Chapter 335 Undercurrent and Warm Sun
In the west courtyard of Prince Rong's mansion, Zhihua stared blankly into a bronze mirror. The woman in the mirror looked haggard, her once gentle features now twisted into a knot. She gripped the brocade handkerchief with such force that her knuckles turned white. Chuntao, her personal maid, tiptoed in and whispered, "Concubine, everyone from the east courtyard has followed the prince and princess into the palace. They say they'll be staying in Shufangzhai for a few days."
"Entered the palace?" Zhihua turned around suddenly, a sinister glint in her eyes. "Went to Shufangzhai? She's really good at choosing places. Does she think that by returning there, she can forget that she's now a princess and still think of herself as the Princess Huanzhu?"
Chun Tao stammered, "I heard... it was granted by the Emperor. The princess is pregnant and wants to go back to see her old friends."
"Pregnant?" Zhihua sneered, digging her nails into her palms. "A wild girl is so lucky, pregnant with the prince's children one after another. Mian Yi is also the prince's flesh and blood, why can't she be treated with equal respect?" She stood up and paced back and forth in the room. "No, we can't let her live too comfortably in the palace. Chuntao, go and find out what's going on in the palace recently, especially with the Empress Dowager."
Chun Tao hesitated and said, "Concubine, we got into trouble a few days ago. If we have any more plans, what if the prince finds out..."
"So what if I know?" Zhihua interrupted her, her eyes fierce. "The prince still has Mian Yi in his heart. As long as I act cleverly and make the old Buddha think that the princess is restless in the palace and unbecoming of a princess, then someone will naturally speak up for us."
Meanwhile, a warm atmosphere permeated Shufangzhai. Xiaoyanzi sat on a soft couch by the window, watching Mingyue and Caixia tidy up the room. The familiar pearwood table, the lotus painting by Ziwei hanging on the wall, a few old kites piled in the corner—everything was just as she remembered. She stroked her slightly swollen belly, her lips curling up unconsciously.
"It's still more comfortable here." Xiaoyanzi stretched and said with a smile, "There are too many rules in the palace. I feel so suffocated."
Yongqi gently embraced her from behind and said softly, "Be careful, don't stretch yourself. If you like, stay a few more days. I've already had the children's cradles ready. They're in the inner room."
Little Dengzi brought in a plate of freshly made osmanthus cake and said, as if presenting a treasure, "Princess, please try it. I specially asked the imperial kitchen to make this according to your favorite flavor back then, and I put in twice as much osmanthus flowers!"
Xiaoyanzi picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. The sweet taste instantly spread across her tongue. She squinted her eyes and sighed contentedly, "Mm, that's the taste! Xiao Dengzi, your cooking skills haven't deteriorated."
Xiao Zhuozi laughed and said, "Princess, Xiao Dengzi has been waiting in the imperial kitchen for this sweet-scented osmanthus cake for the whole morning!"
Little Bug ran in holding a colorful kite and said excitedly, "Princess, look at this kite! It's the same style you taught us to make back then. I've been keeping it! When the weather is nice, let's go to the Imperial Garden to fly a kite!"
Little Mosquito came up to Little Swallow and said mysteriously, "My dear Princess, I heard that when the concubine learned about your visit to Shufangzhai in the palace, her face turned green with rage. Chuntao is still asking around to find out what's going on in the palace!"
Xiaoyanzi frowned slightly upon hearing this, but then relaxed again. "Never mind her. We're enjoying the peace and quiet here. If she dares to cause trouble in the palace, I'll have my own way to deal with her."
Yongqi held her hand and said in a deep voice, "Don't be careless. Zhihua is a thoughtful person, so you must be on guard. I've already sent extra personnel around Shufangzhai, and we won't let anyone disturb you and the child."
As they were talking, Ziwei and Erkang came in carrying food boxes. Ziwei was wearing a lavender Qifu dress and had a gentle smile: "Xiaoyanzi, I heard from Erkang that you came to Shufangzhai, so I specially cooked some bird's nest porridge for you."
"Ziwei, you love me the most!" Xiaoyanzi took Ziwei's hand and said affectionately, "Come and sit down. It's been a while since we two sisters have had a good chat here."
Erkang placed the food box on the table and bowed to Yongqi, "Your Highness."
Yongqi nodded in return, "Uncle Fu."
Ziwei opened the food box, filled a bowl of bird's nest porridge and handed it to Xiaoyanzi: "Drink it while it's hot. I asked the kitchen to add some herbs to help with pregnancy. It's good for your health."
Xiaoyanzi took the bowl, sipped it, and said with a smile, "You're really careful. By the way, how's Dong'er doing lately? Has he grown taller again?"
"Yes, he's very naughty. He keeps pestering Rui'er and Xin'er to play with him every day." Ziwei said with a smile, "I'll bring him to the palace to see you in a few days."
The setting sun streamed into Shufangzhai through the window lattice, tinting everything inside with a warm golden glow. Xiaoyanzi looked at the familiar people and objects before her, her heart filled with peace and happiness. She knew that no matter what tricks Zhihua played, as long as she had Yongqi's protection, good sisters like Ziwei, and loyal people like Xiao Dengzi by her side, she had nothing to fear.
Meanwhile, in the West Courtyard, Zhihua listened to Chuntao's news, a calculating glint in her eyes. She knew a new storm was brewing. But she hadn't anticipated that this time, not only would her scheme fail, but it would completely expose her true colors and sow the seeds of her own destruction.
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