Chapter 199 - 199: Side Consort

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

The Lin family’s people were all smiling, but when they heard Wang Kun’s words, everyone’s face changed, and Lin Mengyao’s smile froze instantly.

She raised her head, abandoning her usual composure, and directly addressed Wang Kun, “Eunuch, could the decree have been announced incorrectly?”

“Miss Lin, you must be joking. I wouldn’t dare to commit such a serious crime.” Wang Kun replied with a smile.

Although Wang Kun’s face still held a trace of a smile, but there was no humor in his eyes. He looked at Lin Mengyao and spoke softly, “Miss Lin, please accept the decree.”

Holding the imperial decree in Wang Kun’s hands, Lin Mengyao felt as if she was about to collapse but still forced a smile, “This servant obeys the decree.”

“Eunuch, allow me to see you out.”

Lin Ruhai, who had many years of experience in officialdom, hurriedly approached as Wang Kun was leaving. As Lin Ruhai saw Wang Kun out, he subtly slipped a pouch into Wang Kun’s hand.

The pouch was light and weightless. Clearly, it was filled with silver notes.

“Lord Lin is too kind,” said Wang Kun, his face brightening as he pocketed the pouch.

Stepping forward, Lin Ruhai lowered his voice and asked, “Eunuch, could you give me some hint as to the reason behind this decree?”

“Lord Lin, the main consort of Prince Qing is the daughter of the King Chujiang Mansion,” Wang Kun replied. After saying this, he refused to say any more and walked away.

Lin Mansion.

“Heh… just a mere concubine. They sugarcoat it as ‘side consort’, but isn’t she still just a concubine?”

“Yao Er, what’s going on?”

Upon hearing the decree, Lin Ruhai’s other wives began to mock.

Madam Lin dared not quarrel with them and looked directly at Lin Mengyao.

However, Lin Mengyao didn’t look at anyone in the Lin Mansion and ran out.

“Yao Er?”

Madam Lin’s eyes were filled with anxiety as she watched Lin Mengyao’s back.

After leaving the Lin Mansion, Lin Mengyao ran straight to Prince Qing’s Mansion.

“Miss Lin?”

As she arrived at the entrance, she saw Pei Wu. Seeing him, Lin Mengyao immediately asked, “Is His Highness here? 1 need to see him.”

“I will take you to him,” replied Pei Wu.

“Thank you.”

Lin Mengyao followed Pei Wu to the door of Xiao Junhao’s study.

Lin Mengyao’s eyes were filled with unwillingness, but she still knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Hearing the voice from inside, Lin Mengyao pushed the door open and entered.

Xiao Junhao was practicing calligraphy. Lin Mengyao approached and bowed to him, saying, “Your Highness.”

Hearing Lin Mengyao’s voice, the ink under Xiao Junhao’s brush dripped onto the paper.

He put down his brush and looked up at Lin Mengyao.

Seeing the redness in her eyes, Xiao Junhao softly said, “It seems you have already received Imperial Father’s decree.”

“Your Highness, please tell me what’s going on. Why… why am I only a side consort?”

As she mentioned ‘side consort’, Lin Mengyao tightly clenched her fists.

She had put all her heart and soul into this man just to take a gamble. But now, she was only a side consort.

At this thought, tears rolled down from Lin Mengyao’s eyes.

Seeing her tears, Xiao Junhao rushed over, gently wiping them away with a handkerchief, and softly said, “Yao Er, 1 am sorry.”

“But rest assured, 1 will compensate you in the future.”

“Compensate? How will Your Highness compensate me?”

“The one who bestowed you to me as the side Consort was Imperial Father. I have no way of disobeying Imperial Father’s decree. But in the future, when 1 ascend to that position, I will definitely reserve that most precious position to you.” Xiao Junhao’s voice was soft but clear.

Lin Mengyao’s eyes remained full of resentment, but the fiery red had subsided.

Xiao Junhao reached out and hugged Lin Mengyao. He whispered into her ear, “Yao Er, trust me.”

His voice was somewhat choked. After a long silence, Lin Mengyao whispered back, “I trust Your Highness.”

Even if she didn’t, she had no other options now.

“I heard your main consort is the Miss from the King Chujiang Mansion?”

“Yes.”

“I heard that she’s very beautiful?”

Xiao Junhao didn’t answer.

General Mansion.

Plum Garden.

“Eldest Miss, Miss Jiang is here.” Yue Er annouced.

While engrossed in a book, Jiang Peihuan heard Yue Er’s voice and put her book down.

Shortly after, Jiang Peihuan saw Jiang Yan, who was accompanied by her maid, walk into the Plum Garden.

Seeing her, Jiang Peihuan’s eyes revealed a hint of surprise.

Although they traveled together back from Jiangzhou, Jiang Peihuan had been sitting in the carriage with Xiao Nanye, so she hadn’t had much interaction with Jiang Yan. Hence, seeing Jiang Yan appearing in front of her now, Jiang Peihuan felt quite puzzled.

“I’ve already been betrothed to Prince Qing as the main consort by the Emperor,” Jiang Yan said as she approached Jiang Peihuan, stating the matter directly.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Peihuan’s eyes widened in surprise.

In her previous life, such an event had never occurred.

However, at this moment, what Jiang Peihuan was thinking about was not Jiang Yan’s marriage to Xiao Junhao, but rather Lin Mengyao.

She was the white moonlight in Xiao Junhao’s heart. In her previous life, it was because she had blocked the way. Jiang Peihuan thought that in this life, Lin Mengyao would definitely become Xiao Junhao’s main consort.

She didn’t expect Jiang Yan to appear in this situation.

Seeing Yue Er place the tea in front of Jiang Yan, Jiang Peihuan said softly, “Did Miss Jiang specially come here today to inform me of this? If so, then 1 congratulate Miss Jiang.”

“Miss Jiang, do you know that the Emperor not only grant me to the Prince Qing as his main consort, but also gave him a side consort?”

Before Jiang Peihuan could respond, Jiang Yan continued, “The side consort of Prince Qing is none other than the Eldest Miss of the Lin family.”

Hearing this, Jiang Peihuan’s heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her composure.

She picked up the tea from the table, took a delicate sip, and then looked at Jiang Yan, saying, “Miss Jiang Yan, please feel free to speak your mind.”

“I want to cooperate with you,” said Miss Jiang Yan.

Jiang Peihuan raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

Seeing this, Jiang Yan continued, “They say the enemy of one’s enemy is a friend. 1 know that the Jiang family and the Lin family have always been arch-enemies, so I think that at least regarding the matter of Miss Lin, you and I can be on the same page.

“I’m sorry, but 1 don’t think I can work with Miss Jiang.” Jiang Peihuan replied directly.

Hearing this, Jiang Yan was visibly stunned. She looked at Jiang Peihuan and asked, “Why? Don’t you really hate the people of the Lin family?”

“I do indeed hate the people of the Lin family,” Jiang Peihuan admitted, “but I hate Prince Qing even more.”

In her previous life, she naturally harbored resentment towards Lin Mengyao, but compared to Lin Mengyao, Xiao Junhao was the real villain.

Seeing Jiang Yan staring at her wide-eyed, Jiang Peihuan didn’t feel like explaining further. Looking at Jiang Yan, she calmly said, “Miss Jiang Yan, please leave.”

“Someone, see the guest out,” Jiang Peihuan ordered..