17 Falling into the Water
◎Why pretend to be ignorant when you know the truth◎
On the first day of her marriage, Rong Qianyu hadn't slept all night, her mind racing. All the concubines in the Eastern Palace came to pay their respects to the Crown Princess. "Greetings to Her Majesty the Crown Princess, may Your Majesty live a thousand years."
Last night was not a good night. I woke up hungry in the morning.
"Stand up, Mr. Liu, how are you feeling lately? Are you still feeling unwell?"
Liu Chunyan was a very considerate person, never causing trouble for others. However, her influence was not strong enough, so she often did not dare to speak to him. "Doctor Xu prescribed some medicine, and I've felt much better after taking it for a few days."
"That's good," Rong Qianyu said politely, "This may be the Crown Prince's eldest son in the future. You must be careful."
She felt really bad for Liu Chunyan's experience. Although Fu Hua was ridiculous, she and her child were innocent. Moreover, the child was the prince's child. As the prince's wife, she should take better care of him.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am much better now."
Rong Qianyu looked around and asked, "Why didn't Cui Cairen come?"
"I'm late, Your Majesty has been waiting for a long time!" Before she finished speaking, Cui Rumei came slowly, holding her head and twisting her waist, wearing a bright pink robe.
She walked in leisurely, not even glancing at Rong Qianyu. "Your Highness stayed at my place last night. He was so happy and drank a lot, so I had to serve him quite hard. He got busy early in the morning, so I changed the Crown Prince's clothes and waited until Your Highness had finished attending the morning court. That's why I'm a little late."
This was simply a declaration to the entire palace that the Crown Prince did not sleep with the Crown Princess on his wedding night, but instead had sex with her.
I came late because the service was a bit tiring.
Rong Qianyu herself didn't care about these things. It would be better if Fu Hua never touched her in his life, but she was the Crown Princess, and it was still very embarrassing to be humiliated in front of everyone.
She didn't say anything, but just forced a slight smile and said, "Thank you for your hard work, sister."
Cui Rumei, on the other hand, didn't hold back and continued to argue. She lightly brushed her eyebrows with her jade fingers, brushed away a few strands of hair from her forehead, and leaned over to say, "I'm not tired. Besides, not everyone can endure such hardship. Being able to endure hardship is a blessing for me."
Rong Qianyu still kept smiling, "Then don't tire your sister to death, it will be bad if you delay paying your respects any longer."
"Don't worry, Madam. The Crown Prince loves me and will not let me work hard for a moment."
The two were on the verge of a fight. This was the first time that Rong Qianyu and Cui Rumei had been at loggerheads with each other. The rest of the people present lowered their heads and dared not speak.
The main hall was completely silent, and after a long pause, people finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Now that you've paid your respects, let's all go back. Don't freeze yourself by going back and forth."
Everyone then knelt down to pay their respects, but Cui Rumei was still reluctant to leave.
Tan Lu glanced at Cui Rumei, who disliked her the most, and said loudly: "Then I will call Shu'er over. This child recognizes people and likes the queen."
"Then call her out. I like Shu'er the most too. Does Shu'er like her mother?"
Shu'er is almost two years old now and can already walk, but she still can't speak very fluently. She only says a few words occasionally, and sometimes she is in a bad mood and doesn't like to talk.
"I like it!" She was soft and plump like a little glutinous rice dumpling.
"The princess is becoming more and more lovable." Cui Rumei also came up to tease the child, "Shu'er is almost two years old, isn't she?"
Seeing this, Tan Lu said, "Then it would be great if Cui Cairen could have a baby as well."
Cui Rumei did not comment, and immediately turned her face away and sat quietly aside. People like her naturally hope to give birth to a son, as a son will bring honor to the mother.
Every day she fantasized about the day when she would be in charge of the six harems. She said indignantly, "Sister Tan is such a joke. If I were to give birth, it would be a son. A daughter is nothing."
Hearing this, Tan Lu naturally didn't look at her in a good mood. "Giving birth to a daughter is naturally not a big deal, but it also depends on the relationship between the elders and the younger ones. Shu'er is also the daughter of the Crown Princess. At least in the future she won't be like me, just a concubine."
"you……"
"What about me? I'm talking about you, Consort Cui. Why are you so anxious? You were destined to be rich and powerful, but your family fell into poverty and you've become a prostitute. Now you're the prince's concubine, aren't you? My sister is a rare talent, how could she possibly give birth to a daughter? It must be a son who will take you away from your family."
Cui Rumei said angrily, "Your Majesty, I feel a little unwell and would like to take my leave first."
