Chapter 130

Chapter 130

During this period, neither the imperial court nor the inner quarters had seen any respite. Prince Jing had not summoned anyone to share his bed except for the night he spent at Chunshan Courtyard.

Shufei Xie of Chunshan Courtyard had just given birth, so the Prince's stay there was naturally just for rest.

Now that he had entered Shufei Yun's courtyard, the women in the inner quarters started getting restless.

When Qiufeng Courtyard received the news, the whole courtyard was overjoyed.

The maids, old and young alike, couldn't help but sigh among themselves.

"It's not like the old days anymore!"

"In the old days, the Prince would come to see our mistress every few days, and we all walked with a swagger."

"Now the Prince barely comes once a month, and when he does come, he just looks in on the Princess and leaves... For him to come to our Qiufeng Courtyard for a meal today is a real rarity."

"Isn't that so? We can only hope our mistress finds favor again and takes those little hussies in the other courtyards down a peg!"

"With the mistress's health—she's only in good shape six or seven days a month—how can she possibly gain the Prince's favor?"

The maid thought to herself, let alone winning favor, she'd struggle just to serve the Prince.

"The mistress can't serve him, but isn't there already one ready to take her place?"

With that, both maids snuck a glance at the girl standing outside the corridor next to Princess Ruyi.

They were dressed in almost identical clothes, but that girl just stood out more.

Her waist was slim, her aura ethereal, calm yet carrying a hint of quiet gentleness and warmth, topped off with a face of exquisite, stunning beauty.

It was hard not to notice her.

If it were just her looks, that would be one thing, but this girl's eyes and brows bore a resemblance to both Shufei Xie and Shufei Fang.

This made it hard to figure out what their mistress was thinking.

In the main courtyard, Shufei Yun lay listlessly on her couch, the coldness in her expression making the air in the room turn icy.

A beauty falling ill now and then is like Xishi clutching her heart—a unique kind of charm.

But if she stays sick all the time, even a goddess would end up wasting away to skin and bones, looking gaunt and sickly.

Fangse brought over the freshly brewed herbal medicine and urged, "Mistress, drink it while it's warm."

Shufei Yun glanced at the medicine but made no move to touch it, instead asking about another matter.

"Is that girl Fang Cao still behaving herself?"

Fangse set the bowl on the table. "Naturally, she is."

"You bought her mother's freedom and rescued them from that place—their deeds of indenture are in your hands. How would she dare to misbehave?"

"I'd rather she were only pretending to be obedient." Shufei Yun's gaze was distant and indifferent, her thoughts always unreadable.

"I've done too many evil deeds. If the day ever comes when my crimes are exposed, I don't know who Ruyi will end up with." Shufei Yun picked up the bowl of medicine, a shocking hatred flashing in her eyes. "None of these women in the inner quarters are worthy of raising my Ruyi!"

Fangse said, her heart aching, "Mistress, why say such unlucky things?"

"Instead of putting your hopes in others, you should focus on getting better and watch our Princess Ruyi get married in a grand, lively ceremony."

"The Princess is the Prince's eldest daughter—he would never treat her poorly."

Shufei Yun lowered her gaze and downed the bowl of medicine in one gulp.

Bitterness burst on her tongue, and her eyes turned cold and gloomy. "I knew Xie and An were different—not just for show—but I never expected her to be so brave and cunning."

"Her old flame came calling, her father broke his leg, and none of it affected her labor in the slightest."

If either of those things had happened to any other woman in the household, she would have been a wreck.

But that Xie woman went and gave birth to a son, safe and sound.

"This time, my plot against Xie failed. If the Prince catches even the slightest hint of it, I'm afraid not just my position as Shufei, but my very life would be in danger."

Fangse's heart trembled. "Mistress, is it truly that serious?"

"The Prince has always valued old bonds—how could he possibly take your life?"

Shufei Yun let out a light scoff. "Value old bonds? The Prince only remembers the old times with those who haven't made mistakes."

"As for those who made mistakes... look at Ning and Han Shi—did either of them end up well?"

In truth, ever since Ning died, a chill had settled in Shufei Yun's heart.

But her ambition wouldn't let her fade into the background and become invisible in the Prince's household.

Shufei Yun: "The business of conspiring with Han Shi to make Li Shi fall last time—even though it didn't drag me into it, I'm afraid the Prince must have some suspicions about me."

The fact that she'd once done Cailan a favor wouldn't be hard to dig up.

Since then, the Prince had never spent the night at Qiufeng Courtyard, and even when he wanted to see Ruyi, he'd have her brought to Qingsong Courtyard.

Shufei Yun sensed vaguely that the Prince likely already knew.

"I need to find a patron for Ruyi's future. I don't trust anyone else in this household. Fang Cao... I've done her a favor, and I've personally pushed her up."

"If she's got what it takes and steals Xie's favor, that's her own doing. If she doesn't measure up, with Ruyi around, her life won't be too hard."

Besides, with Fang Cao's looks, just having her around would be enough to make Xie and Fang Shi sick!

Fangse furrowed her brow. "Mistress, what if Fang Cao ever has a child of her own..."

"She never will have one!"

Shufei Yun said calmly, "When my people found her, the brothel madam had already forced safflower tea on her. She'll never be able to have children in this lifetime."

"She's a smart one. She knows her lifeline in this life isn't the Prince—it's Ruyi!"

Fangse was quiet for a long time before she let out a sigh. "Mistress, why put yourself through all this?"

The light from the window fell on Shufei Yun's pale, thin face—cold and fragile.

After a long moment, she said in a flat voice, "I just can't resign myself to it."

In the early years, when the household's concubines and shufei changed one after another, she had been the Prince's favorite.

But there was always Cefei Ning hanging over her head.

Later, Cefei Ning met her downfall, but then Fang Shi and Xie Shi came along, and she couldn't even measure up to them.

Then followed Shiqie Li, Shiqie Han... one by one, they became pregnant and gave birth to children.

It made Shufei Yun look like a joke.

"I nearly risked my life for the position of Shu Fei, and lost a baby boy... yet they can easily get everything I fought so hard for."

As for status, none of the concubines and secondary consorts in the mansion were from good families; they were all the same.

As for pregnancy, she'd been pregnant and given birth—twice, in fact—and safely gave birth to the prince's eldest daughter, Ping'an.

Moreover, she had once been the prince's favorite.

"I just won't take it!" Shufei Yun's tone grew colder and more biting, her presence also becoming more imposing.

"Why should what I nearly killed myself for come so easily to them?!"

"I won't accept it, and I refuse to resign myself to it!"

Shufei Yun suddenly looked up, gripping Fangse's hand tightly: "If the day comes when this all comes to light, don't be stupid and come with me to my death."

"I've entrusted Ruyi to Fang Cao, but you're the one I trust and rely on the most!"

Fangse's expression turned bitter.

Shufei Yun said, "You had no part in the plot against Xie Shi, and the prince won't punish the innocent."

"If it comes to that, you may tell the prince everything and expose me to save your own life!"

"No!" Fangse instinctively refused.

"You must do it!" Shufei Yun insisted firmly.

Fangse could only fall silent.

After downing a bowl of medicinal broth, Shufei Yun perked up somewhat.

She said to Fangse, "Make me look nice; it's been ages since I last had a meal with the prince."

Fangse's eyes were full of heartache, but she could only obey: "Yes."

"I've recently learned a new hairstyle, just right to style for you, mistress."