Chapter 342

Chapter 342 But Xiaofu was also afraid that if she spoke up and the Emperor ultimately refused to let her mistress raise the child, her mistress would only feel even worse. The palace and the prince's mansion were, after all, different places. Just then, Princess Ruyi emerged from around the corner with her attendants. Upon seeing Wu Baolin, Princess Ruyi dutifully performed a salute: "Greetings, Wu Baolin." "This must be Princess Ruyi, isn't it?" Wu Baolin said with a smile on her face. "As befits a princess, you are truly clever and bright." When she had first moved here, she had clashed with Talented Lady Ye, and later been mocked during the morning greetings, which had upset her so much that it affected her pregnancy. She had spent the past days confined to bed to protect the pregnancy, and this was actually the first time she had seen the First Princess. Though Princess Ruyi was still young, she had become much more composed and well-behaved these days. Her hair was styled in two buns, and her appearance was both proper and endearingly childlike. Princess Ruyi's gaze fell upon Wu Baolin's slightly swollen belly, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Is the child in Wu Baolin's belly my imperial younger brother?" Wu Baolin humbly replied, "It may not be a younger brother; it could also be a younger sister." Princess Ruyi said, "Everyone says Wu Baolin is carrying an imperial younger brother, so Imperial Father will have another son." Hearing a child's words, Wu Baolin was naturally pleased. "Then I shall accept the princess's auspicious words." Princess Ruyi smiled. "Concubine Fang is still waiting for me, so I won't disturb Wu Baolin any longer." Wu Baolin quickly said, "Not at all, not at all!" After Princess Ruyi left, Wu Baolin stroked her belly and gazed at the retreating figure. It was a long while before she heard herself murmur softly, "Perhaps... a princess would be better." Xiaofu vaguely caught the words and looked at her mistress with curiosity. "Mistress doesn't hope for a prince?" Wu Baolin said, "The Emperor treats princes and princesses the same, but others do not. If I give birth to a prince, the Nine Concubines above will certainly all come to fight over him. But if it's a princess... perhaps they won't care, and I might still be able to raise her myself." Xiaofu wanted to offer words of comfort, but didn't know where to begin. After all, Wu Baolin's concerns were not without reason. As they were talking, Wu Baolin suddenly asked, "I heard that Princess Ruyi wasn't born to Concubine Fang either?" "Then how is she able to raise a princess?" "When she was in the prince's mansion, she was nothing more than a concubine." Wu Baolin had entered the prince's mansion late, and without connections or silver to pave the way, much of the news had escaped her. Xiaofu said, "This servant doesn't know either." Wu Baolin thought for a moment. "Go and find out for me. Perhaps, if I learn how Concubine Fang managed it, I might also be able to raise my own child?" Xiaofu nodded immediately. Meanwhile, Princess Ruyi arrived at Concubine Fang's pavilion and called out as soon as she entered, "Aunt Fang?" Concubine Fang was embroidering, and at the sound of the voice, joy crept into her eyes and brows. She quickly set down her embroidery and rose to receive Princess Ruyi. "Why are you a little later today than the past few days?" Princess Ruyi was now over five years old, nearly six by nominal age. Under the arrangements of the Emperor and Empress, she had already begun attending the Imperial Study. But fearing that she was still young and that the servants below might bully their young mistress, the Emperor and Empress had discussed it and allowed her to continue residing in Concubine Fang's courtyard. Concubine Fang took Princess Ruyi's hand and led her aside to wash her hands and face. "The Imperial Kitchen just sent over a plate of pinewood-roasted squab. They said it's best eaten while hot." A childlike smile appeared in Princess Ruyi's delicate, lovely eyes. "I ran into Wu Baolin on the way and exchanged a few pleasantries." Before Concubine Fang could even finish drying her hands, Princess Ruyi had already rushed to the table. "The squab smells wonderful." Concubine Fang said with a smile, "Don't rush. There's plenty for you." At the table, Concubine Fang barely ate herself, spending the whole time picking food for Princess Ruyi. Watching Princess Ruyi eat with such relish, she felt happy just looking at her. A person who was usually quiet and subdued finally seemed to have some life in her again. When she had first taken in Princess Ruyi, it had been a one-sided effort on Concubine Fang's part. Princess Ruyi hadn't really accepted her and had been awkward about it for quite some time. There had even been a rift between them because of Consort Yun's matter. But the human heart is made of flesh. She had cared for Princess Ruyi with all her heart, and finally earned the princess's recognition. Now, the way the two of them got along truly had something of a mother-daughter feel to it. After the meal, Princess Ruyi brought up Wu Baolin's matter. "If Wu Baolin gives birth to an imperial younger brother, will he be sent to be raised by one of the other consorts?" Concubine