Envy of others

When mentioning the prince, Yun Zhaowan became shy, completely different from her witty and witty nature just now.

"I, I came here today to tell you some gossip, but you're just being mean and going off topic."

"What gossip? Whose is it?"

Yun Zhao brought the stool closer to her, and the two of them lowered their heads and whispered, "Chen Xuhuai has taken a concubine, Jiang Yue. She was secretly brought in yesterday morning through the back door, and she wasn't even allowed to enter through the side door."

"Chen Xuhuai has been in love with her for several years, and he has thrown himself into her arms. Now that it is legitimate, it is natural for him to be brought into the family."

"No!" Yun Zhaowan looked around and said excitedly, "Jiang Yue threatened to hang herself, almost killing two people. Shen Xuhuai took her as a concubine, and Lord Shen almost vomited blood in anger."

"Fool, if I were Jiang Yue, I would never resort to hanging myself to demand a legitimate status. There are thousands of ways to go, but she chose the one with the most pebbles."

Yuan Li had overestimated Jiang Yue. Given her status as a daughter of the Jiang family, being a concubine would be demeaning. If she didn't want a formal status, Shen Xuhuai might always feel guilty about it. Jiang Yue's suicide at this time must have been due to some unrest in the Shen family.

Speak of the devil, and here he is. Jiang Yue married into the Shen family yesterday. Today, she tied her hair into a bun, wore a bright red long dress, and walked into the rouge shop chatting and laughing with Aunt Liu from the Shen family.

When Yuanli first saw her, she was so beautiful and pitiful. Now that she has become a concubine, she looks a bit vulgar in her bright red clothes.

Looking through the carved window, Jiang Yue was seen smiling. Aunt Liu picked up a box of lip balm and applied it to her affectionately. She looked at her and nodded repeatedly.

"Look at how eager she is to publicize her status. She doesn't try to curry favor with her mother-in-law, but instead tries to curry favor with a concubine."

"That Madam Liu is no ordinary woman. Well, try the new fruit I made." Yuanli pushed the plate of fruit towards her.

For ten consecutive days, Yuanli stayed in the mansion to watch over the production of the pre-ordered pearl hairpins. Her father's old illness had been cured and he was now able to handle state affairs, so Wen Yici no longer had to be distracted by court affairs.

Today is the birthday party for the Prime Minister's wife. Yuanli dressed up carefully, but she was having trouble choosing a pearl hairpin. Just as she was struggling, Xiaotao brought her a brocade box.

Xiao Tao opened the brocade box and placed it beside her. Inside the box lay a newly made mandarin duck hairpin. The mandarin ducks were brightly colored and lifelike, but when you looked closely, they did not look like they were made of gold, silver or jewelry. Mandarin ducks usually come in pairs, but this one only had one.

"Would you like me to wear this today, Princess? Half a month ago, the prince personally drew the pattern and sent it to me, repeatedly instructing me to make it and send it to you before today. The prince also said that if it matches your dress today, you must wear this hairpin to the banquet hosted by the Prime Minister's wife."

Yuanli examined the mandarin duck hairpin carefully. It looked like it was made of thread, and felt warm to the touch, unlike the coldness of gold and silver. The colors were so vivid that it looked like newly imported embroidery thread from a Jiangnan weaving workshop.

"But why is there only one mandarin duck, all alone?"

Xiao Tao jokingly said, "If the princess meets the prince and asks him in person, won't everything be clear?"

After Yuanli had tidied everything, she left the room. Before leaving, she checked the birthday gift from the Prime Minister's wife again to make sure there were no mistakes.

The servant brought a horse stool. Just as Yuanli was about to get on the carriage, the felt curtain was lifted by a broad hand. Wen Yici was wearing clothes of the same color as her, and there was another mandarin duck perched on his hair crown.

Looking at his smiling face, Yuanli said coquettishly, "Husband, are you afraid that others don't know that I am your wife? Or are you afraid that I will hook up with other men, so you are reminding them that I am yours?"

"My lady, whatever you say is right. So please don't leave me alone. Do you like the embroidery thread I tied it with? I saw some in the palace and thought it looked nice, so I asked my father for some."

Yuanli now confirmed that the tribute from the Jiangnan weaving workshop was indeed good. Jiangnan only paid tribute to one box every year, but Wen Yici actually tricked her into making a pearl hairpin for her.

They set out a little late, so there was no congestion of carriages outside the Prime Minister's Mansion. Only a few carriages stopped together.

Wen Yici got off the carriage first. When it was Yuanli's turn, the horse stool was missing. Wen Yici stretched out his hands to hug her, but the burning gazes at the gate made her feel shy and embarrassed.

Wen Yici suppressed his smile and asked seriously, "Madam, why are you standing there?" As he spoke, Wen Yici moved closer and carried her out of the carriage.

"Wen Yici, others are watching, where is the stool?"

"Others can watch, it's not something to be hidden from the public. The horse stool is probably left at home."

After saying that, Wen Yici took Yuanli's hand and swaggered into the Prime Minister's Mansion. Seeing Yun Zhaowan sitting in the women's seat, Yuanli secretly greeted her.

Wen Yici let go of her tacitly and whispered in her ear, "Go, don't be greedy for wine."

"Then my husband, please don't get drunk."

After saying that, Yuanli couldn't wait to go to Yun Zhaowan's table. Wen Yici's eyes followed her until she sat down, then he followed the prime minister to the men's table.

There were many ladies from the boudoir coming today, so the Prime Minister's wife simply set up separate tables for men and women. Since she couldn't have her cake and eat it too, she chose to sit with Yunzhao.

As soon as she sat down, the women at the same table all stood up and saluted her. People around her looked at her hair bun from time to time, but no one dared to ask any questions.

