Chapter 66: Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Though the Prince of Qing remained outwardly composed, in his heart, he favored the Prince of Jin. This was an intuition, difficult to articulate clearly. Li Ju, upon hearing this, remained silent. He sensed his father’s intention and felt relieved, knowing that while his father held a favorable view, he had no intention of taking any action.

This year, a severe drought struck, and the imperial court allocated disaster relief silver. Li Ju was appointed Imperial Commissioner, tasked with overseeing the local distribution of grain to prevent looting or embezzlement.

After receiving the imperial decree, Li Ju first returned home to bid farewell to his family. She Niang expressed her concern, saying, "Disaster relief is not like catching thieves. You must be extremely cautious. Beware of seduction schemes and tricks to drag you down—don't fall for any of them."

Li Ju found his wife’s somewhat bossy tone quite endearing. As he fastened his belt, he looked at her and said, "Don't worry, I'll certainly keep myself pure and not give you any cause for concern."

"Don't think I'm just being jealous; I'm truly afraid that someone with ill intentions might exploit these situations," She Niang replied, selecting a jade pendant to hand to him.

Li Ju took it and hung it at his waist, adding, "I know what I'm doing."

That's how men are; a few words of nagging were enough to make him impatient. She Niang said no more and handed the packed luggage to his personal guards. Only then did Li Ju set off.

After Li Ju’s departure, She Niang focused on managing household affairs and making her morning and evening greetings, rarely stepping out.

Fortunately, the Heir’s Residence was like a mansion within a mansion—spacious enough with a pond and bamboo groves where she could take A Heng for walks. Taking a cue from her mother-in-law’s attitude toward the Princess, she cultivated her child’s habit of reading from an early age and taught him to express himself clearly.

A Heng was clever and sensible, picking things up right away, which made her feel quite accomplished as his teacher.

Word came from outside that Li Niang was pregnant again. She Niang quickly had some premium medicinal ingredients packaged and sent over. Since giving birth to her daughter, Li Niang’s relationship with Wang Pan had improved significantly. Most importantly, with her natal family’s rising status, her flaws became less noticeable, and the Marquis of Dingbei’s household even began to cling to her.

She Niang also advised her, saying that the household would eventually be managed by her elder sister-in-law, and she shouldn't keep trying to run things herself, lest she fall into traps set by her two elder sisters-in-law. Instead, she should let others do the managing while she enjoyed the benefits.

Though Li Niang talked back, she took these words to heart.

She Niang knew Li Niang’s capabilities well—she tended to avoid hard work and wasn't much of a planner. For someone like her, it was best not to take on responsibilities, as she was easily tricked. Li Niang had been deceived before.

In any case, the Wang family would eventually split up the household. Focusing on living her own life well was more important than anything else.

After sending the medicinal herbs, She Niang was surprised when Li Niang personally came to visit. "You’ve just become pregnant; why are you here?" she asked.

Li Niang looked at her as if she were a fool. "I must have something important to discuss, which is why I came."

"What is it?" She Niang dismissed the servants and asked.

Li Niang grasped her hand and said, "Do you remember that fake Yi Niang?"

"Of course I remember," She Niang replied, recalling it clearly.

Li Niang sighed. "She's now made something of herself. I'm truly afraid she might seek revenge against Father and our family. You’ve always been resourceful, so I came to tell you first. Mother will likely visit me tomorrow or the day after; I’ll tell her then."

Recalling He Biyun, She Niang quickly asked, "What’s happened to her now?"

"What’s happened? She’s now a palace consort. Didn't you know the Emperor has been privately holding draft selections in Daxing? She learned the rules while staying with the Zhao family. I happened to see her when I went out to join the excitement and later sent someone to inquire at the Zhao residence. She’s now pregnant, and Lady Zhao has already returned from the palace. The Zhao household is the talk of the town." Li Niang had a knack for digging up obscure information.

She Niang had heard that the Emperor had selected several consorts to enter the palace, but He Biyun should already be in her twenties—past the age for selection. How could she still enter the palace?

She looked at Li Niang and said, "Don't worry. The inner palace is forbidden to interfere in politics. She’s only pregnant—we don't even know if it’s a boy or a girl. Besides, if anyone should be afraid, it’s her, not us. Why would we have any reason to fear her?"

Seeing She Niang so composed, Li Niang felt relieved. "You’re right. If the Emperor finds out about her past, who knows what might happen?"

"Don't mention this to the Wang family either. Your household is next to the Zhao family, and the Zhao daughter is set to marry into the Prince of Jin’s household next year," She Niang advised.

Li Niang scoffed. "Now everyone in the world knows the Emperor is dissatisfied with the Prince of Jin. Do you think the Prince of Jin can expect any good outcome?"

The matter of the Prince of Jin was practically common knowledge. Even Li Niang knew about it.

