Chapter 136

Chapter 136 Prince Jing, a marginal prince, had never been able to insert himself into the true center of power. His departure was like a stone sinking into the bottom of a lake—stirring a few ripples before returning to stillness. The moment Prince Jing left, the Princess Consort closed the gates. Aside from a few obligatory banquets, she declined everything else. The entire Prince Jing estate kept a low profile, rarely venturing out. Xie Run focused on raising her child, watching Taotao grow chubbier day by day, which filled her with a deep sense of accomplishment. On the fifth day after Prince Jing's departure, Chunjuan rushed in with urgent news. "Mistress, something terrible has happened!" Xie Run remained perfectly calm. "What happened?" "The Eighth Prince fell from his horse." Xie Run paused, feigning surprise. "The Eighth Prince fell from his horse? A perfectly healthy person—how did he end up falling from a horse?" "Do you know how he is now?" Chunjuan was scared half to death by the news, her forehead covered in sweat. "I heard that the Eighth Prince found the palace too stifling, so he invited the Seventh Prince to go horse racing in the outskirts." "But who would have thought—as he galloped along, before he even left the imperial city, his horse was startled and charged straight into a wall." "The Eighth Prince fainted on the spot." "When the Emperor heard the news, he was furious." "When the Son of Heaven is enraged, corpses float for a hundred li." Xie Run's brows carried a hint of gravity. "Let's just hope the Eighth Prince is all right." Though she said this aloud, Xie Run knew that the Eighth Prince likely didn't have long to live. "That's what everyone is thinking." "If anything happens to the Eighth Prince, who knows how furious His Majesty will be..." Xie Run had someone bring Chunjuan a cup of tea, while she herself lounged lazily against the bed. But in her heart, she was thinking that the struggle for succession had finally begun. The Eighth Prince's fall from his horse this time was likely a matter of life and death. With the Emperor enraged and launching an investigation, neither Prince Su nor the Empress would escape blame. A three-way struggle—it remained to be seen who would come out on top. Xie Run specifically summoned Dantao to give her instructions. "Three days from now is Taotao's full-month banquet. Tell the Princess Consort that we'll just set up one table of wine and have a small celebration in the courtyard." "In times of trouble, avoid whatever can be avoided." Dantao agreed, but she felt deeply sorry for her Fifth Young Master. "The full-month banquet is one thing, but looking at the current situation, who knows whether the hundred-day banquet can even be held?" "Fifth Young Master is as lovely as snow and jade, yet the people outside just won't stay quiet, and he suffers all sorts of grievances for no reason." Xie Run found it amusing. "He eats when he's awake and sleeps when he's full—what grievances could he possibly have?" "It's you all who dote on him and overthink things. That's what's creating grievances where none exist." Dantao was slightly annoyed. "This servant is just worried about Fifth Young Master, and you, his mother, are mocking this servant." "Alright, alright, my fault." Xie Run smiled helplessly. "I'm just saying that such a small matter shouldn't be called a grievance. In times of trouble, if any rumors spread, it won't be good for either of you or me." Dantao nodded. "This servant understands. I only mentioned it in front of you." As the two were talking, Xiaoshu, who had just returned to Chunshan Courtyard, came back in a huff. Dantao was curious. "Didn't you take the little maid to fetch the meal? What happened?" "Don't even mention it—someone almost snatched away the mistress's meal!" Xiaoshu was furious. Dantao asked curiously, "Who would be so bold as to try and snatch the mistress's meal?" Given Xie Run's current level of favor, the only person in the Prince Jing estate's inner quarters who could compete with her even slightly was Fang Yuan'er. But Fang Yuan'er had always been proud and would never stoop to such petty tricks to disgust people. Xiaoshu gritted her teeth. "Who else could it be? Our estate's one and only Side Consort." "The dishes were already prepared in the kitchen, but someone from Songya Courtyard insisted that Consort Jiang liked them and reached out to take them." "Luckily I was quick and packed up the mistress's meal ahead of time." Dantao was silent for a moment. "The Prince has only just left, and Consort Jiang is already starting to stir up trouble?" Consort Jiang was still under House Arrest at the moment. Dantao and Xiaoshu had seen plenty of people in the estate who stirred up trouble in secret, but when it came to openly and brazenly disgusting people like Consort Jiang did, she was the only one. Xiaoshu snorted lightly. "Exactly. Seems like she hasn't learned her lesson from last time." "Now that the Prince is gone, she's getting cocky again." "She probably thinks that besides the Princess Consort, she's the top dog in the estate—who else would she be afraid of?" Given Jiang Baobao's temperament, everyone in the inner quarters was certain she couldn't stay quiet. Because of what happened before, Jiang Baobao had formed a grudge against Xie Run, and everyone was waiting to see the drama once her House Arrest ended. But no one expected that while still under House Arrest, Jiang Baobao was already starting to make her move. Xiaoshu asked, "Sister Dantao, should we tell the mistress about this?" Dantao nodded. "Of course we should." "Since Consort Jiang has set her sights on the mistress's meal, this is probably just the beginning." "Once the mistress knows about this, she can be prepared." By the time Xie Run finished her meal, she had heard the whole story from Xiaoshu and Dantao. She thought quietly for a moment, then said, "No rush. Let's see what she does next." Xie Run had been postpartum for nearly a month now. With Prince Jing away, she planned to complete a full two-month confinement. She only hoped Jiang Baobao would cause trouble later rather than sooner—at least until her body had recovered before she had to go into battle. The people from Songya Courtyard failed once in their attempt to snatch the meal, and made no other moves for a short while. Xie Run simply had people keep watch on Songya Courtyard. To her surprise, she discovered that this Consort Jiang was truly a peculiar one. Her restlessness wasn't directed solely at Xie Run—it was aimed equally at every woman in the household. First, she had her people try to snatch Xie Run's dishes, and then she summoned the newly arrived Concubine Lian to her own courtyard to bully her. Concubine Lian had only served Prince Jing for a single night at Drunk Heaven Pavilion, and after entering the household, she had never once seen Prince Jing again. Because of her unsightly background, none of the other concubines in the household were willing to associate with her. Even the maidservant assigned to attend her didn't put much effort into her care. Concubine Lian was completely in the dark, treading carefully through the household, and knowing nothing about the only Side Consort in residence. When Consort Jiang's people came for her, she followed in a state of fearful deference. Once she arrived at Songya Courtyard, she was naturally at their mercy. Xiaoshu was always the most well-informed. No sooner had Concubine Lian left Songya Courtyard than Xiaoshu came to Xie Run to report the news. "I heard Concubine Lian left Songya Courtyard in tears, constantly rubbing her arm as if in great pain. Who knows what methods Consort Jiang used to torment her." Xie Run was drinking a medicinal tonic meant to regulate her body. The bland flavor seemed to gain some savor because of Xiaoshu's words. She asked in confusion, "How dare she be so brazen?" Her House Arrest hadn't even been lifted, and she was already openly bullying the concubines in the household.