Fang said, "Most likely. As a Baolin, she has no qualification to raise a child herself." After a pause, Concubine Fang smiled again. "Though it's not entirely without other possibilities. If the Emperor shows special favor, she could raise the child herself, just as I did." Princess Ruyi immediately said, "How could Wu Baolin compare to Aunt Fang?" "Aunt Fang is one of Mother's trusted people from long ago. It was Mother herself who personally assigned you to raise me, and Imperial Father agreed as well." Hearing these words from Princess Ruyi, Concubine Fang's heart felt as sweet as if she had drunk honey. It seemed that even a lifetime would be worth it for just this one sentence. A woman in the harem without favor leads too lonely a life. Having a child by one's side to pass the time makes the days far more bearable. As time passed, her entire joy and sorrow became locked onto the child. Concubine Fang asked curiously, "What did you say to Wu Baolin?" Princess Ruyi replied, "Nothing much, but Wu Baolin seems reluctant to give birth to an Imperial Brother? Don't all the people in the palace hope to bear an Imperial Son for Imperial Father?" Since attending the Imperial Study, Princess Ruyi had met more people and often heard gossip. As she grew older, she understood more and more, no longer the ignorant child she once was. Concubine Fang had no intention of discussing palace trivialities with Princess Ruyi, but then thought of how she would also have to live in the palace in the future. She feared that if Princess Ruyi remained naive, she might inadvertently offend others with her words. "Among those in high positions now, aside from Consort Zhaode, none have children." "If Wu Baolin gives birth to a son, I'm afraid someone will rush to claim the child. If she gives birth to a daughter, it might be better." Princess Ruyi nodded. She took the initiative to hold Concubine Fang's hand, "When I returned just now, I saw Aunt Fang embroidering. Why don't you light a few more lamps?" "Although the sun sets early now, the room becomes pitch dark once the time comes. Be careful not to hurt your eyes. One day I'll ask Imperial Father to exchange for a better pavilion for us." Concubine Fang instinctively wanted to refuse, but feared hurting Princess Ruyi's filial intentions. She only gripped the little hand tightly, tears in her eyes, and said repeatedly, "Alright. Aunt Fang noticed your clothes are a bit tight. The Emperor just gifted you two bolts of fabric, so I thought I'd hurry and make you a new set." "In the future, I'll be more careful. Aunt Fang must protect her eyes, so she can watch you grow up and marry well." The matter of Wu Baolin encountering Princess Ruyi was but a trivial affair in the harem. But those eyeing Wu Baolin's belly were more than just one or two. Xie Run never expected that this matter would become entangled with her. Within a few days, both Noble Lady Xian and Consort Li came to visit her. In their words, they both brought up the matter of the child in Wu Baolin's belly. Noble Lady Xian was one thing. Back then, the Empress Dowager wanted to elevate her to compete with the Empress, but the Emperor helped the Empress suppress the Empress Dowager, and she was unknowingly completely neglected. A person who was once greatly favored. More than half the month had passed, and the Emperor had not even gone to see her once. As batches of new people entered the harem, she suddenly realized that she had never even enjoyed great favor before losing it. It was understandable that she now had the desire to raise a child. But this Consort Li... Even Yueya'er couldn't understand: "Consort Li only just entered the palace, and she came in at the Fei rank. She's in the prime of her youth and beauty. She should be thinking about having her own child, so why does she suddenly think of raising someone else's?" "Those without favor, those who can't bear children, wanting to raise someone else's child is normal, but someone like Consort Li... this servant doesn't understand." Xie Run was idly arranging flowers, and although her skill wasn't great, her unique color combinations gave it a distinctive style. She smiled and clipped a flower stem, "It's not just you who doesn't understand? Ben Gong doesn't understand either." "In the eyes of anyone in the harem, this is puzzling." "After Consort Li entered the palace, although the Emperor never favored her, when she bullied Fang Yuan'er, the Emperor always took her side." "No matter what, she shouldn't be in such a hurry to raise someone else's child, right?" Speaking up to this point, Xie Run paused: "No!" "She is the princess of the Luosha Kingdom. Why has the Emperor not favored her after all this time in the palace?!" Only now did Xie Run realize this was amiss. Yueya'er softly reminded, "Lady, Consort Wen entered the palace together with Consort Li, and Consort Wen has also never attended the Emperor's bed." Xie Run: "The Emperor didn't enfeoff Consort Wen because he fancied her, but out of respect for the Empress, taking her in. Now that relations with the Xia Dynasty are strained, it's normal that he doesn't want to favor Consort Wen." But the Luosha Kingdom had now defected to the Yu Dynasty, becoming the Emperor's ally. Regardless, the