The Crown Prince's palace is once again decorated with lanterns and streamers. Today is the day the two concubines are entering their residences. However, since the Crown Prince is marrying his concubines, he doesn't need to personally go to greet them. He can simply send a bridal sedan chair. Besides, it wouldn't be appropriate to split the people in two between the two residences, and it wouldn't be proper to only go to one side.
In the Qinya Courtyard, Bai Chuwan, dressed in a gorgeous pink gown, sat before a bronze mirror, her lips slightly parted. She used to love pink dresses because they made her look incredibly beautiful. Today was the most important day of her life; she should have been wearing a bright red wedding gown, but instead, she could only wear pink. It was impossible for her not to feel resentful.
"It's alright, Wan'er, things will get better."
"Mother, is it alright? Father won't even give me a decent dowry," Bai Chuwan said, her eyes filled with disappointment and sorrow as she looked at the meager belongings behind her.
Madam Xie's face also darkened. Wan'er was her own daughter, how could she, as her mother, not make proper plans? Who knew that Bai Linan would suddenly say yesterday: "A concubine is not a secondary wife yet, and she hasn't received any betrothal gifts. What's the point of having such a fine dowry? It would only benefit the Crown Prince. Just a token amount will suffice. The princess is about to get married, so everything in the mansion that is good should be prepared for her first."
"Wan'er, your father is just angry for a moment, he'll be fine in a while. Your most important thing now is to win over the Crown Prince's heart and give birth to the child safely."
Bai Chuwan nodded, but her usual radiance was gone. She now doubted herself; could those ridiculous ideas from before really come true?
The concubine's bridal sedan chair could only enter through the side gate, but unfortunately, the sedan chair carrying Li Zhirou arrived just then. Both groups stopped, and the question of who should go first became a problem...
"What are you all standing there for? My young lady arrived first, so naturally we go first!" Bai Chuwan's personal maid, Xi'er, shouted. The Crown Prince's concubine was allowed to bring a maid with her, and Xi'er, being bold and clever, was the one Bai Chuwan chose to bring.
Li Zhirou's maidservant retorted sharply, "How dare you! Our young lady is the Empress's niece, of noble birth! You all go aside, we'll go in first!"
Bai Chuwan felt she had already suffered enough. If she were to fall even further behind Li Zhirou, she might as well just kill herself. So she lifted the curtain and said coldly, "My father is the Left Prime Minister of the current court, and my sister is the Imperial-bestowed Princess Changning. You'd better think this through."
These words stunned many people, but neither of these two individuals were easy to offend, putting the person in charge in a difficult position.
"Please wait a moment, ladies. Allow me to inform the Crown Princess."
Upon hearing the steward's report, Liu Shuyao calmly instructed, "Naturally, Sister Bai is of higher status. Let the Second Miss Bai go first."
"yes"
Liu Shuyao's lips curled into a smile. Bai Chuwan, Bai Chuwan, you shouldn't be so arrogant now that you have a child...
That evening, Crown Prince Chu Tianyou went to Bai Chuwan's place first.
"Wan'er, you look beautiful today." What man can resist beauty? It's a pity you're pregnant. Chu Tianyou sighed softly.
"Brother Tianyou, from today onwards, Wan'er can stand openly by your side. That's wonderful." The Crown Prince came to her bedchamber first tonight, which shows he truly loves her. What is Li Zhirou compared to him?
"You're pregnant and shouldn't drink alcohol either, so you should rest early today."
Seeing that he seemed about to leave, Bai Chuwan's eyes flashed with panic. "Brother Tianyou, aren't you going to stay with Wan'er?"
Chu Tianyou patted her gently and comforted her, "Of course I want to stay with Wan'er, but you are pregnant now and you must be careful. What if you accidentally hurt the baby? I will come to see you again tomorrow."
Bai Chuwan forced a smile and said, "Tianyou's considerations are valid." It was only the first day; she couldn't very well give the Crown Prince a hard time.
"Yes, I knew you were the most sensible, Wan'er. You should rest well," Chu Tianyou chuckled.
After leaving the palace, Chu Tianyou turned and went straight to Li Zhirou. A moment of passion is worth a thousand pieces of gold, and although Li Zhirou's appearance was not as beautiful as Bai Chuwan's, she was still a beauty.
The next morning, Bai Chuwan's eyes were dark, clearly from lack of sleep. The thought of having to pay her respects to Liu Shuyao brought a hint of displeasure to her face. Their family backgrounds were clearly the same, yet their current social statuses were worlds apart.
Liu Shuyao sat at the head of the main hall, while Li Zhirou and Bai Chuwan knelt on the ground to serve tea.
Liu Shuyao first took the tea from Bai Chuwan, then chuckled, "Sister Wan, please get up. You're pregnant now, so you're very precious."
Li Zhirou was shocked to hear this. Bai Chuwan was pregnant? She had kept it a secret so well. No wonder she felt a little jealous when Brother You came to visit her yesterday…
Liu Shuyao helped Li Zhirou up again, "Zhirou, please get up quickly. You won't blame me for what happened yesterday, will you? It's just that Wan's offspring cannot be lost."
Li Zhirou stood up and chuckled, "How could that be? The Crown Princess is very thoughtful."
"Don't worry, His Highness visited you yesterday, and you'll have good news soon."
Li Zhirou nodded, her face flushed.
As soon as the two left the main hall, Li Zhirou's docile attitude changed completely.
"Hmph, some people are truly shameless. They were already pregnant before entering the manor, and who knows whose bastard child it is?"
Bai Chuwan was furious. "Li Zhirou, what nonsense are you spouting?"
"Did I say something wrong? Don't put on that arrogant air. Do you still think you're the high and mighty young lady from the Prime Minister's mansion you used to be?"
Bai Chuwan patted her stomach and sneered, "Hmph, aren't you just jealous? No matter what, I'm still more noble than you."
Anger also appeared on Li Zhirou's face. "Noble? Ridiculous! His Highness stayed at my place the first night. Who do you think you are? According to the rules, you should be exchanging clothes with my sister."
The thought of Chu Tianyou leaving last night made Bai Chuwan feel a tightness in her chest. She gripped Xi'er's hand tightly, and her stomach also ached.
Seeing her looking rather unwell, Li Zhirou snorted coldly, "Brother You isn't here either, who are you trying to fool with your act of weakness?"
After saying that, she turned and left, but secretly she wished Bai Chuwan would die of anger, and it would be even better if she could lose the child...
"Consort Li has gone too far! Miss, let's go back and see a doctor first," Xi'er said indignantly.
Bai Chuwan nodded, her face pale. She had to be alright. They probably wished she were dead, and she couldn't let them have their way.
Once hailed as one of the two beauties of the capital, Miss Bai Er married so quietly. The Bai family didn't even hold a banquet, and there were no bridesmaids. Bai Chuxiao couldn't help but feel a little sad.
"Princess, why are you sighing?" Qingzhu asked innocently.
"Sigh, life is unpredictable..." Bai Chuxiao said lazily, resting her chin on her hand.
Lanxiang asked with a smile, "Is the princess reminiscing about the Second Miss?"
"Lanxiang understands me best, but from now on, you'll have to call her Consort Bai whenever you see her."
Qingzhu sneered, "This is all Xie Yiniang's retribution. Now that Miss is a princess and will be a royal consort in the future, she's probably just jealous."
Bai Chuxiao pinched her nose, "You're the most quick-witted of all."
However, it's been a few days since I returned, so it's time to go to Zhaoyun Peak for a proper inspection...
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