As Li Jingshu stepped out of the courtyard, she suddenly felt that the weight that had been pressing on her heart for many years had suddenly disappeared.
Upon arriving at the Princess Consort's residence, he saw her head maidservant waiting for him at the entrance.
"This servant greets Consort, may Consort be well. Consort, the Princess Consort has been waiting inside for quite some time."
Let's go.
Li Jingshu went into the main room alone, while the others waited outside.
"Congratulations, Sister Li."
"You flatter me, it's all thanks to His Highness's kindness."
After reflecting in the courtyard for so long, Li Jingshu had thought a lot.
Over the years, even though I have indeed become greedy, things have gone a little too smoothly in some places.
Back then, she sowed discord between the Song and Geng families because she listened to the slander of a lowly servant, who soon fell ill and died.
Later, she found out that the servant was the wife's person.
Later, Niohuru, and then Lady Nian, were all actually pawns in the game of this 'virtuous and kind' consort.
After thinking everything through, Li Jingshu connected all the events that had happened to her and realized that she had become a pawn in the hands of the Fujin (the wife of the deceased prince) since Honghui's death.
The princess consort manipulated herself from behind the scenes by taking advantage of her own greed and her children.
"My lady, let's not beat around the bush. I've come here today not only to pay my respects, but also to ask you for a favor."
Ulanara remained silent, but picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.
Li Jingshu continued:
“My lady, after all these years of fighting with you, you have always controlled the inner courtyard of the entire Prince’s mansion, while I have nothing left but Hongshi. I admit, I have lost.”
She then took two keys out of her purse.
"This was given to me by you when I first started managing the Prince's Mansion. Now, it is being returned to its rightful owner."
Ulanara remained calm.
"What does my sister mean by this?"
"From this day forward, I am willing to return to being the Prince's secondary consort and will no longer interfere in household affairs. The secondary consort was young and agile that year, and I believe she will do a better job than I did."
Then, Li Jingshu placed the key on the table and pushed it in front of Ulanara.
Ulanara's expression changed slightly, but she quickly returned to normal.
She pushed the key back and said:
"My younger sister has assisted me in managing the Prince's residence for many years and is quite familiar with these matters. How about letting my younger sister learn from you for a while?"
Li Jingshu chuckled.
“My lady, it is true that I am under house arrest, but that does not mean I am blind. I know that Nian helped you with the affairs of the Prince’s mansion when you were ill, and I also know why you fell ill. I will speak to the Prince about this matter, so please do not force me.”
When the prince was mentioned, Ulanara did indeed shrink back somewhat.
She had gotten sick because she had taken a folk remedy to induce fertility.
Not long after giving birth to Honghui, she learned that she might not be able to conceive again. She had already given up hope, but then her family sent her a prescription, saying it could induce pregnancy.
But after taking it, not only did it have no effect, it made her body weaker and weaker.
I later learned that while the medicine did have a fertility-inducing effect, it also depleted my life force. Even if I was able to give birth successfully, my health would be severely compromised.
So she stopped taking the medication.
However, Yinzhen was completely unaware of this matter. If he were to find out that he had taken banned drugs, he feared he would truly lose his position as the wife of the emperor.
“My lady, you need not worry. I simply do not wish to manage the household affairs. From now on, you will be in charge of all other matters in the mansion. As for Hongshi, Gao Wuyong said he will return to visit me soon. The children are grown up now, and I only wish to spend more time with them in the future. As for ‘games,’ I will no longer play with you.”
Seeing Li Jingshu's ungrateful behavior, Ulanara felt she was losing face.
"Consort, please watch your words. How can the affairs of this household be described as 'play'!"
Li Jingshu was too lazy to waste words with her, so she pushed the key in front of her over again, then got up and knelt down to take her leave, not giving Ulanara a chance to speak at all.
She stepped outside and suddenly felt the warmth of the sunlight on her skin, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time.
"Granny, let's go!"
"yes."
Li Jingshu led the nanny back to her own courtyard, while Ulanara remained seated on the stool without saying a word.
"My lady, what brings Consort Li here today?"
Ulanara stared at the doorway, as if she wanted to stare a hole through the threshold.
Suddenly, she burst out laughing, then laughed heartily, and as she laughed, tears started streaming down her face.
When Li Jingshu returned to the courtyard, she found a very familiar person waiting for her.
"Hong...Hongshi? Is this my Hongshi?"
"mother!"
Hongshi immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Li Jingshu. He had thought he would never see his mother again in this life.
"Hongshi, my son!"
For Li Jingshu, there was no better gift than the embrace between mother and child.
The two hugged for a long time before separating. Li Jingshu took Hongshi's hand and went into the house, reluctant to let go.
"My son, I'm so sorry, I've made you suffer."
Li Jingshu felt deep regret when she recalled what she had done to Hongshi over the years.
Hongshi smiled and shook his head.
"Mother, your son is alright, everything is over."
Li Jingshu patted Hongshi's head:
“My son has grown taller and stronger, but his forehead…”
She remembered the jade pendant Gao Wuyong had given her, and tears involuntarily streamed down her face again.
"Hongshi, I received the jade pendant. Don't do such foolish things again; it breaks my heart."
"Mother, that's my way of showing filial piety. Don't worry, I'm in good health."
Li Jingshu looked Hongshi up and down. Not bad, he had become a bit stronger.
"Mother, Princess Geng sends food to her son every few days, and he's gotten fat."
Li Jingshu felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this, as these were things that should have been done by her own mother.
"Mother understands. I will definitely invite Princess Geng over for tea another day to thank her properly."
Hongshi hesitated for a moment, then told Li Jingshu about how he had asked Geng Gege to plead with his father.
"Mother, I really have no other choice. In this manor, only Lady Geng is willing to help me. Please don't be angry."
Li Jingshu sighed and gently stroked Hongshi's cheek with her right hand.
"How could your mother be angry with you? It was all my fault before. When Princess Geng comes, I will apologize to her."
Upon hearing this, Hongshi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems that my mother has finally stopped being so stubborn.
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