"Prince Consort Yan is here. Won't you prepare the tea quickly?"
Princess Consort Jiang hurried over, not forgetting to sternly scold the people of Jiangxin Palace.
"There's no need. I'm only here to pick up the Princess Consort. We won't be staying long." Yan Lin tightened his grip on Chu Baihan's hand, intending to take her away.
Princess Consort Jiang grew anxious and quickly said, "Linlin, how many years has it been since you last visited your mother's palace? I have so much to talk to you about…"
"I'm sorry, I'm feeling unwell and must return to the residence," Yan Lin interrupted Princess Consort Jiang, his voice exceedingly cold.
Hearing Yan Lin's words and feeling the strength in his hand, Chu Baihan couldn't help but look up at him a few more times.
She felt that his relationship with Princess Consort Jiang seemed very cold.
Why was this? Weren't they mother and son?
Having been rejected by her own son, Princess Consort Jiang's expression turned slightly furious.
She took a deep breath, barely managing to regain her gentle demeanor.
"Fine, if you refuse to stay here, then I'll keep this short. This Chu Family's daughter isn't suitable for you. Divorce her, and I will find you another Princess Consort," Princess Consort Jiang said forcefully.
Chu Baihan pursed her red lips, unsure of how the Prince might feel about this.
However, it seemed he also disliked her. Would he simply agree then?
Thinking this, a trace of jubilation arose in Chu Baihan's heart.
But, as if guessing her thoughts, Yan Lin scoffed coldly, "Drop your unrealistic fantasies. The Emperor has acknowledged your status, and you are bound to the Prince Residence for life."
Hearing this, Chu Baihan's face fell.
Watching the two whispering to each other and completely ignoring her, Princess Consort Jiang was furiously irate.
"Linlin, are you even listening to me?" she rebuked, her voice losing any trace of gentleness.
"I am quite satisfied with my Princess Consort. If you have an ideal daughter-in-law in mind, perhaps consider giving birth to another royal brother for me. Then he can marry your preferred daughter-in-law," Yan Lin said coldly.
"You, you…" Princess Consort Jiang gasped for air, clutching at her chest as she glared at Yan Lin, clearly provoked.
Chu Baihan, standing on the side, could feel the palpable tension in the air.
Yan Lin and Princess Consort Jiang… were they really mother and son?
Why did she feel like they were more like enemies?
And also, Yan Lin's earlier words seemed a bit strange.
"Give birth to another royal brother for me."
Another?
Wasn't he Princess Consort Jiang's only son?
"Yan Lin, I am your mother. Do you really want to treat me as an enemy? You should know, you are a blind man, a cripple. If it weren't for my maneuvering in the Imperial Palace, do you think you could still protect your title as 'Prince'?" Princess Consort Jiang furiously scolded, her words spilling out.
Blind man, cripple—these words came out of her mouth so smoothly, as if she had said them countless times before.
Were these truly words a mother should say?
As an onlooker, even Chu Baihan felt uneasy listening to them.
Yan Lin, hearing these words from his own mother, must have been deeply hurt.
She couldn't help but lift her gaze again to look at Yan Lin, her eyes filled with a bit more pity.
Yet Yan Lin's expression remained as icy as ever, his vacant eyes undisturbed, as if such words did not affect him in the slightest.
"Are you done speaking? If so, I should leave," Yan Lin said coldly after a long silence.
"Hahaha," Princess Consort Jiang burst into manic laughter, her face twisted and her expression somber, "The year you killed your royal brother, I should have strangled you, a cursed child, to avoid having to face you as an enemy now."
Chu Baihan's eyelids twitched violently…
It seemed she had uncovered another royal secret.
Just then, an old nanny walked in from outside.
"The Empress Dowager has ordered that, since the Prince feels unwell, he should return early to rest. Prince, Princess Consort, the Empress Dowager has had the carriage prepared for you; you may leave now."
The person who spoke was Nanny Xiao, the Empress Dowager's most trusted servant. She spoke respectfully to Yan Lin and Chu Baihan, her gaze never once falling on Princess Consort Jiang, completely ignoring her.
