Chapter 109 Sudden Wealth "Now they're all yours."...

She bowed to Consort Wen according to palace rules, her posture was perfect and flawless.

Consort Wen accepted the greeting with a strange expression, as if she were absorbing this moment of honor like a parched land receiving rain, yet also as if she felt a deep-seated disgust for the honor itself. She raised her hand and said, "Please rise, Madam Pei. What a coincidence! I have a few words I'd like to say to you, Madam."

The eunuch leading the way looked embarrassed and stepped forward, bowing, saying, "Your Highness, please forgive me, but Consort Jing is waiting for Lady Pei to come and speak with her..."

Consort Wen's face suddenly darkened, and she gave the young eunuch a cold look. "What? Can't I even exchange a few words with someone now? What difference will it make if I go to Consort Jing's place a little later?"

Although she is not as favored as before, she still retains some influence in the palace. The young eunuch remained silent, not daring to say another word.

Not wanting to put this lowly eunuch in a difficult position, Meng Lingyao took the initiative to speak, saying, "Please wait a moment, sir. I am an old acquaintance of Consort Wen, and I think we will only have a few words to say. It shouldn't take too long, and I certainly won't miss the time to pay my respects to Consort Jing."

The young eunuch, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, glanced at her gratefully, bowed, and retreated to a distance, waiting with his head bowed.

Consort Wen snorted coldly, her gaze returning to Meng Lingyao's face, sharp as if trying to peel back her skin to see what lay beneath. She looked her up and down several times, then gave a cryptic smile, "Miss Meng, congratulations on your wedding."

A person's life is often reflected on their face without reservation. Just by looking at Meng Lingyao's face, she knew that Meng Lingyao must be living a very good life. Her face was like a peach blossom, and her eyes were bright and clear. She seemed even more beautiful than the face she remembered, and even more... repulsive.

And what about herself? When she gets up in the morning and does her makeup in front of the mirror, she feels as if she has aged a lot.

Meng Lingyao lowered her eyes. "Thank you for your concern, sir."

“Concern?” Consort Wen scoffed. “I absolutely loathe your appearance.”

Meng Lingyao frowned slightly, looked up at her, her gaze calm and unwavering. "This humble woman is foolish and does not know where she has offended Your Excellency, that you would dislike her so much? You are a noble lady of the palace, of noble status. This humble woman is but a woman of noble birth, and when I see you, I must pay my respects according to etiquette and dare not be the slightest bit negligent."

Choosing the path of wealth and honor inevitably means enduring loneliness and infighting. Where can you find something that gives you everything? Having chosen this path, you should have anticipated the hardships involved. Your current complaints and grievances ultimately stem from insatiable greed.

Consort Wen seemed stung by these words, her eyes growing even more gloomy. She stared at Meng Lingyao, as if seeing something else through her, and said coldly, "Noble? Yes... I am a noblewoman." Her tone was unsteady, as if she wanted to say something more, but in the end she just pursed her lips, turned around abruptly, took the hand of a palace maid, and left without looking back.

Meng Lingyao, standing behind her, curtsied slightly again, saying, "Respectfully seeing off the Noble Lady." Only after the Noble Lady Wen's figure disappeared at the end of the palace road did she straighten up and say to the eunuch beside her, "Thank you for waiting so long, Eunuch. Let's go."

The eunuch hurriedly led the way, his attitude becoming increasingly respectful.

Upon arriving at Consort Jing's palace, to their surprise, the Empress was also present. The two noble ladies sat on a warm couch, chatting idly in a harmonious atmosphere. Consort Jing's belly was already quite prominent, and a soft halo enveloped her eyes and brows, exuding a calm and gentle demeanor. Having served in the palace for many years, she had always acted with prudence, as if all the rules and refinement of the Xie family were embodied in her.

Upon seeing Meng Lingyao enter, Consort Jing smiled kindly. "Get up quickly, no need for formalities. I've been wanting to see you for a long time, and I'm so glad I have the time today."

