Chapter 334: Yin Fei Bestows Palace Maids
"I'll accompany you into the palace."
Qinghua Princess arrived with her servants in tow.
A princess's procession was always grand—several maids and matrons formed an impressive entourage.
Among the group, Yun Chu spotted a familiar face: Ding Dong.
Ding Dong stood at the forefront of the maids, evidently having risen to become a first-class attendant beside Qinghua.
After exchanging brief greetings with Yun Chu, Qinghua Princess boarded her own carriage.
The journey to the palace wasn't far, and they arrived swiftly. Because Yun Chu was with child, Chu Yi had specially requested imperial permission for her to use a sedan chair when paying palace respects, lest any mishap occur.
Yun Chu, who cherished her health, naturally didn't refuse.
Watching Yun Chu descend from the carriage and immediately enter a sedan chair, Qinghua Princess's lips twitched slightly.
She couldn't comprehend why her usually aloof younger brother doted on Yun Chu to this extent, seemingly unconcerned about becoming a laughingstock.
The two children rode in the sedan with Yun Chu, and they soon reached the Everlasting Autumn Palace. Yun Chu alighted holding the children's hands, waiting briefly for Qinghua Princess.
The entire party entered together.
"Yu Ge'er, Changsheng, come here obediently," Yin Fei said with a beaming smile. "Your imperial grandmother specially prepared birthday gifts for you. Come see if you like them?"
Most of Yin Fei's gifts were precious items selected from her own treasury—gold, silver, and jade artifacts whose value meant little to the children. After briefly examining them, the youngsters went off to play.
"Why didn't you bring Shen Ge'er to the palace?" Yin Fei asked pleasantly. "He could have chosen some gifts too."
"Him? All he does is read—he'll turn into a bookworm soon," Qinghua complained, though her tone betrayed pride. "He's afraid of being outperformed when he enters the Imperial College after New Year, so he studies late every night."
"Don't let him strain his eyes," Yin Fei said with concern. "Some superior candles arrived as tribute from the south recently. I'll ask His Majesty for some to give Shen Ge'er."
After Qinghua expressed thanks, she coughed lightly and said, "Chu'er is with child, yet I don't see Mother showing any concern for her."
Yun Chu's fingers stilled.
She already knew what Qinghua was planning.
But Yin Fei misinterpreted the meaning. "Granny Guo," she instructed, "select some premium ginseng, lingzhi mushrooms, and cordyceps from my treasury and bring them all."
Qinghua's lips twitched again.
After these medicinal rewards were bestowed upon Yun Chu, Qinghua finally stated: "Mother, what I meant was that it's too taxing for Chu'er to attend upon Yi'er while she's pregnant."
Now Yin Fei understood.
For a prince, besides his principal consort, there should also be Side Princess Consorts, low-ranking imperial concubines, and concubines—this was the proper establishment for royalty.
After Chu Yi's marriage, Yin Fei had selected several palace maids, waiting for an appropriate opportunity to bestow them. Now the opportunity had arrived.
"Quite right," Yin Fei said smilingly to Yun Chu. "I've heard Yi'er still stays in your chambers recently. This won't do—your pregnancy carries the royal family's legitimate heir, so everything must be handled carefully. Here's what I'll do: I grant you four palace maids. Henceforth, they shall attend to Yi'er's daily needs."
Qinghua smiled faintly.
As the saying goes, one dare not decline what elders bestow. With Mother granting these women, she didn't believe Yun Chu would dare refuse.
Yun Chu asked calmly, "Service comes in different forms. Might I ask what manner of service Mother intends these maids to provide?"Yin Fei smiled warmly. "Of course, they are to serve as attendants in Yi'er's chambers. Arranging four at once might be excessive—why don't you assess which one is suitable and grant her a formal status first?"
"I must venture to ask another question," Yun Chu continued. "Does Mother Consort intend for these women to join the rear courtyard of the prince's manor? Are all four willing to do so?"
