Chapter 46 Seeking Their Own Way Out Recently, the main courtyard of the Crown Princess's residence has suddenly become lively...
Recently, the main courtyard of the Crown Princess's residence has suddenly become lively. The two newly arrived princesses, for some unknown reason, have been coming to the main courtyard to pay their respects every morning, as if they had made an appointment, to express their respect for the Crown Princess and their willingness to serve her every day.
The Crown Princess didn't refuse them, but she had already guessed what was going on. After finishing the Buddhist rituals and calling Liu and Fan back at noon, she ordered Granny Shuang to bring over the list of those who had served the Crown Prince the previous month. A quick glance revealed the truth.
Granny Shuang said, "The two princesses are probably getting anxious."
Logically, the two newly arrived princesses should have gradually made a splash in Xiefang Palace, but who knew that everyone had misjudged them. Liu and Fan entered the palace in early March, but after more than a month, they had only served the emperor once or twice each, spending the rest of their time with Princess Cheng in the West Front Courtyard.
The Crown Princess frowned as she looked at the register. She thought to herself that Lady Cheng didn't seem like the kind of person who was stingy, jealous, and deliberately vying for the Crown Prince's favor. Besides, Lady Cheng was pregnant; she couldn't very well serve the Emperor while heavily pregnant. She couldn't help but wonder if Lady Cheng was afraid of the new concubine taking away the Crown Prince's favor, or if the Crown Prince didn't like the new concubine.
Regardless of the reason, as the Crown Princess, she had to take charge. The Eastern Palace did indeed have a shortage of heirs, and she figured the Emperor might have felt the same way when he bestowed the title of Princess.
Thinking this, the Crown Princess breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Tell Liu and Fan that the weather will gradually get warmer after April, so they don't need to come over at noon anymore. However, if they are free in the evening, they can come to the main courtyard to serve dinner."
Both Lady Liu and Lady Fan understood the Crown Princess's implication and came to serve her dinner that evening, and again the following evening. Coincidentally, Yinreng happened to be coming from Yuqing Palace that day, so the Crown Princess invited him to stay for dinner in the main courtyard.
Yinreng had originally intended to say a few words to the Crown Princess before leaving, but since she had spoken, he stayed. Liu and Fan were naturally overjoyed and rushed forward to serve him, taking over the work of the palace maids and setting out a row of gold and silver utensils and food on the table.
After they finished their work, the Crown Princess nodded toward Yinreng and said, "I don't need you to serve me. Go to the Crown Prince and serve him food and wine."
Yinreng understood the Crown Princess's meaning immediately upon hearing her words. However, although the Crown Princess was magnanimous, he wasn't inclined to listen to others internally. After all, he had already been oppressed enough outside and just wanted to relax upon returning home. He glanced at Liu and Fan but didn't speak, maintaining a somber expression throughout the meal. After finishing his meal, he didn't accept the handkerchief Liu offered, but instead ordered everyone in the room to leave.
After the servants had all gone outside, Yinreng picked up a cup of tea to rinse his mouth, then said in a deep voice, "I find them too dull. If the Crown Princess likes them, let them serve you."
The Crown Princess lowered her eyes and said, "I was thinking that someone should serve you in the Xiefang Palace. Li Jia and Lin Jia are a bit too old, and although Cheng Jia is young, she is currently pregnant. After thinking it over, only Liu and Fan are suitable. Besides, wasn't the Emperor's bestowal of the title of Princess precisely because he was concerned that you didn't have a close confidante by your side?"
Yinreng's current ambition and magnanimity were immense. He didn't get angry when he heard the Crown Princess mention the Emperor. He only said, "Father Emperor is kind and considerate of the Eastern Palace. However, as long as Yuqing Palace and Xiefang Hall are stable and smooth, he will be content." Then he added, "Alright, Cheng Jia's pregnancy is advanced, and I am really worried about her. Let's leave it at that." With that, he stood up and walked out.
Liu and Fan were still exchanging pleasantries outside, wondering if the Crown Prince would visit them today, when to their surprise, he emerged shortly after and left the main courtyard without looking back. The two women were completely dumbfounded.
Not wanting the two princesses to see the Crown Princess make a fool of herself, Granny Shuang immediately asked them to go back. Then she went to the main room and directed the maids and eunuchs to clear the table. While they were doing so, she whispered, "It seems that the Crown Prince doesn't like the new princesses."
The Crown Princess couldn't help but sigh. She felt utterly useless as the Crown Princess. In previous years, she could still offer frank advice to the Crown Prince, but now she hadn't found a single point to offer him advice for a long time. She finally managed to find a fault to advise him to distribute his favors more evenly, but even using the Emperor's name, the Crown Prince could easily and gently overturn her words with just a few words.
She thought, wasn't the Emperor appointing her as the Crown Princess so that she could assist the Crown Prince? But if she lost that purpose, what would be the point of her existence?
For a moment, the Crown Princess even considered asking Granny Shuang to warn Lady Cheng Jia to stop being so jealous and domineering towards the Crown Prince. But then she thought, Lady Cheng Jia is pregnant; what if something happens to her? Besides, Lady Cheng Jia is a concubine. As the saying goes, one should marry a virtuous wife and take a beautiful concubine. If Lady Cheng Jia is so magnanimous, what use is there for her as the principal wife?
She must be virtuous, she must be tolerant, she must assist the Crown Prince, and she must ensure that the Eastern Palace has many descendants.
The Crown Princess muttered to herself over and over again, lost in thought for a moment, and finally gently touched her forehead and closed her eyes.
