Chapter 209

Chapter 209 "Those people in the prince's household are such snobs. Princess Ruyi isn't even her biological daughter, and I'm carrying the Prince's child too... yet they dare to bully me like this." "The flower room knew full well that I'm allergic to lilies, yet they deliberately sent lilies over—it's nothing but kicking someone when they're down." "When it comes down to it, it's all because I did something foolish and earned the Prince's disgust. Now I'm filled with regret, but I don't know how to make amends." She quietly tugged at Wan Linlang's hand. "Please, Sister Wan, save me." Only then did Wan Linlang speak slowly, "Yuru was originally a temporary arrangement; she was bound to be transferred sooner or later. It just so happened she was assigned to Concubine Fang's courtyard." "As for the flower room staff, they have indeed been a bit too presumptuous." "Knowing you're allergic to lilies, they still sent this flower. If it harmed the Prince's offspring, their lives wouldn't be enough to compensate." Wan Linlang glanced at Suiyu. "Take some people and bring that pot of lilies back to the flower room. We can't let Sister Lian suffer this grievance in vain." Suiyu: "This servant understands." Concubine Lian finally showed a hint of a smile on her face. "Sister Wan, I knew you wouldn't stay angry with me." "Last time I was thinking wrongly. Now I know I was mistaken. I only beg you not to keep giving me the cold shoulder." Wan Linlang let out a soft sigh. "Of course not. I couldn't stop it before, and I was afraid that coming to Cloud Emerald Pavilion would irritate you, so I didn't visit." "Now that you don't mind, I'll continue coming daily to take your pulse as before, to ensure you and the child are well." Concubine Lian nodded with gratitude in her eyes. "In this rear courtyard, only Sister Wan treats me with sincerity." "Outsiders all spread rumors that Sister Wan is good to me only for the sake of the child in my belly." Concubine Lian said in a low voice, "My background isn't good, but I know one thing." "Whether someone is good or not is never proven by words alone." "No matter what outsiders say, it's you, Sister Wan, who protected me and my child safely, and it's you who made arrangements for me everywhere so I wouldn't be bullied... This great kindness, I will never forget for all my life." As Concubine Lian spoke, a trace of fierce determination crept onto her delicate, charming face. She gripped Wan Linlang's hand. "They say childbirth is like passing through the gates of hell. If one day I meet with misfortune, my child will eventually be raised by someone else." "Rather than anyone else in the rear courtyard, I'd rather it be you, Sister... For the one ounce of sincerity you've shown me, if I harbor even half an ounce of falseness, may heaven strike me down with lightning!" Wan Linlang held her hand back, a hint of heartache surfacing on her usually indifferent face. "Don't talk nonsense!" "Such words shouldn't be spoken! Take good care of your pregnancy, give birth to the child healthily. With a child as your support, are you afraid you can't trample Consort Hua down?" "And as for the grudge against Consort Jiang, there will come a day for revenge sooner or later." Concubine Lian's eyes brimmed with tears. "Sister, this time I'll listen to you." At the evening meal, Prince Jing arrived at Spring Mountain Courtyard with Eunuch Shian and a few others. Xie Run's appetite was mediocre; after a few bites she didn't want to eat anymore, so she simply fed Taotao his supplementary food on the side. When Prince Jing arrived, he saw Xie Run cheerfully stuffing some green paste-like substance into his son's mouth. Taotao was eating with great seriousness. The moment Xie Run's spoon reached his lips, he eagerly gulped it all in, his little mouth smacking away with great relish. Prince Jing had seen other children in the household eat. Only Princess Duanmin, born of Consort Li, was somewhat better; the others could barely get anything down. Not to mention how worried the mothers were—even Prince Jing, who knew nothing about such things, could tell it wasn't good for the children. Now seeing Taotao eating so heartily, he couldn't help but laugh. "This lad has a good appetite." Xie Run smiled. "Taotao has been teething lately. He loves biting things every day. These past few days he's been eating especially eagerly—it should be that when he bites something, his gums feel more comfortable." Prince Jing asked curiously, "Is