Chapter 75

Chapter 75 A flicker of contemplation passed through Xie Run's eyes. "Consort Yun deliberately set up this stage, giving Concubine Li and Concubine Han an opportunity to spar with each other." She and Fang Yuan'er and the others who were nearing childbirth had enough to worry about just taking care of themselves; they had no mind to target anyone else. The ones capable of stirring up trouble were probably Concubine Li and Concubine Han. No, that wasn't right—there was still Wan Linlang who had been overlooked. "Keep an eye on those two women's courtyards these days, just in case." Both maidservants acknowledged solemnly, "Yes." After discussing for a while, Xie Run finally had time to look at the letter on the table. She was curious who would send her a letter. The moment she saw the signature on the envelope, she froze. Xie Jing? Dantao exclaimed with delight, "It's a letter from the Eldest Young Master! I wonder if he's arrived in the capital yet." Xie Jiang acted on impulse, finding the traveling companion Xie Jing too slow and irritating, so he went ahead to the capital alone. Xie Jing, however, had fallen ill halfway, and then encountered several scholarly friends, which delayed him for some time. He'd only entered the capital a few days ago. Dantao carefully studied Xie Run's expression, and only when she saw no displeasure did she speak: "The Xie family still remembers you, mistress." Dantao was afraid Xie Run still harbored resentment over what had happened before and refused to be close to the Xie family. The original Xie Run had fallen out with the Xie family over entering the Prince's household. While still at home, she had once gone on a hunger strike and even attempted suicide, shouting words about severing all ties. After Xie Run entered the household, apart from the matter of Yuli, she had never sent word back to her family. Dantao didn't dare bring up the Xie family casually either. Now that the Xie family had taken the initiative to write, if Xie Run still ignored them, that would mean completely abandoning her natal family. Xie Run opened the letter and said calmly, "Eldest Brother has already arrived in the capital. He'll probably be spending the New Year here this year." In Xie Jing's letter, he mentioned that the Xie family had sent two New Year's gifts to Prince Jing's household. One was sent by Xie Jing in the name of the Xie family, and one was sent separately by Xie Jiang. These two New Year's gifts weren't about currying favor—they were about backing Xie Run up. They were telling the Prince's household that the Xie family still had people, and all of them cared about Xie Run. Xie Run remembered this kindness. She was only a concubine consort in the Prince's household now; she needed her natal family. Xie Run put the letter away: "Dantao, Eldest Brother has just arrived in the capital, and it's not easy to prepare things on short notice. Go gather some items and send them over." "The spring examination is coming in March next year. I only hope Eldest Brother can pass and bring glory to the Xie family name." Dantao was happy along with her. "When the old master was still at home, he often praised the Eldest Young Master's scholarship, saying he would surely pass the autumn examination—and indeed, he passed on his first try." "If he can pass the spring examination next year..." Dantao barely contained her excitement: "You'll become the daughter of an official, mistress." How could the daughter of a scholar compare to the daughter of an official? If Xie Jing truly made something of himself, Xie Run's deficiency in family background would soon be made up for. Xie Run smiled faintly. "Father should finally get his wish now." Xie Run's father was mediocre in scholarship, only passing the scholar examination in middle age, yet he remained a mere scholar his entire life. That was why he placed tremendous expectations on his son Xie Jing. Not asking for an official position, only that he do better than his father—at least become a provincial graduate. Unexpectedly, Xie Jing caught the eye of the local county magistrate, who wanted to force him to become a son-in-law. That magistrate was from a branch of the Xie family's main line—not a high official, but with considerable connections and influence. According to this dynasty's laws, a son-in-law who married into the wife's family could not become head of household, could not receive land or property, could not serve as an official, and only after three generations of descendants could they enter officialdom. This was essentially cutting off Xie Jing's path to office and severing the Xie family's legacy. That was why the Xie family would rather die than comply and was forced to take the path of offering up their daughter. The power of the great clans had declined considerably in this era, but Chen