Harem Daily Life

Why did Chapter 1105 still cause such a stir?

On the carriage back to the palace, Duan Chaopei was in low spirits. He Yinuo chewed and chewed, "Su Xing isn't a bad person, it's just... sigh, love comes without warning, and we just fell for each other."

Duan Chaopei's smile was faint: "The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, he can like as many people as he wants, sister, you don't need to explain to me."

He Yinuo ran a hand through her hair: "It's good that you can think positively. Fourth Brother... will give you enough respect and will never let Su Xing surpass you."

Duan Chaopei nodded: "Yes, I believe you."

Respect is respect, and liking is liking. The Crown Prince gave his respect to himself, but his affection to another girl. He himself went to ask His Majesty for permission to take Su Xing as his concubine. The person he actively sought out is different from the person he married into a political alliance.

Upon returning to the East Palace, it was already late. He Yucheng was not in his room. Duan Chaopei looked around at the empty bedchamber, sighed, and went into the inner room to bathe and wash up.

Every night before, she would try to find something to do to avoid awkwardness between the two of them, but tonight she felt a little down. She changed into her undergarments and lay down on the couch. For the first time, she extinguished the candle before He Yucheng returned to his bedchamber.

After accompanying He Linzhang to finish processing the memorials in the imperial study, He Yucheng returned to his bedchamber and found it dimly lit, with only one lamp left on in the outer room. He paused for a moment, then said nothing, quietly making his way to the inner room to wash up. He returned to his bed in the dark and found that the bedding had been changed to separate sheets for each of them.

He Yucheng remained silent for a moment, then lay down on his own. He could hear the person next to him breathing erratically, still not asleep.

He Yucheng frowned. Was he resorting to pretending to be asleep because he had nothing else to do?

But then again, since they got married, they had already told each other all their childhood stories and stories about their siblings, and there was no one left to tell.

The next morning, Duan Chaopei specially sent someone to tell the Fifth Princess that she should wait for her for half an hour. She waited until He Yucheng finished his breakfast and said, "Your Highness, the day of the wedding to Consort Su is next month. I was thinking that since the East Palace is so big, I should give up my bedroom and leave it for Your Highness to live in alone. I will move to the East Courtyard, and after Consort Su enters the palace, she will live in the West Courtyard. What does Your Highness think?"

"Separate rooms in the first month of marriage?" He Yucheng was silent for a moment, and seeing that Duan Chaopei was not joking, he said, "You are the mistress of the Eastern Palace. You can make the decisions about the affairs of the inner quarters."

Duan Chaopei clenched her fists, her heart growing increasingly heavy. She hadn't expected that he would agree to sleep in separate rooms before they even consummated their marriage. She said defiantly, "Fine, then starting today, I'll move to the east courtyard."

He Yucheng frowned: "Tonight?" He was clearly surprised that she would move out so readily.

"Alright, let Aunt Cui make the arrangements." He Yucheng lowered his head to eat, concealing a hint of surprise in his heart.

Aunt Cui had no idea what the two were arguing about. They hadn't even consummated their marriage yet, and the Crown Princess was already making a fuss about moving to the East Courtyard, and the Crown Prince had no objections. Following the Crown Princess's instructions, she directed people to move the Crown Princess's personal belongings, but the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt, and in the end, she went to Chang Le Palace.

When the head maidservant who served the Crown Prince came to request an audience, Tao Yanyan immediately sent someone to announce her arrival.

As soon as Aunt Cui saw the Empress, she knelt down to beg for forgiveness, her eyes reddening.

"...Your Majesty, it's all my fault. I thought that if I kept it a secret, His Highness the Crown Prince would eventually understand. But I never expected that the Crown Princess would move to a new palace today and live alone in the East Courtyard."

Tao Yanyan was almost laughing with anger. Getting married and consummating the marriage was such a natural thing, so why did it cause trouble when it came to her own son?

Isn't the Crown Princess beautiful? Doesn't she attract attention? In Tao Yanyan's opinion, Duan Chaopei has a better figure, fairer skin, and is more lovable!

She pinched the bridge of her nose and glared at Aunt Cui: "It's been almost a month and you're only now letting me know? You're incredibly audacious."

Aunt Cui kowtowed to the ground, repeatedly begging for forgiveness.

"Never mind, perhaps he's still young and hasn't figured it out yet." Tao Yanyan thought for a moment: "If the Crown Princess wants to move, we can't stop her. Let her move first, and then starting today, prepare more medicinal meals for Cheng, the kind that are very nourishing. I don't believe that he, with his vigorous blood, can hold out every day."

Aunt Cui bit her lip: "Your Highness, the Crown Princess also instructed me to clean the West Courtyard every day, and she gave this order today as well. I think it's because the Crown Princess is concerned that Consort Su is about to enter the palace, and since she hasn't consummated her marriage in a long time, that's why..."

Tao Yan Yan sighed. What could she do? Her son was determined to marry Su Xing, making it clear that he only wanted her.

"I understand. There's still a month left." In this month, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess must consummate their marriage. If Su Xing gains favor first, Duan Chaopei will feel even more uncomfortable, and her conflict with Yu Cheng will deepen.

Duan Chaopei returned to the palace that evening and was picked up by Xianglan, who was waiting at the palace gate, and taken to Chang Le Palace. Tao Yanyan smiled as soon as she saw her and said, "Why are you two back so late today? Go wash your hands quickly. Tonight, I will personally cook a soup for you sisters."

Duan Chaopei was very surprised: "Empress Dowager will cook herself? You are the most honored mistress of the Great Zhou!"

Tao Yanyan smiled and said, "If you want to eat something, just do it yourself. Women sometimes need to take the initiative."

Duan Chaopei was taken aback, feeling that there was something else behind her mother's words.

He Linzhang and He Yucheng also returned together. The father and son looked at the table full of dishes and both looked at Tao Yanyan at the same time.

The table is full of highly nourishing medicinal dishes. Who are these prepared for?

He Linzhang's heart stirred slightly, thinking that he must eat more tonight and perform well so as not to disappoint the Empress. He Yucheng, however, was a little flustered. He had been increasingly unable to control himself while reading that book lately, and the images in his mind were so numerous that he couldn't even suppress them with the Heart-Cleansing Mantra.

It was the first time Duan Chaopei had eaten a meal prepared by his mother. He didn't even notice the Crown Prince beside him and just kept eating.

He Yunuo, on a whim, gave Tao Yanyan many ambiguous glances, which earned her several reproachful looks from Tao Yanyan.

With everyone's cooperation, a large table of dishes was almost entirely eaten.

Upon returning to the East Palace, He Yucheng went straight to his study. When he returned to his bedchamber, he discovered that none of the Crown Princess's belongings remained, as if she had never lived there at all.

Aunt Cui brought in tea and coughed lightly: "The Crown Princess is young and this is her first time entering the palace. The palace is eerily quiet at night. I wonder if she is used to living in the East Courtyard?"

He Yucheng paused, holding his teacup, and after a moment of silence, said, "Come with me and see what's missing in the East Courtyard. Write it down and we'll get it done another day."

Duan Chaopei was indeed lacking something.

She had previously lived in the main hall and, fearing that people would discover the two booklets, had placed them under her bed. Today, she moved and did not bring them over.

"What should we do? Go get it?" Duan Chaopei hesitated. If she had known, she would have asked He Yinuo for leave today and personally supervised the moving.