Chapter 36

Chapter 36 Dantao said, "In the few months since she entered the residence, Mistress Fang's methods have grown more and more refined. And now that she's with child, no one can truly hold her to account." Xiaoshu nodded. "Though Concubine Wan is the unlucky one." "I heard the maids and matrons discussing it today, saying that Concubine Wan not only doesn't understand the rules, but she's also tactless. When the Concubine Consort was teaching her proper conduct, she went and offended the Prince's offspring." How could a concubine who had just entered the residence without even receiving the Prince's favor be compared to a Concubine Consort carrying his child? The winds of the rear courtyard all blew in Fang Yuan'er's direction. Wan Linlang suffered a punishment for nothing and gained a bad reputation to boot. In their first clash, Fang Yuan'er emerged victorious by a wide margin. Xia Chi Courtyard— When Prince Jing heard that Fang Yuan'er's pregnancy had been disturbed, he rushed over at once to see her. Fang Yuan'er played her part to the fullest, having dusted powder on her face beforehand so she truly looked as though her pregnancy had been affected. She said with grievance, "I heard she didn't offer tea to the Princess Consort, and I feared the household might look down on her, so I went especially to visit her, hoping to make friends." "Who would have thought that Lady Wan would be so arrogant, addressing me by name without any respect, showing me utter contempt." As Fang Yuan'er spoke, tears began to fall. "She didn't appreciate my kindness, and I grew angry, so I made her kneel as punishment." "I suppose I was too furious, and I started feeling unwell on the way back..." Prince Jing's brows were tightly knit, and it was unclear whether he believed Fang Yuan'er's words. After listening to her tearful complaints for some time, Prince Jing finally said, "What standing do you have? Why bother contending with a mere concubine?" "If she doesn't follow the rules, you simply inform the Princess Consort, and she will mete out the punishment. By going yourself, you only lower your own status—aren't you afraid of being laughed at?" Prince Jing's words showed both his disdain for Wan Linlang and his displeasure with Fang Yuan'er's actions. Fang Yuan'er knew this, but she simply couldn't stand Wan Linlang and needed to vent the anger in her chest. Seeing that Prince Jing wasn't truly angry, she immediately switched to soft, gentle words, coaxing him sweetly. Prince Jing stayed for the midday meal at Xia Chi Courtyard. Because Fang Yuan'er had gone to bully someone and faced no punishment, the rear courtyard all assumed she was quite favored by Prince Jing and that he would likely return to her chambers that evening. But as it happened, when Prince Jing entered the rear courtyard that night, he happened upon Concubine Han and settled in Pearl Pavilion. When Fang Yuan'er received the news, she gave a cold snort. "That Concubine Han certainly has skill!" In the original book, Concubine Han and Concubine Li had entered the residence at the same time. It was also a chance encounter, and she served the Prince a step ahead of Concubine Li. Many people privately cursed Concubine Han as a vixen. When Wan Linlang at Embroidery Moon Pavilion heard that Prince Jing had stayed in Concubine Han's chambers, the light in her eyes dimmed considerably. Deep disappointment and fear coiled around her heart. Changed! Everything had changed! Prince Jing had changed! The Princess Consort had changed! The situation in the rear courtyard had changed completely! Having arrived in haste only two days prior, Wan Linlang had only managed to gather rough information—she knew there were three Concubine Consorts in the residence, two of whom were pregnant, one being Fang Yuan'er. All her attention had been drawn to Fang Yuan'er. Today she spent some silver to inquire more carefully and suddenly discovered that something was off everywhere. Where had this pregnant Concubine Xie come from?! She knew a little of this Concubine Yun from her previous life, but shouldn't she have died long ago?! In her last life, both Xie Run and Concubine Yun had been minor cannon fodder. Wan Linlang knew of Lady Yun only because, when she herself had failed to conceive for a long time after entering the residence, those around her had suggested she adopt Princess Ruyi. Naturally, that brought up the matter of Princess Ruyi's birth mother, Lady Yun, who had died from a miscarriage. If that were all, it would be one thing. But Lady Han and Lady Li, whom Wan Linlang had once regarded as her greatest threats, were merely concubines?! In her previous life, those two had entered the residence half a month before Wan Linlang. When Wan Linlang made her grand entrance into the residence with Prince Jing, those two had their favor stolen away, and conflict between the parties was inevitable. Just as Fang Yuan'er had suffered greatly at Wan Linlang's hands. Wan Linlang had also taken no small amount of losses from those two. It was only later, when she resorted to poison and quietly crippled Lady Han and Lady Li, that she brought about her own death... Soon, Wan Linlang received more news. The Prince had decreed that whichever of Concubine Han or Concubine Li conceived first would be promoted to Concubine Consort. Wan Linlang shuddered. The residence already had three Concubine Consorts. If another one came, the four Concubine Consort positions would be completely filled. And her own path to promotion would be entirely blocked! Was she to remain a concubine for the rest of her life? Wan Linlang naturally refused to accept this. She had been reborn for one purpose—the Phoenix Throne, second only to the sovereign! If she were pinned down at the concubine rank, even if Prince Jing later ascended the throne, what rank could he possibly give her? A Lady of Beauty would be the absolute ceiling! Above Lady of Beauty were Lady of Handsome Fairness, the Nine Concubines, Fei... The distance to the empress position was simply too vast. In that moment, Wan Linlang clearly perceived that her path in this life was even harder than in the last. She nearly bit through her lip in frustration. "Fang Yuan'er, Lady Han, Lady Li... I will deal with every single one of you in due time!" In the Prince Jing's rear courtyard, everyone harbored grand ambitions. Only Xie Run closed her doors and lived her own life, utterly at ease. As the sun was setting, Bajie, the eunuch beside Prince Jing, suddenly arrived, delivering two chests of goods. Eunuch Bajie said, "The Prince says these are rewards for Mistress Xie alone." Xie Run, receiving rewards out of the blue, was rather taken aback by the unexpected favor. Now that the prince's household had a steady stream of new concubines, it was no small feat that Prince Jing still remembered her. Baxi added, "His Highness also said for you to rest easy and take care of the pregnancy, Miss Xie. He'll come to see you again in a while." Xie Run had Dantao give him a reward, then said with a beaming smile, "Then I'll be waiting for His Highness." With that, she had Baxi come in for a cup of tea. She then went to the study herself, fetched a small embroidered pouch, and gave it to Baxi to deliver to Prince Jing. Baxi, having received a generous reward, went off cheerfully to carry out his task. Xie Run had the servants carry the chest back to her room. When they opened it, they found that while there weren't many precious items inside, there were plenty of novel trinkets and storybooks, along with two volumes of chess manuals. Colored glass lamps, paper windmills, jewel-encrusted music boxes... there was so much to see that one's eyes could hardly take it all in. The maidservants of Linxuan Pavilion felt they simply couldn't look at everything at once.