Quick Transmigration: What to Do When the Male Supporting Character You Saved Becomes Obsessed with

Chapter 154 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (58)

When Lu Liruan left the palace, it was already getting dark. Qinghe followed Lu Liruan back and was now finalizing the things Lu Liruan wanted to take with her when she left the palace.

Ji Shumin sat by the window, his hands folded on his knees, silently watching Lu Liruan.

"With so much stuff, what, you're not planning to come back?" Ji Shumin asked in a drawn-out tone.

"Your Highness, what did you do to offend me? You've made me so angry. Are you planning to just leave?" Lu Liruan didn't even look up as she adjusted her hair in front of the mirror.

Lu Liruan doesn't usually pay much attention to her appearance, but today, as she's going home, she has a bit of a "triumphant return home" thought, wanting her family to know that she's doing well and not to worry about her.

Actually, you can tell without her having to dress up that Lu Liruan feels she has gained a little weight, but her complexion is good. If she weren't constantly worried about Ji Shumin's health, she would probably look even better.

Noticing the Crown Princess looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze and letting out a soft sigh, Ji Shumin was completely baffled.

"I believe I have done nothing to wrong the Crown Princess." He shrugged.

"That settles it. If you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear. Your Highness has a clear conscience, so why worry that I might not come back?"

Lu Liruan knew that Ji Shumin was just being deliberately unpleasant, and that she would just argue with him casually, because if she ignored him, the chances of him escalating their behavior would only increase.

Lu Liruan now felt that she not only knew Ji Shumin's temperament inside and out, but she could also say that she had done a great deal of research on him.

His Highness the Crown Prince sometimes needs to be stroked in the right direction, and sometimes... against the grain. He's not easy to please.

If Ji Shumin knew that in the Crown Princess's heart, he was no different from that inhuman, long-haired little beast, he would surely retort.

After packing up, Lu Liruan walked out without looking back, saying, "Your Highness, you can leave here!"

Ji Shumin stopped at the courtyard gate, looking at her smug expression, and curled the corners of his mouth: "Go on, give me a couple of days of peace, otherwise she'll be making a ruckus all day long!"

Lu Liruan walked briskly along the palace path. At the courtyard gate, Ji Shumin placed his hand on the old pine tree that had regained its vitality, his knuckles pale and taut.

He closed his eyes, smelled the faint scent of impending rain in the wind, and his face was as cold as ice that had never melted.

Since you don't like it here, then let's go somewhere else. You can dislike anything, but you can't leave me alone.

Xiao Xizi waited for a long time, only to see His Highness the Crown Prince just staring blankly in the direction where the Crown Princess had left, showing no sign of joy or sorrow.

A low wind whipped up dust, and the remaining grass by the wall rustled. The Crown Princess had only been gone for a moment, yet the courtyard, inside and out, seemed to wither, instantly returning to its most lifeless state...

"Your Highness, it's getting chilly outside... This servant will push you back inside," he said in a low, strained voice.

"Is everything ready?"

"Yes, all set, ready."

"Has the Crown Princess noticed anything?" Ji Shumin asked again, this was already the umpteenth time he had asked this question in recent days.

“Your Majesty…shouldn’t have noticed.” Xiao Xizi shook her head.

"She hasn't improved much. If I don't protect her, she'll be easily fooled by others," Ji Shumin said, rubbing his head.

He himself didn't realize that even when Lu Liruan wasn't by his side, his tone was still incredibly soft when he mentioned her.

"Plant all the flowers that the Crown Princess planted in the courtyard into flowerpots..." He looked around: "Take down the swing on the tree in the back as well."

After giving his instructions, Ji Shumin sat alone behind his desk. The last rays of the setting sun outside were both beautiful and ominous, casting shadows that made everything in the room appear both bright and dark.

He picked up a drawing Lu Liruan had made while practicing her calligraphy. A beautiful bird was vividly depicted on the paper, with a clever tuft of feathers sticking up on its head and its little beak open, looking extremely lively.

The Crown Princess had told him that this was a bird she kept at home, clever and charming, and able to mimic human speech perfectly.

His name is Xiao Fu.

Lu Liruan was unaware that after she left, His Highness the Crown Prince stared silently at a bird for almost half an hour.

She's home.

Ever since the Marquis of He'an's mansion learned that Lu Liruan was coming back, everyone has been busy preparing, as if no one knows whose birthday it is.

Marquis He'an didn't mind, and watched with a smile as his wife busied herself preparing to thoroughly clean up Lu Liruan's courtyard once again.

"Last time when we returned to our parents' home, things were all messed up, and we didn't even get to exchange a few words properly. If they come again this time, I'll show them no mercy." Madam Gao said, her brows furrowed.

Since Lu Yushi entered the palace, the second and third wives have actually quieted down a bit.

