Chapter 21

Chapter 21 Concubine Yun was already favored, and with Princess Ruyi in her hands, now that she was pregnant again, if she gave birth to a boy, she would likely be promoted directly to Concubine Consort. A Concubine Consort—that was a formal concubine registered on the royal jade records, no longer a servant who could be beaten or killed at will. Xie Run shook her head. "All formidable women, keeping it so tightly under wraps." She paused, then looked at the crab before her, struck by a sudden thought. "Could this pregnancy news of Concubine Yun's have been flushed out by these crabs?" The Princess Consort had sent crabs to every residence. The delicacy was precious, but it was also cold-natured, something a pregnant woman absolutely could not touch. Concubine Yun wanted to hide her pregnancy, but with the crabs arriving, whether she ate them or not, she couldn't keep it a secret—so she simply came out with the news? Otherwise, anyone normal would wait until the pregnancy was stable for three months before daring to announce it. Xie Run thought to herself—it seemed nothing in the rear courtyard escaped the Princess Consort's eyes. Yuli said, "Mistress is the Prince's most favored, and will have children in due time." Xie Run didn't take up that thread, instead asking about something else. "Under what circumstances in this household would family members be allowed to visit?" "Is mistress thinking of her family?" Dantao had just brought over a cup of tea and said in passing, "I haven't heard of any special rules. As long as a mistress's family comes calling, the Princess Consort generally allows the visit. After all, guests are guests—there's no reason to turn them away." Xiaoshu said softly from the side, "I heard that when Concubine Yun first became pregnant with Princess Ruyi, the Prince was overjoyed and specifically summoned the Yun family to keep her company. As for others... once, when a concubine surnamed Zhang was gravely ill, she was allowed to see her family." A concubine was, after all, not a true mistress. Once she entered the Prince's household, she was not supposed to maintain frequent contact with her family. "So it seems only pregnancy or grave illness would move the household to make an exception..." Xie Run sank into deep thought. Yuli's deed of indenture was held by the Xie family. If Xie Run wanted to send Yuli away unharmed, returning her to the Xie family was the best arrangement. But Xie Run was trapped in the rear courtyard. Without cause, she couldn't summon the Xie family—unless... the Xie family came of their own accord? She only entertained the thought briefly before letting it go. Back then, the Xie family had sent the just-drowned Xie Run into the rear courtyard without hesitation, precisely to avoid disaster. They would hardly come knocking on Prince Jing's doorstep now to court trouble. That idea would have to be shelved for the time being. When Concubine Ning heard the news, she was first incredulous, then furious. "Not a peep for years—how can she be pregnant again?!" It had been said at the time that Concubine Yun had damaged her body giving birth to Princess Ruyi. In the years since, she had served the Prince many times without the slightest sign of pregnancy. That was the only reason Concubine Ning had been able to tolerate her. Now, suddenly hearing that Concubine Yun was pregnant again, she was so angry she couldn't eat. Nanny Zhang said with difficulty from the side, "The household physician said at the time that it wasn't certain—pregnancy was still possible." Concubine Ning was beyond listening to such words. "That child in Concubine An's belly hasn't been dealt with yet, and now Lady Yun is pregnant again. My Ying'er just died—how can I watch child after child come into this household?" Nanny Zhang hastily tried to restrain her. "My mistress, how can you speak such words so carelessly?" Concubine Ning gripped her hand tightly, her well-manicured nails digging into Nanny Zhang's flesh. "Nanny Zhang, Ying'er is barely gone. I cannot bear to see other children born in this household..." Nanny Zhang said with heartache, "Rest assured, my lady. This old servant will handle it. I won't let anyone offend your eyes." Only then did Concubine Ning release her grip, letting out a deep breath. The ruthlessness in her eyes was enough to make one's heart race with fear. That day, Prince Jing did not come to Xie Run's residence, but went instead to Fang Yuan'er's Brocade Pavilion. The moment this news spread, every woman in the rear courtyard was stunned. Not to mention that Fang Yuan'er had already fallen out of favor—even if she were favored, with two pregnancies announced that very day, the Prince hadn't gone to see either one. Did this mean that in the Prince's heart, those two pregnant women ranked below Fang Yuan'er? More people privately speculated—was Fang Yuan'er's soap recipe really that good? Good enough to make the Prince change his mind and favor her once more? Xie Run... wasn't surprised in the least. After that, the Prince didn't set foot in the Forest Pavilion for a month. Aside from occasionally visiting the pregnant Concubine Yun and Concubine An, he spent all his time at the Brocade Pavilion. The household was in turmoil, but Xie Run holed up in her little courtyard, eating and drinking well—she'd even put on a few pounds. Over the course of the month, Xie Run caught bits and pieces of news. It was said that the Fang family was helping the Prince with business, opening a soap shop that truly brought in a hundred taels of gold a month. Of course, that wasn't the income of a single shop. As the Prince's earnings grew, so did Fang Yuan'er's favor. Fang Yuan'er hadn't forgotten Xie Run's friendship in her time of need. Having earned money herself, she didn't forget to send some to Xie Run. There was probably also an element of venting her frustration. Back then, every woman in the rear courtyard had accepted Fang Yuan'er's gifts. Yet when she fell on hard times, not a single person spoke up for her. Now Fang Yuan'er was holding up Xie Run as a single target, making the others green with