After she went out, she kept muttering to herself. In front of Fu Hua, she was a shy and weak little woman. In front of these concubines, she was never soft-hearted and she completely disdained to pretend to be kind. Now that she had Fu Hua's support, she was naturally not afraid of anything.
What's so great about just giving birth to a little girl? What a person! She's so proud of herself just because she gave birth to a daughter, as if she's the only one in the world who can give birth. What's the point of showing off?
Xue Ji returned to the palace today to report on his work and stopped by to see Rong Qianyu. On this necessary route, he met Cui Rumei and said, "I'm here to see the talented Cui."
"Why did Master Xue come back suddenly?"
Xue Ji always replied to her in a serious tone, without showing any affection, answering her questions one by one. "I will naturally come back after I finish my work. Besides, it has been more than 20 days. What happened to you, talented person?"
She put on that coquettish expression again, "I'm just tired. I got up a little late today."
What he meant was that he was tired from serving the prince yesterday, and that he got up late because the prince indulged him.
"The Crown Prince values talented people, so talented people should also give your Majesty some face. Your Majesty is not very sensitive to face, so we still have to distinguish between high and low."
"Why do you have to offend her like that?" Rong Qianyu asked Tan Lu.
"She's just unworthy of company. Whether Liu is blessed or not is just her own nonsense. She relies on her seductive and charming ways to seduce the prince, and has him completely captivated. Men might be drawn to her rumors, but the women in the inner chambers are all suspicious."
Tan Lu now has a daughter, and everything comes first for her. As long as it doesn't involve her daughter, she will be fine.
"Why are you so angry, Lady Liang? It's not worth getting angry over such a person." Xue Ji walked straight in.
"Master Xue is back!" They both looked over.
"Greetings to the Crown Princess, and to the Consort Liang."
Tan Lu greeted him specially: "Long time no see, I hope you are well."
Xue Ji bowed his head and said, "I hurried back after finishing my work, and finally made it in time for the New Year."
Tan Lu took a look and said with a smile, "Since my lord is here, I will take my leave first."
She stood up to take Shu'er away, but Shu'er was still in Rong Qianyu's arms and didn't want to move.
"Okay," she said, holding Shu'er and handing her to Tan Lu. "Your Majesty, come play with Shu'er again in a few days, okay?"
"Shu'er, take your leave." She said in a thick baby voice.
After the others left, Rong Qianyu's nervous expression immediately relaxed, "Why did you come back so soon?"
"I can't wait to go home."
Xue Ji is paying more and more attention to her. Separation is no longer far away because she has a heart that is eager to return home. She is no longer a wanderer because she has a desire to reunite with her family as soon as possible.
It's the end of the year again. He didn't care whether he celebrated the holidays or not, but this year he felt particularly indescribable.
It is not an exaggeration to say that it was given by Rong Qianyu. Originally, he was just dealing with her as a matter of duty. He didn't want to be nosy and didn't want to get himself into trouble because of her, so he took care of her.
Now that they were getting to know each other better, he always felt that he had crossed the line, but he couldn't help wanting to see her, wanting to help her. He wanted to help her gain a foothold in the harem, to help her eliminate those who were against her, but how could he express such a desire?
Rong Qianyu was also happy to see him, "Yujie, show the tea to Lord Xue and ask him to take out the oolong tea I saved earlier. The weather in the Great Zhou is dry in winter, and I always feel a little uncomfortable. Drinking some oolong tea can prevent thirst."
Rong Qianyu treated him with special courtesy. She was not like other people in the palace who fawned on the powerful, nor did she stay away from him just because he was a eunuch.
Although Xue Ji was a popular figure in the palace, she was probably the only one who regarded him as a complete person.
"Do I deserve Your Majesty's... treatment with such courtesy?" he asked.
"Of course, you are Qianyu's benefactor."
Although her words were sincere, they looked forced. She could try her best to squeeze out a smile that belonged only to him from her bitter eyes.
"I have prepared a gift for Your Majesty, would you like to take a look?"
He took out a small box, which contained a wooden doll with various exotic architectural decorations painted on it. When he opened it, there were many small dolls inside.
The outermost layer is quite exquisite and gorgeous, with a total of more than ten layers. The dolls are painted more and more sloppily as you go deeper, and the smallest one is so ugly that you can no longer see what it looks like.
"I don't understand these things. I just bought it because I thought it was fun. I heard it's a little thing of Rakshasa. Does your Majesty like it?"
Although these gadgets are rare and valuable in the Great Zhou, they are not unknown. Rongguo does not have these, and this is the first time Rong Qianyu has seen them.
