Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Birthday Celebration
Because of the old emperor, many people believe that the imperial teacher has real abilities.
Naturally, they also believed that the fertility pill could really help them have children, especially since Concubine Tang in the palace became pregnant a month after taking the fertility pill, so even more people believed it.
Even the princes were a little skeptical. Could it be that the fertility pill was really useful?
There were so many letters delivered to the Duke's Mansion that Yu Li was a little overwhelmed. This also made her realize how keen people in this world were on having sons.
In response, Fu Wenxiao said nonchalantly: "Li Niang, if you want to go, go. If you don't want to go, don't go."
With his status and position, he didn't care if he offended anyone. The more people he offended, the more at ease the old emperor felt. He was confident that he could protect her. Even if the powerful people in the capital excluded her, it would not affect him.
Not to mention her special status. She was a talented person that even the old emperor admired, so no one dared to say anything to her.
In this capital city, she is completely free. No matter what she does, no one will dare to speak out against her.
Yu Li flipped through the posts and found the one from Prince Rui's Mansion.
She looked at it and said, "Hey, Concubine Rui's birthday is in a few days."
Forget about the other things, Concubine Rui is a pretty nice person. Every time they meet, she will pull her aside to talk and give her advice in both obvious and subtle ways. She has to appreciate this kindness.
Fu Wenxiao smiled slightly and said, "Concubine Rui is also my elder. I will go with you to celebrate her birthday."
"Okay." Yu Li agreed without thinking too much.
On the day of Concubine Rui's birthday, Fu Wenxiao specially asked for leave and stayed at home.
Early in the morning, the two of them practiced physical skills, sweating profusely, then went back to the room to wash up and have breakfast together.
When the time was almost right, they were ready and took a carriage to Prince Rui's Palace.
Prince Rui's Mansion is not far from the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion. They are both in the inner city and will be there in a moment.
When we arrived at the alley outside Prince Rui's Palace, we saw many carriages lined up to go in. They were all here to celebrate the birthday of Concubine Rui.
Prince Rui was a prince with real power, deeply trusted by the old emperor, and had many people trying to please him. For Concubine Rui's birthday, anyone who received an invitation would come, and those who did not receive an invitation would send their family's steward to deliver a gift.
As soon as the two got off the carriage, they saw King Rui and his sons coming to greet them.
"Xiao'er, Xiao'er's wife, you are here." King Rui said enthusiastically.
Fu Wenxiao also replied, "Uncle Prince Rui," and Yu Li followed suit. It was obvious that Prince Rui was receiving them as an uncle today.
Chu Shaoyu greeted them happily, calling them "Cousin Fu" and "Cousin-in-law" without any shyness. He then asked Yu Li how the two animals in her house were being trained and whether they could be used as mounts for her now.
Yu Li said: "I still can't. I can only jog at best, but I can't run far."
"You can actually jog now? Then I will definitely be able to carry you for a run in the future."
The two of them started chatting, and they seemed very familiar with each other. King Rui couldn't help but look at Fu Wenxiao, and saw that he looked calm with a smile on his lips.
He muttered to himself that it seemed that his legitimate son and the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo had a really good relationship, so good that this thoughtful nephew didn't mind.
Although this legitimate son of his usually looks childish, like a kid who has not grown up, he is still a man, right?
Compared with Chu Shaoyu, several illegitimate sons of King Rui looked reserved. They respectfully called him "Duke of Zhenguo" or "Duke's Wife" and stood silently by.
Seeing the two people talking happily, they showed contempt in their eyes.
No wonder Chu Shaoyu was able to secure the position of the crown prince. It turned out that he had please the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo. With the trust that the Duke of Zhenguo had in his wife, he would naturally look up to him and might even help him.
Their father had always been wary of the Duke of Zhenguo. With the support of the Duke of Zhenguo, even if he felt that his legitimate son was not up to the task, he had no choice but to support him and suppress them, the illegitimate sons.
Several bastards in the Rui Palace felt that they had guessed the truth. While they disagreed, they couldn't help but think, if they could also please the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo...
But when I thought about how powerful the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo was, I decided to give it up.
