With the Emperorâs personal words, Cheng Yujin stayed behind the closed door at the Ciqing Palace and never went out. When Lian Qiao came in to deliver refreshments for Cheng Yujin, she couldnât help sighing upon seeing her mistress sitting in front of the window, busy with a brush again.
Lian Qiao put the plate of pastries on the table and said softly, âCrown Princess, youâve been doing that all day. Please take a break.â
Cheng Yujin didnât even lift her head. She just nodded, and it seemed that she didnât really listen. Lian Qiao sighed again and said, âWhen will the Crown Prince be back? It is because the Crown Prince is not here that those people dare to be so arrogant. If His Highness is in the palace, why does Crown Princess have to stay in Ciqing Palace all day and not move an inch?â
Cheng Yujin put down her brush and said, âIsnât it good now? There is peace and tranquility. I wear fine clothes, eat delicious food, and live a carefree life. I can do whatever I want and donât need to spend my energy dealing with troublesome people. When I was young, this was the kind of life that I yearned for the most.â
Lian Qiao, of course, understood this. Moreover, for a pregnant woman like Cheng Yujin, this kind of relaxed life was naturally the best. However, she still couldnât help but feel a bit wronged on Cheng Yujinâs behalf: âBut Crown Princess. You have not even gone out of the palace gate for several days. You are alone in the palace, and you donât even have people to accompany you to chat. Your life is too hard.â
Cheng Yujin couldnât help but chuckle. She then raised her head and glanced at Lian Qiao: âAre you not a person?â
Lian Qiao pouted: âCrown Princess, you know that this servant doesnât mean that.â
Cheng Yujin just smiled and returned her attention to the copybook she was doing. After a moment of silence, she said again, âIâm fine. I donât feel bored anyway.â
Lian Qiao still pouted and murmured in a low voice, âIf only His Highness could return sooner.â
Immediately after the words fell, Lian Qiao realized that she had overstepped. As a mere servant, it was taboo for her to comment about the masters. Lian Qiao secretly observed Cheng Yujinâs expression and saw that her mistress didnât seem to intend to reprimand her. The Crown Princessâ expression was calm, as if she hadnât heard her servant girlâs inappropriate remark.
Lian Qiao understood. Sure enough, even if the Crown Princess liked the quietness, doing everything alone and staying in quietness with someone by her side were two different matters. The Crown Princess was the person who looked forward the most to the Crown Princeâs return.
Lian Qiao put down the plate and quietly exited. After the study returned to its initial silence, Cheng Yujin looked at the dense rows of brushwork in front of her and sighed softly.
Li Chengjingâs dispatch order was issued in the seventh month, and he departed just a few days later. It was now the end of the eighth month. Cheng Yujin didnât know the situation in the disaster area now and how the flood and plague had been handled so far.