Chapter 20

Chapter 20

◎A Step Ahead◎

Fugui and Qiūfēng, who were both in the room, exchanged exasperated glances when they overheard Xun Rou and Li Cheng. Now she claims she only wants the title of secondary consort, but once she gets her foot in the door, she'll likely ask for much more.

As women, we all know how these games are played.

Huiyin was in the kitchen, carefully making pulled noodles. She realized that Li Cheng was different from most people. He wasn’t easily swayed by moral pressure and could be quite stubborn, even competitive, when it came to proving a point. He was principled, youthful, and full of life—so genuine, so real.

She realized she didn’t really know him as well as she thought.

After cutting the dough into portions and folding several strands together, she began stretching the noodles, completely absorbed in her task. Over the past hour and a half, she thought about Xun Rou. To her, Xun Rou seemed vague, like the other women she had encountered who sought to climb the social ladder. But after reflecting on Xun Rou’s actions, she realized that Xun Rou wasn’t one to give up easily.

Even now, she hadn’t given up. Her persistence was such that a less resolute man would have likely succumbed to her advances by now.

But Li Cheng had refused her not for personal reasons, but because he genuinely disliked her and the idea of being tied down in such a restrictive relationship.

She personally brought the tray over, but Xun Rou was nowhere to be found.

"You’re such a troublemaker, making me go through all this just to make pulled noodles for you. I’m all hot and sweaty now," Huiyin sat down. She believed in returning favors. Over the past month in Xuzhou, Li Cheng had been responsive to almost all her requests.

Li Cheng showed her how much he enjoyed the noodles by finishing every last drop of the soup.

"The noodles are delicious, and the soup is amazing," he said.

Huiyin started, "About Xun Rou..."

But before she could continue, a personal guard came to urge him to leave. Li Cheng hurried off, not even able to say another word.

Fugui, looking a bit embarrassed, said, "I only overheard Miss Xun say that she only wanted the title of secondary consort and nothing else. After that, they went into the inner room, and I couldn’t hear what they said."

"It’s fine. I understand," Huiyin nodded.

She continued to treat Xun Rou the same as always.

A few days after the Mid-Autumn Festival, she received gifts from Jianye, with the Prince of Wei sending the most generous ones. Not only did he send festival gifts, but he also sent gold and clothing.

The Prince of Wei clearly held his nephew in high regard. This time, he even sent her gifts, including exquisite kingfisher feather jewelry, pearls, gold, and jade. The mansion had specialized craftsmen for making jewelry, so Huiyin took half of the materials and had them craft accessories. These gold and jade items, which she had once found vulgar as a child, now delighted her, exuding an air of opulence.

Since Li Cheng left, Xun Rou had also begun to keep to herself, rarely seeing even He Niangzi.

"Yun Hui, please take Xun Gu Niang her monthly allowance. This pair of earrings is a gift from me. Also, autumn is approaching. The seasons in Xuzhou are distinct, and the seamstresses will soon be making clothes. They’ll be looking for her in the next few days," Huiyin said. She wouldn’t write to ask Li Cheng about what happened that day. Xun Rou certainly wouldn’t tell her, so she had Yun Hui try her luck. After all, Yun Hui’s expression had been different the last time she mentioned Xun Rou.

Yun Hui followed Huiyin’s instructions without hesitation and quickly went to see Xun Rou.

At that moment, Xun Rou was practicing calligraphy. Her handwriting was exquisite, and she could even write with both hands. She recalled that her cousin had once praised her skill.

Looking up, she saw Yun Hui enter and offered a faint smile.

"You’re here. Are you here to watch my downfall? Let me tell you, you won’t get the chance."

Yun Hui placed the tray down formally. "I’ve come on behalf of the young princess. This is your monthly allowance, and these earrings are a gift from her..."

Xun Rou raised an eyebrow. "Are you mocking me for having to rely on her for money while living under her roof?"

"Miss Xun, you’re misunderstanding me. You are the mistress, and I am just a servant following the young princess’s orders," Yun Hui said, her expression unchanged.

