Chapter 9: Was the Heir’s Consort Waiting for This Heir?

Chapter 9: Was the Heir's Consort Waiting for This Heir?

At noon, at the Drunken Wind Pavilion.

The maidservants were setting up dishes on the table when the Queen Consort placed some food in Ran Qinggu's bowl, saying, "You've been working hard these past few days; eat more."

Ran Qinggu replied with decorum, "Thank you, Mother."

A maid walked in with a smile, "Queen Consort, the Heir is here."

Jian Zuihuan feigned anger, chiding, "When we look for him, he's nowhere to be found. Now that we're not looking for him, he shows up. We didn't prepare his place settings today; shoo him away."

Shang Rongyu strode into the room, "Mother Consort, it doesn't matter if you didn't prepare my meal. I can wait until the Heir's Consort finishes eating and then have her cook for me."

The Queen Consort chuckled, "There you go bullying her again. She's been busy handling matters inside and outside the estate; she's exhausted. Don't trouble her anymore."

A maid pulled out a chair, and Shang Rongyu sat down, tilting his head towards Ran Qinggu, "Mother Consort, you're wronging me. It's clearly the Heir's Consort who's troubling me. She sent over fifty people to the Ministry of Justice in just three days... leaving me without dinner. Asking her to cook a meal isn't too much to ask of the Heir's Consort, right?"

Ran Qinggu said respectfully, "Serving my husband is Yu'er's duty."

Shang Rongyu smiled, "Then you must serve me well."

Nanny Su brought out a new set of bowls and chopsticks, smiling broadly, "Well, Heir, how could you come to the Queen Consort's place and leave hungry? Nanny has already instructed the chef to prepare your favorite Little Celestial Chicken and Eight Immortals Goose Platter. The Queen Consort has been waiting for you every day."

The Queen Consort chided, "Is she waiting for him to give her a headache?"

Nanny Su placed the utensils down and noticed a tear on Shang Rongyu's sleeve, reminding him, "Heir, your clothes are torn."

Shang Rongyu blurted out, "It's just a piece of clothing; throw it away if it's torn..."

He paused, took off his outer robe, and handed it to Ran Qinggu, "I trouble you, Heir's Consort."

Ran Qinggu hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take it.

Would a Prince who indulged in luxury and pleasure wear torn clothes?

He didn't believe it.

Perhaps something was detected during the spring banquet. Did the Heir become suspicious because he wasn't wearing thick padding that day?

He must be testing him.

After all, in Da Su, needlework was a mandatory skill for unmarried daughters.

The servants around them held their breaths.

When had the Heir worn torn clothes? He barely wore old clothes...

The Heir's Consort must have offended the Heir deeply; the Heir was deliberately making things difficult for her.

Poor Heir's Consort, she offended the one person she shouldn't.

In the afternoon, as a man who had never learned needlework, Ran Qinggu was troubled.

How was he supposed to mend this?

He stared at the garment blankly.

Chun'er brought a cup of tea and asked, "What book is the Heir's Consort reading so intently?"

She glanced over and saw Ran Qinggu reading books on needlework, threading a needle and sewing neatly onto a handkerchief.

Chun'er laughed, "Heir's Consort, the stitches are too wide apart. This will result in an unattractive and unstable seam. It's best to make the stitches closer together and evenly spaced..."

Ran Qinggu looked up, "You know how?"

Chun'er smiled, "This kind of menial work, I've been learning since childhood. Didn't the Heir's Consort learn this while in the inner chambers?"

Ran Qinggu smiled evasively, "I learned a little, but I'm too stupid to master it. My mother spoiled me, so she let it go. After all, she was not favored and never thought I would marry into a noble family."

He looked at Chun'er, "Why don't you teach me?"

Chun'er looked at the Heir's clothes nearby, wondering when had the Heir ever worn torn clothes?

But then she thought, what did it matter whether the Heir wore them or not? What was important was that the Heir's Consort, as a wife, sewed clothes for her husband.

Even if the Heir didn't wear them, the Heir's Consort could pretend not to know, creating another opportunity to interact with the Heir.

Indeed, the Heir's Consort was wise, having learned to vie for favor.

She nodded, "Alright."

Learning from Chun'er for a couple of hours, Ran Qinggu's fingers were punctured with needle pricks, blood dots staining the handkerchief fabric. Fortunately, hard work paid off, and he could at least sew a decent garment.