The Empress nodded with a smile, her gaze falling gently on Meng Lingyao, carrying an air of scrutiny and approval.

Meng Lingyao bowed to the two ladies again before settling down on the embroidered stool at the lower end. Consort Jing inquired whether she was adjusting well to her new marriage and how Pei Xu was treating her, her words full of concern. Meng Lingyao answered respectfully. After exchanging a few pleasantries, seeing that Consort Jing looked well, Meng Lingyao softly asked, "Your Majesty, how have you been feeling lately? I've often heard about the hardships of pregnancy at home, and seeing Your Majesty looking so well puts my mind at ease."

Consort Jing covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes sparkling with a hint of liveliness. "Only the first day of your marriage, and you're already thinking about these things?" In that instant, the unrestrained and unruly nature inherent in Xie family daughters inadvertently surfaced again.

The Empress smiled upon hearing this and teased, "They are newlyweds, and their love is strong. It's only natural that they want to have children. It's clear that Yanxing treats you very well."

The topics of conversation after marriage were indeed much more lively than when she was still unmarried. Meng Lingyao lowered her eyes, her cheeks slightly flushed, and did not respond.

Consort Jing smiled and shared some of the subtle sensations she experienced during her pregnancy, such as changes in taste, drowsiness, and cravings for sour flavors. Then, she changed the subject slightly and sighed softly, "I've only heard from the nannies who have served pregnant concubines in the palace that many women develop brown spots on their faces a few months into pregnancy. I'm fine now, but I wonder if I will later..."

She was beautiful, especially her fair and smooth skin, like the finest white porcelain. It's only natural to feel a pang of regret if such a flaw were even slightly imperfect. Furthermore, pregnancy inevitably brings more worries, and her face naturally reflected a sense of melancholy.

The Empress gently patted her hand disapprovingly, "What's most important for you right now is to focus on your pregnancy. What do these things matter? I see you are a beauty of unparalleled grace. Even if you have some freckles, it won't matter. Besides, not everyone gets them. I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?" Her tone was intimate and natural, showing genuine concern.

Meng Lingyao understood immediately. She had long heard that the Empress and Consort Jing were on good terms, and seeing them today confirmed it was true. Consort Jing's pregnancy had been so smooth thanks to the Empress's protection and care. She obediently replied, "True beauty lies in the bone structure, not just the skin. Even the freckles on a beautiful woman's face are like the patterns on a butterfly's wings, possessing a unique charm. Of course, Consort Jing is blessed with good fortune and will surely be safe and sound."

After listening to their words of comfort, Consort Jing felt much better.

"Enough, enough. There's no need for me to worry about something that's not even a rumor." She remembered something and said, "Speaking of which, I know you're on good terms with my good-for-nothing younger sister, Jingqiu. She's reached a certain age now, and since she's coming to the capital, my family wants me to find her a husband. She's quite impulsive, so if you have time, I'd appreciate it if you could talk to her and find out what she's thinking, so I can be more informed."

Meng Lingyao nodded, "Your Highness, please rest assured. I like Jingqiu very much. I will definitely go to see her and have a good chat with her."

After chatting for a while, it was time for Consort Jing to take her medicine. Meng Lingyao took her leave and departed first, carrying with her the generous gifts bestowed upon her by the Empress and Consort Jing.

Meanwhile, Consort Wen returned to her palace and expressionlessly dismissed all the palace servants, saying, "All of you, leave. I want to be alone."

Once the hall was empty, she walked to her dressing table, opened a box of rouge she had just bought, brushed aside the top layer of crimson powder, and pulled out a finely rolled-up strip of paper. Unfolding it, she found a short sentence written on it.

"The pregnancy should not be allowed to continue; we should make plans as soon as possible."

Consort Wen held the paper in her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly. She couldn't tolerate this child, and there were others who felt the same way, no, even more so than she did.

