Chapter 097

Although there was no big banquet at the Princess's Mansion when Su Yu got married, the Liu family's sedan chair was used to pick her up at the Princess's Mansion. Therefore, many people knew that Jiashan's personal maid had gotten married.

Especially the Anguo Mansion, which has always paid attention to the Princess Mansion.

Hearing that Jiashan also gave Su Yu something from his dowry, many maids in the Duke of Anguo's mansion couldn't help but tear up.

The treatment of the princess's ladies-in-waiting was vastly different from that of the slaves who had signed indentures to sell their bodies, but no one had expected that the eldest princess would be so kind to the maids.

Many people gathered together secretly to chat.

Some people even compared it with the congratulatory gifts Jiashan sent when Zhan Shaoying married Qi.

On this day, Qi was discussing with her mother-in-law Zhang what kind of gifts should be given to Nanping Earl's son as his first child.

In this aristocratic family, the gift giving is also very particular. The gifts for marrying a wife and marrying a concubine are different in weight, and the gifts for the mansions of marquises and the mansions of earls are also different in weight.

Qi came from a prominent family, and she had learned all these things when she was at her mother's home. But Zhang had not completely given her the power, so Qi had to patiently ask her mother-in-law.

Originally, the discussion was going on harmoniously, but Zhang's eyes suddenly swept across Qi's belly a few times.

Zhang smiled slightly and said slowly, "You and Ying'er have been married for a few months, right?"

Qi said meekly, "Yes."

Zhang hesitated for a while, looked at her again, and asked, "Has Ying'er been staying in your room a lot recently?"

Qi looked obedient and well-behaved. She answered softly, "Sometimes I rest in the study, but the rest of the time I rest in my yard."

In fact, according to Zhang, Zhan Shaoying spent most of his time in the study during the past three months. In the remaining nights, in addition to going to Qi's room, he would also stay at his maid's place for two nights.

Zhang thought Qi would take advantage of her question to complain to her. Zhang took the opportunity to teach her daughter-in-law a few words: "A woman must keep an eye on her husband" and "If a concubine's son is born before the legitimate son, the wife will lose face" and so on.

Unexpectedly, Qi actually covered up the past for Zhan Shaoying. Zhang then felt that although this daughter-in-law's family background was not as prominent as Jiashan's, she was still sensible.

So Zhang forced herself to be kind, but still put on a sincere look and taught her, "Since this is the case, you should be more aggressive."

"Don't think I'm nagging. I treat you as my own daughter, so I'm telling you what's in my heart." Zhang smiled first, then looked at her for a few times and said casually, "The child of another princess is about to be born. After all, he is your majesty's grandson."

"Although your father-in-law has become the crown prince, Ying'er's position is not stable. If you can't give birth for a few years, His Majesty may have other ideas. As for the title, it will be uncertain at that time."

Zhang pursed her lips. Seeing that Qi was still unmoved, she couldn't help but look stern and said in a more serious tone, "Do you understand?"

Qi smiled and nodded: "Yes, I understand what you said, mother."

Qi had a gentle smile on her face, and she looked like she had no temper. She sat there upright, as if she were made of clay.

Zhang didn't know whether she had heard it or not, or whether she really understood it or was just pretending to understand, so she waved her hand irritably, indicating that she could leave.

Qi then bowed and obediently left with her maid.

After Qi left, Yingchun saw that Zhang looked unhappy, so she came forward to pour tea and said respectfully with a smile: "Young Madam has such a good temper, which shows that Madam and the eldest master are both blessed."

Zhang poked the teacup casually with her fingernails and said with a long face, "Good temper? I'm afraid it's too good. Not even the servants can control it in the future."

She tried to probe Qi today, but she didn't respond at all. These days, people in the mansion were talking about the gift Jiashan gave to Su Yu when she got married, but she didn't come out to deal with it!

If time passes, Jiashan will surely take over.

Zhang sighed and said quietly, "If I had known this would happen, I would have let Ying marry a stronger wife." Her eyes were as big as copper bells, and it was obvious that she was not very satisfied with Qi.

Seeing this, Yingchun, who was standing beside her, could only keep silent and dared not say a word.

After Qi left Zhang's courtyard, her expression changed immediately. A sarcastic smile appeared on her lips. Fuhua also gritted her teeth and said angrily, "Madam, it's easy for you to say that. The eldest young master has been staying in the study half of the time recently. It's not a question of whether you are willing to do your best or not."

"Instead of making you angry here, it is better to teach your son well." Fuhua's face was ashen.

Hearing Fuhua complaining on her behalf, Qi calmed down. She said calmly: "Remember this. In this world, the love of parents is the most unreasonable."

"She is not even close to being partial to her own children, so why would she teach him a lesson because of me?"

Fuhua bit her lip, frowned and said, "Then, is what the Madam said true?"

"If you really can't get pregnant for a long time, will the title of Duke of Anguo really fall on the eldest princess's child?" Fuhua asked anxiously.

Qi was silent for a while, then said gently, "Three parts truth and seven parts lies."

She had heard from her father and brother that His Majesty was a wise emperor. As a wise emperor, he would not do anything that would cause big losses for small gains.

Your Majesty dotes on the eldest princess, so you can just give her child a different title, and you won't take away other people's titles just because you love your son. Firstly, it's not legitimate, and secondly, it's easy to be criticized, which will cause trouble for the princess.

However, Zhang was also right.

