When Cheng Yun brought the jade pendant back, Yao Niang took one look and knew why Concubine Hong Guifei gave it to Cheng Yun. She saw through it but didn't say anything. She said, "Keep it for now. When I am out of confinement in a few days, I will make a lace for him to wear."

Bai Zhi put it away and said with a smile: "The Imperial Concubine likes our prince the most. Every time we bring the prince to pay respects to her, the Imperial Concubine will feel happy all day long when she hears it."

"It's better to say this at home. If Prince Zhou's mansion hears it, what will they say? The more a person thinks he has everything perfect, the more he will start to go downhill." Yao Niang shook her head.

Gao Xuance has been on the expedition to the Western Rong for nine months now, and no news has been received. No one knows what is going on.

He has always been considerate and specially sent a gift before the due date. This friendship is more important than anything else. Thinking of this, Yao Niang felt very sad. It seemed that they were together less and apart more than they were together, and they spent most of their time missing each other.

However, she couldn't be discouraged. After she finished her confinement this time, she had time to work hard on Concubine Hong. She would first deal with her mother-in-law and then see how Xing'er would react. As for Xu Qingrong and Hong Shuyi, her people couldn't enter Prince Zhou's Mansion for the time being. It must be said that housekeeper Xu Qingrong was a good hand. Prince Zhou had very strict rules. If she made a move, it would be bad. She could only plan slowly and then place people there.

A month later, Chengze's full-month gift arrived, and Yao Niang also took the opportunity to leave the confinement period. She had been feeling uncomfortable in bed, and now she was very happy to be out. She was just a little plump, but she was no longer the person who thought that being thin was the most beautiful when she was just reborn. It's like when you like someone, you think appearance is important at first, but what's more important is the person's heart.

Lin Weinan was handsome and tall, but she just hated his pretense.

Thinking of this, a person named Zhong suddenly popped up in her mind. Lin Weinan never returned to Beijing in this life, and the Lin family was also raided. Where would she go?

But Yao Niang could not feel any sympathy for her. If she had not been discovered by chance and able to return to the Luo family, Zhong's fate would actually be her fate.

There were really a lot of people coming today, all the ladies of honor were here, even Xu Qingrong's mother and sister-in-law came to the palace. No matter how they behaved in private, in front of Yao Niang, they said such nice things that they really didn't care about their lives.

Concubine Hong also held the child tightly and refused to let go. However, Yao Niang was not happy at all. Perhaps it was because she had such a good body and happened to give birth to two sons that Concubine Hong liked her so much. But if she could not give birth or gave birth to a daughter, Gao Xuance would not like her either.

Because she meets all the requirements for women at that time: she is tall, has fair skin, and seems to have a docile temperament. After marriage, she can have children and manage household chores.

It’s quite sad when you think about it.

But now was not the time to think like that. She said to Concubine Hong Guifei, "Since I became pregnant, I have rarely visited you to pay respects. A few days ago, Chengyun received a reward from you, and I am really grateful to you."

Concubine Hong looked at Yao Niang and saw that her eyes were slightly dark. She couldn't help but ask with concern: "What's wrong with you? Is it the child who is making trouble? You should take care of yourself."

"These past few days, sometimes I rested during the day and couldn't sleep well at night. I always felt uncomfortable and my complexion was not good." Yao Niang liked to rest during the day, but when it was quiet at night, she would light a lamp and read. Inevitably, she didn't look as energetic as before.

Concubine Hong shook her head and said, "This is not good. You are still young and have only been in confinement for a month. If you don't take good care of your body now, you will know when you reach our age in the future."

These were words of concern, and Yao Niang appreciated them very much.

Xu Qingrong knew that this was the case. After Yao Niang gave birth to the child, it would be difficult for Concubine Hong to gain a foothold. In fact, this was really wrong, at least Old Madam Hong did not think so.

She said to her daughter-in-law Dongfang: "I think the Royal Concubine is very kind. Princess Zhou has only given birth to a daughter for many years. Now the Queen only hopes that Princess Zhou will give birth to another son. She doesn't value the eldest son of the King of Zhou. It's also for her. But she only knows how to be attentive to the Royal Concubine and dress like a widow. How can she attract the King of Zhou?"

Dongfang nodded: "Yes, Princess Zhou is not even thirty years old, so she is a little too serious."

"I heard that King Zhou secretly sought treatment from a famous doctor, so there should be no problem. It depends on how King Zhou responds when the time comes." Old Madam Hong felt that it might be difficult for Xu Qingrong to have a baby.

Yao Niang had also heard about the King of Zhou curing the disease, and she also heard that a reward of 100 gold coins was offered to select a doctor with excellent medical skills from the people.

I don’t know whether Gao Shuo can be born in this life, but even if Gao Shuo is born, there is no doubt that Yao Niang still puts her son first in her heart.

As for Yao Niang's family, the Luo family, Yu's face was rosy, and it was obvious that her relationship with her father had reconciled. Yao Niang also breathed a sigh of relief and felt at ease.