She couldn't tell whether it was good or not, she just felt it was strange. Moreover, there were some patterns on it that she had never seen before. She was curious and couldn't help but observe it repeatedly.
"I...I quite like it!"
Hearing her say that she liked him, Xue Ji felt relieved.
After many days of marriage, Rong Qianyu and Fu Hua still haven't consummated their marriage. Fu Hua is content to spend time with Cui Rumei, while she has been playing with Shu'er. They are busy with their own things and have rarely seen each other in recent days.
The lotus flowers withered in winter. Rong Qianyu brought Shu'er to feed the fish today. Cui Rumei came out and shouted again, with a gloomy look on her face, "Greetings, Her Majesty, you are here to play with the princess again."
She glanced at him and politely replied, "The lake here doesn't freeze even in winter. Bring Shu'er to see it."
"Greetings to Empress Cui." Shu'er said in a baby voice.
Hearing Shu'er call her "Empress," Cui Rumei was overjoyed. "I am not worthy of being called Empress. Isn't this just being arrogant in front of the Crown Princess?"
She turned up her nose, her eyes full of ignorance and provocation, pretending to be ignorant and started talking nonsense again.
"Filial piety and respect are measured by the heart, not the actions. If you have me as your Crown Princess in your heart, why would you care about the child's jokes? If not, there is no need to behave like this and humiliate others."
Rong Qianyu's words were suggestive, she just wanted to warn her.
Cui Rumei frowned slightly and spread her hands, looking helpless. "Your Majesty, I don't understand what you are saying."
Rong Qianyu swallowed hard, trying to suppress the anger rising in her throat. "Be careful with your words in front of children."
Cui Rumei turned in front of Rong Qianyu and blocked her. "Your Majesty, do you think I am humiliating you?" she asked.
Rong Qianyu asked back, "You and I both know the truth, right? Why pretend to be ignorant when you know the truth?"
"Your Highness is right." Having hit a wall here, she turned around and teased Shu'er. "Shu'er, can you play with Empress Cui from now on? Empress Cui likes Shu'er too."
The child was still a little clingy, and seeing Cui Rumei's aura, she turned around and hugged Rong Qianyu aggrievedly. "Shu'er likes her mother..."
"Shu'er, can you let Empress Cui hug you?" Cui Rumei stretched out her hand again to show her goodwill and wanted to hug her, but Rong Qianyu turned around and avoided her.
"What's wrong with the Crown Princess? Are you worried about this?"
She immediately released the hand she had just placed on him. "I like girls, too, but I'd rather have a boy to carry on the family line. Even a princess has to get married eventually, don't you think, Your Majesty?"
Rong Qianyu was speechless, "..."
At this point, Cui Rumei changed the subject again, "Since the Queen likes Shu'er so much, why not have a child of her own?"
Unexpectedly, the Crown Princess didn't say anything. Instead, the maid next to Cui Rumei spoke first, "She even spent her wedding night alone. I'm afraid the Crown Prince must be very angry with her."
"What are you talking about, you little bitch?" Yu Xie was so angry that she retorted back in person.
"Yujie! Don't be rude! Shu'er, it's too cold, let's go back."
Rong Qianyu didn't want to argue with her, so she turned around and tried to leave, but was stopped by Cui Rumei.
"How did you say that you have touched the heart of the Empress? Could it be that my maid has said something that has really angered the Crown Prince?"
As for her, Rong Qianyu just wanted to save face. A wife should act like a wife. Besides, why should she pursue such a person relentlessly?
"You don't need to say more. I'm the legal wife and I should behave like a legal wife. I don't want to argue with you. Why are you being so aggressive?"
She walked closer step by step, "I'm scared!" Suddenly she snatched Shu'er away with force, and the maid beside her restrained Rong Qianyu.
"Let go of Shu'er! Let go!"
Rong Qianyu instinctively wanted to snatch the child away, but Cui Rumei seemed to be possessed by an evil spirit. She held Shu'er tightly and refused to let go, forcing the child to burst into tears.
"I can only inconvenience your Majesty!"
"How dare you! Let go!"
The palace maids and eunuchs working nearby also heard the quarrel between the two. They all looked at them sideways, but no one dared to step forward. They all ran away for fear of being implicated.
"What is the Crown Princess doing? How can she win the support of the people when she is so jealous?"
As the two were struggling, Cui Rumei pushed Rong Qianyu away, causing her to slip and fall heavily to the ground. Just as she was about to stand up in a panic, she saw Cui Rumei holding Shu'er and jumping into the ice water.
"Shu'er!"
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