Chapter 135: Unrivaled
Ye Qiaoqiao thought for a moment and said, "I've never heard that Master Gu has a maidservant."
"Just assume."
Ye Qiaoqiao thought about it seriously before saying, "As long as they don't cause me any trouble, I'll turn a blind eye."
"For someone like you, the conditions should be negotiated before marriage. Send the person away, to the farm or somewhere else. This is something that must be taken care of before the wife enters the house. And if it was Xu Wan, she would definitely kill me."
Ye Qiaoqiao widened her eyes.
Li Ruanruan then said, "This is a huge taboo. The concubine has given birth to a child before the wife has even married. This is a scandal. Neither family will tolerate me."
"But he is only a bastard."
"Then the concubine's son can only have a place after the wife gives birth to a legitimate son. Xu Wan is the legitimate daughter of an aristocratic family, so the rules are always more stringent."
Li Ruanruan touched her belly and said, "I absolutely cannot get pregnant. If I don't, I can only rely on the love of the prince to keep my life. If I get pregnant, I'm afraid the prince won't be able to protect me and the child in my belly."
Li Ruanruan sighed: "This is not a happy event, this is a huge disaster. Please don't say it."
Ye Qiaoqiao finally realized the seriousness of this and hurriedly said, "Then can you take the contraceptive soup? Although it's not easy to get pregnant, you still have to be careful."
Li Ruanruan nodded: "I take medicine every day. I don't think the prince will allow such a thing to happen. He always knows his limits."
Ye Qiaoqiao breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."
The preparations for the old lady's birthday started in advance.
The birthday was still very lively, with firecrackers set off early in the morning, and the mansion was decorated very festively.
Many guests came, the male guests were in the outer hall and the female guests were in the inner house.
The Marquis's Mansion was more lively than ever before, with groups of maids and servants entertaining the guests.
There were many guests today, so Madam Hou did not ask Li Runrun to serve Xu Wan, nor did she ask her to go out.
He even sent a maid to tell her not to go out.
After all, he is of humble status and cannot be shown in public.
In fact, it’s better not to go out, so as to avoid being troubled by Xu Wan. I think they won’t let her go.
It’s better to stay in the East Courtyard, not go anywhere, and have some peace and quiet.
Ye Qiaoqiao was still a little tempted to take Li Runrun with her to meet the guests, after all, the birthday gift she was going to present was completed by the two of them together.
After hearing the Marquis's wife's instructions, Ye Qiaoqiao felt a little sad for Li Runrun.
Li Ruanruan adjusted the butterfly gold hairpin on her head, and when she was satisfied with her outfit today, she said, "This is all for you. Don't waste time and our efforts. Go."
Li Runrun sent Ye Qiaoqiao out and cheered her up.
Li Runrun didn't dare to go out and stayed in the ear room. She could still hear the maids and old women talking outside, saying that the marquis's mansion had hired a stage, which was very exciting and lively.
He also said that the old lady’s birthday party was very festive.
The birthday gifts were filled with many rare treasures, which were so dazzling to look at and the ceremony was very grand.
A maidservant said, "What's so rare about that? The real rare thing is the Second Young Lady's Suzhou embroidery birthday picture. It's so sparkling that anyone who doesn't know would think it's an old immortal who came down to earth to celebrate your birthday."
"It's truly beautiful, as thin as a cicada's wing, and each side is different. I wonder how it was embroidered. No wonder it's the famous Suzhou embroidery in the capital. It's truly exquisite. I see those noble ladies' eyes are wide open. They saw it in the inner chamber, and then specially took it outside for guests to appreciate. I guess the Second Young Lady is famous."
“…”
Li Runrun listened to their discussion and knew how straight Ye Qiaoqiao's back was and how proud she was.
She was sitting by the window reading a book and smiled softly when she heard that.
I think this time, Ye Qiaoqiao will definitely get what she wants.
Li Runrun was flipping through a book. She was reading a Buddhist scripture, which was used to cultivate her character.
Listening to the hustle and bustle outside, Li Runrun was a little distracted. She thought that when the prince married his wife, it would be more lively than this.
By then, she might not be able to live in this ear room anymore, and she might not even be able to see what the prince looks like as a groom.
Is she also sitting somewhere alone, listening to the firecrackers and noise outside?
When I think about it, I feel a little uncomfortable.
I'm already feeling sad before that day even comes. What will I do when that day finally comes?
Li sighed softly.
Dad and brother went to the winery, maybe she could ask the prince to let her live in Qingfeng Bamboo Garden.
But Xu Wan wouldn't agree to her living in such a quiet and comfortable place.
Li Runrun was just thinking about it when she heard some noise outside and thought that the prince had returned.
Why are you back so early when you're not out entertaining guests?
Li Runrun raised the window higher, looked up, and found that it was not the prince at all.
But it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who was drunk and was helped in to rest.
She raised her eyes and happened to meet his gaze.
Li Runrun quickly lowered the window.
It's none of her business and she shouldn't see it.
But the prince was drunk and didn’t take the sedan chair back, so why did he end up in the prince’s east courtyard? Isn’t this a bit against the rules?
Li Runrun didn't quite understand either. She frowned and asked, "Why did the prince drink so much?"
Li Runrun closed the window a little tighter, stopped sitting by the window, and sat back on the chair.
It's none of her business anyway.
Li Runrun lowered her eyes, drank tea, and continued reading.
She finished reading a Buddhist scripture when Honghua walked in: "The prince is back and wants you to come over."
Li Runrun gave the Buddhist scriptures to Honghua and asked her to put them away.
Upon hearing this, he stood up and went out to meet him. Normally, the birthday banquet would be lively in the evening. Ye Yunchu came back at this time, probably because the prince was here.
Li Runrun walked into the main hall, and sure enough, the prince was sitting in the main seat, and Ye Yunchu could only sit second.
Li Ruanruan went over and kowtowed first: "I greet the Crown Prince."
The prince put down the teacup in his hand. He seemed to have just woken up and had a headache after a hangover. He pressed his eyebrows and said, "Get up."
Li Runrun stood behind Ye Yunchu.
Ye Yunchu grabbed her hand and squeezed it: "Are you bored?"
Li Ruanruan shook her head: "It's not boring, isn't it like this every day?"
Ye Yunchu chuckled: "Second sister stole the show today."
"The second young lady is skillful and filial."
Li Runrun lowered her eyes, looked at Ye Yunchu, and smiled sweetly again.
The prince looked at the two of them flirting with each other and coughed lightly: "You're treating me like a mere decoration."
Ye Yunchu finally let go of Li Ruanruan's hand: "How dare I."
Then he asked Haitang, "Did you serve the hangover soup?"
Haitang bowed and answered very carefully, "I brought it when the Crown Prince came down, but he didn't want to drink it and went to sleep. You came back just as he woke up, so I just brought it to you."
Haitang served the hangover soup.
The prince glanced at it but didn't move. Then he waved his hand and called to Li Ruanruan, "Come and bring it to your prince. He has also drunk wine. I am already sober, so there is no point in drinking more."
Li Runrun's whole body stiffened, but she didn't dare to move forward. Instead, she lowered her eyes to look at Ye Yunchu.
The prince laughed angrily: "I can't even get a little maid like you to do this, huh?"
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