Fourth uncle Jian has the emperor's favor, the eldest princess's child has royal blood, and with His Majesty's favor, if things continue like this, his side of the family will surely surpass the eldest branch in prominence.

However, the eldest branch of the family had the upper hand back then. Now that the fourth uncle's family has gained prominence and the eldest branch is weak, is there something wrong with the eldest branch itself?

Qi didn't think so.

She raised her eyebrows and chuckled: "Mother-in-law's purpose is to provoke a conflict between me and the princess. She thinks I am too stupid."

Even if she was born in a good family, how could she compare with the princess, who was born with a gift from heaven? Throughout history, except for those who took the initiative to get involved in treason cases, how many princesses did not have a good ending?

In the Han Dynasty, princesses had a high status and some even openly kept male concubines. The status of princesses in our dynasty has declined a lot, but it is still more prominent than that of many royal consorts.

After all, one is the emperor's daughter and the other is the emperor's daughter-in-law.

Even if the princess's husband's family is convicted one day, it will not be blamed on the princess.

Qi Shi felt that she was not arrogant enough to argue with Jia Shan. Moreover, she had been married for so long and had never seen the eldest princess take the initiative to make things difficult for her.

It was the mother-in-law who tried to stir up disputes again and again.

Even if the people in the Duke's Mansion were not very strict, if the master wanted to conceal it, the news of Su Yu's marriage would not have spread so widely. It was obviously Zhang's intention to let others see Jiashan's domineering nature.

Don't you think about who is being embarrassed when servants talk about their masters?

Qi shook her head slightly, feeling that the Duke of Anguo's Mansion was a quagmire that would drag her deeper and deeper.

Fuhua was puzzled and asked, "Why would the Madam do this? What good would it do to quarrel with the princess in the mansion?"

Why? God knows why?

Qi snorted unhappily.

She also didn't understand why even Fuhua understood this principle, but Zhang, the wife of a prince of a duke's mansion, didn't understand it at all?

Not to mention that the Fourth Prince is now in the limelight and is the legitimate son. Even when the Fourth Prince was not able to see, His Majesty's favor towards the eldest princess was the highest among all the princesses.

What's more, the Fourth Prince is no longer the same as before.

The eldest princess married into the Anguo Mansion, which was originally a dignified thing that His Majesty appreciated, but someone could have messed up the dignified thing. I heard that the old lady's health was getting worse day by day, and I was afraid that once she passed away, the Anguo Mansion would fall apart.

Qi thought that she had to find an opportunity to meet the eldest princess in secret. When people are sincere to each other, they get what they want. If not for Zhang and Zhan Shaoying, she also has to plan for her own future.

Unfortunately, after a summer, Qi still hadn't found a chance to say a few words to Jiashan.

Jiashan already has a hot summer, and now that I’m pregnant, I don’t dare use anything that’s too cold or too cool.

When the weather got hot, she was reluctant to go out, so Lu Yi had to put a few large ice cubes in her room every day to cool her down.

Fortunately, Zhang Hedi felt sorry for her and provided her with plenty of ice.

Even with such a diet, his appetite also decreased a lot. Every day, he could only eat a bowl of rice after Zhan Yue coaxed him.

After finally getting through the summer, Jiashan felt worse.

At the beginning of September, Emperor Zhanghe held a banquet in the palace.

Before entering the palace, Jiashan changed into a new set of clothes made by the Shangyi Bureau. She found that although she did not use them much every day, it did not hinder the growth of her belly.

The waist, which was originally more than one foot long, has grown four fingers wider. Before summer, the bulge of the belly was not very noticeable, but now it has become bloated.

Fortunately, the female officials in the clothing bureau were all experienced and they quickly enlarged and sewed the clothes, which gave her some time to breathe.

After changing clothes, Jiashan put on wooden clogs again. Because he hadn't seen his father and younger brother for a long time, he went to the palace early.

Who would have thought that at the entrance of Dongzhimen, they would bump into the carriage of the Princess of Qin.

Since that farewell at the Pear Garden, Jiashan has not seen the Princess of Qin again, but he heard many stories about her from Princess Ruyang and Nanny Zheng.

Jiashan lifted the curtain and bowed first without being surprised: "Princess, are you here so early?"

Princess Qin nodded slightly. Her eyes, which should have been stern, looked gentle. She said, "Yes. I have made an appointment with Princess Dening to visit Concubine Zhuang's palace."

As if she was afraid that Jiashan would be suspicious after hearing this, Princess Qin explained, "I heard that the wedding date of His Highness has been moved up, so Concubine Zhuang invited us to the palace to congratulate him."

Jiashan has been staying indoors recently, so he didn't hear about this. He could only laugh it off.

Princess Qin's eyes slowly fell on her: "It seems that the eldest princess is already eight months pregnant, right?"

"Yes, in about ten days, it will be eight months." Jiashan answered politely.

The Princess of Qin kept a gentle smile on her face and said, "The first three months and the last three months are the most dangerous time. I remember that the Queen gave birth eight months prematurely. Princess, please be careful."

Hearing her mention her mother, Jiashan's dark eyes were silent. She looked at the Princess Qin calmly and said softly, "I will pay attention to it. Thank you for your concern, Princess."

The Princess of Qin looked at her tenderly, then stood on the side of the elders, gave her a few gentle instructions, and then ordered the carriage to leave.

As soon as Princess Qin left, Jiashan's expression turned impatient.

She lowered the car curtain, and her lips curled up slightly, revealing a hint of coldness.