Chapter 194

Chapter 194 "The Duke of Ying holds command of the Dingbei Army and comes from a lineage of generations of distinguished service. This Consort Sun... her status is truly noble." Xie Run smiled. "From now on, the status of the women in this household will only grow more exalted." The closer Prince Jing drew to the center of power, the greater his weight would become, and along with it, the women at his side and the forces behind them would only expand. Things were fine now, of course—but the future was unknowable... Xiaoshu said, "Mistress, wasn't there word some days ago that the Heir Apparent of Zhenguo Mansion rode his horse recklessly and injured people... and among those injured was a young lady of the Duke of Ying's household." "They say she was kind-hearted, personally going out to distribute porridge to the poor, when misfortune struck out of nowhere." Xie Run said, "Then she's the one." She smiled as she looked at her two maids. "If a side consort with a compassionate heart comes to our household, that would truly be a wonderful thing." Xiaoshu and Dantao looked at their mistress's smile and felt something was off. Dantao said softly, "This time, the Emperor didn't just bestow a side consort upon our Prince—he also bestowed them upon Prince Wei and Prince An." "Prince Wei's household already had four side consorts, far exceeding the regulations. Now another has been granted, and everyone is waiting to see the spectacle." If even the Emperor himself took the initiative to bestow side consorts beyond the prescribed limits, then how could the Zongren Mansion continue to refuse, on the grounds of upholding regulations, to add Consort Liang and the others of Prince Wei's household to the Jade Plate? But if the Zongren Mansion actually did add Consort Liang to the Jade Plate, opening that door, then descendants would follow suit, each establishing four or five side consorts—where would the royal family's rules stand? When the Emperor at the top does something that breaks the rules, and those below follow his example, then that rule has effectively become a dead letter. Xie Run listened and felt a pang of reflection. Suddenly she remembered something. "I recall—didn't Prince An's household also have two side consorts? With a new one suddenly added, why haven't I heard any news about it?" Xiaoshu said softly, "That Consort Wu of Prince An's household made a mistake some days ago and was demoted to Concubine Consort." Xie Run lowered her eyes to the plum blossoms on the painting, still in bud, and said quietly, "How coincidental." "Isn't it?" A deep male voice suddenly cut in. Xie Run looked up curiously and saw Prince Jing entering through the lifted curtain. She approached and bowed, then glanced at the sky outside. "The Prince has come quite early today." Prince Jing stood by the brazier, warming himself, and gave a light scoff. "Fifth Brother's table manners are too unsightly." Xie Run's expression remained neutral as she glanced at the people around her. The maids took the hint and filed out, leaving Xiaoshu and Dantao to attend within. Xie Run chided him gently, "The Prince's speech grows more unrestrained by the day—there are still young maids present." Prince Jing took her hand and said casually, "Fifth Brother, in order to curry favor with Imperial Father, found an excuse to demote his beloved Consort Wu to Concubine Consort. That makes Third Brother and me look inconsiderate by comparison, leaving Imperial Father to bear the criticism." Xie Run only said softly, "This wife believes that whatever the Prince does, there is reason behind it." As if feeling the words lacked flavor, she added gently, "You have your own judgment and your own principles!" When praising someone, one shouldn't speak bland words that anyone could say—one must be precise, and ideally strike straight at the heart. Otherwise, even the speaker finds it dull, and the listener finds it duller still. Prince Jing laughed heartily, swept his long arm around Xie Run, and pulled her into his embrace, planting a kiss on her. Xie Run was quite surprised. "Has the Prince been so overjoyed at taking a new side consort that he's lost his senses?" After all, Prince Jing was usually quite reserved during the day and never did anything out of line. Holding her hand in front of the maids was already the limit. And today he actually kissed her in front of Dantao and Xiaoshu? A hint of grievance crept into Prince Jing's smile. "In your eyes, am I really such a lustful, brainless man?" Xie Run hurried to soothe him. "Of course not. In this wife's eyes, the Prince is the most capable and brilliant man of all." Prince Jing was delighted by the praise, though he kept his composure. He shifted the topic and said, "So, you're jealous, aren't you?" Xie Run paused. "If you say so, then yes." Prince Jing: "A dead duck with a hard beak!" Xie Run: "..." Seeing Xie Run at a loss for words, the smile in Prince Jing's eyes grew even stronger. Clearly, he had been suppressed too much lately—today he was genuinely happy. "Some time ago, Fifth Brother and I went to attend Imperial Father during his illness. Imperial Father hinted this way and that about establishing a Crown Prince. Fifth Brother couldn't contain himself and desperately tried to please Imperial Father, which is why he did this business of demoting and promoting." Prince Jing gave a light scoff. "But he never stopped to think—is Imperial Father the kind of man who needs a dutiful son to fawn over him?" Prince Jing wanted that position too, but he never deigned to disguise himself. Human nature is what it is—no matter how one pretends, the cracks will show. And when the Emperor sees it, he'll only think you wear one face in public and another in private. Who knows what dark intentions he might imagine you harboring. Xie Run would not echo Prince Jing's complaints about the Emperor and Prince An. Seeing that Xie Run remained silent, Prince Jing suddenly said, "Suisui, aren't you going to thank this Prince?" "Thank for what?" Xie Run raised her eyes, a hint of confusion in them. "Did I not already express my gratitude for Your Highness's last reward?" Prince Jing hinted subtly, "Fifth Brother has two Side Consorts—one was assigned by the Imperial Father during the imperial beauty selection back then, and the other is his beloved. The one who has now been demoted in rank is precisely that beloved concubine of his." Having said that, Prince Jing stared straight at Xie Run. As if to say, I've been this good to you—shouldn't you come thank me now? Of Prince An's two Side Consorts, the one assigned by the Emperor naturally came from a better family background and could aid Prince An in the struggle for succession. So to make room for the new Side Consort, the favored one had to endure some grievance first. After all, she couldn't offer Prince An any support, and her entire family still relied on his patronage. Xie Run deliberately pretended not to understand. "Your Highness, am I your beloved concubine?" Prince Jing reached out and pinched her cheek. "Am I not doting on you enough?" "If I doted on you any more, I'm afraid everyone in the rear courtyard would be gnashing their teeth at you." Xie Run curled her lips into a smile. "Yes, yes, yes! Thanks to Your Highness's protection, I've been able to enjoy such good days." "But then again, precisely because I serve Your Highness, I give my whole heart in return..." Prince Jing was instantly satisfied, every fiber of his being smoothed over. He wrapped an arm around Xie Run's waist and cast a sidelong glance at the painting on the desk. Suddenly he remarked, "This study isn't cold at all."