Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Just as Prince Chungsun's anxiety grew, he suddenly spotted the familiar figure of the princess approaching from a distance. In an instant, his tightly furrowed brow softened as if gently brushed by a spring breeze. Then, quickly and gracefully, he reached out to meet her. Gently yet gracefully, he reached out a hand, firmly grasped the princess's slender arm, and carefully guided her aboard the carriage.

After the princess was safely seated, Prince Chungsun breathed a sigh of relief, but he still couldn't help but ask with concern: "My dear wife, why did you take so long? Did you encounter some difficult troubles in the palace? If you have any difficulties, you must tell me, and don't bear it alone!" After saying this, his deep eyes were full of worry and pity, and his gaze always stayed on the princess, never leaving for a moment.

"Your Highness, I'm not in any trouble. It's just that the Imperial Concubine and Concubine Jia haven't seen each other for a long time. They have a very deep sisterly bond, so when they met, they naturally had a lot of heartfelt words to say to each other. So I said a few more words without realizing it, and as a result, I made Your Highness wait here for such a long time. This is really my fault. Please be magnanimous and forgive me, Your Highness!" The princess lowered her head slightly, her face full of guilt, and her voice was soft and gentle, as if she was afraid of disturbing the honorable prince in front of her.

After hearing the princess' explanation, Prince Zhongshun glanced at Yingchun, who had been standing silently by the side, and then responded casually: "Well, since everyone is out now, there is no need to say more about this matter. It's getting late, it's more important for us to go back to the mansion!" After that, he turned over neatly and sat steadily on the tall horse's back. He shook the reins with force in his hand, and the horse under his crotch immediately let out a high-pitched neighing, and then all four hooves flew up, and it galloped away like an arrow, rushing towards the direction of the prince's mansion.

After Yingchun boarded the carriage, the driver expertly swung his long whip. With a crisp click, the horses' hooves began to beat a rhythm, and the wheels began to turn. The beautifully decorated carriage followed closely behind the carriage of Prince Zhongshun, moving forward.

Inside the carriage, Princess Zhongshun noticed that Yingchun beside her looked pale and somewhat dejected, so she smiled slightly and softly said, "Sister, please don't take this to heart. The prince has always been like this, impatient and short-tempered. His behavior today is not specifically directed at you, so please don't take it too seriously!"

Hearing the princess's comforting words, Yingchun hurriedly lowered her head and responded respectfully: "Thank you for your concern, Princess. I don't dare to have any dissatisfaction in my heart." Her words were full of humility and obedience.

Princess Zhongshun looked at Yingchun, who was so submissive and submissive, and a complex mix of emotions welled up in her heart. On the one hand, she secretly delighted in Yingchun's docile and gentle personality, believing that she would be able to easily control and manipulate her in the future. But on the other hand, she couldn't help but feel worried - after all, Yingchun was also an innocent woman forced into this because of her family's affairs...

In reality, however, Princess Zhongshun's concerns were overblown. Back before she married, Yingchun had lived as a shadowy figure in her own household. Her biological father ignored her, and her stepmother treated her with indifference, never offering her the care and love she deserved. Living in this indifferent environment for so long, Yingchun had grown accustomed to silently enduring all injustices, becoming increasingly timid and withdrawn. Now, marrying into the royal palace, perhaps, meant nothing more than a new place to continue facing neglect and indifference.

After a long silence, Yingchun spoke again: "Your Highness... I only hope to have a small place to stay in this huge mansion, where I can live in peace. As for the rest, I really don't dare to have too many extravagant hopes!" Yingchun's gentle voice was like an extremely light feather, slowly floating down from the sky, without any weight, but so pitiful.

After hearing this, Princess Zhongshun couldn't help but sigh softly, then she stretched out her fair and slender hands, gently took Yingchun's hand, and said softly: "Sister, you are so sensible and understanding, it makes me seem a little narrow-minded." Just as the two were talking, the carriage that was originally moving forward steadily suddenly stopped slowly.

"I think we've arrived at our destination," Princess Zhongshun said, raising her hand and gracefully adjusting her slightly wrinkled clothing. Immediately, the attendant waiting beside the carriage hurried forward and respectfully opened the door. Princess Zhongshun disembarked gracefully, then stood still, turned, and extended a hand toward Yingchun inside. Yingchun, observing this, hurriedly and carefully took Princess Zhongshun's hand and followed suit.

As soon as they stepped out of the carriage, they were greeted by the palace's magnificent pavilions and terraces, arranged in a crisscross pattern. Prince Zhongshun, standing solemnly at the entrance to the front hall, quietly awaited their arrival. When he saw Princess Zhongshun and Yingchun approaching, he simply glanced at Yingchun, then turned his gaze towards Princess Zhongshun and said, "I have specially invited several friends to gather here today to discuss important matters. You must not interrupt." Without even waiting for Princess Zhongshun's response, Prince Zhongshun turned and strode inside.

Facing Prince Zhongshun's indifferent attitude, Yingchun seemed accustomed to it. Her beautiful eyes were like a calm lake, without even the slightest ripple. It was as if everything she had just experienced had nothing to do with her.

However, Princess Zhongshun, standing nearby, could no longer suppress her discontent. Her curved, willow-shaped brows furrowed slightly, revealing a hint of melancholy. But due to her status and the occasion, she remained silent. She silently extended her right hand, tightly grasped Yingchun's slightly chilled hand, and then quickly turned around, leading her down a quiet, winding path not far away.