But right now, the Empress and Consort Jing have surrounded that area like an iron barrel. How can they possibly accomplish this while keeping themselves completely clean and untainted?

She stared at her own eyes in the mirror, needing to think things through carefully.

As she stepped out of the palace gates, the setting sun cast a brilliant glow on the clouds. Meng Lingyao leaned back on a soft cushion, cradling the emperor's calligraphy in her arms, surrounded by a circle of various gifts. The richness of her gifts today far exceeded her expectations.

She turned her head to look at Pei Xu and couldn't help but chuckle, "This trip of ours seems to have been like going to the palace to beg for alms."

Counting her day's haul, she thought, "A third-rank imperial decree, a hot spring villa, gold and silver jewelry, and this calligraphy... I went in empty-handed and left laden with treasures." She felt unworthy of it all. After all, in the very beginning, she had only wanted to verify whether what she had seen in her dream was real.

Pei Xu turned his head to look at her, "I dare not refuse a gift from an elder."

Meng Lingyao thought about it and nodded. After all, it wasn't obtained through deception or trickery; the nobles in the palace were willingly bestowing it upon her, so why wouldn't she accept it?

Seeing her radiant appearance, Pei Xu's eyes unconsciously lit up with a smile. "You must be tired after a long day. Go back to your residence and rest early."

"No rush." ​​Meng Lingyao shook her head, her eyes full of eager excitement. "I want to go to Juxianglou first."

Yesterday was the day of her wedding, and today the news has spread; the shop's business must be booming. Although she herself doesn't think she's marrying up, in the eyes of most people in the capital, marrying Pei Xu is undoubtedly a case of climbing the social ladder. These people will inevitably think that her success today owes some credit to those cosmetics and beauty products.

Not to mention, she had previously had the shop staff give her that hint. Now was the perfect time to check on the results.

Pei Xu pondered for a moment, then seemed to have thought of something. "Since that's the case, it's on the way anyway, so why don't we go to Linlang Pavilion first?"

Meng Lingyao was slightly taken aback, but didn't ask any further questions and simply nodded.

Linlang Pavilion was located in the most bustling street in the capital, its upturned eaves appearing particularly grand in the twilight. Pei Xu led her straight through the front hall, around several corridors, and pushed open a heavy sandalwood door.

Dozens of glass lamps illuminated the inner treasury, making the room's treasures shimmer and sparkle. Meng Lingyao stood before the door, momentarily unable to move. Jadeite shone like spring water, coral like the morning glow, pearls gleamed like moonlight, and gemstones of every color sparkled like a galaxy. Those treasures elsewhere, which would be considered the centerpiece of a shop, were displayed here as casually as cabbages and radishes.

She walked in slowly, her fingertips gently brushing against a jade hairpin inlaid with various gemstones, before stopping in front of a box of round, full South China Sea pearls. Each piece was exquisitely crafted, breathtakingly beautiful.

Pei Xu stood quietly behind her, watching the undisguised amazement and joy in her eyes, and felt a sense of peace in his heart.

The old servants in the manor would occasionally mention his mother. She was lively and witty, and kind to everyone. Even years after her death, the servants in the manor still remembered her fondly. She loved these jewels and precious stones the most, and she could always make ordinary clothes look unique.

Sadly, he was still young when she passed away, and his memories of his mother were already hazy and dreamlike. Moreover, he was cold-hearted and had never understood or appreciated such luxurious things.

This room, once dazzling and empty for many years, has finally found someone who appreciates it.

Meng Lingyao spoke softly, "I've heard that the ancestral lands of the Yang clan of Hongnong are rich in jade?"

Pei Xu nodded slightly. "Among my mother's dowry were two jade mines."

Before Meng Lingyao could even feel a pang of jealousy, Pei Xu calmly said—

"Now they are all yours."

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Author's Note: I'm begging you to get rich quick! [Please][Please][Please]