Several concubines were sold off, and two were sent to the Ningguo Marquis's mansion. Gradually, such rumors began to circulate among the concubines in the mansion.
Those whom the princess liked were given a good future; those whom the princess disliked were sold off. Then, the remaining concubines were given monthly stipends. If they didn't want to be sold, they had to obediently farm and then sell the vegetables they grew to the prince's mansion to make a living.
Such rumors fueled their anger, resentment, and fear, but what could they do? Some concubines considered bewitching Zhao Shu, or even poisoning her with a packet of poison. However, they discovered that Qionghua Courtyard was like an iron barrel—no, the entire Prince's Mansion was like an iron barrel—except for their own Qunfang Courtyard, which was like a broken sieve.
Several concubines gathered together, "Sister, what do you think we should do to please the princess? She wasn't like this before, why has she become so unreasonable?"
"Don't you know? Rumors are circulating that the princess is eccentric, domineering, and willful. Now she's just living up to those rumors. Actually, she used to have a pretty good personality. Although she looked down on us, she never caused us any trouble," said one of the concubines, who was quite quick-witted.
The concubines who were gathered around all agreed that it made sense. "Indeed, although the princess looked down on us before, she never made things difficult for us. I wonder if we did something wrong that made the princess angry?"
"I think it must be Miss Huo from the manor. The princess wants Miss Huo to become the prince's concubine, so she started making things difficult for us to please Miss Huo. Isn't the princess always good at flattering noble ladies?"
The concubines started discussing the matter, one after another, but their discussions failed to resolve the issue.
Two days later, Zhao Shu sold off several of her concubines one after another. Suddenly, the concubines and courtesans all realized that the rumors were true.
Not most concubines sell themselves; some people understand that Zhao Shu is giving some people a way to make a living.
So, in the afternoon, just as Zhao Shu had taken a few sips of tea and was about to have Green Ivy replace it with Biluochun, several concubines came to find her. "I wonder what important business you concubines have with this princess?" she asked lazily, reclining on the chaise longue, barely lifting her eyelids.
The concubines knelt down with a thud and began to kowtow, "Please, Your Highness, release us from the manor! Please, Your Highness, release us from the manor! We will always remember Your Highness's great kindness and never forget it."
Zhao Shu was surprised. She did have the idea of sparing the lives of some concubines, but only those concubines who had never harmed the Yongwang Mansion. She would not let go of any of the spies or concubines who took advantage of her misfortune!
Zhao Shu thought about it carefully, but couldn't remember if these concubines had ever taken advantage of her misfortune in her previous life. However, she was certain that these women were not spies. After thinking for a moment, she said, "This princess needs to consider it. You may all go and wait for news."
One of the concubines wanted to say something, but was stopped by the sister next to her. "Yes, this humble concubine awaits the Princess's good news."
Zhao Shu waved them away. After they left, Zhao Shu said to Xiao Zhuzi, "Go and investigate the character and background of the concubines, as well as the singing girls."
Xiao Zhu bowed his head, accepted the order, and withdrew. After he left, Luoluo asked Zhao Shu, "Princess, Xing'er asked if we will still send meals to His Highness Prince Duan today?"
"Of course I'll send one, how could I not?" Zhao Shu said, taking a sip of tea.
Green Ivy felt a little reluctant to part with those ingredients. They were all top-quality ingredients, some of which were unavailable in certain places, and even those that were available were expensive. The princess herself didn't eat them, so giving them to Prince Duan's family was such a waste.
Despite her reluctance, she went down to inform Xing'er. Xing'er was now in charge of Zhao Shu's meals, and Bi Qiao had also assigned her two helpers. After receiving the message from Luoluo, she began to get started.
Whether it was because Marquis Ningguo simply couldn't stand Zhao Shu's vengeful nature or something else, he hastily arranged for Jiang Jingming to marry Qingge. I heard that Marquis Ningguo's wife made a huge fuss and even cut her hair to show her resolve, but she still couldn't reverse the fact that her son had married a commoner.
She could tolerate a commoner, but the problem is that this woman, before even getting married, was already associating with her son, participating in poetry and tea parties, singing, dancing, and composing poems to entertain him. She was utterly disgracing her. How could she possibly let her son marry such an immoral woman as his wife?
In the end, not only did her son still marry that woman, thus becoming tainted, but her husband also gained two stunning beauties. As the mistress of the Ningguo Marquis's mansion, she was quite capable of managing the inner quarters, and the concubines were all under her control. Suddenly, two women arrived who outshone all the other women in the inner quarters, leaving her feeling utterly exhausted. Killing the two women would have been easy, but her husband's heart already belonged to those two beautiful women, which was the most intolerable thing for her.
"Crack." Madam Ji swept the teacup to the ground, the sound of the shattering porcelain drowning out the sounds of gongs and drums outside. There wasn't a single place to step inside the room; it was filled with broken porcelain shards. "Where is the Marquis?"
Zhu Yun stood behind her, head bowed, and said softly, "The Prince is drinking with his two concubines."
"Madam, the bride is almost here. Second Madam requests your presence; the newlyweds are about to perform the wedding ceremony." A maid's voice came from outside the door.
Upon hearing this, Ji angrily overturned the small table, and tears streamed down her face. "A perfectly good marriage was ruined because of a woman. Zhu Yun, why is my life so miserable? I've worked so hard for this family and suffered so much. He knows that. My second brother is a wolf in sheep's clothing, always keeping me on my guard. Why can't he see that? If he didn't like me, why did he bring me into the family with such a grand wedding procession?"
"Madam, you are different. You are the Marquis's only wife. Those lowly women are just one of them. You are the Prince's only bedmate. How can you lower yourself to be angry with playthings? It's not worth it. Madam, please be at ease. The Fifth Young Master still needs your care." Zhu Yun comforted her softly. She was also heartbroken. When the Marquis was young, he and his wife were once a harmonious couple. But now he spends more and more time at the residences of his concubines, especially the two women sent by the Prince Yong's mansion. They are truly stunning beauties. Even women can't help but marvel at them, let alone men.
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