Chapter 327: Yun Chu Gains Weight
As winter arrived, the capital was constantly blanketed in snow.
Yun Chu curled up indoors, eating the sour dates sent by Lin Shi and sipping the bird's nest soup delivered by Yin Fei, feeling exceptionally comfortable.
By noon, Changsheng finished her lessons and brought Xie Xian over for a chat.
Xie Xian carried a jar to Yun Chu: "Princess Consort, this is pickled vegetables made by my mother. They're perfect for stimulating appetite when you have none."
Since becoming pregnant, Yun Chu had indeed developed a preference for sour foods.
She had Ting Xue serve some on a plate. Taking a bite, she found them crisp and refreshingly tart, even better than those sold in the markets.
Xie Xian smiled modestly: "We have more at home. If the Princess Consort likes them, I..."
"Once this jar is finished, I'll send someone to your home for more." Yun Chu didn't stand on ceremony. If she were to decline politely, Jiang Yiniang might take it as disapproval.
After the two girls finished their meal, they went off to paint together.
Yun Chu woke from her afternoon nap to find Qiutong entering to report: "After the Crown Princess returned to the palace, she sent her family members to visit the Yin residence."
A cold smile touched Yun Chu's lips.
To draw the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor into their schemes, the Empress was targeting the Yin family to force Chu Yi's hand.
Originally, she and Chu Yi had intended to remain uninvolved. But since the Empress insisted on implicating the Yin family, she couldn't blame them for taking action.
Yun Chu ate a piece of pastry and drank a cup of tea before leisurely remarking: "It's time for Gongsun Ning's affairs to become public knowledge."
Chu Yi happened to enter just as she spoke these words. Drawing her into his embrace, he said: "Focus on resting during your pregnancy. Don't trouble yourself with such matters."
"Very well, I won't concern myself then."
True to her word, Yun Chu set the matter aside.
After seeing her settled back to sleep, Chu Yi went to his study to handle affairs.
With the Crown Prince overseeing state affairs and the Gong Xi Prince controlling the Ministry of Revenue, the city's underworld had also fallen under the Gong Xi Prince's influence.
The man tapped his distinctively jointed fingers on the desk, his voice cold and resolute: "Bribe some underworld figures to spread Gongsun Ning's story throughout the city."
The Empress wanted to drag him into forming a three-way standoff, but he would instead make sure the conflict between the Empress and Chu Mo grew so intense it would become a fight to the death.
Cheng Xu accepted the order: "Understood, Your Highness!"
"No need for you to handle this minor task personally. Assign it to Cheng Qi." Chu Yi looked at him. "If you need any assistance with wedding preparations, just say the word."
Cheng Xu's dark complexion flushed: "My father has everything arranged. Your Highness need only await the wedding banquet."
That very evening, tales of the Gongsun family began circulating in capital teahouses.
The capital never lacked for fresh gossip, but scandals from prominent households rarely reached commoners' ears. Now everyone was discussing it during their leisure time.
"Have you heard about the Gongsun family's eldest son? Tsk tsk..."
"Which Gongsun family? What did he do?"
"The Empress's maternal family—the current imperial uncle, Gongsun Ning. They say he has a particular fondness for married women and has forced himself upon many wives."
"Heavens! Such things really happen? Whose wives has he taken?"
"How would I know? But the rumors are likely true. One must say, this Gongsun Ning is truly scum."
"Flouting his status as imperial uncle, he pressures subordinate officials to offer their own wives. Who else would commit such acts?"
"When the Crown Prince attended the Empress Dowager's funeral, didn't he also bring back a palace maid from the imperial mausoleum for his pleasure? They're all cut from the same cloth."
"..."
The rumors spread like wildfire through capital streets and soon reached the palace.
"Bang!"The Empress was so furious that she smashed a set of exquisite imperial kiln porcelain teacups.
"That fool Gongsun Ning!" she fumed, her temples throbbing with anger. "How did my elder brother raise such a worthless scoundrel? A century of our Gongsun family's pristine reputation has been utterly destroyed by this dog! And he's even dragged down the reputation of this palace and the Crown Prince!"