Such a woman is too scary, who dares to approach her? Only Chu Shaoyu, who doesn't know how to read people's faces, can approach her.
After the greetings, Fu Wenxiao and Yu left to pay a visit to Concubine Rui.
There were quite a few people here with Concubine Rui, all of whom came to celebrate her birthday. Concubine Rui kept them aside to talk, and they flattered her intentionally, saying some flattering and auspicious words, which made Concubine Rui very happy.
Seeing the two, Concubine Rui said in surprise: "Xiao'er, Li Niang, you are here, come here quickly."
The two men first wished her a happy birthday and then sat down to talk to her.
Concubine Rui smiled and asked them what they were doing recently and why they didn't come to see her. She looked very kind and amiable, like an ordinary elder who was very concerned about the younger generation.
While they were talking, the people in the room looked at them inconspicuously, their eyes secretly turning to Yu Li, staring secretly at her abdomen.
The weather was hot and humid, but the woman was still wearing a thin summer shirt that outlined her slim figure.
Yu Li had a slim figure, but not the skinny kind. She had flesh where it should be. Many ladies secretly praised her in their hearts, saying that the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo had such a slender and well-proportioned figure that was really enviable.
Looking at her abdomen again, it was flat and nothing could be seen.
The two of them chatted with Concubine Rui for a while, and then someone came to pay birthday greetings, so they got up and left.
Then Fu Wenxiao was led to the outer courtyard, while Yu Li went to a flower hall to drink tea.
There were many people in the flower hall, all of them were ladies from various mansions in the capital. Yu Li looked around and didn't recognize many of them.
As she came in, the voices in the hall gradually became quieter.
Everyone stood up and saluted her. Someone took the initiative to talk to her, "I didn't expect that the Duke's wife would be here. I said that when I went out today, I heard the magpie calling, and it must be that a distinguished person has arrived."
When others heard these flattering words, they secretly pouted in their hearts.
What's the meaning of a magpie announcing the arrival of an honorable person? Today is Concubine Rui's birthday. Given Concubine Rui's status, the person who can come to celebrate her birthday must be of high status, so it must be an honorable person.
Although they spit at her in their hearts, the others were not to be outdone and came over to greet Yu Li.
Yu Li's reaction was a little cold. She was not familiar with the people in front of her. Even if she had seen them at the palace banquet, just because she recognized their names did not mean she was familiar with them.
Don't hit someone who smiles at you, so she had to talk to them patiently.
Everyone had originally prepared themselves mentally that even if the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo gave them the cold shoulder, they would have to endure it. However, after chatting with her, they discovered that she had a pretty good temper.
Although she doesn't talk much, no matter who it is, she will respond with a few words to show respect and will not embarrass anyone at all.
Who said that the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo had a bad temper?
It seems that no one has said anything, but because of those rumors, people are instinctively a little bit in awe.
Perhaps because Yu Li was easy to talk to, someone finally asked cautiously about the fertility pill.
"I heard that the saint gave you a fertility pill, which has miraculous effects. Concubine Tang in the palace took the fertility pill and only one month later, she became pregnant... The wife of the Duke of Zhenguo is about to get pregnant, right?"
The lady who was speaking was secretly envious.
Not only her, many people around her showed envy and desire on their faces.
Those who have sons are fine, but those who don't want to have a son. If the fertility pill is really that effective, they also want to get one so that they can have a son and have someone to rely on for the rest of their lives without having to raise a bastard.
No matter how well a concubine's son is raised, how can it be as good as your own child?
Just look at the Rui Palace and you will know. The Princess of Rui was unable to give birth, so she could only let the concubine give birth to a bastard son with hatred. Even though she finally gave birth to a legitimate son later, the legitimate son was weak and almost died, so the Concubine Dowager Rui had to take him to Jiangnan to recuperate, and he was away for more than ten years.
Only women can understand the sadness involved.
Yu Li didn't expect that there were so many women asking for fertility pills, but this thing really can't give birth to children.
Unable to stay any longer, she could only pretend that she didn't understand what the woman meant, said a few perfunctory words, and found an excuse to leave.
Although everyone still had a lot to ask her, they didn't dare to stop her and could only give up with regret.
