Upon returning to the manor, Prince Yinzhen rested in his wife's room as usual. Though he did nothing, simply looking at his beloved wife brought him joy. Wang Mama and Liu Qing, who were guarding the door, exchanged a knowing smile; it was truly a good thing that the Prince doted on his wife.
The next morning, "Oh dear, it's time for you to get up, Madam. The concubines in the Prince's mansion will have to pay their respects to you later!" Wang Mama, who had taken care of Rouyu since she was a child, looked at her young mistress with kindness.
Rouyin rubbed her eyes. The storylines in ancient times were truly difficult to follow; they had to get up earlier than the roosters, had lower human rights, and found it inconvenient to do anything. With Liu Qing's help, Rouyu washed herself with warm water, the dampness finally waking her up completely.
"Granny, how many concubines are there in the manor?" Rouyin asked the nanny in a daze. Granny Wang combed her hair while talking eloquently, "The Fourth Prince's manor already has two concubines, one named Song and the other named Li. Song is of average appearance, but she is young and has the advantage of a blessed face. But Li is different. She is pretty and has a good figure, as tempting as a ripe peach. The Prince's wife should be careful. Oh dear, my mouth," Granny Wang slapped her mouth, "It's my fault. How can our Prince's wife's beauty compare to theirs? Our Prince's wife is born to enjoy a life of luxury."
"Don't worry, Granny, I won't bother with them. I just need to fulfill my responsibilities as the Fujin (princess)." Rouyin added.
On one side, Li Shi, who was already dressed up, said confidently to her maid Haitang with her head held high, "The Princess Consort is only fourteen years old now, and her figure has not yet fully developed. She is certainly not as plump and graceful as me!" Haitang hesitated and agreed, but she was a little worried because she remembered that she had glanced at the East Courtyard earlier and that the Prince had bestowed many precious jewelry items to the East Courtyard.
Rouyin was already seated in the upper part of the East Courtyard. Beside her to the left sat Prince Bei, who was wearing a black dragon-patterned robe. Behind her, the nannies and maids had prepared tea and snacks, waiting for Prince Bei's concubine to return the tea ceremony.
When Song arrived, she wore a dark blue long dress, her hair styled in two small buns, exuding a gentle and refined air. She knelt respectfully on the ground, her head bowed, her eyes fixed on the ground, appearing utterly honest. Then, as Li swayed closer, she, while still kneeling, shamelessly flirted with the Prince, her eyes revealing excitement and greed. The Prince's eyes darkened instantly, his displeasure evident. "Li, where have you learned your manners! Confine me for three months! Release me only when I've learned them properly!" Startled, Li quickly knelt down, straightening her posture.
Rouyin found it strange; why was Fourth Master suddenly so angry?
Meanwhile, Song, who was frightened by the prince, knelt down and looked around helplessly. When she saw the face of the princess, she froze in place. Li, who had been holding back her desire for the princess, was even more panicked and speechless.
Rouyin spoke with an air of gentle virtue, saying, "Both of you are beauties sent by Consort De. I happen to have two exquisite white jade carved bracelets to give to you. Beautiful jade complements beautiful women, so you must serve Your Highness well in the future and bear him children as soon as possible." Rouyin acted out the image of a virtuous and dignified wife perfectly. Seeing this, Yinzhen couldn't help but feel annoyed, especially when he saw the two concubines. He was furious but had no outlet for his anger.
"Get back here right now!" The two of them, trembling and supporting each other, walked out, their backs looking somewhat disheveled.
The servants in the courtyard were still shaken. It seemed that the Princess Consort was a formidable person. She had ruined two princesses as soon as she arrived. She must be quite cunning and difficult to deal with.
After finishing his tea, the prince restrained himself and forced himself to go to the South Third Palace to practice horseback riding and archery, making sure to tell Rouyu before he left.
After the prince left, Rouyin couldn't help but relax a little. Although it wasn't out of fear of his authority, she felt more at ease.
"Granny, have all the servants who serve the East Courtyard gather in the small courtyard at the gate."
"Yes, Madam," Wang Mama replied.
Before half an incense stick had even burned, everyone had already gathered in the courtyard.
"From now on, you are all members of my institute. You can't eat and drink here while shirking your duties. In our institute, merits are rewarded and punishments are punished. From now on, do your jobs well." Rouyu reprimanded her seriously, her voice carrying an air of authority despite her youth.
"Who has any special skills?" Rouyin asked.
The servants introduced the two maids to Rouyin. One was skilled in medicine and had a calm temperament, while the other was lively and clever. They were given names: Shiliu (Pomegranate) and Huarui (Flower Bud).
After speaking, he had Liu Qing distribute the prepared purses to everyone to appease them.
The servants accepted it respectfully, and, knowing its weight, worked even harder to fulfill their duties.
After familiarizing herself with the residence and affairs of the East Courtyard, Rouyin instructed the nanny to regularly check the dowry and bills she had brought. After busying herself for a while, she went back to her room to lie down.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
