Chapter 330: Being Fed Sweet Nothings
Yun Chu curved her lips into a smile.
If she and Chu Yi hadn't opened their hearts to each other yet, as the primary wife, she would certainly have prepared maidservants and concubines for Chu Yi according to worldly customs.
But Chu Yi had made it very clear to her that he would absolutely never take a concubine.
The more time they spent together, the more she understood this man, and the more she offered her heart to him.
Since that was the case, why should she do something that would make herself unhappy?
"Since Second Sister made the first move, then I'll follow suit." Yun Chu looked at the children playing in the Warm Pavilion and spoke unhurriedly, "It would be better for Shen Ge'er not to stay in the manor, to avoid causing more unpleasant incidents."
"You!"
Princess Qinghua slammed the table and stood up.
This was her own younger brother's residence—since when did an outsider get to make decisions here!
"Second Sister, don't be angry. Isn't it because I'm with child?" Yun Chu showed a smile on her face. "My health was never good to begin with, and now that I'm pregnant, I have no energy to manage household affairs. I'm afraid Shen Ge'er might suffer neglect in the manor, hence my suggestion."
Princess Qinghua's eyes darkened.
Yun Chu's pregnancy would produce the manor's true legitimate heir.
Given how doting Yi'er was toward Yu Ge'er and Changsheng—children of unclear origins—let alone his own legitimate son.
If Yun Chu used the pregnancy as an excuse to refuse Shen Ge'er's stay, with Yi'er's temperament, he would certainly agree.
Of course, Shen Ge'er could stay in the palace with Yin Fei, but after all, he wasn't a member of the Chu family. Going in and out would be too inconvenient, and he would be easily bullied.
Thinking of this, Princess Qinghua slowly exhaled a turbid breath: "The servants attending Shen Ge'er will all be arranged by me. You don't need to worry about anything."
Although her tone was stiff, she didn't bring up the matter of the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor's rear courtyard again.
After the meal concluded, Yun Chu had people escort Princess Qinghua and Meng Shen to stay at Qingfeng Residence.
Princess Qinghua directed the servants to unpack their luggage and sent someone to wait by the side room in the front courtyard. Before long, that person returned to report: "Your Highness, the Prince has returned to the manor."
Princess Qinghua stood up to go out.
"Mother." Meng Shen put down his book and stopped her. "During the meal earlier, it seemed you and Aunt had a disagreement. Are you going to complain to Uncle now?"
"What does a child like you understand?" Princess Qinghua said lightly. "Study your book properly. I'll be back soon."
"I don't think Mother should go." Meng Shen stood up. "We're staying in Uncle's home now, and Aunt manages everything. We shouldn't cause more trouble."
Princess Qinghua sighed.
Her son was very intelligent and sensible, but precisely because he was too obedient—never telling adults when something bothered him—she worried even more and didn't want her son staying in the palace.
"The Imperial College has a new Teacher Wang. I'm going to ask your uncle about Teacher Wang's temperament." Princess Qinghua patted her son's head. "Be good and read your book. Don't overthink things."
She walked to Chu Yi's study.
Originally, Chu Yi handled official business in Yun Chu's room in the main courtyard. After Yun Chu became pregnant, she preferred quiet, and having people coming in periodically to report matters disturbed her rest, so he had returned to handling affairs in his study.
Having just arrived at the manor, he summoned several trusted aides to give instructions.
During this period, the court had been turbulent. Although he remained detached from the conflicts, he hadn't stood idly by, secretly maneuvering behind the scenes all along.Now that half of the Empress's authority over the rear palace has fallen into Consort Hui's hands, Gongsun Ning has been suspended pending investigation, and the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace still harbors the major threat of Xie Ping... overall, the Crown Prince's situation appears precarious.
Chu Yi pondered how he could assist his elder brother, the Crown Prince.
"Yi'er."
A voice came from outside the study, reminding Chu Yi that his second sister had arrived in the capital today and was staying at the princely residence.
He closed the letter on his desk and stepped forward to greet her: "Second Sister, what brings you to the study?"
"Yi'er, your Princess Consort is truly overbearing." Qinghua Princess spoke coldly. "She was previously married, yet you never held it against her. Now she dares to prevent you from taking concubines—what kind of matriarchal airs is she putting on?"
Chu Yi's expression darkened abruptly: "Did Second Sister come specifically to discuss this?"
"She is currently with child—arranging concubines for you is her duty as the principal consort!" Qinghua enunciated each word deliberately. "When I proposed making arrangements for you, she actually threatened to expel Shen'er from the princely residence. A woman with such narrow-mindedness is utterly unworthy of being Princess Consort of the Pacifying West..."
"Enough." Chu Yi's gaze turned sharp. "I will say this only once: if Second Sister insists on interfering in my household affairs, then I shall no longer acknowledge Meng Shen as my nephew."
"You—you!" Qinghua Princess widened her eyes in disbelief. "When you defended her before, I assumed it was newlywed passion. But now you've been married nearly a year, and you still prioritize her in everything! What kind of bewitching potion has she given you?!"
Dark emotions swirled in Chu Yi's profound eyes: "Then I don't mind telling Second Sister—when she married Xie Jingyu all those years ago, I wanted to snatch her away at the wedding... Had I not been constrained by concern for Mother Consort and her reputation, I would have done exactly that. After all these years, I've finally married her. Does Second Sister understand how hard-won this is? Anyone who dares to destroy this shall become Chu Yi's enemy."
Qinghua Princess was intimidated by the aura emanating from him.
She took a deep breath and swallowed the words crowding her throat.
Regardless, she shouldn't say more today—otherwise they might cease to be siblings altogether.
Chu Yi gave her a profound look before striding out of the study.
After composing herself, Qinghua returned to her courtyard. Just as she was about to bathe, her personal maid entered to report: "Your Highness, Ding Dong, the wet nurse's daughter, requests an audience."
Qinghua knew of Er Momo, who was from the same hometown as her own wet nurse. Every year when she returned to the capital, her wet nurse and Er Momo would get together.
She had been wondering why Er Momo wasn't in the princely residence, but hadn't found an opportunity to ask.
"Let her in."
Ding Dong stepped over the threshold and entered, properly performing the ceremonial greetings to Qinghua.
"Before my mother left the princely residence, she specifically left these embroidery patterns, instructing me to find a way to present them to Your Highness upon your return to the capital." Ding Dong raised the patterns with both hands. "They all feature the blooming peonies Your Highness favors."
"How thoughtful of Er Momo to remember my preferences." Qinghua studied her. "You said your mother left the princely residence? Why would she leave? Where did she go?"
As Chu Yi's wet nurse, Er Momo should rightfully remain in the princely residence, with Chu Yi providing for her until her passing. Why would she leave?
"Your Highness, it's not that this humble servant refuses to speak—but I dare not..." Tears immediately welled in Ding Dong's eyes.
Qinghua straightened her posture: "What exactly happened?"Ding Dong knelt down: "Ever since the Princess Consort entered the household, the prince has changed completely. First, the housekeeper who had served for over a decade was dismissed, then my own mother was sent far away to the estate to retire... I've served the prince in his study since childhood. Whenever the prince shows me the slightest kindness, the Princess Consort becomes displeased. I've already been demoted to a third-class maid doing rough work. I'm truly afraid of being driven out, utterly terrified..."
OpenNovel