Chapter 195

Chapter 195 Xie Run looked bewildered. "This concubine specifically had someone add an extra brazier, so naturally it won't be cold." Fearing her hands would get cold while painting, she had deliberately made the study toasty warm. Prince Jing's throat moved slightly. "That taste we had in the study that day—why not try it again?" Xie Run's mind went blank for a moment before she registered what Prince Jing had said. Xie Run: "...My Prince, it is winter now. If we catch a chill, it could be anything from minor to serious." Prince Jing's face was full of nostalgia. "Forget it, you do have a point." But even at night, he didn't let Xie Run off. He kept at it until the middle of the night. Drowsy and hazy, Xie Run suddenly remembered to ask, "My Prince, when does Consort Sun enter the household?" Prince Jing glanced sidelong at Xie Run, as if to say—you claim you don't care, so why are you asking now? Xie Run: "..." She was simply trying to divert Prince Jing's attention. Prince Jing said in a flat tone, "In about a month." Xie Run shook her head and sighed. "The Princess Consort is going to have her hands full." Prince Jing: "You're quite idle, with the leisure to worry about the Princess Consort?" Xie Run rested her head against Prince Jing's chest. "With the Princess Consort above me, this concubine can live her days in peace and comfort. But if the Princess Consort's health were to suffer even slightly, this concubine would be uneasy every day." Prince Jing let out a light laugh. "You certainly know how to shirk responsibility." "This concubine has always been good at being lazy—did my Prince only just realize this?" Prince Jing was also feeling sleepy and said languidly, "Right, Taotao takes after you." "He can already roll over and sit up, but he insists on rolling around sideways on the couch. Even when crawling, he only crawls twice and calls it done." When Prince Jing told him to crawl, he'd crawl twice, as if he were just going through the motions to fulfill some task. At first Prince Jing found it amusing, but after seeing it many times, he started feeling a bit annoyed. Xie Run smiled. "As long as he can crawl, that's fine." "Children all have their own temperaments. Look at him—he doesn't like crawling on ordinary days, but every time he catches the scent of food, he crawls faster than anyone." "One time Dantao wasn't paying attention, and he nearly climbed over the railing and off the couch." "This child has a sense of being still as a maiden when quiet, and swift as a fleeing hare when moving..." Xie Run glanced at Prince Jing as she spoke. "That doesn't resemble this concubine." Hearing this, Prince Jing couldn't help but fall into self-doubt. Could it really be that he takes after me? Xie Run suddenly felt like laughing. They say that once a marriage reaches a certain point, the only topic left is the children. Those words seemed to hold some truth after all. Back when Xie Run's Spring Mountain Courtyard was being renovated, Orchid Fragrance Garden had also undergone some repairs. Now that a new Side Consort was about to enter the household, there was no need for major construction—just some light decoration would suffice. Both Prince Jing and the Princess Consort found the courtyard inauspicious and wanted to change its name, so they invited a master to come take a look. Unexpectedly, after walking a full circle around the courtyard, the master suddenly pointed at Autumn Maple Courtyard. "Is there a woman in the household who is about to give birth?" Nanny Li nodded from the side. The master stroked his beard. "The woman's name should contain the character for 'flower.' This courtyard carries the killing aura of autumn." "In autumn, all flowers wither... The two are incompatible." The one whose name contained "flower" referred to Concubine Lian. The Princess Consort listened with a calm expression before saying, "You mean to say that the person in Autumn Maple Courtyard will bring harm to my Prince's offspring?" "It's not just the pregnant woman—all those with 'flower' in their names will be affected, but the pregnant woman is more fragile and will suffer greater impact." When these words came out, not only were the people in Concubine Lian's courtyard afraid, even the maidservants in the household whose names contained "flower" felt uneasy. The Princess Consort didn't believe in such talk of harm, but nine out of ten people in the household did. Upon hearing this matter, their hearts couldn't help but grow restless. The first to come crying before the