Chapter 132

Chapter 132

The Princess Consort asked about the Shufei's children only as a matter of routine, and only then did her gaze land on Fangse.

"So you're the new girl attending to the Prince?"

Fangse immediately stepped forward to curtsy to the Princess Consort.

The Princess Consort nodded slightly, and Tinghe came up with a teacup.

Fangse dutifully served the tea, heeded the Princess Consort's instructions, and formally became Prince Jing's concubine.

The Princess Consort said, "Now that you've become a concubine, you can't keep staying at Qiufeng Court."

"I remember there's a small pavilion next to Qiufeng Court called Fangfei Pavilion—move there."

Fangse shot a glance at Shufei Yun before hesitating, "Thank you, Princess Consort."

Fang Yuaner watched and gave a derisive snort, a half-smile playing on her lips.

Back at Xiachi Court, Fang Yuaner went to see her son first.

After a round of reminders, she said with contempt, "That Yun woman might have a princess for a daughter, but she's really gone downhill. She's actually shoving her own maid at the Prince to cling to favor."

This sort of thing wasn't exactly unheard of.

Usually, concubines who were pregnant, had just given birth, or were losing favor liked to pull this trick.

But none of the pregnant women in Prince Jing's household had ever tried this move.

By promoting Fangse, Shufei Yun was basically announcing she was past her prime, had lost favor, and could only cling to her position by propping up someone close to her.

No wonder Fang Yuaner despised her.

Fang Yuaner told herself that even if she hit rock bottom someday, she'd never shove her own maid into Prince Jing's bed.

Qiu Xiang stayed calm. "Master, I just heard that Shufei Yun originally wanted to push another maid at the Prince, but he picked Fangse."

"Another maid?" Fang Yuaner felt something was off. "Is there something weird about this girl?"

Qiu Xiang hesitated, then said, "Her name's Fangcao. I heard from the folks at Qiufeng Court that her features are two or three parts similar to both you and Shufei Xie."

"What?" Fang Yuaner looked like she'd swallowed something foul.

"That Yun woman is disgusting. Picking someone like that—she definitely did it on purpose!"

"I always knew she was no good, and now her fox tail's finally out—she's showing her true colors?"

Fang Yuaner shook her head, then frowned. Something didn't add up. "Nothing big has happened lately. Shufei Yun's been lying low, so for her to suddenly act up, there's got to be a reason."

Qiu Xiang reminded her, "Master, hasn't something big happened recently?"

She glanced toward Chunshan Court. "When Shufei Xie gave birth, two big things went down."

"Even though Dan Tao explained the childhood friend thing, the reason for the maid's deliberate sabotage and the friend's visit still hasn't been cleared up."

Fang Yuaner furrowed her brow. "You've got a point."

"Yun suddenly getting restless—could she have had a hand in plotting against Xie Run?"

After a moment, Fang Yuaner let it go. "Our Prince isn't a patient man."

"If it really involves Yun, we'll find out soon enough."

Fang Yuaner wasn't the only one thinking this—the Princess Consort, Wan Linlang, and a few others all had the same idea.

Xie Run had suspected Shufei Yun for a long time.

Now that Shufei Yun was promoting a maid to serve Prince Jing, it only made her look more scared of something.

Xie Run wasn't worried in the least. She just focused on looking after her child every day.

Dan Tao told her, "The maid Shufei Yun originally wanted to promote—I heard her features look a bit like both you and Shufei Fang."

Xie Run was briefly taken aback, then laughed. "If this gets back to Fang Yuaner, she'll be sick to her stomach."

Fang Yuaner was too proud—how could she stand someone sending the Prince a woman who looked like her, right under her nose?

Dan Tao asked, puzzled, "Master, aren't you mad?"

Xie Run blinked. "Why would I be mad?"

Unlike Fang Yuaner, who was so arrogant she couldn't stand anything that resembled her, Xie Run thought.

Prince Jing was still only a prince for now.

If he became emperor someday, the people around him would go out of their way to send him women.

At that point, it wouldn't just be someone with a slight resemblance to Xie Run—maybe they'd even send a deluxe edition of Xie Run to the Prince.

If Xie Run got mad over something this small now, she'd never stop being mad later.

She didn't want to end up with breast lumps at such a young age.

Xie Run smiled. "Whether he favors her or not is entirely up to the Prince."

"Things like this will only get more common, not less. If I got mad over every one, I'd spend my whole life being mad."

Dan Tao couldn't help sighing. "Master, you're so easygoing. It makes me feel like I'm overthinking everything."

Xie Run smiled sweetly and teased Dan Tao, "Isn't it because I have a capable girl like you that I can afford to be easygoing?"

"Today the small kitchen made chicken broth with matsutake mushrooms. I had them set aside a jar for you—make sure to eat it while it's hot."

Dan Tao laughed. "I really do get to share in your good fortune, Master."

"Oh, Master, Xiaoshu said her wound's mostly healed and she's dying to come serve you. She's worried that if she waits too long, the young master won't recognize her and won't let her look after him."

By the end, Dan Tao couldn't help laughing.

Xie Run asked, "Is she really better? Don't cover for her just to do her a favor."

Dan Tao nodded. "I've seen her wound myself—it's really healed quite a bit."

"Alright then. I do need more help around here, but until she's fully recovered, I'll have to lean on you more."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dan Tao said helplessly. "Serving you is my duty, so why bring up 'trouble'?"

Xie Run said innocently, "I just care about you, that's all."

Dan Tao's heart melted at her innocent look, and she said directly, "Goodness, now I finally see who the young master gets his love of smiling and being cute from."

Xie Run couldn't help laughing too.

Taotao was a smiley kid.

Whenever someone teased him, he'd grin wide, flashing a sweet smile and dimples that melted the serving girls' hearts.

Lately, they'd all been fighting over who got to take care of him.

Ever since the kid arrived, Spring Mountain Courtyard had gotten a lot livelier.

That evening, Prince Jing went to the Fragrant Fragrance Courtyard.

That is, the new concubine Fang's courtyard.

This went on for three days straight.

Everyone had been watching the chaos outside the estate, but now all eyes were on Concubine Fang.

On the fourth day, Prince Jing went to the Fragrant Fragrance Pavilion again.

After three days of the prince's favor, Concubine Fang had gotten used to being the mistress, and she greeted Prince Jing with a smile.

But Prince Jing, dropping his usual gentle, tolerant air, sent everyone away and stared coldly at Concubine Fang.

Concubine Fang's heart trembled under his gaze, and she immediately knelt on the ground.

"I don't know what I've done wrong to incur Your Highness's anger."

"Please, Your Highness, make it clear, and I am willing to accept punishment!"

A faint, knowing smile crossed Prince Jing's cold face. "How did your mistress and Princess Su get in touch? As her maid, you'd know all about it, wouldn't you?"

At those words, Concubine Fang's face went white as a sheet.