Chapter 1549: Chapter 1556: Apology (3)
Infected by her curiosity, the man leisurely glanced around as well. The County Main Mansion had three front rooms with a hall in between, flanked by side rooms. A screen stood inside the hall. Beyond the hall was the front hall, known as the so-called main hall, consisting of seven rooms, two wings, and nine frames. Past the front hall, there was a three-entry inner courtyard.
The inner house and outer house were separated by a flower curtain door. Beyond this door lay the middle hall, also consisting of seven rooms and nine frames, flanked by side rooms and surrounded by a veranda. Past the middle hall was the main residence of the Lord of Jingyang County—Fu Rui Hall—which consisted of seven rooms and seven frames. Behind it was a row of seven rooms and screen houses, and even further back was the back garden. However, the back garden was not large, as the proper garden was located in the west.
In the western garden, ancient trees towered, strange rocks crowded the landscape, mountains embraced flowing water, and pavilion terraces, corridors, and winding paths were everywhere—truly a scene of unparalleled beauty. Meanwhile, in the eastern area, a stage was built alongside a three-entry courtyard.
Having completed the tour, Wanyan Jingchen expressed his opinion: “Hmm, definitely impressive. Looks like Imperial Mother really dotes on the Lord of Jingyang County.”
Xiang Yun said, “Exactly. You know, ‘look at the dog, know the master.’ We’d better head inside quickly. Otherwise, if she gets impatient, she’ll pull her dramatics again.”
Wanyan Jingchen agreed with Xiang Yun’s perspective and led her to meet the Lord of Jingyang County. The lord’s bedroom was lavishly decorated, with flower curtain room dividers carved and embedded with intricate craftsmanship. Even the furnishings were extraordinary.
Upon entering, they discovered that the Lord of Jingyang County was not waiting for them in the main hall. The maid informed them that the lord’s jade body was still unhealed and she was resting on the couch.
Since it wasn’t appropriate for Wanyan Jingchen to enter the boudoir of the Lord of Jingyang County, he had to let Xiang Yun go in alone. Before she went in, he repeatedly reminded her with concern before reluctantly letting her proceed.
Xiang Yun entered and found the Lord of Jingyang County lying on the couch with her face turned inward, seemingly asleep.
Before Xiang Yun and Wanyan Jingchen had arrived, someone had already been sent to deliver a cartload of bamboo shoots, and they had been informed well in advance that the two would be coming. Yet the lord now pretended to be asleep—it was clearly an intentional insult.
What was even more outrageous was that the room didn’t even have a single chair—not even an embroidered stool. The maids serving in the room acted like fools, neither offering tea nor inviting the Crown Princess to sit. Each one hung her head low and stared intently at her own toes.
Cui Wen noticed this and barked coldly, “Audacious! The Crown Princess has arrived, and you dare to be so negligent! Not only is there not a single cup of tea, but you don’t even have a seat for her! Who gave you the nerve to act this way?”
The maids in the room, hearing Cui Wen’s angry scolding, were undoubtedly frightened. However, they were servants of the Lord of Jingyang County, and without their master’s orders, none of them dared to pour tea or offer a seat to the Crown Princess. They could only lower their already low heads even further.
Xiang Yun, knowing this was deliberate on the lord’s part, didn’t take offense. She simply plopped herself down at the edge of the lord’s couch, smiled with squinted eyes, and addressed the sleeping lord, “Jingyang, I’ve come to check on you. Are you feeling better?”
The Lord of Jingyang County, of course, did not respond and continued to “sleep.”
Xiang Yun remarked, “Oh well, since you’re still not awake, I’ll leave for now. You go ahead and sleep soundly. By the way, just now, when the Prince and I were on our way here, we bought you a cartload of bamboo shoots. I heard they help clear sludge and detoxify. You should eat more of them—to cool your temper a little. Staying stuck at home agonizing over things isn’t healthy. Imagine, if something truly happened and there were ‘three longs, two shorts,’ you’d worry the Empress too.”
“Cough, cough—cough!”
The Lord of Jingyang County, who had been feigning sleep on the couch, nearly spewed a mouthful of blood from sheer frustration, her coughing becoming violent.
Was this how someone apologized upon visiting? Tugging at a person’s weakest points instead! She might as well be here to provoke rather than apologize!
After a few fierce coughs, the Lord of Jingyang County could no longer keep up the charade. She slowly turned over, revealing a face that looked as colorful as a painter’s palette, and said icily, “So it’s the Crown Princess—what a lack of decorum. Crown Princess, please forgive Jingyang for being unwell and unable to perform a grand courtesy for Your Highness. I hope Crown Princess shall not hold it against Jingyang.”
“How could I?”
Xiang Yun replied with sincerity, “I only have affection for you and couldn’t be angrier at myself for what happened yesterday. You wouldn’t hold a grudge against me, would you?”
Not hold a grudge? What nonsense! Yesterday, she’d been beaten into a pig-headed mess, and today Xiang Yun wanted to laugh it off with a casual remark? Where in the world would one find such generosity?
The Lord of Jingyang County cursed inwardly, especially as she stared at Xiang Yun’s face filled with ‘genuine remorse.’ Rage surged through her, as if even her hair was about to stand on end. If it weren’t for the fear of angering the Crown Prince, she would’ve stabbed this shrew with a knife right then and there!