Jinghao failed the provincial examination this year, but Yu had already mentioned a family to marry him to. She was talking to Yao Niang about this: "The girl is fifteen this year and has a good temperament. More importantly, your father said that her family has a good family tradition, so we decided to settle on her."

"Since Daddy likes it, it must be good."

The daughter of the Minister of Works, Yao Niang vaguely remembered that she seemed to have met her once, but she did not have much impression of her. However, she was unwilling to interfere in her brother's marriage.

It is difficult to say about the relationship between husband and wife. Even if two people have similar family backgrounds and even looks, they may not be able to live together. It still requires them to get along well with each other.

After she finished her confinement, she began to pay her respects to Concubine Hong frequently, personally cooked meals for her mother-in-law, and copied scriptures. Now that Concubine Hong was not as favored as before, she was often alone. When Yao Niang saw that she felt lonely, she would bring the child over to keep her company.

The feelings between people are developed through getting along with each other. Yao Niang always believed in this truth. Besides, the second son Chengze was not as domineering as Cheng Yun, and with a wet nurse to feed him, she was more willing to help.

But Xu Qingrong began to compare herself with her. She would come earlier than Yao Niang every day and leave later than Yao Niang. Yao Niang had no choice but to shake her head.

"I came here because the prince is not at home, and I wanted to see what the people around the queen are doing. How come my second sister-in-law is also having an affair with me?" Yao Niang really couldn't understand.

But Yao Niang was not one to give up easily. She had never given up painting, so every day after paying her respects, she would take out her paintings and start making embroidery for Concubine Hong. Older people were afraid of catching a cold, so in addition to making shoes and socks, Yao Niang mostly made headbands.

After she finished, she brought it to Concubine Hong. Seeing that she made it herself, Concubine Hong couldn't put it down, especially because it was winter and it was warm but did not block the eyes, nor was it too heavy.

"Your needlework is getting better and better." Concubine Hong smiled and tried it on immediately.

Seeing this, Xu Qingrong, who was standing by, looked at Hong Shuyi behind him and felt that it was a wrong move.

Since becoming the Princess of Zhou, all the internal affairs of the palace have been placed on her shoulders. She was afraid that the Prince of Zhou would find fault with her, and that the concubines would get pregnant without her permission. How could she have the time to do needlework? If she had known that Concubine Hong liked this, she might as well have asked the needlework room to do a few more jobs.

Yao Niang smiled and said, "It's because my mother doesn't mind giving it up."

"I think the style of your headband is very fresh and bright. You young people are good at making it. Xing'er has also made several for me, but they are not as good as yours in terms of patterns." Concubine Hong indeed felt that the headband made by Yao Niang was more comfortable to wear.

This……

When it comes to Concubine Hong, there is really no need for her to look at other people's faces when speaking. Concubine Hong used to praise Xing'er often, so why does she say that now?

Yao Niang said calmly: "Xing'er's stitches are meticulous, but I am sloppy. Fortunately, you don't mind."

Concubine Hong laughed: "You are too modest, child."

Now that she has her daughter-in-law to accompany her, she feels more comfortable than with Lady Mo and Xing'er combined. The glutinous rice balls brewed with osmanthus wine made by her daughter-in-law are delicious, and even the small wontons are more tasty. No matter what troubles she has on a daily basis, she can talk about them with just a few words.

More importantly, the brothers Cheng Yun and Cheng Ze were by her side, and their lively and noisy presence also alleviated the loneliness she felt when the emperor was away.

She even understood the principles of Buddhism and I told her many Buddhist stories that were more interesting than those told by storytellers.

After hearing this, Xing'er said with a smile, "Princess, you are insulting us." But her hand was tightly holding the handkerchief, which was really uncomfortable.

Why? Why could even Concubine Hong be coaxed away so quickly?

Seeing that after Concubine Hong accepted Yao Niang's gift, she even ignored herself and did not pretend to be fair, Xu Qingrong was even more afraid that Yao Niang was too hateful.

It is impossible for a person to not show what he is thinking on his face. What kind of person is Concubine Hong? Seeing Xu Qingrong like this, she snorted in her heart. On the surface, she respected her mother-in-law, greeted her and asked about her well-being every day, but in fact, she never cooked a meal for her, and she never even copied scriptures for her. The only needlework she got was the ones during the New Year and festivals, and those might not have been made by her.

Otherwise, why are the stitches different for several years in a row?

Since you only regard me as a target for your filial piety, why should I give you face? We are just mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, not biological mother and daughter.

What hit her even harder was that Emperor Jianzhang saw that Prince Zhou had few children. His only eldest son was born from a maid, and his wife was childless. Since his son was in good health, he had of course heard of the reputation of the Xu family's daughter. He was afraid that his son would be controlled by his daughter-in-law, so he did not dare to take another concubine. Therefore, he personally sent a concubine of very good family to marry her.

Xu Qingrong managed to get into the room with great difficulty, but fainted from fright.