After all, Lu Liruan returned to her parents' home in a grand and impressive manner after marrying the Crown Prince, but Lu Yushi, after entering the palace, was truly gone forever. Not only did she not return, but news of her was also rare.

The second prince did not show them any affection, which made the masters of the second and third branches quite resentful.

Both entered the palace, so why was the daughter of the Marquis of He'an favored?

They were bound to come to the Marquis of He'an's birthday celebration, and the second and third wives were secretly sulking.

Originally, the relationship between the second wife and her husband wasn't very good, but as the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend...

Although they weren't exactly enemies with the Marquis of He'an's family, their second and third branches considered themselves to be of high moral character, so they naturally stuck together.

However, even when the two families were together, their influence couldn't compare to half of the Marquis of He'an's mansion, so naturally they felt unbalanced.

"Let them see for themselves this time. Our daughter is definitely better than theirs," Madam Gao sneered.

"Madam, please don't be too ostentatious. I wonder how Ruan Ruan is doing in the palace," Marquis He'an said cautiously to Madam Gao.

"I know, I know, I'm not brainless." Madam Gao rolled her eyes at him, turned and left, leaving the Marquis of He'an, who was about to celebrate his birthday, all alone in the hall.

After several days of anticipation, Lu Liruan's carriage finally arrived at the gate of the Marquis of He'an's residence at nightfall.

The servants in the manor greeted Lu Liruan with beaming smiles: "Your Highness, the Crown Princess, you've returned to the manor!"

Upon entering the mansion, one is greeted by smiling faces everywhere.

Lu Liruan felt that the atmosphere in this house was much more lively and bustling, and she relaxed as soon as she stepped in.

This feeling...how can I describe it?

It wasn't that she was unhappy at Songjingyuan, but rather that there, she had to be the Crown Princess, a powerful and capable empress...

But when I go home, I'm the older sister, the daughter, and I still feel like a carefree girl.

Although this feeling was only temporary, Lu Liruan still liked it very much.

It was as if I could finally take a breather.

"sister--"

Lu Wanqing and Lu Wanyun were already waiting at the door. When they saw Lu Liruan enter, they ran over with joy and each took one of Lu Liruan's arms.

Under the orange-red lantern light, the three sisters walked intimately into the courtyard, their shadows whispering sweet nothings behind them, their bond unbreakable.

"The Missy is back! The Missy is back!"

"Miss is beautiful, Miss is beautiful!"

With a loud, flattering voice, Xiao Fu came out with its clattering footsteps. It spread its wings and fluttered, then stood on Lu Liruan's shoulder and affectionately rubbed its face against Lu Liruan's neck.

"Oh my! How did you get so fat! You're stepping on my shoulders and it hurts!" Lu Liruan exclaimed.

"Not fat! Not fat!" Xiao Fu shouted, craning his neck, upon hearing Lu Liruan's words.

"Wow! Who taught it that?" Lu Liruan exclaimed in surprise. How could it understand when someone said it was heavy?

Lu Wanyun laughed so hard she bent over: "Sister, you don't know this—"

"Hey! You!" Lu Wanqing reached over Lu Liruan's shoulder and pretended to cover Lu Wanyun's mouth: "Stop talking nonsense!"

"Why can't I say it? I don't lie... right, Fatty Little Fu?" Lu Wanyun smiled, her eyes crinkling, and reached out to touch the clever hair on Little Fu's head.

"What is it? One of you wants to say it and the other doesn't want me to. Let me hear it!" Lu Liruan shrugged and sent Xiao Fu flying to the side.

This bird is spoiled; it can't stand the slightest criticism. As it flies, it cackles, "Not fat! Not fat! Little Fumei!"

"Okay, okay, beautiful, beautiful, Xiao Fu is the most beautiful..." Lu Liruan covered one ear to comfort it.

Lu Wanyun continued, "Sister, when you're not in the courtyard, Qing'er misses you terribly. She often goes to sit in your courtyard, and as soon as she sits there, tears well up in her eyes..."

"The key point is, hahaha! She was sitting there with nothing else to do, so she was feeding Xiao Fu while crying her eyes out. By the time Yu'er and Zhu'er found out, Xiao Fu could barely fly anymore!"

"Then she said to Qing'er with a pained expression, 'Miss... stop feeding it, Xiao Fu has become a big fat bird.'" Lu Wanyun said with a grin.

"Who knew that if I said it too much, the bird would overhear me. I don't know why, but it knew that calling it fat was bringing up its shortcomings, and it didn't like hearing the word 'fat'..."

"My mother came to visit a few days ago. As soon as she mentioned that it was fat, it covered its face with its wings and didn't eat anything all day. My mother was so scared that she hugged it and comforted it. Hahahaha, it's just like a little child!"

Lu Liruan hadn't expected this to happen, and she chuckled.

