Chapter 251

Chapter 251 What Xie Run hadn't expected was that Fang Yuan'er would make her move against her first, rather than against Consort Sun, whose position was not yet secure. No, actually, she had been too careless. She should have realized it sooner. It was precisely because her foundation was unstable that Consort Sun posed no threat. Aside from her, there were few people left in the prince's household who could contend with Fang Yuan'er. If she fell, Fang Yuan'er could even secure her position as Side Consort without worry, and wouldn't need to fear anyone competing with her for a long time to come. The two moves Xie Run had set in motion soon took effect. The young maid came to report, "Consort Jiang went to the front courtyard making a scene, demanding to see the Prince, but the Prince refused to see her. He sent people to escort Consort Jiang back and also rebuked her to behave herself." But if a rebuke were enough to stop her, Jiang Baobao wouldn't have kept jumping up again and again. Prince Jing only rebuked her, which showed he wasn't all that angry. Xie Run smiled and asked, "So did the Prince see Wan Linlang then?" "Concubine Wan has been staying in the Prince's courtyard and hasn't come out." "Before Consort Jiang left, she kept muttering and shouting that the Prince was biased—willing to see a lowly concubine but not willing to see her." "As soon as the Prince's men escorted her back to her courtyard, she quietly sent someone to deliver a message to Consort Hua's courtyard." This was the idea of—if she couldn't make a fuss herself, she would incite others to do it. Xie Run raised an eyebrow. "This Jiang Baobao... her capacity for destruction is truly astonishing." She had originally planned to watch Jiang Baobao make a fuss and observe Prince Jing's attitude. Now Jiang Baobao had delivered her a pleasant surprise. No matter how much Jiang Baobao carried on, her pregnancy wasn't even stable yet. Even if Prince Jing had gone mad, he would never let her accompany him to Yunzhou. It was only natural that he refused to see her. But if Hua Yu made a fuss about wanting to go... well, that was another matter entirely. As it happened, Hua Yu's elder brother had just rendered meritorious service in Yunzhou and was making a name for himself. If Hua Yu said she wanted to see her brother, cried and pleaded a few times, and Prince Jing's heart softened, there was still some possibility. It all depended on how bold Hua Yu was. First, someone came to Spring Mountain Courtyard to report that Concubine Wan had left the front courtyard and had also stopped by to see the Sixth Young Master on the way. Then, news came from Prince Jing's side, asking for another carriage to be prepared. For this trip, Prince Jing would also be bringing Wan Linlang along. After hearing this, Xie Run could only marvel at how perfect it was. With both troublemakers leaving the prince's household, could she finally enjoy some peaceful days? The day was lively and bustling. In the evening, Prince Jing had dinner at Consort Sun's place, and Hua Yu sent someone to vie for his favor. Prince Jing was a textbook heartless flirt—as if afraid the household was too peaceful—and he actually went to Autumn Maple Courtyard. Hua Yu poured out a torrent of tears and pleas, but Prince Jing's heart remained unmoved. However, he did wave his hand generously and open the storehouse to bestow quite a few gifts upon Hua Yu as consolation. Of course, he also gave gifts to Consort Sun. Xie Run had assumed that since Prince Jing was rushing off to Yunzhou, he wouldn't come to Spring Mountain Courtyard before leaving. But who would have thought—on the morning of his departure, he arrived bright and early. He sat in the room, gazing at Xie Run for a long while, before slowly asking, "I heard that a few days ago, when you passed by Spring Forest Courtyard, you were nearly struck by a falling tile." "Why didn't you tell me about this?" Xie Run sat gracefully to one side, gently brewing tea. "Is Your Highness worried that there aren't already enough troubles in this rear courtyard?" "Must you insist on hearing your concubine prattle on about it?" Prince Jing's gaze was heavy as he looked at Xie Run. "Do you think I cannot protect you?" "When it's a matter of life and death, you kept it hidden and handled it yourself, without even bothering to inform me?" Xie Run let out a soft sigh. "Your Highness, your concubine simply worries for you." Her deep, narrow phoenix eyes gazed at Prince Jing, as if holding a pool of water, enough to make one's heart soften. Xie Run spoke in a gentle, soft voice, "Your Highness, the Princess Consort's pregnancy is unstable right now, and with no one to hold the rear courtyard together, things have already grown far more chaotic than before." "These past days, Consort Jiang and the others ran to the front courtyard to make a scene, Consort Hua