"Sister, let's ignore the prince. Look at how beautiful the flowers in this garden are! Why don't we appreciate these flowers together and make the most of this beautiful spring." Princess Zhongshun said softly, raising her left hand and gracefully pointing to the colorful and gorgeous flowers on the roadside.

Upon hearing this, Yingchun bowed slightly and softly replied, "I'll follow your arrangements, Princess." Then, following Princess Zhongshun's lead, she slowly approached the blossoming flowers. As they were enchanted by the beauty of the sea of flowers, a brilliantly colored butterfly fluttered in, landing lightly on Yingchun's shoulder like a nimble elf.

Yingchun was startled for a moment, then slowly raised her head, gazing at the butterfly perched on her shoulder. At that moment, a rare glimmer of brightness shone from her previously dull eyes, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, instantly lighting up the entire world.

When Princess Zhongshun saw this scene, she couldn't help but smile knowingly, and thought to herself: It seems that the spring scenery in the garden really has magical powers, and maybe it can really bring some spiritual comfort to this lovable woman in front of her.

The two strolled leisurely through the blossoming, lush garden, their steps growing heavier as they passed. Slowly, they began to tire, their steps growing heavier. Princess Zhongshun paused, turned to Yingchun, and said gently, "Sister, you must be tired after walking for so long. Why don't we head to the pavilion ahead to rest for a while?" Yingchun nodded eagerly, "Yes, sister, you're absolutely right." Her voice was clear and melodious, like the chirping of a nightingale.

Seeing this, the maids following behind the two of them quickly stepped forward with well-trained steps to prepare tea and snacks. In a short while, everything was arranged.

When the two arrived at the pavilion, Princess Zhongshun invited Yingchun to sit down first, then she herself took her place. Soon, the maids presented exquisite tea sets and delicious snacks, placing them on the stone table. Princess Zhongshun smiled, picked up a cup of fragrant tea, took a sip, and praised, "This tea is fragrant and has a mellow flavor. It's truly excellent tea. Sister, please try it." Yingchun obeyed and carefully took a small sip. The fragrance lingered on her lips and teeth, and she couldn't help but smile.

After a few cups of tea, Princess Zhongshun set down her cup, her gaze resting on Yingchun. She softly asked, "Sister, can you tell me a little about yourself?" Yingchun was slightly startled, as if she hadn't expected Princess Zhongshun to ask such a question. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly began, "From the moment I was born, my grandmother took me in to raise me. While it was officially her responsibility to educate me personally, in reality... she kept me like a cat or a dog, just to amuse herself and relieve boredom. Later, my sisters were born one after another, each so bright and clever. In comparison, I became increasingly dull and incompetent. Over time, I naturally lost my sense of presence." At this point, Yingchun lowered her head, her voice trailing off, as if afraid others might overhear.

Princess Zhongshun listened quietly to Yingchun's words, a wave of pity welling in her heart. She sighed softly, reached out and took Yingchun's hand, and comforted her, "Sister, please don't be so self-deprecating. In my eyes, you truly possess a brilliant mind, though you simply don't usually reveal it." Yingchun, however, was accustomed to such praise. She knew her place and position within this extended family well; the saying, "From one cage to another," was perhaps just what it meant to be.

She had only been in the palace for a day, but this short time was enough for her to realize a cruel fact - the high and mighty prince, admired by everyone, had no love for her at all.

Yet, Yingchun remained remarkably calm and at ease with this reality. To her, whether or not she could secure the prince's favor was of no concern. After all, from the very beginning, she had never focused on the scheming and intrigues of the court. The current situation, on the contrary, suited her perfectly. This way, she could avoid the complex struggles and calculations and live a relatively peaceful and tranquil life.

From that moment on, Yingchun devoted herself to the princess, serving her with all her heart and soul. Every day, she silently went about her duties, never slacking off or neglecting them. In this way, Yingchun lived a peaceful life of her own.

All of this was due to her non-competitive and law-abiding character. Seeing Yingchun's dedication to her duties, her pure heart, and her lack of greed for wealth and glory, the princess secretly admired her and naturally stopped deliberately making things difficult for her.

However, Prince Zhongshun initially had a prejudice against Yingchun because he knew she was from the Jia family, so he did not like her. After all, there had been some rift between the Jia family and Prince Zhongshun's family, so it was inevitable that Prince Zhongshun would have some grudges against Yingchun, who came from the Jia family.

Fortunately, the princess was kindhearted and spoke well of Yingchun to Prince Zhongshun on numerous occasions. Gradually, although Prince Zhongshun still didn't have much affection for Yingchun, he at least stopped deliberately tormenting her. To him, Yingchun was like an extra idler in the palace; as long as she didn't cause trouble, he'd leave her alone.

But for Yingchun, this situation was perfectly suited. She had always been a timid and uncontested person, but now, life in the palace was surprisingly much more relaxed and comfortable than at the Jia household. Here, no one would mock her, and she didn't have to deal with the complex interpersonal relationships and intrigues. Despite being unloved, Yingchun was perfectly content with this peaceful and stable life. Therefore, while her time in the palace wasn't perfect, it was at least not unbearable.

Since Yingchun entered the palace before the Lunar New Year, time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the crucial New Year's Eve approached. Since her selection as a consort, enshrined in the imperial genealogy, Yingchun's status had become immensely prestigious. According to palace rules and traditions, as a consort, she was bound to attend the grand and solemn annual New Year's Eve family banquet. This banquet not only brought together numerous prominent figures from the imperial family, princes, and nobles, but also served as a crucial occasion showcasing the royal majesty and family harmony.