Yu Li wanted to go out for a walk, so the maid from Prince Rui's mansion dutifully took her to the garden.
The Rui Wang Mansion has a large garden with rockery, flowing water, pavilions and waterside terraces. There is also a lake that draws water from the inner city river. In the lake there are rockery made of Taihu stones, which are majestic and beautiful.
Yu Li stood by the lake and saw fish in the lake with fish food next to them. He became interested and started feeding the fish.
Qing Huan stayed by her side and asked the maid from Prince Rui's Mansion to prepare some food.
Not long after the maid left, Yu Li suddenly heard someone calling her.
"Miss Yu!"
She turned around and saw a young man standing in the corridor not far away. He had a look of surprise on his face and strode towards her.
Qing Huan looked at the person who came with curiosity. He was a young man with a weather-beaten face. He did not look like those young men in the capital who were born into wealth and luxury. He looked more like a soldier.
When people in the capital see Yu Li, they call her "Lady Zhenguo of the State" and rarely call her "Miss Yu" directly.
However, this is the Prince Rui's Palace, and ordinary people are not allowed to come in. It is obvious that this young man has an extraordinary identity.
"Master Xuan!" Yu Li looked at him in surprise, "Why are you here?"
She was indeed surprised to see Xuan Huaiqing appear in Prince Rui's Mansion. Shouldn't he be in the South?
Xuan Huaiqing came over and said, "I came to Beijing a few days ago. My grandmother is not in good health, so I came back to see her."
Yu Li suddenly realized and asked about the health of the old lady in the general's mansion.
She thought back to the old lady in the general's mansion. She had indeed heard that she was ill some time ago.
Given her friendship with Xuan Huaiqing, she should have gone to the general's residence to pay a visit to the old lady after arriving in Beijing. However, in order to avoid suspicion, she could not let people know that she and Xuan Huaiqing knew each other, so she had to give up.
General Xuan commanded the Zhennan Army. Xuan Huaiqing, as the only heir to the general's mansion, would probably attract the old emperor's attention if he got too close to them.
"She's fine now." Xuan Huaiqing said, "Grandmother is old, so it's inevitable that she has some problems. Fortunately, she is in good health. She was sick a few months ago, and the imperial physician examined her. It was just a common cold."
Yu Li felt a little apologetic.
She was in the capital, but in order to avoid suspicion, she did not even go to visit the old lady of the general's mansion when she was sick.
Xuan Huaiqing didn't want to stay here for too long, so he said a few words to her and left.
After returning to the capital, he heard a lot of things in the capital and knew that Yu Li's identity as a talented person had been known to the world, and even the saints treated her with great courtesy.
He was happy for her, but also felt aggrieved for her because she was a woman and the saint did not grant her an official position but only rewarded her with a piece of gold. What was that?
-
After Xuan Huaiqing left, the maid from Prince Rui's mansion brought food over.
Yu Li sprinkled the fish food into the lake, wiped his hands with a towel, and went to a nearby pavilion to eat.
As soon as I sat down, I saw Mo Yuchan coming over.
"Li Niang!" Mo Yuchan looked happy and walked into the pavilion holding up her skirt.
It was rare to see her, so Yu Li was a little happy and asked her to have some snacks. "This sweet-scented osmanthus milk cheese is quite good."
Mo Yuchan ate some with a smile and her eyes fell on Yu Li.
Since she got married, she seldom saw Yu Li. The main reason was that it was not convenient to go out all the time after getting married. In addition, Yu Li had a special status and she did not want to cause any trouble for her. The two of them only exchanged letters privately a few times to talk about each other's recent situation.
Yu Li looked at her and asked, "How have you been lately?"
"Very good." Mo Yuchan was a little shy, "My mother-in-law and husband are both very good to me."
Yu Li saw that her face was rosy and her eyes were happy. It seemed that her married life was really good.
The two chatted casually for a while, and Mo Yuchan suddenly lowered her voice: "Mother Li, that fertility pill...you must not eat it."
Yu Li was slightly startled, then nodded and said, "I didn't eat it."
Mo Yuchan breathed a sigh of relief.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