Xun Rou smiled and said, "There's no need to put on an act with me. I'm afraid the only one who doesn't know about your little schemes is my cousin. He is a man of deep feelings and righteousness, treating everyone around him well. But if he were to find out what you've been up to, how would he look at you?"

Yun Hui remained calm, "This servant does not understand what you mean."

"You know very well." Xun Rou wanted to expose her, but thinking that Princess Zheng also disliked her, why should she help reveal her secrets? She sneered coldly and stopped.

After saying this, Yun Hui prepared to leave, her expression unchanged, but she curved her lips slightly as she walked out.

Soon it was September, and the weather began to turn cool, the climate pleasant. In Ji Province, snow might fall in October, but now it was sunny and bright. The gardeners had started cultivating new flowers, and Huizhao toured the gardens with her maids and servants. As the highest-ranking person in Xu Prefecture, she did not need to go out for social engagements.

She almost knew all the hundreds of people in the mansion, familiar with their roles, and could assign tasks normally, beginning to manage them.

"Mother Nan, you are my wet nurse; you must not be as you were in the Zheng family. I don't trust the people around here much," Huizhao reminded her.

Mother Nan nodded, "Yes, yes. Mother used to have no guard up, being accustomed to life in the Zheng family. Now, I should try to help the young princess more."

In fact, with the male head of Huaiyin Mansion away, the management was entirely entrusted to the female head, making Huizhao's life much easier than when she was in the Eastern Palace.

After the two of them had walked some distance, Mother Nan asked, "I noticed you seem to have let off Miss Xun? Yesterday, her maid went out, and you allowed it."

"Yes, what's there to talk about with someone who has already lost?" Huizhao had already guessed most of it.

If Xun Rou were truly chosen as the secondary consort, the young prince would not have failed to consult her. He might not love her, but he respected her position as the principal wife, at least for now.

Mother Nan, however, said, "What if she's just pretending? Openly acting carefree, but secretly plotting something else?"

Huizhao laughed, "What do I have to fear? If she becomes the secondary consort, it would be worse for her than it is now." A cousin, a guest, a member of the Xun family, was hard to deal with, but if she really became the secondary consort, she would be under the legitimate control of the princess.

She was not Zheng Deyin, unable to handle even someone like Xun Rou, whom Li Cheng did not favor.

Huiyin is currently constrained by her position and hasn't fully secured her place yet, so she has to be patient. After all, she faced someone as dangerous as Dong Yuniang in her past life—why would she fear someone like Xun Rou?

However, she needs to show Li Cheng that she's being patient. For now, she can't act, and she's also waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Mom, just a little longer. Everything will become clear soon enough."

"Wait? Wait for what, exactly?"

Nanny Nan didn’t really understand what was going on. Despite being from Jizhou and having a reputation for being resourceful, she always felt out of her depth in front of the Princess.

Huiyin smiled and shook her head. Then, she sat down to write another letter to Li Cheng, describing the garden’s flower beds. She mentioned the Double Ninth Festival outing and how, thinking of him in Huai and Si, she used chrysanthemums from the garden to bake some flower cakes for him to enjoy. Knowing he didn’t drink alcohol while in the military, she decided not to send any wine.

When Li Cheng returned to his tent, he found the flower cakes Huiyin had sent. They were translucent, not greasy, and tasted delightfully sweet.

His life was actually quite fulfilling. As the only son of the King and Queen, he was pampered, especially by them. Yet, for some reason, he had always felt a deep sense of insecurity since childhood, as if everything could be taken away at any moment.

Now, with someone always thinking of him, he felt genuinely happy, even though he didn’t say it aloud. Especially since Princess Zheng knew how to keep things in balance. She only acted playful and affectionate in private, teasing him with shy words, but in public, she was always composed and proper. Her letters didn’t contain love poems, just a few simple words. But the fact that she thought of making flower cakes for him when she saw chrysanthemums showed how much she cared.

But what could he send back to her?

About half a month later, Huiyin received an exquisitely crafted jewelry box inlaid with gold, enamel, and pearls. She was delighted. Like most women, she loved beautiful things, and she hadn’t expected Li Cheng to go to such lengths to send her this gift.