Emperor should have made some gesture. Yet he truly had never once gone to Chonghua Palace to visit Consort Li. Xie Run put down her scissors and straightened her back, feeling that something was wrong with this matter—everything about it was wrong! The suspicion she had just ruled out surged back into her heart. But it still didn't add up. If Consort Li were Wan Linlang, then the Emperor's abnormal refusal to favor her would prove that the Emperor knew everything, wouldn't it? If the Emperor truly knew everything, how could he allow Wan Linlang to play tricks right under his nose?! The deeper she speculated, the more confused Xie Run became. A nameless panic rose in her heart, like having both legs dangling high in the air, never able to touch the ground. Clearly, she had always treated the matter of Wan Linlang like listening to a story, never truly worrying about it in the slightest. Subconsciously, Xie Run understood that what she worried about was never Wan Linlang—it was the Emperor. Among all the mysteries, the one most difficult to see through was the Emperor. Just then, Xiaoshu, who was attending at the side, softly reminded, "Lady, this isn't strange, is it? Even Concubine An has never attended the Emperor's bed." "Since the war between Yu and Xia began, the Emperor has rarely visited the rear palace, and the new concubines sent in have never been favored." During this period, the Emperor had only stayed overnight at Fanghua Palace, occasionally coming to see Xie Run and the others who had borne children. Xie Run's expression was somewhat melancholy. "Perhaps I'm overthinking things." She had just finished discussing this with those around her when Fang Yuan'er arrived the very next day. They were old acquaintances, so Fang Yuan'er got straight to the point: "I want to raise the child in Wu Baolin's belly." Xie Run opened her mouth, not knowing what to say. Their eyes met, and after a moment, Xie Run spoke gently: "That's something you should discuss with the Emperor." "The Emperor won't allow it." "If you know the Emperor won't allow it, then why come to me? I don't have that kind of influence." Xie Run had assumed Fang Yuan'er had come to ask for her help. But Fang Yuan'er said, "I came to you simply to talk. Besides, while you can't help me, you could easily ruin my plans." Xie Run smiled. "I'm not as idle as you. I don't spend my days scheming." Fang Yuan'er smiled, though a faint shadow of gloom lingered between her brows. "I lost a prince. The Emperor owes me some compensation." "I had selfish motives back then, but in the end, I only wanted to protect my son." Though Fang Yuan'er's words were directed at Xie Run, they sounded like she was trying to comfort herself. Xie Run watched her quietly. "Those words won't convince the Emperor." No matter what Fang Yuan'er thought, it didn't matter—only the Emperor's thoughts counted. Fang Yuan'er curled her lips, her tone carrying a hint of a sigh: "Yes, I can't convince the Emperor..." After a pause, she suddenly added, "The Empress's health is failing." Xie Run's heart skipped a beat, though her face remained composed. "Have you lost your mind?" "Cursing the Empress—if anyone hears you, you may escape the death penalty, but you won't escape punishment!" "Why are you so worked up?" Fang Yuan'er said calmly, not noticing that Xie Run was putting on an act, and patiently explained, "I'm not cursing the Empress. I'm just stating a fact. Believe it or not." Xie Run's expression shifted, seeming both fearful and uneasy, yet also somewhat pained. Fang Yuan'er's gaze was indifferent. "You're close to the Empress, she looks after you, and you hold the highest rank in the palace besides her." "With the Empress here, the rear palace remains peaceful, and you can live your comfortable life without many daring to cross you." "Once the Empress is gone, you'll be the most conspicuous target. Can you still live as peacefully as you do now, a favored consort untouched by the mire?" Xie Run's expression grew more serious, but a faint smile suddenly surfaced. Her voice was soft as she slowly asked, "Actually, there's something I've wanted to ask you for a long time." Fang Yuan'er sat upright with composure. "If I can speak of it, I will." Xie Run: "Besides the things that came to light, you've schemed against me plenty over the years, haven't you?" Fang Yuan'er's expression faltered slightly, then returned to normal in an instant. She didn't answer Xie Run's question, instead countering, "And what about you? Are you really as pure and innocent as you appear before the Emperor?!" By the end, Fang Yuan'er's tone carried a hint of accusation and unspoken resentment. Xie Run smiled. "I have a clear conscience." "What about you?" Those two simple words left Fang Yuan'er stunned. After a long moment, she affirmed, "In this life, I too have a clear conscience." "Then that's for the best." Xie Run said softly, then called out, "Someone, see the guest out." After having Fang Yuan'er escorted away, Dantao asked in confusion, "My lady, what did you mean by those words just now?" Xie Run sat in her chair for a long while before speaking slowly: "I've been favored for quite some time. On the surface, everyone respects me, but who knows what goes on behind the scenes?"