Yuanli was chatting enthusiastically with Yun Zhaowan when a figure in the distance attracted their attention. Madam Jiang and Madam Shen came to the birthday banquet together, followed by Jiang Yue. Anyone from a slightly powerful family would know the relationship between the three of them.

Although Mrs. Shen seemed to have a close relationship with Mrs. Jiang, she was still held by Mrs. Jiang and had a faint smile on her face, but her hand did not touch her.

The Prime Minister's wife sat at a table with a group of respected old ladies. The younger people who came and went all held birthday gifts to wish her a happy birthday, but the Prime Minister's wife just glanced at them and nodded to accept them.

Yuanli waited calmly for them to finish their flattering words before walking towards the Prime Minister's wife. The Prime Minister's wife pulled her aside and talked to her in private for a few words. What they said back and forth was nothing but compliments to each other.

After a few words, Yuanli asked Ziyun to take out the gift prepared early in the morning. The Prime Minister's wife showed joy on her face and opened the brocade box in front of everyone.

"The peony is a symbol of the Queen Mother, but Princess Wen gave it to the Prime Minister's wife. I wonder what her meaning is."

Looking in the direction of the voice, Jiang Yue had stood beside her without her noticing. When she said this, everyone was amazed and looked at her in confusion and talked about it. But Yuanli was not panicked at all and looked at her calmly.

After a closer look, the Prime Minister's wife angrily exclaimed, "Can't the daughter of the Jiang family even tell the difference between a peony and a peony? Miss Jiang, please don't make irresponsible remarks without first seeing clearly. If someone with ulterior motives hears them, they'll misunderstand Princess Wen's good intentions."

The Prime Minister's wife didn't like Jiang Yue in the first place, but this well-read woman treated herself so badly that she rushed to become someone else's concubine. This was considered a sign that Bai Gao had taken a liking to her.

"The Prime Minister's wife should atone for her sins. It was Yue'er who didn't see clearly."

The Prime Minister's wife ignored her and turned to Madam Jiang, who was standing beside her. "Now that Miss Jiang is someone else's concubine, she shouldn't call herself Yue'er, and certainly shouldn't address me without mentioning my mother-in-law and mother. Even I, an old man, would have to bow when I see Princess Wen, but Miss Jiang is slandering her casually. This is even more disrespectful. You two ladies should teach your children well and not let them go astray."

Madam Shen showed displeasure and calmly shook off Madam Jiang's hand. Jiang Yue's face flushed with shame, and she pinched herself hard with the hand holding the embroidered handkerchief.

The confused people present also understood what was going on, and the subject of discussion became Jiang Yue. The Jiang family was a prestigious family, with three generations of scholars. Jiang Yue had been well-educated and well-mannered since childhood, with a beautiful and gentle appearance. She was once the first choice for the daughter-in-law of the aristocratic families in Kyoto, but now she was willing to be a concubine.

Now, the Prime Minister's wife's words confirmed the rumors that spread last month about Jiang Yue, and people looked at her with more contempt.

"It's okay. It's your birthday today, so please don't disturb your mood. This pearl hairpin caused misunderstandings because of my poor consideration. I bought it because Chang Xiangsi saw it was beautiful. I will go back and exchange it for a birthday gift for you to make amends."

The Prime Minister's wife placed the brocade box on the table, took Yuanli's hand and said, "No need, I like it very much. I have lived for decades and I am not as short-sighted as some young women. I can see the princess's intentions."

"As long as the Prime Minister's wife likes it, if you have time someday, why not go to Changxiangsi with her? The snacks and fruits on the second floor are quite delicious, I'm sure you'll like them."

"Okay, I've heard a little bit about Chang Xiangsi's pearl hairpin, but unfortunately I went too late, and the reservation is scheduled until the end of the month. Your pearl hairpin is not the one on the first floor, but the one on the second floor? The peony is very vivid, I like it very much. Thank you, Princess Wen."

After saying this, the Prime Minister's wife immediately ordered the maid to put it on for her.

"Yes, ma'am. I asked the boss to make it for me when we opened the business. I even ran into Zhao Wan and Madam He that day. I didn't expect the Prime Minister's wife would also like Chang Xiangsi's products."

The Prime Minister's wife was very happy and talked to Yuanli for a long time. She didn't let Yuanli go until the banquet was about to begin.

As soon as she returned to the banquet, the ladies in the boudoirs opened up their chatterboxes, vying to speak to her, most of them using Chang Xiangsi as their opening words. They were overwhelmed with envy when they learned that the mandarin ducks on her and Prince Wen's heads were a manuscript by Prince Wen, who had personally asked Chang Xiangsi to make them.

The chefs at the Prime Minister's Mansion are considered the best in Kyoto. They know how to cook many dishes, and the taste of their food is not inferior to that of the imperial chefs in the palace. Many ministers come here because they hear about the Prime Minister's food and want to taste his delicious food and make friends with him.

As soon as the wine cups were placed on the table, Yuanli smelled a familiar fragrance. It was the plum wine from the palace. She vaguely remembered that her mother had given several jars to the Prime Minister at the flower-viewing banquet.

The plum wine was mellow and fragrant. Yuanli drank half of it without realizing it, and her cheeks turned slightly red. Yun Zhaowan couldn't help but feel a little worried, but Yuanli held the wine pot tightly and refused to give it to anyone.

Just when he was in trouble, Wen Yici stood at the door. He said a few words to the Prime Minister's wife and walked straight towards Yuanli.

Wen Yici walked over to her, took her hand, and squatted down, saying, "My lady, if you drink any more, you'll be drunk. I'll take you back home, okay?"

"Husband~Hold~"