Chapter 747 Unrest in the Home?
Soon, everyone in the palace knew about this joyous occasion.
For His Majesty the Emperor, having just recovered the land of his birth, and with Princess Qin pregnant, it was truly a double blessing. Moreover, the people in the palace were most adept at reading the Emperor's mood. For several days in a row, gifts were continuously sent to Qianqiu Palace, and Yuwen Yuan even personally came to Qianqiu Palace to have dinner with Prince Qin and Princess Qin. This showed how much His Majesty the Emperor valued Princess Qin's pregnancy.
After all, he might be the eldest grandson of the emperor.
Therefore, people from the palace came one after another to congratulate Princess Qin. Later, princes, ministers and their wives also came to congratulate her. Although Shang Ruyi wanted to rest and recuperate, she didn't even have time to sleep in for several days. Every day she could only get up early, dress, wait for the congratulatory people to come, talk for a while, accept the congratulatory gifts, and after one group left, another group would come.
Sometimes, I'm busy until sunset.
When Yuwen Ye returned to Qianqiu Palace that day, he saw another table full of gift boxes. Shang Ruyi was leaning to one side, clearly having been talking with someone for a long time and was already a little tired. However, she still forced herself to check the gift boxes and then asked Tu She'er and the others to put them away. Yuwen Ye frowned.
He sat down next to Shang Ruyi, looking at her obviously tired expression, and asked, "Did someone come to the door again today?"
Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "It was Consort Zhang who came over and sat for a while."
After Yuwen Yuan ascended the throne, he naturally wanted to enrich his harem. However, whether out of fondness for his former consorts or for some other reason, he did not appoint an empress, only having several wives by his side. This Consort Zhang Yuping was one of them. She was in her thirties, beautiful as a flower, and charming. She was adept at social interaction in the palace and was very popular. She was Yuwen Yuan's most favored concubine.
Today, as an elder, she came over, so Shang Ruyi naturally had to accompany her. Fortunately, she didn't come for nothing; she brought a box of Ganoderma lucidum and several exquisite pieces of jewelry, which were quite valuable.
Yuwen Ye glanced at the gift boxes and said, "You're already exhausted from dealing with all these people every day. You might as well just close your doors to visitors."
Shang Ruyi immediately said, "How can that be?"
In fact, she was someone who preferred to avoid trouble, but now that she was the Princess Consort of Qin, she was completely different from before she was married, and even from the former Young Madam Yuwen. Not only did she have to serve the superiors and the inferiors, but she also had to deal with the wives of dukes and marquises. Moreover, someone like Consort Zhang, who spent more time with Yuwen Yuan than with her two sons, would naturally have her words and expressions of joy and anger reach the emperor's ears and affect his mood to some extent.
Even though I am pregnant now, I cannot neglect someone like that.
Hearing her say that, Yuwen Ye's expression darkened slightly, but he didn't refute her. He remained silent for a while before reaching out and taking her hand: "I was just worried that you would get tired."
Shang Ruyi immediately laughed and said, "Telling jokes every day is just a little bit, how tiring can it be?"
"..."
"It's much easier than when I was in Xingluocang or Fufeng."
"How can these be the same?"
Yuwen Ye thought for a moment, then turned to Tushe'er, who was carrying a gift box to put in the storeroom, and said, "Here's what we'll do: you keep an eye on the Princess. If anyone stays for too long and the Princess gets tired, just pretend that someone has reported that I've returned. Those people will naturally avoid me."
Tushe'er originally felt sorry for her young mistress having to deal with those people every day and have to greet them with a smile. Upon hearing this, she immediately smiled and said, "This servant understands!"
After saying that, she happily hugged the box and walked out.
Shang Ruyi said helplessly, "How can we do that? It would be terrible if people knew you hadn't come back."
Yuwen Ye said, "I only care about you, I don't care about anyone else."
Shang Ruyi couldn't help but laugh.
Regardless, once Yuwen Ye was back by her side, her mood improved considerably, and she no longer felt tired. After having dinner together, they took a bath. Feeling refreshed and warm, they returned to their room. Yuwen Ye had already changed into his pajamas and was lying on the bed. Shang Ruyi, familiar with the routine, lay down beside him, and Yuwen Ye immediately reached out and pulled her into his arms.
He said, "Go to bed early tonight."
"Um."
Shang Ruyi nodded, and seeing him blow out the candle, she obediently closed her eyes and buried her face in his chest.
Soon, the inner hall became quiet.
After a while, in the pitch-black silence, Yuwen Ye's low voice rang out again, asking seemingly intentionally yet unintentionally, "Besides Consort Zhang, who else is coming today?"
Shang Ruyi said, "In the morning, Father Emperor specially sent the Imperial Physician to take my pulse, so no one else came; in the afternoon, the wife of the Duke of Wushan came to sit for a while, and then it was Consort Zhang."
"Is there no one else?"
"there is none left."
"..."
