Rebirth: The General's Illegitimate Daughter

Chapter 14 Sarcasm

Prince Ling stood tall, his arm around the red-clad Wei Qu. Hearing a noise, he looked over and, unsurprised, smiled. "Is my concubine here to admire the flowers?"

Chu Lianruo had her maid wait while she carried the food box over and greeted Prince Ling. "This concubine is here to thank Your Highness. I also made some pastries for you to try, as a token of my appreciation. I hope Your Highness does not find them unworthy."

Wei Qu scoffed, "Concubine Chu is so virtuous, even doing the work of servants."

Chu Lianruo ignored him, focusing on Prince Ling.

Feeling slighted, Wei Qu was about to say more, but Prince Ling took the food box, gently squeezed Wei Qu’s shoulder, and said to Chu Lianruo, "I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Since you're not well, you should return and rest." With that, he turned, still holding Wei Qu, and headed towards Mingyi Pavilion.

Chu Lianruo bowed as they left, then decided not to rush back. Having missed the scenery earlier, she took the opportunity to admire it. Behind her, Siyu expressed disbelief, "Concubine, the person in the prince’s arms...was a man, right? I wasn’t mistaken? The prince really..."

Siyu had heard rumors of nobles having peculiar tastes, some even indifferent to gender. Seeing it firsthand, especially involving their concubine’s husband, left her stunned. Siwei, however, was more composed, having seen Wei Qu once before. She interrupted Siyu, "What's the big deal? It’s just a man!"

"Watch your tongue!" Chu Lianruo stopped and coldly commanded, "You have no right to comment on your master. Slap yourself."

Rarely seeing her concubine so stern, Siyu was frightened. "I spoke out of turn. I was wrong." She then slapped herself twice.

Chu Lianruo’s expression did not soften. "If this happens again, pack your things and return to Cenzhou."

Siyu, wanting to speak but losing courage under Chu Lianruo’s gaze, felt both ashamed and fearful. "Yes, I won’t repeat this mistake."

Seeing Siyu’s plight, Siwei understood that the concubine was reminding both of them. She suggested, "Concubine, you’ve walked quite a bit and might be tired. How about resting in the pavilion ahead?"

Chu Lianruo, now uninterested, replied, "No, let’s go back directly." Unexpectedly, after a few steps, they encountered someone familiar. Moving briskly, her hair still neat, she stopped upon seeing Chu Lianruo and her group, bowed, and habitually smiled. "Ruhua greets Concubine Chu. I wasn’t in the mansion today, so I didn’t come to pay respects. I hope you don’t mind."

Chu Lianruo smiled slightly, "It's fine. You seem to be in a hurry, so you should go."

Ruhua nodded, her smile turning sly. "I heard Concubine Chu moved to Qianqiu Pavilion, making it convenient. I’ll visit you another day." She then continued towards where Chu Lianruo had come from, the only path leading to Mingyi Pavilion.

****

Long and elegant, Prince Ling wrapped his arms around a figure in red, about to lean in closer when he noticed movement. Turning to look, he smiled, "Is my concubine here to admire the flowers?"

Chu Lianruo motioned for her maid to wait as she took the food box and approached, bowing. "I came to thank Your Highness and offer some homemade pastries as a token of my gratitude. I hope Your Highness will not find them wanting."

Prince Ling’s companion, Wei Qu, scoffed, "How diligent of you, Concubine Chu, to do a servant’s work."

Chu Lianruo paid him no mind, keeping her gaze on Prince Ling.

Feeling slighted, Wei Qu was about to retort when Prince Ling took the food box, patted Wei Qu's shoulder, and said, "I appreciate your gesture. Concubine, you should rest now." With that, he led Wei Qu towards Mingyi Pavilion.

Chu Lianruo bowed and watched them leave, not in a hurry to return. She finally took the time to appreciate the scenery, but her maid Siyu was baffled. "Concubine, was that a man in the prince’s arms? Did I see correctly?"

Siyu had heard rumors about the preferences of noble sons, some even indulging in both men and women. But seeing her concubine’s husband with a man still shocked her. Siwei, more composed, interrupted, "Don’t make a fuss. It’s just a man."

"Mind your words!" Chu Lianruo stopped, her voice cold. "Is it your place to gossip about your master? Slap yourself."

Siyu, rarely seeing her concubine this stern, was scared. "I spoke out of turn. I apologize." She slapped herself twice.

Chu Lianruo’s expression didn’t soften. "Next time, pack your things and return to Cenzhou."

Siyu wanted to say something but couldn’t muster the courage under her concubine’s gaze. Feeling both humiliated and frightened, she muttered, "It won’t happen again."

Feeling pity, Siwei understood this was a warning for both of them. "You’ve walked enough. Shall we rest in the pavilion?"

Chu Lianruo sighed, "No, let’s go back."

They hadn’t gone far when they met a familiar face. Rushing with her hair slightly disheveled, Inhua paused, bowed, and smiled. "Greetings, Concubine Chu. I apologize for not paying respects earlier. I hope you won’t mind."

Chu Lianruo smiled slightly. "It's nothing." Then added, "You seem in a hurry. Best not delay."

Inhua nodded, her smile turning sly. "I heard you moved to Qianqiu Pavilion. I’ll visit another day." She then hurried towards the direction Chu Lianruo had just come from, a path leading only to Mingyi Pavilion.

****

Snow kept falling, covering everything in white. A woman in plain clothes stumbled forward, her face pale as snow. She stopped to cough uncontrollably, soon followed by a frantic maid calling her, “Your Highness.” Ignoring her, the woman knelt before the majestic hall, bowing low. "Your Majesty, I...cough, cough..."