Like the Prince of Qing, She Niang was taking a wait-and-see approach and cautioned her: "Don't go around spreading this either. After all, he is of imperial lineage. If the Emperor truly intended to move against the Prince of Jin, he wouldn't be doing it like this."

"Understood, understood. I'll leave right after saying this. I had the carriage secretly prepared when I came out earlier," Li Niang said, preparing to leave quickly.

Worried something might happen to her, She Niang promptly arranged for a princely residence carriage to take her back. Li Niang boarded the carriage She Niang usually used and laughed, shaking her head gleefully. "Let me enjoy this for today."

The coachman safely delivered her, and She Niang breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the news.

She didn’t dwell much on He Biyun’s situation. She had likely reinvented herself somewhere else and probably didn't want to draw attention to herself. How could she make a move now? Moreover, they couldn't easily enter the palace now, so they were beyond reach.

However, forewarned is forearmed. She discussed it with her parents, who shared the same view. Pei Yiqing even said, "Is she really going to try to rule the roost? For now, she’s just a low-ranking chosen consort—it’s not a big deal."

"Father, this person lies without blinking. After everything that happened, she still managed to turn things around when all seemed lost. She’s somewhat formidable. Our family can pretend not to know her, but we can't just sit idle. In a few days, during the old Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration, we will enter the palace. I’ll see what she’s like then. If she pretends not to know us, I’ll do the same. But if she oversteps, we’ll discuss it together," She Niang said.

Pei Yiqing and Pei Ji both thought this was appropriate. After further discussion, Pei Yiqing said to She Niang, "The heir is not at home, so you shouldn’t stay away from the princely residence for too long. Return and take good care of the heir's son."

"I understand, Father," She Niang replied without any fuss, promptly taking her leave.

Her son was with her mother-in-law, so she first went to the Princess of Qing to fetch him. Unexpectedly, the Princess of Qing was teaching him to read picture books. A Heng was so engrossed he didn't want to leave. She Niang smiled and said, "Then, Mother will wait for you. You can continue reading with Grandmother."

She had a mother bear instinct toward her son but wasn’t overly possessive. If everyone loved her son, she would be more than happy.

After sitting and waiting for a while, A Heng ran over. She Niang thanked her mother-in-law before heading back.

On the way, she encountered Bai Shi and Yang Mo together. She Niang wondered how these two had become acquainted but maintained a calm demeanor, smiling as she approached them. Yang Mo had previously harbored intense hatred for She Niang but now concealed her malice, appearing normal on the surface. She fantasized about a sudden disaster befalling She Niang so she could surpass her. She and Bai Shi were two of a kind.

She Niang exchanged a few pleasantries with them and later heard Xia Mama say, "I wonder why that Yang woman keeps coming over?"

"It’s nothing but idle gossip. Scholars' rebellions never come to much—neither of them is truly formidable. However, Bai Shi has two maids who are getting older. When the time comes, marry them off and send two new ones over," She Niang said casually, fanning herself with a round fan.

Xia Mama thought this was a way to plant eyes and ears—a clever move. By placing people there, they could at least keep tabs on Bai Shi’s movements. Although Bai Shi was small potatoes, it was better not to set a wolf loose in the house.

Upon returning to her courtyard, She Niang had someone wipe her son’s sweat and change his clothes before saying, "Today, your grandmother said you were well-behaved. Mother will have the kitchen prepare an extra dish of cherry pork for you later, alright?"

"Okay. Mother, why didn't you take me back with you earlier?" A Heng sulked.

She Niang smiled. "It wasn’t a drinking gathering, so naturally, I didn't take you. If it were a festival where we could stay longer, I would definitely bring you along."

A Heng obediently agreed.

While A Heng was well-behaved and She Niang felt content, on the other side, Shun Niang watched her own son being obedient and his father doted on him, yet she brought up her stepson: "His martial tutor needs to be replaced. The previous one was too lenient."

"That should be done," Shun Niang said with a smile, though inwardly she disagreed.

She had confided these troubles to her grandmother, who could only say, "You are Mao Geer’s aunt and now his mother. If you treat him well, he will surely be filial to you. Why be so standoffish? At the very least, you must not show it in front of your husband."

Shun Niang sighed. "How could I not know this? Look at Fifth Sister’s A Heng—as the first child, the entire household adores him. Fifth Sister’s son's status elevates her, and she manages the entire princely residence. How can I, as a stepmother, compare?"

Her grandmother had no solution and could only advise her not to worry, but how could she relax now?

Her own son, upon birth, could only expect to inherit some seventh or eighth-rank minor military official position, much like Fourth Sister’s husband, who had nowhere to go.