Commandery was still the stronghold of the Xie family's main line. If they couldn't borrow the influence of Prince Jing's household, even if Xie Jing truly became a provincial graduate, his future would still be cut short. Xie Run was not the original Xie Run. She needed backing, she needed her natal family, so she had to "mend fences" with the Xie family. She wasn't the least bit worried about Xie Jing's prospects. In Xie Jiang's Female Lead Script, Xie Jing passed the metropolitan examination. Xie Jiang later married the dynasty's only prince of a different surname, Prince Zhennan, and Xie Jing benefited from this as well, rising steadily through the court until he finally reached the position of Prime Minister. As for whether a prince of a different surname holding military power would be viewed with suspicion, or a Prime Minister who was too young... in Xie Jiang's script, none of that was a problem. With the Female Lead Halo in effect, all of that could be rationalized. Though this was still just the beginning, Xie Jiang had already made a name for herself in the capital and connected with Xie Run's side, having a younger sister who was a concubine consort in Prince Jing's household. Xie Jing's official career would only go more smoothly than in the book. By the same token, Xie Run could also benefit from this and stand even taller. This was the mutual benefit between members of an ancient clan. Xie Run picked up her brush and wrote replies to both Xie Jing and Xie Jiang, and also sent some silver to Xie Jing. After finishing all this, it was nearly time for the evening meal. Xie Run rubbed her wrist and was about to order someone to bring the food when she heard a report from under the corridor. "Mistress, the Prince has come!" Xie Run's brows softened with a hint of a smile as she walked out slowly to welcome Prince Jing. With the New Year approaching, Prince Jing had grown busier as well. Yet he still came to Spring Mountain Courtyard every few days. He said it was to see the child, but the other two pregnant women didn't receive such treatment. Sometimes Xie Run would think to herself—if the household didn't have so many scheming people, wouldn't life be quite pleasant like this? But she quickly realized she had been dazzled by the peaceful days. How could there possibly be true peace in this household? Just over the New Year, both Prince Jing and the Princess Consort were run off their feet. And someone began stirring up trouble again. As news spread that Concubine Han was carrying a child of fortune, another rumor began to creep through the household in silence. Concubine Han wasn't pregnant at all! At first, no one took the rumor seriously—they just treated it as a joke. Pregnancy wasn't like an illness; one could fake it for a while, but could one fake it for ten whole months? The prince's household had few offspring, so matters of progeny were taken especially seriously. If she were exposed, Concubine Han would be in serious trouble. Who would be foolish enough to do something so stupid? But as more "evidence" emerged, the rumor spread with increasing ferocity. "She didn't get pregnant early or late—she just happened to conceive right when word came that Concubine Li might be pregnant? And she 'coincidentally' beat her to it, securing the position of Concubine Consort. How could there be such a coincidence in this world?" "The mistresses of the household are pampered and delicate. That day she and Qiukui slipped on the rockery—Qiukui's foot broke outright, but she? Not a scratch. What pregnant woman could withstand such a tumble?" "In my view, the child of fortune is nothing but a cover-up! With nothing in her belly, of course she can be tossed about however you like!" "We haven't seen her suffer morning sickness either, nor has she come out for walks—she must be feeling guilty!" Actually, the morning sickness accusation was a complete injustice to Concubine Han. To make her act more convincing, she had deliberately drunk a potion that induced vomiting. But since it was a rumor, those spreading it would automatically ignore such details, exaggerating it as wildly as possible. Because of these rumors, unrest began to stir among the women of the prince's household. The Princess Consort had petitioned for favor on behalf of the three Concubine Consorts—two of them were excused from attending the palace banquet this year, and she brought only Princess Ruyi into the palace. As for Xie Run, with her large belly making it difficult to move about, she stayed shut in her courtyard every day. Thus the New Year passed in extraordinary leisure. In the blink of an eye, the fifteenth day of the first month—the Lantern Festival—had come and gone. Prince Jing and the Princess Consort could finally catch their breath. By then, the rumors in the household could no longer be contained.