Granny Yin stood nearby, bowing slightly as she said, "This old servant has sent people to investigate. The matter first emerged from the gambling den. From what I've learned, the gambling dens in the capital are currently under the Gong Xi Prince's control."
The Empress's expression darkened.
Chu Mo's attacks were all concentrated on the Eastern Palace.
First, he had the authority over the imperial harem, which should belong to the mother of the nation, fall into Consort Hui's hands.
Now he was targeting the Gongsun family, weakening her support base.
Next, would he move against the Crown Prince?
Originally, she could have counterattacked forcefully.
But there was Guogong Furen Li Jingshu lurking in the shadows.
She feared that if she devoted all her energy to dealing with Chu Mo, Li Jingshu would take a big bite out of her.
This was why she was so anxious to bring Chu Yi into the game.
If she had Chu Yi to share the burden, she wouldn't be so passive.
"Li Jingshu must be eliminated," the Empress said coldly, stroking her sharp, long nails. "With the title of Guogong Furen, she can always enter and leave the imperial palace. Since that's the case..."
Granny Yin looked up. "Your Majesty, your command?"
"The twelfth month has arrived; it's time for the Laba Festival," the Empress said. "Oversee the banquet preparations personally. There must not be the slightest mistake."
The Laba Festival was an important folk holiday, and the palace typically held a modest banquet to celebrate.
Whether the celebration was large or small, as a member of the imperial family, Yun Chu was required to attend the banquet.
Her pregnancy had just reached three months, and the morning sickness had gradually subsided. Now she could eat and sleep well, so traveling wasn't difficult.
But Chu Yi still didn't dare to be careless. He carried Yun Chu down from the carriage and arranged for a sedan chair to take her from the palace gate to the banquet hall.
The family of four soon arrived at their destination, where many guests had already gathered.
In the crowded area, Yun Chu didn't let Chu Yi support her, to avoid becoming a laughingstock.
"Third Sister-in-Law is here," the Crown Princess said with a smile. "It's only been a few days, but you seem to have gained some weight."
The Gong Xi Princess Consort chimed in, "I've heard that Third Brother dotes on Third Sister-in-Law exceptionally. If she craves something to eat, Third Brother personally rides out to buy it. With a carefree heart, one naturally gains weight."
Yun Chu smiled and said, "He's idle at home, so he has time for these things."
The Gong Xi Princess Consort felt a twinge of envy.
When her husband had been idle at home in the past, he never had time to buy her food or drinks. Now that he was increasingly busy, it was even more impossible.
As they were chatting, Yun Chu looked up and saw Guogong Furen approaching alongside the Emperor and Empress.
After not seeing her for over half a year, Guogong Furen appeared even younger than before, her eyes brimming with satisfaction.
In contrast, the Empress looked worried and seemed several years older than Guogong Furen.
Everyone bowed to the Emperor and Empress together before taking their seats.
The Empress sat beside the Emperor, while Guogong Furen took a seat slightly below.
Many noblewomen at the banquet couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
"Over the past six months, Guogong Furen seems to frequently come and go from the imperial palace, enjoying particular favor in front of the Emperor."
"If the Emperor values the Guogong residence, he should have long ago made the heir the Guogong. Why has it been delayed for so long?""If the Emperor did not value the Duke's household, he should not have bestowed such honors upon Guogong Furen. One wonders what exactly he has in mind."
As everyone knew, after the previous Duke's death, the illegitimate sons in the household turned against each other—some died, others went mad—leaving the position of the Duke's heir vacant.
After many years, Guogong Furen selected a child from a collateral branch and petitioned for him to be enfeoffed as the heir to the Duke's household. The man everyone now refers to as the Duke is actually still just the heir, having not formally inherited the title.
Yet Yun Chu could guess at the reason.
If the heir were to inherit the Duke's title, there would be a new Guogong Furen. In that case, the current Guogong Furen would no longer be involved in palace banquets.
No longer being able to enter the palace would mean no longer being able to see the Emperor.
Would Li Jingshu allow such a thing to happen?
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