Looking baffled, Qian Jiujiu stared at Mu Yexiao and Dong Chen. Upon noticing Mu Yexiao's signaling eyes, Dong Chen stopped his protest.
His gaze on Qian Jiujiu turned even colder.
Qian Jiujiu was puzzled. Have I offended His Highness' secret lover? But I haven't done anything wrong!
"May I ask a question? Where is Bixiao Pavilion?"
Dong Chen gave her another glare and replied, "It is where His Highness resides."
Qian Jiujiu was shocked. "Are you asking me to share a room with you?"
Mu Yexiao waited for his cutleries to be set again, and took a bite before he was almost choked by Qian Jiujiu's absurd question.
He looked at her as he coughed. "Have you not been taught that you should not speak during meals and bedtime?"
"Nan Feng, please assign the Princess Consort with two nannies to advise her on her etiquettes, and send her to her room after the meal."
Qian Jiujiu was not happy upon hearing that. Why would he assign advising nannies to me? The idea reminded her of My Fair Princess—the TV series—where none of the nannies were genuinely nice.
She rejected without a thought. "That's not necessary. I'm not going to head out much anyway. Also, I'm going to leave right after I fix your legs, and I don't need any advising nannies."
Mu Yexiao gave her a cold glance. "We have to visit the palace for the wedding gratuity ceremony tomorrow."
Qian Jiujiu was caught off guard. She stared at Mu Yexiao for a brief moment before she reacted by pointing at herself.
"You're bringing me to the palace? What if my identity gets exposed? I'm not ready to lose my head yet!"
Mu Yexiao looked at her, and the corner of his mouth twitched. "You don't have to worry about that."
Qian Jiujiu pouted in displease. "This is about my own life. How can I not worry about it?"
"I see that you are afraid of death too. I thought you were fearless."
Qian Jiujiu rolled her eyes upon hearing Mu Yexiao's words. "Are you kidding me? I am currently at my blossoming age. Why won't I be afraid of death?"
Blossoming age? Mu Yexiao stared at Qian Jiujiu who had yet to show her face under her make-up. His eyes were filled with apparent distaste.
Suddenly reminded of her make-up too, Qian Jiujiu shuddered involuntarily. At that moment, she was still clueless about how she actually looked.
What if I have pimples all over my face and am ugly? With that thought in mind, she lost all her appetite, in spite of all the delicious food on the table.
She put down her chopsticks. "I've had my fill."
Mu Yexiao threw a glance at the table. She had gobbled up almost half of the food.
He wanted to say something, but a thought hit him. Perhaps Qian Jiujiu ate so much because she has never had any delicious food like these in her life.
Instinctively, he threw her a sympathetic look. Qian Jiujiu was confused and could not wrap her head around it.
Forget it. She continued staring at him with a strong urge to wash her face.
"Your Highness, can you do me a favor?"
Mu Yexiao continued staring at her, realizing that her mind was full of ideas. "Continue."
"Please assign me a maid for two days. I'm worried that I will keep losing my way around here."
She stared at him expectantly. Mu Yexiao realized that her eyes were somewhat similar to that of the puppy he used to have when he was a boy.
Convinced, he nodded and turned to Dong Chen. "Bring Hong Ling here. From now on, she will be serving the Princess Consort."
Dong Chen looked at Mu Yexiao in confusion. What is wrong with His Highness?
Is he seriously making this crude woman his Princess Consort?
"Yes, Your Highness."
Qian Jiujiu could tell that Hong Ling must be more than just any other maid.
"Your Highness, you only have to assign me an ordinary maid. Hong Ling must be a brilliant one since you can remember her name. I can't take her."
Mu Yexiao continued staring at Qian Jiujiu. All of a sudden, he flashed a grin, apparently uplifted. "Do you think that you have the right to turn down my offer?"
She could only blink in exasperation. Fine, Hong Ling it is! I suppose she wouldn't reject me if I ask her for directions?
Dong Chen approached her in the midst of her mental turmoil. "Princess Consort, please follow me."
"Alright!"
Qian Jiujiu had to leave the room in spite of her unwillingness. Fortunately, she was not brought to the same shabby building again.
They arrived at the entrance of a lavish palace. "Princess Consort, this is your residence. Hong Ling will be here soon."
Dong Chen turned and walked away. Left alone in the palace, Qian Jiujiu studied her surroundings.
Eventually, she lay on the bed and patted the sheets. "This is not bad at all, and this is how life should be."
This isn't right. Qian Jiujiu sprung out of the bed. She should be looking for water now to wash her face.
Although she was an amiable person, she still cared about her image.
She searched her room, but found no water source at all. All she could find was a wooden bucket.
Fine. She could just use the wooden bucket to get some water from a pond.
She recalled that she saw a pond on the way to her residence. It should not be too far away.
She grabbed the wooden bucket and left her residence confidently. Hong Ling, who had just arrived, noticed Qian Jiujiu, and was puzzled.
Where is Princess Consort going? Quietly, she followed closely behind Qian Jiujiu.
Qian Jiujiu studied her surroundings. She was rather certain that this was where the pond was supposed to be at, but she saw no one around her. Therefore, she casually placed the wooden bucket on the floor.
She could not seem to find the pond. It's fine, Hong Ling will definitely look for me when she realizes that I am missing.
She was reminded about her death from the explosion incident. It would never have happened if she had more sense of direction, or if she never went to the dangerous site for a rescue mission by accident.
Although she did not die from the explosion, she came to a different world. She wondered how her grandfather and family reacted when they were informed that her remains were blown into pieces. They must have been devastated.
After all, she was the genius in the Qian family.
Hong Ling continued observing Qian Jiujiu who was sitting there and heaving continuous sighs. She wondered what Qian Jiujiu was up to.
Since the sun was setting and the advising nannies were on their way, Hong Ling proceeded forward.
"Princess Consort, I am Hong Ling."
Qian Jiujiu raised her head upon hearing the woman's voice. She stared at Hong Ling, face painted with distress.
"Hong Ling, you're finally here. I need to get some water."
Qian Jiujiu seemed very upset as she looked at Hong Ling with the wooden bucket in her hands.
The corners of Hong Ling's mouth twitched. "I understood. Please follow me."
She sent Qian Jiujiu back to her residence and brought some water for her. Qian Jiujiu did not hold herself back and washed her face immediately before standing in front of a bronze mirror.
Looking at her reflection with sallow and dry skin, Qian Jiujiu touched her cheeks.
"Poor girl. My priority now is to fix this face so that I can meet people."
Hong Ling observed from the side as the corners of her mouth twitched again. So, this is how the Princess Consort looks?