The Double
Chapter 563 - 167 Encounter

Chapter 563: Chapter 167 Encounter

One month after Princess Yongning and Li Xian got married, things went smoothly without any issues.

The fervent discussions regarding the marriage within Yanjing City gradually subsided as people became distracted by newer events. The imperial court seemed uneventful as well, all was calm and tranquil.

Within the Right Chancellor’s Residence, Princess Yongning sat in her room, asking Mei Xiang to fetch her some pickled plums that had been salted. Since becoming pregnant, her cravings for sour foods had intensified, and she made sure Mei Xiang prepared plenty. Fortunately, she enjoyed a certain level of freedom within the Right Chancellor’s Residence. Li Zhongnan and his two sons were busy with official affairs during the day and were often not at the residence. Other than Madam Li, there were no other significant figures around. Furthermore, her mother-in-law had a gentle disposition and was very accommodating to her, so Princess Yongning was quite satisfied with her life after the marriage.

On the night of their wedding, the pot of wine Mei Xiang had prepared for Princess Yongning remained unused. Li Xian walked in, blew out the candle, and didn’t make it far before he became drunkenly incapacitated. Princess Yongning barely managed to drag him to bed before she too fell asleep. By the next day, the bed revealed all the traces that had been prepared in advance. All Princess Yongning had to do was to wake up looking bleary-eyed.

After all, Li Xian had been drunk, and those who are drunk never truly know what they have done.

In the days following their wedding night, Princess Yongning used the excuse of catching a cold to avoid sharing a room with Li Xian. She couldn’t keep using the same tricks every day, always fearing she’d give herself away. And if someone discovered her pregnancy, she wasn’t sure if the child could be kept safe.

Initially, Princess Yongning thought Li Xian might be displeased or suspicious, but Eldest Young Master Li indeed lived up to his reputation for good temperament and didn’t question anything. He simply slept in the study every night.

This made Princess Yongning even more content. In a few days, the child inside her would be almost two months along. By then, she only needed to act slightly unwell and have a doctor take her pulse, slightly misaligning the dates to claim the child was conceived on their wedding night, and for the time being, she could rest easy.

Today, Li Xian had left early to attend court, and after Princess Yongning finished the last pickled plum in her dish, she stood up and said, "Staying in the room all day is quite stifling, Mei Xiang, accompany me on a walk outside."

Mei Xiang quickly came over to support Princess Yongning as they walked outside the Li Mansion.

When the servants in the Li Mansion saw her, they all respectfully saluted her. Princess Yongning’s status within the Right Chancellor’s Residence was quite high. Perhaps Prince Cheng had arranged things with Li Zhongnan in advance, so within the Right Chancellor’s Residence, she was treated similarly to how she was in the Princess’s Mansion. Princess Yongning didn’t even need to perform the regular morning and evening greetings to her mother-in-law, as long as appearances were maintained.

As for Princess Yongning herself, she didn’t care to please anyone. She believed that her stay in the Right Chancellor’s Residence was temporary and that one day she would marry into the Shen family and become one of them. Therefore, there was no need to exert effort in the Li Family.

"Which direction would Your Highness like to go?" Mei Xiang asked.

Princess Yongning glanced around and casually pointed in a direction, "Over there, I’ve heard that Li Xian usually lives there. I’ve been sleeping separately from him these past days, and he hasn’t complained at all. Perhaps he has already kept a concubine or something in the other quarters? If that’s true, she should naturally come and meet me, his legal wife."

A hint of malice flashed in Princess Yongning’s eyes. She didn’t want to be called Eldest Lady Li, but once she had the title, she enjoyed using it to torment others. Now that Li Xian was sleeping separately, Princess Yongning wanted to see if his silence indicated he already had someone keeping his bed warm. If that were the case, she wouldn’t mind sorting out those women. Since this marriage had been displeasing to her, she felt justified in making others miserable as well.

After all, neither the common people nor Li Xian would dare to speak out, and for some lowly servants, would he disrespect her for their sake?

With this thought in mind, Princess Yongning, accompanied by Mei Xiang, made her way toward the courtyard where Li Xian usually stayed.

Hearing that Li Xian’s courtyard was rather secluded, Princess Yongning truly felt its remoteness as she walked, finding herself a bit tired, perhaps due to the extra weight she now carried. Mei Xiang supported her along the way, and they finally arrived, with Mei Xiang saying, "Your Highness, we’ve arrived."

Indeed, the courtyard was elegantly maintained, with a large stand of bamboo planted at the back, lush and verdant. But it seemed unusually quiet, not even a single person sweeping outside.

"Does Eldest Young Master Li not have anyone attending to him on regular days?" Mei Xiang whispered, "Why can’t we see any servants around here?"