Chapter 423
The pure black chain he gifted her was still wrapped around her neck, and her maroon hair was spread all over the bed. Her face was so unblemished that one could easily distinguish the fine hairs on it.
Baili Jia Jue could not help himself from bending over to kiss her lips when he saw her sleeping with a peaceful expression.
Eunuch Sun had been in the palace for countless years, thus he was shrewd enough to understand that the sight behind the screen was not for the eyes of the servants. He merely walked over and waited patiently at the side.
Under normal circumstances, Baili Jia Jue would usually recognize that Eunuch Sun wanted to report to him.
“Enter.”
An indifferent voice echoed from behind the screen.
Baili Jia Jue was still sitting on the bed when Eunuch Sun entered. He did not rise when he saw the eunuch entering but merely reached out to tidy up the hair which was covering Helian Wei Wei’s forehead. Then, he uttered in a quiet voice, “What is it?”
Eunuch Sun looked down when he saw Baili Jia Jue’s gesture, understanding that His Highness did not wish to wake the princess consort up. He lowered his voice as much as possible into a quiet whisper, “These are the accounting records sent by the ministers for the past two days. The Emperor is very pale and unwell recently, thus it seems that he will not be able to go through these. Therefore, the Retired Emperor has ordered me to bring the books here for Your Highness to check.”
Baili Jia Jue merely agreed nonchalantly and said, “Put them down. You may leave now.”
Eunuch Sun obeyed and respectfully took the accounting records from another eunuch. Then, he placed them on the ornately-carved wooden table on the side. After pausing for a moment, he spoke again, “Your Highness, the Retired Emperor wishes to have the princess consort over for dinner. Should I prepare for it now, or should I wait for the princess consort to wake up first?”
“She is not a picky eater. Just prepare the usual dishes and make sure to boil the soup well.” Baili Jia Jue slightly pinched Helian Wei Wei’s fingers, his facial expression seemed to be very pleased.
Eunuch Sun ordered the servants as commanded to begin the preparation. When he left the royal chamber, he could not help but turn his head back to catch a glimpse. The silhouettes behind the screen were so affectionate with one another, causing the surrounding onlookers to be green with envy. Baili Jia Jue embraced Helian Wei Wei in his arms exceptionally in a tender manner, without rousing an inch of her muscles awake, and tucked her head in the crook of his neck. Her indolence mirrored the image of a dozy feline, noble and slumberous.
Eunuch Sun was absolutely dumbfounded. Then, he scrunched his brows.
His Highness has never treated anyone so well before.
He seemed upset all the time, and would only stay at his palace.
His Highness had endlessly refused the idea of selecting a secondary consort. Thus, although the ministers were terrified of angering him outwardly, an increasing amount of whispering voices were exchanged behind his back.
As much as the Retired Emperor hated to create discord between the royal couple, he still had to discuss the secondary consort selection with the princess consort and talked about what His Highness would do then.
Eunuch Sun simply nodded his head at that thought. Then, he looked up again, peering at the screen.
Helian Wei Wei woke up in a daze, discovering that her head was snugged on his shoulder. She moved back and forth a little, seemingly wanting to wake up, and incessantly blinked her gradually opening eyes. Then, she inquired, “Hmm, what time is it?”
“It’s still early, sleep a while longer…”
Baili Jia Jue gently placed his hands on her forehead as he said it.
Helian Wei Wei felt extremely cozy and then closed her eyes again. In no time at all, she was sleeping soundly like a baby.
Baili Jia Jue hugged her with one hand, his fingers patting her back like clockwork, and reached for the documents presented earlier with the other. The ice-cold apathetic expression that he usually donned seemed to ignite an ember of warmth now.
Eunuch Sun said no more as he witnessed the scene that unfolded in front of his eyes. He hastily brought the two eunuchs who tagged along and exited the royal chamber.
The Prince he knew was merciless, cunning, and steadfast in mind. He particularly reveled in underhanded schemes and relished murdering people.
Yet, a person like this seemed to have poured every drop of patience in his lifetime just now.
Eunuch Sun undoubtedly felt elated.
Ever since he was young, His Highness had always seemed to be a sinister person in the eunuch’s eyes.
Even though sinister was a bizarre word to describe a child, Eunuch Sun could never forget the first occasion when he saw Baili Jia Jue.
At that time, His Highness was still young, possessing a noble and articulate appearance. Everyone who saw him could not help from being inspired by the existence of such a handsome child.
However, this was the very child that stood in the Royal Garden and stared at the two palace maids drowning in the lake unblinkingly. There was not a sliver of astonishment in his face and he even seemed to be smiling evilly.
It was from then on that Eunuch Sun became fearful and intimidated by the young master.
After all these years, Eunuch Sun had finally figured out the reason he became that way.
As an unaffectionate prince and a symbol of bad luck, his days in the palace were never a bed of roses.
Everyone might be competing to be His Highness’s princess consort now, but the major-domo ladies in the palace used to avoid him like the plague in the past.
Some of the minister’s sons who were close with the Empress even gossiped behind his back.
This amorphous form of isolation was, in fact, the most horrifying one.
Therefore, His Highness spoke very little.
After all, he had no friends and even his birth mother did not take a liking to him.
Every day and night, he would eat alone at the table.
However, this made him grow increasingly malevolent.
The former Empress might have been correct. This Baili Jia Jue person was truly evil to his bones.
The Retired Emperor treated him sincerely all these years only because he owed it to him. However, one could not help but fear the day His Highness would truly descend into the pits of hell.
Now that the princess consort was by his side, an occasional glimmer of warmth could clearly be felt from the freezing cold martial Qi enveloping him.
However, the selection of the secondary consort proved to be an affair that was too bothersome to handle…
Eunuch Sun was the trustworthy assistant of the Retired Emperor. He was ordered to relay everything to Helian Wei Wei before dinner so that they could talk about it while having their meal.
Helian Wei Wei became hungry easily. Thus, Baili Jia Jue had made it a habit of ordering the servants to prepare some snacks in the royal chamber before he headed to the study to handle the official affairs.
When she woke up, she was greeted by the sight of a box with an assortment of colorful cakes and pastries, accompanied by a pot of aromatic Longjing tea. While savoring them, she listened on as Eunuch Sun elaborated the information earnestly to her.
Initially, she was still slightly interested in it.
Then, she simply took a peach cake that tasted subpar and stuffed it in Eunuch Sun’s mouth. She said with a faint smile on her face, “The selection of secondary consort is only starting tomorrow, what are you anxious about?”
He is anxious? He is being anxious for no one else but her!
Eunuch Sun sighed in his heart and stared at Helian Wei Wei with astounded eyes. How can the princess consort be so generous?
“The selection of secondary consort will begin in the blink of an eye.” Eunuch Sun swallowed the peach cake in his mouth and continued, “After judging their beauty, the lady who emerged first is Miss Yun, who is recommended by the four influential families. The Retired Emperor does not like her at all but he cannot say anything now. Sigh! He is so restless till he could die!”
In stark contrast with Eunuch Sun’s completely upset expression, Helian Wei Wei appeared perfectly placid. However, she raised her brows naughtily and asked, “You said that Yun Biluo is ranked first in terms of beauty?”