Shui Yao frowned and glanced toward the door.
Was the second young lady out of her mind? Even if Prince Jing himself had come to the Wei Mansion, given the tragic sacrifice of the Wei family’s sons, he would have to lower his status to console the bereaved relatives.
She had never seen a mere concubine of Prince Jing act so arrogantly. Anyone who didn’t know better would think she was the Princess Consort of Prince Jing.
Su Ji also furrowed his brows. He was unaware that this concubine of Prince Jing was the childhood friend of Wei Yuan.
“Young Madam, this servant will go out and take a look,” Su Ji said respectfully, tucking away the silver notes.
Zhu Changsheng replied, “No need. She’s already coming in.”
A figure hurried in from outside, quickly appearing in the sight of the people in the room.
When Su Ji clearly saw the face of the concubine of Prince Jing, he exclaimed in shock, “Miss Zhu.”
And when Zhu Yuanshu saw Su Ji in Zhu Changsheng’s room, she also cried out in surprise, “Steward Su?”
Before the Zhu and Wei families settled in the capital, they were neighbors in West Lane of Lin’an Town.
Zhu Yuanshu had frequented the Wei Mansion since childhood and was familiar with every steward there.
Su Ji was a house-born servant, raised in the Wei family from a young age. In his youth, he served Wei Yuan, then went to the accounts office to learn bookkeeping under his father. Later, he took charge of managing the Wei family’s treasury, holding a certain status and influence within the mansion.
Thus, Zhu Yuanshu also had a deep impression of Su Ji.
“Weren’t you sold off?” Zhu Yuanshu asked incredulously, looking Su Ji up and down.
Su Ji gradually calmed down. He glanced back at their young madam and suddenly realized that it was right that Zhu Yuanshu hadn’t married into the Wei family.
She knew he had been sold off, yet she hadn’t remembered the kindness of the Wei family masters during their lifetimes to lend a helping hand to the Wei Mansion. Just moments ago, she had been throwing her weight around outside the young madam’s courtyard.
Human nature is fickle. She was probably no longer the Miss Zhu they once knew.
“It was Young Madam’s benevolence that redeemed all of us servants at a high price,” Su Ji answered Zhu Yuanshu’s question, then quickly bowed to her. “This servant pays respects to the Concubine of Prince Jing.”
Zhu Yuanshu toned down her earlier arrogance.
For Su Ji, she still had to show some respect—after all, he was capable. There might come a time when she needed his help, as she couldn’t bear to see Zhu Changsheng living better than her.
She waved her hand, signaling Su Ji to rise.
Then she turned to look at Zhu Changsheng, who remained motionless on the chaise lounge. Frowning slightly, she said displeased, “How dare you show me disrespect when you see me, the concubine.”
Zhu Changsheng turned her face away and said to Su Ji, “Steward Su, you may leave first. I will go to the spirit hall shortly. Shui Yao, you may leave as well. The concubine has something to say to me.”
The two responded in unison, “Yes,” and left the room, closing the door behind them.
As soon as the door closed, Zhu Yuanshu lashed out at Zhu Changsheng, “What did you mean by sending me that soup early this morning?”
“A warning!” Zhu Changsheng remained seated on the couch, with no intention of bowing to Zhu Yuanshu.
Zhu Yuanshu fumed, “Those rats weren’t released by me. What does it have to do with me? If Prince Jing finds out about this, given His Highness Prince Jing’s affection for me, he will not let you off lightly.”
Zhu Changsheng let out a low chuckle.
She was laughing at Zhu Yuanshu’s foolishness.
“Then why didn’t you tell Prince Jing that I sent you a pot of rat soup to taste early this morning, and let him help you vent your anger?””You…” Zhu Yuanshu had no desire to mention anything related to Zhu Changsheng in front of Prince Jing, which was precisely why she didn’t want him to know about this matter.
And it was because Zhu Changsheng anticipated this that she could so easily manipulate Zhu Yuanshu—after all, the one currently guilty of wrongdoing was Zhu Yuanshu.
“Fine, let’s never bring this up again. I also promise you that from now on, I won’t interfere with your affairs at Wei Mansion.” Zhu Yuanshu’s tone softened considerably. “But you must agree to one thing.”
