Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Just as she finished her third circuit, Xiao Ci suddenly announced, "My lady, Qiu Xiang from the Splendid Pavilion is here."

Xie Run was startled. "Qiu Xiang?"

Dan Tao softly reminded her, "She's one of Shiqie Fang's maids. After Qiu Lan's incident, Qiu Xiang has been managing affairs at the Splendid Pavilion."

"Then invite her in."

Soon, Qiu Xiang followed Dan Tao inside and bowed to Xie Run. "This servant pays respects to Lady Xie."

Xie Run quickly motioned for her to rise and asked gently, "Rise. Did your mistress send you to me for something important?"

Qiu Xiang had plain features but spoke in a soft, gentle voice. "Today, the Princess Consort added more servants to all the ladies in the manor. My mistress was worried that Lady Xie might be short on cash, so she specially sent me to bring some money."

Xie Run was slightly surprised. "How can this be..."

Qiu Xiang smiled bitterly. "My mistress said this is to repay Lady Xie's kindness in offering help in her time of need back then."

"She originally wanted to be discreet, but since she had been throwing money around earlier, everyone in the manor knows how she is. Lady Xie need not worry about people talking. Please accept this silver and rest assured; my mistress has no other intentions."

Xie Run truly hadn't expected Fang Yuaner to send her money.

A month ago, Fang Yuaner had been throwing money around to build good relations with the women in the rear courtyard, and ninety percent of them had taken her gifts.

At that time, Xie Run had refused everything.

She didn't want to accept gifts for no reason, afraid she wouldn't be able to repay the favor.

Besides, back then she hadn't fully realized the importance of money.

Now, as Qiu Xiang said, Fang Yuaner's reputation for scattering money was already well known. Whether she included Xie Run or not didn't really matter.

Money wasn't really the point. What mattered was that the novel's heroine who traveled through time was sending money just to her—and only her!

This was clearly a friendly gesture. How could she not be interested?

Xie Run thought for a moment and asked Qiu Xiang, "How is your mistress's health?"

Qiu Xiang sighed. "The manor doctor said she's young and just needs to rest; it won't affect her chances later."

Xie Run waved at Dan Tao. "Go to the storeroom and pack some tonic herbs for Qiu Xiang to take back."

Qiu Xiang was startled and about to refuse, but Xie Run said, "You have to give and take to keep a friendship going. If you don't take the herbs back, how can I accept your mistress's gift without feeling awkward?"

"Besides, Sister Fang is in a position where even money can't buy what she needs. Let me do my part too."

In the rear courtyard, there were many who would switch sides at the drop of a hat.

Now that Fang Yuaner had fallen out of favor, she couldn't get certain precious herbs even with money.

Qiu Xiang bowed, tears in her eyes. "Then this servant will thank Lady Xie for my mistress."

Xie Run nodded to Yuli.

Yuli stepped forward to take the items from Qiu Xiang's hands.

After seeing Qiu Xiang off, Yuli expressed concern. "My lady, now that Shiqie Fang has fallen out of favor with the Prince, if you befriend her and the Prince finds out, he might take it out on you."

Xie Run replied, "If the Prince were going to be mad, he wouldn't have come to Linxuan Pavilion yesterday."

Just a few days before Prince Jing came to Linxuan Pavilion, Xie Run had visited Fang Yuaner after her miscarriage.

Clearly, Prince Jing didn't mind.

"But..." Yuli wanted to say more.

Xie Run interrupted her. "I've got it under control."

Nothing that happened in Linxuan Pavilion escaped the main courtyard.

Nanny Zhang was overthinking things. "Today, after the Prince left Linxuan Pavilion, he suddenly mentioned adding servants to each courtyard during lunch. I bet he's feeling sorry for the lady in Linxuan Pavilion."

The Princess Consort was on her period and feeling very uncomfortable, so she lay around lazily. "Since the Prince dotes on her, of course he'd feel bad for her."

"Adding servants is a small matter," Nanny Zhang frowned. "But I'm worried that this Xie might be getting ideas above her station now that the Prince favors her."

"There are so many women in the rear courtyard; the Prince will always favor one or two. Ning and Yun are veterans, and the newly arrived Fang has lost favor. If not Xie, it would be someone else."

The Princess Consort was indifferent. "I've been keeping an eye on her. In the two months since Xie entered the manor, she has been quite well-behaved and doesn't seem spoiled. As long as she doesn't cross the line, the Prince can favor her however he wants."

Nanny Zhang wanted to advise the Princess Consort to win the Prince over, but knowing her personality well, she changed the topic instead.

"At noon, someone saw Fang's maidservant go to Linxuan Pavilion, reportedly to deliver some silver. Could it be that Fang, knowing she has lost favor, is trying to suck up to Xie to win back the Prince's favor?"

The Princess Consort clutched her lower abdomen, her face pale from pain, and said nonchalantly, "It's not the first time Fang has thrown money around. If money were useful, she wouldn't have ended up in her current situation."

"If she can actually regain favor by sucking up to Xie, I would admire her." The Princess Consort's eyes drooped slightly, filled with calm indifference. "In this manor, no one the Prince has turned against has ever gotten back in his good graces."

"That's true," Nanny Zhang agreed. "Shufei Ning is ruthless. With one move, she completely ruined Fang and caused her miscarriage. My lady should be wary of her in the future."

"I know..."

Just then, Nanny Liu, who was in charge of assigning servants to each courtyard, returned.

Seeing her expression, Nanny Zhang knew something was up and immediately dismissed the maidservants nearby.

When only the Princess Consort and Nanny Zhang remained, Nanny Liu spoke. "My lady, it seems Shiqie An... might be pregnant."

The Princess Consort was slightly taken aback.

Nanny Zhang couldn't wait to ask, "The Prince has only been to her place once in the past six months. How could she be pregnant?"

Nanny Liu replied, "It's almost certain. The matron sent there said Shiqie An vomited several times in an hour, but she showed no intention of seeing the manor physician. I also inquired about her monthly cycle—it's already several days late."

The Princess Consort listened with a flat expression. "Since she hasn't said anything, pretend you don't know. Just make sure our people are careful and don't get used as pawns."

Nanny Liu acknowledged, "Yes."

After Nanny Liu left, Nanny Zhang glanced at the Princess Consort, her eyes full of pity, hesitating to speak.

In the first three years after the Princess Consort married into the manor, Prince Jing respected his lawful wife and spent most nights in the main courtyard.

Even so, the Princess Consort had never conceived.

And this Shiqie An, who only saw the Prince once in half a year, was pregnant... There was really no rhyme or reason to it.

Prince Jing came half an hour earlier than usual today.

The sun still hung high above the mountain, about to set.

When he arrived, Xie Run was watering the honeysuckle and jasmine in the courtyard.

Recently the jasmine had bloomed, filling the courtyard with a faint fragrance, making the courtyard even more lively.

Prince Jing walked over, "Why are you doing this with your own hands? If you really like flowers and plants, have the greenhouse set aside a plot and plant all kinds of flowers."

Xie Run smiled, "I enjoy doing it myself, Your Highness. Watching these plants thrive under my care makes me feel really accomplished."

Prince Jing didn't say anything else.