He might not even be as well off as Fourth Sister’s husband. At least Fourth Sister’s own younger sister was the wife of the Prince of Qing’s heir and had quite the reputation in the military. Even her elder cousin, who passed the military exams, secured a position through his connections with the Prince of Qing’s household. If he pursued a military career in the future, Fourth Sister’s husband could still cash in on those connections.

"It hurts."

Shun Niang realized she had absentmindedly squeezed her son too tightly and quickly collected herself.

Xiao Tang asked, "What's wrong? You seem distracted."

"Nothing much, just feeling irritable from the dry weather," Shun Niang replied, not being entirely truthful.

Xiao Tang smiled, "That makes sense. Just after putting on clothes, one is already sweating profusely."

Seeing that she was out of sorts, Xiao Tang went to spend the night with a concubine. Though the concubine was deferential and obedient, Xiao Tang enjoyed it but still held her in low regard. Girls from literati families like the Pei family, though gentle-natured, would never behave like this. Yet he still wished to marry a girl from the Pei family.

Alas, if only he had married the Fifth Miss of the Pei family. He had seen her once during the New Year, and she was truly outstanding in appearance, dignified in demeanor, and her smile was enchanting.

But enough, he was already married, so he shouldn’t entertain such thoughts.

If it were this Fifth Miss, she might not have been kind to Mao Ge'er and Qian Jie'er. He had heard rumors that Fifth Miss Pei was quite shrewd in the Prince of Qing's household, and everyone feared her influence. Even the Prince of Qing's heir seemed somewhat afraid of his wife.

Shun Niang had a sleepless night alone. Hong Ma, by her side, comforted her: "You are now the wife of the heir. The old marquis is visibly unwell, and once the heir inherits the title, he will become the marquis, and you will be the marchioness. Who can say what the future holds? Why lose heart now…"

With her nursemaid's comfort, Shun Niang felt somewhat better.

Meanwhile, Li Ju had been away for over a month. By the time of the Dowager Empress's birthday in the palace, She Niang accompanied the Dowager Consort and the Princess of Qing to offer their congratulations. Given their status, they were seated in the front row. The Dowager Empress was the biological mother of the current emperor and the former emperor's empress. Seated beside her was She Niang's mother-in-law from her previous life, the Noble Dowager Consort, along with several other consorts of the former emperor.

Although the empress had passed away, Consort Xu was only granted the title of Noble Consort. Behind Consort Xu were several younger consorts. Unfortunately, He Biyun was nowhere to be seen.

She Niang had originally wanted to find out how He Biyun was doing.

After returning from the palace, she thought it over and had someone write a letter to Yi Niang at the Prince of Jin's residence. But just as it was about to be sent, she recalled it and burned it.

At this time, she couldn’t contact Yi Niang.

The Prince of Jin's household was still in the spotlight! This drama finally concluded at the end of the year when the Prince of Jin was confined to his residence. Upon hearing the news, She Niang quietly sent some clothes and medicine to Yi Niang.

Aside from She Niang, the rest of the Pei family naturally steered clear, as house arrest was a serious crime.

Yi Niang never expected her life to be so tragic. Though life with the Prince of Jin hadn’t been ideal, at least she had no worries about food or clothing. Life in the prince's household was something ordinary people could only dream of. Now, she was under house arrest.

Was her fate really so unfortunate?

As she thought this, two streams of tears fell.

Just then, someone outside announced that the wife of the Prince of Qing's heir had sent gifts. Yi Niang hurriedly invited the messenger in, only to find it was Gui Fang from She Niang's side. Gui Fang first paid her respects and then said, "I came in discreetly. Our heir's wife sent me to deliver some items. In this box, there are also ten five-tael silver notes. You can use them to reward others."

Yi Niang was profoundly grateful: "Fifth Miss and I haven’t had much contact, yet she treats me so kindly."

"Third Miss, you are too kind. Our miss said everyone has their difficulties. I shouldn’t say more, but she also asked me to tell you that He Biyun is now a consort in the palace."

After delivering the message, Gui Fang hurried away. Yi Niang saw that She Niang had sent a fur coat, two felt hats, two sets of jacket and skirt, and a box of high-quality medicine pills. Under the box was also a small bag of silver bits.

She recalled how Sixth Uncle had driven away the fake Yi Niang and welcomed her back. From then on, she became a daughter of the Pei family and later met the Prince of Jin.

Although the Prince of Jin didn’t love her, being able to match someone as a dragon among men in this lifetime was already the greatest fortune.

Back at the Water Moon Nunnery, many nuns hadn’t become nuns by choice. Most were there due to family circumstances—some had fled abusive husbands, some were widows, and others had served their in-laws at home while their husbands caroused outside…

Compared to those women, she was already very fortunate. Closing the box, she wondered if she would ever have a chance to leave. If that day came, she would surely repay Fifth Miss.