After returning to the Eighth Prince's residence, the Eighth Prince, thinking about Lanqin's encounter, lost interest in spending time with Madam Mao and told her to go directly to her room, while he strolled to the main courtyard.

At this moment, the Eighth Prince's wife, Lady Guo Luoluo, was carving a piece of fine rosewood with a carving knife. It looked like she was carving a pen holder.

Today is Lady Mao's birthday, and the Eighth Prince actually accompanied her out for a meal, which shows how much he dotes on her. Since Lady Mao entered the household, the Eighth Prince has also shown her considerable favor; after all, she's young and beautiful—who wouldn't like that?

Was he ultimately disgusted by her infertility? Since their grand wedding eight years ago, her belly had remained stubbornly still, until Zhang gave birth to the prince's eldest son, Hongwang. The Eighth Prince's wife gradually began to realize that she might have contracted some strange illness and was likely infertile.

Alas, gynecological knowledge in ancient times was very limited, and there was basically no way to treat infertility like that of the Eighth Prince's wife.

In front of outsiders, or within the royal family, everyone has always known that the relationship between the Eighth Prince and his wife is just as enviable as that between the First Prince and his wife.

However, the Eighth Prince's wife knew that the Eighth Prince valued her more for the influence her family could bring.

Since their marriage, the Eighth Prince had always treated his wife very well. Therefore, she always held her head high in public because her husband treated her well and didn't take any concubines. The only two he did have were chosen by the Emperor, and the Eighth Prince didn't favor them either.

Until three years ago, when Zhang became pregnant, the Eighth Prince's wife was somewhat bewildered.

He promised that he would not allow his concubine to become pregnant until she gave birth to his eldest son, but five years had passed and she still hadn't conceived, so he had no choice but to let his concubine get pregnant.

She knew that he was under a lot of pressure regarding the issue of having children. Not only was Lady Wei urging him, but the Emperor was also urging him, and his brothers were also watching. If he didn't have a child soon, he would almost be considered infertile.

Although she knew he was pressured into letting Zhang give birth to Hongwang, she still felt uneasy and had never truly let go of the resentment. Even though Hongwang was now raised by her, what did it matter? He wasn't her own child.

As for Hongwang, the Eighth Prince's wife did everything she could as a legal mother, instructing servants to take care of him, to check on him properly, and to show him appropriate concern, but these things could not fill the void in her heart.

Five years of harmonious marriage and deep affection were shattered by Hongwang. When she learned that Zhang was pregnant, the Eighth Prince's wife went through the darkest days of her life. She was driven mad with jealousy, but she could not stop her husband from having a child with another woman.

Today, after the Eighth Prince accompanied Madam Mao out, the Eighth Princess Consort sat in her study carving the pen holder in her hand. Only in this way could she truly focus on one thing in peace, without thinking about the things that caused her pain and despair.

"Madam, you've been carving for two hours now, take a break. This is hard on your eyes." The maid Pearl placed a cup of snow swallow soup on the desk in front of the Eighth Madam.

"Master has been out for almost two hours. He must have finished his meal and gone to the night market?" The Eighth Prince's wife felt a bitter taste in her throat. She, Guo Luoluo Mingyu, was also feeling despair and helplessness at the thought of her husband's intimacy with another woman. She was sad, but had no one to confide in.

“Madam, that Mao woman knows her place and is usually very respectful to you,” Pearl advised.

"Of course I know, but they must be secretly happy that a wife can't have children." A hint of despair flashed in the Eighth Princess's eyes.

"Madam, why don't you speak to the ladies in the palace? Perhaps one of the imperial physicians is skilled in gynecology," Pearl said.

"Do you need to remind me? I already consulted my aunt and she examined me, but she just couldn't find anything wrong." A helpless despair appeared on the Eighth Princess's face.

"Don't be sad, Madam. Although the First Prince isn't your biological son, he recognizes you now. Zhang is just a concubine. Even if this Mao woman has another child, he'll still bring her over. His Majesty still dotes on you. Look at all the princes' residences; we have the fewest concubines." Pearl felt that Madam was just too strong-willed. In fact, His Majesty had always been very fond of the Eighth Prince's wife.

"How long has the Princess Consort been carving this? Why don't you try to persuade your master?" The Eighth Prince's voice rang out from outside the door; he was probably talking to the jadeite outside.

Upon hearing this, the Eighth Prince's wife's face lit up with joy. Her previous coldness vanished completely with the Eighth Prince's voice, and she immediately regained her confident demeanor.

Eighth Prince strode in, wearing a brown robe. He was carrying a wooden box. He walked up to Eighth Princess and said, "You're carving this again. It's not like we're short of anything. Why bother?"

The Eighth Prince's wife stood up and said gently, "I had nothing to do anyway, just passing the time. Why did you return so early, Your Highness?"

Eighth Master handed her the wooden box, saying, "This is for you."

The Eighth Princess Consort glanced at the wooden box a few times and said, "Today is Princess Mao's birthday, why are you giving me a gift?"

The Eighth Prince feigned displeasure and said, "I want to give the Princess Consort a gift, but do I need to consider whose birthday it is?"

Pearl and the others had already left.

The Eighth Prince's wife suppressed her joy and deliberately put on a stern face, saying, "I have not given you any children, so it is not appropriate for me to accept your gift."

Eighth Master sighed and said, "Mingyu, we already have Hongwang. He's your and my son. I don't want to talk about this anymore. From now on, whoever has a child will have a child with Mingyu and me. Do you understand?"

The Eighth Prince's wife felt slightly better. She took the wooden box, opened it, and saw a wooden hairpin carved from ebony in the shape of a swan spreading its wings. The carving was quite good, and since she was very skilled at carving, she liked the hairpin quite a bit when she saw it.

"My lord, where did you find this?" The Eighth Prince's wife picked up the wooden hairpin and examined it repeatedly.

"I knew you would like it. When I saw it being sold in a shop, I immediately thought that my wife would like it." After leaving the restaurant, the Eighth Prince and Madam Mao looked at the shops along the way and found the shop where Lanqin bought the ebony hairpin.

The Eighth Prince's wife felt a surge of warmth in her heart, thinking: Even though he's with Lady Mao, he still remembers that I like wooden things.

“Isn’t Your Highness worried about displeasing Madam Mao? After all, Your Highness went out with her,” said the Eighth Prince’s wife.

“Who would dare to be displeased when the master buys something for his wife? Here, let me put it on for you,” said the Eighth Prince.

After a period of intimacy between the Eighth Prince and his wife, the Eighth Prince called for water, washed up, and then went to bed.

The Eighth Prince's wife lay in his arms, and he gently massaged her sensitive areas. Soon, soft moans filled the air inside the gauze curtains, and she was breathless.