Princess Consort was Consort Hua, who resided in Autumn Maple Courtyard. She collapsed tearfully before the Princess Consort. "This matter is clearly targeting this concubine!" "I heard that people lived in Autumn Maple Courtyard before—how come no one ever said she brought harm to anyone?" This referred to the former Consort Yun. "If we're really talking about harm, this concubine's birth surname is Hua (Flower). The first one to be harmed should be me, not that Concubine Lian!" Consort Hua's position in the household was now awkward. She held the rank of Concubine Consort, but because she was observing mourning, she had never served Prince Jing. She couldn't truly be considered one of Prince Jing's women. Compared to the other Side Consorts and Concubine Consorts in the household, she was naturally a notch lower. She usually kept a low profile, so she never imagined that something would suddenly fall on her head. It was one thing if she couldn't compare to the other Concubine Consorts and Side Consorts—but if she had to move courtyards for the sake of a mere concubine, how could she maintain her footing in the Prince's household in the future? When she first heard the news, Consort Hua hadn't taken it seriously. She simply thought that since the Prince's offspring were of utmost importance, she would move to another courtyard for a while and wait until Concubine Lian gave birth. It was only when the maidservant beside her reminded her that she realized someone was targeting her. If she couldn't stand her ground, she would have no say whatsoever in this household from now on! So Consort Hua chose to strike first, coming to the Princess Consort's courtyard ahead of time to lodge her complaint. The Princess Consort glanced at Consort Hua indifferently and said to Nanny Li, "Help Consort Hua up first. If there's something to discuss, speak slowly." Nanny Li acknowledged the order and quickly rose to pull Consort Hua up. "Consort Hua, if you have something to say, then say it. You came running to Green Pine Court at dawn crying, wearing mourning attire on your head. Anyone who didn't know better would think something momentous had happened here at Green Pine Court." Nanny Li was implying that Consort Hua was bringing bad luck, and she began to speak with veiled sarcasm. She thought to herself, who does things this way in the world? Even if you're in mourning, don't pin a white flower and enter someone else's courtyard, as if you're afraid you won't attract misfortune? Consort Hua understood the implication and felt even more aggrieved and indignant. Now even an old servant woman could trample on her and speak with such sarcasm, which showed how far she had fallen. If she were to move out of her residence over this so-called offense of words, who would ever respect her again? Consort Hua said tearfully, "I beg the Princess Consort to summon that master here! I want to ask her properly—for no reason at all, where exactly did I offend her?!" "Is it because my luck is bad, having moved into Autumn Maple Court where someone just died? Or is it because her luck is bad, having gotten an improper name in a brothel, and I became her stepping stone?!" With these words, she blamed three people in one breath. When the Princess Consort heard this, even the faint smile on her face disappeared. "From Consort Hua's words, are you blaming this Princess Consort for not arranging a good courtyard for you, and also blaming Consort Yun for dying in an inconvenient place, dragging you down?" "And Concubine Lian shouldn't have taken that name, sullying your pure reputation..." Nanny Li said darkly from the side, "Consort Hua's meaning is clear—when something happens, everyone is at fault except her." "When trouble arises, everyone must yield, except she doesn't need to." Nanny Li's heart and eyes were only for the Princess Consort, and she couldn't stand seeing the lower consorts speak to the Princess Consort with veiled sarcasm. That's why she couldn't help but mock coldly. The Princess Consort was also annoyed this time, but she didn't rebuke Nanny Li. She only let out a light laugh: "It seems Consort Hua and Consort Jiang should get along well. In the future, you may visit each other often." Having been in the residence for some time, Consort Hua had also heard of Jiang Baobao's "infamous reputation." She wiped her tears with her handkerchief and said pitifully, "This concubine merely spoke somewhat inappropriately—why must the Princess Consort and the nanny speak with such ridicule..." Princess Consort: "..."