Chapter 198

Chapter 198 Concubine Lu was full of gossip to share with Xie Run, and brought up something Xie Run didn't know about. "Elder Sister Xie hasn't seen Princess Ruyi in quite a while, has she?" Xie Run thought for a moment. "Indeed, it's been quite some time." "This year has been full of troubles, and since she's been living with Concubine Fang, even her birthday banquet wasn't properly held." Last year, with Consort Yun around, Princess Ruyi's birthday banquet had been held with great fanfare. Though quite a few incidents had occurred, outsiders all remarked that Prince Jing doted on Princess Ruyi. This year, because Concubine Fang wasn't favored and had little say in matters, and there was much going on in the palace, in the end it was decided that just a table of wine would be set up in Concubine Fang's courtyard. Xie Run didn't go, only sending a maid to deliver some gifts. The Princess Consort and Fang Yuan'er didn't go either; only Consort Li, Consort Jiang, and a few others went to join in the festivities. In fact, one could see from this that in the rear courtyard, mother and child's interests were one and the same. After a pause, Xie Run said, "By rights, Princess Ruyi should be four this year—shouldn't she be starting her early education in the front courtyard?" This was counting by actual years; if counting by nominal age, Princess Ruyi would be called six. Concubine Lu said softly, "It's precisely over this matter that Princess Ruyi is throwing a tantrum with Concubine Fang." "Throwing a tantrum?" Xie Run was somewhat puzzled. The Princess Ruyi she remembered was a well-behaved little girl, very endearing. She couldn't quite imagine her throwing a tantrum. Concubine Lu said, "Princess Ruyi has a few old attendants left behind by Consort Yun who don't really obey Concubine Fang's discipline, and they even like to stir up trouble between Princess Ruyi and Concubine Fang." Xie Run listened curiously from the side. "Concubine Fang wanted to raise the matter of Princess Ruyi's education, but the Prince and Princess Consort had been too busy recently. She sought an audience several times without success, and even received quite a few cold remarks." "Who would have thought that Princess Ruyi, having listened to the instigation of those around her, would come to believe that Concubine Fang wasn't doing enough—and is now sulking at Concubine Fang." Xie Run said slowly, "A child sulking is originally a small matter. But Princess Ruyi isn't an ordinary child—she's a Commandery Princess, far more noble in status than Concubine Fang. Concubine Fang can't discipline her and can only coax her... This child—raising her hasn't been easy." "Exactly so." Concubine Lu nodded repeatedly. "Princess Ruyi was originally of a mild and obedient temperament, but now, instigated by those around her, she's gained a bit of willfulness." "A couple of days ago, when she was throwing a tantrum at Concubine Fang, she smashed things and injured Concubine Fang's face." "This..." Xie Run's eyes showed some surprise. This was news she truly hadn't known at all. Concubine Lu lowered her voice as well. "It was my maid who went to fetch medicine for me and saw Concubine Fang's maid there too, so she managed to inquire a bit more." "Concubine Fang probably won't come out for some time—she'll likely wait until the injury on her face heals." "Princess Ruyi... she wasn't like this before." Xie Run still remembered Princess Ruyi's birthday last year—the little girl had been dressed up beautifully, gentle and obedient in temperament, with a round little face like a dough ball, looking just like a lucky doll from a painting. At that time, though Consort Yun had been perpetually sickly, she had cared for this daughter with great attentiveness. Everyone who saw them said envious words. Xie Run sighed. "Concubine Fang isn't Princess Ruyi's birth mother after all. With that barrier between them, the two probably can't grow close, and it's hard to discipline her either..." Concubine Lu agreed wholeheartedly. Once she started talking, she found it hard to stop. "Elder Sister Xie, do you know that yesterday, Side Consort Fang sent a maid to the front courtyard to seek an audience with the Prince, and she ran into Consort Jiang's people?" Xie Run shook her head. "I knew that Consort Jiang often sends people to the front courtyard to invite the Prince. But Side Consort Fang going to invite the Prince... I didn't know about that." Going to the front courtyard—putting it nicely, it was to invite; putting it bluntly, it was to curry favor. Though Jiang Baobao had managed to demote herself from Side Consort to Concubine Consort, she was never one to stay still. She was also afraid of being completely cast aside by Prince Jing. During the period of her punishment, she had tried every means to see Prince Jing. Every three to five days, she would send maids and matrons to the front courtyard with various things. In the past, Fang Yuan'er had cared too much about face, believing that those truly favored had no need for such displays of currying favor, and had disdained to do such things. After being punished, she was even more inclined to maintain her dignity, refusing to show any weakness. Xie Run asked, "When did this happen?" "Last night." Concubine Lu laughed. "Side Consort Fang probably still cares about face—afraid that going in broad daylight would draw gossip—so she sent someone at night." "Who would have thought she'd run into Consort Jiang's maid? Somehow the two got into an argument and started cursing each other right there on the path." Xie Run was rather astonished. "Consort Jiang... she's perked up again?" Concubine Lu covered her mouth and laughed. "I'm wondering about that myself." "After the lesson you taught Consort Jiang some time ago, she had clearly become much more subdued. Why has she suddenly stuck her head out to compete with Side Consort Fang again?" Concubine Lu guessed, "Perhaps she saw that Side Consort Fang had been punished and thought her position was weakened, so she dared to make such a scene." After all, this one was the type to be weak in the face of strength and strong in the face of weakness. Xie Run asked, "Does the Prince know?" Concubine Lu shook her head. "The two maids started arguing on the way to the front courtyard. Consort Jiang's maid knocked over the bowl of soup that Side Consort Fang's maid was carrying." "Without the soup, Side Consort Fang's maid had no choice but to turn back and report the matter to her mistress." "I'm simply curious—will Side Consort Fang swallow this insult?" Xie Run placed a chess piece. "Hard to say." As they were playing chess, a commotion suddenly arose outside. Xie Run and Concubine Lu rose to look and saw Eunuch Shian arriving with several matrons and servants, carrying a few chests. Xie Run lifted the curtain and said with a smile, "It's such cold weather—what brings you here, Eunuch?" Eunuch Shian smiled and bowed to Xie Run. "This servant pays respects to Consort Xie." "The Emperor has bestowed a new batch of fabrics. The Prince sent a portion to the Princess Consort, and another portion he ordered me to deliver promptly for Mistress Xie to choose from." "After Mistress Xie has made her selections, they will be sent to the other courtyards." Concubine Lu looked on with envy in her eyes. "The Prince truly dotes on you, sister. You are already beautiful, and if you were to have clothes made from these fabrics, you would outshine even the flowers." Eunuch Shian said with a genial smile, "I didn't expect Mistress Lu to be here as well. There was originally a share of these fabrics set aside for Mistress Lu too. Why not choose together, so we servants needn't make another trip?" Concubine Lu looked pleasantly surprised.