Chapter 135

Chapter 135 "I know exactly what kind of person I am—I wouldn't dare say such a thing." "Consort Li has always been withdrawn and quiet; Lady Wan is even worse than this servant... Concubine An couldn't have said it either." It could only be Fang Yuan'er. Xie Run listened, feeling rather disheartened. Fang Yuan'er possessed the soul of a modern person; under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have said something like that. Unless... she had already been assimilated by her environment. Xie Run thought about it and couldn't help but mock herself as well. She wasn't much better off than Fang Yuan'er. Her needle jabbed about aimlessly. Concubine Lu couldn't bear to watch Xie Run's embroidery any longer and quietly offered some guidance. "That stitch is wrong. If you keep going like that, the hat won't be symmetrical!" Xie Run's face flushed with embarrassment. "Concubine Lu's needlework is quite skilled?" Concubine Lu said frankly, "In the past, when I was by Concubine An's side, I was always short of clothes and food. I had to do everything myself, so I naturally developed the skill." Xie Run said, "Perfect timing then—from now on, Concubine Lu should come by Spring Mountain Court often and give me a few pointers." Concubine Lu's eyes lit up. "I'd welcome that." Xie Run was favored, and now she had a son. If Concubine Lu visited a few more times, her own circumstances would improve considerably. It wasn't that Concubine Lu hadn't wanted to come before, but the matters between her and Concubine An needed time to fade. Otherwise, her visits would only bring gossip to Xie Run. She had always been considerate and wouldn't do anything unpleasant at Xie Run's place. It just so happened that recently Concubine An had failed to properly raise her pair of children, and the attention had shifted. Only then did Concubine Lu dare to come out and socialize. Concubine Lu asked curiously, "I wonder what the new Concubine Fang and Concubine Lian are like?" Xie Run smiled wryly. "Concubine Lian is one thing, but Concubine Fang is also an old hand in the prince's household. Why would you ask that?" Concubine Lu smiled faintly. "This servant knew the old Fangse, but I don't know the current Concubine Fang." Everyone had originally assumed that Consort Yun had elevated Fangse to consolidate her own favor. But Fangse had only been Concubine Fang for a few days when Consort Yun suddenly fell ill and passed away. That made the reason for Fangse's rise highly suspicious. You see, Consort Yun had originally intended to promote a maid named Fangcao, yet it was Fangse who ended up serving Prince Jing. Outsiders said that Prince Jing himself had chosen Fangse. But the women of the inner court didn't see it that way. They instead suspected that Fangse had used some scheme to seduce Prince Jing. Following that line of reasoning, they couldn't help but wonder if Fangse had betrayed Consort Yun. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence? Some rumors, once spread enough, began to seem like proven fact. Now the household was saying that Fangse was a second Concubine Lu, having risen by betraying her mistress. They even said Fangse was crueler than Concubine Lu, having climbed up by stepping on Consort Yun's life. And Fangse herself didn't bother to defend herself, as if she had tacitly accepted it. Wasn't it only natural that gossip was now flying everywhere? Xie Run could guess the truth behind Consort Yun's death, but she wasn't entirely sure about Fangse's situation. Could Fangse really have become Prince Jing's concubine by selling out Consort Yun? After thinking it over for a long time, Xie Run decided she might as well just ask Prince Jing directly. She remarked with a sigh, "With one Concubine Consort gone from the household, those below have opportunities to rise. I'm afraid things are about to get lively again." Concubine Lu suffered from severe uterine cold and had been involved in so many unsavory incidents that she had already earned Prince Jing's disgust. She was determined to live out her days as a mere concubine. Hearing this now, she had a somewhat leisurely, spectator-like air. "That's true. I just hope we don't get another Concubine Han—this household can't withstand that kind of turmoil." As they chatted and laughed, it was already time for the midday meal. No sooner had Concubine Lu left than Prince Jing arrived. As usual, he went to look at the child first. Babies grew before one's very eyes. In a short time, Taotao had become fair and plump, smiling at everyone and revealing the little dimples on his cheeks. Not to mention Prince Jing—there were few who met Taotao and didn't like him. Though he had been born a month later than Third Young Master and Fourth Young Master, with good food and drink, he was now even plumper than the two of them. Prince Jing was delighted just looking at Taotao. He happily played with him for a good long while before going to see Xie Run. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Prince Jing said, "I will be leaving the capital in a few days." Xie Run was slightly taken aback, seeming a little surprised. "So soon?" She glanced outside. "Taotao hasn't even reached his full month yet." Her tone was filled with reluctance. "I'm afraid it can't be helped." Prince Jing patted Xie Run's hand. "I've chosen a courtesy name for Taotao. Come take a look." With that, he unfolded a slip of paper. Xie Run lowered her eyes to look. "Cong? What a wonderful name!" "Xiao Cong? The Prince truly has a gift for naming!" Xie Run praised instinctively. Third Young Master and Fourth Young Master had also been given names at their full-month celebrations. Third Young Master was named Qiong, and Fourth Young Master was named Rui. Xie Run felt that her son's name, Cong, was hardly out of line. Prince Jing tucked the paper into Xie Run's hand and added, "While I'm away from the household, just focus on raising Taotao well." "No matter what happens, don't rush—wait for me to return and handle it." Xie Run nodded and said softly, "With the Princess Consort above, this concubine fears nothing. I'll simply stay at home and wait for the Prince to return." As she spoke, Xie Run's features were serene and her bearing composed. Prince Jing was thoroughly pleased. After leaving Spring Mountain Court, Prince Jing went straight to Green Pine Court. He gave the Princess Consort another round of instructions. Naturally, what he said to her was different from what he had told Xie Run. Having settled everything, Prince Jing entered the palace early the next morning to seek an audience with His Majesty. Whatever Prince Jing said to the Emperor, the Emperor directly issued an edict ordering him to proceed to Yunzhou to oversee disaster relief. Chunjuan had just returned from gathering information and hurriedly told Xie Run: "I'd barely finished gathering the news when the main gates were shut!" The opening and closing of the mansion's main gates had always been subject to the orders of Prince Jing and the Princess Consort. Xie Run had been amusing Taotao when she heard this, and asked: "Has something major happened?" Chunjuan quickly relayed the news she had heard. "His Majesty has issued an edict, ordering the Prince to leave the capital immediately and head to Yunzhou for disaster relief." "Now everyone inside and outside the palace is discussing that the Prince, having fallen out with Prince Su, no longer wishes to remain in the capital, and so specifically requested the edict to leave." During the period of falling out with Prince Su, Prince Su's mansion had frequently sent visiting cards over, intending to offer a way down. If Prince Jing had taken that step down, the two sides could naturally have reconciled. But Prince Jing refused to take it. Prince Su had considered visiting in person, performing a display of humble apology to win himself a good reputation. But he feared Prince Jing's stubborn temperament would refuse to accept his overture. Then Prince Su would truly lose face. And so, one unwilling to step down, the other reluctant to lose face, the two brothers remained deadlocked. Chunjuan added: "There are also those saying the Prince angered His Majesty and was thus banished to Yunzhou." "Disaster relief always requires much preparation, yet His Majesty ordered immediate departure without giving the Prince money or supplies—how is he to carry out relief empty-handed?" The moment Chunjuan thought of this news, her face fell with worry. "Fortunately, the Princess Consort had already prepared the things the Prince would need for travel. Now that the Prince has received the supplies, he didn't even return to the mansion—he went straight to Yunzhou." Xie Run listened, thinking to herself that this imperial edict was likely something Prince Jing himself had requested. In a few more days, the Eighth Prince would meet with misfortune. When that happened, Prince Su and the Empress would be implicated. If Prince Jing didn't flee now, when would he? It was just that the timing was too coincidental. Xie Run was now certain that either Fang Yuan'er or Wan Linlang—one of the two—had adopted the persona of a 'prophet.' Or perhaps both had done so simultaneously. Finding out the truth was simple. She only needed to wait until Prince Jing returned in triumph, and whoever benefited most in the inner court would reveal the answer.