Yuwen Ye was quiet for a while, his breathing seemed a little heavier than before, but he didn't say anything more, only gently hugged Shang Ruyi: "Sleep."
"Um."
She slept soundly until dawn. Perhaps because so many people had come in the past few days, no one came this day. Shang Ruyi slept soundly, and when she woke up, Yuwen Ye had already left. So she leisurely got up to wash up, had breakfast, and then, accompanied by Tu She'er, walked around Qianqiu Palace for a while. The weather was very nice today, and Shang Ruyi's mood improved considerably.
Tushe'er smiled and said, "It's rare that no one is disturbing the princess's rest today."
Shang Ruyi nodded, but then said to her, "By the way, you shouldn't take what the King of Qin told you yesterday seriously. It would be bad if you offended someone."
Tushe'er pouted, looked around, and said, "Alright, anyway, no one should bother the princess anymore."
Shang Ruyi smiled, pursing her lips.
After the initial laughter subsided, her gaze gradually turned serious. Although she was somewhat dazed by the last question Yuwen Ye had asked last night, she remembered it clearly and knew exactly who he was asking.
When the Princess Consort of Qin became pregnant, everyone in and outside the palace who could come to offer their congratulations did so. Those who could not come to pay their respects sent gifts through intermediaries. However, some people did not come to visit.
For example—Shang Shoufei.
Even Shang Ruyi found this strange.
Although she didn't want to have anything to do with this brother, she was not only angry when she saw him again at the Shen residence, but also annoyed by the trouble. She knew that he was an opportunist and shameless person who had used her connections to get an official position from Yuwen Yuan. Yet, after she became pregnant, he not only did not come to congratulate her as her brother, but he also did not offer any greetings as an ordinary official.
This is not like him at all.
That's one thing, and another is—Chu Ruoyan.
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi happened to walk to the entrance of Qianqiu Palace. She couldn't help but raise her head and look at Jinyu Garden next to Qianqiu Palace. She found that Tushe'er beside her was also craning her neck and looking in that direction. Not only did a resentful look appear on her face, but her brows were also furrowed.
After watching for a while, she couldn't help but whisper, "Your Highness, what is she going to do?"
"..."
This time, Shang Ruyi remained silent.
Normally, regarding Chu Ruoyan's actions—in fact, after entering the palace, Chu Ruoyan hadn't done anything to her, and the two were like strangers. Although their relationship was distant, Shang Ruyi tolerated it and was even happier to live in peace with her. But this time was different. She, the Princess Consort of Qin, was pregnant, and Chu Ruoyan, as the Prince of Qin's concubine, should have come to congratulate her immediately.
This is not only a rule, but also a matter of human dignity.
However, it has been seven days since the news of her pregnancy was announced. Even the wife of the Duke of Wushan came to congratulate her, but she, who lives right next to Qianqiu Palace, has not come.
Is she trying to embarrass herself, or is she planning something?
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and asked, "She'er, have you been to Jinyuyuan these past two days? Do you know what's going on inside?"
Tushe'er said, "We don't associate with them here. Your Highness, you also reminded me not to provoke them. How could I have entered Jinyu Garden? But these past two days we have often passed by there and only saw that it was in a mess."
"A mess? What do you mean?"
"They seem to be cleaning out the storeroom too. It's strange, we're cleaning out the storeroom because we've received gifts and need to collect them; but hardly anyone goes there, so where would they get anything to collect?"
"..."
"What's even more infuriating is that they even set up their own little kitchen."
"A small kitchen?"
Shang Ruyi looked at Tu She'er in surprise, only to see her nod seriously and say, "Really, this servant felt there was a lively atmosphere here. Later, I asked the Imperial Kitchen and heard that someone asked the Imperial Kitchen for some pots and pans. I wonder what they're planning to do with them."
As she spoke, she pouted and said, "Even when the princess was pregnant, she didn't do anything like this, but she still managed to set up her own little kitchen. Really—"
Shang Ruyi pondered for a moment, then waved her hand: "It's alright, let's see in a couple of days."
Regardless, she had to protect the reputation and dignity of the Prince of Qin. Even if she and Chu Ruoyan had a bad relationship, she had to put on a good show. If Chu Ruoyan really refused to come and congratulate her, she would have to think of a way to avoid giving others a reason to criticize her. Because this kind of thing would not only make her lose face, but Chu Ruoyan would also be disliked by Yuwen Yuan, and Yuwen Ye would also have a bad reputation for domestic discord.
However, the very next day, this bad reputation was completely shattered.
That afternoon, after taking a nap, Shang Ruyi was leaning against the couch, drinking tea and reading a book, when she heard hurried footsteps in the quiet palace. Looking up, she saw Tusheer running in from outside, her face showing a mixture of nervousness and a smile. She stepped forward and bowed to her, saying, "Your Highness."
Shang Ruyi looked at her: "What's wrong?"
Tushe'er smiled, but then lowered her voice as she spoke, trying her best to remain silent, and whispered in her ear, "Your Highness, people from Jinyuyuan have come to deliver gifts!"
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