Chun'er was secretly amazed, "How could the Heir's Consort not learn? In less than two hours, the stitches made by the Heir's Consort are better than those of someone who's been doing it for over a decade."

Ran Qinggu, "Stop flattering me."

Chun'er was full of admiration, "Really, Heir's Consort, you're the smartest woman I've ever met. I feel like there's nothing you can't do."

The "smartest woman" Ran Qinggu, "...Alright."

He picked up Shang Rongyu's clothes and began to sew carefully.

Remembering something, he instructed, "Don't tell the Heir about you teaching me needlework today."

Seeing Chun'er's puzzled eyes, he added, "I don't want him to think I'm stupid."

Rarely did this master vie for favor.

Chun'er was overjoyed, nodding repeatedly. "Your Highness the Heir's Consort, rest assured, Chun'er won't tell anyone."

Ran Qinggu nodded. "Thank you."

Chun'er: "What Your Highness the Heir's Consort does for the Heir, he will surely understand."

Ran Qinggu smiled without a word. He rather hoped that the Heir would never understand.

It wasn't until late at night that he finally finished sewing Shang Rongyu's clothes.

Even though he knew Shang Rongyu wouldn't wear them, he had put in his best effort.

He couldn't let him see through the ruse.

When Shang Rongyu arrived at the Sinking Fish Pavilion that evening, he saw Chun'er carrying a bowl of nourishing soup to Ran Qinggu's quarters.

Upon seeing him, Chun'er hurriedly bowed. "Your Highness the Heir."

Shang Rongyu looked at the soup. "So late and still not asleep? This is for the Heir's Consort?"

Chun'er stammered. "The Heir's Consort hasn't rested yet, so Chun'er instructed the kitchen to prepare some midnight snack for her."

Shang Rongyu was surprised. "Not asleep yet?"

Taozi, standing by, grumbled in frustration. "If it weren't for sewing clothes for the Heir, my young lady would have been asleep long ago."

That afternoon, her young master was learning needlework and found her chatter annoying, so he kicked her out, leaving only Chun'er behind.

She glanced into the room; her young master was learning needlework from Chun'er.

Another glance, and she saw a pricked finger.

Yet another glance, and both hands were wrapped in bandages.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

Was there something wrong with the Heir of King Cheng? When had her young master ever learned needlework?

And making clothes that he wouldn't even wear? Deliberately tormenting her young master.

He was utterly despicable.

She really wanted to give him a good beating.

Chun'er elbowed Taozi in the elbow.

She had promised the Heir's Consort not to tell the Heir.

Taozi had been kicked out today while Chun'er monopolized the young master's bedroom. She was already furious. Now, being elbowed by Chun'er again, her anger flared up. "Why did you elbow me? Bullying my young lady and not letting me say anything? My young lady clearly doesn't know how to sew. She spent the whole afternoon at it, and her hands are covered in blood. The Heir, on the other hand, made clothes that he clearly wouldn't wear, but he tormented my young lady nonetheless."

Chun'er whispered. "The Heir's Consort didn't want it said, afraid the Heir would think her foolish."

Taozi chuckled.

This idiot didn't understand her young master's intentions.

Actually, she didn't quite understand either.

She only knew that she couldn't let her young master suffer any injustice.

Shang Rongyu hadn't expected Bai Yu to do so much for him.

He had just been wondering why the Heir's Consort didn't know how to sew and didn't tell him?

It was just a set of clothes, but now that Chun'er mentioned it, he felt inexplicably happy.

Learning to sew and fearing that he would think her foolish...

Could it be that she had secretly harbored feelings for him?

He looked at the nourishing soup in Chun'er's hand. "Give it to me, I'll take it to the Heir's Consort."

Taozi wanted to stop her but was kicked in the leg by Chun'er, stumbling to the side.

Chun'er handed the soup to Shang Rongyu. "Then this servant won't disturb His Highness the Heir and the Heir's Consort."

After handing the soup to Shang Rongyu, Chun'er dragged Taozi away.

Taozi: "My young lady..."

Chun'er: "Shut up, this is between husband and wife."

Shang Rongyu walked quickly to Ran Qinggu's bedroom with the soup. He knocked twice, but there was no answer.

The door was unlocked, and he pushed it open.

At first glance, he saw the faint silhouette behind the screen, as well as the steamy mist in the room...

She was bathing...

Was it intentional?

Shang Rongyu: "Is Your Highness the Heir's Consort waiting for this Heir?"