"Oh. What's wrong, Consort? Why are you feeling unwell as soon as you get back?" Lady Nian asked with concern.
"It's not that I'm unwell, it's that I'm pregnant," Madam Song said with a smile. She felt that it was alright to tell Madam Nian at this time, and besides, Lanqin was only waiting for the eldest princess to get married before returning to the villa.
For a moment, Nian was stunned by her words, and Song was speechless for a while because of them.
"Oh dear, that's wonderful! I'm even more eager to pay my respects to the concubine. I wonder if Sister Song could introduce us?" Lady Nian quickly composed herself, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes shining as she spoke.
Song was a little embarrassed. She was unsure whether Lanqin wanted to see this Nian, but she had just accepted her gift and couldn't bring herself to refuse.
This is what they mean by "he who takes a man's money is bound to him, he who eats a man's food is bound to him"!
"Sister Rong, please go and talk to him. If the master doesn't allow it, then it's best if I don't go," said Madam Song after a moment's thought.
“Of course. Sister, go and talk to Consort Shi. Shilan has been wanting to pay her respects to Consort Shi for a long time,” Lady Nian said with a smile.
After bidding farewell to the Song family, Nian's smile, as delicate as a spring flower, gradually faded. She looked at the Yehe family's house across the street and saw a figure seemingly moving a few times in front of the window.
snort! !
Ms. Nian gave a light snort, glanced at him a few times, then raised her head and walked out the door.
At Nian's request, Madam Song instructed several maids to continue tidying up, while she herself, supported by Qingping, headed towards the south courtyard.
Yehe Shi saw that as soon as Nian Shi left, Song Shi immediately left as well, and a series of doubts arose in her eyes.
"Princess, I heard something trivial." Peach Blossom saw Yehe Shi standing at the window, lost in thought. She had now been allowed to enter the room to serve Yehe Shi, although this had caused dissatisfaction among Yulu and Yuhen. However, Yehe Shi disregarded past grievances and placed Peach Blossom by her side.
"What is it?" Yehe asked.
"I heard that Lady Nian went to request an audience with the Consort, but she was turned away at the door and not even allowed to enter," Peach Blossom said. Although she had also received money from Lady Nian, she only had one master, and that was the Consort. Now that Lady Yehe was attached to the Consort, she had truly begun to serve Lady Yehe well.
"Such a thing is true?" Yehe turned around in surprise. "I saw that Nian came over with some boxes just now. I suppose they were gifts for Song's eldest daughter."
"Most likely. What exactly is this Lady Nian up to? She's on good terms with the Fujin (the wife of the emperor), is she trying to play both sides?" Peach Blossom said.
"Ms. Nian prides herself on her beauty and is extremely arrogant; she probably won't truly bow down to anyone," Yehe murmured. "Then what is her purpose in approaching Ms. Song?"
Peach Blossom glanced cautiously at Yehe and said, "Nian is always cunning, we have to be careful. Now that the princess is on par with her, she has long harbored resentment."
Yehe's clear black and white eyes flashed with indifference as she said, "Even if I don't share with her, she still won't tolerate me. This woman thinks she's the most beautiful woman in the entire backyard, and she won't let anyone who gets in her way get away with it."
As for Lady Nian, she walked out of the North Courtyard and took a shortcut towards the main courtyard. This was the route used by servants, as they often had to relay messages or carry out tasks for their masters and needed to be as quick as possible. So when Lady Nian and her maid entered this passageway, the servants along the way bowed their heads in greeting and hurriedly made way for her.
“My lady, it’s almost time for dinner. There are so many servants coming and going. Why don’t I take you over there? We can go later when it’s quieter,” Cui Ling said to Madam Nian, her head bowed.
Ms. Nian nodded, and with Cui Ling's help, they turned into a side path and walked to a secluded little garden.
"Master, let's go up there and rest for a while. Look, the sunset!" Cui Ling said sweetly.
Mr. Nian helped her up the steps to the small pavilion in the garden. Facing the evening breeze, they watched the colorful clouds on the horizon gradually being dyed red by the setting sun.
Standing silently at the pavilion entrance, facing the evening breeze, Nian's expression was much colder than usual, a stark contrast to her usual lively, charming, and spirited demeanor.
“It seems that Master visits her frequently, no wonder he returns so rarely,” Madam Nian suddenly said.
Cui Ling and Bi Rou stood behind Nian Shi, not daring to respond. Nian Shi was always proud, and she probably couldn't accept that she was not as important as the concubine in the Fourth Prince's heart.
“Master, you are younger than her, it’s only a matter of time before you get pregnant with her child,” Cui Ling could only say.
“Cui Ling, I’m quite curious. What is it about her that she can hold onto the Fourth Prince’s heart so firmly?” Madam Nian said calmly. “It’s said that she’s not the most beautiful, and her relationship with the First Prince’s wife is very strained. Yet she still managed to become a concubine.”
“My lady, I can tell that the master cares for you very much. Look at the rewards he gives you, they are always the best. I just went with you to see Song Gege’s room, and it’s really incomparable. The furniture and decorations in your room are no worse than those in the Fujin’s room,” Cui Ling said.
"But he doesn't come very often, and now there's another Yehe woman. Cuiling, this princess is heartbroken," Nian Shi said, a hint of vulnerability in her voice. Although she had become the Fourth Prince's favored concubine, she still felt empty. Now that the man she had once loved so much had truly become her man, she felt a sense of powerlessness that she couldn't hold onto.
“The master’s favor is incomparable to that of Yehe Shi. This servant is a little confused. How did Yehe Shi receive such favor that day? How come she was released from confinement as soon as the Fourth Master returned?” Cui Ling said.
"Hehe, it must be the Fujin (Prince Consort). The Fujin played this move very well. On the one hand, she confined Yeheshi to her quarters, which was also protecting her. As soon as the Fourth Prince returned, she immediately pushed her in front of him. She just wanted to cultivate a completely obedient pawn, right?" Lady Nian sneered.
“The Princess Consort has become wary of the Princess, who frequently visits her morning and evening to pay her respects, and has presented her with many gifts,” Cui Ling said.
“She’s simply afraid that I’ll become too powerful. If another Niohuru clan member rises up, it won’t be a good thing for her,” said Lady Nian.
"My lady, I've heard a rumor. Do you know about it?" Cui Ling asked cautiously. Although Nian Shi could speak so calmly at the moment, she could be quite frightening when she changed her expression.
"What rumors?" asked Madam Nian.
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