On a day after the banquet, Chu Qiao left briskly, holding a small fan in her hand which she used to chase butterflies here and there.
"I didn't know what kind of fun it was for Baochai to chase butterflies until now." Chu Qiao stopped, and a maid quickly wiped the fine sweat for Chu Qiao with a handkerchief.
Chu Qiao pushed her away a little, "It’s alright. I just sweated a little, and it’s no big deal."
"Do these butterflies belong to some rare species? I have never seen them before." Chu Qiao asked.
The servant girl smiled and replied, “You are right, Your Highness. These belong to a rare species and are extremely precious. The Prince brought them back from the border area."
As expected, Dantai Yunhan led a lavish life, and even the butterflies in the garden were the best of the best. She glanced at the maid and said, "Well, these flowers must be just as precious, right?"
"Of course."
As an old saying goes, “Noble beings choose noble places”, so do these butterflies.
"You seem to be very interested in my backyard garden."
Hearing a familiar voice coming from behind, Chu Jiao recognized the voice of Dantai Yunhan without looking back. She put on a smile and slowly turned around. "Your Highness."
Dantai Yunhan merely responded with an "um" from his nostrils without even looking at her.
So naturally Chu Qiao stood up straight.
"Have you forgotten that you haven't answered my question yet, which made me uncomfortable."
Dantai Yunhan fixed his gaze on her cheeks without batting an eyelid.
"Are Your Highness asking me why I’m interested in your backyard garden?"
"What else could it be?"
Chu Qiao pointed to the garden and said, "It is well known that the backyard garden of Prince Regent is one of a kind. I have never seen such grands before, so I am really impressed. And I'd like to thank you for creating such a magnificent view."
"How eloquent!" Dantai Yunhan remained silent, and walked away with his hands folded behind.
Chu Qiao trotted to catch up with him. Without feeling nervous around him, she said boldly: "Do Your Highness prefer things that don't last?"
Dantai Yunhan stopped, "How dare you! Do you know who it is that you're talking to?"
"I know clearly that these flowers will eventually wither and the butterflies don't live long, which makes them pretty but useless." Chu Qiao said straightforward. Facing Dantai Yunhan, she didn’t bear even the slightest fear, which could make other women stand in awe of her.
Instead of getting angry, Dantai Yunhan looked at her with curiosity, "What do you think I should do?"
Chu Qiao shook her head and answered: "No comment." She deliberately held back to arouse Dantai Yunhan's curiosity.
"Feel free to say whatever is on your mind and I won't blame you."
Only then did Chu Qiao said: "I think Your Highness should lead a simple and modest life, without pursuing luxurious and material things. With such an expensive palace, how can you be sure that these women really care about you as a person instead of your money?"
Dantai Yunhan put on a serious look, ”What do you mean?"
Looking at his expression, Chu Qiao couldn't help but burst out laughing, "I know Your Highness is a genius in arranging the garden, but I’m afraid that some shortsighted women may take advantage of your money and spoil your fame."
Chu Qiao was not merely talking about the garden, but implying that the women in Dantai Yunhan’s palace were all useless despite their beauty. She had no idea exactly what they were capable of, but she was sure that it couldn't be anything good.
Dantai Yunhan looked at Chu Qiao curiously for the depth of her thought was beyond his imagination.
"I'll leave them all to you then." Dantai Yunhan said as he carefully observed the changes of Chu Qiao’s expressions.
Chu Qiao was not surprised to hear this. She was the hostess of the palace. What she needed was a reason to rectify the behavioural style of concubines in the palace, instead of a useless title. And Dantai Yunhan gave her such a reason.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Chu Qiao smiled gently.
Until then did Dantai Yunhan realize what Chu Qiao was planning, which rendered him speechless, just pointing his unless finger at her. As shrewd as he was, he was outsmarted by his own wife.
After getting the permission from Dantai Yunhan, Chu Qiao gently saluted and said: "Now that I have answered your question, I’ll excuse myself and go back to purge the Prince Palace for Your Highness."
"Go ahead." Dantai Yunhan signaled her to leave without looking at her.
Chu Qiao turned around and walked away with her maid.
Dantai Yunhan was gazing at Chu Qiao's receding figure when an idea popped up in his mind. Chu Qiao never struck him as the eloquent type. It seemed as if she had gone through a significant personality shift since that day, and he didn't know what had happened.
“Bian Ya.” Dantai Yunhan whispered. A guard hiding in the dark jumped out and curtsied to Dantai Yunhan.
”My Lord.”
"Find out what happened to the princess." Dantai Yunhan didn't believe that a person could change so completely. He wanted to know what brought about Chu Qiao’s changes.
"Yes, My Lord."
Then, the figure disappeared. Dantai Yunhan looked at the plants in the garden and began to hate them somehow. He said to himself, "Get rid of these as soon as possible.”
He shook his head. Had he been influenced by Chu Qiao as well?
Seeing Chu Qiao stretch herself, the maid caught up with her and asked: "Your Highness, how could you talk to the Prince like that just now? I was almost scared to death."
Chu Qiao looked at her and burst out laughing, "I'm the Princess, the Prince Regent's wife, and I'm not talking about something that I shouldn't be involved in, so why would I be afraid of him?"
Convinced by Chu Qiao's words, the servant girl smiled in agreement, "I see, Your Highness is the Princess and you have the legitimate right."
Chu Qiao nodded with satisfaction, "Smart girl."
Before Chu Qiao arrived at her Palace, she saw a figure that might be Zhong Jinchun. She had every reason to express her gratitude towards Zhong. Thanks to her cooperation, she dodged a bullet from Chu Jiao.
Seeing that Chu Qiao was back, Zhong Jinchun curtsied respectfully, "Your Highness."
Chu Qiao reached out to help Zhong Jinchun up as she said, "No need for such formality. Are you here for what happened today at the banquet?"
Zhong Jinchun sighed, "I have been on pins and needles since then, and Your Highness have been gone for so long, so I..."