ran to Consort Sun's courtyard to vie for favor... Your Highness already has more than enough worries. Your concubine doesn't wish to become one of them." She explained in detail: "The moment the tile fell, I immediately sent people to investigate Spring Forest Courtyard, and no traces of human activity were found." "It seems the craftsmen who were doing repairs a few days ago were negligent, which led to the tile falling." She spoke as if it were nothing at all, but Prince Jing's heart felt uneasy hearing it. He looked at her for a moment, then suddenly beckoned to Xie Run. Xie Run stepped forward with a puzzled expression. She had only taken two steps when Prince Jing pulled her into his embrace. Just as Xie Run was worrying that it wouldn't look good if the maidservants saw, a cold piece of iron was pressed into her hand. No, to be precise, it was a token. On it was written the character "Jing." Surprise filled her eyes and brows as she stared blankly at Prince Jing. "Your Highness, what is this?" Prince Jing only said in a deep voice, "While I'm away from the household, you'll have to manage everything during this period." "This token can mobilize the guards of the front courtyard." "If anything unexpected happens in the prince's household, you may use this token to act as you see fit, to ensure the safety of you and our child." The shock Xie Run received was somewhat overwhelming. Prince Jing was giving her command over his front courtyard guards? This was an authority not even the Princess Consort possessed! If she were to have a murderous impulse at that point, she could take advantage of the Prince being away from the rear courtyard and wipe everyone out in one fell swoop? Prince Jing then added, "I've also left people with the Princess Consort, just in case. You only need to look after yourself and Taotao for now." Xie Run suddenly sensed something from Prince Jing's words. Was Prince Jing worried about something? Otherwise, why would she, a woman of the inner quarters, need guards deployed? Unless there was a threat to her life! Xie Run's heart beat faster, and she took the initiative to hold Prince Jing's hand. "My Lord, your concubine and Taotao both pray for your safe return!" "In this life, your concubine has only you to rely on..." Prince Jing patted her hand in silent reassurance. Prince Jing's departure from the capital took away both troublemakers, Fang Yuan'er and Wan Linlang, in one stroke. Xie Run felt that even sleeping at night had become much easier. Of course, she hadn't forgotten to have people keep an eye on news from Yunzhou. Now that she managed the household, the Princess Consort didn't handle affairs, and the Prince was away from the residence, Xie Run's reach could extend as far as she wished—no need to worry about being cut off from information. On the twenty-fifth of March, Xie Run hurried to the Green Pine Courtyard at dawn. Because the Princess Consort had shown symptoms of discomfort again. After spending some time at the Green Pine Courtyard with Consort Sun and Consort Li, Nanny Li finally returned with a stern face to relay the news. "The Princess Consort is now out of danger. We've troubled the consorts and concubines for their visit today." Consort Sun, afraid of being dragged away by Xie Run again, hastily asked with concern, "The Princess Consort hasn't even reached three months of pregnancy, and this is already the second incident. Your concubine is truly worried—is there something wrong?" Nanny Li's eyes widened as she swept her gaze over Consort Sun from head to toe, and said coldly, "Is Consort Sun hoping something happens to our Princess Consort?" Consort Sun smiled lightly in explanation, "Nanny Li misunderstands. Your concubine is merely worried about the Princess Consort and wishes to know her current condition." "If I knew what the matter was, your concubine could also share some of the Princess Consort's burden." Nanny Li sneered, "No need!" "Consort Sun should keep her little schemes tucked away in her heart. Our Princess Consort is in fine health." "It's just that the maids below are easily frightened—when they saw the Princess Consort feeling unwell, they went around making a fuss. Those without experience would think it was something major." As Nanny Li made her sarcastic remarks to her face, Consort Sun hadn't said anything yet, but her maid had already shown a displeased expression. "Our mistress is only worried about the Princess Consort. Why must Nanny speak so mockingly?" "The Princess Consort has always been kind and forgiving. If she heard such rude words from Nanny, she would only be more upset." Nanny Li shot a glare sideways, about to seize on the maid and give her a scolding, when Xie Run stopped her. "Nanny, hurry back and attend to the Princess Consort." "If we keep arguing out here and disturb the Princess Consort, it would only make us seem unwelcome."