Chapter 181 Backer

"Yuxiu, why are you out here?"

Mei Qiyue, who was sitting in the pavilion in a daze, noticed Yuan Yuxiu, who was slowly walking along the path holding her belly, after being reminded by the palace maid beside her.

"Sister Ning." Upon seeing Mei Qiyue, Yuan Yuxiu was overjoyed and walked over with the help of a palace maid.

"Slow down, slow down," Mei Qiyue quickly got up, took a few steps to Yuan Yuxiu, and helped her sit on the stone bench. "Your belly is so big, why are you out strolling in the garden?"

Mei Qiyue reached out and gently touched Yuan Yuxiu's stomach, her tone full of concern.

Yuan Yuxiu smiled shyly, somewhat embarrassed: "I had been staying in the courtyard the whole time. After what happened to Chun'er, I was even less willing to go out. It was only yesterday when the imperial physician came to take my pulse that he advised me to walk around a bit more, saying it would be good for childbirth, so I did..."

Knowing that she was timid, Mei Qiyue didn't say much, but her face showed some self-reproach: "The imperial physician is right, you should move around more. It's my fault, I haven't visited you these days, were you frightened by what happened before?"

Yuan Yuxiu nodded and couldn't help but sigh, "It's true. A perfectly healthy person can just be gone like that. We were having snacks together the day before, and then the next day... It's really unpredictable."

"Don't overthink it. What's important for you now is to take good care of yourself and give birth to the baby safely," Mei Qiyue said, taking Yuan Yuxiu's hand in her grief. "I should have gone to see you sooner."

Yuan Yuxiu grasped her hand in return and shook her head slightly: "Sister, this is not your fault, there is no need to blame yourself. I know you are concerned about me, but there have been too many things lately... Sister, does Consort Duan really want to adopt Consort Cao's child?"

Upon hearing Yuan Yuxiu's question, Mei Qiyue gave a bewildered, bitter smile: "I don't know..."

"Even though I didn't leave the house, I still heard the news. Didn't Consort Duan react at all?"

"No, there was no reaction at all."

"This... there's no response. Could the rumors be true? What should we do about Hongyun?"

Yuan Yuxiu looked extremely worried. Meeting her concerned gaze, Mei Qiyue shook her head weakly: "I don't know... Yuxiu, do you think it's because of me? Because of what I did, Consort Duan wanted to give up on Hongyun. She was so good to Hongyun before, and she didn't want him to hear even the slightest gossip..."

“Sister, sister,” Yuan Yuxiu called out repeatedly, pulling Mei Qiyue back to her senses. “Sister, how can this be blamed on you? You were doing this for the Second Prince’s own good, but you were limited by your status and your methods were a bit simple. But this is also because Consort Duan did nothing. If she had spoken up for Hongyun earlier, why would you have had to go through all this trouble and suffer the gossip of others?”

"Is...is that so?" Mei Qiyue asked impatiently, her anxious heart grasping at a straw.

"Of course, if you ask me, Consort Duan definitely still resents her status as the adoptive mother. So she seems nice in small matters, but when it comes to important things, she's unwilling to put in any effort for Hongyun. Even if it weren't for what her sister did, she would definitely still want to adopt Consort Cao's child. After all, given Consort Cao's actions, altering the imperial genealogy wouldn't be a problem for her, I heard..."

Yuan Yuxiu looked around. While the two were talking, the palace maids around her had been assigned to guard outside the pavilion. She quietly leaned close to Mei Qiyue's ear and whispered, "I heard that Consort Duan intends to leave the mother and keep the child."

"What?" Mei Qiyue's eyes widened in surprise. She looked around instinctively, her expression serious, and leaned closer to ask, "How did you find out?"

Yuan Yuxiu's eyes dimmed slightly as she replied softly, "Sister knows that Chun'er used to like to wander around the garden and share any news she heard with me. This is what she overheard one day... but now it's all gone..."

“Yuxiu…” Mei Qiyue held her hand apologetically, not expecting to touch on her painful memories.

"It's alright," Yuan Yuxiu forced a smile, composed herself, and looked earnestly at Mei Qiyue. "Sister, whether the news is true or false will be clear when Consort Cao gives birth. But for Prince Hongyun's sake, you should prepare early."

Mei Qiyue looked somewhat bewildered and disappointed: "I wonder, with my family background and status, what can I possibly do for Hongyun?"

“Sister, the Emperor has taken the Second Prince under his wing and is teaching him both of them. He is obviously worried that the Second Prince will be heartbroken. Sister should take this opportunity to enhance the Second Prince’s standing in the Emperor’s heart.”

Unconcerned about how Yuan Yuxiu, living in a remote corner of the country, was so well-informed, Mei Qiyue's attention was completely drawn to her suggestion: "This, how can we deepen this relationship? I've never really had any favorites..."

“Sister, since Consort Duan is unreliable, then you should find a new backer for Hongyun in the harem.”

"A new backer?"

“Yes, there must be someone who can speak to the Emperor.” Yuan Yuxiu offered a straightforward suggestion, counting on her fingers as she began to analyze for her: “The Empress has the Crown Prince, so she’s not a good fit; Consort Hua has the Emperor’s favor and a good family background, but she’s too domineering and difficult to get along with; Consort Shu is kind, but she’s always been reluctant to meddle in other people’s business; and further down… there’s no suitable candidate…”

Hearing Yuan Yuxiu's analysis, Mei Qiyue's newly ignited hope was instantly extinguished.

"Ah, if only His Majesty had some close elder..."

Listening to Yuan Yuxiu's casual mutterings, Mei Qiyue suddenly recalled a scene she had witnessed earlier, and her eyes instantly lit up. Why didn't the Emperor have any close elders? If only... if only she could be under the command of the Dowager Consort Tongjia...

"Sister, sister? What are you thinking about?"

Yuan Yuxiu waved her hand in front of her, and Mei Qiyue finally came to her senses: "Ah, it's nothing, it's nothing."

"Really?"

Meeting Yuan Yuxiu's concerned gaze, Mei Qiyue subconsciously looked away and swallowed the words she was about to say: "It's really nothing, don't worry."

"That's good……"

"My lord, Consort Cao is about to give birth!"

The palace maid who was left in the palace rushed over to report the news. Upon hearing the news, Mei Qiyue immediately got up and said, "Yuxiu, you are in your late pregnancy, so you don't need to go. I will go and ask the Empress for leave on your behalf."

"Okay, thank you, sister."

"You're welcome. I'll go now. You should also go home early and be careful."

"Be careful on the road, sister."

After seeing Mei Qiyue off, Yuan Yuxiu's smile grew wider and wider. Touching her belly, she murmured softly, "Sister, oh sister, I didn't say anything. It was all your choice..."