Wouldn’t that be admitting directly that I am a woman?

But before I could explain, Jiang Xuan spun me around, inspecting me for injuries. Eventually, he saw the blood on my trousers.

Jiang Xuan looked at me coldly, his expression furious. After a long pause, he managed to ask, “Did he…still bully you?”

He thought the blood on my trousers was from Jiang Ye’s assault?

Jiang Xuan, you may never have been to a brothel, but you seem to know quite a bit.

I’d read some picture books—even erotic albums—so my knowledge wasn’t surprising. But Jiang Xuan… well.

Still, I needed to fool him.

“It’s not that,” I quickly explained. “Thanks to Your Highness’s timely arrival, the Fourth Prince didn’t do anything to me. Things went only as far as Your Highness saw.”

“Then the blood—?”

Gritting my teeth, I resigned myself. “Actually, because I’ve been working hard for so long and eating poorly, so…” I lowered my head, feigning embarrassment.

“Speak!” Jiang Xuan was out of patience.

“So I got hemorrhoids, and after scratching, it started bleeding…”

Jiang Xuan’s expression was one of utter disgust, as if he might vomit.

I was revolted myself, but I had no choice. To protect myself, I had to tell such a lie. Surely Jiang Xuan wouldn’t press further now?

“Go back. I don’t feel like leaving the palace anymore today.”

Just as I wished.

“Your Highness, I’m really fine. I can—”

“Stay away from me.” Jiang Xuan stepped back as if he’d seen a ghost, pointing at me to keep me at a distance.

“Yes, Your Highness, I wouldn’t dare approach.”

“That’s enough, we’ll speak of leaving the palace another time. Go back now.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I returned to Cuiwei Palace. Yunqing and Lanyan were in the room attending to Zhang Bitong, and Hongxiu was in the small kitchen. I managed to slip back unnoticed.

I quickly washed up and changed clothes. Only after everything was in order did I return to the front courtyard.

Just as I was about to wait outside the room, Jiang Xuan entered.

“This servant greets Your Highness.”

Jiang Xuan glanced at me, likely noticing I’d changed clothes.

“Come here.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” I walked over, and Jiang Xuan shoved something into my hand.

“Your Highness?”

“This is ointment specifically for that. Apply it twice daily, and you’ll be better in a few days.”

Although it was embarrassing, I was touched by how promptly Jiang Xuan had sent me the ointment. Even if it wasn’t really hemorrhoids, it might as well be now.

“This servant thanks Your Highness.”

“Mm. I’ll go see my mother.”

“Please, Your Highness.”

I hid the ointment in my sleeve and followed Jiang Xuan inside.

When we entered, Zhang Bitong was reclining on the bed, chatting with Yunqing.

“Xuan’er? Why are you back so soon? According to the hour, the ceremony should have just begun.”

Jiang Xuan nodded slightly. “I found it dull, so I returned early.”

Zhang Bitong covered her mouth and smiled. “Could it be that seeing the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince both getting married has made you envious?”

Hearing this, Yunqing also smiled and said, “I’ll make some tea for Your Highness. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

Jiang Xuan pulled a stool and sat before Zhang Bitong. “How is your health, Mother?”

She nodded. Her lips were still dry and pale, but her complexion looked better than in the morning.

“It’s nothing serious, just a minor illness. At least I have you to accompany me, or Cuiwei Palace would be unbearably lonely. Right now, the Fourth Prince’s place is the liveliest! I wonder if your own wedding will be so grand one day.”

“I am still young, Mother. I haven’t thought of such things yet.”

“How can you not? After this New Year, you’ll be seventeen. It’s about time. Marriage is important, and I must find you a good match. Look at the Crown Prince: not only did he marry the Prime Minister Gong’s daughter, but also Han Feiyue, who is most beloved by His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. That solidifies his position. Though the Fourth Prince’s wife is less distinguished, she’s still Du Mingli’s daughter. You’ll see—after the wedding, Du Mingli will be promoted and will surely support the Fourth Prince in court. Only you are left isolated, with no support from my family’s humble background.”

Whenever these topics arose, it struck me that Zhang Bitong was selfishly pressuring Jiang Xuan, never truly considering his feelings. She had been shaped by the harem’s atmosphere, and everything she thought of revolved around gaining favor and power.

Jiang Xuan sat silently by her side.

“Your tea, Your Highness,” Yunqing said, handing a cup to Jiang Xuan, and then to Zhang Bitong, “Your Ladyship, are you thinking of His Highness’s marriage again?”

Zhang Bitong sighed, “Of course. What mother wouldn’t?”

Yunqing replied, “Last time, the Empress and Lady Meng carefully selected five young ladies. One married the Crown Prince, one married the Fourth Prince, and the remaining three must all be of noble birth and sterling character.”

Hearing this, Zhang Bitong’s eyes brightened. “Yunqing, you remind me! How could I have forgotten? When choosing the Crown Princess, the Empress already had someone in mind, but appearances had to be kept up. Even the least among them was of fourth rank. Yunqing, go and find out the backgrounds of the remaining young ladies. I want to make a proper selection.”

“Yes, I’ll see to it at once.”

“Mother,” Jiang Xuan suddenly stood. “With my elder brother and sister above me, I dare not overstep. Please take care of yourself, and let’s discuss this later.”

“But you—”

“Mother, I’ll return to my palace now,” Jiang Xuan said, turning to leave, not touching a drop of the tea.

“Did I speak out of turn?” Yunqing asked.

“It’s not your fault. Xuan’er has always been like this. He usually doesn’t fight for anything, but in many matters, he’s stubborn like his father, leaving me at a loss.”

“One day, His Highness will understand Your Ladyship’s good intentions!”