"What are you still dazed for? Won't you help this prince out?" Yan Lin clenched Chu Baihan's fingers, his voice cold.
"Yes, my prince." Chu Baihan suppressed the emotions in his heart, disregarding the murderous gaze of Empress Jiang behind him, and submissively helped Yan Lin out.
No sooner had they crossed the threshold than she heard the full resentment in Empress Jiang's warning.
"I really must see how, without my protection, the Empress and her son, Princess Han and her son, and all the enemies in the capital city will flay you alive and drink your blood!"
What followed was the sound of various heavy objects hitting the ground.
"Princess Consort, please." Nanny Xiao, truly a veteran of tumultuous times, faced such a scene and still managed to smile at Chu Baihan, nodding her head for her to board the carriage.
Chu Baihan and Yan Lin both boarded the carriage and found that Nanny Xiao followed right beside it.
"Nanny, you..."
"To report to the Princess Consort, you and the prince have just married and there are many things you do not understand, therefore the Empress Dowager has specially allowed this servant to accompany you back to the Prince Residence to take care of you, hoping that you and the prince can soon have a Princely Heir," Nanny Xiao respectfully replied.
Chu Baihan's smile vanished in an instant.
The Empress Dowager had actually sent her own confidant to watch over her and Yan Lin.
She and Yan Lin were both harboring their own schemes, it was already good enough that they were not slaughtering each other, let alone having a Princely Heir.
Headache, headache...
She stole a glance at Yan Lin and discovered that he appeared exceptionally indifferent, he must have already known about this.
She instantly clenched her teeth, glaring at him very unsatisfied.
He did not even refuse such a matter, was he mad?
"Do not stare at this prince with that look. Though this prince is blind, my ears are not deaf; I can sense the change in your presence," Yan Lin suddenly said with a cold laugh.
Chu Baihan's expression froze again, as she awkwardly touched her hair.
Who would have thought his eyes were poor, but his other abilities were much sharper than normal people.
But, was it because of what Empress Jiang had just said that he now referred to himself as "blind"?
At that moment, Yan Lin's vacant eyes swept over this way again.
Chu Baihan hurriedly spoke first, "I am not speculating about your affairs with Empress Jiang, and you need not warn me again."
She had not forgotten the warning he had given her previously.
Yan Lin lowered his eyes, his long fingers searched the table briefly, found a teacup, took a sip, and then said with deep meaning, "Did Great General Chu train you to be a soft persimmon that allows others to manipulate you?"
Chu Baihan choked, she understood now...
So the slight warmth he showed her on the way here was all an illusion.
He still doubted her, still suspecting her to be a spy sent from the Chu Family and the Crown Prince.
Oh well, she didn't expect him to trust her.
She yawned weakly and then self-mockingly said, "My prince, what else can I do? Should I fight with your royal mother? I have no power, I can't fight, and I almost died just now."
Though blind, Yan Lin could imagine her face right now must be both annoyed and angry, yet still desperately suppressing her emotions, quite vivid indeed.
Indeed, just as Ziyi had said, she appeared submissive and obedient on the surface, yet ferocious and scheming underneath.
"You belong to this prince, unless this prince wants your life; even if King Yanluo comes, you're not entitled to give it away," Yan Lin said coolly.
Chu Baihan: "...Is he mad? How could she not give her life if King Yama demanded it?
However, she was too indolent to defy him and thus weakly responded, "Yes, I understand."
"If you continue using that sarcastic tone to refer to yourself as 'your concubine' in front of this prince, I'll rip out your tongue," Yan Lin warned again.
Chu Baihan: "...He really is ill."
"Yes, my prince, I understand," she replied reluctantly.
Hearing her resentful response, Yan Lin actually felt his long-suppressed mood lighten significantly.
If she were not the Crown Prince's person, keeping her as a fierce little pet by his side could indeed be amusing.
It's just a pity, she belongs to the Crown Prince, and such a life... cannot stay long.