Chapter 104

Chapter 104

If the household truly had a legitimate eldest son, the hopes of other concubine-born sons becoming the heir would likely be completely dashed.

Even though the Princess Consort had already sent word that Shufei Li would raise her own child, no one really believed it.

On February twenty-eighth, Consort Jiang was welcomed into the residence with great fanfare.

The celebration was quite lively, but Prince Jing was so busy with the snow disaster relief that he barely showed his face, and didn't even crack a real smile.

The entire prince's residence was shrouded in a weird mix of joy and tension.

Xie Run was now eight months pregnant.

Learning from Princess Ruyi's birthday banquet, the Consort just told all the pregnant women to stay in, saving a lot of hassle.

The newly arrived Consort Jiang moved into Songya Courtyard.

As it happened, this courtyard was quite close to Xie Run's.

The Princess Consort hadn't arranged this on purpose.

There were only two courtyards designated for a Cefei—one was Lanxiang Courtyard, and the other was Songya Courtyard.

Someone had just died in Lanxiang Courtyard, and the ill fortune hadn't cleared yet, so naturally it couldn't be assigned to Consort Jiang.

Although Xie Run couldn't go out, she still watched the goings-on from Banshan Pavilion.

She had thought things would be relatively calm for a while, until the first woman went into labor and kicked off trouble.

Who would've thought this Consort Jiang would be such a handful?

After entering the residence, Prince Jing spent five nights in a row in her chambers.

She had entered the household with merit, came from a good family, had received personal praise from the Emperor, and now enjoyed the Prince's favor—of course she was strutting around like she owned the place!

The only person in the entire residence who was worthy of her notice was the Princess Consort.

But because the Princess Consort was a princess from a neighboring country, she looked down on her even more.

Following the advice of her old nanny, Consort Jiang wanted to assert her dominance by making an example of someone as soon as she entered the residence.

Jiang Baobao had always been headstrong and full of herself by nature.

She took one look around and immediately set her sights on Xie Run.

If she could take down the one with the most prominence, who wouldn't show her respect as a Cefei?

Little did Xie Run know that danger was coming.

Although she was eight months pregnant, she couldn't just sit around in her courtyard all day doing nothing.

So she would walk around the courtyard or near the entrance every day to get ready for labor.

Prince Jing doted on her and even had a little patch of green plum trees planted outside her courtyard gate, so she'd have something pretty to look at.

That day, she had just shooed everyone away.

Xie Run had walked less than ten meters when Consort Jiang swept in with her whole crew, clearly looking for a fight.

Seeing her attitude, Xie Run knew something was wrong and quietly gave Yueya'er a look.

Yueya'er, taking advantage of her small stature, slipped away unnoticed.

Consort Jiang wore a loud red dress, with a whip even tucked into her belt.

Dark colors were reserved for the imperial family, and there was no rule against wearing peonies or red in casual settings.

But there were still strict rules regarding hair ornaments.

Consort Jiang's attire wasn't against the rules, but she was wearing a five-tailed phoenix hairpin!

According to the dynasty's regulations, the Empress wore nine tails, the Imperial Noble Consort seven, the Princess Consort and favored consorts five, and so on down the ranks.

In this household, only the Princess Consort was permitted to wear the five-tailed phoenix hairpin.

Yet Jiang Baobao, a mere Cefei, dared to wear one breaking the rules—wasn't that a direct slap in the face to the Princess Consort?

Xie Run had long known this woman thought she was better than everyone.

After entering the residence, she served Prince Jing for five nights and didn't bother to pay her respects even once.

Even Ning Shiqie at her most arrogant had never been this bold.

Everyone in the residence knew she was not someone to mess with, but no one expected her to be so daring as to show up at Xie Run's door to cause trouble?!

Even if Xie Run herself, a Shu Fei, wasn't worth much, if anything happened to the prince's child in her belly, wasn't she afraid of the consequences?

Turns out, Consort Jiang truly wasn't afraid!

Xie Run, supported by Dan Tao, bowed to Consort Jiang. "This concubine, Xie, greets Consort Jiang."

Jiang Baobao raised her chin slightly and said coldly, "Shufei Xie is a long-timer in this residence, yet you don't even know how to bow properly?"

Xie Run said softly, "This concubine is with child and truly cannot bend down easily. Please understand."

"You're not the only pregnant one in this residence. Can't even bow properly—are you really that high and mighty?" Jiang Baobao snorted. "Don't tell me you're getting cocky just because you're with child."

"Everyone says Shufei Xie is the most honest one, but that doesn't seem to be the case."

"I suspect you're honest on the surface, but a snake in the grass!"

Dan Tao wanted to defend Xie Run, but Xie Run grabbed her hand to stop her.

Xie Run cast her eyes down submissively. "This concubine wouldn't dare!"

Seeing her spineless attitude, Jiang Baobao felt like she was punching a pillow.

She hated these spineless doormats the most—they were simply disgusting.

She didn't know what the Prince saw in her!

Since she couldn't nitpick the bow, Jiang Baobao continued, "I've been in the residence for several days now—why haven't you come to pay your respects to me?"

Xie Run was stunned for a moment, then was at a loss for words.

Xie Run kept her voice soft: "I beg the Cefei to forgive my ignorance. I wasn't aware there was a rule that says you have to pay respects to a Cefei!"

"How dare you!" Jiang Baobao glared, her beautiful eyes flashing, her lips red as fire. "Are you saying this Cefei doesn't deserve your respect?!"

Xie Run smiled and asked with a curious smile, "May I ask who in the residence has come to pay respects to you?"

The Princess Consort was still alive and well—what fool would bother to come pay respects to a Cefei?!