Bone Painting Coroner

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“Your Highness, are you alright?” Cailan was so anxious her face turned pale when she saw that. She quickly found some medicine and wrapped it up for her. Her finger didn’t bleed much and it was fine after bearing with it for a moment.

However, Ji Muqing had an idea. She tugged Cailan closer. “Quickly go tell His Highness that this consort is injured.”

“Ah…” Isn’t it a bit of a storm in a teacup if you alerted the prince about such a tiny cut?

“What are you waiting for? Didn’t you see how severely this consort is injured? Hurry on.”

Cailan had been with her for so many years. She could tell with one look what Ji Muqing meant. As a maid, how would she dare to talk too much? Ji Muqing pulled her aside and issued a few sets of instructions by her ear. Cailan’s face turned green, but she could only hurry off to look for Prince Yi.

Unfortunately, Prince Yi happened to be busy playing a game of Go with Chen Xiang. Jing Yi put down a black piece. Just like that, another round ended.

Chen Xiang pouted, “Ah, this concubine lost again. Couldn’t Your Highness just let this concubine win once?”

“A game of Go is just like leading troops out for a battle. How could one let another win?” These words were very familiar; Jing Rong and Mo Ruo often said something similar when they played as well.

Chen Xiang wasn’t willing to admit defeat. She picked up the stones one by one and put them back into their goblets as she said, “No, this concubine isn’t satisfied. Let’s play another round.”

“Alright, another round it is.” From his tone, it was obvious that Jing Yi heavily indulged and pampered this consort.

Just as they were prepared to continue their game, Cailan arrived. “Your Highness, bad news!” She sounded very anxious.

At the same time, her arrival totally spoiled the mood for their game.

Knowing that she is Ji Muqing’s personal maid, Jing Yi frowned, his face full of displeasure. Jing Yi utterly hated anything to do with Ji Muqing; he even hated himself a little for it. He felt as if he could smell the stench of shit whenever he lowered his head.

When Jing Yi didn’t reply for a long while, Chen Xiang said, “Your Highness, it’s your consort’s maid outside.” Just a reminder.

He huffed in disdain, before he finally gave a nod in the direction of the door.

Cailan hurried in and shouted again, “Your Highness, bad news!”

“What is it? Why are you so flustered?”

“Her Highness is injured.”

“Oh?”

Nothing else? Just an ‘oh’? Cailan hurried to add, “Her Highness was anxious to see Your Highness and offer her greetings. She didn’t expect that she would suffer a fall in her hurry.”

“This prince is neither a physician nor an Imperial Physician. What’s the use of telling this prince about her fall?”

Pfft. Chen Xiang giggled, then quickly hid it away and pretended to look worried, “Your Highness, Younger Sister fell down because she wanted to visit you. You’d better go see her.”

“Are you very concerned?”

“It’s this concubine’s younger sister! She just arrived in the estate and is unfamiliar with everything. Of course I must be concerned!”

“Alright then, go see her in place of this prince and take good care of the consort.” His words seemed to have a deeper meaning.

Chen Xiang would naturally not let go of such a great opportunity. She stood up and bowed in greeting. “Yes, this concubine will go right away.”

Jing Yi’s brows wrinkled imperceptibly again as he waved a hand, “Go then.”

Thus, Ji Muqing’s castle in the air collapsed, just like that. She originally wanted Jing Yi to visit her, but it was Chen Xiang who visited instead. On the way there, Chen Xiang had her personal maid invite a physician, then suddenly tugged Cailan closer to ask, “Are you called Cailan?”

Cailan looked at her own hand, in the grasp of another. She shivered involuntarily, but let Chen Xiang hold it as she wished. She nodded, “Yes, this servant is called Cailan.”

“You really are a bright and lively one!”