"Alright, alright, I won't say anything more. If I make it stop eating again, I'll feel guilty..." Lu Liruan beckoned, and the fat bird flew back again.

"It's Dad's birthday, we should all celebrate, and let's give Xiao Fu something good to eat too."

“We’re already eating well enough.” Lu Wanqing sighed. “It’s all my fault. I’ve made our little Fu so round. Oh dear, what if the other birds laugh at us later?” she teased.

As if in response, Xiao Fu chirped a couple of times before flying away rather heavily.

After visiting Marquis He'an and Madam Gao, the three sisters had dinner in Lu Liruan's newly renovated courtyard.

“Let’s stay here tonight. It’s been a long time since the three of us sisters have slept together,” Lu Wanyun suggested.

Neither of them said that after Lu Liruan returned this time, it was uncertain when she would return again.

Such a joyful scene shouldn't be filled with talk of parting, nor should it be filled with talk of an unknown future...

I thought I would just stay in the yard after dinner.

Unexpectedly, a servant suddenly came in and reported: "Young Miss, there is a young lady outside who says she wants to visit you."

Lu Liruan frowned slightly. At this hour, who would come looking for her?

When Lu Liruan arrived, she saw a smartly dressed, spirited young girl standing at the door, carrying a beautiful lantern in her hand.

She winked at Lu Liruan: "I heard that Liruan returned to the manor today."

Lu Liruan also laughed. It turned out to be Zhuang Yuxun, whom she hadn't seen for many days.

Miss Zhuang tied her hair up in a high ponytail. In the swaying light, one hand was behind her back, making her look relaxed and carefree.

"Yu Xun, why are you here at this hour? Come in quickly," Lu Liruan greeted her.

To everyone's surprise, Zhuang Yuxun shook her head: "I was just passing by..." She pointed with her lantern.

"There's a night cruise on the lake tonight, and I was thinking of going to check it out. I just remembered you were coming back today, so I came to ask if you wanted to come along?"

She spoke of it casually and simply, as if it were perfectly normal for a woman like her to stroll leisurely outside at this hour.

Lu Liruan was taken aback: "Are you safe going alone?" she asked instinctively.

Seeing Zhuang Yuxun raise an eyebrow, Lu Liruan realized she had asked a silly question: "Forget about Yuxun's fighting skills!"

“Would you like to come with me? I’ll protect you.” She reached out her hand to Lu Liruan.

"Let me go back and change my clothes!" Lu Liruan suddenly felt very tempted; she had never gone out for a night out before.

"it is good."

"Let me ask my two younger sisters..."

"If they're willing, they can go together." Zhuang Yuxun tilted her head, looking very excited; she seemed genuinely looking forward to today's outing.

When Lu Liruan returned to the courtyard, she found that Lu Wanqing had already fallen asleep on her bed.

Whisper to Lu Wanyun.

"Don't you need me to come with my sister?"

"No need. I'm going out with General Zhuang's daughter. With a servant accompanying us, there's nothing to worry about."

Seeing that she looked tired, Lu Liruan gestured for her and Lu Wanqing to get some rest.

She changed into a light dress, removed all her hair ornaments, and, imitating Zhuang Yuxun, simply styled her hair into a bun.

He picked up a lantern and hurried towards the door...

"Why are you being so playful now?" Madam Gao asked, a little worried when she heard that Lu Liruan was going out.

While looking at the newly collected calligraphy and paintings, Marquis He'an comforted her, saying, "It's not easy to leave the palace. Ruan Ruan loves to play, so let her go."

“I mean…” Madam Gao’s words were interrupted by the gaze of Marquis He’an.

“General Zhuang’s daughter is by no means reckless. The fact that she came to summon Ruan Ruan means that it must be His Highness the Crown Prince…” Marquis He’an said in a low voice.

Unbeknownst to others, the Crown Prince had met with Marquis He'an several times in private.

At first, Marquis He'an was terrified, worried that something might have happened to his daughter.

But the Crown Prince's attitude puzzled him.

The Crown Prince showed great concern and care regarding matters concerning his daughter.

It even gave Marquis He'an a feeling that this person was more... than he, as the father.

Marquis He'an remained uneasy after pondering the matter. The Crown Prince seemed rather strange and eccentric.

He seemed to... want to sever all ties with his daughter and friends, to have everything under his control, yet he was also trying to calm and restrain himself.

Marquis He'an didn't tell anyone.

The Crown Prince once stared coldly at him and asked, "The Crown Princess told me that the Marquis of He'an's residence is her home. Can you tell me, Your Excellency, what is needed to turn my residence into the Crown Princess's home?"

Sweat beaded on the Marquis of He'an's forehead: "Your Highness, my daughter is simple-minded. As long as we care for her and make her feel comfortable and happy, that is home..."

I hope His Highness the Crown Prince will listen to this.