Chapter 37

Chapter 37 Xie Run watched them pack the items, a faint smile on her face, though she wasn't particularly excited. Inwardly, she was thinking that her torn undergarment had at least served its purpose. She hoped the new gift she'd sent would also win her a sliver of Prince Jing's favor. Dantao, feeling pleased, spoke a little more than usual. "These two chests may not be especially valuable, but they're all things you like, mistress." Xiaoshu was more direct and quickly nodded in agreement. "The Prince was busy with disaster relief, yet he still specially brought back two chests of gifts for you. And everything he picked is exactly what you like—this sincerity can't be faked!" "You must be the first in the entire manor to receive such treatment." Hearing this, Dantao's heart suddenly tightened. She knew Xie Run didn't like hearing such talk. She quickly changed the subject: "Seeing how the Prince keeps you in his heart, it's clear he's no longer holding that matter against you." It was only then that Xie Run remembered. Before Prince Jing left for disaster relief, he had put on a show with her. She suddenly smiled. If Prince Jing didn't set foot in her courtyard for over half a month after returning to the manor, would the women of the inner quarters think she'd fallen out of favor? At that point, all sorts of ghosts and demons would likely come crawling out of the woodwork. Xie Run instructed Xiaoshu and Dantao: "Store the things away properly and don't let word of this leak out. If anything goes wrong, it'll be on your heads." The two quickly acknowledged the order and stopped mentioning anything about Prince Jing's regard. If news of this unique favor spread throughout the manor, there would likely be no more of it in the future. That would be one thing. But if it invited jealousy and scheming, that would be courting death. Both of them understood the stakes. Meanwhile, when Prince Jing received the pouch delivered by Baxi, he assumed Xie Run had embroidered him another one. But the moment he saw the exquisite patterns on the pouch, he changed his mind. "She couldn't reach this level of embroidery skill even if she practiced for another ten years." He squeezed the pouch—there was indeed something inside. Opening it, he found a small, exquisitely crafted jade seal, with the characters "Suisui" carved on its base. In ancient times, there were many tokens of love, and personal items carried the most meaning. This seal engraved with "Suisui" struck Prince Jing as nothing but the intimate playfulness of a young woman's boudoir, carrying a silent, seductive allure. Prince Jing thought of Xie Run's usual obedient gentleness, then of this delicate seal brimming with affection, and felt an inexplicable heat stir in his heart. She was deliberately teasing him! Prince Jing could sense it clearly. A teasing that was both subtle and direct—just like Xie Run herself. Outwardly obedient, inwardly rebellious, carrying a hint of playful mischief—contradictory and captivating. He tucked the seal back into the pouch and had Eunuch Shian keep it safe, but he did not go to sleep at Linxuan Pavilion. Prince Jing hadn't forgotten that the last time he'd "stormed out" of Linxuan Pavilion. Xie had asked him to put on a show, so he'd help her—and play the part to the fullest. In the half month since Prince Jing returned to the manor, he had visited Fang Yuan'er and Concubine An, and had also gone to the rooms of Concubine Li and Concubine Han—but he had not once set foot in Xie Run's Linxuan Pavilion. Many rumors had begun circulating in the manor, all saying that Xie Run had fallen out of favor. He had stormed out that day and left the manor the very next morning, so no one could discern his true attitude. Now, half a month after his return, he hadn't so much as stepped into Linxuan Pavilion. Both were pregnant, and the Prince had visited both Concubine Fang and Concubine An. Concubine An had never enjoyed favor—she'd merely been fortunate enough to conceive after a single night of service, and the Prince still went to see her for the sake of his offspring. But Concubine Xie, who had always been favored and was now with child, had been neglected by the Prince? The manor staff were accustomed to reading the winds, and few people came calling at Linxuan Pavilion anymore. However, compared to Xie Run's quiet fall from favor, another joke drew more attention. Concubine Wan had been in the manor for half a month and still hadn't served the Prince! If it were merely a matter of not serving him, it wouldn't quite qualify as a joke. But with Fang Yuan'er's handiwork mixed in, the manor servants naturally trampled Concubine Wan into the mud to curry favor with Fang Yuan'er. On the second day after Prince Jing returned to the manor, Fang Yuan'er had made a scene at Xiuyue Pavilion, successfully planting a bad impression of Concubine Wan in Prince Jing's mind. She'd been in the manor only a few days and had already upset a Concubine Consort's pregnancy? It takes two to make a quarrel. Fang Yuan'er was certainly at fault, but Lady Wan was no paragon of propriety either. Thus, even though both Concubine Li and Concubine Han had served him, Prince Jing still hadn't thought of Concubine Wan. Wan Linlang knew her situation in this life was difficult. She was only a concubine now, unable to save herself—she could only rely on external forces. She took a piece of silver from her box and gave it to her senior maidservant Sui Jin. "Go to the main courtyard and find the Princess Consort. Tell her I wish to serve the Prince." Sui Jin accepted the silver but was reluctant to move. "The doors of the main courtyard aren't so easy to cross. What if the Princess Consort refuses to see me?" The inner quarters were currently stable, and the Princess Consort was quite imposing—the servants didn't dare take her lightly. Sui Jin was greedy, but she also didn't want to go and be turned away. Concubine Wan was confident: "She won't refuse. The Princess Consort will see you!" Seeing that Sui Jin wouldn't move, Concubine Wan grew angry. "I am your mistress. Only when I gain favor will you have good days!" "If the Prince never comes to Xiuyue Pavilion, we'll both become a laughingstock." Sui Jin muttered inwardly. The one who'll be laughed at is only you—what does it have to do with me? She was already twenty-three. In another two years, she could beg her mistress for mercy and be released to marry. She didn't need to stay in Xiuyue Pavilion for the rest of her life. That was what she said, but Sui Jin still went. Wan Linlang watched Sui Jin's retreating figure, gnashing her teeth in frustration. Sooner or later, she would get rid of this greedy and disloyal maid! She had sent Sui Jin to proactively offer her services to the Princess Consort because she knew the Princess Consort's temperament well. The Princess Consort had always prided herself on being fair and impartial. To showcase her virtue, she would surely persuade the Prince to come to Wan Linlang's chambers. As long as the Prince came, she would have his favor. In her previous life, Wan Linlang had enjoyed a full month of exclusive favor upon entering the household, and her popularity had never waned afterward. She had complete confidence in her ability to win favor. The life-saving grace and disaster relief merits were merely stepping stones to knock on Prince Jing's mansion doors. Whether one could gain favor depended on the person herself. Concubine Wan's words were half right, but she still failed to secure a night with the Prince. Fang Yuan'er regarded her as a major threat and had people watching Concubine Wan at all times. The moment her maid walked toward the Princess Consort's courtyard, Fang Yuan'er immediately received word that Wan Linlang wanted to serve the Prince. Fang Yuan'er said, "She wants the Princess Consort to speak up and have the Prince go to her courtyard." Qiuxiang asked softly, "Mistress, shall I have someone intercept Sui Jin?" Qiuxiang knew her mistress greatly disliked Concubine Wan of Embroidery Moon Pavilion, though she didn't know the reason. "Intercept what?" Fang Yuan'er cast her a sidelong glance, her radiant features growing even more captivating. She smiled. "Let her go. If I stop her today, there will be tomorrow. I can't intercept her every day." Qiuxiang was momentarily stunned. "Then mistress, you're not going to do anything?" Fang Yuan'er smiled charmingly. "A slap only hurts when it lands on the face. Just wait..." Fang Yuan'er made no move, only continuing to have people watch Embroidery Moon Pavilion.