he uncomfortable?" "He must be uncomfortable." Xie Run looked at her son with tender affection. "These past few days he's cried and fussed several times during the day, all because of the discomfort from teething." Prince Jing looked at his son eating with gusto and felt a bit of heartache too. "Is there no way to make him less uncomfortable?" Xie Run gave Prince Jing a curious look. "There is. Just give him something to bite on." Prince Jing: "..." After seeing their son, when the two were alone, Xie Run had someone bring a chessboard to the table and began seeking instruction from Prince Jing. Having been cooped up in the courtyard for the past year or two with too much leisure, Xie Run had been practicing everything—chess, painting, calligraphy—and had indeed improved greatly. But in Prince Jing's eyes, it was still ugly. Setting down a chess piece, Xie Run asked softly, "Prince, yesterday the Princess Consort sent Tinghe to deliver a box of Thousand Snow Incense to me." Prince Jing listened casually, tapping the hand where Xie Run had placed her piece. "Put it here." Xie Run obediently moved it to another spot, then looked up at Prince Jing with curiosity. "I didn't feel comfortable asking the Princess Consort, so I could only shamelessly come ask you, Prince." "About Xiaju falling into the water... is there someone who doesn't want to see you doing well, Prince?" Prince Jing casually placed a piece, then looked up at Xie Run with a meaningful gaze. "Rest assured, I will protect you and your son well." Xie Run's heart jolted—she knew she hadn't guessed wrong. On the surface, their target was Xiaju, but in truth, they were trying to substantiate the rumor that Autumn Maple Court was harming Concubine Lian. Otherwise, why would they have chosen so precisely—hitting upon a maid whose name, Xiaju, literally contained the character for "chrysanthemum"? Were they not afraid people wouldn't make that connection? Once the rumor was confirmed, the next step would be to move against Concubine Lian. A pregnant woman—if anything went wrong, at best both mother and child would suffer harm; at worst, both would perish. Their goal was aimed at Prince Jing's offspring. And that meant Taotao could very well become the next target. Xie Run's hand rested on Prince Jing's, her eyes brimming with worry. "My lord, I worry for Taotao, but I worry even more for you." "Out there, swords and spears clash in rain of steel—I cannot shield you from it... All I can do is pray devoutly each day for the Bodhisattva to keep you safe." Prince Jing's calloused hand clasped Xie Run's in return, his voice low and deep. "No matter how useless I may be, I would never use my own wives and concubines as shields against blades." With a single pull of strength, he drew her into his embrace. "Keep your heart at ease. I will not only ensure my own safety, but also protect you and our child for a lifetime." Xie Run's eyes were filled with adoration and reverence, as though her entire heart and mind held only Prince Jing. When Prince Jing finished speaking, overcome with emotion, Xie Run took the initiative to loop her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips. "I make this vow too—to stay by your side for a lifetime!" Prince Jing's Adam's apple shifted slightly. With one broad sweep of his arm, he gathered her into his embrace. In the process, he accidentally bumped the chessboard, and the sound startled the maidservants waiting outside. "Mistress, is something the matter?" Prince Jing said in a deep voice, "Stay outside. No need to come in." Several maidservants and eunuchs answered in unison: "Yes!" Prince Jing bent down, pressing her beneath him, and gently nibbled her earlobe. "It's too early to speak of a lifetime. Just accompany me tonight." For some reason, Prince Jing's enthusiasm for wearing her out had grown ever stronger lately. They said that in a household's inner quarters, a woman would gradually fall out of favor after giving birth. Even if she didn't lose favor entirely, her share of affection would never match what it had been before. Xie Run had already prepared herself to be gradually neglected by Prince Jing after bearing Taotao—but who would have thought that Prince Jing's interest in her seemed even stronger than before? In the past, when Xie Run couldn't take any more, two rounds would be enough for him to let her go. But lately, he demanded at least three rounds each time... Xie Run worried whether her waist could hold out until she turned thirty.