“Many thanks, Side Consort.” [1]

That address of ‘side consort’ had Chen Xiang’s stomach curl in distaste, but she didn’t reveal it. Instead, he held Cailan’s trembling hand even more intimately and smiled warmly, “Have you been with Her Highness since young?”

“That’s right.”

“It’s such a shame that a pretty girl like you has to serve as someone’s maid.”

“It’s my great honor to be able to serve Her Highness.”

“Such a silver tongue.” Chen Xiang sighed again. “This consort likes how you look very much and you seem to be very obedient as well. I really wish that I could keep you by my side instead. Unfortunately, Her Highness is a little more fortunate to have such an agreeable maid like you to serve her. How unlike those few of this consort’s courtyard who only know eat and drink, without a bit of sense.”

As she finished speaking, she patted the back of Cailan’s hand several times, scaring her so badly her whole body shook for a moment. “Are you afraid?”

“No.”

“There’s no need to be afraid. This consort won’t eat you. Actually, if you are willing, you can look for this consort anytime. If you have any problems or difficulties, this consort will definitely help you if you asked.”

Cailan heard how gentle her tone was and lowered her guard entirely, even starting to smile. “Thanks, Side Consort.”

However, Chen Xiang suddenly told her, “This consort doesn’t like the term ‘side consort’. It sounds better with one word less.”

When she heard that, Cailan understood immediately and called out, “Consort.” Although she did so very cautiously, she spoke from the bottom of her heart.

Chen Xiang was so happy she couldn’t stop grinning.

Cailan also dearly wished that she could change masters. If she remained by Ji Muqing’s side, she would be beaten to death sooner or later. The scene where she had been slapped remained vivid in her mind. Every time she thought of it, she would even be startled awake in the middle of the night, drenched in cold sweat.

In contrast, this side consort with a gentle voice liked her so much. If she could stay by the side of such a master, she would surely live comfortably and happily. The two of them chatted quietly as they walked, until they reached Ji Muqing’s courtyard.

When they entered the room, someone could be seen lying down on the bed. It seems like she truly had a bad fall!

However, when Ji Muqing saw that the person that arrived wasn’t Jing Yi but Chen Xiang, she abruptly sat up.

Chen Xiang sat by her bed and asked curiously, “Didn’t Younger Sister suffer a bad fall? How could you still sit up on your own? Looking at you, it doesn’t look so serious after all.”

Ji Muqing glared hatefully at her, then turned her head to ask Cailan, “Where is His Highness?”

“His Highness…”

Before she could finish speaking, Chen Xiang continued on for her. “His Highness just played several rounds of Go with me, so he’s rather tired and can’t come over to visit Younger Sister. However, he bade me to come send his regards.”

“Who wants to hear regards from you? Go away.”

“Why is Younger Sister so angry? His Highness is also very concerned about you.”

Ji Muqing huffed, “Don’t think that I don’t know that you’re just pretending. You can stop pretending in front of me.”

She tried to go push Chen Xiang, but even before her hand could even reach her, Chen Xiang grabbed her hand and forcefully pushed her backwards. Ji Muqing’s head almost hit the bedpost behind her.

Chen Xiang knit her brows together and quickly said, “Oh no, I didn’t mean to do that on purpose. Younger Sister, are you alright?”

With this push, Ji Muqing’s bellyful of fury suddenly burst out. She grit her teeth and growled out fiercely, “Chen Xiang, I am His Highness’s legally wedded consort. You’re merely a side consort; how dare you bully and push me around?!”

“Bully you?” Chen Xiang put on an extremely shocked expression. “I don’t understand what Younger Sister is talking about. His Highness wasn’t able to come because he was too tired, so he had me come visit you. How could you say such a thing? Both of us are His Highness’s people and should get along harmoniously. I also regard you as my own sister.”

Pah! Don’t you feel disgusted saying that?

[1] TN: In CH, people are simply addressed as their titles, but it's generalised to His/Her Highness etc. in EN. Here I've kept the direct TL just for clarity in the conversation.