envy, scratching their heads day after day, regretting their past choices. That kind of psychology... Xie Run didn't quite understand. But she was very happy to receive the silver, and only hoped such days would last a while longer. ... The Brocade Pavilion— Fang Yuan'er had someone watching the gate since early morning. The moment Prince Jing entered the rear courtyard, she sent for him. When Prince Jing arrived at Splendid Pavilion, his expression was far from pleasant. He favored whomever he pleased according to his own whim. If everyone were to block his path and summon him like Fang Yuan'er did, the rules of the Prince Jing Manor would become a laughingstock. Upon entering the main courtyard, Prince Jing sat down with an imposing air and asked in a deep voice, "You hurriedly summoned me here—what urgent matter is there?" Since gaining Prince Jing's exclusive favor, Fang Yuan'er had grown increasingly radiant and alluring, yet the ambition hidden in her eyes was becoming ever less concealed. She knew that being abruptly summoned would likely displease him, so she stepped forward and bowed at once. "Your Highness, I hurriedly invited you here because there is indeed an important matter to discuss!" According to the rules, a concubine could not refer to herself as qie shen (this concubine); she could only call herself nu bi (this servant). Only upon reaching the rank of Concubine Consort or Side Consort could she use qie shen. For that was the proper title of a concubine officially recorded in the imperial jade register. But Fang Yuan'er, having transmigrated here, was proud and haughty. She naturally refused to call herself a servant and always used qie shen instead. Prince Jing never cared about such trivial details, and since Fang Yuan'er hadn't offended the Princess Consort, no one made an issue of it. "Your Highness, my family sent word today that the soap recipe has been leaked..." Fang Yuan'er wore a troubled expression, hesitating as if holding something back. Prince Jing furrowed his brow but wasn't particularly angry. "That recipe isn't exactly difficult. Even if it leaked, it's only to be expected." Everyone knew full well that the soap recipe could only earn quick money. Prince Jing didn't understand why Fang Yuan'er would seek him out specifically over such a trivial matter. Seeing Fang Yuan'er hem and haw, Prince Jing knew there had to be more to it and grew somewhat displeased. "Speak if you have something to say!" This was precisely why Prince Jing would favor Fang Yuan'er but never truly take her to heart. The women in the rear courtyard always spoke this way. They thought themselves clever, putting on all sorts of airs, when in truth the thoughts and ambitions in their eyes couldn't be hidden at all—they took everyone else for fools. Even if Prince Jing favored them for a time, seeing their scheming expressions made him feel bored. Fang Yuan'er said softly, "But my elder brother discovered that the backer behind the other soap shop is the Weiyuan Marquis Ning family." Fang Yuan'er stopped just short of saying more, but Prince Jing's expression darkened considerably. Concubine Ning was precisely the legitimate youngest daughter of the Weiyuan Marquis Ning family. If a competitor had merely uncovered the recipe on their own, Prince Jing would have conceded defeat gracefully. But if there was a mole in the rear courtyard, that was a slap to Prince Jing's face. When the shop was first opened, Fang Yuan'er had kept a card up her sleeve. She only allowed the Fang family to help manage the business—they weren't even permitted to take shares. The shop belonged entirely to the Prince Jing Manor. So if Concubine Ning truly leaked the recipe, she was harming Prince Jing's interests—a clear case of biting the hand that feeds her. Prince Jing's gaze darkened slightly. "This doesn't prove it's connected to Concubine Ning. I'll have someone investigate further to see where the information actually leaked from." This statement clearly showed his partiality toward Concubine Ning. Fang Yuan'er was resentful inside, but she knew that Concubine Ning had Eldest Young Master as her support and couldn't be easily toppled. She said nothing more, only speaking with feigned understanding: "I too believe Sister Ning wouldn't do such a thing. It must be a misunderstanding." Hearing this, Prince Jing couldn't even muster a smile. Those words were too false—so false they made him sick to hear. Suddenly, Prince Jing thought of Xie Run. If it were Xie Run, she would press her lips together, looking wronged and indignant, telling him she would gloat over this rather than sympathize with Concubine Ning. This was also why Prince Jing was willing to favor Xie Run. In the end, there weren't many people in this rear courtyard who made him feel at ease, so he had to protect her. Prince Jing said he would investigate, but no news ever came. Fang Yuan'er knew that Prince Jing intended to shield Concubine Ning, and she smashed a set of tea ware in fury. But after smashing it, she actually came to terms with it. Fang Yuan'er: "It's better that she isn't punished. Concubine An's poisoning, playing mole and stealing the manor's recipe... We won't settle accounts now, but when the time comes, everything will be settled at once. I refuse to believe His Highness has that much patience to keep protecting her!" Time flew by, and before they knew it, the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived. The Prince Jing Manor had long been bustling with activity—lanterns being woven everywhere, mooncakes and osmanthus candy being made. According to custom, the Prince and Princess Consort were to enter the palace for the Mid-Autumn banquet. In the past, the Prince Jing Manor would also hold a banquet, but since the Qixi banquet last time, neither the Prince nor the Princess Consort felt at ease letting Concubine Ning organize things. So instead, each courtyard was told to set up its own table and celebrate on its own. When Xie Run received the news, she was sitting on the couch examining the flesh around her waist. Was she truly gaining weight, or could she possibly be pregnant?