Chapter 89: How Should One Choose?

“My lord, you’re here. Thank you for building the Listening Bamboo Pavilion for me back then. I’m very fond of it.”
Looking into Bu Shenglian’s expectant eyes, the words that had almost left the man’s lips were completely suppressed.
Indeed, he didn’t know what to say.
On one side was Bu Shenglian, on the other Qiao Qingyun.
How was he supposed to choose?
“You truly have deep feelings for Miss Bu, my lord. I feel unworthy to serve you as your consort. Please, if you could have my letter of dismissal sent to the Taihe Medical Hall.”
“Stop!”
Just as the woman tried to leave, Yuan Zaichun called out sharply, halting her in her tracks.
Qiao Qingyun gave a bitter little smile. “Is there something else you wish to command, my lord?”
Yuan Zaichun strode forward, gazing at Qiao Qingyun, who kept her head bowed, refusing to meet his eyes. A nameless fire surged within him.
“Shenglian has only just returned. What harm does it do for you to yield to her a little?”
“To yield to her?”
Qiao Qingyun was so incensed that she laughed aloud, pointing behind her at the Listening Bamboo Pavilion. “This was a gift from you, my lord, explicitly bestowed upon me. And now you want me to simply give it up? What status did you grant her then?”
“Secondary consort? Concubine? Or just a servant?”
“Qiao Qingyun!”
Yuan Zaichun barked coldly. “So what if she has no title yet? It’s just a pavilion—if you want, I’ll build you another. Must you be so stubborn with me over this?”
“Thank you for your generosity, my lord, but I do not want it.”
“My lord, please don’t blame Her Highness. It’s all my fault for returning at an inopportune time. Your Highness, the prince truly cares for you. Please, you should stay together. I’ll leave right away.”
Watching Bu Shenglian’s delicate and pitiable retreat, Qiao Qingyun’s smile never left her lips.
Such skillful tactics.
“Shenglian!”
Yuan Zaichun grabbed her back, and seeing her look so heartbroken, his resolve melted instantly.
“Qiao Qingyun, must you be so unreasonable, turning my house upside down with your tantrums?”
“I’m the one being unreasonable.”
As she spoke, Qiao Qingyun’s eyes reddened, tears streaming down her face.
“I am the Crown Princess of this household, chosen by the Crown Prince himself in front of the Emperor, brought here with full honors and formal rites! I am the mistress of the Listening Bamboo Pavilion—it was a gift from you.”
“Now, she has returned. I said nothing. You brought her into the household—I turned a blind eye. Now she occupies my chambers, and you sent Liufu to summon me back.”
“I have already decided to make room for you both—what more do you want from me?”

At last, Qiao Qingyun, growing more aggrieved as she spoke, finally broke down. She had never realized so much bitterness had built up in her heart.
At first, their relationship had been nothing more than a partnership, but the further things went, the more it changed.
A sharp slap suddenly rang out. Qiao Qingyun staggered, collapsing to the ground, staring in disbelief at what had just happened.
Only the burning pain on her cheek reminded her that Yuan Zaichun had struck her.
“Your Highness!”
Liufu cried out in alarm, and Zhong Shi and Qingluo hurried forward to help Qiao Qingyun up.
“You are too jealous, Crown Princess. From this day forth, you are dismissed from the Eastern Palace!”
Yuan Zaichun felt profoundly humiliated and, unable to restrain himself, slapped her again.
But when he looked into Qiao Qingyun’s eyes, once so full of laughter and now brimming with despair, regret swept over him.
“Qingyun…”
He stepped forward, trying to make amends, but Qiao Qingyun retreated three steps. “Since you have made your decision, my lord, I will go.”
With that, she said nothing more and strode straight for the gates, leaving Yuan Zaichun standing there, dumbfounded.
Bu Shenglian, inwardly delighted, could hardly contain her joy—finally, she was the only woman left in the prince’s household!
If things continued like this, she was sure she could bear Yuan Zaichun a child!
“My lady! My lady!”
Qingluo called out breathlessly from behind, hurrying after Qiao Qingyun.
Not to mention Zhong Shi and Hong Ying—both had followed Qiao Qingyun by choice, but only Qingluo had chased her out of the prince’s residence.
Once at the medical hall, the woman sat down and gulped several mouthfuls of tea, finally regaining her composure.
Indeed, just now, for a fleeting moment, she had wanted to kill them all.
They all deserved to die!
“My lady, are you all right?”
Qingluo, panting with exhaustion, finally caught up. Seeing Qiao Qingyun’s appearance, she swallowed all the words on the tip of her tongue.
“I know what you’re about to say.”
Qiao Qingyun looked up at Qingluo and the others who had arrived.
“But now is not the time for such talk.”
From that day on, Qiao Qingyun seemed transformed, throwing herself obsessively into her work.
She not only devoted herself furiously to the study of medicine and cooking, but also dragged Feng Ke along with her.

Feng Ke was baffled as to why Qiao Qingyun had suddenly become so industrious these past few days and began to grow suspicious.
But after a visit to the prince’s residence, he could sit idly by no longer.
Seeing Qiao Qingyun bustling about in the kitchen, he walked up and grabbed her hand. Qiao Qingyun looked up in surprise, meeting Feng Ke’s eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
She feigned nonchalance, as if nothing had happened.
“I know,” Feng Ke said, each word striking heavily at Qiao Qingyun’s heart.
Yet she maintained her composure, methodically wiping down the utensils she had used. “So what? Now that I’m no longer the Crown Princess, you don’t want to work with me anymore?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Feng Ke shook his head hurriedly, glancing at Hong Ying, Zhong Shi, and Qingluo, who had already started helping out.
“You should have told me sooner that you had been dismissed. That way—”
“And what would that have changed? I am only the daughter of the late General Qiao. What other status could I possibly have?”
Qiao Qingyun smiled faintly, bringing out a plate of freshly fried banana fritters.
“New dish: fried banana! Who wants to try?”
At this, several customers raised their hands, and Qiao Qingyun handed out a piece to each. Finally, the crowd could no longer contain themselves.
“I’ll have a serving!”
Every time she introduced a new dish, she was forced to work tirelessly for a long while, until the place finally quieted down well into the night.
At last, when there was a chance to speak to Qiao Qingyun, Feng Ke hurried over and pulled her aside.
“Hm?”
Qiao Qingyun blinked, puzzled.
“Is something wrong?”
“Qiao Qingyun, what I mean is… now that you are no longer the Crown Princess, would you consider being with me?”
Feng Ke managed, blushing furiously, to get the words out, leaving Qiao Qingyun momentarily stunned.
Three seconds later, she burst out laughing.
“Haha, all right, enough with the jokes—honestly! You have a bright future ahead of you. Don’t waste any thoughts on me. Dream on, honestly.”