The Crown Prince's temper is much better than in previous years; whenever he enters the Xiefang Palace, he usually goes to the main courtyard first. Since that's the case, let Lady Liu and Lady Fan show their faces to her more often; perhaps one day the Crown Prince will take a liking to them.
Half a month passed like this. One evening, after serving dinner to the Crown Princess, Liu and Fan returned to the main courtyard. They exchanged a glance and both showed a hint of bitterness. At first, the two of them had harbored ambitions to win the favor of the Crown Princess, but now their hopes for being favored had been dashed.
Liu and Fan walked along the path to the back, and after entering the courtyard, they bowed to each other and went back to their respective rooms. After sitting down, they couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
They thought that serving the Crown Princess would earn them more respect from the Crown Prince, but to their surprise, the Crown Prince didn't take them seriously at all. Although he rewarded them with some fabrics and items out of respect for the Crown Princess, he refused to step into their rooms again, as if he truly regarded them as servants.
Lady Fan was nearly driven mad with worry. Originally, she had participated in the Imperial Household Department's selection of concubines with the intention of entering the palace to serve her mistress. However, after being betrothed to the Crown Prince, her thoughts changed. She wanted to rise in rank. Although she was only a minor concubine in name, she was still considered a mistress in a way. Moreover, she had inquired before entering the palace and learned that the Crown Princess was renowned for her dignified and generous nature, and the two concubines who had served the Crown Prince in previous years were now getting on in years. Last year, Concubine Cheng, who had served the Crown Prince, had become pregnant. Looking at it this way, wasn't she, the newly arrived concubine, at the perfect time to gain favor?
But once she entered the Xiefang Palace, she realized it wasn't like that at all. The Crown Prince only went into her room briefly, and then forgot about her within a few days. It would have been one thing if she were treated worse than Lady Liu, but who knew that Lady Liu received the same treatment as her?
She dared not speculate whether the pregnant Consort Cheng had used underhanded tactics; she could only guess that the Crown Prince disliked her and Lady Liu. What would become of them then?
A few days later, Biluo, a palace maid serving Lady Fan, secretly told her that Lady Liu had gone to promote Lady Li.
Startled, Madam Fan asked impatiently, "Are you serious?"
Biluo nodded hurriedly and said, "It's true! Yesterday at noon, Xiaoshuizi went to fetch the meal and happened to see Liu Gege coming out of the west back courtyard. After he told me, I kept an eye on her. Today, when I came out of the side room, I saw Liu Gege carrying something and walking out. I followed her and guess what? Liu Gege went into Li Gege's courtyard!"
Madam Fan glanced out the window unconsciously, thinking that it was almost evening and Liu was not planning to serve the Crown Princess's meal. Wasn't she afraid that the Crown Princess would be unhappy? Madam Fan didn't know what to do for a moment, and said softly, "Never mind her for now, comb my hair and get ready to go to the main courtyard."
But when she went to serve the meal today, the Crown Princess didn't ask why Liu hadn't come, nor did she say anything harsh. Afterwards, she didn't see anyone from the Crown Princess's side punishing Liu in any way, and Fan's heart immediately began to stir.
Madam Fan thought to herself that Madam Liu's flattery of Consort Li must be because Consort Li had given birth to the eldest prince. Moreover, Consort Li seemed to enjoy Madam Liu's flattery, and would occasionally bestow jewelry and other items upon her. She wondered if she should also flatter someone else.
But should she also try to promote Consort Li? Wouldn't that make her inferior to Consort Liu? And Consort Lin? Although Consort Lin has a second son, she can't compare to Consort Li, who is the mother of the Crown Prince's eldest son and lacks favor. Consort Fan thought, she still wanted to improve herself and gain favor. She didn't dare to ask for much; just a little favor to have a child and future support would be enough. Then she considered whether to promote Consort Cheng. Consort Cheng was pregnant and unable to serve the Crown Prince; perhaps she was looking for someone to share her burdens!
Having made up her mind, Madam Fan hurriedly asked Biluo to fetch the fabric, also instructing her to retrieve the fine material the Crown Prince had previously bestowed upon her, saying she was going to do needlework. Once the fabric was brought over, Madam Fan immediately took a charcoal pencil and began sketching the embroidery pattern. When she finished, a smile appeared on her lips, revealing a lifelike little tiger drawn on the embroidery.
Once the little tiger bib was finished, Madam Fan was in a hurry to go to the west front courtyard to see Princess Cheng. She thought that as long as Princess Cheng was willing to spare a little affection for her, then her efforts over the past few days would not have been in vain.
Lady Fan, accompanied by her maid Biluo, left the courtyard, walking happily towards the outside. Liu Shi knew as soon as she stepped out the gate. Fearing she was also going to curry favor with Consort Li, Liu Shi quickly sent someone to peek, and then learned that Lady Fan had gone to Consort Cheng's courtyard.
Liu couldn't help but snort mockingly. If Consort Cheng had any such intentions, she would have hinted at them when they went to visit her. Why wait until now? Consort Fan is truly clueless. She's been in Xiefang Palace for so long and still can't see that Consort Cheng is jealous and wants to monopolize the Crown Prince even though she's pregnant.
Pshaw, Qing can just wait to be turned away.
However, after inwardly mocking Madam Fan, Madam Liu's eyes lit up. Hey, having Madam Fan as a comparison is good; now Li Gege realizes just how difficult it is for her to get to the west wing!
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Author's Note: As you've probably noticed, I've changed to a gorgeous cover, hahaha [winking emoji]
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