Sitting in the chair opposite her, Zhu Yuanshu continued, “This matter concerns Princess Consort Jing’s illness. You must immediately write to True Lord Changguang and ask him to bring the Foundation-Returning Longevity Pill to Prince Jing’s Mansion to treat her. As long as True Lord Changguang can cure the Princess Consort’s illness, Prince Jing will surely value your master highly. At that time, if Lady Xiang and the clan head dare to cause trouble at Wei Mansion again, I will step in to settle them for you, ensuring you have a place to survive there. And…”
She raised a hand to adjust the gold pine-and-crane hairpin on her head. “You must also inform True Lord Changguang in the letter about our identity swap to avoid any slip-ups in front of Prince Jing.”
Zhu Changsheng’s gaze swept over the gold pine-and-crane hairpin on Zhu Yuanshu’s head, her eyes narrowing slightly.
She hadn’t expected Prince Jing to ask Zhu Yuanshu for the Foundation-Returning Longevity Pill so soon.
She remembered that in her past life, it was only a month after she married Prince Jing that he began inquiring about the Foundation-Returning Longevity Pill from her. At that time, she had been foolishly infatuated and begged her master for his life-saving medicine. However, the Foundation-Returning Longevity Pill was actually refined by her master according to his own illness and constitution, making it unsuitable for anyone else. Princess Consort Jing’s condition worsened after taking the Life-Returning Pill, which only hastened Prince Jing’s curse and life-exchange ritual on her.
Not only would she not help Zhu Yuanshu obtain the Foundation-Returning Longevity Pill, but even if the Life-Returning Pill could truly cure Princess Consort Jing, she would never give it.
“Sister, are you even listening to me?” Zhu Yuanshu snapped, noticing her distraction.
Zhu Changsheng snapped back to reality, her red lips curling slightly as she uttered softly, “Why should I do this?”
Zhu Yuanshu’s expression stiffened. “Didn’t you hear what I just said? If you help me convey the message to your master, I’ll ensure your safety at Wei Mansion and prevent Lady Xiang and the clan head from bothering you again.”
“Ha!” Zhu Changsheng placed her hand on the armrest, tilting her chin up slightly. “If a person always relies on others for support, they will end up with nowhere to bury their bones. Therefore, my survival at Wei Mansion does not depend on the mere protection of a concubine. And you—since you chose to marry Prince Jing under my name, you must rely on your own abilities to overcome the difficulties you face in the mansion. Don’t foolishly try to have everything; you’ll only meet a miserable end.”
“You…” Zhu Yuanshu exploded with rage. She leaped up from her chair, pointing a threatening finger at Zhu Changsheng. “Have I been too lenient with you? If you don’t write this letter, I swear you’ll have no peace at Wei Mansion from now on. I will make sure you suffer.”
“Fine!” Zhu Changsheng slammed the table and rose from the chaise lounge, her gaze sharp as she stared at Zhu Yuanshu. “Then let’s see how you plan to make me suffer.”
“You… you…” Zhu Yuanshu was both flustered and furious, overwhelmed by the other’s imposing presence.She took two steps back, then, to prove her status in Prince Jing’s Mansion, she reached up and removed the red-gold pine-and-crane hairpin from her temple, saying to Zhu Changsheng, “Look, this was given to me by Princess Consort Jing early this morning. It was a gift from the Empress Dowager to her last year on her birthday, something she herself couldn’t bear to wear, yet she gave it to me.”
Then she produced a set of keys: “And this—this was handed to me personally by His Highness, entrusting me with managing the household affairs and overseeing the mansion’s finances from now on. Now do you understand my standing in Prince Jing’s Mansion? Both Prince Jing and Princess Consort Jing hold me in high regard. If I speak up, Lady Xiang and Wei Clan Leader won’t dare trouble you again. Sister, just help me this once, and from now on, we’ll keep to our own paths.”
Keep to their own paths?
Did Zhu Yuanshu not realize that these things were the “wealth” buying her life?
As for why Prince Jing and Princess Consort Jing had granted Yuan Shu authority over the mansion’s finances, it was because Princess Consort Jing’s medical treatments and medicines had long since drained the mansion’s coffers. Now they were counting on Yuan Shu to fill that gap with her own dowry!