When Xun Rou came to greet her, she noticed that Huiyin’s dressing table was nearly covered with jewelry, and a maid was holding a hairpin up to her head.

"Cousin-in-law, Miss Miao invited me to a poetry gathering today," Xun Rou said humbly.

Huiyin smiled and said, "Go ahead. I’ll have the servants get the carriage ready for you. Just be careful."

Xun Rou nodded. "Thank you, Cousin-in-law."

She finished speaking and, supported by Meixiang, went out. Huiyin watched her departing figure and sneered coldly, "A jumping clown who doesn't know when death approaches."

The last time Xun Rou had pleaded with Li Cheng, she asked to stay in Huaiyin Mansion to avoid punishment by Grand Dowager Wu upon her return. She planned to go back during the New Year, demonstrating that she had truly done her best. If she couldn't become the secondary consort, it wasn't her fault, and the Grand Dowager wouldn't punish her. After a moment's thought, her cousin agreed. However, how could she really leave? Now, she was still scheming. First, she would occupy Huiyin with external matters, making her a laughingstock, and then step in at a critical moment.

Sure enough, after Xun Rou left this time, Lady Miao came to Huiyin, saying that with refugees running rampant, she wanted to ask how Huaiyin Mansion planned to settle them and whether the local wealthy families should help.

Huiyin smiled and said, "Isn't this matter still under the jurisdiction of the prefect and county magistrate? Why are they asking us women to handle it?"

Lady Miao often flattered Huiyin and, feeling close to her, sincerely said, "I'm thinking of your reputation. The Prince of Huaiyin has just arrived in Xuzhou and is in the process of winning people's hearts. If you take the lead, it will be good for both your reputation and the mansion's."

"What you said makes sense, but I'm pregnant now and afraid I can't exert myself. How about this: I'll have my cousin, Miss Xun, go on our behalf, so the local wealthy families in Xuzhou can see how capable she is. You don't know this, but the Grand Dowager has entrusted me and the Little Prince to help her find a good husband for Miss Xun." Huiyin said with a smile.

Her health was good, and Li Cheng hadn't given her any cold medicine like that villain Li Heng had done. She was already three months pregnant and had stabilized the fetus. Yesterday, she had already sent a letter to Li Cheng, mentioning that she was pregnant and probably couldn't take care of Xun Rou.

Lady Miao quickly congratulated her, "I didn't expect the young princess to be pregnant. Yes, how could we trouble you? We'll handle it ourselves and consider it good fortune for the future heir."

"Alright, then when you succeed, I'll have Miss Xun go on my behalf," Huiyin said with a smile.

Lady Miao immediately nodded and thought about what valuable items she should gather to send over, aiming to be the first to offer congratulations at the young princess's door.

Naturally, since this idea came from Xun Rou, she also informed Xun Rou about it.

Xun Rou's heart tightened. "You mean my cousin-in-law is pregnant?"

Lady Miao smiled, "Indeed, I think the young princess is very fortunate to conceive just three months after marriage. However, she also has plans for you. She said that when the refugee settlement is successfully handled, she will have you go on her behalf."

Xun Rou broke out in a cold sweat. These days, besides visiting the Miao family, she had been in contact with the old subordinates of Grand Dowager Wu, meticulously planning to incite refugees to cause trouble and destruction on the day the settlement was completed. The money had already been paid. She had been worried that Huiyin wouldn't participate and had deliberately let Lady Miao and others plan first, intending to let Huiyin take the lead.

Now that Huiyin was quietly pregnant and wanted her to go on her behalf, as soon as Lady Miao left, she called Meixiang. "Take my personal token and stop our people from carrying out the plan."

If she went, of course, no one should offend her, or all the blame would fall on her.

Meixiang immediately prepared to go out but couldn't even leave the courtyard. She hurried back and said, "Miss, it's not good. The guards at the gate said the young princess ordered them not to let anyone out, fearing that villains might cause trouble because she is pregnant."

Xun Rou almost fainted, realizing that Huiyin was indeed more clever than she had thought.