"Look at how you speak! For a palace maid to serve the prince personally is a tremendous blessing." Yin Fei took Yun Chu's hand. "As for the selection of a Side Princess Consort, I believe you should be the one to decide. What do you think?"
As a mother-in-law, she felt she had been exceedingly considerate by directly granting Yun Chu the authority to choose the Side Princess Consort.
In contrast, other imperial consorts would personally select their sons' Side Princess Consorts based on family status, background, and temperament, never respecting the Princess Consort's opinion.
Yun Chu lowered her gaze.
First, Qinghua Princess interfered in these matters, followed by her mother-in-law. Next, it might be the Empress, and eventually, even the Emperor could become involved.
Chu Yi's status destined him to be unable to escape such arrangements.
For her to persistently refuse was not the best strategy.
She needed to devise a method to make these people retreat on their own.
But she didn’t need to be the one to think of that method.
Whoever caused the trouble should handle it.
Yun Chu spoke up, "Then, may Mother Consort have those palace maids enter? I would like to take a look."
Qinghua Princess curled her lips.
See? When Mother Consort bestows people, Yun Chu doesn’t dare refuse.
It really does take an elder to keep her in check.
Granny Guo led four palace maids in through the door, each captivating in appearance, at the most radiant age of womanhood.
Yun Chu looked at the four and said, "Even if the prince selects only one of you as a concubine, or perhaps none at all, are you still determined to enter the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor?"
The four palace maids simultaneously curtsied and replied, "Serving the prince is an honor for us humble servants. We are at the Princess Consort's command."
Yun Chu nodded. "Then, later, follow me into the manor."
"In that case," Qinghua said leisurely, "since Chu'er has accepted these four, one more wouldn’t make much difference, would it?"
Yun Chu smiled faintly. "Does Second Sister wish to bestow someone as well?"
Qinghua nodded gracefully. "Ding Dong is Er Momo's daughter. Having served Yi'er since childhood, she has a deeper bond and will serve with greater dedication. Don’t you agree, Mother Consort?"
Yin Fei felt somewhat uneasy about this.
For an elder sister to push a woman into her younger brother's chambers—no matter how one looked at it, it didn’t sound proper.
Yun Chu nodded directly. "If Second Sister has others to bestow, please do so all at once this time. I will accept them all."
Qinghua smiled. In front of elders, Yun Chu became so much easier to handle.
She took a sip of tea and said, "Five concubines should be enough. The rear courtyard of the prince's manor is too empty—you’ll need to put more effort into selecting Side Princess Consorts and low-ranking imperial concubines."
Yin Fei shot Qinghua a warning glance, signaling her not to go too far.
After that, Yun Chu calmly drank her tea. Once lunch was over, she took the children and the five bestowed women back to the prince's manor.
Among the five, Ding Dong’s appearance was not the most striking, but her confidence was unmistakable.
She congratulated herself on taking the right path—leveraging Qinghua Princess and using Yin Fei’s name to be bestowed upon the prince, ensuring the Princess Consort could not refuse.
With her past connection to the prince, she was certain to win his favor sooner than the four palace maids.
Once she secured her footing in the manor and became the prince’s favored concubine, she would persuade him to bring her mother back to the capital.
Yun Chu and the two children sat in the carriage. Chu Hongyu grumbled, "I hate Father the most."Yun Chu asked, "Why?"
The little one pursed his lips: "Father won't buy me a cricket."
Yun Chu chuckled: "There are no crickets in the dead of winter. When the weather gets warmer, Mother will take you to buy one."
After getting off the carriage and returning to the courtyard, Chu Changsheng pulled her brother aside and whispered, "Brother, you definitely don't dislike Father just because of the cricket, so why?"
"Changsheng, remember this—if Father has other children with another woman, we will never speak to him again," Chu Hongyu said through gritted teeth. "If he dares to treat Mother poorly, we won't take care of him in his old age."
Changsheng nodded: "I'll listen to you, Brother."
When Chu Yi returned to the residence, he felt the children's gazes were like daggers pointed at him.
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