Chapter 24.3

“Ah Ti, have you ever thought about what you will do after the Crown Prince passes? Can you marry again?”

Inside Yaoguang Hall, having eaten and drunk their fill, the two girlfriends lay on a long couch like two salted fish as they digested their food.

There was no incense in the hall, but Tao Ti had brewed a pot of rose honey water, so the air was filled with a faint rose fragrance. The dense and moist fragrance made the afternoon leisure time seem long and gentle.

“He said that before he passes, he would give me a letter of annulment and set me free.”

“Wow, really?!” Xu Wenchan’s chubby body bolted up and she stared at Tao Ti with large almond-shaped eyes. “His Highness even talked about such things with you…”

“Mhm. He said it on the night of our wedding.”

“Then, he really doesn’t take such things as taboo at all. “ Xu Wenchan clicked her tongue. “My mother can’t hear us siblings talk about death at all. Any mention of the word, “die”, and she will definitely give us a hard slap.”

Tao Ti took a sip of the flower tea, then said in a soft voice, “It’s human nature to look forward to life. To look at death calmly, and to accept death indifferently, involves a kind of bitterness and pain that ordinary people can’t understand. His Highness is a very kind and gentle person. Perhaps during these years of illness and weakness, he has long guessed that this would be the outcome, so he’s able to accept it so calmly.”

Xu Wenchan has never given any thought to these profound truths. She only half-comprehended what Tao Ti was talking about and tried to understand it, but failed, so she simply stopped thinking about it. Instead, she stared at her friend’s face and sighed with feeling— Ah Ti is really pretty. Her makeup suits her, and her hairstyle does as well. She was clearly dressed plainly, yet she’s so dazzling that it’s hard to take your eyes off her.

After a moment, she came back to her senses and returned to her initial question. “It’s even better if there’s a letter of annulment. There’ll be no issues if you remarry, then.”

Tao Ti’s long eyelashes trembled slightly. Her fair and delicate fingers took the slender silver spoon and gently stirred the petals that had settled at the bottom of the rose tea. She said softly, “I probably won’t remarry.”

Xu Wencui was stunned, “Are you going to observe chastity for the Crown Prince after his death?”

“Of course not.” Tao Ti raised her brows, thinking to herself, Is there any man in this world who can make me, Tao Ti, observe chastity for him? No, he doesn’t exist!

She was the most doted on youngling of the Taotie tribe.  She had a long and boundless life to enjoy, with many delicacies waiting to be eaten, and countless wonderful things for her to experience…

Be it the Crown Princess of the Great Yuan dynasty in this life, or a modern-day divine beast Taotie, she doesn’t want to be bogged down by a man!

Tao Ti said, “If there’s time to spend on men, it’s better to spend it on thinking about what to eat for the next meal.”

Xu Wenchan blinked. Suddenly, with a look of enlightenment, she said, “That’s right! How tiring it is to be married and run a household. You have to serve your parents-in-law and bear children. Then, if there are any sisters-in-law, uncles, concubines, maid-concubines and whatnot that are hard to get along with, it’ll be nothing be trouble… That’s not all, in addition to these, you also have to manage the household— Ah, even thinking about it is vexing.”

Tao Ti, “…” Is this an ancient version of a girl who has gamophobia?

Time flew as the two chatted about this and that. When the sun was setting in the west and light was starting to fade, it was about time for Xu Wenchan to leave.

At the time of departure, Xu Wenchan held Tao Ti’s hand tearfully with an affectionate look of reluctance on her face, giving Tao Ti the illusion of being in a Qiong Yao drama.

“Ah Ti, I’ll come again to spend time with you.”

“Sure. I’ve packed you some honeyed preserves. There are honeyed kumquats, snowy hawthorn balls, and dried rouge apricots. I’ve also packed a portion each of pork jerky and the salted egg yolk pastries. There’s also some fried tofu, you can take it back to make stuffed tofu, or just stew it with meat directly, both are fine.”

Looking at the many parcels, Xu Wenchan was so moved that she couldn’t speak. She had so much to eat and drink in the East Palace, and now, she had so many things to bring back. Ah Ti’s really too thoughtful.

According to the teachings, it’s rude to not return a gift in kind.

Ah Ti was so kind to her; she had to give her a gift in return!

On the carriage home, Xu Wenchan activated her little brain, which she hardly ever did. After thinking and thinking, and thinking some more, she was suddenly blessed with an idea.

When she returned to the Marquis of Zhenbei’s residence, she ran to her boudoir with her little fat legs. Carrying her little box of savings, she calculated how much it would cost to buy two adjacent houses in Chongren Square.

But her bit of money didn’t seem to be enough, huh?

Propping her chubby cheeks in her hands, she thought, Since I can’t afford houses, let’s just find out how much it would cost to buy Drunken Immortal Parlour’s headliner for a month!

*****

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