Chapter 235

Chapter 235 Xie Run and Fang Yuan'er had been keeping a close watch on Wan Linlang. The moment Wan Linlang and Consort Hua encountered each other in the small garden, their words fell directly into the ears of the two women. After listening, Xie Run smiled and said, "So Wan Linlang is now playing open schemes?" "Her words are unpleasant, but they are the truth. I'm afraid Consort Hua has taken them to heart and will stir up some trouble." Xiaoshu asked, "Mistress, shall we have someone keep an eye on Consort Hua?" "Keep an eye on her. I can't guess what she might do with the way her mind works." As long as Hua Yu didn't set her sights on her, Xie Run wouldn't say anything more. Fang Yuan'er had the same reaction on her end. Having suffered repeated setbacks recently, she had learned her lesson and no longer acted rashly. She simply had people watch Wan Linlang and Hua Yu. "Consort Hua aside, Wan Linlang's blatant instigation doesn't match her usual style at all. Could she be plotting something again?" "When things are abnormal, there must be something behind it. Watch her even more closely!" Unexpectedly, for several consecutive days, Hua Yu and Wan Linlang were both perfectly well-behaved. This only made people more suspicious. On the day the new Side Consort entered the residence, both Fang Yuan'er and Jiang Baobao, who were under house arrest, were specially permitted to leave their courtyards. Xie Run had the fortune to see the new Consort Sun—indeed, she was a gentle beauty. Her looks weren't top-tier, but her bearing was soft and graceful, with an air of timeless elegance. She fit everyone's expectations of the legitimate daughter of the Duke's household. During the banquet, Jiang Baobao, who had seemed somewhat listless, drank a cup of wine and suddenly began to retch. She was seated right beside Xie Run, which startled Xiaoshu into instinctively shielding Xie Run with her body, thinking she might do something. Consort Hua asked with an innocent expression, "Sister Jiang, did you eat something bad? Why are you throwing up all of a sudden?" The Princess Consort sat at the head of the table, casting a faint glance before asking in passing, "Consort Jiang, what's the matter with you?" Jiang Baobao, shedding her usual arrogant demeanor, lowered her head with a hint of shyness and said softly, "Reporting to the Princess Consort, my monthly flow hasn't come this month. I believe I may be with child." The Princess Consort raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Oh? So you're pregnant?" She said with meaningful emphasis, "Today happens to be the day Consort Sun enters the residence, and you've just discovered you're pregnant. How... doubly auspicious." Fang Yuan'er set down her chopsticks and dabbed her mouth lightly with a handkerchief. "Not pregnant before, not pregnant after, but pregnant precisely at this time. It seems Sister Jiang shares a special connection with the new Side Consort." "In the future, the two of you should interact often." Whether Jiang Baobao was truly pregnant remained to be seen, but she had chosen this exact moment to announce it—clearly intending to steal the new Side Consort's thunder. The new Side Consort had barely set foot through the door before receiving this slap in the face from Jiang Baobao. She could hardly be pleased. Xie Run thought to herself that Jiang Baobao was truly reckless. She had already been demoted to Concubine Consort and was still under house arrest, yet she was picking a fight with the newly arrived Side Consort. What on earth was she thinking? It wasn't just Xie Run who didn't understand—the looks others cast at Consort Jiang were equally meaningful. Soon, someone summoned the residence physician to take Consort Jiang's pulse. Jiang Baobao held her chin up proudly, radiating arrogance. After taking her pulse, the physician reported respectfully, "Reporting to the Princess Consort, Consort Jiang is indeed over a month pregnant. Her constitution is currently somewhat weak and will require gradual nourishment." Jiang Baobao seized the opportunity to speak with feigned grievance, "Princess Consort, the small Buddhist hall is so austere. I fear the young master in my womb has suffered greatly." She was practically directly accusing the Princess Consort of punishing her with confinement in the small Buddhist hall, causing her weakened condition that endangered the child. The Princess Consort had never been intimidated by challenges from lesser consorts. She merely looked on coldly. "This is precisely the deterrent effect of punishment." "I only hope Consort Jiang can be more prudent in the future and stop doing things that violate the rules, lest she bring trouble upon the Prince's offspring." "If Consort Jiang hadn't repeatedly erred, how would the Prince's child have suffered such hardship?" Jiang Baobao's eyes widened, and for a moment she didn't know how to retort. Or perhaps she had learned her lesson—knowing that speaking would only offend people, she simply played the victim and said nothing more. Seeing that she had finally settled down, the Princess Consort gave her a way out: "Though you have erred, the child in your womb is innocent. It cannot accompany you day after day in the small Buddhist hall reflecting on your mistakes." "For the sake of the Prince's offspring, you may return to your own courtyard for house arrest. I only hope you learn your lesson and set a good example for your child in the future." Jiang Baobao gritted her teeth, her dissatisfaction showing plainly on her face. "Are you saying, Princess Consort, that even with child, I must still be confined?" Consort Hua spoke up softly from the side, "Is pregnancy a get-out-of-jail-free card? Does it mean you're exempt from punishment? Since when does the world work that way?" "If so, then in the future, anyone who commits murder could simply claim pregnancy and be released without guilt?" Jiang Baobao shot her a venomous glare. "What business is this of yours? Sticking your nose everywhere?" "You may want to be pregnant, but can you even conceive?" Jiang Baobao was so furious she had lost her senses, lashing out indiscriminately. Consort Hua, struck where it hurt, instantly reddened with grievance, let out a soft huff, and turned her head away. This was the first time the two had bickered in such a setting. Everyone else watched in silence, pretending not to notice the strained atmosphere. The Princess Consort didn't call it out, only saying, "Eat while it's hot. It's cold out now, and with all this talking, the dishes have gone cold." Xie Run quietly picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and poked at it on her plate. She thought to herself that those two really were a perfect match. Everyone knew Jiang Baobao was going to stir up trouble, but no one expected her methods to be as simple and crude as ever. After all the lessons she'd been taught, she still hadn't learned a thing. After finishing the meal and returning, Xie Run had just sat down when she heard the news. "The banquet in the front courtyard has just ended. The servants were helping the Prince toward Consort Sun's courtyard when Consort Jiang suddenly sent someone to invite the Prince over." Xie Run asked, "There must be a reason for inviting the Prince over. What was her reason?" "She said she was pregnant and wanted to see the Prince..." Xie Run was momentarily stunned. Not even the slightest bit of subtlety? Was Jiang Baobao trying to slap Consort Sun, who had just entered the household, right in the face? "Did the Prince go see her?" The maid replied, "No. The Prince said Consort Jiang should reflect on her actions under House Arrest, and if anything happened to the child, she would be held responsible." Xie Run wasn't surprised at all—this was indeed something Prince Jing would say. She could only imagine how dark the Prince's face must have been at that moment. "Is that all?" The maid nodded. "Nothing from Consort Hua?" The maid thought for a moment, then shook her head. "During the banquet, because of a quarrel with Consort Jiang, Consort Hua was feeling down and had a few extra drinks. She was helped back to her room and has already fallen asleep." "Then you may go." "Yes."