Chapter 2

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. During that time, Prince Dun came to see me every day, asking after my health and exchanging a few pleasantries.

Ever since our talk in the garden, my little rabbit Lin Chuxue had been coming by daily too, often bringing pastries she made herself. Before long, we had grown close.

I even gave her two of the hairpins I had recovered from the lake. She loved them and wore them every day.

Today, everyone in the manor had put on the finest clothes they owned and lined up at the gate to receive the arriving guests.

The emperor had five sons, and Prince Dun was the youngest.

The other princes were all tall, elegant, and strikingly handsome. Only he was chubby.

He had been adorable enough as a child, but the older he grew, the rounder he became, until now… Well.

There were even rumors in the palace that Prince Dun looked nothing like His Majesty and far more like Cook Li from the imperial kitchen. The gossip had planted a seed of doubt in the emperor’s heart and made him dislike his son even more.

Prince Su, Prince Dun’s full brother, was so capable that he rivaled the crown prince. Consort Song therefore grew increasingly resentful of the younger son whose very existence tarnished her reputation.

Neither his mother nor his brothers loved him. The boy who should have been everyone’s darling became everyone’s favorite target instead, someone anybody could kick when he was down.

The other princes received mansions in the heart of the capital, prime real estate with every luxury included.

My little dumpling had been sent off to the middle of nowhere, all under the grand pretense of granting him an enormous estate.

The estate was so large, however, that annual upkeep cost a fortune. He had received few rewards since childhood and scraped by on the meager harvests from several farms.

The estate included a Hundred Flowers Garden. Every year at this time, Consort Song came here to admire the blossoms and hold a banquet.

The entire household pinched pennies all year just to entertain her guests on this one occasion.

I suspected Consort Song simply wanted a gardener who worked for free, but I had no proof.

The guests entered the garden and began chatting among the flowers. My sixth sense told me something unpleasant was about to happen.

Sure enough, once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they launched into their traditional entertainment: trampling all over Prince Dun.

Prince Cheng struck first.

“Prince Dun, your gardening skills improve every year! Just look at this camellia. In anyone else’s hands, it would never even bloom.”

The guests echoed his praise, and a broad smile spread across Prince Dun’s plump face.

“If Second Brother likes it, I will have someone deliver it to your residence another day.”

Prince Cheng nodded, pleased.

“Then you have my thanks. Oh, send that peony along with it.”

Prince Dun agreed with a smile, and everyone around them immediately started clamoring for flowers too.

“I want that tree peony.”

“And I want that pot of jasmine.”

…

I was livid!

Prince Cheng’s praise had been a barb in disguise. He claimed to admire Prince Dun’s skill while reducing him to nothing more than a gardener.

Prince Dun had scrimped and saved to acquire those flowers for Consort Song. There were only one or two of each rare variety, making them incredibly precious, yet whenever these people asked, he had to smile and promise to deliver them.

Wasn’t this chubby fellow far too good-natured for his own good?

Before the commotion had even died down, Prince Su, Prince Dun’s full brother, assumed an admonishing air.

“Prince Dun, you’ve gotten even fatter lately. Keep this up, and soon you’ll be so round you won’t be able to walk.”

Muffled laughter rippled around the table. Prince Dun’s smile froze, embarrassment crossing his face.

Prince Rui drawled mockingly,

“If he turns into a ball, he won’t need to walk. He can simply roll everywhere!”

The entire gathering burst into laughter.

As their host, Prince Dun could only force an awkward laugh along with his guests.

As his principal wife, sitting beside him, I felt my face grow hot as well.

But mine was red with fury!

Consort Song set down her cup with a displeased expression.

I thought she might finally defend her own son. Instead, what she said made me even angrier.

“My son is right. Prince Dun, you are much too fat. Eat less from now on.”

Nothing hurt more than humiliation from one’s closest family.

For one instant, I saw Prince Dun tremble beside me. Tears quietly welled in his eyes, but he forced them back almost at once.

“Mother Consort and my elder brothers are right. I will… eat less.”

Grass. A type of plant.

Those bastards were bullying and humiliating the little dumpling simply because he was honest and mild-tempered.

The shameless lot! How was this any different from cursing the cook after stuffing themselves at his table?

In modern times, guests brought gifts to a banquet! These people ate his food, took his treasures, and still humiliated him for entertainment!

Prince Dun had treated me with every courtesy during my five days here. Now that I occupied the body of his princess consort, I absolutely refused to sit by and watch him be bullied.

“Ah!”

Just as I was about to slam my hand on the table and rise, a scream rang out from near the lotus pond.

Everyone hurried over to investigate, but a panicked young maid caught hold of me.

“Your Highness, please save our secondary consort!”