Chapter 491 - 4: Cannon Fodder Vase in a Power Struggle Novel (Part 4)

Jiang Lai couldn’t be bothered with people like this.

But this body’s really not doing well, stuffed full and already sleepy. How could it not get fat?

After marriage, all the princes have special residences built outside the palace. Chu Yunxuan’s mansion is almost surrounded by other princes’ homes after they set up their families. After the banquet ended, everyone returned together, so after getting off the carriage, Chu Yunxuan had to maintain a calm face for appearances’ sake.

"Starting today, you’re not allowed to step a foot outside the mansion! Reflect properly on what you did wrong today!"

Jiang Lai looked at Chu Yunxuan in shock.

"Your Highness, everything I’ve done is for you. As husband and wife, we should be of one mind. Some things you can’t say openly, but you can tell me. Doctor Zhou of the Imperial Hospital has a good relationship with my father. If it’s not convenient for you, you can invite him to the mansion to check on your health."

When Chu Yunxuan heard this, his face darkened.

He was gritting his teeth, his handsome face even looking a bit contorted.

"Jiang Lai, there’s nothing wrong with my health. But you, you’re lacking any grace or poise. If it weren’t for your obedience, how could I have married you?

Today you’ve really disappointed me. I thought you could manage the affairs of the inner court well. Now it seems I’ve misjudged you! Who would have thought the Daughter of the Imperial Historian would be so unimpressive!"

After finishing, Chu Yunxuan flung his sleeves and left indifferently. Before leaving, the look he gave Jiang Lai was full of disappointment.

This method of belittling people was somewhat familiar to Jiang Lai.

If in modern times, wouldn’t this be pure PUA?

Indeed, some men are the same whether ancient or modern, manipulating women by belittling them to nothing, and then taking advantage of the situation to achieve their own goals.

During this, they’d also self-righteously claim to care for you, for the greater good, placing themselves in the highest position, the judgment seat.

If the original owner were here now, she’d already be embarrassed beyond belief, tearfully reflecting on her own faults.

Being the daughter of the Taishi was the original owner’s biggest support, and she knew it. Her family was good, and she married well. Now she needed to think of nothing else but to serve her husband well, that was her family’s only requirement for her.

As a woman under an extremely traditional feudal society, one can imagine how devastating Chu Yunxuan’s words just now would be to her.

This is why, in the original plot, although Jiang Lai was clearly wronged, she still willingly asked Chu Yunxuan for a divorce.

"Ah, women, always excellent at indulging others while reflecting on themselves."

Little Buding sighed, appearing to be highly knowledgeable about human nature.

Looking at Jiang Lai again, she yawned sleepily, with no reaction, saying,

"What kind of nonsense was he just spouting?"

"Didn’t you hear it yourself?"

"Nah, too sleepy after eating, didn’t catch a word."

Finishing, Jiang Lai waved her hand.

"Forget it, who cares."

As a high-ranking offspring, who is also the main wife, what’s there to worry about when one has food and drink and can sleep without worries?

Jiang Lai yawned again, her vision misty, and let the maid help her back into the room.

Just entering the room, Jiang Lai was about to lie down when the maid suddenly brought in a tray with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone.

"Your writing tools are ready. I’ll go light the lamp for you."

"Hold on, no need for the lamp tonight, put them away. I’m resting."

The maid, hearing this, was quite surprised, glancing up at Jiang Lai. Seeing her calm expression, she couldn’t help but ask.

"Aren’t you going to copy the lamp texts for His Highness tonight?"

Since Jiang Lai married over, she had not missed a day copying scriptures for the Eighth Prince and wrapping them in the lamp holes, getting up early to light the way for the Eighth Prince to the morning court, praying for his safety each day.

Today she wasn’t copying it, the maid didn’t know whether to continue asking.

Meanwhile, Jiang Lai was already lying in bed, lazily saying,

"Why don’t you copy it, do it outside and don’t disturb me."

Saying this, Jiang Lai fell asleep without even taking off her hairpins.

At the hour of 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, Chu Yunxuan was all dressed to go to morning court. Passing through the courtyard and corridor to the side door, he glanced at the woman holding a lantern in the corner, frowning with growing irritation.

Every morning he had to see this woman, how unpleasant.

"Didn’t I tell you to stay in your room and not go out!"

The woman in the corner trembled with fear.

Chu Yunxuan increasingly despised her timorous appearance, as if he was bullying her, showing none of the demeanor of a Daughter of the Imperial Historian.

"Your Highness, the Prince Consort is unwell today and sent a servant to light your way..."

A strange face, a strange voice, upon raising her head, it was really just a maid.

Chu Yunxuan kept a straight face, taking the opportunity to make trouble.

"Tell her that if she doesn’t want to come, I won’t force her. Since she has no integrity, she shouldn’t come to light my way ever again!"

After saying this, Chu Yunxuan left indifferently.

The maid was a dowry maid brought over by Jiang Lai, loyal to her, and quickly ran back to report to Jiang Lai upon hearing so much from Chu Yunxuan.

But upon pushing open the door and entering the room, it was eerily quiet in the bedchamber, with a dark figure on the bed not moving at all.

Still asleep...

The Prince Consort, what happened to her? She used to get up earlier than His Highness, yet now, even as it’s almost past 5 a.m., she’s still asleep.

"Prince Consort? Prince Consort? Miss, Miss, it’s time for your meal."

The unmoving Jiang Lai on the bed suddenly turned around and opened her eyes when she heard the word ’meal.’

"Meal...food..."

Jiang Lai took a moment before slowly sitting up, her body significantly more sluggish than before, feeling a bit short of breath after moving a little.

That maid, used since the original owner’s youth, quickly helped Jiang Lai sit up, then picked up a soft cushion and placed it behind her. After Jiang Lai sat up comfortably, she directly bent over and pulled out a small square table from under the bed.

The table legs were made with a mortise-and-tenon structure, fixed without any visible connectors, with the tenon joints in the mortise holes even movable, identical to modern bedside tables, but looked exquisite due to its fine materials.

The small table was placed in front of Jiang Lai, and then various rich and delicate breakfast dishes were laid out on it.

Finally, chopsticks were placed by Jiang Lai’s hand, and the maid, proficient and efficient, stood by with a tray, ready to catch any food residue Jiang Lai might spit out.

Before she knew it, Jiang Lai couldn’t control her hands and started eating.

This damned body memory, everything cooperated so seamlessly.

After a few bites, Jiang Lai put down the chopsticks.

She looked down, looking at the layers of flesh on her stomach while sitting.

Instantly, her appetite diminished greatly.

"Miss, is it not to your taste? I can remove it and get you a fresh set."

"Little He... ah, never mind, just take it all away."

Jiang Lai waved her hand.

"Just bring me a bowl of plain porridge."